Fresh Start: Podcast News (3/9/2019 Sat.)
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People's Daily app.

Here are today's picks from our editors. 

Xi stresses implementation of rural revitalization strategy

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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for more efforts to implement the rural revitalization strategy with the chief goal to modernize agriculture and rural areas.

"The top task for implementing the rural revitalization strategy is to ensure supply of important farm produce, grain in particular," said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

He made the remarks when joining deliberation with deputies from Henan Province at the second session of the 13th National People's Congress, China's national legislature.

Efforts should be made to promote the supply-side structural reform in the agricultural sector to achieve food security while building a modern and efficient agriculture, Xi added.

Xi also called for enhanced protection of agriculture ecological environment and prevention and treatment of pollution in rural areas. (Xinhua) 

Foreign investment law to be 'fundamental law'

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The foreign investment law, once adopted, will become a new and fundamental law for China's foreign investment, according to an explanatory document on the draft available to the press Friday.

With unified provisions for the entry, promotion, protection, and management of foreign investment, it is an innovative improvement of China's foreign investment legal system, says the explanation that will be delivered by Wang Chen, vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, to deputies attending an NPC plenary session.

The draft law has gone through two readings by the NPC Standing Committee. (Xinhua) 

Finnish gov't resigns after healthcare reform fails

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Finnish President Sauli Niinisto accepted the resignation of the government led by centrist Prime Minister Juha Sipila, national media said on Friday.

Officials said the resignation was mainly due to the virtual failure of the coalition government's plan to reform the public healthcare system, which has been crucial to the ruling coalition's plan to balance public finances.

The president asked the government to complete its term in office and serve as a caretaker before a new cabinet is sworn in. (Xinhua) 

British PM says EU action will have big impact on vote in House of Commons next week

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British Prime Minister Theresa May issued a message to the European Union on Friday saying its action will have a big impact on a crucial vote in the House of Commons next week.

May used a visit to a factory in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, to stress the importance of the part Brussels should play in seeking a deal on a future relationship after Britain leaves the EU later this month.

She wants the EU to make changes over the Irish border issue which is at the center of the current impasse blocking a deal.

May said if MPs at Westminster reject her deal on Tuesday, nothing will be certain, with a possible delay to the departure or even not leaving the EU at all. (Xinhua) 

SpaceX Crew Dragon splashes down off Florida

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American spacecraft Crew Dragon parachuted to a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast Friday, completing a test flight to the International Space Station (ISS).

The spacecraft of US private spaceflight company SpaceX undocked from the ISS and slowly maneuvered into an orbital track to return to Earth, according to NASA.

Crew Dragon rocketed into orbit last Saturday on its maiden unmanned flight. It remained docked at the space station for five days. (Xinhua) 

S. African gov't hails successful bid to host 2023 Netball World Cup

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South Africa has been announced as the host of the 2023 Netball World Cup, the first time the tournament will be held in Africa.

South Africa beat four-time world champions New Zealand for the hosting rights of the quadrennial showpiece. The 10-day tournament will feature 60 matches for the 16 participating countries. (Xinhua) 

Alzheimer's treatment holds promise for Primary Progressive Aphasia patients: study

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Researchers at Northwestern Medicine in the US have discovered that an existing therapy frequently used to treat Alzheimer's disease might work on patients with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), a type of dementia that destroys language and currently has no treatment.

The study found for the first time that individuals with PPA undergo the same loss of cholinergic neurons and axons in the forebrain as individuals with Alzheimer's. Therefore, they might also benefit from Alzheimer's treatment. (Xinhua) 

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Who played Neo in The Matrix?

(Answer: Keanu Reeves.)

Today's quote is from English poet William Wordsworth (1770-1850).

"Nature never did betray the heart that loved her."

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