China's national legislature to convene annual session on March 5
The 14th National People's Congress (NPC) will open its fourth annual session in Beijing on March 5, 2026, according to a decision made by the NPC Standing Committee on Saturday.
The decision was adopted at the end of an NPC Standing Committee session held from Monday to Saturday.
The suggested agenda of the annual NPC session includes deliberating the government work report, reviewing the draft of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for national economic and social development, and examining the report on the implementation of the annual plan on national economic and social development for 2025 and the draft plan on national economic and social development for 2026.
Thailand, Cambodia reach agreement on ceasefire
Thailand and Cambodia signed a joint statement on Saturday to agree on a ceasefire from 12:00 p.m. local time.
The statement was inked by Thai Defense Minister Natthapon Nakpanich and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Seiha during the third Special General Border Committee (GBC) meeting, which was held on the Thai side of the border in Chanthaburi province.
Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Natthapon said the statement's key points included an agreement by both sides to maintain current troop deployments without further movement, and that no troop movements or patrols would be conducted toward the other side's positions.
Venezuelan president Maduro expresses willingness to hold dialogue with U.S.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday expressed willingness to hold dialogue with the United States on the basis of mutual respect, provided that the United States gives up interference in Venezuela.
In a televised speech, Maduro said that if the U.S. side is willing to engage in dialogue with Venezuela on the basis of mutual respect and abandon its failed attempts to interfere in Venezuela over the past 25 years, he will welcome it and seek a path toward peace, cooperation and prosperity.
The president also criticized the United States for its sustained smear campaigns against the Venezuelan government, its destabilizing efforts in Venezuela, and its attempts to overthrow the leadership.
Trump says Zelensky "doesn't have anything until I approve it"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "doesn't have anything until I approve it," U.S. President Donald Trump said in an exclusive interview with Politico on Friday, two days ahead of his meeting with Zelensky in Florida over a peace plan to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict lasting nearly four years.
The two leaders are expected to discuss the framework of a new 20-point peace plan including a proposed demilitarized zone, the management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, territorial control of Donbas, and U.S. security guarantees after the conflict comes to an end.
Zelensky's offer of a demilitarized zone came with a key condition: Russia would have to withdraw its forces from a corresponding stretch of land in Donetsk, according to the Politico report.
"So we'll see what he (Zelensky)'s got," said Trump. "I think it's going to go good with him. I think it's going to go good with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin."
Israeli siege intensifies in West Bank after reported shooting; Gaza death toll tops 71,000
Israeli forces tightened restrictions on Palestinian villages in the West Bank on Saturday following a reported shooting, while Gaza health authorities updated the death toll in the enclave from the ongoing conflict to over 71,000.
In the central West Bank, Israeli forces closed the entrances to several villages near Ramallah, including Ni'lin, Bil'in and Kharbatha Bani Harith, after gunfire was reported near a military checkpoint, Palestinian security sources said, adding that the closures disrupted movement for residents of 13 villages.
The Israeli army initially said a Palestinian opened fire near the Hashmonaim checkpoint and fled, but later said the incident was related to "hunting activity." Israeli forces continue operations to locate the individual and confiscate the weapon, it said.
Russian strikes kill 1, injure 23 in Kiev and surrounding region
At least one person was killed and 23 others were injured in Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital and its outskirts in the early hours of Saturday, local authorities said.
Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that 22 people were injured in the missile and drone attack on the city, with 12 of them hospitalized. He added that more than 2,600 residential buildings, 187 kindergartens and 138 schools in Kiev were left without heating following the strikes.
Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kiev City Military Administration, said that the attack damaged facilities in seven districts of the capital, including at least five apartment buildings.■
