Chinese president eyes better China-Kazakhstan relations

Chinese President Xi Jinping says China stands ready to work with Kazakhstan to make their good relations even better.

He made the remarks in a telephone conversation with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

He says the two sides should strengthen cooperation in such fields as industrial capacity, trade, agriculture and infrastructure, and continuously improve connectivity.

The Chinese President also suggests the two sides enhance cooperation in law enforcement, security and defense to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the region.

Tokayev says Kazakhstan is grateful for the vaccines and other support China has provided for its fight against COVID-19, and stands ready to continuously deepen bilateral relations.

He says Kazakhstan is willing to intensify communication and coordination with China within regional and international frameworks.

The two leaders also agreed to continue to promote cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative.

Chinese premier stresses boosting market vitality

The Chinese Premier is calling for boosting market vitality to promote sound economic growth.

Li Keqiang made the remarks yesterday at a teleconference on issues including deepening reforms to streamline administrative approval and improve regulations and services.

Li says further reforms should be employed to help market entities achieve further recovery.

The premier says efforts should also go into creating a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized business environment.

He also underscored combating monopolies and unfair competition and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of market entities.

Huawei launches HarmonyOS 2 for smartphones

Chinese telecom Huawei has officially launched its new operating system for smartphones.

HarmonyOS, or Hongmeng in Chinese, is an open-source operating system designed for various devices and scenarios.

It will offer users the chance to switch from the current operating system based on Google's Android platform.

HarmonyOS was first launched on Internet-of-Things devices including tablets and wearables in 2019 after the US imposed sanctions on Huawei.

The company expects between 300 and 400 million devises to be using HarmonyOS 2 by the end of the year.

China launches new meteorological satellite

China has sent a meteorological satellite into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province.

Fengyun-4B was launched on a Long March-3B rocket.

The satellite will be used in the fields of weather analysis and forecasting, as well as environmental and disaster monitoring.

China's Shanxi opens freight train service to France

A new direct China-Europe freight train service has been launched, linking northern China with France.

The train left a logistics park in Shanxi Province yesterday for the 11,000-km journey to Paris.

It will pass through Mongolia, Russia, Belarus, Poland, and Germany over about 20 days.

The freight was loaded with goods including fitness equipment and nearly 90 thousand disposable sterile syringes.

Israeli opposition leader says deal reached to form gov't

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid says he has reached a deal with the leader of a small pro-settler party and a diverse coalition of other small parties to form a government

The statement by Lapid and his main partner Naftali Bennett came before a midnight deadline to put together a new governing coalition following the March 23 elections.

An official statement issued by President Reuven Rivlin's office says Lapid has informed the president that he is able to form a government.

The deal paves the way to the end of the 12-year rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been facing corruption charges in three separate cases.

Russian parliament approves quitting Open Skies Treaty

The Russian Federation Council has passed a bill to withdraw from the arms-control Treaty on Open Skies.

Russian officials say the decision was made in response to the U.S. pullout from that pact last November.

They say Russia presented concrete proposals aiming to preserve the treaty, but the United States did not respond.

The Russian State Duma approved that bill last month.

President Vladimir Putin is expected to sign the bill into law soon.

The multilateral Treaty on Open Skies, which came into effect in 2002, allows its states-parties to conduct unarmed reconnaissance flights over the others' territories to collect data on military forces and activities.

Lockdown renewed in Kathmandu Valley to curb COVID-19 in Nepal

Nepali authorities have extended the current COVID-19 lockdown in Kathmandu Valley for 10 more days as the number of COVID-19 cases remains high in the country.

Officials say the lockdown, which has restricted business and social activity in Kathmandu since late April, will now last until June 24.

Under the restrictions announced on Wednesday, grocery stores and vehicle maintenance workshops are only permitted to operate between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m.

Health officials say while new infections have been falling in recent days, cases remain high outside Kathmandu.