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Here are today’s picks from our editors.
Xi highlights poverty relief, high-quality development, environmental protection
Chinese President Xi Jinping has underscored efforts to push forward poverty alleviation, promote high-quality development, enhance environmental protection, and ensure and improve people's well-being.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his inspection tour of Northwest China's Gansu Province from Monday to Thursday.
During the tour, Xi called for confidence, innovation, concrete actions, and solidarity in building a beautiful and prosperous Gansu. (Xinhua)
Huawei heads list of China's top 500 private firms
China on Thursday unveiled its latest rankings for its 500 largest private enterprises, with tech giant Huawei atop the list amid sound development of the country's private businesses.
Huawei topped the list with a revenue of $102 billion in 2018. Top companies also include HNA Group, Suning, Amer International, Evergrande, JD.com, Country Garden, Hengli Group, Legend Holdings, and Gome Holdings.
To be listed, an enterprise needed to have revenue exceeding $2.6 billion last year. (Xinhua)
UK PM Johnson says Britain must leave EU on October 31, deal or no deal
"We must leave the European Union on October 31, deal or no deal,” said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Johnson added he wants a deal and he was "powerfully encouraged" by talks on Wednesday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.
"In the month ahead, we will not find a new withdrawal agreement," said Macron. (Xinhua)
South Korea to end military intelligence-sharing with Japan
South Korea's presidential Blue House said Thursday it decided to scrap the military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan amid the trade spat between the two countries.
South Korea and Japan signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) in November 2016 to share military intelligence on nuclear and missile programs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
South Korea said the Japanese government removed the country from its whitelist has caused a "grave change" in security cooperation between the two sides. (Xinhua)
Brazilian president blames NGOs for starting fires in Amazon rainforest
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday blamed non-governmental organizations (NGO) for increasing wildfires in the Amazon rainforest in the country's north, but his claim was refuted by environmentalists.
The remarks enraged environmentalists who argued the surge of fires in several Amazonian states this month was caused by farmers clearing land.
Data from the National Institute for Space Research show that the number of forest fires in Brazil soared by 82 percent from January to August this year compared to the same period last year. (Xinhua)
Lakers to play two preseason games in China
The Los Angeles Lakers released its 2019-20 NBA preseason schedule on Wednesday, with two games to be held in China.
The club will play six games between October 5 through the 18, including four in California against the Golden State Warriors, and then two games against the Brooklyn Nets, with one in Shanghai and the other in Shenzhen. (Xinhua)
Vienna's giant panda Yuan Yuan to celebrate 20th birthday
The giant panda Yuan Yuan based at the Schonbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria, is set to turn 20 years old on Friday with celebrations having already begun, according to the zoo.
The 120-kg panda was brought to the zoo from his native China in April as a mate for female Yang Yang.
The two live separately outside of mating season due to pandas being solitary animals by nature.
The zoo said the coming spring will tell if the two bond and produce offspring. (Xinhua)
Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.
And now for the Question of the Day:
What does the roman numeral C represent?
(Answer: 100.)
Today's quote is from English poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744).
"Praise undeserved, is satire in disguise."
(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, Elaine Yue Lin, and Paris Yelu Xu. Music by Eugene Loner.)