Fresh Start: Podcast News (9/23/2018 Sun.)
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi congratulates Chinese farmers for first harvest festival

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Chinese President Xi Jinping has congratulated Chinese farmers for their first harvest festival.

Xi, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and chairman of the Central Military Commission, sent greetings and good wishes to the country's farmers on behalf of the CPC Central Committee ahead of the festival, which falls on Sept. 23, the Autumnal Equinox of this year.

The CPC Central Committee's decision to create the Chinese farmers' harvest festival further demonstrates that work related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers is a top priority and holds a fundamental position, Xi noted, calling the creation of the festival "an event with profound and far-reaching influence."

"China is a large agricultural country. Priority on agriculture is the foundation and essential for the rule of the country and the people's security," Xi said.

Xi has stressed the importance of rural vitalization strategy in promoting agricultural upgrading, rural progress and farmers' development in an all-round way.

Rural vitalization strategy is a major strategy put forward at the 19th CPC National Congress, and a historic task of overall importance which concerns fully building a modern socialist country, Xi said Friday while presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on this issue. (Xinhua)

China, Vatican sign provisional agreement

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China and the Vatican signed a provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops Saturday in Beijing, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao and Antoine Camilleri, head of a Vatican delegation and the Under-Secretary for Relations with States, held talks and signed the agreement, according to a statement by the ministry.

China and the Vatican will continue to maintain contact and improve bilateral ties, the statement said. (People's Daily app)

Islamic State claims killing of 29 at Iran military parade

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Islamic State militants shot and killed at least 29 people including women and children in an attack Saturday on an Iranian military parade in Ahvaz, as Tehran accused a US ally in the region of the assault.

Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Twitter warned that “Iran will respond swiftly and decisively in defense of Iranian lives.”

Iran's State TV described the gunmen as “Takfiri gunmen,” a term previously used to describe the Islamic State group.

Ahvaz has had its oil pipelines attacked in the past by Arab separatists. (AP)

China can ensure forex market stability: forex regulator

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China's forex regulator said the country could cope with potential external shock and ensure stability in its forex market.

Although external uncertainties abound, the economy will remain running within a reasonable range as the country's industrial restructuring and upgrade as well as opening-up continued apace, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) said on its website.

SAFE said supply and demand at the forex market have remained generally stable. Further opening-up of the financial market has led to more international capital inflows, and foreign currency purchase by enterprises and individuals has become more rational.

Commercial banks saw a net forex settlement deficit of $10.5 billion in the first eight months of the year, narrowing 91 percent from one year earlier. (Xinhua)

UC Berkeley employee arrested for suspected serial rapes

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UC Berkeley on Friday expressed "shock" over one of its employees accused of several suspected rapes that took place throughout multiple counties in northern California for more than a decade.

It identified the suspected employee as Roy Waller, who has been taken into custody and is on investigative leave.

Waller has worked as a safety specialist in the university's Environment, Health and Safety office since 1992.

Investigators said genealogy tests helped link Waller's DNA to the crimes.

UC Berkeley quoted police sources as saying that there is no indication that Waller had committed any crimes within the campus community. (CGTN)

India probes death of 12 endangered lions

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Indian authorities on Friday ordered a probe into the deaths of a dozen endangered wild Asiatic lions, half of them cubs, over the last ten days, officials said.

One lioness died after preying on a poisoned boar while eight other lions died of lung and liver infections.

Three cubs were killed in infighting while three others died during treatment.

Officials have sent the carcasses to a veterinary hospital for further analysis into the cause of infection.

Listed as critically endangered in the year 2000, wild Asiatic lions reside only in one Indian forest called the Gir Sanctuary. (CGTN)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What does the waxing and waning of the moon mean in ancient Chinese culture?

(Answer: Joys and sorrows in people’s lives.)

Today’s quote is from Chinese philosopher Xun Kuang.

“The person attempting to travel two roads at once will get nowhere.”

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