Fresh Start: Podcast News (8/16/2018 Thu.)
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi's discourses on poverty alleviation published

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A book of extracts from discourses on poverty alleviation by Chinese President Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has been published by the Central Party Literature Press.

The book, which was compiled by the Party history and literature research institution of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, will be distributed across the country.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, Xi has put poverty alleviation in a prominent place of state governance, put forward new thinking and new ideas. Xi has made new decisions and new plans, which have helped China make great strides in poverty relief and significant contributions to poverty reduction around the world.

The book contains 242 discourses, extracted from over 60 documents including speeches, reports, and instructions given by Xi between November 15, 2012 and June 2018. 

This is the first time for many of the discourses to be published. (Xinhua)

China marks 73rd anniversary of Japan's WWII surrender

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A peace assembly was held Wednesday in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province, to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of Japan's unconditional surrender in World War II.

Representatives from countries such as China, Japan, the United States, and Thailand attended the event held at the Nanjing Massacre Victim's Memorial Hall, mourning the 300,000 people who were killed in one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II.

Japanese invaders slaughtered about 300,000 Chinese during a six-week rampage after they captured the city, then China's capital, on December 13, 1937.

Members of an anti-war NGO based in Japan's Kobe laid wreaths and paid tribute to the victims in silence. 

It was the 22nd time the group had attended the Nanjing peace assembly. (Xinhua)

China unveils Chang'e-4 rover to explore moon's far side

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China's moon lander and rover for the Chang'e-4 lunar probe, which is expected to land on the far side of the moon this year, was unveiled Wednesday.

Images displayed during Wednesday's press conference showed the rover was a rectangular box with two folding solar panels and six wheels. 

It is 1.5 meters long, 1 meter wide and 1.1 meters high.

Like Yutu, the rover will be equipped with four scientific payloads, including a panoramic camera, infrared imaging spectrometer and radar measurement devices, to obtain images of the moon's surface and detect lunar soil and structure.

The Chang'e-4 lunar probe will land on the Aitken Basin in the south pole region on the far side of the moon, a hot spot for scientific and space exploration. (Xinhua)

China seeks WTO dispute settlement over US safeguard measures, subsidies

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China on Tuesday launched the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement procedure over the US’ safeguard measures on imported photovoltaic products and subsidies for its renewable energy products, the Ministry of Commerce said.

"As the US measures severely damaged Chinese trade interests, China's choice to resort to the WTO dispute settlement mechanism is a necessary move to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests and multilateral trade rules," said a spokesperson with the ministry.

Previously, the US took safeguard measures on imports of photovoltaic products with additional tariffs up to 30 percent.

The US measures are suspected of violating the WTO Agreement on Safeguards.

The US also granted additional subsidies to domestic renewable energy products, including photovoltaic products, which are suspected of being import substitution subsidies and violating its national treatment obligations. (Xinhua)

Anger grows in Italy as bridge toll hits 39

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Italy's government blamed the firm that operated the collapsed Genoa bridge for the disaster that has claimed at least 39 lives, as search operations entered a second night Wednesday with rescuers digging through mountains of crushed concrete.

A vast span of the Morandi Bridge caved in during a heavy rainstorm in the northern port city on Tuesday, sending about 35 cars and several trucks plunging 150 feet onto railway tracks below.

At least 39 people are known to have died and 15 injured, according to Italy's Civil Protection service.

The tragedy has focused anger on the structural problems that have dogged the decades-old bridge and the private sector firm Autostrade per l'Italia, the company responsible for operating and maintaining a significant portion of the country's motorways.

Italy's transport minister called for the company management to resign and announced the government had launched a move to revoke their contract and hit it with $170 million dollar fine.  (AFP)

34 suspects linked to Venezuela assassination plot 

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Some 34 suspects have been linked to the failed assassination attempt against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a top official said on Tuesday.

Authorities have arrested 14 suspects, including two members of the armed forces, Prosecutor General Tarek William Saab said at a press conference, adding that others are abroad, in Colombia and the US.

Among the suspects is former National Assembly legislator Juan Requesens, who has been charged with treason, attempted homicide, terrorism and other crimes, based on video and audio evidence, as well as the confessions and testimonies of those in custody, said Saab. (Xinhua)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day.

How long is the Great Wall of China?

(Answer: 8,851.8 kilometers, or 5,500.3 miles.)

Today’s quote is from Greek philosopher Plato.

“Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge.”

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