Fresh Start: Podcast News (8/24/2019 Sat.)
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

China to impose additional tariffs on US imports worth $75 bln 

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China will impose additional tariffs on US imports worth about $75 billion in response to the newly announced US tariff hikes on Chinese goods, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced Friday.

Based on laws and approved by the State Council, a total of 5,078 US products will be subject to additional tariffs of 10 percent or 5 percent. The tariff hikes will be implemented in two batches and take effect at 12:01 pm Beijing time on Sept. 1 and at 12:01 pm on Dec. 15, respectively, the commission said in a statement.

The US government announced on Aug. 15 that it will impose additional tariffs of 10 percent on Chinese goods worth about $300 billion, effective on Sept. 1 and Dec. 15, respectively, in two batches. (Xinhua)

China issues guideline to promote cultural, tourism consumption

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China has issued a guideline to unleash the cultural and tourism consumption potential, calling for efforts to deepen supply-side reform in cultural and tourism industries.

The guideline, issued by the State Council General Office, demands measures be taken to upgrade scenic sites' facilities and improve their services.

It calls for efforts to lower tourism venue prices, develop more diverse cultural and tourism products, including various art performances and leisure agriculture. (Xinhua)

Bolsonaro mulls deploying army to combat Amazon fires

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Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro said Friday he is considering deploying the army to help combat fires in the Amazon rainforest, amid growing international pressure over the wildfires.

The fires raging in parts of the world's largest rainforest have sparked protests around the world, ignited a war of words between Bolsonaro and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, and threatened a blockbuster trade deal with the European Union.

The latest official figures show 76,720 forest fires were recorded in Brazil so far this year -- the highest number for any year since 2013. More than half are in the Amazon. (AFP)

US officials confirm Israeli strike in Iraq

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US officials have confirmed that Israel was responsible for the bombing of an Iranian weapons depot in Iraq last month.

The confirmation comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is strongly hinting that his country is behind recent airstrikes that have hit bases and munitions depots belonging to Iran-backed paramilitary forces operating in Iraq.

There have been at least three explosions at Iraqi Shiite militia bases in the past month. American officials now confirm Israel was responsible for at least one of them. (AP)

Sri Lankan president lifts state of emergency

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Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has lifted a four-month state of emergency which was declared following the multiple terrorist attacks in the island country on April 21, local media reports said Friday.

Sirisena declared the state of emergency a day after the multiple terror attacks in the country that killed over 250 people and injured more than 500.

He then extended it monthly, as security forces continued to conduct nationwide raids to hunt for suspects linked to the attacks. (Xinhua)

Russia may start selling luxury cars in China

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Russian-made luxury cars may soon be on sale in China, Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said on Friday.

Manturov made the remarks at a showroom featuring an Aurus sedan. The type was powered by a two-turbine, eight-cylinder engine, and sported four-wheel drive and four-zone climate control.

"We hope that in 2020-2021, a similar showroom will appear in China," Manturov said. 

Since 2013, the Russian government has invested $188 million in the Aurus project to launch Russian-made high-end vehicles for top officials including President Vladimir Putin, Russian media reported. (Xinhua)

Giraffes closer to being listed as an endangered species

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An international conference on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, better known as CITES, opened on Thursday in the city of Geneva in Switzerland.

For the first time, the participants agreed to include giraffes on the list of protected animals. This drew praise from conservationists and scowls from some nations in sub-Saharan Africa.

The change would regulate world trade in giraffe parts, including hides, bone carvings, and meat, but it stops short of a full ban. (China Plus-AP)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Who invented the first battery? 

(Answer: Alessandro Volta.)

Today's quote is from Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu.     

"A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving."

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Brian Lowe, Elaine Yue Lin, and Paris Yelu Xu. Music by Eugene Loner.)