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Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi requires resolute ending of military's paid services

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Tuesday stressed resolute efforts to terminate all paid services provided by the armed forces.

Xi made the call while presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on this issue.

Military's paid services generally refer to those provided by the armed forces such as kindergarten education, publishing services, and real estate rentals to the civilian sector.

The implementation allows no exception, discount or makeshift compromise, Xi said, noting that such work is a major decision made by the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission (CMC) aiming to strengthen the armed forces as well as an important part in reforming national defense and the armed forces.

He also stressed that ending military paid services would create a sound environment for building a strong military in the new era.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC, Xi extended Army Day greetings to the personnel of the People's Liberation Army, the Armed Police Force, the militia and the reserve force.

China's Army Day falls on August 1. (Xinhua)

Government to help 120,000 Chinese veterans find jobs 

China's veteran soldier service office is drafting new laws to make sure the rights and interests of the country's military veterans are protected, according to China's State Council Information Office. 

Sun Shaocheng, head of the veteran soldier's office, says they intend to find jobs for at least 120,000 veterans by the end of this year. 

In addition, authorities say they are also able to apply for living allowances while continuing to receive subsidies. (China Plus)

S. Korea, N. Korea share understanding on trial withdrawal of border guard posts 

South and North Korea shared an understanding on the trial withdrawal of guard posts from areas near the inter-Korean border, according to South Korean joint media pool reports.

The result came after military delegations from both sides held general-grade talks on Tuesday at Peace House in the border village of Panmunjom.

The five-member delegations from the two Koreas shared views over the pullout of guard posts inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ), a buffer area separating the countries, on a trial basis.

The military delegations, however, failed to reach an agreement on the issues or announce a joint statement.

The general-level military dialogue between the two Koreas came as the second of its kind after the April 27 summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. (Xinhua)

Thailand asks UK to extradite former PM Yingluck

Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha confirmed Tuesday the government is seeking the extradition of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from the UK.

"We can't arrest wanted criminals in foreign countries, so we must hope that other countries will,” Prayuth said.

Prayuth said Thai police, the attorney-general, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are duty-bound to seek extradition. He also said the success of the extradition request depends on the UK government.

In 2017, Yingluck fled Thailand before she could serve a five-year jail term handed down by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Persons Holding Political Positions. She was charged in connection with her government’s rice-pledging scheme. (People’s Daily app)

Malaysia aviation chief quits over MH370 report

The head of Malaysia's civil aviation regulator resigned Tuesday after an official report found failings in air traffic control when Flight MH370 disappeared.

In a long-awaited report released on Monday, the official investigation team pointed to numerous lapses by air traffic controllers in both Malaysia and Vietnam.

These included failing to initiate "emergency phases" as required after the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board vanished from radar displays.

Flight MH370 vanished over four years ago and remains aviation's greatest mystery.

In a 495-page report, investigators said they still do not know why the plane vanished.(AFP)

Heat wave hits China

A heat wave is sweeping most parts of China, with several regions issuing high temperature alerts.

Areas including Liaoning, Jilin, Chongqing, Hubei, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, saw temperatures between 37 and 39 degrees Celsius, according to the National Meteorological Center on Tuesday (NMC).

Watermelons and ice cream have become daily necessities. Meanwhile, air conditioning sales have soared.

According to the NMC, the heat wave is likely to continue in the Northeast and Northern regions through August 6.

People should reduce outdoor activities, and local authorities should take precautions against fires caused by excessive power loads, the center said. (Xinhua)

World's biggest king penguin colony shrinks 90 percent

The planet's largest colony of king penguins has declined by nearly 90 percent in three decades, alarmed researchers said Monday.

The last time scientists set foot on France's remote Ile aux Cochons -- roughly half way between the tip of Africa and Antarctica -- the island was blanketed by two million of the flightless birds, which stand about three feet tall.

But recent satellite images and photos taken from helicopters show the population has collapsed, with barely 200,000 remaining, according to a study published in Antarctic Science. Climate change may play a role. (AFP)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Which country invented black powder in 9th century? 

(Answer: China.)

Today’s quote is from Austrian musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

“I pay no attention whatever to anybody's praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.”

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, and Raymond Mendoza.)