Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi demands efforts to protect children's eyesight

Chinese President Xi Jinping has pressed for effective measures to take care of Chinese children's eyesight so that "they will have a bright future."

The high incidence of myopia among students, which affects more and more children at a younger age and undermines their health, is a major problem for the future of the country and the Chinese nation, he said in the recent instruction, adding that authorities should pay close attention to this issue and should not let it deteriorate.

Comprehensive and effective schemes to prevent and treat myopia among children should be made and governments at all levels across the country should implement them well, he said.

"All sectors of the society should respond to this issue," Xi stressed.

The authorities including Ministry of Education and National Health Commission have drafted a prevention and control scheme and published it to solicit opinions from the public.

The scheme, setting the goals and clarifying duties of parents, schools and health departments, will take effect soon. (Xinhua)

China remains Africa's top trading partner for nine consecutive years

China has been Africa's largest trading partner for nine years in a row as major cooperation programs boosted bilateral trade, official data showed Tuesday.

China-Africa trade has been growing robustly since the launch of 10 major cooperation plans three years ago. In the first half of 2018, bilateral trade rose 16 percent year on year to $98.8 billion, Qian Keming, vice minister of commerce, told a press conference.

In the past three years, China's annual average direct investment to Africa stood at around $3 billion, while progress was seen in industrial cooperation in sectors such as manufacturing, finance, tourism, and aviation.

The 2018 Beijing summit of FOCAC is slated for Sept. 3 and 4. The summit will be themed "China and Africa: toward an even stronger community with a shared future through win-win cooperation." (Xinhua)

Worldwide gun deaths reach 250,000 yearly; US ranks high

Gun deaths worldwide total about 250,000 yearly and the US, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, and Venezuela are the countries that contributed to half the deaths, the study found.

The results from the study reveal “a major public health problem for humanity,” according to an editorial published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Two-thirds of the deaths in 2016 were homicides, although the US is among the wealthy countries where suicides by gun outnumber gun killings, the study found. (AP)

French environment minister quits

France’s high-profile environment minister Nicolas Hulot unexpectedly announced his resignation live on national radio Tuesday, lamenting the government’s lack of decisive action on green issues.

“I no longer want to lie to myself,” Hulot said. “I don’t want to create the illusion that my presence in government means that we’re up to standard on these issues, and so I am deciding to quit the government.”

Recruiting Hulot as a minister had been a coup for Macron, who has sought to position France as a champion in the fight against environmental degradation and as a counterweight to the climate change attitudes of US President Donald Trump. (AP)

China eases process for issuing, renewing passports

The State Immigration Administration (SIA) announced several measures on Tuesday to simplify the process of issuing passports and travel documents to Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.

From Sept. 1, citizens will be able to apply for or renew passports and travel documents to Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan anywhere, regardless of where their household registration is, the SIA statement said.

The processing time will be reduced to seven working days, according to the statement. (Xinhua)

China to implement social credit system in transport, ride-hailing sectors

China is steadily promoting its social credit system, with three Chinese government bodies issuing on Monday a joint notice announcing the nationwide application of the social credit system to crack down on dishonest behavior in the transport and ride-hailing industries.

The National Development and Reform Committee, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Ministry of Public Security announced a special campaign, citing the need to crack down on bad behavior on China's roads and promote compliance and good services in the transport industry.

The campaign is to be carried out in two stages, first involving land, water, rail, and air transport companies. It will then target individual drivers with serious offenses of social credit. (Global Times)

Chinese paddlers crowned 10th time in women's team at Asiad

The Chinese women's table tennis team claimed their 10th title at the Asian Games after breezing past North Korea 3-0 on Tuesday.

It was also the fourth straight title for China in the event since 2006.

Chinese paddlers secured their berths in the final after overcoming South Korea 3-0, and North Korea eliminated Hong Kong, China by the same score in the semifinals.

World No. 1 Zhu Yuling earned table tennis powerhouse China a deserved lead after beating North Korea’s top choice Kim Song I 11-9, 11-8, 11-6. (Xinhua)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What is the largest palace in the world?

(Answer: The Forbidden City in Beijing.)

Today’s quote is from English author Mary Shelley.

“Elegance is inferior to virtue.”

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