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Here are today’s picks from our editors.

China sends twin BeiDou-3 navigation satellites into space

China on Friday sent twin satellites into space with a single carrier rocket, adding two more members for its domestic BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS).

The Long March-3B carrier rocket lifted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 1:56 a.m. The launch was the 269th mission for the Long March rocket family.

The satellites and the rocket for Friday's launch were developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, respectively. (Xinhua)

UN top officials hail China’s role in resolving Korean Peninsula issue

China has played an essential role in resolving the Korean Peninsula issue, two United Nations (UN) top officials said Thursday amid signs of easing tensions on the Peninsula.

"I was extremely encouraged by the recent visit of the leader of North Korea to China. I think China is a very important contributor to a solution in this region," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said to reporters at the UN headquarters in New York.

Officials of South Korea and North Korea on Thursday agreed to hold the planned summit between their leaders on April 27 in the "truce village" of Panmunjom. Earlier, North Korean Kim Jong Un paid an unofficial visit to China from Sunday to Wednesday, meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

The UN chief placed high hopes on the upcoming inter-Korean and the US-North Korean summits, noting that the resumption of the inter-Korean dialogue and the negotiation between North Korea and the US is "needed." (Xinhua)

Chinese MFA responds to doubts about aid to Africa

China's Foreign Ministry on Friday defended the country's investment in Africa, stressing its support aims to help the continent develop and achieve prosperity.

When asked the overall goal of China’s overseas assistance, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said that it remains an important part of China’s diplomacy today to support developing countries, like African countries, to strengthen their own capacity building and achieve development and prosperity.

Jean-Claude Brou, the president of ECOWAS, thanked China and confirmed the organization’s commitment to promoting future ECOWAS-China cooperation, according to CNN. He also called this project a mark of goodwill from China.

Namibia’s President Hage Geingob, who is now on a state visit to China, said on Thursday that China has never colonized Africa, never plundered Africa, and has always treated African countries equally. (People’s Daily app)

Russia expels diplomats from 23 countries over Skripal spat

Russia announced the expulsion of diplomats from 23 countries on Friday in a wave of retaliatory measures against the West in the biggest wave of tit-for-tat expulsions in recent years.

These expulsions are in response to the UK, US and nearly 30 other countries expelling Russian diplomats over the poisoning of former Russian Spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter earlier this month. (People’s Daily app)

Myanmar’s president-elect U Win Myint sworn into office

Myanmar's President-elect U Win Myint was sworn into office on Friday and pledged to pursue three main objectives as his priorities during his inauguration speech.

The objectives are law enforcement and people's socio-economic development; national reconciliation and domestic peace; and amendment of the constitution for the establishment of a democratic federal union. 

U Win Myint, former speaker of the House of Representatives, won the presidential election on Wednesday.

The election was hosted by the Union Parliament to fill the vacancy left by U Htin Kyaw, who announced his resignation last week, citing health reasons. (People’s Daily app)

Local US officials vow to continue courting Chinese investments

While US President Donald Trump has gained attention for proposing massive tariffs on Chinese exports, American state and city officials are still making efforts to boost ties with China.

A recent report by Bloomberg saw various state governors, city mayors and other officials vow to continue working with partners in China, despite Trump’s apparent determination to slap up to $60 billion worth of tariffs on the country.

The mayor of California’s West Sacramento, Christopher Cabaldon, backed Bloomberg’s report, saying “cities and mayors have an important role to play in keeping America open to business and attracting investments that inject dollars and energy and jobs.”

Mike Preston, Arkansas’ executive director of the economic development body, told Bloomberg that he and other state officials were “not shy about talking about our relationship with China.”

The Rhodium Group reported in a 2017 study that China pumped more than $109 billion into the US between 2000 and 2016 and helped create some 80,000 jobs were created between 2000 and 2014. (People’s Daily app)

Lecturer defends video game course offered at China’s top university

A video game course at China's prestigious Peking University recently led to a heated debate on Chinese social media, with some complaining it "damages the future of teenagers."

Chen Jiang, professor at the School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science at Peking University, said he expected controversy over the course’s subject matter, but also noted its positive support from the media, the online community, and university students.

Chen explained that the course teaches students about the video game industry and video game research and development.

Roughly 200 students have enrolled in the class since registration opened. (People’s Daily app)

No British referees at World Cup for first time since 1938

No British referees will take part in this year's World Cup in Russia, the first such absence in 80 years.

The list of referees and assistant referees published by FIFA on Thursday confirmed officials from 46 countries but none from England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. (People’s Daily app)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

Today’s quote is from Greek philosopher Aristotle:

“The whole is more than the sum of its parts.”

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