Fresh Start: Podcast News (4/4/2018 Wed.)

Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app. 

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

China establishes new immigration agency to meet growing demand

China set up a new immigration bureau on Monday as the country is seeing massive immigration changes and as it strengthens its measures to attract global talent.

From now on, immigrants entering China on business will have a much easier time applying for work, getting residence permits and seeking legitimate rights. The changes also provide more immigration services to overseas students and checkpoints will be available to provide easy help for green card applications. (People’s Daily app)

China pledges to protect freedom of religious belief

China pledged to continue to respect and protect its citizens' freedom of religious belief in a white paper published Tuesday.

As a socialist country under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China adopts policies on freedom of religious belief based on national and religious conditions to protect citizens' right to freedom of religious belief, build active and healthy religious relationships, and maintain religious and social harmony, said the white paper published by the State Council Information Office, titled "China's Policies and Practices on Protecting Freedom of Religious Belief."  (Xinhua)

Chinese FM meets with North Korean counterpart in Beijing

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho in Beijing on Tuesday.

Wang told Ri that China appreciates the North's efforts toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

China supports the North’s summits with South Korea and the United States, according to Wang. (People’s Daily app)

South Korea to send 7-member delegation for working-level talks with North Korea

South Korea will send a 7-member delegation to hold working-level talks this week with North Korea to discuss security and protocol issues for the agreed inter-Korean summit later this month, Seoul's unification ministry said Tuesday.

The delegation will be led by Cho Han-ki, chief of the presidential protocol of the Blue House, the ministry said in a statement. The ministry informed North Korea of the delegation list earlier in the day via the restored communications channel in the truce village of Panmunjom. (Xinhua)

Massive French rail strike begins in test for Macron

French commuters faced severe disruptions on Tuesday as rail workers began their strike, against President Emmanuel Macron's proposed railway reforms.

According to France’s national railway company, 75 percent of train drivers joined the first day of the walkout. The strikes are planned to last two days each week until June 28.

The strike protests the government’s planned labor and financial overhauls for the railway system. Macron is contesting that reform is needed since the state rail operator is 46 billion euros (roughly $57 billion) in debt. (People’s Daily app)

China makes ground breaking first 5G phone call

China Mobile and ZTE conducted the world’s first 5G phone call in China on Monday, bringing mobile phone technology to a whole new level.

Following this successful debut, experts say that 5G mobile terminals will be available in mid-2019 and that 5G smart phones will be commercially available as soon as the end of next year. (People’s Daily app)

HIV self-test kits on sale in Shanghai universities

Three universities in Shanghai started offering HIV self-test kits in vending machines on Tuesday to promote safe sex awareness on campus while protecting privacy.

Students at Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, Shanghai University, and Tongji University can buy a kit for 30 yuan (roughly $5). Students can provide their samples at the machine and view their results online anonymously.

The kits are part of a program jointly launched by the Chinese Association of STD and AIDS Prevention and Control and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. (People’s Daily app)

Seven cities confirm interest in 2026 Winter Games

Several cities have expressed interest in hosting the 2026 Winter Olympic games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Tuesday.

Canada's Calgary, Austria's Graz, Swedish capital Stockholm, Sion in Switzerland, Turkey's Erzurum, Japan's Sapporo and a joint bid from Italy's Cortina d’Ampezzo, Milan and Turin have all expressed interest in hosting.

The cities will now discuss their hosting plans until October this year when the IOC will invite possible hosts to take part in the one-year application phase. The IOC will then elect the winning bid in Milan in September next year. (People’s Daily app)

US announces proposed tariff list on Chinese products

On Tuesday, the US trade representative office released a list of imported products from China which are subjected to additional tariffs.

Sectors affected by the list include industries such as aerospace, information and communication technology, robotics and machinery. 

The proposed list, which includes 1,300 separate tariff lines, will undergo a further review process. Upon completion, the office will release a final version of the list.

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

Today’s quote is from former US founding father and President Thomas Jefferson:

“I’m a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”

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