Fresh Start: Podcast News (5/23/2018 Wed.)
People's Daily app
1527029993000

DO NOT FORGET.jpg

Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app.

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi calls for enhanced SCO security cooperation

XienhancedSCO.jpg

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met with heads of foreign delegations attending the 13th meeting of Security Council Secretaries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Beijing.

During the meeting, Xi suggested that the SCO member countries continue to uphold the common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept, and promote a security governance model that addresses both symptoms and root causes, so as to push forward the SCO security cooperation to a new level.

The president voiced the hope that the mechanism of the SCO Security Council Secretaries meeting would actively adapt to changes in the situation, earnestly perform its duties, and provide stronger support for SCO member states to maintain national security and social stability. (Xinhua)

Chinese premier stresses further opening-up

LiKeqiangremarks.jpg

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has stressed a higher level of opening-up to drive forward reform, stimulate market vitality, and optimize the development environment.

Li made the remarks during an inspection tour to the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs Monday.

During his visit to the MOC, Li said it is necessary to actively improve the environment for foreign investment and to spread nationwide the good experience of pilot free trade zones in opening-up, making China continue to be a hot spot of investment and mutual benefit. (Xinhua)

China to significantly cut auto import tariffs from July

autoimportcuts.jpg

China will cut import tariffs on vehicles and auto parts starting July 1, the Ministry of Finance announced Tuesday.

For car imports, the 25-percent tariff levied on 135 items and the 20-percent duty on four items will both be slashed to 15 percent, down 40 percent and 25 percent respectively.

Import tariffs for 79 items of auto parts will be reduced to 6 percent from the current levels of 8 percent, 10 percent, 15 percent, 20 percent, and 25 percent, down 46 percent on average.

"China safeguards a multilateral trade system. Lowering auto import tariffs is a major step to expand reform and opening-up," the ministry said. (Xinhua – People’s Daily app)

Foreign journalists fly to North Korea to watch closure of nuclear site from Beijing

northkoreanukesite.JPG

Journalists from China, the US, and Russia on Tuesday flew to North Korea to watch the closure of a nuclear site.

Dozens of foreign journalists, including a team from CGTN, left Beijing Capital International Airport on Tuesday morning. They were invited by the North Korean government to cover the demolition of Punggye-ri nuclear facilities, which is scheduled from May 23 to 25.

Earlier Pyongyang had said it planned to invite experts and journalists from countries including the US, the UK, Russia, South Korea and China for the shutdown of its test site. On Monday, however, Pyongyang denied the access of journalists from Seoul.

The denial of access came days after the North dropped out of a high-level talk with the South over the US-South Korea military exercises. (CGTN)

Former Malaysian prime minister questioned for corruption

malaysianPM.jpg

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on Tuesday, as an investigation related to the state investment company 1MDB gains pace.

The agency called on Najib to explain how a 42 million-ringgit (roughly $10 million) deposit was made to his personal bank account from SRC International, which is a subsidiary of 1MDB.

At a press conference after the testimony, an agency official told reporters that they only asked the former prime minster to provide a statement, but that charges could be filed "very soon." The official said the agency has received new information related to Najib but declined to elaborate. (Xinhua – People’s Daily app)

FIFA says no violations after doping probe into Russian footballers

russianfootballers.jpg

FIFA has ended a doping investigation into Russian footballers named in the country's provisional World Cup squad after finding "insufficient evidence" of any wrongdoing, it said on Tuesday.

The organization launched a probe into "possible anti-doping rule violations" by players "against whom a suspicion had been raised" following the publication of the McLaren report on mass doping in Russia. (AFP)

Avengers still going strong at the Chinese box office

avengers.JPG

“Avengers: Infinity War” continued to lead the Chinese box office in the week ending May 20, earning about 600 million yuan (roughly $94 million), China Film News reported Tuesday.

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the superhero movie has pocketed a total of 1.87 billion yuan at the box office after hitting Chinese theaters on May 11.

In second place was the Chinese fantasy movie “How Long Will I Love You,” which has made 217 million yuan since its May 18 release, while Paramount’s sci-fi horror film “A Quiet Place” came in third with 104 million yuan. (Xinhua – People’s Daily app)

An egg a day may keep heart disease away

eggsstudy.jpg

Eating an egg every day appears to be linked to a lower risk of heart disease among middle-aged Chinese people, according to a study published online in a British medical journal.

The four-year study, authored by a group of Chinese scientists, analyzed data from more than half a million Chinese people in the age range of 30 to 79. The experts then followed up with the subjects to determine their morbidity and mortality rates.

The study stated that eating an egg a day can lower a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, heart disease, major coronary events, and strokes. (Xinhua – People’s Daily app)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

Today’s quote is from Chinese philosopher Confucius:

“When anger rises, think of the consequences.”

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, Raymond Mendoza, and Terry Guanlin Li.)