Fresh Start: Podcast News (4/19/2018 Thu.)

Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app.

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Hainan to offer extended visa-free period for visitors

China’s Ministry of Public Security announced on Wednesday it will adopt a new 30-day visa-free policy in Hainan province for people from 59 countries starting on May 1, to increase tourism in the area.

The province formerly had extended visa waiver polices for group visitors from 26 countries. Foreign tourists are not allowed to travel outside of Hainan during their visa-free period.

The new program includes Belgium, Mexico, South Korea and other countries. (People’s Daily app)

Kim Jong Un meets Chinese senior official, banquets Chinese art troupe

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Chinese senior official Song Tao and feted a Chinese art troupe after the closing ceremony of the April 31 Spring International Friendship Festival on Tuesday in Pyongyang. 

Kim exchanged views on issues with Song, head of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and head of the Chinese art troupe.

The Chinese art troupe won several awards, of which ballets "Giselle" and "The Red Detachment of Women" both won gold and the China Central Ballet Troupe won a special award.

On Saturday, the troupe performed "Giselle" and "The Red Detachment of Women" in Pyongyang. Kim's wife Ri Sol Ju watched both ballets, saying she was deeply impressed.

Kim and his wife then banqueted Song and the Chinese art troupe. The North Korean head couple held a grand reception for the Chinese art troupe on Saturday night with the participation of senior North Korean officials. (People’s Daily app)

North and South Korea to broadcast the inter-Korean summit live

The two sides agreed to live broadcast the key schedules and events of the historic summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to the world, from the very first scene when the two leaders shake hands on April 27, Seoul said Wednesday.

The agreement came after the second round of working-level talks to discuss security, protocol and media coverage for the summit in the border village of Panmunjom earlier in the day.

Moon and Kim agreed to hold the third inter-Korean summit at Peace House, a South Korean building in Panmunjom, also called Joint Security Area inside the demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas. (CGTN)

US launches anti-dumping probe for Chinese steel wheel producers

The US on Wednesday launched an anti-dumping and countervailing investigation against China’s steel wheel production efforts.

The investigation follows complaints by Accuride Corporation and Maxion Wheels Akron that Chinese steel wheel imports are dumped into the American market at prices lower than the cost of production and are unfairly subsidized.

The alleged dumping is estimated to be worth nearly $390 million. (People’s Daily app)

Former US first lady Barbara Bush dies at 92

Former first lady Barbara Bush, who was the wife of President George H.W. Bush, died in her Houston home at the age of 92 on Tuesday, according to a statement from the office of her husband.

She had been in failing health in recent years but declined further medical treatment earlier this month.

She was an advocate for literacy during her years as first lady and founded the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy in 1989. (People’s Daily app)

WWII bomb to force evacuation in central Berlin

The discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb will force a mass evacuation around Berlin’s central railway station, which includes several government buildings and a hospital, on Friday, police said.

Buildings in the area will be cleared starting at 7 a.m. GMT until the bomb has been defused.

Police said residents in the area are safe and that the bomb, which was discovered during construction, poses no immediate danger. (People’s Daily app)

China’s first private research university launches

Westlake University, China’s first private research university, held its first school board meeting on April 16, where members elected Shi Yigong as its first president, Chen Ning Yang as an honorary chairman, and Qian Yingyi as chairman of the school board.

Xu Tian and Qiu Min were also appointed as the university’s vice presidents. Xu had served as deputy head of Genetics at Yale University for 15 years. Qiu was once the youngest professor at the Royal Institute of Technology.

Unlike other colleges, Westlake University takes doctoral student training as a starting point and will offer undergraduate courses in the future. The doctoral degree programs of 2017 officially admitted 19 students and the enrollment of doctoral students of 2018 has also started, with a plan to enroll 130 students.

Following his appointment at president, Shi said he will devote his time to make Westlake University one of the top research-oriented institutes in the world. (People’s Daily app)

Waiter honored at Hong Kong Film Awards

During the 37th Hong Kong Film Awards, long-time crew waiter Pauline Yeung was honored with the Professional Spirit Award for her years of serving actors and actresses in the Hong Kong film industry.

The award was presented by Jackie Chan and marks the first time a member of the service staff has won the prize. Yeung was praised for her careful and considerate service.

The Professional Spirit Award was started in 1990 by the Hong Kong Film Awards Association to praise veteran actors or crew members for their contributions to the Hong Kong film industry. (People’s Daily app)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

Today’s quote is from former first lady Barbara Bush:

“To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.”

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