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Here are today’s picks from our editors.
China to ensure daily necessities supplies amid anti-epidemic battle
The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) released a circular to arrange for the steady supply of daily necessities in key cities to win the battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Noting that more and more people are returning to the city after the Spring Festival holiday, seeing a demand for daily necessities spiking in key cities, the circular called on local authorities to increase reserves and secure the logistics.
Supply of daily necessities including rice, flour, cooking oil, meat, eggs, dairy products, vegetables and instant food should be guaranteed, the MOC said. (Xinhua)
China to amend law on wildlife protection
China's top legislature will amend the law on the protection of wildlife this year in an effort to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak, an official said Monday.
Efforts will also be made to accelerate the amendment of laws on animal epidemic prevention and other areas, Wang Ruihe, an official with the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said at a press conference in Beijing.
Potential public health security risks caused by trading and eating wild animals have drawn worldwide concern, Wang said, stressing the need to improve laws and regulations related to wildlife, tighten supervision over law enforcement and toughen the crackdown on wildlife trafficking. (Xinhua)
WHO officially names the novel coronavirus 'COVID-19'
The new strain of coronavirus that caused a pneumonia epidemic starting in late 2019 has been officially named “COVID-19,” the World Health Organization (WHO) announced in Geneva on Tuesday.
“We had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease,” WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said at a media conference.
"Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatizing. It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreaks,” he said. (People's Daily app)
Thai king grants royal funerals to mass shooting victims
Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn will grant royal funerals to the 29 people killed in a rampage by a rogue soldier over the weekend in the country's northeast, the Southeast Asian country's prime minister said on Monday.
The soldier, angry over a real estate deal gone awry, began his rampage by killing his commanding officer at home on Saturday.
At least 29 were killed and 57 wounded. (CGTN)
Turkish forces shoot down Syrian helicopter in Idlib, killing 3 pilots on board
Turkish forces Tuesday shot down a Syrian helicopter in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, killing three pilots on board, local media reported.
The downing of the helicopter comes as the Syrian rebels attacked al-Nayrab on Tuesday before the Syrian army launched a counter-offensive and retook much of the town.
A day earlier, five Turkish soldiers were killed by Syrian targeting of a Turkish-held Syrian air base in Idlib. (Xinhua)
Turkish delivery man given 2 years jail for spitting on pizza
A Turkish court sentenced a delivery driver to two years in prison for spitting on a pizza before giving it to a customer, local media reported on Tuesday.
The incident took place in 2017 in the central Anatolian city of Eskisehir and was captured by a security camera in the customer's apartment block.
The footage showed the delivery man spitting on the pizza and recording the moment on his mobile phone. His motive was unknown. (AFP)
Brazil qualify for men's soccer at 2020 Summer Olympics
The 2020 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament came to an end on Sunday. Brazil defeated Argentina 3-0 in Bucaramanga, Colombia, taking their first win after two straight draws against Uruguay and Colombia.
Since tournament winners Argentina defeated both Uruguay and Colombia in their first two games, both they and Brazil are qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. (CGTN)
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And now for the Question of the Day:
When was NASA founded?
(Answer: 1958.)
Today’s quote is from English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822).
"O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?"
(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Brian Lowe, and Elaine Yue Lin. Music by Eugene Loner.)