A number of votive paper offerings are being prepared to be burnt for deceased relatives on Vu Lan and the Amnesty of Unquiet Spirits Festival on the 15th of the lunar July.

The important task of renovating and rebuilding dilapidated apartment buildings in Hanoi has faced several obstacles related to planning, land clearance, and profits for investors and residents, Hanoi Moi (New Hanoi) newspaper has reported.

Representatives from the Departments of External Affairs of localities nationwide have shared their experience in calling for resources from foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to serve local socio-economic development.

The war in Yemen has since March 2015 left around 10,000 people dead, the vast majority civilians, and caused the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations.

Syria's civil registries recorded 68,000 deaths in the war-torn country in 2017, pro-regime daily Al-Watan reported its head as saying Thursday.

Local residents in Nghe An Province is complaining about the poorly-built resettlement areas and stagnant hydropower projects which are causing many difficulties.

Millions still live in fear of nuclear war with many countries ramping up their atomic arsenals, the head of the United Nations warned Thursday, marking the anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing.