Tight security is in place in Hong Kong for the visit of the most senior official from Beijing since large pro-democracy protests in 2014. Zhang Dejiang, the leader responsible for Hong Kong affairs, arrived amid discontent with alleged interference by Beijing. Mr Zhang said he was in Hong Kong “to listen to all sectors of society”. More than 6,000 police ...

Excavation work for a new metro line in Rome has unearthed a huge Roman barracks from the 2nd Century AD when Emperor Hadrian was in power. The find is so impressive that Italy plans to create Rome’s first “archaeological station” at Amba Aradam, on the city’s third metro line. The new station is being built while archaeologists brush dirt away ...

The cruise ship ‘Harmony of the Seas’ has the capacity to accommodate more than 8,000 passengers and crew in the most luxurious conditions. The world’s biggest-ever cruise ship, the 120,000-tonne Harmony of the Seas, capable of accommodating more than 8,000 passengers and crew in the most luxurious conditions, was set for delivery on Thursday from a French boatyard. At 66 ...

Sri Lanka’s government says the death toll from floods and landslides across the country has risen to eight, with eight others reported missing as a result of heavy storms in the past three days. The Disaster Management Center says in its report Tuesday that nine people are injured and about 30,000 people have been evacuated to safe locations as heavy ...

World and regional powers have begun fresh talks aimed at putting the Syrian peace process back on track. Germany’s foreign minister told reporters in Vienna that the aim was to strengthen a fragile truce and boost humanitarian aid. That would encourage the opposition to resume negotiations on a political settlement to end the war, he said. The opposition pulled out ...

Thai authorities are set to close the island of Koh Tachai, saying heavy tourism is negatively affecting natural resources and the environment. The island, off Phang Nga province, is part of the Similan National Park. Almost all Thai marine national parks close from mid-May to mid-October, for monsoon season, but Tachai will not reopen, the Bangkok Post reported. The park ...

Donald Trump, who defeated 16 top political leaders of his party to become the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said he is fighting for survival. “I mean, I view myself as a person that, like everybody else, is fighting for survival. That’s all I view myself as,” Trump told the Fox News. “I really view myself now as somewhat of a ...

Ansar Ahmed Ullah : Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in London on 15 May en route to Bulgaria on a three-day official visit to Bulgarian capital Sofia to attend the Global Women Leaders’ Forum. Bangladesh high commissioner to the UK Abdul Hannan, Press Minister Nadeem Qadir, UK Awami League’s President Sultan Shariff and Secretary Syed Faruk received her at ...

For decades, British Airways has given away food and drink to every passenger. But The Independent has learned that BA’s new boss may soon overturn that policy – offering short-haul economy passengers the chance to buy upscale sandwiches. Airline sources suggest that Alex Cruz, who took over as Chairman and Chief Executive at BA last month, may bring in Waitrose to supply high-quality snacks ...

A senior BBC figure wants more shows similar to Songs of Praise which would include coverage that would appeal to people of Muslim, Hindu and Sikh faiths. Aaqil Ahmed, commissioning editor of religion and head of religion and ethics at the BBC, told MPs he has written a report answering criticism that non-Christian faiths were under-represented on the programme. The Sunday Times reported Mr Ahmed told MPs ...