Fresh Start: Podcast News (4/10/2019 Wed.)
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People's Daily app.

Here are today's picks from our editors. 

Xi sends letter to congratulate the inauguration of China-Africa Institute

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Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a letter to congratulate the inauguration of the China-Africa Institute on Tuesday.

In the letter, Xi said the world today is faced with profound shifts unseen in the past century. "As the largest developing country and the continent where developing countries are the most densely located, respectively, China and Africa have enjoyed a time-honored friendship between the people," he noted.

Xi said he hopes the institute will help draw on both sides' academic resources, enhance understanding and friendship between the Chinese and the African people, and provide good ideas and advice for China-Africa cooperation as well as the cooperation between the two sides and other parties, to contribute to the development of the China-Africa relationship and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. (Xinhua) 

China, EU reaffirm commitment to multilateralism, opposition to protectionism

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China and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday reaffirmed in a joint statement their commitment to multilateralism and opposition to protectionism.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker met Tuesday for the 21st China-EU leaders' meeting and issued the statement.

China and the EU firmly support the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core, fight against unilateralism and protectionism, and commit to complying with WTO rules, the statement says.

The two sides reaffirmed their joint commitment to cooperation on WTO reform to ensure its continued relevance and allow it to address global trade challenges. They agreed to intensify discussions on strengthening international rules on industrial subsidies, and continue working to resolve the crisis in the WTO Appellate Body. (Xinhua) 

China's lunar rover travels over 170 meters on moon's far side

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China's lunar rover has driven 170.92 meters on the far side of the moon to conduct scientific exploration on the virgin territory.

The rover Yutu-2, or Jade Rabbit-2, took a "noon break" from April 2 to April 8, as the temperatures on the moon were extremely high, and continued its exploration, according to the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration.

The rover was sent to the Von Karman Crater in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon on Jan. 3 for the Chang'e-4 mission. It has worked longer than its three-month design life. (Xinhua) 

Redacted Mueller report to be released within a week

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US Attorney General William Barr said Tuesday that he expects to release a redacted version of the special counsel’s Trump-Russia investigation report “within a week” as he defended his handling of the document.

Democrats scolded Barr over his handling of the report, telling him they were concerned that a summary of its main conclusions he released last month portrayed the investigation’s findings in an overly favorable way for President Donald Trump.

Mueller sent his final report to Barr on March 22, ending his almost two-year investigation into possible ties between Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. (AP) 

BMW recalls cars in China over electrical fault

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German auto brand BMW has begun recalling 121,381 vehicles in China due to an electrical problem that may lead to the malfunction of the cars' electronic module.

The recall, which started Monday, involves BMW 318i, 320i, 325i and X1 models manufactured between January 2010 and November 2011 by BMW Brilliance Automotive and several imported models manufactured between November 2009 and October 2011, according to the State Administration for Market Regulation. (Xinhua) 

Meghan and royal baby face paying US taxes

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Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, may now have additional concerns beyond the safe birth of their child in the coming weeks - namely the US tax system, reports CNN.

Given that Meghan is a US citizen, it’s being suggested both she and her child may be obligated to pay taxes on any income or gifts she or her yet-to-be-born child may have received or earned, both now and in the future.

The only way for Meghan to avoid filing US taxes would be to renounce her US citizenship. However, the CNN report argues that even if she does so, the couple's baby will still be liable for US taxes until the age of 18. (China Plus) 

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What is the highest mountain in Greece?

(Answer: Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, and the second-highest mountain in the Balkans rising to 9,573 feet above sea level.)

Today's quote is from Chinese philosopher Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC).

"The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions."

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