The essential news in 8 stories: from a Syrian truck bomb to self-driving cars

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Truck bomb in Syria kills at least 48

A still image taken from a video obtained by Reuters at the scene where a fuel truck exploded in the center of rebel-held Azaz, near Syria's border with Turkey, January 7, 2017. /CFP Photo

A truck bomb hit a market in Syria’s rebel-held town of Azaz, near the Turkish border, on Saturday, killing at least 48 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Video of the scenes showed huge clouds of black smoke as firefighters and rescuers worked to put out fires and help survivors. Reports said this was the deadliest attack yet to hit Azaz, despite regular bombings in the northern Syrian town. Rebels have accused the ISIL terror group of being behind the attack. No group has yet claimed responsibility. Dozens were also wounded in the bombing, which hit a crowded commercial area near a courthouse in the early afternoon.

Only “fools” against good Russia relations, says Trump

This file photo taken on October 19, 2016 shows Donald Trump during the final presidential debate at the University of Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada. / CFP Photo

US President-elect Donald Trump slammed critics who have questioned his apparent close ties to Russia as “fools” in a series of tweets following the publication of an intelligence report that found Moscow interfered in the presidential election. “Having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. Only “stupid” people, or fools, would think that it is bad!” Trump tweeted. He has repeatedly rejected claims that Russian hacking impacted the election’s results. Trump also made another key cabinet pick on Saturday, nominating Indiana Senator Dan Coats as US director of national intelligence.

Tsai makes US stopover amid one-China controversy

Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen during a press conference in Taipei on March 15, 2016. /CFP Photo‍

Eyes were on Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen as she made a stopover in the US on Saturday on her way to Central America. A phone call between Tsai and US President-elect Donald Trump sparked controversy last month, raising questions about whether Washington might abandon its decades-long one-China policy. Beijing criticized the phone call and reiterated that Taiwan is part of China, while the White House insisted it remained committed to the one-China policy. Trump’s team said neither the president-elect nor anyone on his team will meet with Tsai during her stopover. The Taiwan leader is also due to stop in San Francisco on her way back to Taiwan next weekend.

China’s Baidu, BAIC to cooperate on self-driving cars

Xu Heyi, chairman of Beijing Automobile Works Co., left, speaks with Ya-Qin Zhang, president of Baidu Inc., at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., on Friday, Jan. 6, 2017. /CFP Photo

Chinese internet giant Baidu and state-owned automobile manufacturer BAIC are joining forces to develop smart vehicles. The two companies plan to launch a car equipped with Baidu technology in April, and road test a self-driving car by the end of the year, BAIC’s chairman Xu Heyi told Bloomberg at the CES 2017 consumer electronics show in Las Vegas. Baidu and BAIC will also work together to develop other applications, including high-definition maps, and set up a research lab to work on intelligent vehicle technology, according to China Daily.

Father of Portugal’s democracy Mario Soares dies, aged 92

This file photo taken on January 08, 2006 shows former Portuguese president Mario Soares, then Presidential candidate, appearing at a campaign rally in Faro, south Portugal. /CFP Photo

Former Portuguese president Mario Soares, seen as the father of Portugal’s democracy, died on Saturday, aged 92, two weeks after being taken to hospital. The founder of the Socialist Party, he helped usher his country into the European Economic Community in 1986 and served as president from 1986 to 1996. A former prime minister and foreign minister, he was also later a European MP. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa praised Soares as “a fighter for freedom,’ while tributes poured in from leaders at home and abroad. Portugal has declared three days of mourning.

Hong Kong, Taiwan artists missing from Chinese mainland platforms

Vivian Hsu (L) and Luo Zhixiang perform during a concert in Taipei on July 29, 2016. /CFP Photo

Recordings by several Hong Kong and Taiwan pop artists have disappeared from ‍mainland streaming music platforms, the Global Times reports. Some have argued this may be due to the artists’ political leanings, while others said it was because of music licensing issues, the Chinese daily said. Top “Mandopop” artists like Vivian Xu, Bobby Chen and Anthony Wong, were missing from major streaming platforms including QQ Music, NetEase Cloud Music, Kugou Music and Baidu Music. Neither the authorities nor the music companies have explained why, according to the Global Times.

Cote d’Ivoire says deal reached after mutiny

Issiaka Ouattara (C), spokesperson of mutinous soldiers, speaks to journalists after he negotiated with Cote d'Ivoire's defense minister (unseen) on January 7, 2017 in Bouake. / CFP Photo

Cote d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara announced on Saturday that a deal had been reached with soldiers after a two-day mutiny over pay and working conditions. It was unclear however whether the mutiny was over, as reports said the soldiers appeared to reject the agreement. They also held the defense minister and negotiators, who came to discuss the deal, for several hours, before releasing them. The mutiny began on Friday, as soldiers seized Bouake, Cote d’Ivoire’s second city. Soldiers elsewhere in the country later joined in.

China invests in Sri Lanka economic zone

In this photograph taken on February 10, 2015, shows a general view of the port facility at Hambantota. /CFP Photo

China is pouring big money in Sri Lanka. On Saturday, the two countries launched a new investment zone in the southern district of Hambantota. After already helping to develop the port, Beijing plans to invest over 5 billion US dollars over the next three to five years in the economic zone, which should also create some 100,000 jobs, China’s ambassador Yi Xianliang said. The zone is part of a $50 billion development project by Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena to revive the economy. ‍