Fresh Start: Podcast News (3/29/2018 Thu.)

Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi presides over 1st meeting of Central Committee for deepening overall reform

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), presided over the first meeting of the central committee for deepening overall reform Wednesday.

Deputy heads of the committee Li Keqiang, Wang Huning and Han Zheng attended the meeting.

With the reform becoming more complex, sensitive and onerous, Xi called for efforts to strengthen and improve the Party's coordination and leadership over deepening reform in all areas, and incorporate the reform of institutions with the advancement of reform tasks.

Attendees at the meeting also discussed a report on deepening reform of the disciplinary inspection and supervision system and the institutions of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the national supervisory commission, as well as a report on the first round of inspection over environmental protection led by central authorities. (Xinhua)

Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un hold talks in Beijing

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made an unofficial visit to China.  Chinese President Xi Jinping says positive changes had taken place on the Korean Peninsula since this year, and that China appreciates the important efforts made by North Korea.

He added that China sticks to the goal of the denuclearization of the Peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability on the Peninsula and solving problems through dialogue and consultation.

For his part, Kim says the situation on the Korean Peninsula is starting to get better, with North Korea taking the initiative to ease tensions and put forward proposals for peace talks.

Xinhua reports that Xi invited Kim, who visited China from Sunday to Wednesday. (People’s Daily app)

North Korea media thinks highly of Kim’s visit to China

North Korea’s top leader Kim Jong Un has ended his unofficial visit to China, held from March 25 to 28, marking his first overseas visit after he came to power.

North Korean media described the visit as a “historic event that will promote North Korea-China friendship into a new higher level.”

Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, uncommonly published eight pages on March 28, seven of which were about Kim’s visit to China. 

The reports cover Xi’s talks with Kim at the Great Hall of the People, the luncheon for Kim and his wife Ri Sol-ju, Kim’s visit to an exhibition showcasing the new innovation achievements of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the welcoming banquet for Kim and Ri, as well as the full text of Xi’s and Kim’s addresses at the banquet. (People’s Daily app)

Trump tweets denuclearization of Korean Peninsula ‘not a small possibility’ but sanctions will be maintained

US President Donald Trump tweeted on Wednesday that he "looked forward" to meeting with Kim Jong Un, but meanwhile "maximum sanctions and pressure" on North Korea will be maintained.

His comments came after Kim paid an unofficial visit to China from March 25 to 28, before North Korea’s planned summits with US and South Korea.

Kim's visit to China showcased enduring bonds between the two countries, highlighting the diplomatic challenge facing Trump, according to the Washington Post.

At the invitation of North Korea, Trump will meet Kim in May, reports said. The upcoming meeting has aroused wide speculation on the situation of the Korean Peninsula and how the denuclearization will be realized. (People’s Daily app)

U Win Myint elected as Myanmar’s new president

U Win Myint, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, was elected as Myanmar's new president on Wednesday.

The presidential run was hosted by the Union Parliament to fill the vacancy left by U Htin Kyaw, who announced his resignation last week, citing health reasons.

U Win Myint won the election with 403 votes against his two competitors. (People’s Daily app)

Japanese PM’s wife called to testify against scandal accusations

Akie Abe, the wife of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was given a summons to testify by the Japanese Parliament on Wednesday after a key witness in the cronyism scandal refused to answer questions about tampering with Finance Ministry sale records.

The scandal revolves around the 2016 cut-price sale of state-owned land to a nationalist school operator who claims ties to Abe and his wife.

Former commissioner of the National Tax Agency Nobuhisa Sagawa admitted that while papers were altered, there was no pressure from Abe, his wife, or Finance Minister Taro Aso, to amend the documents.

Abe, who has maintained his innocence in the scandal, has vowed that a thorough investigation will take place. (People’s Daily app)

Police arrest cherry blossom ticket scalpers

Police in Wuhan, Central China’s Hubei Province, rushed to Wuhan University on Tuesday, to arrest eight ticket scalpers who offered to take tourists on a tour of the campus to view the cherry blossoms.

After receiving several reports of scalpers from tourists and the media, police were on high alert to catch the scalpers

Wuhan University is known for its cherry blossoms, which attract tens of thousands of tourists each year. To battle overcrowding, the university started an online booking system this year. Since entry has become limited, ticket scalpers have begun to emerge. (People’s Daily app)

Health, medical groups sue FDA over e-cigarette rule delay

Seven public health and medical groups on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the US Food and Drug Administration’s decision to allow e-cigarettes to remain on the market for years without regulatory review.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland, argued that the FDA improperly delayed a provision of a rule enacted in 2016 that allows the agency to treat e-cigarettes and similar devices like cigarettes. (People’s Daily app)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

Today’s quote is from Greek philosopher Socrates:

“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.”

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu,  Zeke Ziyi Zeng, Raymond Mendoza, and Terry Guanlin Li.)