Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app.

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

China issues white paper on human rights progress over 70 years

China on Sunday published a white paper on its progress in the field of human rights over the past 70 years.

The white paper, titled "Seeking Happiness for People: 70 Years of Progress on Human Rights in China," was released by the State Council Information Office.

"Living a happy life is the primary human right," the document said, adding that China regards the rights to subsistence and development as the primary and basic human rights and has been improving the rights of its people in a coordinated manner since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, especially after the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012.

China has opened a new path of human rights protection based on its national conditions, and increased the diversity of human civilizations, it said. (Xinhua)

AIIB to invest $1.09 bln in ASEAN countries to boost interconnectivity

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will invest in six projects with $1.09 billion in countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said AIIB President Jin Liqun.

The bank will play a bigger role in promoting interconnectivity between China, ASEAN and other Asian countries, Jin said at the 16th China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, the capital city of South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

In the past four years, AIIB has invested a total of $1 billion in 10 projects in six ASEAN countries, according to Jin. (Xinhua)

EU is 'in no way responsible' for Brexit consequences, Juncker says

The European Union (EU) is "in no way responsible" for the consequences of Brexit, and the bloc should not be held accountable for what is a "British decision," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Sunday.

"The European Union is not leaving the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union," Juncker said in an interview with Sky News.

The statement came as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is leaving for New York on Sunday to attend the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly, and he is expected to use the visit for an informal Brexit summit. (Xinhua)

Iran's president urges exit of foreign forces from Gulf

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday urged the foreign forces to leave the Gulf region.

Foreign forces in the region are cause of problems and insecurity for regional nations, Rouhani made the remarks in Tehran at the ceremony to mark defense week commemorating Iranian sacrifices during the eight-year Iraq-Iran war in the 1980s.

The presence of foreign forces in the regional waters also endangers maritime and energy security, he said. (Xinhua)

Over 15 earthquakes hit Albania in 48 hours

Over 15 earthquakes have hit Albania in the last 48 hours, according to the Albanian Institute of GeoSciences, Energy, Water and Environment (IGEWE) on Sunday.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama called an emergency government meeting at midnight to report on the situation after the earthquakes that hit the country on Saturday.

Speaking at the government's meeting, Albanian Defense Minister Olta Xhacka declared that over 550 houses around the country were reported damaged and 105 people remained wounded with minor injuries. (Xinhua)

Haze from Indonesia extends to whole Thai south

The Thai Pollution Control Department on Sunday said if the Indonesian haze which now covers Thai south goes beyond PM2.5 level 90, the department will issue red alert.

Meanwhile, the Hat Yai municipality on Sunday endured the thickest haze from the current spate of Indonesian forest fires, while levels of PM2.5 reached the dangerous bracket in Trang and Satun provinces.

According to pollution officials, the current PM2.5 level is at 70. (Xinhua)

Man drowns after proposing to girlfriend underwater

An American man drowned after proposing to his girlfriend underwater in Tanzania.

Steven Weber was in the East African country with his girlfriend Kenesha Antoine, with plans to ask for her hand in marriage.

Reports indicate that Weber had dived underwater with a placard asking Kenesha to marry him, but never returned.

The bride-to-be posted the news on Facebook and said, "You never emerged from those depths so you never got to hear my answer. Yes! Yes! A million times, yes, I will marry you!" (CGTN)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Name Batman’s crime fighting partner?

(Answer: Robin.)

Today’s quote is from French novelist George Sand (1804-1876).

"Every historian discloses a new horizon."

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon and Da Hang. Music by Eugene Loner.)