Fresh Start: Podcast News (5/3/2018 Thu.)

Welcome to Fresh Start.

This is People’s Daily app.

Here are today’s picks from our editors.

Xi calls for building world-class universities with Chinese characteristics

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for building world-class universities with Chinese characteristics to nurture people well-prepared to join the socialist cause.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the statement during an inspection tour of Peking University (PKU), ahead of China's Youth Day and the 120th anniversary of PKU, both falling on May 4. (Xinhua)

Mnuchin leads US trade delegation to visit China on Thursday

China welcomes the upcoming visit by a US delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who is also the US president's special envoy.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will exchange views on China-US economic and trade issues of common concern with the US delegation.

The visit is scheduled from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua)

China wishes North Korea-US dialogue be held smoothly

China hopes that the dialogue between North Korea and the United States will be smooth and achieve substantial progress, said visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday.

During the talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, Wang said that China fully backs North Korea’s efforts to achieve the goal of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

He also said that China welcomes the successful summit meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea held on April 27 and its important outcomes. (Xinhua)

109 in custody after Paris May Day violence

French police said 109 people are in custody on Wednesday after May Day protests in Paris caused massive damage to a McDonald’s restaurant and several vehicles.

Reports say the protesters were shouting “Rise up, Paris” and “Everyone hates the police” during the vandalization.

Interior Minister Gerard Collomb vowed to boost police presence at future protests, while French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence. (People’s Daily app)

Singapore airport may use facial recognition to find late passengers

Changi Airport is looking to improve its prompt take-off times by implementing facial recognition systems to help locate straggling travelers.

Chinese tech firm Yitu is currently speaking with Changi Airport about the possibility of providing such technology.

Changi Airport has been named the world’s best airport for the last six years thanks to its exceptional convenience and safety systems. (People’s Daily app)

Japanese roller coaster malfunctions

Sixty-four passengers were left hanging in the air for roughly two hours on Tuesday after a roller coaster made an emergency stop at Universal Studios in Japan.

Park officials apologized to the park guests on the Flying Dinosaur roller coaster and said the problem was caused by a faulty motor-regulating device on the ride’s rails.

The ride resumed operation after undergoing repairs and safety checks. (People’s Daily app)

Procession carriage chosen for royal wedding

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will ride in an open-top horse-drawn Ascot Landau carriage through Windsor’s streets after their May 19 wedding, Kensington Palace announced on Wednesday.

The carriage will be drawn by four Windsor Grey horses and escorted by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment as it departs St. George's Chapel.

This is one of five Ascot Landau carriages in the palace collection, which Queen Elizabeth II uses for her Royal Ascot horse race procession. (People’s Daily app)

Drone flying world record broken in China

A record-breaking fleet of 1,374 drones took to the sky over the City Wall of Xi’an last Sunday, setting a new Guinness World Record for the most unmanned aerial vehicles airborne simultaneously.

The record certification was issued to the City Wall of Xi’an and Chinese drone manufacturer EHANG Egret on May 1. This showcase beat the previous record set during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics by more than 150 drones.

The number of drones used to set the record represents the length of the 13.74-kilometer wall, which is the largest and best preserved ancient city wall in the country. (People’s Daily app)

Thanks for listening and be sure to catch us tomorrow.

Today’s quote is from American writer Mark Twain:

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”

(Produced by Nancy Yan Xu, Ryan Yaoran Yu, Lance Crayon, Raymond Mendoza, and Terry Guanlin Li.)