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Here are today’s picks from our editors.
China, Greece pledge joint efforts for community with shared future for mankind
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Greek counterpart, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, agreed on Monday to contribute the wisdom of ancient Eastern and Western civilizations to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
To that end, the two presidents agreed during their meeting to consolidate political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, and promote dialogue among civilizations.
Xi arrived in the Greek capital of Athens on Sunday for a three-day state visit to the European country. (Xinhua)
China cracks down on illegal school buses
China's Ministry of Education on Monday issued a circular asking for stricter punishment on illegal school buses and related violations to ensure student safety during daily commutes.
The Ministry required local departments to strengthen safety checks and monitoring during rush hours and in key areas, increase road patrols, and carefully inspect school buses for potential risks.
The circular reminded primary and middle school students, preschoolers, and parents not to ride on unregistered and overcrowded buses and enhance traffic safety awareness. (Xinhua)
Assad says anybody can run in Syria's 2021 presidential election
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the 2021 Syrian presidential election would be open to anybody who wants to run and that there would be numerous challengers for the presidency.
Assad, who made the comment in an interview broadcast on Monday on Russian television channel RT, faced two challengers in the 2014 election which he won by a landslide, but which his opponents dismissed as a charade.
During an interview last year, Assad said he was still undecided on whether he would run for reelection in 2021. (CGTN)
Shootings, blasts prompt Denmark to tighten border controls
Denmark will temporarily reinstate border controls with Sweden and step up police work along the border after a series of violent crimes and explosions around Copenhagen that Danish authorities say were carried out by Swedish perpetrators.
The checks, which start Tuesday and will last six months, will take place at the Oresund Bridge between Copenhagen and the Swedish city of Malmo, and at ferry ports.
Denmark’s National Police said there will be both random and periodic checks of people crossing the border and officers will focus “particularly on cross-border crime involving explosives, weapons and drugs.” (AP)
SpaceX rocket launches 2nd cluster of 60 internet satellites
Private US space company SpaceX launched a second batch of 60 Starlink satellites into space on Monday, in an effort to build a 12,000-strong or more satellite network capable of providing broadband internet services.
The launch came after SpaceX deployed its first batch of 60 satellites on May 23. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced on October 22 that the broadband satellites were functioning. (Xinhua)
Egypt says it’s unearthed large animal mummy, likely a lion
Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities says local archeologists have unearthed the mummy of an unusually large animal, most likely a lion or lioness.
The ministry said on Monday the mummy was excavated in Saqqara, a town south of Cairo.
Archeologists frequently find mummified cats, but the recovery of a lion is rare. In 2004, the first lion skeleton was found, revealing the sacred status of the animal during ancient times. (AP)
Olympic champion Noguchi first Japanese to carry Tokyo 2020 flame
Olympic gold medalist Mizuki Noguchi will be the first athlete from Japan to carry the torch on its journey to next year's Tokyo Summer Games, the organizing committee announced on Monday.
Noguchi, winner of the women's marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympics, will be the second runner to take part in the Greek leg of the torch relay, and will receive the flame on March 12 following a lighting ceremony in Olympia, original site of the ancient Olympic Games.
The ceremony begins an eight-day torch relay through Greece. (Xinhua)
Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.
And now for the Question of the Day:
What does a philatelist do?
(Answer: The collecting of stamps and other postal matter as a hobby or an investment.)
Today’s quote is from French novelist Anatole France (1844-1924).
"Ignorance and error are necessary to life, like bread and water."
(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, and Elaine Yue Lin. Music by Eugene Loner.)