International

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia's government on Saturday defended plans for a protest rally to condemn what it called "ethnic cleansing" of Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority, saying it has an obligation to ensure that its neighbor takes steps to prevent the crisis from deteriorating.

MANILA — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte telephoned U.S. President-elect Donald Trump late Friday and had a brief but "very engaging, animated conversation" in which both leaders invited each other to visit his country.

UNITED NATIONS — The government minister responsible for the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea during the 1970s and 80s says he believes growing international pressure will eventually lead to a return of the abductees or their remains.

BANJUL, Gambia — Gambia's president of 22 years acknowledged his election defeat on state television Friday night, vowing to step down hours after news of the results prompted thousands to celebrate in the streets in an unprecedented display of disdain for his rule.

BANGKOK — Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Friday began a fact-finding visit to Myanmar's troubled Rakhine state, where the army has been accused of large-scale violence against members of the Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority, resulting in destruction of villages, civilian casualties and an exodus of refugees to neighboring Bangladesh.

PHNOM PENH — Cambodia's king has pardoned the deputy leader of the country's opposition party, taking the action at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen in a complicated maneuver that could have a major political impact.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Britain's Prince Harry joined Rihanna in celebrating 50 years of independence for her native Barbados.

SINGAPORE — Singapore regulators have announced fines amounting to over $5.3 million for two banks that were found to have breached money laundering rules in dealings with an indebted Malaysian state fund.

HANOI — Vietnamese authorities have seized 529 kilograms (1,164 pounds) of ivory smuggled from Africa, after finding nearly 6 tons of ivory illegally shipped through the same port in the past two months.

JAKARTA — At least 200,000 conservative Muslims rallied in the Indonesian capital on Friday in the second major protest in a month against its minority Christian governor who is being prosecuted for alleged blasphemy.