MANILA -- A ferry with 124 passengers and 10 crew members on board caught fire on Monday while traveling to a town in Quezon province on the main Luzon island, leaving at least seven dead, a spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

Commodore Armand Balilo said the vessel Mercraft 2 left at 5:00 a.m. local time in Polillo, an island town in the province, and was heading to a port of Real town when it caught fire around 6:30 a.m. local time approximately 900 meters from the port. (Philippines-Ferry-Fire,3RD LD WRITETHRU)

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PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia on Monday called on people to be vigilant and alert over the recent outbreak of the monkeypox virus in some parts of the world, although no cases have been detected in the kingdom.

"Monkeypox is another emerging public health concern in the world. Please continue your health precaution measures to prevent the possible transmission although no case of monkeypox is found in Cambodia yet," Health Ministry's secretary of state and spokeswoman Or Vandine said in a news release. (Cambodia-Monkeypox-Warning)

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TOKYO -- Visiting U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday met with Japanese Emperor Naruhito.

Biden arrived at the Imperial Palace and was greeted by Naruhito. The pair, both wearing masks, exchanged greetings and pleasantries prior to entering the palace. (Japan-Biden-Emperor)

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CANBERRA -- Australia's Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese was sworn in on Monday as the country's 31st prime minister, which marks the culmination of a political career that has spanned almost 30 years.

Albanese's center left Labor Party on Saturday night claimed victory in the general election, defeating the governing conservative Coalition and Scott Morrison. (Australia-PM-Albanese-Profile)