Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has proposed three ways to solve the South China Sea disputes, and saying these three ways could be processing simultaneously. 

Meeting with Surukiat Sathirathai, Chairman of Asia Peace Reconciliation Council and former Thai Deputy Prime Minister in Bankok, Wang Yi proposed three ways to solve the disputes. 

They include reaching agreement through consultation and negotiation between direct parties concerned, continuing to implement the Declaration of the Conduct of the South China Sea and searching for ways of common exploitation. 

Wang Yi stressed that China persistently advocates solving disputes through negotiations on the basis of respecting historical facts and international law. These two are equally important and neither should be neglected.

 

Chinese premier vows greater efforts, cooperation in desert control 

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang says China is willing to deepen cooperation with foreign countries on desert control.

He made the remarks in written congratulations to the 4th Kubuqi International Desert Forum that kicked off on Friday in the Kubuqi Desert in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. 

Li Keqiang highlighted the progress China has made in its battle with desertification, which has helped erect an ecological shield in the north, improve the environment and boost economic and social development in desert areas. 

The premier says China is willing to strengthen cooperation with foreign countries in exploring and practicing new ideas and strategies for desert control and prevention, as well as new technologies and industries in environmental protection.

 

Shipping services suspended as tropical storm Jebi strengthens

About 5,000 tourists have been stranded at an airport in Hainan Province due to the arrival of strong tropical storm Jebi. 

Some 100 flights have been cancelled at the Sanya Phoenix International Airport.

Shipping services on the Qiongzhou Strait, which separates Hainan and the mainland, have also been suspended.

Local authorities have ordered all boats in the strait to return to harbor.

 

5 still missing in flooded mine in N China

Nearly a thousand rescuers are working to reach 5 people trapped in a flooded coal mine in Shanxi for the past 2-days.

The mine flooded Wednesday night when 76 miners were working underground in Pingding County, which is about 75-kilometers east of the provincial capital, Taiyuan.

Rescuers have drilled a tunnel to the underground shaft where it is believed the five miners are trapped. 

Rescue efforts are being hampered by the narrow shafts and excessive silt.

 

China stresses role of hospitals in extreme heat response 

With temperatures continuing to sizzle across most of the country, China has demanded that hospitals better coordinate their efforts to treat heatstroke patients and cope with heat-triggered public health emergencies.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission say heatstroke cases have recently surged in China, and it urged hospitals to pay more attention to treating patients with conditions related to extreme heat. 

Local health authorities and hospitals have been asked to monitor and report heatstroke cases and boost emergency response readiness strictly in accordance with rules, according to a circular issued by the commission.

 

Snowden "safe and fine" after getting permit to enter Russia

Former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden is said to be safe and well after leaving Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.

His lawyer says Snowden has reached his location, without specifying his exact whereabouts.

Snowden was granted an one-year permit on Thursday to stay in Russia following a month-long confinement in the airport's international transit area. 

His lawyer says an official invitation will also be sent to Snowden's father, Lon Snowden, to come to Moscow. 

The White House has expressed "extreme disappointment" at the Russian decision, saying Washington is "evaluating" a scheduled presidential summit planned for September.

 

U.S. issues global travel alert over possible terror attacks

The United States issued a global travel alert over possible terrorist attacks, one day after it announced the closure of some diplomatic missions in the Middle East region over this weekend. The State Department alerts U.S. citizens to the continued potential for terrorist attacks, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, and possibly occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula.

It warns of possible terrorist attacks on public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure, adding that the United States is working closely with other nations on the threat.

 

Chinese observers urge peaceful acceptance of credible Zimbabwe polls 

Head of Chinese Observer Mission Liu Guijin has endorsed Zimbabwe's polls as fairly credible, free and peaceful, urging political parties to accept results peacefully. 

He strongly advised Zimbabweans against taking to the streets if they are not happy with the poll outcome, saying violence was not good for anyone. 

The African Union (AU) has endorsed the polls as free and fair while the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has cautiously approved the polls, restricting itself to acknowledging just the peaceful and freeness of the vote. 

Mugabe's Zanu-PF party has predicted a landslide victory in the elections and results released so far have seen the party taking a commanding lead in parliamentary elections.