Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi stresses building pilot FTZs toward new heights of reform, opening-up

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for building the country's pilot free trade zones (FTZs) toward new heights of reform and opening-up in the new era.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction on the development of pilot FTZs.

The development of pilot FTZs is a strategic measure by the CPC Central Committee in advancing reform and opening-up in the new era and has become a milestone in the course, Xi said.

Five years of enterprising and pioneering work in the country's pilot FTZs has seen major progress and breakthroughs, offering the nation copious advances in institutional explorations, Xi said.

Xi also urged more efforts in advancing the development of pilot FTZs to generate more replicable institutional innovation, to make greater contributions in achieving China's two centenary goals and national rejuvenation. (Xinhua)

China's Haier debuts in Frankfurt as first D-share IPO

Chinese home appliances maker Qingdao Haier on Wednesday began trading shares in Frankfurt, the first issuer in the D-share project on the China Europe International Exchange (CEINEX). 

The D-share market is designed to promote the issuers’ business expansion by raising capital and credibility in Europe and help global investors to invest in Chinese companies directly from Europe. 

The company raised about €278 million, or $318 million, as its shares opened at price of €1.06 apiece, slightly above the offer price. (People's Daily app)

S. Korea consults with DPRK on business visits to inter-Korean industrial zone

South Korea is consulting with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on South Korean business trips to the Kaesong Industrial Complex, which is currently closed and located in the Kaesong border town, Seoul's unification ministry said Wednesday.

Unification Ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun said the move is aimed at business executives who wish to inspect their assets inside the industrial zone. 

The previous Blue House administration in Seoul closed the complex in February 2016 following Pyongyang’s fourth nuclear test and missile launch.  

Before the government ordered closure, 123 South Korean companies operated factories inside the industrial zone, employing roughly 54,000 DPRK citizens. (Xinhua)

Explosive devices sent to Obama, Clintons; CNN evacuated

The US Secret Service intercepted a bomb Wednesday addressed to Hillary Clinton. Authorities also discovered a possible explosive device that had been sent to former US President Barack Obama.

Neither Clinton nor Obama received the packages, nor were they at risk of receiving them due to screening procedures, Secret Service officials in Washington said in a statement.

Later that day, a police bomb squad was dispatched to CNN headquarters in New York City where newsroom personnel were evacuated after a suspicious device was found in the building. 

NYPD’s chief of counterterrorism said the explosive device appeared to be crude pipe bombs. The New York device was black and had wires.

No one was injured by any of the devices. (AP)

Court orders top VW shareholder to pay 'diesel gate' damages

German judges on Wednesday ordered Volkswagen's largest shareholder, holding company Porsche SE, to pay damages to some of its own investors over its handling of VW's "diesel gate" emissions scandal.

A Stuttgart court awarded shareholders in two cases a total of 47 million euros ($54 million), saying that Porsche SE failed to inform investors in a timely way about software to cheat emissions tests built into millions of Volkswagen cars.

Wednesday's two rulings are the first in a swarm of investor actions against Porsche SE and Volkswagen in Stuttgart and Brunswick, with claims totaling over nine billion euros. (AFP)

Prototype of China's space station to be unveiled next month

A prototype of China's space station Tian He will be unveiled to the public at the 12th Zhuhai Aerospace Exhibition in Guangdong Province, according to a statement made during a symposium on manned spaceflight in Xi'an on Tuesday.

The 16.6-meter-long 20-ton module will serve as a base for astronauts where they will work, live, and conduct experiments. 

"The core module consists of three parts, including a cabin, habitat room, and resources room, which will provide services to three astronauts working in the space," said Hao Chun, the director of China's manned space engineering office. "It has the capacity to house six people at the same time." (China Plus)

2022 Qatar World Cup to allow football fans to experience new culture in Mideast: FIFA chief

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will provide a unique opportunity for football fans to experience a new Middle Eastern culture, a local newspaper reported Wednesday.

The FIFA president also praised Qatar’s infrastructure efforts, especially after visiting the 40,000 seat Al Wakrah Stadium.

As the first Middle Eastern country to host the world's biggest football gala, Qatar is building four stadiums out of ascheduled nine, according to FIFA. (Xinhua)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Who was the first to reach the South Pole?

(Answer: Norwegian explorer Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen.)

Today’s quote is from American explorer Daniel Boone

“Nature was here a series of wonders, and a fund of delight.”

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, and Brian Lowe.)