Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

President Xi urges full rescue efforts in Thai boat accident

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on Thai authorities to make all-out efforts to search for Chinese tourists and treat the injured after a boat accident killed at least 16 Chinese citizens. 

Xi also urged Chinese ministries responsible for foreign affairs and tourism to speed up their work in dealing with the accident. Chinese tourists and tour agencies should improve their safety awareness, Xi added.  

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who is visiting Bulgaria, called for similar measures.  

The Chinese foreign ministry and its diplomatic missions in Thailand have activated their emergency procedures and pledged full cooperation with local authorities. A government work team from China is expected to arrive in Phuket Friday night. (People's Daily app)

China, Bulgaria pledge to propel bilateral ties to new level

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his Bulgarian counterpart agreed Friday to consolidate political mutual trust and deepen pragmatic cooperation in order to promote bilateral relations to a new level.

China is willing to work with Bulgaria to take the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year as a new starting point to maintain high-level contacts, consolidate political mutual trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation and increase converging interests so as to promote bilateral relations to a new level, Li said. (Xinhua-People's Daily app)

China activates countermeasures after US tariffs take effect

China levied countermeasure tariffs on select US imports on Friday, according to the General Administration of Customs.

This came after the US imposed additional tariffs of 25 percent on Chinese goods worth $34 billion on Friday, which Chinese Commerce Ministry said the US has ignited the largest trade war in economic history.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on Friday that the US’ imposition of additional tariffs on Chinese products blatantly violates World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and will damage global trade order.

China lodged an additional complaint with the WTO Friday over tariffs formally implemented by the United States based on a trade investigation against China under Section 301, the Ministry of Commerce said in an online statement.  (People's Daily app)

Russia imposes import duties on some US products

Russia said on Friday it will impose additional import duties on some US industrial goods after the US slapped tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and warned that more retaliatory steps could be in the pipeline.

Russian’s economy minister said they will impose extra tariffs between 25-40% on some US imports and that duties imposed by the US could cause Russian exporters $5.4 million in damages.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman told reporters on Thursday that Washington will continue to hold Moscow "accountable" for its alleged "malign activities" despite an upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 16 in Helsinki. (Xinhua-People's Daily app)

Pompeo arrives in North Korea to hammer out denuclearization details

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Pyongyang on Friday to press for further progress in the denuclearization process following the Trump-Kim summit in June.

In Pyongyang, Pompeo met Kim Yong Chol, a senior aid to North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, who played a central role with Pompeo in arranging last month's Singapore summit.

Pompeo's mission is to hammer out a roadmap for North Korea's complete nuclear disarmament. He said he expects Pyongyang to "fill in some details" of the commitments on its denuclearization. (CGTN)

Pakistan ex-PM Sharif sentenced to 10 years for corruption

Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a corruption court in Islamabad Friday, lawyers said, dealing a serious blow to his party's troubled campaign ahead of the July 25 elections.

Sharif’s defense lawyer said he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined 8 million pounds (roughly $10 million) over the purchase of high-end properties in London. The prosecuting attorney also said that the court had ordered the properties to be confiscated. (AFP - People's Daily app)

France reaches World Cup semifinals，Belgium beats Brazil

A shot that flew directly at the hands of the opposing goalkeeper turned into a World Cup goal for Antoine Griezmann.The France striker scored the second goal in his team’s 2:0 quarterfinal victory over Uruguay on Friday. The victory gave France a spot in the World Cup semifinals.

Belgium has beaten Brazil 2:1 to reach the semifinals of the World Cup for just the second time. The Belgians led 2:0 at halftime and withstood late pressure from the five-time champions after Renato Augusto cut the margin with a header in the 76th minute.

Belgium, which last reached the semifinals in 1986, will next face 1998 champion France in St. Petersburg. (AP - People's Daily app)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What are the Four Great Inventions of China?

(Answer: Compass, gunpowder, papermaking, and printing.)

Today’s quote is from American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson.

“It is not length of life, but depth of life.”

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, and Raymond Mendoza.)