Fresh Start: Podcast News (8/28/2018 Tue.)
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi pledges to bring benefits to people through Belt and Road Initiative

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President Xi Jinping on Monday underlined thorough and solid cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to benefit people in countries involved and build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addressed a symposium held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, marking BRI’s fifth anniversary.

Xi stressed the initiative serves as a solution for China to participate in global opening-up and cooperation, improve global economic governance, promote common development and prosperity, and build a community with a shared future for humanity.

China's trade with Belt and Road countries has exceeded $5 trillion and outward direct investment has amounted to over $60 billion, creating over 200,000 local jobs, he said.

Xi asked for efforts to push for progress in Belt and Road projects, especially those delivering real benefits to local people, and keep expanding the market while maintaining the balance of trade. (Xinhua)

Chinese New Year officially recognized in California

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California Senators Richard Pan and Scott Wiener announced on Sunday that California will designate Lunar New Year as a day of special significance and will require the Governor to honor the Lunar New Year annually.

Pan and Wiener proposed Senate Bill 892 that will officially recognize the Chinese holiday during the month of January.

The bill was recently passed by the state legislature and sent to Governor Jerry Brown where he signed it last Friday. 

Under the terms of the new bill, public schools and educational institutions will be encouraged to conduct activities recognizing the traditions and cultural significance of the Lunar New Year. 

Special attention will be given to the contributions Asians and Pacific Islanders have made to California.

Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is the most important annual event for Chinese.

In San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest and largest Chineses neighborhood outside of Asia, and dates back to the 1860s. 

The Chinese New Year Parade is ranked among the top 10 parades in the world. (Xinhua)

South Korea says Pompeo's canceled visit impacts N. Korea liaison office plans

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South Korea said on Monday the abrupt cancellation of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's trip to North Korea is having an "effect" on a controversial inter-Korean liaison office it planned to open this month.

US President Donald Trump abruptly canceled his top diplomat's planned trip on Friday, publicly acknowledging for the first time that his effort to get Pyongyang to denuclearize had stalled since his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The office, which the South Korean government said planned to open by August, had raised concerns the office could violate UN and US sanctions against North Korea. (CGTN)

Turkey, Iran, Russia presidents to hold summit over Syrian crisis 

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Presidents of Iran, Russia, and Turkey will hold a trilateral summit in Iran on September 7 as part of the Astana peace process over the Syrian crisis, Turkish officials said Monday.

The summit will be held in the northern Iranian city of Tabriz, according to broadcaster TRT Haber.

The three countries have been mediating a peace process since 2016. (Xinhua)

Nasdaq passes 8,000-point threshold for first time

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Wall Street's tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index passed the 8,000-point mark for the first time on Monday, underscoring an equities rally driven by optimism from US trade negotiations with Mexico.

The Nasdaq passed the threshold at 1359 GMT and was up 0.8 percent at 8,012.03.

Stocks have rallied Monday, adding to Friday's records, as US and Mexican negotiators in Washington signal they are closing in on a preliminary deal to rewrite the North American Free Trade Agreement. (AFP)

Didi driver arrested on suspicion of murdering female passenger

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Zhong Yuan, a ride-hail driver who is suspected of killing a female passenger was arrested in Yueqing, Zhejiang Province on Monday.  

Zhong was accused of robbery, rape and intentional homicide, said local authorities.

Didi Chuxing, China’s largest ride-hail company, suspended services and vowed to intensify safety procedures on Sunday, following what was the second murder case involving passengers using the Hitch-ride share service.

The murder victim, a woman surnamed Zhao, was found Saturday by police in Yueqing. (People's Daily app)

China's Zheng and Huang power to gold in Asiad badminton mixed doubles

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Top-seeded Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong of China marched past Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong, China to the badminton mixed doubles crown at the 18th Asian Games here on Monday.

Zheng and Huang withstood little resistance en route to a 21-8, 21-15 victory in half an hour.

The Chinese pair controlled the rhythm throughout the match, and savored their win in a comfortable manner.

Chinese shuttlers continued their winning record in the event after Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei claimed the gold four years ago in Incheon. (Xinhua)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Who is the writer of the comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream?

(Answer: William Shakespeare.)

Today’s quote is from German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 

“The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.”

 (Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon and Terry Guanlin Li)