Fresh Start: Podcast News (12/11/2019 Wed.)
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

2 Chinese nationals among those injured in New Zealand volcanic eruption

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At least two Chinese nationals were among 47 people on New Zealand's White Island at the time of a volcanic eruption on Monday, New Zealand police said on Tuesday.

The Chinese nationals were also among those injured in the eruption, according to the Chinese embassy in New Zealand, which is still awaiting further information about the Chinese tourists.

The nationalities of the 47 people, most of whom were tourists, are two from Britain, four from Germany, 24 from Australia, five from New Zealand, two from China, one from Malaysia, and nine from the United States.

Five people have been confirmed dead so far, and eight others were still missing, presumed dead, in the eruption on the island in the Eastern Bay of Plenty of the North Island, with more casualties likely, according to police. (Xinhua)

China releases catalogue of biological resources

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The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) officially released a catalog of biological resources on Monday.

The catalog of biological resources collects more than 7 million pieces of data from 76 biological resources libraries in 40 research institutes of the CAS, including biological specimens, plant resources, biological genetic resources, experimental animal resources and biodiversity monitoring network resources.

The biological resources data is open-access, providing support for the development of China's biological industry, according to the CAS. (Xinhua)

Chile combs Antarctic for missing plane with 38 aboard

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Searchers using planes, ships and satellites were combing the Antarctic sea on Tuesday, looking for a Chilean Air Force transport plane carrying 38 people that vanished en route to a base on the frozen continent.

Seven hours after contact was cut off, the Air Force declared the plane a loss, though there was no sign of what happened to it. 

The C-130 Hercules carried 17 crew members and 21 passengers, including three civilians. They were en route to check on a floating fuel supply line and other equipment at the Chilean base. (AP)

Russia seeks to protect interests of athletes following sports ban

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Russia must safeguard the interests of its athletes so that they can fully participate in international competitions despite a massive sports ban, the Kremlin said Tuesday.

"The main thing is to ensure that the interests of our athletes are not violated in any way because of collective responsibility," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a daily news briefing.

On Monday, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) decided to ban Russia from international sporting events for four years, alleging that the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) is non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the WADA ruling violated the Olympic charter and Russia has every reason to go to court. (Xinhua)

Attacker commits suicide after Czech hospital shooting

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The attacker who shot dead six at Ostrava University Hospital has committed suicide, Czech police said Tuesday.

The shooting happened shortly after 7 am local time at the trauma center of the hospital in the northeastern Czech city of Ostrava. All the victims -- four men and two women -- were patients. The shooter was a 42-year-old man.

Police do not yet know the attacker's motive. (Xinhua)

NASA says core stage of next moon rocket now ready

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NASA has completed the giant rocket that will take US astronauts back to the moon, the space agency's head announced Monday, pledging the mission would take place in 2024 despite being beset by delays.

The Space Launch System (SLS) is the tallest rocket ever built and it is also the most powerful, designed to reach a record-breaking speed of Mach 23 before separating from its upper stage, the Orion crew capsule.

The Artemis 1 mission will likely take off by June 2020, according to the audit report. The first test will be uncrewed. (AFP)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What is the 7th element on the periodic table of elements?

(Answer: Nitrogen.)

Today’s quote is from Scottish philosopher David Hume (1711-1776). 

"To hate, to love, to think, to feel, to see; all this is nothing but to perceive."

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