Fresh Start: Podcast News (4/5/2018 Thu.)

Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app.

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

China announces reciprocal tariffs on 106 US products

China on Wednesday announced new punitive measures against 106 US products, including penalties on soybean imports, in response to Washington’s planned tariffs on 1,300 Chinese products.

The decision was announced after the Office of US Trade Representative on Tuesday published the proposed list of Chinese products subjected to an additional 25 percent tariff worth $50 billion under the Section 301 investigation, despite strong opposition from Chinese and US business groups. (People’s Daily app)

China strongly opposes USTR planned tariffs on 1,300 Chinese goods

China is strongly opposing the US’ planned tariffs, as multiple governments made a series of announcements opposing US unilateralism and protectionism on Wednesday.

China's Ministry of Commerce announced that the additional tariffs put the mutually-beneficial nature of the China-US trade and economic cooperation in peril and hurt the communities of Chinese and American businesses as well as the interests of consumers.

The US tariff proposals are "typical unilateralist and protectionist actions," which have no basis in fact and China strongly condemns such actions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said. Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in the US said it is only polite to reciprocate.

China has never surrendered to outside pressure, said China's Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao, referring to past tariffs imposed by the US on China.

China’s Ministry of Commerce requested WTO on Wednesday to consult with the US concerning the Section 301 tariffs that target some 1,300 Chinese industrial, transport and medical goods (People’s Daily app)

Measures outlined to facilitate tomb sweepers from HK, Macao and Taiwan

China's Exit and Entry Administration ordered border inspection agencies to open customs clearance channels to ensure smooth passage for tomb sweepers from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

The agencies in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Guangzhou and Xiamen have been asked to make every effort to improve efficiency, cut waiting time and prevent congestion during the upcoming Tomb-sweeping Day.

Qingming Festival, known in English as Tomb-sweeping Day, falls on April 5 this year.

Many people from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan return to the mainland each year to pay their respects to ancestors, deceased friends and other family members. (People’s Daily app)

Putin says Islamic State militants destroyed in Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Islamic State militants had been defeated in Syria, but the organization still retains its destructive potential and can attack countries around the world.

Putin is currently on an official visit to Turkey, where he will attend a summit with leaders from Turkey and Iran on Wednesday. (People’s Daily app)

Zuckerberg to testify before US House Committee next week

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is scheduled to testify before the US House Energy and Commerce Committee on April 11, to answer questions about how his company protects its user’s data.

Facebook has recently come under fire after it was revealed that the personal data of roughly 50 million Facebook users fell into the hands of a political consulting firm that worked for US President Donald Trump's election campaign. (People’s Daily app)

Britain to ban ivory sales

Britain will ban ivory sales to help preserve the world's dwindling elephant population, the government announced Tuesday.

The ban covers ivory items of all ages, with an unlimited fine or five years in jail being the maximum penalty for breaking the law.

The incoming ban has three exemptions, such as items containing less than 10 percent ivory made prior to 1947; musical instruments with less than 20 percent ivory made before 1975, and portrait miniatures painted on thin slivers of ivory which are at least 100 years old. (People’s Daily app)

Dinosaur footprints discovered on Scottish island

Dinosaur footprints dating back 170 million years have been discovered on the Scottish Isle of Skye and will help shed light on the reptiles' evolution, the University of Edinburgh said on Tuesday.

Researchers are documenting about 50 footprints in the area, including those of theropods, which are an ancestor of the Tyrannosaurus rex.

The research was carried out in conjunction with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the findings have been published in the Scottish Journal of Geology. (People’s Daily app)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

Today’s quote is from physicist Albert Einstein:

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”

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