Chinese FM addresses SCO meeting

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has stressed upholding the Shanghai Spirit in a volatile world and consolidating the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

He made a four-point proposal at the SCO foreign ministers' meeting in Astana calling for cooperation, jointly shouldering responsibilities in maintaining security, empowering win-win cooperation, and maintaining inclusiveness.

He said China will continue to provide new opportunities to the world through its modernization drive and pledged to work with fellow SCO members to advocate a multi-polar world and economic globalization.

All foreign ministers at the SCO meeting agreed to intensify efforts to crack down on terrorism, separatism, and extremism to safeguard regional peace and stability.

The meeting in Kazakhstan also laid groundwork for the SCO Astana summit scheduled for July.

Thousands mourn the death of Iran's President Raisi in Tabriz

Iran is paying tribute to President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash.

The crash on Sunday killed Raisi as well as Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials.

Thousands of mourners gathered in Tabriz for a funeral procession for the president.

Multiple funeral ceremonies will be held until his final burial on Thursday.

Iran will hold a presidential election on June 28th.

EU gives final nod to AI rules

The Council of the European Union says ministers from the EU member states have given final approval to the bloc's artificial intelligence act.

The vote by the ministers comes two months after EU lawmakers endorsed the AI legislation, originally drafted by the European Commission in 2021, with several key amendments.

The act subjects higher-risk AI applications to stricter regulation.

UK's infected blood scandal could have been avoided, inquiry finds

A nearly six-year investigation has found that British authorities and medical staff knowingly exposed more than 30,000 people to infections including HIV and hepatitis C through blood transfusions.

Investigators say 3,000 patients are believed to have died as a result of the contaminated blood from the 1970s and '80s.

Inquiry Chair Brian Langstaff says there were deliberate attempts to cover it up.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has apologized for the infected blood scandal and promised compensation for those affected.

China's online retail sales up 11.5 pct in January-April period

Official data shows China's online retail sales saw steady expansion in the first four months of the year.

The country's online retail sales rose 11.5 percent to 4.4 trillion yuan, or about 620 billion U.S. dollars.

In April, China's online sales of home appliances and furniture increased, supported by the country's consumer goods trade-in policy.

China's low-orbit broadband satellite internet applied overseas for first time

A private Chinese commercial space company has conducted the first trial of a low-orbit satellite internet broadband communication network in Thailand.

It marks the first overseas application and exploration of China's low-orbit broadband satellite internet.

GalaxySpace, a private satellite maker in Beijing, has established a ground test station in collaboration with a Thai university.

It provides a platform that local enterprises and universities can use to research low-orbit satellite communication systems.

Exhibition on ancient Egypt to be held in Shanghai

An exhibition on the civilization of ancient Egypt will take place at the Shanghai Museum in July.

This will be the fourth event of a series of cultural and archaeological exhibitions at the museum titled "A Dialogue with the World."

Organizers say it will be one of the largest-ever global exhibitions of Ancient Egyptian artifacts.