Fresh Start: Podcast News (7/13/2018 Fri.)

Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app.

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Chinese President to visit five Arab and African countries, attend BRICS summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay state visits to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Senegal, Rwanda and South Africa from July 19 to 24, attend the 10th BRICS summit from July 25 to 27 in Johannesburg and visit Mauritius during a stopover, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced Thursday. (Xinhua)

US accusation of unfair trade practices by China groundless, distorts the facts: MOFOM

US accusations of China employing unfair trade practices in mutual economic and trade exchanges are “groundless” and “distort the facts,” China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Thursday.

The statement said that the US is not only launching a trade war with China, but also with the whole world, dragging the world economy into danger.

China will continue to firmly push ahead with reform and opening according to the plans and pace that are set, and work with the rest of the world to firmly uphold free trade and the multilateral trading system, said the statement. 

The statement was made in response to new US tariffs on Chinese exports and the country's Section 301 investigation conducted by the US Trade Representative Office. The Trump administration on Wednesday threatened to impose 10 percent tariffs on another $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, escalating the trade war between the world's two largest economies. (People’s Daily app - Xinhua)

Thai cave rescue site to become a museum

Rescuers who pulled a young Thai football team from deep inside a flooded cave were dismantling their worksite Thursday, as plans emerged to turn the spot into a museum in tribute to the daring operation.

At least one film production house was already working on a scheme to make a Hollywood treatment out of the heroics of divers, cavers and medics who risked their lives to free the "Wild Boars".

Stunning footage of that rescue was released Wednesday showing the youngsters - aged 11 to 16 - being stretchered to safety.

Rescue chief Narongsak Osottanakorn said the site would ultimately be converted into a museum showcasing the clothes and equipment used during the dramatic rescue. (AFP)

Chinese man risks life to save others in Thailand boat accident

Zhang Haofeng, a 30-year-old man from Henan Province, has been hailed as the real-life “Jack”from Titanic, for risking his own life to save others in a boat accident in Thailand on July 5.

The man tried to save his girlfriend's life along with those of three other tourists after two boats carrying 127 Chinese tourists capsized in rough seas near southern Thailand’s Phuket on July 5, but disappeared in the raging rapids himself.

Fortunately, he was saved by fishermen after floating in the sea for about 12 hours, and is now being treated in a Thai hospital. (People’s Daily Online)

Trump lands in Great Britain for first UK visit 

US President Donald Trump has arrived in Great Britain for his first visit as president amid NATO tensions, protests and Brexit turmoil.

Trump will attend a gala dinner Thursday with British and American officials at Blenheim Palace, the ancestral home of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

On Friday, Trump will meet with Prime Minister Theresa May and Queen Elizabeth II and then spend the weekend at one of his private golf courses in Scotland.

Widespread protests of Trump are expected during his visit to the U.K., which comes during a tumultuous week for May's government as it seeks to navigate the Brexit process. Trump is arriving following a chaotic NATO summit. (AP)

China has most geoparks in world, as park system expands rapidly

China is expanding its national park system in leaps and bounds, and now has the largest number of geoparks in the world with the fastest growth rate.

China now has 37 out of 140 UNESCO-listed Global Geoparks, ranking first in the world, according to data released during the 2018 Chinese Volcanic Geopark Forum, a four-day event recently held in Leiqiong UNESCO Global Geopark.

China has currently established 209 National Geoparks and 343 province-level geoparks. (Global Times)

Game of Thrones earns a leading 22 Emmy Award nominations

“Game of Thrones” roared back onto the Emmy Award battlefield, topping Thursday’s nominations with 22 bids but with a formidable opponent in last year’s winner, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” while a streaming platform made history by earning the most bids for the first time.

“Game of Thrones” helped boost the premium cable service’s total and became the most-nominated series of all time, with its 129 nods topping the 124 nominations earned by “ER.”

The short-lived revival of “Roseanne,” canceled because of star Roseanne Barr’s racist tweet, drew only one major nomination, a supporting actress nod for Laurie Metcalf. （AP）

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

How many animals belong to 12 Animal Zodiac?

(In order, the 12 animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.)

Today’s quote is from ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle.

"You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor."

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