Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Shanghai gears up for country's first import expo

As the China International Import Expo (CIIE) is only a month away, Shanghai, the host city, has reached the final stage of preparations as products from all over the world are still arriving in the city.

The CIIE is China's first expo designed to support trade liberalization and economic globalization, and open the Chinese market to the world, according to its official website.

2,800 companies from all G20 member states, as well as 50 countries and regions along the Belt and Road will participate.

Of the world's 44 least developed countries, more than 30 will be present at the event.

The city has trained 5,000 volunteers to offer various services including language translation. (Xinhua)

UK English language testing platform changes Taiwan reference

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS), one of the most widely accepted English language tests around the world, on Friday changed its reference to Taiwan on its website to reflect China's sovereignty over the island.

Taiwan was listed under the country list on IELTS' website without any reference to indicate China's sovereignty, but it has been changed into "Taiwan, China" as of Friday.

The US-based Test of English as Foreign Language, another widely attended English language test, also changed its reference to Taiwan in August. (Global Times)

DPRK, S. Korea call for peninsula war end

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and South Korea called for a complete end to the danger war, the official media reported here Saturday.

The appeal was issued on Friday at an event celebrating the 11th anniversary of the 2007 inter-Korean summit, released Saturday by the Korean Central News Agency.

Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, and Unification Minister of South Korea Cho Myoung-gyon were present at the ceremony.

The two sides called for "a complete end to the danger of a war on this land and turn our land into the peaceful one without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats." (Xinhua)

Cuba claims over $900 billion in damages from US blockade in past 60 years

Cuba on Friday renewed its call on the US to end the decades-long economic and trade blockade held against the nation since 1962, claiming it caused a loss of over $933 billion.

The appeal was made by the Commission of International Relations of the National Assembly of People's Power at a public hearing on Friday.

The commission said such a blockade is unjust and brutal and urged the US to lift the ban.

At the annual United Nations gathering last week, Cuban President Miguel Diaz Canel made an appeal to end the commercial and financial embargo, saying the embargo has "already failed and will continue to fail." (CGTN)

San Francisco wins legal battle against US federal government over immigration policy

San Francisco city attorney Dennis Herrera announced a victory in a legal battle against the federal government over an immigration law that was invoked by the White House to deny a federal grant to the city.

In response to a ruling by Judge William Orrick of the US Court for the Northern District of California that declared San Francisco's sanctuary ordinances are lawful, Herrera said the federal government's attempt to impose conditions on law enforcement grants for San Francisco was "unconstitutional."

Orrick's ruling asked the US Department of Justice to give California 28 million US dollars that was withheld after the White House challenged the state's immigration policies. (Xinhua)

US Senate confirms Supreme Court nominee Kavanaugh

The US Senate narrowly confirmed US President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Saturday in Washington D.C.

With a vote of 50 – 48, Kavanaugh, 53, will become the second Supreme Court justice to be appointed by Trump.

The Senate vote brought an end to a heated process defined by testimony from a woman who said Kavanaugh tried to rape her when they were teenagers. Afterward, two other women came forward with allegations against the nominee.

Saturday morning Trump tweeted, “Big day for America!.” (People’s Daily app-AP)

China’s women and men’s’ team take top spots at World Chess Olympiad

China’s women and men’s teams on Friday won the championships at the 43rd World Chess Olympiad in Georgia's coastal city of Batumi.

According to the World Chess Federation (FIDE), on the men’s side, the final round between the US and China ended 2-2. 

However, it was China that emerged as the champion as the team had additional points.

On the women's side, China and Russia finished 2-2 in their final round match. The women’s team then overtook Ukraine, also with additional points to claim the title. (Xinhua)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Who is the first Chinese to win the Nobel Prize in medicine?

(Answer: Tu Youyou is the first Chinese Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine and the first female citizen of the People's Republic of China to receive a Nobel Prize in any category.)

Today’s quote is from French artist Paul Cezanne.

“Genius is the ability to renew one's emotions in daily experience.”

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, and Da Hang.)