Fresh Start: Podcast News (6/1/2020 Mon.)
People's Daily
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Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi extends Int'l Children's Day greetings

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Chinese President Xi Jinping has greeted children of all ethnic groups across the country on International Children's Day, which falls on June 1.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called on children to study hard, firm up their ideals and convictions and develop strong bodies and minds to prepare for realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

Xi urged Party committees and governments at all levels as well as the society to care for children and create favorable conditions for their growth. (Xinhua)

LA declares state of emergency amid George Floyd protests

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California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles County after protests over the killing of George Floyd turned violent on Saturday. 

Newsom also authorized assistance after a request from the city and county of Los Angeles and will deploy members of the National Guard to assist Los Angeles and neighboring communities, according to a statement released by the governor's office Saturday night.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced earlier that a curfew was in effect in the city beginning from 8:00 pm Saturday to 5:30 am Sunday. (AFP)

EU tells UK post-Brexit deal vital during virus crisis

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The European Union's chief Brexit negotiator told Britain on Sunday that the economic damage wrought by the coronavirus crisis made it especially important the sides reach a new trade deal.

EU and UK negotiators will enter a fourth and last scheduled round of talks this week that could determine if a comprehensive new agreement is struck by the year-end deadline.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed not to extend the talks past the current deadline, and the prospects of a broad new deal look bleak. (AFP)

French study says 'bats are the origin' of COVID-19

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A virologist, studying the evolution of COVID-19, believes the virus originated in nature, not from a Chinese lab. 

Meriadeg Le Gouil, a virologist at the University of Caen Normandy, who has been studying the evolution of viruses for the last ten years, said that COVID-19 looks like a combination of pieces of genomes that can be traced back to nature and more specifically, bats. 

The exact origin of COVID-19 has not been confirmed, with experts across the world continuing to test their hypotheses to get to the bottom of this deadly virus. (CGTN)

India expels 2 officials of Pakistan High Commission on charges of espionage

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India on Sunday expelled two officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi after they were apprehended earlier in the day for espionage activities, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said.

"The government has declared both officials as persona non grata for indulging in activities incompatible with their status as members of a diplomatic mission and asked them to leave the country within 24 hours," the ministry said in a statement. (Xinhua)

SpaceX Crew Dragon docks at ISS in historic mission

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The SpaceX Crew Dragon docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday for a historic crewed mission.

In a first for a commercial spacecraft, Crew Dragon docked with the ISS at 10: 16 am, carrying astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley.

Behnken and Hurley will become members of the Expedition 63 crew and perform tests on Crew Dragon in addition to conducting research and other tasks with the space station crew. (Xinhua)

Notre Dame forecourt opens to public after long cleanup

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Notre Dame Cathedral’s forecourt is being opened up to the public for the first time since the devastating fire of April 15 last year.

The body overseeing the Gothic structure’s restoration issued a statement Sunday saying that the reopening was finally made possible after several deep clean operations took place to remove toxic lead dust from the large forecourt.

To protect public health, the site will continue to “be regularly cleaned and samples also taken” for monitoring and analysis.

The cathedral is still closed and will be for several years during renovations. (AP)

Thanks for listening, and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

And now for the Question of the Day:

In Greek mythology, who turned all that he touched into gold?

(Answer: Midas.)

Today's quote is from Roman educator Quintilian (35 - 95).  

"We must form our minds by reading deep rather than wide."

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, and Da Hang. Music by Eugene Loner.)