Fresh Start: Podcast News (1/8/2019 Tue.)
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People's Daily app.

Here are today's picks from our editors.

CPC leadership hears work reports

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The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Monday held a meeting to hear a series of work reports.

The reports were from leading Party members' groups of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the Supreme People's Court (SPC), and the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP), as well as the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting and delivered a speech.

"This year, the 70th anniversary of the founding of the New China, is crucial for China in finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and achieving the first centenary goal," said a statement issued after the meeting.

To address complex and grave international situations, and reform, development and stability tasks faced by China, the leading Party members' groups were urged to closely follow the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core in terms of thinking, political orientation and action. (Xinhua) 

China's air quality improves in 2018

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The air quality in 338 Chinese cities improved in 2018, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said Monday.

A total of 338 cities enjoyed good air quality on 79.3 percent of days last year, up 1.3 percentage points year on year, meeting the air quality target for the year, according to the ministry.

In the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the share of days with good air quality stood at 50.5 percent, a year-on-year increase of 1.2 percentage points, while the PM 2.5 density of the region dropped by 11.8 percent year on year to 60 micrograms per cubic meter, the ministry said. (Xinhua) 

Tesla breaks ground on gigafactory in Shanghai

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US electric carmaker Tesla on Monday broke ground for its Shanghai factory, becoming the first to benefit from a new policy allowing foreign carmakers to set up entirely owned subsidiaries in China.

The new plant, Tesla's first outside of the US, is located in Lingang Area, a high-end manufacturing park in the southeast harbor of Shanghai.

It is designed to hold an annual capacity of 500,000 electric cars.

Tesla signed the agreement with the Shanghai municipal government in July 2018 to build the factory. (Xinhua) 

Gabon government says 'situation under control,' rebels seized

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After an attempted coup by army rebels Monday morning, the government of Gabon declared that the situation was in control and most of the soldiers involved were arrested. The chief military rebel who led a failed coup in Gabon has been arrested and two of his commandos killed after they stormed a public radio station, spokesperson for the government of Gabon said.

Early Monday an army soldier, while flanked by two others holding guns, read a statement saying the military has seized control of the government "to restore democracy" to the country.

No Chinese casualties were initially reported. The Chinese Embassy urged Chinese personnel in Gabon to remain indoors. (People's Daily app) 

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim announces resignation

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World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim announced he will step down from his post on February 1 and join a fund-focused Infrastructure Investment group.

In an official statement from World Bank, Kim said,  “It has been a great honor to serve as president of this remarkable institution, full of passionate individuals dedicated to the mission of ending extreme poverty in our lifetime.”

Kim served as World Bank president for over six years.

Kristalina Georgieva, World Bank CEO, will assume the role of interim World Bank president effective February 1. (People's Daily app) 

Alibaba denies Jack Ma Yun transferred, sold Taobao shares

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In response to market rumors that Jack Ma Yun had sold Taobao's shares, Alibaba Group issued a statement saying that he has never transferred or sold Taobao's shares, nor does he plan to.

It was reported earlier that Ma has sold his stake in Taobao. According to tianyancha.com, a website for company information searches, Ma and Xie Shihuang withdrew from the equity record of Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd. last Friday, and added Hangzhou Zhenxi Investment Management Co., Ltd. as the sole shareholder.

Analysts said that this is actually a follow-up to Alibaba's VIE structure adjustment. (People's Daily app)

China wins 2-1 against Kyrgyzstan in Asian Cup

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China secured a 2-1 victory against Kyrgyzstan in their first match on Monday at the 2019 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup's Group C match.

China managed to claim the difficult win because of an own goal by the opponent's goalkeeper Pavel Matiash, and a second goal from striker Yu Dabao.

Thanks to the fourth straight win in their first match at the AFC Asian Cup, China should be able to guarantee a spot in the elimination if they beat the Philippines on Friday. (CGTN) 

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

How many eyes does a caterpillar have?

(Answer: Twelve.)

Today's quote is from English writer Joseph Addison (1672-1719).

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body."

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, and Elaine Yue Lin.)