The Japan Times - Boulevard

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Swiss US-Iran talks venue a playground of world leaders, movie stars

The uber-plush Burgenstock resort perched high above Switzerland's Lake Lucerne -- the dramatic setting for Sunday's US-Iran talks -- is well-accustomed to hosting world leaders, movie icons and peace negotiations.

Los Angeles under state of emergency due to warehouse fire

Los Angeles was under a state of emergency Saturday as fire crews fought a days-long battle against a stubborn warehouse blaze that has filled the air with acrid black smoke.

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Iran executed at least 1,639 in 2025, more hangings feared: NGOs

Iranian authorities executed at least 1,639 people in 2025 and now risks hanging more in the the wake of the war against the US and Israel, two NGOs said Monday, urging the West to put capital punishment "at the heart" of any negotiations with Tehran.

Pope Leo begins African tour under shadow of Trump's ire

Pope Leo XIV began a landmark visit to Algeria Monday in the first trip to the Muslim-majority country by a pontiff that risked being overshadowed by criticism from US President Donald Trump.

Pope Leo kicks off African tour under shadow of Trump's ire

Pope Leo XIV headed to Algeria on Monday at the start of an 11-day tour of Africa, the first international trip of his papacy that risked being overshadowed by criticism from US President Donald Trump.

Iran executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, most since 1989: NGOs

Iranian authorities executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, the highest number since 1989, two NGOs said Monday, warning it risked using capital punishment even more extensively after protests in January and the war against Israel and the US.

Pope Leo XIV heads to Algeria, first stop of African tour

Pope Leo XIV begins an 11-day tour of Africa on Monday, his first major international trip since becoming pontiff and the first ever by a leader of the world's Catholics to the Muslim country of Algeria.

In fiery speech, Pope Leo says 'Enough to war!'

Pope Leo lashed out against warmongers on Saturday while calling on billions of people around the globe to embrace peace and "believe once again in love, moderation and good politics".

Benin leans into painful past to attract tourists

Tourists crowded beneath the Door of No Return, an arch built by the beach at Ouidah in southern Benin in memory of those crammed onto slave ships bound for the New World.

Panic buttons, undercover cops: How Peru bus drivers try to stay safe

From undercover police to panic buttons, bus drivers in Peru's capital Lima are pulling out all the stops to protect themselves from attack by extortion gangs, a key theme in Sunday's presidential election.

Court Rules Against Jason Shurka in EESystem Case; $54,034 in Federal Sanctions Ordered

Clark County judge finds defendant's public statements were not made in good faith. The ruling caps months of legal proceedings brought by the inventor of a wellness technology used in over 700 centers worldwide.

Iranian delegation in Pakistan for talks with US, Vance en route

Iranian officials arrived in Pakistan on Friday for peace talks with the United States as Tehran insisted on a truce in Lebanon and unfreezing of its assets for the negotiations to go ahead.

Mythos AI alarm bells: Fair warning or marketing hype?

Anthropic postponing the release of its new AI model Claude Mythos, said to be so skilled at coding it could be a wicked weapon for hackers, has encountered a mix of alarm and skepticism.

Over 100,000 worshippers perform Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa

More than 100,000 Muslim worshippers performed Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem, the holy site's Islamic authority reported, after it reopened the previous day following a truce agreed between the United States and Iran.

Swede goes on trial for pressuring wife to sell sex

A Swedish man suspected of exploiting his "vulnerable" wife to have sex with scores of men for payment, went on trial on Friday for aggravated pimping, rape and assault.

Sleepy seal diverts traffic in Australian seaside town

Traffic in a seaside Australian town was briefly diverted on Friday when a local seal decided to take a nap on the road.

Exiled cartoonists give voice to Iran's silenced millions

Exiled Iranian cartoonist Mana Neyestani has a huge following back home for his biting humour.

Chinese slimmers trade lost fat for beef

In a community centre in eastern China, Shu Fangqiang shrugged off his jacket and stepped onto a scale, one of hundreds of locals signing up for an unusual weight loss programme -- "Trade Fat for Beef".

Russia bans Nobel-winning rights group, raids independent newspaper, in one day

Russia banned the Nobel Prize-winning human rights group Memorial and raided the offices of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta Thursday, in fresh blows to already diminished civil liberties in the country.

Venezuela police clash with protesters demanding salary rises

Venezuelan police fired tear gas on Thursday to disperse around 2,000 protesters who marched towards the presidential palace to demand salary and pension increases, AFP reporters saw.

Melania Trump blasts 'lies' linking her to Epstein

US First Lady Melania Trump made a surprise statement on Thursday denying any knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse, or that she herself was a victim of the convicted sex offender.

Melania Trump denies any links to Epstein abuse

US First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday made a surprise statement denying unspecified allegations about her and Jeffrey Epstein, a scandal that her husband President Donald Trump has long downplayed.

Venezuela police tear-gas protesters demanding salary rises

Venezuelan police fired tear gas on Thursday to disperse around 2,000 protesters who marched towards the presidential palace to demand salary and pension increases, AFP reporters saw.

Believers rejoice as Jerusalem's holy sites re-open

Just before 5 am at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a Muslim worshipper prayed in tears. A few hours later, similar emotion overcame Christians and Jews as the city's holy sites reopened following the truce with Iran.

Shallow Indonesian quake damages houses, injures residents

A shallow 4.9-magitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia overnight, damaging dozens of homes and injuring multiple people, an official said Thursday.

US-Iran truce enters second day as war flares in Lebanon

The fragile truce between Iran and the United States entered its second day on Thursday, with Tehran threatening to resume hostilities as Israel launched a major bombardment of Lebanon.

US, Iran truce hangs in balance as war flares in Lebanon

The fragile two-week truce between Iran and the United States was hanging in the balance on Wednesday, with Tehran threatening to resume hostilities as Israel launched a major bombardment of Lebanon.

Turkey puts 11 on trial for LGBT 'obscenity'

Eleven leaders of a Turkish LGBT rights group went on trial Wednesday on charges of "obscenity" and "violating the protection of the family", their lawyer told AFP.

Brazilian police dog sniffs out 48 tons of marijuana in record bust

Brazilian police on Wednesday seized a record 48 tons of marijuana in a favela in Rio de Janeiro, uncovered by chance by a sniffer dog during a regular operation against criminal factions.

'Unfinished business': Opponents anxious, bitter after Iran ceasefire

President Donald Trump promised "regime change" in Iran but the Islamic republic has emerged intact from the US-Israeli war, leaving opponents and activists disappointed and frightened.

Trump suspends Iran bombing for two weeks, after apocalyptic threats

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was suspending bombing of Iran for two weeks but that Tehran must reopen the key Strait of Hormuz, barely an hour before his apocalyptic deadline to destroy the country was set to expire.

Graft trial of Spanish PM's ex-top aide begins

A corruption trial of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's former right-hand man opened on Tuesday, a case that has rocked a Socialist-led minority government that has prioritised stamping out graft.

French high-speed train slams into truck, killing TGV driver

A French high-speed train crashed into a truck carrying a military vehicle in northern France on Tuesday, killing the driver of the TGV and badly injuring two people, officials said.

Gunman killed, 2 wounded in shootout outside Israel's Istanbul consulate

A gunman was killed and two others wounded in a shootout Tuesday with police outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, the local governor said, adding two officers were lightly wounded.

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