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Here are today’s picks from our editors.
Xi attends welcome banquet hosted by Myanmar president
Chinese President Xi Jinping attended a grand welcome banquet hosted by Myanmar President U Win Myint Friday evening.
In his speech, U Win Myint said Xi’s visit to Myanmar is his first foreign trip of the new year, and the Myanmar people are deeply honored. He also expressed gratitude for China's support and assistance with Myanmar's peace and development.
Myanmar and China have always adhered to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, respected and understood each other, and have been committed to developing closer cooperative partnership, he said.
For his part, Xi said he appreciates the hospitality of the Myanmar government and people.
Xi also said the reason why the "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship between the two countries can last thousands of years and become ever stronger is that they have always been sincere to each other, stood together through thick and thin, and adhered to mutual respect and mutual benefits.
Looking into the future, the two sides should take the opportunity of the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations to build a China-Myanmar community with a shared future and usher in a new era of bilateral ties, Xi said. (Xinhua)
China's economy expands 6.1 pct in 2019
China's economy grew 6.1 percent year on year in 2019, within the government's annual target of 6 to 6.5 percent, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Friday.
Fourth quarter growth came in at 6 percent, the same growth rate experienced in the third quarter, but lower than the 6.2-percent growth from the second quarter, and the 6.4-percent growth from the first quarter, NBS data showed.
Gross domestic product (GDP) totaled 99.09 trillion yuan in 2019. (Xinhua)
Five nations seek compensation from Iran for plane crash victims' families
The government of the five nations who lost citizens after Iran shot down a Ukrainian airliner demanded that Tehran accept "full responsibility" and pay compensation to the victims' families, the Associated Press reported.
After a meeting in London, foreign ministers from Canada, The U.K., Afghanistan, Sweden, and Ukraine pressed Iran for a "thorough, independent and transparent international investigation," and called for a criminal probe and "impartial" judicial proceedings against those responsible for downing the plane.
All 176 people on board the Ukraine International Airlines aircraft died when it was hit by ballistic missiles after taking off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport on January 8. The victims included 57 Canadian citizens, 11 Ukrainians, 17 Swedish, four Afghan and four British citizens, as well as Iranians. (AP)
France to deploy aircraft carrier to support anti-IS operations in Mideast
France will deploy its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to support military operations against the Islamic State (IS), the Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly announced on Friday.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that the warship would be sent to the Middle East to back Chammal operations (the French component of the anti-IS coalition) from January to April 2020.
Charles de Gaulle, Europe's only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, will be used in joint operations with European countries, including Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Macron added. (Xinhua)
Dutch art sleuth finds rare stolen copy of 'Prince of Persian poets'
A stolen 15th-century book by the famed Persian poet Hafez has been recovered by a Dutch art detective.
The gold-leafed volume worth around $1.1 million was found to be missing from the collection of an Iranian antiques dealer after his death in Germany in 2007.
Arthur Brand, dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the Art World" for tracing a series of lost works, finally tracked down the tome via the murky stolen arts underworld.
Hafez is one of the best known mystical bards. American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson called him the "Prince of Persian poets". (AFP)
US agency examining Tesla unintended acceleration complaint
The US government’s auto safety agency is looking into allegations that all three of Tesla’s electric vehicle models can suddenly accelerate on their own.
An unidentified person petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asking for an investigation into the problem. An agency document shows 127 owner complaints to the government that include 110 crashes and 52 injuries.
The agency said it will look into allegations that cover about 500,000 Tesla vehicles including Model 3, Model S and Model X vehicles from the 2013 through 2019 model years. (AP)
Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.
And now for the Question of the Day:
How do most frogs get a drink?
(Answer: They use skin to absorb water.)
Today’s quote is from American author Mark Twain (1835-1910).
"Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest."
(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Brian Lowe, and Elaine Yue Lin. Music by Eugene Loner.)