Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People's Daily app.

Here are today's picks from our editors. 

Huawei to launch own OS this year

Huawei Technologies Co said on Wednesday that it may launch a self-developed operating system later this year as the tech giant steps up efforts to enhance in-house software capabilities to offset the fallout from US restrictions.

Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei's consumer business group, said the new operating system will be able to support mobile phones, computers, tablets, televisions, cars and smart wearable devices.

The comments came after Google said it would partially cut off Huawei devices from its Android operating system. (China Daily) 

Life expectancy of Chinese increases by 42 years in nearly 70 years

The average life expectancy of Chinese people rose 42 years, from 35 years in 1949 to 77 years in 2018, according to a statistics communique recently released by the National Health Commission.

From 2017 to 2018, the infant mortality rate dropped from 6.8 to 6.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, while the maternal mortality rate decreased from 19.6 to 18.3 per 100,000 births, said the government statistics.

The communique also reported improvements in medical reform as more people seek treatment at primary-level clinics and the number of medical workers in China increases. (Xinhua) 

Indian PM Modi announces election victory

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) victory in the just-concluded 17th general elections on Thursday.

The counting of votes began Thursday morning. The BJP has so far won 61 constituencies and its candidates are leading in another 241 constituencies, indicating that the BJP may go on to win over 300 constituencies, out of the 542 that went to the polls. (Xinhua) 

Britain's May delays Brexit bill but resists calls to resign

British Prime Minister Theresa May backed down Thursday from plans to seek Parliament’s support for a Brexit bill already rejected by much of her Conservative Party. But she has not, as yet, caved in to demands she resign and let a new leader try to complete the UK's stalled exit from the European Union.

With her authority draining away by the hour, May delayed plans to publish the EU withdrawal bill — her fourth and likely final attempt to secure Parliament's backing for her Brexit blueprint.

Conservative legislators scheduled a Friday meeting, where they want May to announce her departure date. (AP) 

Chinese customs sends back 700 tons of waste

Customs in the city of Dalian in Northeast China's Liaoning province have ordered the shipping of more than 688 tonnes of suspected smuggled solid waste back to where they originated.

Disguised with fake documents, the waste of aluminum dross was seized late last year, according to Dalian Customs on Thursday.

Suspects have been detained and further investigation is underway. (Xinhua) 

Former chairman of Kweichow Moutai Group arrested for bribery

Yuan Renguo, former chairman of Kweichow Moutai Group, has been formally arrested for taking bribes, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) Thursday.

Yuan's case was handed to prosecuting agencies, said a statement on the SPP website.

The Guiyang Municipal People's Procuratorate is handling the case.

Yuan was expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and public office for multiple offenses including graft and hindering official investigations, according to a statement issued by the CPC Guizhou Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection on Wednesday. (Xinhua) 

China unveils 600 kph maglev train prototype

China on Thursday rolled off the production line a prototype magnetic-levitation train with a designed top speed of 600 km per hour in the eastern city of Qingdao.

The debut of the prototype marks a major breakthrough for the country in the high-speed maglev transit system.

The high-speed maglev train can fill the service gap between the current high-speed rail and aviation services and is of great technological and economic significance to improving the country's high-speed passenger transport network. (Xinhua) 

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Which is the highest waterfall in the world?

(Answer: Angel Falls, Venezuela.)

Today's quote is from American author Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862). 

"The smallest seed of faith is better than the largest fruit of happiness."

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