Boat carrying nearly 370 migrants reaches Italy's Lampedusa A fishing boat carrying nearly 370 migrants landed overnight on the Italian island of Lampedusa, where the main holding centre is already overcrowded, prompting the local mayor to call for a general strike to push the government take action.

Israel keeps up Gaza strikes after Qatar joins mediation bid Israeli warplanes struck a Hamas target in Gaza overnight, the military said Wednesday, even as a Qatari envoy joined efforts to broker an end to the almost three-week flare-up.

Việt Nam calls for increased humanitarian relief to Palestinians Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý, head of the Vietnamese permanent mission to the United Nations (UN), has urged the international community to increase its humanitarian assistance to Palestinian people, and proposed Israel remove its blockade of Gaza Strip to facilitate humanitarian activities.

New Zealand mosque gunman unmoved as survivors recount ordeal The Australian white supremacist who murdered 51 Muslims in last year's New Zealand mosques shooting showed no emotion as his sentencing hearing opened Monday with horrific details of an atrocity prosecutors said was meticulously planned to inflict maximum casualties.

Afghan gathering to decide fate of 400 Taliban prisoners Thousands of prominent Afghans will gather in Kabul Friday to decide whether to release about 400 Taliban prisoners, including many involved in brutal attacks that killed scores of Afghans and foreigners.

Regional trade linkages, South China Sea tension top of ASEAN Summit agenda During the summit that was held virtually for the first time in the regional bloc's 53-year history due to the coronavirus pandemic, ASEAN leaders reiterated the need to enhance the region’s resilience and solidarity to overcome adversity.

Việt Nam stresses importance of transitional period in South Sudan The COVID-19 pandemic has damaged the economic and humanitarian situations in South Sudan.

Việt Nam calls for people-centred solutions to refugee issue

Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý, head of the Vietnam Mission to the United Nations (UN), has called on the international community to focus on people-centred solutions, and share the burden and responsibility to ensure the success of the repatriation and reintegration process for refugees.

Burundi cabinet meets on way forward after president's death Burundi held an extraordinary cabinet meeting on Thursday to discuss a way forward after the sudden death of long-serving ruler Pierre Nkurunziza left many anxious over the future of the troubled country.

More than 50 dead in migrant shipwreck off Tunisia More than 50 people, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, died when a boat carrying migrants bound for Italy sank off Tunisia, a health official said on Thursday in an updated toll.