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Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi calls for inclusive, rule-based world economy at APEC meeting

Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of building an open, inclusive, innovative and rule-based world economy while addressing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit on Saturday.

In a keynote speech to the business leaders, Xi urged the international community to hold on to the right direction of world economy and work out an efficient global governance system.

"As we brave the rough waters of the global economy and confront the many risks and challenges, it is all too befitting that we have come together on this ship to chart the course for future development and cooperation," Xi said on board cruise ship Pacific Explorer in the Papua New Guinea (PNG) capital of Port Moresby, where the summit was held.

While achieving its own development, China will make greater contributions to helping countries around the world realize shared prosperity, Xi said. (Xinhua)

Escalating US-led airstrikes kill 40 civilians in eastern Syria

At least 40 civilians were killed on Saturday morning by intensified US-led airstrikes in eastern Syria, state news agency SANA reported.

The airstrikes targeted the village of al-Bukan near the town of Hajin, 110 km southeast of Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria, said SANA.

The attack is part of airstrikes targeting the last Islamic State (IS)-held pocket in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour.

Over the past week, the US-led strikes killed over 100 civilians, SANA added. (Xinhua)

Iran says ready to fight terrorism on Pakistan soil

The Iranian Interior Ministry announced on Saturday that the country's security forces are ready for anti-terror operations in Pakistani territory.

To guarantee the security of common borders, Iran is prepared for counter-terrorism operations on Pakistani land under the supervision of Pakistani forces, Iran’s Interior Minister said.

The minister made the remarks in response to the abduction of 14 Iranian borders guards by a Pakistan-based Iranian Sunni rebel group last month. (Xinhua)

Pompeo, S. Korean minister meet to coordinate on Peninsula issues

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had met with South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon to coordinate on issues related to the Korean Peninsula, the State Department said Friday.

Pompeo and Cho "affirmed their commitment to close coordination" and "discussed ways to deepen coordination so that inter-Korean cooperation and progress on US-DPRK negotiations toward denuclearization remain aligned," according to a statement issued by State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert.

Speaking about the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a press briefing on Thursday, Nauert said: "We have a long way to go. We believe in giving diplomacy a chance." (Xinhua)

New Maldivian president sworn in

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was sworn in as the 7th president of the Maldives at a grand ceremony in the capital of Male on Saturday.

Addressing the crowds, Solih vowed to strengthen his country's foreign relations with all nations and bring the Maldives back to the path of democracy.

"I want to assure the Maldivian people to uphold the oath I have just taken," Solih said. "I will not forget my pledge to protect fundamental rights and freedoms and to wipe out corruption," he added.

He further pledged to protect the rights of all Maldivians and provide cheaper basic needs, such as electricity and education, and cut import taxes. (Xinhua)

Argentine submarine located year after disappearance

Argentina's ARA San Juan submarine, which went missing a year ago, has been located some 800 meters near the Valdes Peninsula in the southern Atlantic, the Navy said Saturday.

The US company Ocean Infinity, contracted by the Argentine authorities to search for the missing submarine, made the discovery.

The navy lost contact with the submarine on Nov. 15 last year. It was on its way back to the naval base at Mar del Plata on the country's east coast with 44 crew members on board. (Xinhua)

China to become world's largest theme park market by 2020: report

China is slated to become the world's largest theme park market by 2020, when the number of tourists is expected to exceed 230 million, according to a fresh report by US engineering firm AECOM.

The number of tourists to Chinese theme parks has seen an average annual growth of 13 percent in the past decade, and reached 190 million in 2017. The number is expected to keep the double digit growth in the following years, according to the report.

The report attributes the rapid growth to Chinese consumers' rising income that sparks greater demands on leisure activities, as well as more convenient public transportation systems. (Xinhua - China Plus)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Which Roman city was buried by volcano eruption?

(Answer:  Mount Vesuvius erupted in the year 79 A.D., the volcano buried the ancient Roman city of Pompeii under a thick carpet of volcanic ash.)

Today’s quote is from British poet Samuel Butler (1835 - 1902).

“Life is like music; it must be composed by ear, feeling, and instinct, not by rule.”

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