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Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi sends condolences over passing away of former Vietnamese leader

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence on Tuesday to Vietnam over the passing of former leader Do Muoi.

"We are shocked to hear that comrade Do Muoi, former general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, passed away," Xi said in the message to Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee. "On behalf of the CPC, the Chinese government and people, as well as in my own name, I extend the deepest condolences to you and through you to the CPV, the Vietnamese government and people."

Xi also expressed his sympathies to Do Muoi's family.

Comrade Do Muoi was an outstanding party and state leader of Vietnam, who committed himself to the country's reform and renewal as well as the cause of socialist construction, the Chinese president said.

As a close comrade and friend of the Chinese people, Do Muoi had made important contributions to the relations between the two countries and parties, Xi noted. 

Xi said he believes that under the strong leadership of the general secretary, the CPV, the Vietnamese government and people will turn grief into strength, and continue to make new achievements in their country's socialist development. (Xinhua)

US Secretary of State Pompeo to visit China next week

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit China on October 8th, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Wednesday.

Pompeo’s visit is a result of bilateral consultations, and officials of both sides are expected to discuss regional and international issues concerning China and the US, Hua said. (People's Daily app)

Three evolutionary scientists win Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018

The 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to three scientists who have taken control of evolution and used the same principles to develop proteins that solve humankind's chemical problems, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced Wednesday. 

The Academy has decided to divide the prize with one half given to Frances H. Arnold, "for the directed evolution of enzymes", and the other half jointly to George P. Smith and Sir Gregory P. Winter, "for the phage display of peptides and antibodies.” 

Goran Hansson, secretary general of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, told reporters during a press conference that the laureates were "very happy and enthusiastic" to receive the prize. (Xinhua)

Iran welcomes UN court interim verdict over US sanctions

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday welcomed the UN's top court's order for the US to lift certain sanctions.

The verdict by the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the US unilateral sanctions, following their withdrawal from the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, proves "Iran's righteousness and US' illegitimate and oppressive sanctions," Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The verdict also said the restoration of sanctions by US President Donald Trump violate the terms of the 1955 Treaty of Amity between the two countries.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday the US is terminating the 1955 Treaty of Amity.

Pompeo said at a press briefing the US will see the practical impact of pulling out of the treaty, he added. (Xinhua)

Fan Bingbing's hefty fines underline China's tax evasion crackdown

Chinese legal experts said Wednesday the hefty fines issued to actress Fan Bingbing underline a resolve to fight tax evasion and further develop China's film and TV sector.

Investigators found that Fan had evaded about 7.3 million yuan ($1.07 million) in personal income and business taxes during her work on the Chinese film "The Bombing."

Fan and her legal representatives have tax arrears amounting to 248 million yuan, of which 134 million yuan was evaded.

The actress was ordered to pay taxes and fines worth more than 800 million yuan. And she will face a criminal investigation if she fails to comply on time.

Shi Zhengwen, a tax law specialist at China University of Political Science and Law, said the punishment is severe but matches the illicit act, adding that potential tax evaders should be warned. (Xinhua)

Japan space probe lands new robot on asteroid

A Japanese probe landed a new observation robot on an asteroid Wednesday as it pursues a mission to shed light on the origins of the solar system.

The French-German Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout, or MASCOT, launched from the Hayabusa2 probe, landed safely on Ryugu and was in contact with its team, the lander's official Twitter account said.

MASCOT is expected to collect a wide range of data on the asteroid, some 300 million kilometers from Earth.

The MASCOT has a maximum battery life of just 16 hours and will transmit the data it collects to the Hayabusa2 before running out of juice. (AFP)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Where in China are the Terra Cotta Warriors located?

(Answer: They were discovered near Lintong, Xian, Shaanxi, China. The 8,000 terra cotta soldiers and horses were part of the necropolis of China's first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, to aid him in the afterlife.)

Today’s quote is from American inventor Thomas A. Edison.

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, Raymond Mendoza, and Terry Guanlin Li.)