Fresh Start: Podcast News (11/19/2018 Mon.)
People's Daily app
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app.

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi arrives in Brunei for state visit

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Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived Sunday for a state visit to Brunei, the first by a Chinese head of state in 13 years to the Southeastern Asian country.

Xi was warmly welcomed by senior officials of Brunei at the airport.

On behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, Xi extended sincere greetings and best wishes to the Brunei government and its people.

Xi stressed that China and Brunei are close neighbors across the sea, and also friends and partners who trust each other, as the two sides have a long history of friendly exchanges.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 27 years ago, the two countries have been treating each other as equals, and scored deepening political mutual trust and fruitful results in various cooperation, which brought tangible benefits to the two peoples and made positive contributions to peace and prosperity in the region, said Xi. (Xinhua)

Xi urges higher-level Asia-Pacific cooperation as mankind at historical crossroads

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Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies to bring their cooperation to a higher level based on a keen appreciation of the trend of the world and its economy.

Underlining the trend of economic globalization, economic integration in the region, and an open economy, Xi urged the economies to keep the momentum of Asia-Pacific cooperation during a speech at the 26th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting hosted by Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Peter O'Neill on Sunday.

"We have reached a crossroads of history, when we must have a keen appreciation of the trend of our world and take the pulse of the world economy," he said, "That is how we will be able to respond to the call of our time and chart our future course accordingly." (Xinhua)

US officials increase efforts as migrant caravan arrives at Southern border

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US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have tightened operations at the US-Mexico border in San Diego, California, for the arrival of the migrant caravan from Central America.

Remote monitors and camera towers were stationed along the border at Imperial Beach said a CBP officer.

The US government has said that immigrants who enter the country illegally would be banned from seeking asylum. (Xinhua)

Iran, Iraq to sign currency swap deal to facilitate trade: official

Iran and Iraq are in talks to finalize a currency swap agreement in a bid to boost trade ties between the two neighboring countries, a trade official told Tasnim news agency Sunday.

Iraq is a lucrative market for Iranian goods, and Iranian exports to the Arab country have increased by 30 percent over the past seven months, Yahya Ale-Eshaq, chairman of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce said.

So far, goods worth roughly $6 billion have been exported from Iran to Iraq, Ale-Eshaq said.

A currency swap, also known as a cross-currency swap, is an off-balance sheet transaction in which two parties exchange principal and interest in different currencies. (Xinhua)

Boat tragedy that claimed 47 Chinese tourists recovered

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Officials on Saturday recovered the boat that sank off Thailand's southern resort island of Phuket in July that claimed the lives of 47 Chinese tourists.

The boat was pulled from the 45-meter-deep sea floor by a crane ship from Singapore, officials said.

The Phoenix, covered in brown algae and sludge, was taken to a pier in Phuket. Police will inspect the boat as part of their investigation into what caused the tragedy. (China Plus - AP)

Britain to introduce 2-year university courses to cut tuition

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Two-year accelerated degree courses are set to be introduced in Britain, Universities Minister Sam Gyimah announced Sunday.

The move will mean hundreds of thousands of students will have more choices than ever before on what they can study at university, Gyimah said.

The move will help students fast-track their way into the workforce.

Gyimah has given the green light to new fees for accelerated courses, with students who opt for a two-year degree saving at least 20 per cent, the equivalent of $7,000 US dollars in tuition costs compared to the standard three-year university course load. (Xinhua)

Sebastien Ogier wins 6th straight World Rally Championship

Sebastien Ogier won his sixth straight World Rally Championship after a final day of racing at Rally Australia ending the hopes of his only two challengers for the season title.

The Frenchman started a wet Sunday needing to hold his spot ahead of Thierry Neuville, while overnight rally leader Ott Tanak who also had a chance to surpass Ogier.

Instead, both contenders failed to finish, with Neuville clipping a tree with three stages remaining and Tanak running off course during the second-to-last stage. (AP)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What is the capital of Brunei?

(Answer: Bandar Seri Begawan.)

Today’s quote is from Chinese philosopher Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC).

“Study the past, if you would divine the future.”

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