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Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi stresses aesthetic education for youth's healthy growth

President Xi Jinping on Thursday stressed the importance of doing a good job of strengthening aesthetic education to ensure the healthy growth of the country's youth, both physically and mentally.

Xi, also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a letter replying to eight senior professors with the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) who wrote to him about China's aesthetic education.

In his letter, Xi expressed appreciation for their contributions and achievements in both aesthetic education and fine arts.

Noting that aesthetic education plays an important role in shaping a more beautiful mind, Xi said it is necessary to improve it, as the professors had suggested.

Also, as the CAFA celebrates its centennial anniversary, Xi called on the institution to adhere to the right direction in education and implement the CPC's education policy to foster students with love and create great works of art. (Xinhua)

Xiongan seeks more overseas investment

Xiongan New Area, a national-level economic zone neighboring Beijing in Hebei Province, said it will actively attract foreign investment, advanced technologies and management experience to support the planning and construction of the area, according to a statement issued by the local government.

The region will promote the centralized operation and management of foreign exchange funds of multinational corporations, according to the statement released last week.

The region will attract more foreign investment in areas including big data and the internet of things, information technology, biopharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence and smart equipment, manufacturing of high-end equipment, new energy and new material segments, in addition to modern service sectors and modern agriculture, according to the statement. (Xinhua)

Pentagon says no change on US military posture regarding Korean Peninsula 

US Pentagon spokesperson Dana White said on Wednesday that the US has not changed its military posture regarding the Korean Peninsula after the historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June.

"The US-#ROK alliance remains ironclad. Our forces maintain a high state of military readiness and vigilance in full support of a diplomatically-led effort to bring peace, prosperity and stability to the #KoreanPeninsula," White added.

US Defense Secretary James Mattis said on Tuesday that the US has no plans to suspend any more military exercises with South Korea. (Xinhua)

Space station reports 'leak', crew not in danger

The International Space Station crew on Thursday was repairing a small "leak" most likely caused by a collision with a small meteorite, the head of the Russian space agency said, adding the incident presented no danger.

NASA confirmed the problem, saying it consisted of a "minute pressure leak" and that the crew was repairing it.

Six men are currently orbiting Earth aboard the ISS, including NASA astronauts Drew Feustel, Ricky Arnold and Serena Aunon, as well as Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency and two Russian cosmonauts -- Oleg Artemyev and Sergei Prokopyev. (AFP)

Sea trials of China's second aircraft carrier safe, smooth: spokesperson

Sea trials of China's second aircraft carrier have been conducted and achieved the anticipated goals, China's Ministry of National Defense said Thursday.

Wu Qian, spokesperson for the ministry, said the aircraft carrier left a dock at Dalian Shipyard in northeast China's Liaoning Province to test its equipment platform and facilities.

Wu said the operation was a normal arrangement in the construction plan of the carrier and its construction is being carried forward steadily in accordance with the plan. (Xinhua)

Suspect nabbed after deadly hotel fire in Harbin 

The public security bureau in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, seized a female suspect on Thursday in connection with a hotel fire that killed 20 people.

Police offered a reward of up to 300,000 yuan ($44,000) for information that assists in finding Li Yanbin, a native of Harbin.

Meanwhile, Beijing Jiufangyuyue Commercial and Trading Co confirmed the identities of the 20 people killed in the blaze.

Officials are also looking into the cause of the fire. (China Plus)

China remains top of Asiad athletics medal tally with 2 more golds

China bagged two gold medals from athletics at the Asian Games on Wednesday, remaining top of the medal tally in the sport.

China's Wang Kaihua beat Japanese Toshikazu Yamanishi to win the men's 20km race walk in his Asian Games debut.

In the women's event, China's Yang Jiayu and Qieyang Shijie both hit the finish line at 1:29:15, a new Asian Games record. Yang was declared gold medalist, while Qieyang got the silver and Japanese Kumiko Okada got the bronze. (Xinhua)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What is the deepest trench in the world?

(Answer: The Mariana Trench, or Marianas Trench, is the deepest point in the world's oceans. It is 11,034 meters deep.)

Today’s quote is from Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh.

“I dream of painting and then I paint my dream.”

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