Fresh Start: Podcast News (9/21/2018 Fri.)
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi urges reform to prioritize solving practical issues

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Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), called for focusing reforms on solving practical problems on Thursday.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while presiding over the fourth meeting of the central committee for deepening overall reform, which he heads.

Both the importance and difficulty of reform lie in implementation, Xi said.

Saying that there are more and more favorable conditions for carrying out reforms and focusing on implementation, he called for putting more energy and efforts into implementation and focusing reforms on solving real problems.

Li Keqiang and Wang Huning, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy heads of the reform committee, attended the meeting.

More efforts should be made to formulate policies that promote high-quality development in important areas including manufacturing, high-tech industries, service and infrastructure, and public services, and to put protecting the people's interests at a more prominent position, said a statement released after the meeting. (Xinhua)

China supports the participation of the US in talks to transform US-DPRK relations: MFA

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China supports and hopes that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States will step up contact and talks, take care of each other’s rational concerns, continuously enhance mutual trust, implement the consensus of the leaders of the two countries, and promote the denuclearization and the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue, said Geng Shuang, the spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

“We have noticed that the US side has positively evaluated the meeting between the DPRK and ROK leaders and made a positive statement on the DPRK-ROK dialogue,” Geng added.

“As Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, we warmly congratulate the DPRK and ROK leaders for meeting and signing the Pyongyang Joint Declaration of September and we firmly support them,” Geng said at the regular press conference on Thursday.

The DPRK and ROK leaders met and signed the Pyongyang Joint Declaration of September on Wednesday. The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that the United States is ready to transform its relations with DPRK immediately, media reported. (People's Daily app)

Russia demands explanation from Israel on Russian plane shot down in Syria

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The recent downing of a Russian military plane in Syria requires further investigation and an explanation from Israel, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

A Russian Il-20 surveillance aircraft with 15 on board was struck by a missile on Monday during an Israeli airstrike on Syria’s Latakia Province.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday that using the aircraft as a shield against Syrian air defense systems was an "irresponsible action" by the Israeli army which caused mishap.

Russian and foreign media reported earlier that an Israeli Defense Force delegation led by the commander of the Israeli Air Force would visit Moscow Thursday to provide an explanation. (Xinhua)

Toddler room debuts in Palace Museum

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At China's world-renowned Forbidden City in Central Beijing opened its first baby care rooms at the Palace Museum on Wednesday.

The baby-friendly facility consists of three private breastfeeding rooms, mother-and-baby toilets and a baby-themed souvenir shop with female staff members providing necessary services for guests. 

Palace Museum director Shan Jixiang said the rooms were established to provide support for mothers who bring their babies to the museum. 

So far, nearly 300 mothers have benefited from the new service. (China Plus)

Fire risk concerns force Nissan recall

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Nissan recalled more than 215,000 cars and SUVs in the US due to a fire hazard and is advising car owners to park their vehicles outside.

The company announced that their anti-lock brake pump can leak brake fluid onto a vehicle’s circuit board which can cause an electrical short, thus increasing the risk of fire. 

The recall covers Nissan Murano 2015-2017, Nissan Maxima 2016-2017, Nissan Pathfinders 2017-2018, and the 2017 Infiniti QX60.

Nissan estimates that roughly 56 percent of the vehicles could have this problem.

Two years ago, the Murano was recalled due to the same problem. (AP)

First American slated to helm James Bond film

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US filmmaker Cary Joji Fukunaga will direct the next James Bond movie, set for worldwide release on February 14, 2020.

The film’s producers made the announcement Thursday after British director Danny Boyle quit the project last month.

Fukunaga will be the first American to direct a film for the spy franchise, which made its big screen debut in 1963.

Fukunaga is best known for directing the first season of Emmy Award-winning series "True Detective" and Netflix's first feature film "Beasts of No Nation.”

The 25th Bond film, confirmed as Daniel Craig's last outing as 007, will begin filming at Pinewood Studios near London next spring (AFP)

Air pollution linked to higher risk of dementia: study

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Urban air pollution, mostly from vehicles, has been linked to dementia, according to report published Wednesday.

The link remained even after heavy drinking, smoking and other risk factors related to dementia were ruled out, the researchers reported in medical journal BMJ Open.

The study strongly suggested that the chemical byproducts of burning diesel and petrol can damage the brain.

"Traffic-related air pollution has been linked to poorer cognitive development in younger children," the study noted. (AFP)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What is the start point of the Silk Road?

(Answer: Xi'an is the starting point of Silk Road, an ancient trading route.)

Today’s quote is from Publius Cornelius Tacitus. 

“A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.”

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