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

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Premier Li calls for healthy, stable China-Japan ties 

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang calls for healthy and stable relations with Japan.

He made the call in his meeting with the speaker of Japan’s House of Representatives.

He says the two countries benefit from free trade, and should safeguard multilateralism, advocate a rules-based international order and a free trade system.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship.(Xinhua)

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Cancellation of East Asian Youth Games the right decision: Mainland spokesperson 

A Chinese mainland spokesperson says it was the right decision for the East Asian Olympic Committee to cancel next year's East Asian Youth Games, originally scheduled to be held in Taiwan.

This is due to some provocative actions by some groups on the island.

In 2014, the committee granted the city of Taichung the right to host the games to support the promotion of the Olympics and development of sports in Taiwan.

However, the spokesperson said some political forces and "Taiwan independence" elements on the island have flagrantly challenged the "Olympic model.”(Xinhua)

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US to offer $12 bln in compensation to its farmers

The Trump administration unveils a 12-billion US dollar aid program for American farmers.

This follows the effects of the growing international trade war.

The White House says the aid is aimed at protecting the interests of soybean, pork and other farmers and reducing the negative impact of tax-raising measures by US trading partners.

Soybeans prices fell sharply after China imposed tariffs in response to American levies on Chinese imports.(CGTN)

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22 killed, over 20 injured in suicide attack in Pakistan's Quetta 

At least 22 people were killed and over 20 others injured in a suicide attack near a polling station in Pakistan's southwest Quetta city.

The city police chief said that a suicide bomber riding on a motorcycle attacked a police vehicle near a polling station.

Hospital officials said the death toll might rise as several of the injured are in critical condition.

Pakistanis started voting in the country's general elections on Wednesday for the next central and provincial governments. (Xinhua)

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Greek authorities pledge full support to fire-stricken areas, as country mourns 74 casualties

Greek political leaders pledge full and immediate support to the fire-stricken areas in Attica.

This, as the country mourns at least 74 dead. 

July 24 was supposed to have been a day of celebration in Greece, as it was the day democracy was restored after a seven-year military dictatorship.

But Greeks faced the deadliest tragedy caused by wildfires in over a decade.(Xinhua)

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Bodies of 17 recovered after Laos dam disaster: Thai consul official

The bodies of 17 people have been recovered after flash floods caused by a dam breach in Laos.

A wall of water was unleashed Monday after parts of the dam were washed away.

That sent floods surging downstream, sweeping away homes and leaving an unknown number of people missing.

Laos is criss-crossed by a vast network of rivers, and scores of dams are being built or planned.(Xinhua)

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Polling for Pakistan's general elections starts 

And Pakistan holds general elections.

Voters are electing a new government for the next five years with hopes of bringing economic progress and stability to the country.

Over 3,000 candidates are vying for 272 seats in the National Assembly.

More than 8,000 others are competing for 577 seats in the four provincial assemblies.(Xinhua)

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

(Produced by David Nye, Qu Qiuyan and Zhao Dantong)