Rebecca Ratcliffe South-East Asia Correspondent

Tagle is considered progressive and humble, but has faced some criticism for his response to the drug war and sexual abuse in the church

Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle laughed when asked in 2015 if he had ever considered that he might one day be pope. “I make a public confession here. I cannot even manage my life. How can I imagine a worldwide community?”

Despite his self-deprecating response, the Filipino cardinal is among those tipped as a potential successor to Pope Francis. If appointed, he would be the first Asian pope in modern times.

Xuan Phuong, a war correspondent who is now 96, recalls her entry into the city after South Vietnam’s surrender

The day that Saigon fell, Xuan Phuong, a war correspondent, could only hear shouting and commotion. It was 30 April 1975, and helicopters were frantically lifting personnel and civilians from the US embassy.

Phuong, who had travelled down from the north, was initially held back by troops who said fighting was still continuing. When she was finally able to reach the centre of the city the following day, 1 May, she found chaos. Clothes and luggage were scattered and discarded along the streets. Buildings were being looted.