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Here are today's picks from our editors. 

Xi extends Spring Festival greetings to military veterans

President Xi Jinping on Tuesday extended his Spring Festival greetings to military veterans and retired military officials.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, watched a gala for retired military officials with Beijing-based troops.

Xi shook hands with the retirees and asked about their health and lives.

Songs and dances about building strong armed forces and the military's loyalty to the Party were performed. (Xinhua) 

Franco-German treaty a step toward 'European army': Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron signed the extension to the Elysee Treaty in the German border city of Aachen on Tuesday.

Merkel said a new Franco-German friendship treaty was a step toward the creation of a future joint European army.

Merkel in her speech also said that, as France and Germany seek closer political, economic and defense integration, they should also work on a "joint military industry". (AFP) 

Zimbabwe leader: Violence by security forces 'unacceptable'

Zimbabwe's president on Tuesday said "unacceptable" violence by security forces will be investigated after a days-long crackdown on economic unrest, while a doctor said the 12 documented deaths and more than 300 people wounded are likely "just a fraction of the actual victims".

President Emmerson Mnangagwa called for a national dialogue among political parties and civic leaders, even as arrests continued.

Zimbabwe’s military is in the streets for the first time since post-election violence in August killed six people. This time, people report being hunted down in their homes. (AP) 

Schumer: Trump shutdown plan made in 'bad faith'

Senate Democrats leader Chuck Schumer says President Donald Trump did not propose a “good faith” proposal to end the government shutdown.

The New York senator said Tuesday that Trump’s offer to protect some immigrants from deportation in exchange for $5.7 billion from Congress to build the border wall with Mexico is “one-sided, harshly partisan and was made in bad faith.”

Schumer says the White House wasn’t “seriously negotiating” with Democrats. He says Trump’s immigration proposals do not reflect earlier bipartisan efforts.

Senate Democrats are expected to reject the measure when it comes to a vote later this week as the shutdown drags on. (AP) 

Country Garden's Yang Huiyan named China's richest woman

Yang Huiyan, vice-chairwoman of Country Garden, has been crowned China's richest woman with a fortune of 126.9 billion yuan ($18.68 billion), according to the Forbes Richest Women in China 2019 list released by Forbes China.

Wu Yajun, chairwoman of Longfor Properties, ranked second with a personal wealth of 60.75 billion yuan, followed by Chen Lihua, chairwoman of Fu Wah International Group, with 39.15 billion yuan.

This year, the minimum threshold is 7.43 billion yuan, compared with 9.37 billion last year. (China Daily)

Ronaldo avoids jail but hit with hefty fine for tax fraud in Spain

Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo pleaded guilty to tax fraud Tuesday and received a two-year suspended jail sentence.

The Juventus forward was in court for about 45 minutes and signed an agreement which will cost him nearly 19 million euros ($21.6 million) in fines.

Ronaldo made the deal to plead guilty with Spain's state prosecutor and tax authorities last year.

In 2017, a state prosecutor accused Ronaldo of four counts of tax fraud from 2011-14 worth 14.7 million euros ($16.7 million). (AP) 

'Roma', 'The Favourite' lead Oscar nomination with 10 nods

Oscar voters on Tuesday showered "Roma" and "The Favourite" with a leading 10 nominations to the 91st Academy Awards, while two dominant but contentious Hollywood forces — Netflix and Marvel — each scored their first best picture nomination.

With the black-and-white, Spanish-language "Roma," Netflix scored its first best picture nomination, a prize the streaming giant has dearly sought. Marvel, too, joined the club with "Black Panther," the first superhero movie ever nominated for best picture. (AP) 

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Who invented the first car?

(Answer: Karl Benz invented the first car in 1896. It had a petrol-powered engine but could not travel very fast. The first popular car was the Model T, built in 1908 by the Ford company in the United States.)

Today's quote is from Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu.

"Violence, even well intentioned, always rebounds upon oneself."

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