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Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi urges efforts to win battle against poverty on schedule

President Xi Jinping has urged redoubled efforts to win the tough battle against poverty on schedule.

China should stick to its poverty relief target and work harder for a victory in the battle, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed when giving instructions on poverty reduction work, as the country observes the fifth National Poverty Relief Day, which falls on October 17 every year.

The extreme poverty that has existed for thousands of years for the Chinese nation is now close to being historically solved, and China's tough battle against poverty has entered the most crucial stage, said Xi.

China will reduce the poor population by 10 million in 2018, in order to deliver the country's target of eradicating poverty in rural areas and eliminating regional poverty by 2020. (Xinhua)

China, Belgium to strengthen cooperation

China is ready to work with Belgium to strength cooperation and exchanges at all levels, said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday.

Li made the remarks in Brussels when holding talks with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel during a working visit to the country.

Noting that China-Belgium ties have maintained the momentum of sound development, Li said Belgian companies are welcomed to invest in China, which will give equal treatment to all foreign enterprises as domestic enterprises.

Li said the two countries can boost cooperation in technology and innovation and expand nuclear cooperation on the basis of abiding by international laws and meeting international obligations.

Michel said Belgium is willing to align the connectivity program of the European Union with China's Belt and Road Initiative and support Belgian enterprises in investing in China. (Xinhua)

US announces postal treaty pull-out

The Trump administration announced its intent to withdraw from the Universal Postal Union on Wednesday.

The postal body, a group within the UN, oversees international shipping rates. Trump has long accused the treaty of hurting the US. A senior Trump administration official said they hope to renegotiate rates, known as “terminal dues,” but remains frustrated over opposition from other member nations.

The withdrawal would take at least a year to implement, which gives the US time to broker a new deal. (People's Daily app)

Crimea school gunman was a 'student', shoots self: official

Russian officials said an 18-year-old student attacked his vocational school Wednesday in Crimea, killing at least 19 students and leaving more than 40 people wounded before killing himself.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said the attacker is identified as Vladislav Roslyakov.

The committee said all the victims died of gunshot wounds.

Officials said an explosive device had ripped through the college canteen during lunchtime in a suspected terrorist attack. (AP)

Chinese, NK law firms meet on trade rules

A Chinese law firm held a seminar with North Korea Tuesday on laws affecting special economic zones and foreign investments, to help North Korea's gradual opening up.

The Beijing-based Deheng Law Firm and North Korea's foreign economy law firm discussed the differences in laws on special economic zones, international trade, and foreign investments.

One of the attending lawyers said the seminar offers a chance for both sides to learn more about the other’s legal systems. (Global Times)

Indian junior minister resigns amid sexual assault allegations

India's Junior External Affairs Minister M.J. Akbar resigned on Wednesday amid allegations of sexual assaults against him by several female journalists.

“Since I have decided to seek justice in a court of law in my personal capacity, I deem it appropriate to step down from office and challenge false accusations levied against me, also in a personal capacity,” he said.

Akbar has filed a defamation case in a Delhi court against one of those women journalists in an attempt to clear his name. (Xinhua)

Search engine Baidu becomes first China firm to join US AI ethics group

Chinese search engine Baidu Inc has become the first Chinese company to join an artificial intelligence (AI) ethics group led by top US tech firms.

The Partnership on AI (PAI), which includes Google, Apple Inc and Facebook Inc as members, is a body that develops ethical guidelines for AI research, to ensure research does not violate international conventions or human rights.

The inclusion of Baidu comes as Chinese and US companies are looking to ramp up cooperation on AI, despite a looming political scuffle between the two over technology transfers. (CGTN)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What are the four Great Tragedies written by William Shakespeare?

(Answer: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth.)

Today’s quote is from Greek poet Homer.

“How vain, without the merit, is the name.”

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, Raymond Mendoza, and Terry Guanlin Li.)