Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

SCIO holds press conference on WTO white paper

China’s State Council Information Office held a press conference on Thursday regarding the white paper “China and the World Trade Organization (WTO).”

Released earlier that afternoon, Wang Shouwen, Vice Minister of Commerce, and Xi Yanchun, SCIO spokesperson were in attendance. 

Since joining the WTO 17 years ago, China has enjoyed deep-market economic reforms and an ever-improving market economy while optimizing its business environment, Wang told reporters. 

China has done its best to implement all WTO commitments stipulated in the accession agreement, which was highly valued by Pascal Lamy, former WTO Director General, Wang said.

Wang also reiterated China’s firm stance on protecting Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and said significant measures have been taken to protect IPR and achievements have been made in that area. (CGTN – People’s Daily app)

Vice premier meets with Macao SAR chief executive

Vice Premier Han Zheng met with the Chief Executive of Macao Special Administrative Region Chui Sai On in Beijing Thursday.

Han, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, listened to Chui's comments and suggestions concerning the masterplan to develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Han suggested that Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao draw on each other's strengths, seek win-win cooperation and common development in developing the Greater Bay Area, so that the majority of the people in the region can share the benefits. 

Chui said he believed the area would bring Macao new development opportunities, and that Macao’s SAR government would listen to everyone's suggestions and play an active role in the implementation of the masterplan. (Xinhua – People’s Daily)

Trump, Putin to meet in Helsinki on July 16

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a summit in Helsinki, Finland on July 16, the Kremlin and the White House announced Thursday, firming up the place and date for a meeting both had already agreed upon.

"The two leaders will discuss relations between the United States and Russia and a range of national security issues," the White House said in a statement. 

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, speaking after Putin met US National Security Adviser John Bolton in the Kremlin, said the summit would take place in a mutually convenient third country and that several weeks were needed to prepare for it. (Reuters)

Japan to set up new division on North Korea matters

Japan’s foreign ministry announced earlier this week it will establish a new division that exclusively deals with issues related to North Korea beginning July 1.

The effort is "aimed at strengthening bilateral coordination between Japan and South Korea and addressing the issues of North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and abductions," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press briefing.

The Japanese foreign ministry is splitting the Northeast Asia Division of the Asian and Oceanic Affairs Bureau, which oversees Korean Peninsula affairs, into two divisions.

Japanese media said the move could be a first step for initiating Tokyo-Pyongyang negotiations as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed willingness to hold direct talks with North Korea. (People’s Daily app)

France charges 10 ultra-right suspects over plot to attack Muslims

French authorities have charged 10 suspected far-right extremists in connection with an alleged plot to attack Muslims, a judicial source said Thursday.

The nine men and one woman aged 32 to 69 were arrested in raids across France over the weekend. On Wednesday, they were charged with “criminal terrorist conspiracy.”

Police have linked the suspects to Operational Forces Action, a group which urges French people to combat Muslims, or what it calls "the enemy within.”

Prosecutors said that 36 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition were seized. (AFP)

China leads hybrid wheat development 

China leads the world in hybrid wheat research and can now cultivate a two-line hybrid wheat that can increase production 20 percent, People’s Daily Overseas Edition reported.

Zhao Changping, director of the Beijing Hybrid Wheat Research Center, said large hybrid wheat plantations had been a scientific problem until Chinese researchers began to take the lead after 20 years of work.

Hybrid wheat outperforms its natural counterpart in terms of yield, water use, drought and disease resistance.

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs official Zhang Yanqiu also said China will spare no efforts in developing the hybrid wheat seed industry. (People’s Daily app)

Japan, Colombia, England, Belgium join Round of 16 

In Thursday’s Group H action Colombia outdid Senegal 1-0 to advance to the Round of 16. After a scoreless first half, it was defender Yerry Minna who put the South American side on the board with a header in the 74th minute at Samara Arena. 

Poland upset Japan 1-0 at Volgograd Arena. Polish defender Jan Bednarak provided the game’s only goal after capitalizing on a free kick in the 59th minute. 

The loss knocked Japan down a notch where they sat tied with Senegal. A new tiebreaker rule on total yellow cards issued paved the way for the Asian side to advance as they had four to Senegal’s six.

Heading in to Group G action, England and Belgium had already secured their Round of 16 fixtures. Scoreless at the half, the Red Devils had found themselves in possession of two yellow cards at Kaliningrad Stadium. 

But during the second half the pace picked up after Belgian midfielder Adnan Januzaj hit a brilliant strike in the 51st minute where the score remained 1-0 by end of regular play.

Tunisia and Panama were playing for the sake of pride and country at Mordovia Arena.  Panama was up at the half 1-0 after an own goal gift from Tunisia in the 33rd minute. But in a comeback rally Tunisia scored two goals in the second half where they outperformed Panama 2-1. (People’s Daily app)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Who invented the parachute? 

(Italian painter and inventor Leonardo da Vinci first came up with the idea in 1515, but his version wasn’t tested until 2000.)

Today’s quote is from French sculptor Auguste Rodin.

“Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.” 

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