Tonga runway cleared for volcano aid flights（在线收听）

Tonga runway cleared for volcano aid flights

Chinese, Belarusian presidents exchange congratulations on 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko have exchanged congratulatory messages to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-Belarus diplomatic relations.

President Xi says the two sides share strong political mutual trust and support each other on major issues.

Lukashenko says the win-win cooperation has benefited the two sides over the past decades.

Xi sends message of sympathy to Tonga's King over volcanic eruption

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a message of sympathy to Tonga's King Tupou VI over the destruction caused by the volcanic eruption and tsunami in the country.

He says China is willing to provide assistance to help in Tonga's disaster relief and rebuild efforts.

Tonga runway cleared for volcano aid flights

Tonga has finished removing a thick coat of volcanic ash from its international runway, clearing the way for emergency aid to arrive.

New Zealand and Australia say their aircraft carrying aid supplies will depart later today.

Volcanic ash threats local environment: Tongan diplomat

Meanwhile, Consul General Louise Raedler-waterhouse of the Tongan Consulate General in Sydney says in an exclusive interview with China Media Group that the volcanic ash poses a serious threat to local environment.

Number of casualties still unknown: Chinese ambassador to Tonga

The Chinese ambassador to Tonga has told China Media Group the number of casualties from the undersea volcanic eruption and tsunami largely remains unknown.

Cao Xiaolin says people are being urged to stay at home.

The government has confirmed three deaths so far.

Li Keqiang extends condolences over passing of former Japanese PM Kaifu

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has sent a message of condolence over the passing of former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu.

Li says Kaifu was a veteran Japanese statesman who made important contributions to the improvement and development of China-Japan relations.

Kaifu was prime minister of Japan from 1989 to 1991.

He visited the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall in 2000, where he laid a wreath and observed a moment of silence for the dead.

And in 2010, he apologized for Japan's wartime crimes to the people of Nanjing.

Kaifu passed away earlier this month at the age of 91.

Chinese mainland reports 43 COVID-19 cases

The Chinese mainland reported 43 new, locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Wednesday.

Among the cases, 24 were reported in Henan, 14 in Tianjin and 3 in Beijing.

China cuts benchmark lending rate LPR

China has cut the market-based benchmark lending rate to shore up the economy.

The National Interbank Funding Center has cut the one-year loan prime rate to 3.7 percent.

The over-five-year LPR has been lowered by 5 basis points to 4.6 percent.

China's industrial added value up 9.6 pct in 2021

The added value of China's industrial enterprises above the designated size increased 9.6 percent year on year in 2021.

That's according to the latest data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

U.S. Senate Republicans block Democrats' voting rights bill

Republicans in the U.S. Senate have blocked a Democratic bid to push through new voting rights protections.

The move delivers another major blow to President Joe Biden's domestic agenda just months before the congressional elections.

A vote to limit debate and thus end the filibuster is continuing, but the Democrats' drive to enact an election reform bill appears dead.

Biden says he backs Fed's plan to fight inflation

U.S. President Joe Biden says he supports the Federal Reserve's plan to scale back monetary stimulus and fight inflation.

Biden made the remarks at a press conference in the White House to mark his first year in office.

It comes as the country's inflation has surged to an almost 40-year high.

Iran has "no limitation" for boosting ties with Russia: president

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi says Tehran is faced with no limitation for developing relations with Russia.

Raisi made the remarks in a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

He says the two countries' common understanding of regional and international issues prepares the ground for their cooperation.

Raisi is in Moscow for a two-day visit at Putin's invitation.

Lawmaker in UK PM Johnson's party defects to opposition

A lawmaker in British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party has defected to the opposition.

Leader of the opposition says they welcome Christian Wakeford to the Labor Party.

The British prime minister is facing a growing rebellion in his own ranks and demands for his resignation.

It comes as criticism is growing over Johnson for attending a gathering at his official residence during the COVID-19 lockdown.