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Here are today’s picks from our editors.
Xi pledges to make CPC stronger
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has called on the whole Party to implement the Party's organizational line for the new era and make the Party stronger.
Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the national conference on organizational work held in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday.
He required efforts to break new ground in "the great new project of Party building."
"In order to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, our party must have the courage to carry out self-reform to make the Party stronger," Xi said.
Xi stressed the importance of fostering competent officials who are loyal to the Party, have moral integrity, and demonstrate a keen sense of responsibility. (Xinhua – People’s Daily app)
Over 40 countries and regions object to US car tariffs at WTO council
Over 40 WTO members - including the 28 countries of the EU - warned that the US action could seriously disrupt the world market and threaten the WTO system, given the importance of cars to world trade.
Major US trading partners including the European Union (EU), China and Japan voiced deep concern at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Tuesday about the US possibly imposing additional duties on imported vehicles and parts.
Japan, along with Russia, had initiated dialogue at the WTO Council on Trade in Goods, warning that such actions could trigger counter-measures that would see the multilateral trading system collapse, said an inside official.
A Russian delegate said the US is losing its reputation as a trusted trade partner and could launch an investigation that would allow them to slap import tariffs on uranium products. (CGTN – People’s Daily app)
Baidu unveils self-driving bus, world’s ‘most powerful’ AI chip
China's tech giant Baidu announced Wednesday it had begun mass producing the country's first autonomous mini-bus.
Known as the “Apalong,” the 14-seater is roughly one-third the size of a normal bus, and is without a steering wheel, driver's seat, accelerator or brake.
"2018 marks the first year of commercialization for autonomous driving. From the mass production of Apolong, we can truly see that autonomous driving is making great strides --taking the industry from zero to one," said Baidu CEO Li Yanghong.
The mini-buses are slated to enter Japan’s autonomous driving market early next year. They will also have presence at tourist destinations and airports in cities like Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and China’s new megacity Xiong’an.
The tech giant also announced China's first cloud-to-edge AI chip, news platform thepaper.cn reported.
According to Li, the chip was developed independently by Baidu and is said to be “the most powerful AI chip in the industry so far."
The chip can accommodate high performance requirements in a variety of AI settings such as data centers, public clouds and autonomous vehicles. (AFP – People’s Daily app)
Pompeo to meet Mexico’s president-elect
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Mexico next week to meet with President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the State Department announced Tuesday.
Pompeo will head to North Korea on Thursday for talks, and then Tokyo, Hanoi, Abu Dhabi and Brussels before landing in Mexico City on July 13.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump spoke with Obrador over the phone for 30 minutes touching on issues such as border security, trade, and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
"We anticipate that the Secretary will meet with President Enrique Pena Nieto, Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray, and also the President-elect Lopez Obrador," said State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert. (Xinhua – People’s Daily app)
Koreas hold basketball friendly in Pyongyang
Thousands cheered at Ryugyong Chung Ju-yung Gymnasium in Pyongyang as basketball players from North and South Korea entered the building walking hand-in-hand.
Men’s South Korean coach Hur Jae told reporters he was overcome with emotion when visiting the gymnasium named in honor of the late founder of South Korea's Hyundai Group.
The games were scheduled after high-level officials met in June to discuss sports exchanges in line with the spirit of the April 27th summit, where leaders both sides promised to expand cross-border exchanges.
Hur said, “I am back here at the gymnasium after 15 years. Like the first time, I feel tense.” The coach later added, "It feels like something new and reminds me of old memories." (Xinhua – People’s Daily app)
World Cup big guns primed for quarter-final battles
The World Cup hit the pause button on Wednesday as the eight remaining teams geared up for the quarter-finals after England became the final side to qualify following a penalty shootout win against Colombia.
The largest British audience for a live sporting event since the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics watched the shootout - 23.6 million viewers tuned in.
Neymar's Brazil are the favorites to win a record-extending sixth World Cup at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on July 15 but France, Belgium and Uruguay are all in their side of the draw.
England are the only former winners in the bottom half of the draw with host nation Russia, Croatia and Sweden. (AFP)
Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.
And now for the Question of the Day:
At the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia, which teams have advanced to the Quarter Finals?
(Russia, England, Belgium, Brazil, Uruguay, Sweden, France, and Croatia.)
Today’s quote is from American actor Christopher Reeve.
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, and Terry Guanlin Li.)