China, Philippines agree to upgrade cooperation, resolve differences through dialogue

China and the Philippines have agreed to upgrade bilateral cooperation and deal with the South China Sea issue through dialogue and communication.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Manila.

Marcos says the Philippines hopes to continue pushing forward bilateral cooperation with China.

Wang Yi says the China-Philippines relations are at a new starting point.

He says China is willing to engage with the Philippines to conduct cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure, energy, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

UN report warns global hunger figure rose to 828 mln in 2021

A report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization says the number of people affected by hunger rose to 828 million in 2021.

This is an increase of 46 million from the previous year.

The report says the number of people affected by hunger has increased by 150 million since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed says world hunger has been on an alarming upward trend in the recent years.

"Projections show that we could still be facing chronic hunger in 2030, at the same level as in 2015 when the 2030 Agenda was launched. This is a shocking report card of our efforts to end hunger. And we can and we must do better."

The report says the current conflict in Ukraine has disrupted international supplies of grain, fertilizer and energy.

It says climate change has also hampered food production and delivery in some parts of the world.

Suspect in Chicago shooting contemplated 2nd attack: police

New details have emerged about the man prosecutors say have admitted firing on a 4th of July parade in Chicago.

Authorities say he contemplated another attack in neighboring Wisconsin.

The suspect has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder by prosecutors. If convicted, he will face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Suspected Boko Haram militants attack Nigerian prison, freeing hundreds of inmates

Over 400 inmates are still on the run after gunmen attacked a prison in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.

The attack on Tuesday has also left four prisoners dead.

One guard died in the gunfight between the attackers and the security.

The Nigerian Correctional Service says the gunmen used explosive devices to break into the custodial center.

Over 900 inmates were at the facility before the late Tuesday attack by gunmen suspected to be militants of the extremist group Boko Haram.

Singapore confirms 1st local monkeypox case

Singapore's Ministry of Health says it has confirmed one local case of monkeypox infection in the city-state.

The patient is a 45-year-old male Malaysian national who resides in Singapore.

He tested positive for monkeypox on Wednesday.

The patient is receiving treatment at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases.

The ministry says the patient is not linked to the imported case last month.

It says all close contacts of the case will undergo 21 days of quarantine.

Belgium to launch a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose in coming months

Belgium will soon begin to administer a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Health authorities will set up a new vaccination campaign in the autumn for all those over 50 and all adults who are ill or under treatment.

For frontline staff in hospitals and other care facilities, vaccination on request will be possible from this summer onwards.

China studying extending tax exemption for NEVs: commerce ministry

The Ministry of Commerce says China is studying the possibility of extending a tax exemption for new energy vehicles.

This is part of the efforts to spur vehicle consumption in the country.

The ministry says the government will guide charging pile operators to appropriately lower charging service fees.

It has also announced a series of measures to encourage trade-ins of old vehicles and support the second-hand market.

Construction of China's first commercial spacecraft launch site starts in Hainan

Construction of China's first commercial spacecraft launch site is underway in Wenchang, Hainan Province.

As a major project of the Hainan free trade port, the launch site is committed to becoming world-class and market-oriented, further improving the launching capability of China's commercial carrier rockets.

Hainan's governor says the island province will make full use of the launch site's advantages and policies of the free trade port to build Wenchang into a top-ranking international space city.