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Here are today’s picks from our editors. 

Xi stresses integrated media development

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Friday stressed efforts to boost integrated media development and amplify mainstream tone in public communication so as to consolidate the common theoretical foundation for all Party members and all the people to unite and work hard.

Xi made the remarks at a group study session of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau.

The move will provide strong spiritual strength and public support for the realization of the two centenary goals and the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, Xi said.

Led by Xi, members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee visited the People's Daily on Friday morning.

During the visit, Xi stressed Party newspapers and periodicals should strengthen the development and innovation of their means of communication.

Efforts should be made to develop websites, microblogs, WeChat, electronic newspaper bulletins, mobile newspapers, internet protocol television and other forms of new media to enable the voice of the Party to directly reach all kinds of user terminals and gain new public opinion fields, he added. (Xinhua) 

China says Venezuela affairs must be decided by its own people

China believes that Venezuela's affairs must and can only be decided by its own people, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.

China maintains that all countries should adhere to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, especially the norms of international relations and international law, such as non-interference in each other's internal affairs, mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and refraining from the threat of force, spokesperson Hua Chunying told a press briefing.

Venezuela's stability and development serve the interests of all relevant parties, Hua said. "We hope that all parties will do more for Venezuela's stability." (Xinhua) 

Trump announces deal to end record-long shutdown

Yielding to mounting pressure and growing disruption, US President Donald Trump and congressional leaders on Friday reached a short-term deal to reopen the government for three weeks while negotiations continue over the president’s demands for money to build his long-promised wall at the US-Mexico border.

Trump’s action would end what has become a record, 35-day partial shutdown.

Trump said he would soon sign a bill to re-open the government through Feb. 15 without additional money for his signature campaign promise. The legislation would include back pay for some 800,000 federal workers who have gone without paychecks. (AP) 

South Korea's Antarctic icebreaker rescues stranded Chinese team

On Thursday, South Korea's polar icebreaker ARAON rescued all 24 members of the crew of China's icebreaker Xuelong after it was stranded following a collision with an iceberg on January 19, according to Yonhap News Agency.

ARAON will deliver the crew to Littleton Harbor in New Zealand on February 4, before returning to Jang Bogo Station in Terra Nova Bay, one of South Korea's two permanent research stations in Antarctica. It will then collect 48 members of their own expedition team. (China Plus) 

Greek parliament passes name deal with Macedonia

Greek lawmakers have ratified an agreement for the country to drop its objections to neighboring Macedonia joining NATO if the small country's name is changed to North Macedonia.

The ratification vote came after three days of acrimonious debate on the deal, which aimed to end a nearly three decade-long dispute.

Greece has long argued use of the term Macedonia implied territorial claims on its own northern province of the same name and usurped its culture and ancient Greek history. (AP) 

Yellow vests, opponents gearing up for protests in France

Thousands of demonstrators will again take to the streets across France this weekend in protest at French president Emmanuel Macron’s policies, while anti-yellow vest groups also plan to use street action, to condemn violence.

About 84,000 people protested last weekend, around the same number as the week before, and despite a slight rise in Macron’s approval ratings in the latest opinion polls, protesters are expected to turn out in large numbers Saturday.

About 2,000 people have been injured and ten people have also been killed in road incidents since last November as demonstrations often descended into violence with clashes between police and yellow vests. (AP) 

Blackouts hit as Australia endures record-breaking heatwave

Thousands of Australians have been left without power as the nation swelters through its worst heatwave since records began.

The temperature in Adelaide, capital of South Australia, hit 46.6 degrees celsius on Thursday afternoon, the highest temperature recorded in the city since records began in 1939.

Paul Roberts, spokesman for SA Power Networks, said that the blackouts were triggered by blown fuses rather than an energy supply shortfall.

"With the combination of record temperatures and potentially record loads we have been in unprecedented territory today," he added. (China Plus) 

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What powers an eolic power station?

(Answer: Wind.)

Today's quote is from French novelist Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918).

"Without poets, without artists, men would soon weary of nature's monotony."

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