Off the wire
• Australian dollar reaches one-month high  • Bolt unhappy despite victory in Rio  • Results/standings of Portuguese soccer league  • S.Korea's producer prices fall to 4-year low  • 2nd LD Writethru: UN chief calls for "robust search, rescue capacity" in Mediterranean following deadly tragedy  • Sporting beat Boavista in Portuguese league  • French Ligue 1 leading scorers  • English FA Cup results  • Monte-Carlo Masters ATP results  • French Ligue 1 results  
You are here: 　 Home

Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, April 20

Xinhua, April 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday called for "comprehensive and collective" response from the international community to ensure "a robust search and rescue capacity in the Mediterranean" after as many as 700 people were feared dead when a ship capsized overnight off the Libyan coast.

"The secretary-general is shocked and deeply saddened by reports that a ship carrying as many as 700 migrants and refugees has capsized off the Libyan coast," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman. (UN-Response-Shipwreck)

- - - -

HELSINKI -- Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, of the National Coalition Party, shook hands with the Center Party leader Juha Sipila, congratulating the latter on his party's triumph in Sunday's parliamentary election.

"The winner of the elections is clearly the centre party," Stubb said in front of media. (Finland-General-Election)

- - - -

DAMASCUS -- At least 17 armed militants were killed Sunday by Syrian forces attacks against rebel positions in the eastern countryside of the capital Damascus, according to the state news agency SANA.

The Syrian government forces carried out attacks against the militants' positions in the towns in the eastern Ghouta countryside of Damascus, said SANA, adding that Yemenis, Libyans and Jordanians were among the killed militants. (Syria-Conflicts-Casualties)

- - - -

ATHENS -- Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Sunday called for international efforts to address irregular migration after the new tragedy reported off Italy's coasts Saturday night.

The Greek leader had a telephone contact with Italian Premier Matteo Renzi to express his sorrow over the deaths of hundreds of migrants and refugees during the sinking of a vessel carrying migrants off the island of Lampedusa, his office announced. (Greece-Illegal-Immigration)

- - - -

AMMAN -- Jordan on Saturday launched a competition among special forces squads from 18 countries, including China, the United Stated and Russia.

The competition showcases the skills of counter-terrorism teams and special forces from around the world, according to a statement issued by the event's organizer. (Jordan-Warrior-Competition) Endi