This is People’s Daily Tonight, your news source from China.
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China's foreign trade up 7.9 pct in H1, surplus down
China’s foreign trade rises to $2.1 trillion in the first half of the year.
That’s 7.9 percent higher than the same period last year.
Exports were up 4.9 percent, while imports rose 11.5 percent.
But that reduced its trade surplus by 27 percent.
Trade between China and its largest trading partner, the European Union, rose 5.3 percent, and 5.2 percent with the US. (Xinhua)
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Heavy rain triggers flood, disrupts traffic in China
Heavy rain continues to drench most parts of China, causing floods and traffic disruptions, forcing people to evacuate and tourist attractions to close.
The second flood peak of the Yangtze River this year has formed in its upper reaches.
This has caused severe flooding in many parts of the river.
More than 80,000 residents have been affected in Chongqing Municipality, and have been relocated. (Xinhua)
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Trump blasts May's Brexit strategy on UK visit
US President Donald Trump blasts Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit strategy during his visit to Britain.
This, as mass protests greet him.
Trump told The Sun newspaper that May's plan for post-Brexit ties with the EU would "probably kill" the prospects for a trade deal with the US.
The comments could plunge the transatlantic "special relationship" to new lows.
It also makes for extremely awkward talks with May when the two meet at her country retreat. (AFP)
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Pilot of Chinese airline was smoking in engine room: authorities
The Civil Aviation Administration of China says a local commercial flight from Hong Kong to Dalian dipped on its route because the flight crew mistakenly turned off the air-conditioning.
The CAAC says that led to a shortage of oxygen in the passenger cabin.
Alarms sounded, oxygen masks dropped, and the flight crew followed protocol, lowering the elevation of the plane.
Officials found out that the co-pilot was smoking e-cigarettes in the engine room.
He wanted to turn off the circulation fan but accidentally switched off the air-conditioning.
An investigation is ongoing. (People's Daily app)
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Rescue squad to retrieve the last body of Phuket's boat tragedy: Thai Navy
The death toll from Thailand's boat tragedy rises to 47.
Search and rescue squads from Thailand and China say they would try to retrieve one final body.
A hundred and one people were on the ill-fated boat the Phoenix when the tragedy happened.
Of the 89 tourists on board, 87 of them were Chinese nationals. (People's Daily app)
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Global PC market grows for first time in 6 years: survey
The global personal computer market grew for the first time in six years in the second quarter of 2018.
A market tracker says it was driven by upgrades in the business sector.
The research firm Gartner reported that worldwide PC shipments rose 1.4 percent in the past quarter to 62.1 million units, but says it remains unclear if the sector is seeing a sustainable recovery.
PC sales have been sluggish in recent years as many consumers turn to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, and hold onto their bulkier devices longer. (AFP)
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China's FAST telescope identifies 43 pulsars
And China's Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope has discovered 43 new pulsars since its trial operation began in September 2016.
A pulsar is a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star, which emits two beams of electromagnetic radiation.
Pulsar observations can be used to confirm the existence of gravitational radiation and black holes, and help solve many other major questions in physics. (Xinhua)
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And that’s People’s Daily Tonight. Thanks for joining us.
(Produced by David Nye and Qu Qiuyan)