Fresh Start: Podcast News (4/2/2019 Tue.)

Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People's Daily app.

Here are today's picks from our editors. 

China, New Zealand agree to deepen comprehensive strategic partnership

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Beijing Monday. They agreed to continuously enrich the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership based on the principles of mutual trust and mutual benefit.

China has always viewed New Zealand as a sincere friend and partner, Xi said, adding that China-New Zealand ties, established 47 years ago, had always been at the forefront among relationships between China and Western countries.

He called on both countries to continue to deepen the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership based on the principles of mutual trust and mutual benefit.

China stands ready to work with New Zealand to maintain the bilateral ties as a "front-runner" in relations between China and Western countries, Xi said. (Xinhua) 

Wildfire claims 30 firefighters in Southwest China's Sichuan Province

China's Ministry of Emergency Management announced Monday that 30 firefighters were confirmed dead after trying to extinguish a massive wildfire in Southwest China's Sichuan Province.

30 firefighters were reported missing Sunday afternoon while battling the forest fire after a sudden change in wind direction caused the blaze to increase in size and speed.

The fire started at a height of 3,800 meters in rugged terrain, causing traffic and communication problems. (People's Daily app) 

Japan announces 'Reiwa' as new era name to begin under next emperor

The Japanese government announced Monday that "Reiwa" will be the name of Japan's new era to start on May 1, when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the Chrysanthemum throne succeeding his father Emperor Akihito.

The new era name which roughly translate to "orderly" or "auspicious" and "peace" or "harmony," is derived from Man'yoshu, the oldest anthology of Japanese poetry dating back to the eighth century.

"We expect the new era to be widely accepted by the public and deeply rooted in the lives of Japanese people," Suga, Japan's top government spokesperson, said. (Xinhua) 

S. Korea to review inviting DPRK leader to summit with ASEAN leaders: Blue House

South Korea's presidential Blue House said Monday it will consider inviting Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), to the South Korea-ASEAN summit this year.

Senior Blue House press secretary Yoon Do-han told a press briefing that South Korean President Moon Jae-in will hold a summit with the leaders of 10 ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries from November 25th to the 26th in the country's southern port city of Busan.

An unidentified Blue House official said Seoul will review the DPRK leader's participation at the summit in consultations with ASEAN 10 side while taking into account the situation on the Korean Peninsula. (Xinhua) 

British lawmakers reject all four Brexit options in second round of unbinding vote

British lawmakers on Monday voted to turn down all the four proposed Brexit options on the table, the second time since Friday that none of MPs' proposed Brexit options wins clear backing in the House of Commons.

MPs voted down all the four Brexit proposals chosen by House Speaker John Bercow in a bid to break the current Brexit deadlock. The British government has until April 12 to decide how Britain will leave the European Union (EU).

None of the four alternatives to British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal receives support from a majority of MPs in the second round of "indicative vote", which includes a plan to keep Britain in a customs union with the EU, guaranteeing smooth and tariff-free trade in goods. A motion that went further, calling for Britain to stay in the EU's borderless single market for both goods and services. (Xinhua) 

Major US airlines hit by delays after glitch at vendor

A technical glitch at an outside aviation company led to delays at major US airlines Monday.

The issue has been resolved, but it may cause some disruption in travel plans. Delays that began appearing first in Chicago, New York, Miami and Boston spread to Dallas, Atlanta, Detroit and Washington, D.C.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the technical issue hit a number of airlines and advised travelers to contact airlines directly for flight information and updates.

American Airlines said the technical issue was related to AeroData, a company that makes aircraft location and balancing technology. (AP) 

New wearable device could capture cancer cells in blood: study

American researchers have developed a wearable device that can collect live cancer cells directly from blood in animals, according to a study published Monday.

The study published in the journal Nature Communications reported the prototype that can help doctors diagnose and treat cancer more effectively in the future.

The device is so small it could be worn on the wrist and connected to a vein in the arm.

It would be used to help to optimize human cancer treatment by enabling doctors to see if cancer cells are making the molecules that serve as targets for newer cancer drugs. (Xinhua) 

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

For what type of writing is M.R. James best known?

(Answer: Ghost stories.)

Today's quote is from American Cartoonist Walt Disney (1901-1966).

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."

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