Fresh Start: Podcast News (4/1/2018 Sun.)
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

State councilor says protectionism is one-way street leading nowhere

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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday that protectionism harms others without benefitting oneself and it is also a one-way street that leads nowhere.

Wang made the comments at the ongoing sixth summit of the Greater Mekong Sub region (GMS) Economic Cooperation in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Noting that China has long been an advocate of an open world economy, Wang stressed that China is committed to win-win cooperation in opening-up and firmly opposes trade protectionism.

"Protectionism harms others without benefiting oneself. It is a one-way street that leads nowhere," he said, adding that the right approach to addressing trade disputes is to conduct consultation in line with international rules and as equals. (Xinhua)

US State Department says visa applicants to be asked for social media history

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The US federal government is proposing to collect social media information from nearly everyone seeking entry into the US, according to a State Department filing on Friday.

The proposal, if approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), would require most immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants to list all social media identities used in the past five years.

The measures also will require applicants to submit five years of previously used telephone numbers, email addresses and international travel history. Applicants will also be asked if they have ever been deported and if they have any family ties to individuals involved in terrorist activities. (People’s Daily app)

Russia to expel more diplomats from US and Europe

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Russia is planning to expel more than 50 additional British diplomats as well as more American diplomats as the country continues its retaliation expulsion efforts, following a joint condemnation of Russia for allegedly poisoning a former Russian spy in March.

Moscow initially expelled 23 British diplomats last week but is ramping up its numbers after the UK reported it too planned to expel more Russian diplomats.

"We will retaliate in kind, but there will be more. These include the expulsion of the same number of US diplomats and our decision to withdraw our consent to the operation of US Consulate General in St. Petersburg," said Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. (People’s Daily app)

North Korea commits to participation in 2020, 2022 Olympics: IOC chief

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International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said Saturday that North Korea will take part in the next two Olympics in Japan and China.

The IOC has confirmed that the country is committed to its athletes competing at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, according to a press release by IOC sent to the media on Saturday. 

Bach traveled to Pyongyang on Thursday and had a “fruitful” meeting with the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, on Friday. 

Athletes from the Koreas marched together under a unified flag at the opening ceremony of the Games in February, which Bach told Kim sent a “strong message of peace.” (People’s Daily app)

South Korean art troupe arrives in North Korea for concerts

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A South Korean art troupe arrived in Pyongyang Saturday ahead of the inter-Korea summit in April. The 120-member group, which is led by South Korean Culture Minister Do Jong-hwan, will perform a concert in Pyongyang Sunday and Tuesday under the title "Spring is Coming.”

“This performance in Pyongyang will add momentum to inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation that resumed with the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in the South", said Do Jong-hwan, who will meet North Korean officials to discuss cultural and sports cooperation between the two Koreas that have restarted after a decade-long hiatus.

The inter-Korea summit on April 27 will be the third after 2000 and 2007 meetings. (People’s Daily app)

Japanese whalers kill 333 whales during Antarctic hunt

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Japanese whaling vessels returned to port on Saturday after catching 333 Minke whales in the Antarctic Ocean without facing any protests by anti-whaling groups, officials said.

The fleet of five whalers set sail in November, as Tokyo pursues its "research whaling" in defiance of global criticism.

Japan is a signatory to the International Whaling Commission moratorium on hunting, but exploits a loophole that allows whales to be killed for scientific research. (People’s Daily app)

Professor Stephen Hawking’s funeral held in Cambridge

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The funeral of Professor Stephen Hawking was held Saturday at a church near Cambridge University, where he was a fellow for more than 50 years.

Thousands of family members, friends, colleagues and visitors attended the private funeral service at the Great St Mary's Church.

Hawking was known as a legendary figure in the field of physics, specifically for his work with black holes and relativity.

Hawking died in Cambridge on March 14 at the age of 76. His ashes will be interred next to the remains of Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin at Westminster Abbey in London on June 15. (People’s Daily app)

LeBron James Breaks Michal Jordan’s double-digit record

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LeBron James continued his assault on the NBA’s record book, passing Michael Jordan for consecutive games with at least 10 points.

James set the new scoring milestone at 867 consecutive games when he and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.

Jordan’s streak lasted from March 1986 until December 2001. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is third on the double-digit streak list with 787 games. (People’s Daily app)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

This weekend’s poem is by English poet Alexander Pope:

“How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot! / The world forgetting, by the world forgot. / Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! / Each pray’r accepted, and each wish resign’d.”

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