Fresh Start: Podcast News (2/5/2020 Wed.)
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Fatality rate of novel coronavirus drops to 2.1 pct

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The current case fatality rate (CFR) of the novel coronavirus infection on the Chinese mainland has dropped to 2.1 percent, Chinese health authorities disclosed on Tuesday.

The CFR remained stable after an initial 2.3 percent recorded at the beginning of the outbreak, said Jiao Yahui with the National Health Commission (NHC) at the daily press briefing on the epidemic.

The CFR is calculated by dividing the number of deaths by the number of individuals diagnosed with the disease, Jiao noted. (Xinhua)

Wuhan to build 8 more temporary hospitals

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Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province plans to convert another eight existing venues, including gymnasiums, exhibition centers and sports centers, into hospitals to treat patients infected with the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), local authorities said Tuesday.

Wuhan first converted three venues into hospitals Monday, with a total of about 3,400 beds.

So far, Wuhan has converted 11 venues into makeshift hospitals, with a total of over 10,000 beds. The conversion work on the 11 hospitals is expected to be completed on Feb. 5. (Xinhua)

Russia to showcase newest weapons at V-Day parade

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Russia will present 24 latest models of military weapons and vehicles at its annual Victory Day parade on May 9, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday.

"These will include army anti-aircraft missile and artillery systems, coastal missile systems, remote mining vehicles, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles," Shoigu said at a meeting with senior defense officials.

He said that 15,000 troops, 225 weapons and military equipment units, as well as 150 aircraft will be involved in the parade on central Moscow's Red Square. (Xinhua)

Japan quarantines 3,500 on cruise ship over new coronavirus

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Japan has quarantined a cruise ship carrying 3,500 people and was testing passengers for the new coronavirus on Tuesday after a passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong tested positive for the virus.

Television footage showed images of several quarantine officers boarding the Diamond Princess cruise ship at the port of Yokohama on Monday evening to check the health of all 2,500 passengers and 1,000 crew members.

The move comes after an 80-year-old passenger who disembarked on January 25 in Hong Kong tested positive for the deadly virus. (AFP)

UK plans to bring forward petrol and diesel car sales ban from 2035

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Britain will ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, five years earlier than previously planned, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday.

The government said that it planned to bring forward an end to the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans to 2035, or earlier if a faster transition was possible. It also said it would include hybrids.

Cities and countries around the world have announced plans to crack down on diesel vehicles in the wake of the 2015 Volkswagen emissions scandal and the EU is introducing tougher carbon dioxide rules. (CGTN)

Gas pipeline in Egypt's Sinai attacked, imports from Israel unaffected

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Armed men attacked a gas pipeline in the north of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula late on Sunday, security sources and witnesses said.

The attack did not, however, affect imports of gas through North Sinai from Israel.

Egyptian security forces have been battling an Islamist insurgency that is concentrated in North Sinai and escalated after 2013. Small scale attacks are common. (CGTN)

WHO fears global cancer rates could rise by 60 pct

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It is estimated that global cancer rates could rise by 60 percent over the next 20 years unless cancer care is enhanced in low and middle-income countries, the World Health Organization warned on Tuesday.

Less than 15 percent of these nations offer comprehensive cancer treatment services through their public health systems, compared with more than 90 percent among their richer counterparts, according to the UN agency.  (CGTN)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

How many muscles do you use when you talk?

(Answer: 72.) 

Today’s quote is from English poet Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892). 

"There's no glory like those who save their country."

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