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Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi meets with Hong Kong and Macao chief executives

President Xi Jinping on Monday met with Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam who is on a duty visit to Beijing.

During the meeting, Xi heard a report from Lam on Hong Kong's current situation and the HKSAR government's work.

Xi said that over the past year, Lam had led the HKSAR government to firmly defend the policy of "one country, two systems" and the HKSAR Basic Law and made plans for Hong Kong's long-term development.

Xi also praised HKSAR government's active participation in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as its efforts to solve the problems concerning the interests of local residents and create conditions for the growth and development of young people.

Also on Monday, President Xi Jinping met with Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chui Sai On, who is on a duty visit to Beijing.

During the meeting, Xi heard a report by Chui on Macao's current situation and the Macao SAR government's work.

Xi said that over the past year, the Macao SAR government, under Chui's leadership, had faithfully fulfilled its duties, been prudent and steady in its work style, and implemented the "one country, two systems" policy and the Macao SAR Basic Law.

In the process of reform and opening up of the new era, Hong Kong and Macao still have a special status and unique advantages, and can still play an irreplaceable role, Xi said. (Xinhua)

LMC countries to deepen cooperation for inclusive development

Senior officials from China, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam agreed Monday to deepen cooperation under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) to achieve inclusive and sustainable development in the sub-region.

At the "4th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting," the ministers decided to promote greater cooperation in new areas and new initiatives for mutual benefit and shared prosperity, featured with high-quality production capacity cooperation and the building of the LMC Economic Development Belt.

The ministers agreed to continue to synergize LMC development with the development strategies of each country, strengthen infrastructure construction and sub-regional connectivity, while exploring cooperation opportunities of improving production capacity and promoting inter-regional cooperation. (Xinhua) 

UK PM rebuffs growing calls for second Brexit referendum

UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday warned MPs against supporting a second Brexit referendum, as calls mounted for a public vote to break the political impasse over the deal she has struck with the EU.

The government postponed a scheduled parliamentary vote on the agreement last week and on Monday May said it would finally be held in the week starting on January 14. (AFP)

EU court orders Poland to suspend law on removal of judges

The European Union’s top court has ruled Poland must immediately suspend a law that lowered the retirement age for Supreme Court judges.

The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg on Monday confirmed an interim judgment from October to reinstate judges who had been forced into early retirement earlier this year.

The commission viewed the forced early retirement of some two dozen judges as erosions of judicial independence and democratic standards because it gave the legislative and executive branches of government unprecedented control over the courts. (AP) 

Indian troops enforce lockdown to foil Kashmir protest march

Soldiers and police fanned out across Indian-controlled Kashmir on Monday to enforce a security lockdown for a second straight day to stop anti-India protests.

Government forces patrolled streets in the region’s main city of Srinagar and sealed off all the roads leading to India’s military garrison in the city.

Three Kashmiri leaders called for Kashmiris to march to the army cantonment to protest the killing of seven civilians and three rebels during an Indian counterinsurgency operation over the weekend. (AP) 

US stocks slide again as health companies fall

US stocks are falling in choppy trading, and the S&P 500 is trading at its lowest level in more than a year. Health insurers and hospitals are falling after a judge in Texas ruled that the 2010 Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. Retailers and technology stocks are also sinking. (AP) 

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Vinnie Jones is most commonly associated with which sport?

(Answer: Football.)

Today’s quote is from Roman historian Tacitus (55-120).

"Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay; falsehood by haste and uncertainty."

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Brian Lowe and Elaine Yue Lin.)