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Here are today’s picks from our editors.

China, Thailand hold strategic consultations

Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai held strategic consultations on Saturday.

Wang said during the consultations that China and Thailand are comprehensive strategic cooperative partners and the two sides should enhance strategic communication, boost strategic cooperation and work together to make positive contribution to peace, stability and development of the region.

China is willing to join hands with the Thai side in a bid to bring the China-Thailand ties to a new high, Wang added.

For his part, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said Thailand and China have enjoyed high-level mutual trust and deep friendship, with frequent high-level exchanges and fruitful achievements in economic cooperation.

Thailand welcomes China's development and revitalization, hoping China will play a more important role in maintaining world peace and development, Don said. (Xinhua)

Chinese protesters allege racism after Spanish bank freezes accounts without warning

Furious over their personal bank accounts being frozen without prior notice, hundreds of Chinese citizens took to the streets of Madrid on Friday in a rare protest against Spain's BBVA bank, accusing it of "racism."

The protesters said the bank, after arbitrarily blocking their accounts, told them that the action was taken under Spain's money laundering regulations, which the Chinese account holders vehemently denied.

The protesters demonstrated outside a major BBVA branch in the Spanish capital.

They said the bank's action has prevented them from not being able to pay their bills and in some cases tuition fees for their children. (CGTN)

Hundreds stranded as British airline Flybmi collapses

Hundreds of passengers throughout Europe have been stranded by the abrupt collapse of the British regional airline Flybmi.

British Midland Regional, which operates as Flybmi, said it’s filing for administration — a British version of bankruptcy — because of higher fuel costs and uncertainty caused by Britain’s upcoming departure from the European Union.

The airline operated 17 jets on routes to 25 European cities. It employed 376 people in Britain, Germany, Sweden and Belgium and says it carried 522,000 passengers on 29,000 flights last year. (AP)

International defense exhibition opens in UAE

The 14th International Defense Exhibition and Conference and the fifth Naval Defense and Maritime Security Exhibition opened on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of UAE, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE's Armed Forces, attended the opening.

For the first time, the two exhibitions were held together with the aim of creating a comprehensive global event covering all defense and security issues. (Xinhua)

Life expectancy in six Chinese regions exceeds 80 years old

The Shanghai Health Commission recently announced the life expectancy of Shanghai's registered population in 2018 was just over 83 years old, including 81 years for men and 86 years for women.

The life expectancy in six regions has exceeded 80 years of age.

The regions include Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, and Taiwan.

Life expectancy is defined as the average time a newborn is expected to live. (China Daily)

Chinese film grabs Berlinale Silver Bears for Best Actor & Actress

Chinese actor Wang Jingchun and actress Yong Mei won the Silver Bears for Best Actor and Best Actress for their performances in the film "So Long, My Son" at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) on Saturday.

"So Long, My Son,” directed by Wang Xiaoshuai, is a family saga spanning 30 years. The story of one family dealing with the loss of their son, masterfully brought to life by the lead actor and actress, moved many viewers to tears at the festival.

"Synonyms,” co-produced by France, Israel and Germany, won the Golden Bear for Best Film. (Xinhua)

Biggest supermoon of 2019 to shine on Chinese Lantern Festival

A romantic coincidence will happen on Chinese Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the lunar calendar.

The biggest full moon of the year will shine on February 19.

It's rare for a supermoon to occur on this day.

The last one happened on February 28, 2010, and the next one is expected to occur on February 9, 2029. (CGTN)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What are the three principle rivers of France?

(Answer: Seine, Loire, Rhone.)

Today’s quote is from Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu.

"Because of a great love, one is courageous."

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, and Chelle Wenqian Zeng.)