Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi demands efforts to improve disaster prevention, build Sichuan-Tibet railway

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Wednesday called for efforts to improve the country's ability to safeguard against natural disasters, and fully launch the planning and construction of the Sichuan-Tibet railway.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the third meeting of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs. He is also head of the committee.

"As a stronger capability of safeguarding against natural disasters concerns the economy and people's livelihood, China will set up an efficient and scientific system and improve the capability of the whole society in a bid to protect people's lives and property and national security," Xi said when addressing the meeting.

Xi also highlighted the Sichuan-Tibet railway, saying it was of profound significance for the country's long-term stability and the development of Tibet.

Premier Li Keqiang, Wang Huning, a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and Vice Premier Han Zheng attended the meeting. (Xinhua)

China introduces rules to fight online money laundering and terrorism financing

The People’s Bank of China, the China Banking Regulatory Commission, and the China Securities Regulatory Commission jointly released regulations against money laundering and terrorism financing by online financial services providers on Wednesday. 

The institutions must set up internal control mechanisms for combating money laundering and terrorism financing, follow "know your customer" (KYC) rules, and report large and suspicious transactions in a timely fashion, said the People's Bank of China (PBOC).

The rules will take effect on January 1, 2019. (People's Daily app)

EU nations agree to seek 35 percent CO2 cut on cars by 2030

EU nations, voicing concern over a UN report on global warming, agreed on Tuesday to seek a 35 percent cut in car emissions by 2030.

Torn between reducing pollution and preserving industry competitiveness, EU environment ministers meeting in Luxembourg talked for more than 13 hours to reach a compromise over the 2030 carbon dioxide limits to impose on Europe's powerful carmakers.

Curbs on the transport sector aim to help the bloc meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gases by at least 40 percent below 1990 levels. (CGTN)

Russia ready to extend nuclear arms reduction treaty with US: diplomat

Moscow is ready to extend the Russian-US New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) for another five years, provided Washington and its partners are willing to abide by it, a senior Russian diplomat has said.

The New START, which became effective in 2011 and will expire in 2021, envisioned Russia and the US halving their number of strategic nuclear missile launchers by Feb. 5, 2018. It can be extended to up to five years by a mutual agreement.

Both countries have announced that they had completed the reduction by the set time. (Xinhua)

Supercharged hurricane threatens Florida with 150 mph winds

Hurricane Michael closed in Wednesday on the Florida Panhandle with potentially catastrophic winds of 150 mph, the most powerful storm on record ever to menace the area.

With more than 375,000 people up and down the Gulf Coast warned to evacuate, the hurricane’s leading edge began lashing the white-sand shoreline with tropical storm-force winds, rain and rising seas before daybreak, hours before Michael’s center was expected to blow ashore.

Evacuations are taking place in 22 counties throughout the state, but authorities are worried that some civilians are not taking the hurricane as a serious threat. (AP)

Xinjiang's first geopark opens to public

Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region officially opened its first geopark in Keketuohai on Wednesday.

Located south of the Altay Mountains and at the source of the Irtysh River, the park covers more than 2,300 square kilometers.

Visitors will be able to enjoy breathtaking views including the Irtysh Grand Canyon, a huge mine crater, lakes, mountains, a waterfall, fossils and rivers.

Keketuohai was once a celebrated mine area in China, and rare metals were mined there for more than half a century. (Xinhua)

Palace Museum starts expansion project

The Palace Museum launched an expansion project Wednesday in the Haidian District of northwestern Beijing.

The expansion is the core part of a major cultural renovation project calculated to enhance Palace Museum's capacity in exhibiting and conserving cultural heritage. 

The on-site geological surveying and archeological prospecting also kicked off at the expansion project, literally known as the "north section project of the Palace Museum." (Xinhua)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What's the tallest pyramid in the world?

(Answer: The pyramid of Khufu at Giza, Egypt, is the world's tallest. It was 146.7 m high when completed around 4,500 years ago, but erosion and vandalism have reduced its height to 137.5 m high today.)

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

“Behavior is the mirror in which everyone shows their image.” 

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, Raymond Mendoza, and Grace Song.)