Chinese premier, Pakistani PM pledge to enhance ties over phone

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has held a phone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The Chinese premier noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Pakistani counterpart will exchange congratulatory messages.

Premier Li says that he hopes the two sides will maintain and develop the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, and that China is ready to provide support to Pakistan within its capacity in fighting COVID-19.

Khan says Pakistan is ready to work with China to push for new achievements in bilateral relations.

China CDC says recent COVID-19 cases caused by overseas source

Chinese authorities say the recent COVID-19 cases in Anhui and Liaoning contracted the virus via individuals or objects from abroad.

The actual source of infection is still under investigation.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention says the genetic sequence of the viruses found in the Anhui and Liaoning cases were the same, which led experts to believe the cases were along the same transmission chain.

Project to remaster videos documenting CPC history launched

A project to remaster videos documenting the history of the Communist Party of China in 4K and 8K resolution has been launched.

China Media Group President Shen Haixiong attended the launch ceremony.

The project aims to restore color to the black and white videos and improve their quality.

It is scheduled to be completed by October 2022.

IOC President Bach to visit Japan from July 12 ahead of Tokyo 2020 Games

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach will visit Japan from July 12. 

It'll be just 11 days ahead of the opening of the Tokyo Olympic Games. 

Plans for Bach to visit Japan this month were postponed because of a state of emergency in the capital area aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19. 

At a meeting between the IOC and Tokyo 2020 organizers, Bach reiterated his commitment to hold the Games this summer.

Dutch court orders Ghosn to repay Nissan-Mitsubishi 5 mln euros

A Dutch court has ordered former car executive Carlos Ghosn to repay Nissan and Mitsubishi almost 5 million euros in wages he received from their Dutch registered joint venture.

The two carmakers claimed Ghosn wrongly granted the wages to himself. 

They ousted Ghosn as chairman of their companies and of their joint venture after his arrest for financial misconduct in 2018.

BYD to deliver 1,500 NEVs to Norway in 2021

Chinese electric carmaker BYD will deliver 1,500 new energy vehicles to Norway by the end of this year.

The first batch of 100 BYD Tang electric SUVs will be shipped to Norway later this month. 

Norway is the first European country in which BYD has expanded its passenger car market.

BYD became the first Chinese carmaker to have produced one million NEVs on Wednesday.

The company's revenues soared 108 percent year on year to 41 billion yuan, roughly 6.3 billion U.S. dollars, in the first quarter of this year. 

It sold more than 80,000 all-electric vehicles in the January-April period.

World's largest iceberg breaks off Antarctica: European Space Agency

The world's largest iceberg has broken off from an ice shelf in Antarctica.

The iceberg measuring 4,320 square kilometers is slightly larger than the Spanish island of Majorca.

It calved from the western side of the Ronne Ice Shelf in the Weddell Sea.

River Plate posts 2-1 win with no subs and midfielder as goalie

A River Plate side that was reduced to only 11 available players has had a 2-1 win over Independiente de Santa Fe at the Copa Libertadores.

The Argentine team had no substitutes after a COVID-19 outbreak hit 25 players, including all four goalkeepers. 

Midfielder Enzo Perez had to improvise as emergency keeper. 

Head coach Marcelo Gallardo says they have made history. 

"I believe that we have never had a situation like this one today. I am sure this will be remembered and bookmarked. It was not normal to play under the conditions that we did."

The win lifted River Plate to the top of Group D with a one-point lead.

"Fast And Furious 9" releases in China on Friday, a month earlier in the US

Fast and Furious 9 will hit the screens in China on Friday, more than one month earlier than in the United States. 

It is expected to bring in at least 150 million U.S. dollars at the international box office.

Some estimate that the latest installment of the high-octane franchise will beat Godzilla vs. Kong to become the highest-grossing Hollywood film in China since the outbreak of COVID-19.