Fresh Start: Podcast News (2/19/2020 Wed.)
People's Daily app
1582065962000

Fresh Start logo.png

8



Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi says China's battle against COVID-19 making visible progress

China's measures to prevent and control the COVID-19 epidemic are achieving visible progress as the battle has reached a crucial time, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a phone conversation with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday.

In the phone call, Xi expressed his gratitude to Queen Elizabeth II and Johnson for their sympathies with China's fight against the epidemic, noting that Britain has offered China supplies in support of the fight, which demonstrates the friendship between the two countries and the two peoples.

Since the outbreak, China has always prioritized its people's safety and health, given full play to its institutional advantages, mobilized the entire country, and adopted the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough prevention and control measures, Xi said.

Noting that the Chinese economy enjoys strong resilience, broad space for domestic demand and a solid industrial foundation, Xi said that China has confidence and capacity to achieve this year's targets for economic and social development, especially such key tasks as securing a victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and in eliminating poverty. (Xinhua)

Boy Scouts of America's future uncertain after bankruptcy filing

童子军.jpg

Barraged with sex-abuse lawsuits, the Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday in hopes of working out a potentially mammoth victim compensation plan that will allow the 110-year-old organization to carry on.

The Chapter 11 filing in federal bankruptcy court in Wilmington, Delaware, sets in motion what could be one of the biggest, most complex bankruptcies ever seen.

The bankruptcy filing came as the organization faces hundreds of sexual abuse lawsuits, thousands of alleged abuse victims and dwindling membership numbers across the country.

Most of the newly surfacing cases date to the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s; the organization said. (AP)

Desert locusts spread to South Sudan

蝗虫.jpg

Desert locusts, which have already destroyed crops in Horn of Africa countries, have arrived in South Sudan, the government and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations said Tuesday.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Onyoti Adigo told reporters that the locusts entered the country from Uganda through the southern region of Eastern Equatoria State.

The entry of the desert locusts has raised concerns about the fragile food security situation in the country where it's estimated that half of the population is facing severe food insecurity and in need of humanitarian assistance. (Xinhua)

Apple gradually restores business in China despite virus impact

苹果.jpg


US tech giant Apple said Monday that it continues to gradually restore its business in China, despite some impact from the novel coronavirus outbreak on sales revenue in the upcoming fiscal second quarter.

Following the end of the extended Chinese New Year holiday on Feb. 10, "work is starting to resume around the country", said the Cupertino, California-based company.

Apple noted that it is fundamentally strong and the virus-related disruption to the company's business "is only temporary." (Xinhua)

Pakistan conducts flight test of cruise missile

导弹.jpg

Pakistan on Tuesday conducted a flight test of a type of cruise missile, the Pakistani army said.

The successful test of the air launched cruise missile Ra'ad-II with a range of 600 km "significantly enhances air delivered strategic standoff capability on land and at sea," an army statement said.

"The weapon system is equipped with state of the art guidance and navigation systems ensuring engagement of targets with high precision," the statement said. (Xinhua)

A hero saves 6-year-old girl from a lion's clutches

山狮.jpg

A six-year-old girl incurred minor injuries after suffering a mountain lion attack, reported US media outlet ABC News.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning in the Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve in Santa Clara County, California, when the girl was walking with her parents in a group of six adults and four children.

“The mountain lion suddenly came out of the bushes and right about when it grabbed a hold of the girl and an adult punched the animal in the ribs and it ran off," the media said. 

The child who was attacked is expected to fully recover. (China Plus)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

If you ordered bratwurst in Germany, you would be asking for what kind of food?

(Answer: Sausage.) 

Today’s quote is from British poet Christina Rossetti (1830-1894).      

"Hope is like a harebell trembling from its birth."

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