People's Daily Tonight: Podcast News (7/19/2019 Fri.)
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This is People's Daily Tonight, your news source from China.

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US warship destroys Iranian drone: Trump

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U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that a U.S. warship destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said that USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship of the U.S. Navy, destroyed the drone that threatened the U.S. warship by flying within 1,000 yards of it and ignored multiple warnings.

Trump said the drone was "threatening the safety of the ship and the ship's crew," calling the downing a "defensive action.”

Citing U.S. defense officials, CNN reported that the Iranian drone was brought down by counter-drone jamming equipment operated by U.S. marines aboard the USS Boxer.(Xinhua)

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South Korean dies from self-immolation near Japan's embassy

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A 78-year-old South Korean man died hours after setting himself ablaze near the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on Friday, police said, at a time of worsening tensions between Seoul and Tokyo.

The man, surnamed Kim, ignited a fire inside his car in front of the Japanese Embassy.

Police said Kim had phoned an acquaintance earlier to say he planned to self-immolate to express his antipathy toward Japan.

No suicide note was found. Police earlier said flammable materials were found in the car that Kim borrowed from an acquaintance Thursday.

Police said they'll analyze possible evidence from Kim's mobile phone and investigate people concerned to try to determine the exact motive for his action.(AP)

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China's war on drugs gets intensified

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China's narcotics control chief called for increased efforts to crack down on drug-related crimes.

This, even as he stressed that this year's anti-drug work is tasked to create a harmonious and stable social environment for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

State Councilor Zhao Kezhi also called for the strengthening of international law-enforcement cooperation and preventing the spread of new types of drugs.

The number of Chinese drug users was 0.18 percent of the population in 2018.

That’s a drop for the first time in history.(Global Times)

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Profit soars for Microsoft fueled by cloud, business services

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Microsoft on Thursday posted quarterly earnings that trounced expectations, citing growth in partnerships with companies on technology and cloud computing services.

The US technology titan, shifting in recent years to business services from consumer tech, reported its net income rose 49 percent to $13.2 billion.

The results showed the "strongest commercial quarter ever," for Microsoft, said chief financial officer Amy Hood.

"Microsoft is firing on all cylinders now, growing big in growing markets, and even managing growth in mature markets like personal computers.(AFP)

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Flight aborts takeoff at Moscow airport over cockpit smoke

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A flight bound for the Armenian capital of Yerevan was cancelled on its takeoff from an international airport in Moscow on Friday after smoke was detected inside the cockpit.

The Federal Agency for Air Transport said it had formed a special commission to investigate the circumstances and reasons behind the incident.

There were 187 people on board the Boeing 747 plane, and all passengers were evacuated after the accident.

Eight of them were injured.(Xinhua)

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China becomes largest source of foreign tourist in Mongolia in H1

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China has become the largest source of foreign tourist to Mongolia in the first half of 2019, the country's tourism department said Friday.

Chinese tourists accounted for 36.4 percent of total foreign tourist arrivals, holding a monthly leading position since January.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism said it hopes to attract more Chinese tourists to bolster growth in the mining-dependent economy.

The Asian country attracted a total of 529,370 foreign tourists in 2018, up some 11 percent from the previous year, according to the ministry.(Xinhua)

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Trump to nominate Eugene Scalia for labor secretary

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And US President Donald Trump nominated Eugene Scalia as Labor Secretary.

He’s the son of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

The announcement comes less than a week after his previous secretary, Alexander Acosta, resigned amid renewed criticism of his handling of a 2008 secret plea deal with wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Epstein was indicted earlier this month for sexually abusing underage girls.(Xinhua)

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

(Produced by David Nye and Bai Yuanqi)