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Welcome to Fresh Start.
This is People’s Daily app.
Here are today’s picks from our editors.
China launches heaviest satellite to test key technologies
Aboard the third Long March-5 rocket, China's largest carrier rocket, Shijian-20, a new technology test and verification satellite, successfully entered its orbit Friday night.
The rocket, coded as Long March-5 Y3, blasted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province at 8:45pm local time.
Shijian-20, weighing more than eight tons, is the country's heaviest and most advanced communications satellite in geosynchronous orbit. It will carry out orbit experiments for a series of key technologies, the China Academy of Space Technology said in a press release. (Xinhua)
2 Pakistanis, 3 Indians killed in Kashmir firing
Pakistani’s army said on Thursday that two soldiers were killed in Indian forces' firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region.
An army statement said that Indian troops committed ceasefire violations "during the last 36 hours" along the LoC.
"Responding to ceasefire violations in Haji Pir Sector, Pakistan Army troops damaged an Indian post, killing three Indian soldiers," the army's media said. (CGTN)
EU chief doubts securing post-Brexit trade deal in 2020
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has expressed "serious concern" over whether the bloc could conclude a post-Brexit trade deal with Britain within the 2020 deadline.
Britain is due to leave the European Union on January 31, but will remain in a transitional arrangement until the end of next year while negotiators debate future trade ties.
If 2020 comes to an end with no deal concluded, Britain will sever ties with the huge EU single market with no follow-on deal to protect jobs and trade on both sides. (AFP)
Russia's first regiment of Avangard hypersonic missiles starts combat duty
Russia's first regiment of the Avangard strategic intercontinental missile system with a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) started its combat duty on Friday, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
The Avangard missile is one of Russia's newest strategic weapons unveiled by President Putin in an address to the Russian parliament in March 2018. He said it is capable of intercontinental flights at a speed 20 times that of sound.
In December, Putin said the Avangard missile is invulnerable to existing and prospective air defense and anti-missile systems of a potential enemy, after he attended a successful test launch. (Xinhua)
Turkish leader unveils prototypes of 1st domestic car
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday unveiled prototypes of a domestically produced electric car, known for now as TOGG, putting him closer to fulfilling a long-held dream of building Turkey’s first “national” automobile.
The president was scheduled to test drive a car across a suspension bridge over the Gulf of Izmit. He offered to put his name down on a possible list for advanced orders. The Turkish vehicles are expected to hit the market in 2022. (AP)
8 Kenyan fishermen rescued in Indian Ocean after 18 days
Police rescued eight fishermen who miraculously survived 18 days in the Indian Ocean along the Kenyan coast.
The eight were spotted and rescued by marine police on patrol on Christmas Day.
Upon their rescue, the eight were rushed to Malindi Sub County Hospital for a medical check-up.
Reports indicate the eight survived on raw fish and other sea creatures. (Xinhua)
Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.
And now for the Question of the Day:
What's the name of the traditional instrument played by the Aboriginal people of Australia?
(Answer: Didgeridoo.)
Today’s quote is from German composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750).
"My masters are strange folk with very little care for music in them."
(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, Brian Lowe, and Elaine Yue Lin. Music by Eugene Loner.)
