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Here are today's picks from our editors. 

Beijing 2022 celebrates '1000-Day-to-Go' countdown

Over 10 years since the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing's iconic Olympic Park was under the spotlight again Friday evening as the '1000-Day-to-Go' countdown ceremony got under way to mark the milestone of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

In addition to the set-up of the official 1000-day countdown timer, the Beijing 2022 Olympic Organizing Committee also announced several important updates, including the launch of a new nationwide Winter Olympic documentary channel developed in partnership with Beijing TV, as well as Beijing 2022's highly-anticipated Olympic Volunteer Program. (Xinhua) 

2019 China Brand Day marked in Shanghai

Nearly 200 domestic exhibitors are showcasing their products Friday at the 2019 China Brand Day series held in Shanghai Exhibition Center, which focuses on the exposition of indigenous brands.

The booth area for businesses covers more than 20,000 square meters, where visitors can participate in online and offline interactive activities such as live demonstrations, virtual images, live streaming, online shopping, and interacting with celebrities.

Established in 2017, the China Brand Day is marked on May 10 every year. The theme of this year is "China Brand, World Sharing". (Xinhua) 

US nuke envoy says door remains open for DPRK's return to negotiations

Stephen Biegun, US special representative for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) affairs, said Friday that the door remained open for the DPRK's return to negotiations.

Biegun made the remarks during his courtesy call to South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, according to Seoul's foreign ministry. The US diplomat arrived Wednesday for his four-day trip.

The remark came a day after the DPRK fired two unidentified projectiles, presumed to be short-range missiles, from its northwestern region. (Xinhua) 

EU to mark 10th anniversary of Eastern Partnership

The European Union (EU), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine are set to mark the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership with a number of events in Brussels on May 13-14, said the European Commission on its website.

The EU launched the Eastern Partnership in 2009, in an effort to "promote economic integration and European values" in the six Eastern European countries.

Under the framework, leaders from the EU member states and the six Eastern Partner countries meet every other year in Eastern Partnership Summits. The previous summit was held in Brussels in 2017. (Xinhua) 

Asian civilization exhibition kicks off in Beijing

The Asian Civilization Exhibition, held by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, opened Friday at the National Art Museum of China, Beijing.

Titled "Shared Inspiration -- Asian Art Exhibition," the event will showcase 130 pieces of art created by 120 artists from 41 countries, including China, India, Japan and Pakistan.

Within the three themed areas, different art pieces, such as wash paintings, oil paintings and sculptures, are exhibited to demonstrate the spirit of Chinese culture, the uniqueness of Asian civilization and the coexisting cultural origins among Asian countries. (Xinhua) 

Chinese scientists develop virtual nuclear power plant for safety assessment

Chinese scientists have developed a virtual nuclear power plant within a digital society, a software program to help evaluate the safety and efficiency of nuclear energy systems.

Nuclear safety is a key issue in the development of nuclear energy. Advanced numerical simulations can restore the complex physical processes as much as possible and predict nuclear energy system behavior and safety performance.

Developed by scientists from the Institute of Nuclear Energy Safety Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the system uses information technology to establish an integrated simulation platform for the whole environment of the nuclear power plant. (Xinhua) 

Chinese runner finishes his journey from the South to the North Pole

A 49-year-old running enthusiastic from China's Guizhou Province has accomplished the extraordinary feat of running from the South Pole to North Pole.

It took Bai Bin a total of 433 days to travel between the two poles. Along the way, he passed through 65 cities in 13 countries, including the United States, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Peru, and Ecuador. His 24,110-kilometer journey is equivalent to 600 marathons.

Bai arrived at the North Pole on Wednesday. (China Plus) 

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Who invented the electric light bulb?

(Answer: Thomas Edison.)

Today's quote is from English poet William Blake (1757-1827).

"The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest."

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Brian Lowe, Elaine Yue Lin, and Da Hang. Music by Eugene Loner.)