Macron’s explosive home front in the Gaza war

PARIS  — In the days after Hamas struck Israel, French President Emmanuel Macron made a national address vowing his “unreserved solidarity” with Israel.  A month later, he swerved to redress the balance, organizing a conference to support Gaza, joining calls for a cease-fire. In the days and months following Israel’s ground operation and airstrikes, Macron … Read more

China can’t be cut out of global economy, warns foreign minister – POLITICO

Wang said the global economy is like “a big ocean that cannot be cut into isolated lakes,” adding: “The trend toward economic globalization cannot be reversed.” On the sidelines of the Munich conference, Wang met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a meeting that was as “candid, substantive and constructive,” according to a … Read more

China’s Xinjiang region says all new religious buildings must ‘reflect Chinese characteristics’

The rules state: “Newly built, renovated, expanded or rebuilt religious venues should reflect Chinese characteristics and culture in aspects such as architecture, sculpture, paintings [and] decorations.” They also say for the first time that interpretations of religious doctrine must “meet the requirements of contemporary China’s development and China’s outstanding traditional culture”. The new rules also … Read more