Fresh Start: Podcast News (12/27/2019 Fri.)
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

China to launch national green development fund in 2020: official

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China will officially launch its national green development fund in 2020, amid efforts to improve the economic policy system for ecological and environmental protection, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) Thursday.

In addition to the establishment of the fund, the country should give full play to the role of green finance and green credit, including environmental protection credit. (Xinhua)

Pentagon confirms no missile launched from DPRK

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The Pentagon on Thursday confirmed that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) did not launch a missile after Japan's public broadcaster NHK falsely reported that Pyongyang had launched a missile earlier that day.  

NHK eported the DPRK had fired a missile that fell about 2,000 kilometers off of Japan’s Hokkaido coast, but then it retracted the story and said it was false.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday downplayed the significance of a possible "Christmas surprise" from Pyongyang, saying he would deal with it successfully. (Xinhua)

Erdogan says Turkey to send troops to Libya upon invitation

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Turkey will introduce a bill to send troops to Libya as soon as the country’s parliament resumes and in response to their invitation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday.

Erdogan criticized countries for supporting Libya's east-based army led by Khalifa Haftar, who has launched a final military campaign to take control of Tripoli, the capital of Libya.

The Turkish president reiterated Ankara's determination to provide assistance to the UN-backed Libyan government, with which Turkey has already signed two cooperation agreements. (Xinhua)

Russia tests closed domestic internet 

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The Russian government said it already tested its version of the world wide web, and users didn’t notice.

The country’s Ministry of Communications will present the results to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The new system would give Russia the ability to manage its domestic internet traffic. By restricting access to the World Wide Web, it would control digital information flowing in and out of Russia. Email, maps, and apps would connect to servers inside Russia and work independently of global systems.

Putin said it was a defensive measure against foreign cybersecurity threats. (CGTN)

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait start countdown to resuming oil production in joint oilfields

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Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on Thursday launched the countdown to resuming oil production in the shared Neutral Zone oilfields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi Minister of Energy indicated that production of the joint Khafji operations would be gradual and reach about 325,000 barrels daily by the end of 2020.

Two countries suspended production of the jointly-run oil fields of Khafji and Wafra over four years ago. (Xinhua)

China opens museum on ancient book repairing

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Southwest China's Sichuan Province on Thursday unveiled the signboard for China's first museum on antique book repairing, an endangered craft vital to the country's huge inventory of ancient texts.

The 1,100-square-meter museum in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, has 500 artifacts on display to provide a better understanding of the craft's complicated procedures and honor the works of accomplished restorers.

It also features a demonstration zone where visitors can watch the process, which includes over 20 steps from making glue to bookbinding. (Xinhua)

California law prohibiting hairstyle discrimination to begin in 2020

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A California law prohibiting discrimination based on hair texture and style will go into effect on January 1.

The law was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom in July and makes it illegal to enforce dress code or grooming policies against hairstyles such as afros, braids, twists and locks.

California is the first state in the US to ban discrimination based on natural hairstyles. (Xinhua)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

About how many hairs do most people lose every day?

(Answer: 75 strands.) 

Today’s quote is from American poet Walt Whitman (1819-1892).  

"Nothing endures but personal qualities."

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, and Elaine Yue Lin. Music by Eugene Loner.)