Fresh Start: Podcast News (4/19/2019 Fri.)
People's Daily app
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People's Daily app.

Here are today's picks from our editors. 

China opens Chang'e-6 mission for international payloads

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China announced the cooperation plan for its future Chang'e-6 mission, offering to carry a total of 20 kg of solicited payloads, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Thursday.

The orbiter and lander of the Chang'e-6 mission will each reserve 10 kg for payloads, which will be selected from both domestic colleges, universities, private enterprises, and foreign scientific research institutions, said Liu Jizhong, director of the China Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center of the CNSA, at a press conference.

According to Liu, the Chang'e-6 probe will be comprised of an orbiter, a lander, an ascender, and a return capsule. (Xinhua) 

Kim Jong-un to visit Russia and meet Putin: Kremlin

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The leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un will visit Russia and meet Russian President Vladimir Putin this month, the Kremlin said Thursday.

The visit of the DPRK's leader was initiated by the Russian side, the Kremlin said in a statement, without giving further details.

It will be the first official meeting between Kim and Putin. (Xinhua) 

Mueller report shows no evidence Trump campaign conspired with Russia

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On Thursday, US Attorney General William Barr said that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation did not uncover evidence that US President Donald Trump obstructed the investigation into his campaign’s alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 presidential election.

According to Barr, Mueller's report recounted 10 incidents involving Trump and evaluated whether they obstructed the investigation.

Barr said that he and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein disagreed with some of Mueller's "legal theories" about obstruction of justice and concluded the special counsel did not have "sufficient" evidence to establish that Trump had committed any offenses related to the obstruction of justice. (CGTN) 

Indonesia's Widodo declares victory in presidential election

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Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Thursday he won re-election after receiving an estimated 54 percent of the vote.

The vote estimate is based on so-called quick counts of a sample of polling stations by a dozen reputable survey organizations.

Widodo, after meeting with parties in his coalition, told reporters that the leaders of Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey, and numerous other nations had congratulated him on securing a second term.

Widodo’s rival, former General Prabowo Subianto, claimed he won 62 percent of the vote in Wednesday’s election, based on his campaign’s own counts. (AP) 

Police official: Short-circuit likely caused Notre Dame fire

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Paris police investigators think an electrical short-circuit most likely caused the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral, a police official said Thursday.

Investigators made an initial assessment of the cathedral Wednesday but don’t have a green light to search Notre Dame’s charred interior because of ongoing safety hazards.

Investigators so far believe the fire was accidental, and are questioning both cathedral staff and workers who were carrying out renovations. (AP) 

Holiday island mourns after bus crash kills 29 German tourists

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Portugal and Germany mourned on Thursday after 29 German tourists died when their bus tumbled down a slope and crashed into a house on the tourist island of Madeira.

Authorities said most of the dead were in their 40s and 50s. Twelve men and 17 women were among the victims, said an official at a local hospital.

Witnesses and officials also said the 50-odd tourists had left their hotel on their way to the regional capital Funchal for dinner when the bus crashed Wednesday. (AFP) 

Amazon adjusts business focus in China

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Amazon China said Thursday it is adjusting its business focus in the Chinese market.

The company said it has notified sellers it will no longer provide seller services on Amazon.cn effective July 18.

The company said it is working closely with sellers to ensure a smooth transition and to continue to deliver the best customer experience possible.

Sellers interested in continuing to sell on Amazon outside of China can do so through Amazon Global Selling, the company added. (Xinhua) 

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

Where was Christopher Columbus born?

(Answer: Genoa.)

Today's quote is from French artist Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968).

"Art doesn't interest me. Only artists interest me."

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