Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi holds talks with Prince Albert II on strengthening China-Monaco ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Prince Albert II, head of state of the Principality of Monaco, Sunday on strengthening China-Monaco relations.

Noting the affinity between the two peoples, Xi said that since China and Monaco established diplomatic relations more than 20 years ago, the two sides have always treated each other as equals with sincerity and friendship.

Xi said China-Monaco relations are developing steadily, with bilateral practical cooperation keeping pace with the times and taking the lead in China-Europe cooperation in the fields of environmental protection, telecommunications and mobile payment.

Xi said China and Monaco have set a fine example of friendly exchanges between countries that are different in size and have different historical and cultural backgrounds and social systems. (Xinhua)

Italy returns 796 sets of Chinese cultural relics

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte witnessed the signing of a Certificate of Transfer to return 796 sets of cultural relics to China, marking the largest repatriation of Chinese artifacts in 20 years.

The relics are of significant value and have remained well-preserved, spanning the Late Neolithic period over 5,000 years ago to the Minguo Era, according to Wu Min, a division head at China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage. 

China has been working with Italian maritime shipping personnel to return the relics as soon as possible. (People's Daily app)

59 discharged from hospital after East China chemical plant blast

59 people have been discharged from a local hospital after a blast hit a chemical plant in East China's Jiangsu Province, Thursday, according to the rescue headquarters.

As of 12 pm Sunday, 604 patients, including 117 severely injured, remain in 16 hospitals in Yancheng, Li Shaodong, vice director of the province's health commission, told a press conference.

More than 4,500 medical workers, including top-notch experts from other parts of the country, have participated in the rescue. 

The death toll stood at 64 on Saturday, according to authorities. (Xinhua)

China bans fishing in river flowing into Arctic

China’s fishery authority said fishing will be completely banned in the Ertix River, the only river in China that flows into the Arctic Ocean.

The fishery management center in the Altay prefecture, in the northern part of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said fishing will be banned year-round in all natural rivers in the Altay region, including the Ertix.

The Ertix River originates from the Altay Mountains in China and flows northwest along the southern foothills into Kazakhstan, Russia, before meeting the Arctic. (Xinhua)

Cyclone Idai death toll in Mozambique rises to 446

Mozambican authorities said on Sunday the bodies of 446 victims killed in the disaster caused by Cyclone Idai have been found in the central region of the country.

Minister of Land, Environment and Rural Development Celso Correia said it has become increasingly difficult to gauge the number of deaths in isolated areas.

The affected population also rose to 531,466, the minister said, emphasizing they are people who have lost their homes or who are still stranded in isolated areas. (Xinhua)

Democratic Party Chairman Abhisit announces resignation

Thailand’s Election Commission announced the unofficial results from the country’s general election after counting 92 percent of the votes on March 24.

Thailand's Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva resigned after his party failed to meet its general election target.

Abhisit, a former prime minister, announced his resignation after the election concluded on Sunday. 

Exit polls and partial results indicated the Democrat Party would win 88 seats.

Official results will be announced before May 9. (People's Daily app)

Indonesia’s first subway opens in its gridlocked capital

Indonesia’s long-awaited first subway opened Sunday in the country’s capital with the aim of relieving crippling traffic gridlock.

“Today we will begin a new civilization by operating the first phase of mass rapid transit in Jakarta,” Indonesian President Joko Widodo told several thousand guests and residents at the inauguration.

The line that opened Sunday includes seven elevated and six underground stations built by two consortiums of local and Japanese companies. (AP)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What is the capital city of Monaco?

(Answer: Monaco City.)

Today’s quote is from French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778). 

"Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet."

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, and Chelle Wenqian Zeng. Music by Eugene Loner.)