Fresh Start: Podcast News (10/26/2018 Fri.)
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app.

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi stresses deepening reform, opening-up in new era

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Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for greater resolve and stronger measures in comprehensively deepening China's reform and widening opening-up in the new era.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his inspection tour of southern Guangdong Province from Monday to Thursday. (Xinhua)

Chinese premier calls for more mature, steady and progressive ties with Japan

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Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday called on China and Japan to work together to build more mature, steady and progressive bilateral ties.

Li's remarks came as he delivered a speech at a reception marking the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship together with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

"The China-Japan relationship has gone through wind and rain in the past four decades, yet peace, friendship and cooperation have always been the mainstream," Li said.

Noting that regional and international situation was undergoing complicated and profound changes, Li said China-Japan ties were back on track and gaining positive momentum, producing not only huge cooperation potential and opportunities, but also difficulties and challenges.

Li called on both sides to make concerted efforts in advancing bilateral ties to steadily forge ahead. (Xinhua)

North and South Korea complete withdrawal of weapons from JSA inside DMZ

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South and North Korea completed the pullout of weapons and guard posts from the Joint Security Area (JSA) inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which has left the Korean Peninsula divided, Seoul's defense ministry said Thursday.

The ministry said in a statement that the military authorities of South and North Korea, and the United Nations Command withdrew all firearms, ammunition and guard posts sentry from the JSA as of 1 p.m. local time.

The disarmament of the JSA was agreed upon by defense chiefs of the two Koreas during the Pyongyang summit in September between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.  (Xinhua)

Packages to Biden, De Niro seized, similar to earlier bombs

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The mail-bomb scare widened Thursday as law enforcement officials seized three more suspicious packages — two addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden and one to actor Robert De Niro — and said they were similar to crude pipe bombs sent to former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and CNN.

None of the devices exploded, and no one was injured. But the packages, sent to prominent Democrats critical of US President Donald Trump, heightened nationwide tensions and fears two weeks before major congressional midterm elections.

The devices all were sent to an FBI lab in Virginia to be studied. Officials provided no details on a possible suspect or motive. (AP)

Murder of Khashoggi 'premeditated': Saudi prosecutor

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Saudi Arabia said Thursday the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul was "premeditated" based on information supplied by Turkey, state media reported.

"Information from the Turkish authorities indicates that the act of the suspects in the Khashoggi case was premeditated," the public prosecutor said. "The public prosecution continues its investigation with suspects... to complete the course of justice."

On Thursday, Prince Mohammed chaired the first meeting of a committee his father King Salman has tasked with revamping the intelligence services in light of the Khashoggi crisis. (AFP)

Death toll hits 7 in viral outbreak at pediatric center

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Another young person has died in a viral outbreak at a pediatric rehabilitation center this month, bringing the death toll to seven, officials said Wednesday.

There have been 18 cases overall at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell, northwest of New York, officials said.

Adenoviruses are common and typically cause mild cold or flu symptoms in otherwise healthy people, including sore throats, fever, coughs and sneezes. Some strains also cause diarrhea and or pinkeye.

But the strain found in the rehab center outbreak, adenovirus 7, is among the more potent types and can sometimes cause more serious respiratory illness, particularly in people with weak immune systems or who have lung conditions. (AP)

'French Spiderman’ arrested after scaling London skyscraper

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French urban climber Alain Robert has been arrested for “causing public nuisance” after scaling one of London’s tallest buildings.

Robert climbed the 202-meter Heron Tower without ropes or safety gear on Thursday as police limited access to the area and ushered spectators away.

Robert, known as “the French Spiderman,” has climbed many of the world’s tallest structures, almost always without ropes or harnesses and often without permission. (AP)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What is the largest coffee growing country in the world?

(Answer: Brazil.)

Today’s quote is from English musician Sarah Brightman.

“I am an interpreter of music rather than a composer of it.”

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Raymond Mendoza, and Brian Lowe.)