Fresh Start: Podcast News (3/11/2020 Wed.)
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi in Wuhan vows victory over coronavirus

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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday vowed to resolutely fight for a victory in the war against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during his inspection in the outbreak epicenter Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for firm, solid and meticulous prevention and control efforts to defend Hubei and Wuhan.

Xi said after hard work, the situation in Hubei and Wuhan has shown positive changes with important progress, but the prevention and control task remains arduous.

Xi stressed continuing to take epidemic prevention and control as a task of paramount importance. (Xinhua)

China tests Mars probe for 2020 mission

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The Beijing Aerospace Control Center announced on Tuesday that China completed a probe test ahead of an exploration mission to Mars this year.

The wireless network test is the only joint ground rehearsal between the mission center and the spacecraft.

As scheduled, China's first Mars exploration mission will take place in 2020. (Xinhua)

UN restricts access to its complex in New York

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The United Nations has decided to restrict access to its complex in New York City amid fears over the spread of the coronavirus, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said Tuesday.

These arrangements will come into effect on Tuesday at 8pm New York time, he said.

The United Nations will continue to monitor the situation closely and further measures may be taken as circumstances evolve, said the spokesman, adding that the secretary-general takes the health and safety of UN staff as a matter of utmost priority and concern. (Xinhua)

US begins troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

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American troops have begun leaving Afghanistan for the initial troop withdrawal required in the US-Taliban peace agreement, the US military confirmed Monday.

A spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan, said in a statement that the US is moving ahead with plans to cut the number of forces in the country from about 13,000 to 8,600 over the next four and a half months.

The pullout comes as Afghanistan's rival leaders were each sworn in as president in separate ceremonies Monday, creating a complication for the United States as it figures out how to move forward on the deal and end the 18-year war. (AP)

Russia capable of raising oil output over prices slump

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Russia can increase oil output by 200,000-300,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the short term and by up to 500,000 bpd in the future to deal with a prices slump, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Tuesday.

"Our task now is to respond promptly to the situation in the market in order to mitigate most of the consequences and keep monitoring," Novak said.

Oil prices started falling dramatically after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other major producers, including Russia, failed in Vienna on Friday to agree on an extension of an output cut deal, which expires at the end of the month. (Xinhua)

NBA, MLS, MLB & NHL join hands to prevent COVID-19 spread in US

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Four top American sports leagues have come together to combat the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in the US.

Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL) said on Monday that they will restrict locker room access to players and team officials only in an effort to limit the risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

The four premier leagues in the US issued a joint statement saying the decision will come into effect on Tuesday. (CGTN)

Archaeologists unearth empress tomb in Shanxi, N China

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The Archaeological Research Institute of Shanxi recently announced the latest discovery of a giant tomb, estimated to be over 2,400 years old, in north China's Shanxi Province.

Based on the structure and features of the tomb, archaeologists concluded that it belongs to a queen from the later years of the State of Jin (1100-376 BC), one of the major states during the Zhou Dynasty. 

Over 1,700 relics have been unearthed, including small utensils and tools made of various materials, such as pottery, copper, iron, gold, jade, stone, shellfish and bone, featuring the culture of the late State of Jin. (CGTN)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

About how many known minerals exist?

(Answer: 4000.) 

Today’s quote is from Roman statesman Lucius Annaeus Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD).     

"Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness."

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