This is People's Daily Tonight, your news source from China.

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Xi sends congratulatory letter to BRNN's first council meeting

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the first council meeting of the Belt and Road News Network in Beijing.

He stressed that even if the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed by China, the opportunities and outcomes from it are shared with the world.

He said it's exciting to see the media's active and constructive role in weaving a network of BRI partners, and that the BRNN offers a convenient platform for communication and cooperation among the media. (People's Daily app)

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Chinese navy stages parade to mark 70th year

China staged a large-scale naval parade in waters off Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, on Tuesday to mark the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy.

Chinese President and Central Military Commission Chairman Xi Jinping inspected the parade and reviewed 32 vessels of the PLA Navy that sailed in six groups and 39 warplanes that flew in 10 echelons.  

On board the destroyer Xining, Xi also reviewed 18 vessels from 13 countries invited to the parade. (Xinhua)

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Trump, business organization sue US Democratic House chairman

US President Donald Trump and his business organization sued the Democratic chairman of the House oversight committee to block a subpoena that seeks years of the president's financial records.

The complaint became the latest front in the intensifying battle between the president and the Democrats who control the House of Representatives, and are committed to investigating Trump and his finances.

Congressman Elijah Cummings said the president has a long history of trying to use baseless lawsuits to attack his adversaries, but there is simply no valid legal basis to interfere with this duly authorized subpoena from Congress. (AP)

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Death toll jumps to 310 in Sri Lankan multiple bombings

The death toll from eight explosions which rocked Sri Lanka Sunday has risen to 310, while over 500 people have been injured, police said on Tuesday.

Thirty foreigners were among those killed, said the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Police said so far 26 suspects have been arrested from across the country and search operations were ongoing to nab more suspects. (People's Daily app)

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DPRK top leader to visit Russia for talks with Putin

The top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kim Jong-un, will soon visit Russia.

A DPRK news report said Kim will have talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It will be the first official meeting between Kim and Putin.

The visit was initiated by the Russian side, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in an earlier statement, without elaborating.

The meeting could take place in the Russian Far East city of Vladivostok. (Xinhua)

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6.5-magnitude earthquake rattles central Philippines

A 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck Eastern Samar province in the central Philippines on Tuesday, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

The quake struck at 1:37 pm local time, hit at a depth of 63 km, about 19 km northwest of San Julian town in Eastern Samar province.

This is the second earthquake that jolted the Philippines in less than 24 hours. On Monday, a 6.1-magnitude quake hit the country at 5:11 pm local time, killing at least 16 people. (Xinhua)

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1,035 officials punished for environmental misconduct

And China is holding over a thousand government officials accountable for 89 cases that damaged the environment and ecology in eight provinces and autonomous regions.

Northeast China's Jilin Province had the largest number of accountable officials. Other provinces include East China's Shandong and Zhejiang provinces, and South China's Hainan Province.

A notice said more than 20 percent of all those punished were department-level officials. (Global Times)

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And that's People's Daily Tonight.  Thanks for joining us.

(Produced by David Nye and Jenny Huang)