MOSCOW, January 6. /TASS/. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has started night Christmas service in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

JERUSALEM, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military said on Monday that it struck the northern Gaza Strip overnight in retaliation for the rocket fire toward southern Israel.

A military spokesperson said in a statement that fighter jets and an attack helicopter struck several targets at a military camp belonging to Hamas that runs Gaza.

The strike came in the wake of rocket fire toward the coastal city of Ashkelon and Hof Ashkelon Regional Council in the Southern District of Israel. The rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-rocket system.

BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's express delivery sector handled 50.5 billion parcels in 2018, up 25.8 percent year on year, data from the State Post Bureau (SPB) showed.

Gross business revenue of the sector increased 21.2 percent year on year to hit 601 billion yuan (about 88 billion U.S. dollars) last year, according to the SPB.

06 Jan 2019; DW: The US national security adviser signals a pause in planned troop withdrawals. The move abruptly announced by President Trump last month was initially expected to be completed within weeks.

US troops will not leave northeastern Syria until "Islamic State" (IS) militants are completely routed and US-allied Kurdish fighters are protected, US President Donald Trump's national security adviser said on Sunday.

Belgrade, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Orthodox Christians in Serbia celebrate Christmas on Jan. 7 according to the Julian calendar.

People burn dried oak branches as a traditional ceremony on the Orthodox Christmas Eve in front of the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox church in Belgrade, Serbia, on Jan. 6, 2019.

06 Jan 2019; AFP: Hundreds of women on Sunday marched in Paris to reclaim France's "yellow vest" movement from violent activists, a day after protesters smashed their way into a government ministry.

The women, wearing yellow vests, turned out after 50,000 people returned to the streets of France on Saturday amid violent clashes with police.

Some of the women waved yellow balloons and pushed prams. Protests were also held in other French cities.

06 Jan 2019; DW: The ruling monarch of Malaysia has abdicated the throne, palace officials have confirmed. The historic move follows weeks of speculation over the love life of Muhammad V.

Malaysia's King Muhammad V stepped down from the throne on Sunday.

"The National Palace informs that his majesty has resigned as the 15th king effective January 6," the National Palace said in a statement. No reason for his abdication was given.

LONDON, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May ended speculation Sunday that a vote on her under-fire Brexit deal may be deferred again, insisting that the vote would go-ahead in the House of Commons as planned next week.

In an interview on the BBC's main weekly political program, May said "I want to see this deal go through. If the deal is not voted on, then actually we are going to be in uncharted territory."

The vote should have taken place last month, but it was deferred with May saying it was clear it would be defeated.

PYONGYANG, January 7. /TASS/. The authorities of North Korea demand that South Korea and the United States refuse holding joint military drills on the Korean Peninsula, according to a commentary published on Monday by North Korean daily Rodong Sinmun.

MOSCOW, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Russian state space corporation Roscosmos said Sunday it is awaiting clarification from the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) after it has reportedly rescinded an invitation to Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin.

The Washington Post reported on Saturday that NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine had said in an interview that he has rescinded Rogozin's invitation to visit the United States amid mounting criticism from Capitol Hill.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is expressing optimism about trade negotiations with China as U.S. officials are expected in Beijing for talks aimed at easing a trade battle.

Trump said Sunday he spoke recently to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump says: “I really believe they want to make a deal. The tariffs have absolutely hurt China very badly.”

After several tit-for-tat tariff increases, the leaders agreed Dec. 1 to postpone further hikes. American officials are due in Beijing Monday.

Both governments face pressure to reach a settlement.

New York, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- New York City has raised its minimum wage to 15 U.S. dollars an hour this year in an effort to fight against poverty.

The new minimum wage, which is set at 15 dollars per hour for all businesses with 11 employees or more, went into effect on the last day of 2018.

For businesses with 10 employees or less, the minimum wage they have to pay is 13.5 dollars per hour. By the end of this year, these businesses will also have to pay 15 dollars an hour to their employees.