Fresh Start: Podcast News (2/27/2019 Wed.)
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People's Daily app.

Here are today's picks from our editors. 

China's Antarctica station celebrates 30th birthday

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Zhongshan station, China's most important scientific research base in Antarctica, celebrates its 30th birthday on Tuesday.

It now covers an area of 7,436 square meters and has 15 buildings with various labs, telecommunication facilities, and cozy accommodations for visiting scientists.

Established in the Larsemann Hills of Antarctica on Feb. 26, 1989, the Zhongshan station started from zero to a world-class research base, used for studies in marine, glaciological, geological and atmospheric sciences and for expeditions inland. (CGTN) 

China has 2.9 million teachers in rural areas

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China had over 2.9 million teachers in rural areas by the end of 2018, the Ministry of Education said Tuesday.

Close to 2.5 million rural teachers work at primary and secondary schools, while 420,000 teachers work at kindergartens, according to the ministry.

The central budget financed 4.5 billion yuan ($670 million) last year as an allowance for 1.27 million teachers from over 80,000 rural schools in China's central and western regions, said the ministry. (Xinhua) 

Vietnam eyes closer collaboration with US in bomb, mine clearance

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Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said Tuesday that Vietnam and the United States should strengthen collaboration in bomb and mine clearance in support of Agent Orange victims.

Minh made the remarks during talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Hanoi.

Both sides agreed to increase the exchange of visits, especially high-level ones in 2019, to continue considering trade and investment ties as a driving force for Vietnam-US relations, and to enhance education-training ties and people-to-people exchanges. (Xinhua)

Iran's president refuses to accept FM's resignation

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Iran's Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday that the Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has not accepted Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's resignation.

On Tuesday, Rouhani said that Zarif has been "at the frontline of battles against America" in his administration.

In his Instagram message released on Monday, Zarif hinted at his resignation saying "thanks to the great and brave Iranians and my colleagues, but I apologize for my failure to serve you and some flaws in my work." (Xinhua)

China fines environment polluters hefty US$2.3billion in 2018

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China's environment minister said Tuesday administrative fines amounting to 15.28 billion yuan ($2.28 billion) were slapped on firms, organizations and individuals for environmental offenses in 2018.

Ecology and Environment Minister Li Ganjie said that the fines were almost five times the figure in 2014 before the current Environmental Protection Law came into effect.

The fines in 2018 also grew by 32 percent from a year earlier, Li said. (Xinhua) 

Japan to nominate architectural skill for UNESCO heritage

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The Japanese government has decided to submit the nomination of Japanese traditional architectural craftsmanship for timber structures to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO's) Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2020, local media reported.

The Japanese government plans to submit nomination materials of the traditional techniques to the UN organization by the end of March.

The craftsmanship is used in restoring temples and old structures of timber, covering techniques in 17 perspectives, according to official data. (CGTN) 

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

What does a pteridologist study?

(Answer: Ferns.)

Today's quote is from French artist Henri Matisse (1869-1954).

"Creativity takes courage."

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