Fresh Start: Podcast News (1/24/2020 Fri.)
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Happy Lunar New Year!

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi stresses racing against time to reach Chinese Dream

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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday stressed racing against time and keeping abreast with history to reach the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

"Time and history wait for no one as they are both on the side of hard workers," said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Xi made the remarks while addressing a Chinese Lunar New Year reception held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Under the strong leadership of the CPC, all members of the Party, armed forces and people of all ethnic groups must fear no wind or wave, rise up to challenges and keep marching toward the glorious goal of national rejuvenation and the great prospect of building a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi said. (Xinhua)

Wuhan to build local hospital in six days to receive patients

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Faced with the rapidly changing situation of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Wuhan government officials will establish a special hospital to receive patients.

The hospital is required to be ready within six days, according to local authorities. 

China's transport ministry announced Thursday the suspension of road and waterway passenger inbound transport services to Wuhan.

All roads and waterway passenger transport services to Wuhan, where the new coronavirus originated, are suspended, the Ministry of Transport said on Thursday. 

China's railway operator will also allow travelers nationwide to cancel their tickets free of charge.

The measure will go into effect on Friday as part of efforts to control the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, said China State Railway Group. (Xinhua-Global Times-CGTN)

Too early to declare novel coronavirus a global emergency: WHO

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The International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on the new coronavirus convened again on January 23 in Geneva, Switzerland. World Health Organization (WHO) officials said it would not declare China as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). 

The committee said it is still too early to declare a public health emergency of international concern, given the restrictive and binary nature of the coronavirus.

Five previous PHEIC declarations that have been issued include the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, the 2014 polio declaration, the 2014 outbreak of Ebola in Africa, the 2015–16 Zika virus epidemic, and the Kivu Ebola epidemic in 2018. (People's Daily app)

Spring Festival gala poised for live broadcast

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The Chinese Spring Festival Gala will be broadcast live at 8:00 pm on January 24, the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, as the last dress rehearsal wrapped late Wednesday, said the production company China Media Group.

The gala, which usually runs over four hours, will feature pop songs, crosstalk, and sketch comedies, as well as other art forms, all of which mirror trending stories of common Chinese from the past year, the media conglomerate said.

The gala will be presented worldwide on almost 600 media platforms, it added. (Xinhua)

US is adopting new rules to prevent 'birth tourism'

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The US State Department is adopting new visa rules that will make it tougher for pregnant foreigners to visit the US, aiming to crack down on “birth tourism.”

A visa application will be denied if consular officers ascertain the primary purpose of the visit is to give birth, according to the rules in the Federal Register. 

The new rules, which were unveiled on Thursday, will take effect Friday. (People's Daily app)

Zion Williamson makes NBA debut

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After sitting out the first 44 games of the regular season due to injury, Zion Williamson, the 19-year-old Pelicans forward and the first pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, finally made his debut on Wednesday at the Smoothie King Center. 

Williamson got his first point in the second quarter as he grabbed an offensive rebound and put it in the basket.

During the fourth quarter, Williamson showed his talents by burying a 3-pointer from downtown, the first of four in a row. 

Williamson’s 17 points in the fourth quarter matched the best record by any rookie in 20 years. 

Williamson finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Though his team lost to San Antonio Spurs in 121-117. (CGTN)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Lake Chapala is the largest freshwater lake in which country?

(Answer: Mexico.) 

Today’s quote is from American politician Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). 

"Diligence is the mother of good luck."

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, Elaine Yue Lin, and Paris Yelu Xu. Music by Eugene Loner.)