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China, ASEAN arrive at single draft negotiating text for code of conduct in South China Sea

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have arrived at a single draft negotiating text of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday.

Wang made the remarks at the China-ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting.

The draft text will serve as the basis of future COC negotiations.

It is another sign of significant progress in COC negotiations, Wang noted.

"I believe that the negotiations on COC can be speeded up if we exclude external interference," Wang said.

Speaking on the same occasion, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan said ASEAN member states and China have arrived at a single draft negotiating text for COC which will be a living document and the basis of future COC negotiations. (People’s Daily app)

ASEAN confirms commitment to trade liberalization mechanism

Facing storm clouds from a trade war and a disruption of the digital revolution, Southeast Asian countries said they will maintain an open rule-based architecture while upholding free trade and economic integration, at the opening ceremony of the annual foreign ministers’ gathering in Singapore on Thursday.

After shifting its focus to economic cooperation, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) launched its free trade area in 1992 and has become one of the most successful economic groupings in the world, based on the growing middle class and a huge young workforce.

ASEAN will become the fourth largest economy in the world by 2050, said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the annual chair of ASEAN.

“It is important that ASEAN continues to support the multilateral system and work with like-minded partners to deepen our web of cooperation”, Lee said. (People’s Daily app)

Apple becomes 1st private company worth $1 trillion

Apple became the first private company to surpass $1 trillion in stock market value Thursday following its latest surge after reporting strong quarterly earnings.

Shares of Apple briefly hit $207.05 in late-morning trading, before retreating somewhat. The gains came after the iPhone maker reported strong earnings late Tuesday that prompted a two-day rally in the share price. (AFP)

Turkey vows retaliation in crisis with US over pastor

Turkey was on Thursday drawing up retaliatory measures after Washington slapped sanctions on two Turkish ministers in the one of the biggest crises between the two NATO allies in recent years.

Tensions have soared over Turkey's detention on terror charges of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who was first held in October 2016 and was moved to house arrest last week.

The sanctions targeting Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu freeze any property or assets on US soil held by the two ministers, and bar US citizens from doing business with them.

The Turkish foreign ministry warned that the move "will greatly damage constructive efforts" to solve outstanding issues and told Washington it would retaliate. (AFP)

South Korea in consultations with UN to waive sanctions for inter-Korean liaison office

South Korea is in consultations to exempt a joint liaison office with North Korea, which the two sides plan to open this month, from UN sanctions, according to the South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

The liaison office would need oil supplies – and therefore a waiver of sanctions on North Korea – to generate electricity for South Korean officials who stay in the North Korean border town.

Yonhap quoted an unnamed South Korean unification ministry official as saying the government "continued to consult" with relevant parties on the matter.

Both Koreas agreed to set up the joint liaison office in the North Korean border town of Kaesong in August.

Its opening would be part of efforts to implement the Panmunjom Declaration signed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after their first summit meeting on April 27 at the border village of Panmunjom.  (CGTN)

Ministries to curb myopia among teenagers

The Ministry of Education and National Health Commission have released a draft plan to include children's short-sightedness in the government performance evaluation system and also make a number of requirements for schools and parents covering eye care.

The draft plan, now soliciting public suggestions, said indicators to gauge governance will include measures to prevent myopia among teenagers, the percentage of teenagers with myopia and physical health.

Local governments at all levels are forbidden from evaluating education administrative departments and schools only based on student test scores and school enrollment rates, according to the plan.

It also stated the rate of myopia among teenagers in China has remained high in recent years amid the popular use of digital gadgets, and more academic assignments for primary and middle school students. Children with myopia are becoming younger, a big concern for the country’s future. (ECNS)

NBA player visits China to find his roots

NBA player Kyle Anderson transferred this summer to the Memphis Grizzlies from the San Antonio Spurs, and today, he is in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, tracing his roots, Sohu News reported. He says he is one-eighth Chinese.

According to the family, Anderson’s great grandpa Li Chongxin, the grandpa of Kyle’s mother Suzanne, is a Chinese. Li moved from Jamaica to the US around the 1920s.

Anderson’s uncle Donald, a businessman in China for several years, emailed Suzanne indicating he found leads of their ancestry in Shenzhen’s Pinghu after years of searching.

Anderson accompanied his mother Susanna and his girlfriend on a roots-seeking journey to Pinghu. Despite the long-distance flight, everyone was eager and full of excitement.

Anderson is a gifted basketball player with solid potential. Last year, he signed a $37 million, four-year contract with the Grizzlies. (Sohu News - People’s Daily app)

 Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Who developed the first rabies vaccine?

(Answer: French scientists Louis Pasteur and Émile Roux developed the first rabies vaccination in 1885).

Today’s quote is from Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy.

“The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.”

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