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Here are today's picks from our editors. 

Chinese president receives honorary doctorate from Russian university

Chinese President Xi Jinping was awarded an honorary doctorate from Russia's St. Petersburg State University on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the awarding ceremony.

In a speech delivered after being awarded the certificate by the university's rector, Xi said he feels honored to receive an honorary doctorate from St. Petersburg State University.

The university, he said, is a world-renowned and time-honored academic institution which has made remarkable contributions to the scientific, cultural and educational development of Russia and the whole world, and produced many sinologists excelling in both the Chinese language and culture.

Xi expressed hope that the two countries will constantly expand educational exchanges and cooperation, promote their own fine culture, and learn from each other, so as to cultivate more talents for their respective development. (Xinhua) 

94 telecom fraud suspects extradited to China from Spain

A group of 94 suspects, escorted by Chinese police, flew to Beijing from Spain on Friday morning, the first ever delivery of Chinese telecom fraud suspects on this scale from Europe.

The 94 individuals, all from Taiwan, were among the 237 suspects detained in Spain in a three-year joint operation against cross-border telecom fraud, said the Ministry of Public Security in a press release.

The joint operation started in 2016 based on leads from initial investigations into several serious telecom fraud cases in China, each of which implicated at least $1.45 million of funds. (Xinhua) 

Undone by Brexit, May steps down as Conservative leader

British Prime Minister Theresa May’s time as Conservative Party leader ended Friday, not with a bang but a whimper.

May, who announced her departure two weeks ago after her career was undone by the Brexit mess, formally stepped down in a private exchange of letters with the party, leaving almost a dozen Conservative contenders fighting to replace her and resume the stalled quest to lead Britain out of the European Union.

May will remain as acting leader and prime minister for a few weeks while the party picks a successor, who will become the next prime minister. (AP) 

Russian warship avoids collision with US cruiser in East China Sea

Russian anti-submarine destroyer Admiral Vinogradov managed to avoid a collision with US guided-missile cruiser Chancellorsville in the East China Sea on Friday, with the Russian Defense Ministry claiming the latter made a dangerous maneuver.

The Russian Pacific Fleet said a detachment of Pacific Fleet ships and a carrier group of the US Navy were moving along parallel routes in the southeastern part of the East China Sea, when the US cruiser suddenly changed its direction and crossed the Russian ship's course at a distance of some 50 meters. (Xinhua) 

US slaps new sanctions on Iran

US Treasury announced on Friday that it has imposed sanctions on Iran's petrochemical industry, including its largest petrochemical holding group, accusing them of supporting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) financially.

The new sanctions blacklisted Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC) and its big network of 39 subsidiary petrochemical companies and foreign-based sales agents, said the Treasury in a statement.

In recent weeks, Washington has ratcheted up pressure on Tehran with a series of sanctions, designations and military threats. (Xinhua) 

At least 17 dead after bus hits overhead sign in Dubai

At least 17 people died and five others were injured when a bus hit an overhead road sign in Dubai on Thursday.

The vehicle was carrying 31 passengers when the accident happened at 4:40pm local time, according to local police.

An investigation is underway. (CGTN) 

14 lions escape from S. Africa's Kruger National Park

Communities around Phalaborwa, in South Africa’s Limpopo Province, have been alerted after 14 lions escaped from Kruger National Park.

Wildlife rangers have been deployed to the area to ensure the animals do not endanger residents, local officials said on Friday.

The escape of the 14 lions comes after a two-year-old boy was killed by a leopard Tuesday night. (Xinhua) 

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What did the baseball glove say to the ball?

(Answer: Catch you later.)

Today's quote is from French dramatist Pierre Corneille (1606-1684).

"The manner of giving is worth more than the gift."

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