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Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi sends congratulatory message to African Union summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday warmly congratulated African countries and their people on the opening of the African Union (AU) summit in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania.

In his message to the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU, Xi said that the AU is a banner of unity and strength and actively pushes forward the process of African integration.

African countries continue to speak in one voice on major international and regional issues and their ability to safeguard peace and security has increasingly strengthened, Xi said.

Xi said he looks forward to participating in the Beijing summit together with African leaders to discuss plans for the development of China-Africa cooperation to improve the well being of Chinese and Africans and promote world peace and development. (Xinhua – People’s Daily app)

China’s import tariff cuts take effect

China’s massive import tariff cuts on some 1,500 consumer products ranging from automobiles to cosmetics go into effect Sunday in effor1s aimed at opening-up the country’s economy and to meet consumption upgrades.

A detailed list released by the Ministry of Finance on May 31 revealed the 1,449 imported consumer products and the new reduced tax rates. 

The products include apparel, cosmetics, home appliances and medicine, with an average tax rate lowered to 6.9 percent from 15.7 percent, the ministry said in a statement.

Cutting import tariffs will also encourage domestic enterprises to improve product quality and production efficiency and benefit structural adjustment, Xinhua reported. (CGTN – People’s Daily app)

South Korea, North Korea restore military battleship hotline

On Sunday, South and North Korea restored a military battleship hotline between one another, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing Seoul's defense ministry.

The ministry reportedly said that military officials from both sides of the peninsula normalized the battleship hotline to prevent accidental skirmishes in waters near the Western region inside the Korean maritime border. 

Earlier in the day, while patrolling waters near Yeonpyeong Island, a South Korean vessel called a North Korean ship via international radio, who was able to reply immediately. 

The restored hotline was severed in 2008. (Xinhua – People’s Daily app)

UNESCO high official hails China's heritage conservation efforts

In a sidelines interview with Xinhua News Agency at the 42nd World Heritage Committee meeting in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, Mechtild Rossler, director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Center, lauded China’s contributions to their world heritage sites.

"I visited China for the first time in 1993, when I climbed the Mount Huangshan and was impressed by the diverse natural beauty," said Rossler, China is also renowned for its close interaction and integration with people and nature Rossler explained, referring to Mount Taishan, a world heritage site known for its natural and historic cultural values.

The heritage conference will run through July 4, and this year a total of 28 nominations will be considered for induction into UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The list currently includes over 1,000 sites, of which 52 are in China. (Xinhua – People’s Daily app)

Australia shelves MH370 memorial after relatives protest

Plans to erect a memorial honoring the passengers and crew of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 were shelved by Australia on Sunday after protests by relatives of the victims.

The final resting place of the Boeing 777, which had 239 people on board when it disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014, is still unknown despite two massive underwater searches off Australia's west coast.

The Western Australia state and federal governments in 2014 flagged plans to build a monument in Perth, but the relatives said they did not want it created until the plane was found.

Only three confirmed fragments of MH370 have been found, all of them on western Indian Ocean shores, including a two-meter wing part known as a flaperon.

Mark McGowan, the state’s premier, said in a statement. "It was decided in the best interests of all concerned not to proceed with the memorial at this point in time. We are very confident, after consulting with the Australian relatives, that we have made the right call." (AFP)

Zimbabwe grants visa on arrival for Chinese tourists

The Zimbabwean government has officially begun its visa on arrival program for Chinese tourists visiting the African nation. 

Starting July 1, Chinese nationals, whether travelling in a group or alone, can receive tourist visas at any of the country's ports of entry, according to the latest easing in visa policies.

Zimbabwean authorities are hoping to attract at least 100,000 Chinese tourists in the next three years. (China Plus – People’s Daily app).

Russian shootout sends Spain home, Croatia advances

In what arguably could be remembered as one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, Russia eliminated Spain after surviving two hours of dominance by the 2010 champions in a 1-1 draw but later winning the match in a 4-3 shootout.

Russia’s captain and goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev saved spot-kicks from Jorge “Koke” Resurreccion and Iago Aspas, while four of his teammates all scored against the Spanish side.

Sunday’s victory puts the Russian side in the quarter finals for the first time ever in the World Cup tournament.

Croatia and Denmark battled it out on Sunday at Novgorod Stadium. 

Denmark scored in the opening minute in one of the fastest goals scored at this year’s tournament. The Danish lead did not last long as Croatia answered with the equalizer in the fourth minute. With the match tied even after overtime play, it was another penalty kick shootout that would determine the winner.

For the first time since 1998, Croatia will advance to the Quarterfinals after wining 3-2 during their shootout against the Danes.

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day

In our solar system, which planet has the shortest day? (Jupiter)

Today’s quote is from Irish poet W.B. Yeats

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper,” Irish poet W.B. Yeats

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Terry Guanlin Li, and Lance Crayon)