Pope Francis on Thursday arrived in Bangladesh, where hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohingya refugees have sought sanctuary after fleeing a crackdown in neighbouring Myanmar, in the second stage of a tour dominated by the plight of the persecuted minority.
Francis – the first pope to visit Bangladesh in 31 years – will spend three days in the majority-Muslim country, which is grappling with a rise in Islamist extremism that has seen Catholics attacked for their faith.
He flew to…
Trump and Xi call for nuclear-free Korean peninsula
President Donald Trump spoke with President Xi Jinping by phone to discuss North Korea’s latest missile launch, a test that showed progress in the country’s effort to produce nuclear weapons capable of striking the US.
“President Trump underscored the determination of the United States to defend ourselves and our allies from the growing threat posed by the North Korean regime,” the White House said in an announcement.
Trump “emphasised the need for China to use all…
No new capital requirements for UK banks following ‘severe’ Bank of England stress tests
None of the UK’s largest banks will be ordered to set more capital aside to cover potential liabilities following this year’s ‘stress tests’, the Bank of England has confirmed.
Facing cuts from international donors, Cambodian PM looks to China for more aid
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, facing Western donor pressure over a crackdown on critics before 2018 elections, will seek more aid and investment from China during a visit this week, his aide said on Wednesday.
China is already Cambodia’s biggest donor and its support has bolstered Hun Sen in the face of criticism of what his opponents say amounts to the destruction of democracy.
The aide, Sry Thamrong, said Hun Sen would attend a special summit from Thursday to Sunday held by the…
Regulators toughen expectations on financial services firms’ Brexit preparations
The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) has warned UK financial firms that they should not rely on leniency from local regulators in the EU if the UK exits the trading bloc without a deal on the cross-border provision of financial services provision in place.
Pope Francis disappoints rights groups by failing to mention Rohingya in Myanmar speech
Pope Francis called for respect for rights and justice in a keenly watched address in Myanmar on Tuesday, but avoided mentioning the Rohingya, or allegations of ethnic cleansing driving huge numbers of the Muslim minority from the country.
Sharing a stage with Myanmar’s unofficial leader Aung San Suu Kyi in the capital Naypyidaw, he did not address the Rohingya crisis head-on, instead tiptoeing around the unfolding humanitarian emergency.
Peace can only be achieved through “justice…
Celebrity elephant crushes owner to death at Thai zoo
An elephant that has starred in feature films and television commercials crushed its owner to death in Thailand, zoo officials said on Tuesday, setting off fresh debate about the kingdom’s animal tourism industry.
The accident took place on Monday morning in the northern city of Chiang Mai, just after owner Somsak Riengngen unchained the five-tonne elephant Ekasit.
With a mahout, or handler, on his back, Ekasit took a few steps before reversing course and attacking 54-year-old Somsak, who…
There are great opportunities for banks and fintechs in the age of ‘open banking’
ANALYSIS: Open Banking provides great opportunities for all sorts of businesses, including existing banks and fintechs, to innovate, strengthen customer relationships, and gain a share of new emerging financial product and service markets.
Greenpeace slams Indonesian palm oil industry for stalling on promise to end deforestation
Greenpeace slammed Indonesia’s palm oil industry on Monday for failing to live up to a pledge to halt deforestation, as the lucrative sector faces possible restrictions in Europe over environmental concerns.
Palm oil is used in everything from soap to frozen pizza, but a consumer backlash has forced dozens of the world’s largest food and drink manufacturers to address its ecological impact.
Vast swathes of rainforest are destroyed to make way for palm oil plantations, threatening…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte tells Muslim rebels he will correct ‘historical injustice’
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to correct “historical injustice” in a speech to Muslim rebels on Monday as his government seeks to reignite a stalled peace process in the nation’s troubled south.
He made the remarks at a mammoth gathering hosted by the country’s main Muslim guerilla group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), but which has also brought together Christians, rival Muslim factions and tribal groups from the southern region of Mindanao….