The Japan Times - Boulevard

Pope's condition stable but complex

Pope Francis is in a "stable" condition in hospital but the clinical picture remains complex, the Vatican said Sunday, as the 88-year-old issued a statement thanking well-wishers for their support.

Pope 'stable' after 'calm night': Vatican

Pope Francis, who has been in hospital for more than two weeks with double pneumonia, is in a "stable" condition after spending a "calm night", the Vatican said on Sunday.

Thousands flee after Japan's biggest wildfire in decades

Thousands of people evacuated from parts of northern Japan as the country's largest wildfire in three decades raged unabated Sunday after killing at least one person, officials said.

Cyclone death toll rises to four on La Reunion

At least four people have died in the Indian Ocean island of La Reunion during the passage of a devastating cyclone that sowed destruction across the overseas French territory, officials said on Saturday.

Cyclone death toll rises to four on ravaged French island

French authorities said Saturday that at least four people died in Cyclone Garance's devastating crossing of the Indian Ocean island of La Reunion.

Saudi Arabia, most other Sunni Arab states to start Ramadan Saturday

For Muslims in Saudi Arabia and most Sunni-ruled Middle Eastern states Ramadan will begin on Saturday, but in Shiite-majority Iran and Iraq it will start the following day, authorities announced.

Shooting for the moon: the Saudi spotting teams that herald Ramadan

Deep in the Saudi Arabian desert, a group of robed men are peering into the sky, trying to spot the crescent moon that signifies the start of Ramadan.

Saudi Arabia, Gulf neighbours say Ramadan to start on Saturday

For Muslims in Saudi Arabia and most Sunni-ruled Middle Eastern states Ramadan will begin on Saturday, but in Shiite-majority Iran and Iraq it will start the following day, authorities announced.

Ailing pope suffers breathing 'crisis', Vatican says

Pope Francis, in hospital with pneumonia, suffered a breathing "crisis" on Friday which caused him to vomit, but he was given air and responded well, the Vatican said.

Three dead as cyclone Garance batters French island

Cyclone Garance barrelled across La Reunion island on Friday killing three people as fierce winds left destruction across the French Indian Ocean territory, authorities said.

Released Israeli hostage recounts hunger, chains that 'cut into your flesh'

Eli Sharabi, who was held hostage in Gaza for more than 490 days, has recounted his suffering in captivity in a televised interview, an extract of which was posted on social media by Israel's foreign ministry Friday.

Immigrant parents remove teenage sons from UK over stabbing fears

Immigrant parents in the UK, fearful of gang knife violence, are sending teenage sons back to their countries of origin, a community worker said Friday, after a boy sued his family for putting him in a Ghana boarding school.

Over 20 missing after avalanche in Indian Himalayas: rescuers

Rescuers were racing against time to search for more than 20 construction workers missing after an avalanche in India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand on Friday following heavy snowfall, the army said.

Suicide blast at Taliban religious school in Pakistan kills six

A suicide attack at an Islamic religious school in Pakistan known as the "University of Jihad" -- where key Taliban leaders have studied -- killed six people on Friday, police said.

Over 40 missing after avalanche in Indian Himalayas: rescuers

More than 40 construction workers were missing after an avalanche in India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand on Friday following heavy snowfall, officials said.

Suicide blast at Taliban religious school in Pakistan kills 4

A suicide attack at an Islamic religious school in Pakistan known as the "University of Jihad" -- where key Taliban leaders have studied -- killed four people on Friday, police said.

US issues Thailand security alert after Uyghur deportations

The United States issued a security alert to its citizens in Thailand on Friday, warning of the possible risk of reprisal attacks after the kingdom deported dozens of Uyghurs to China.

Russian divers found dead near popular Philippines resort

Two Russian divers were found dead, one in the jaws of a shark, after a strong current separated them from their group in a popular Philippine scuba spot, a coast guard official said Friday.

Tokyo's all-seeing Skytree tower

Tokyo's Skytree soars 634 metres (2,080 feet) upwards, giving spectacular views of the Japanese megalopolis and -- on a clear day -- the majestic Mount Fuji.

Greece marks train crash anniversary with national stoppage

Greece is expected to come to a standstill Friday with sweeping strikes and protests to mark the second anniversary of the country's worst rail tragedy, that left 57 dead in 2023.

Feted at Carnival, Afro-Brazilian faiths face hate in daily life

In a busy workshop, Leandro Vieira oversees preparations for Rio de Janeiro's dazzling Carnival parade, where his samba school will celebrate the spiritual richness of Candomble, one of the main Afro-Brazilian faiths.

Under pressure from Trump, Mexico extradites cartel kingpins

Mexico on Thursday extradited some of its most notorious imprisoned drug lords to the United States in a bid to avert sweeping tariffs, including a cartel kingpin wanted for decades over the murder of a US undercover agent.

Under pressure from Trump, Mexico extradites cartel kinpins

Mexico on Thursday extradited some of its most notorious imprisoned drug lords to the United States in a bid to avert sweeping tariffs, including a cartel kingpin wanted for decades over the murder of a US undercover agent.

Influencer Andrew Tate in US despite charges in Romania

Andrew Tate, a right-wing influencer charged with rape and human trafficking in Romania, arrived in the United States on Thursday -- the first time he has been out of the eastern European country since his 2022 arrest.

Influencer Andrew Tate facing charges in Romania arrives in US

Andrew Tate, a right-wing influencer charged with rape and human trafficking in Romania, arrived in the United States on Thursday, the first time he has been out of the eastern European country since his 2022 arrest.

Accused of repression, Nicaragua's Ortega swears in hooded 'volunteer' force

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, under sanctions for human rights abuses, has sworn in 30,000 hooded civilians as a "volunteer police" force the opposition fears will be used as a tool of political repression.

Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker jailed over 2019 mob attack

A Hong Kong court jailed a former pro-democracy lawmaker and six others on Thursday for rioting in relation to a mob attack in 2019, despite lawyers arguing that the men were victims not aggressors.

Caution urged as ailing pope records slight improvement

Pope Francis, battling pneumonia in both lungs, slept well and is resting, the Vatican said Thursday, after revealing the 88-year-old's condition was slightly improving.

North Korea behind $1.5 billion crypto theft, FBI says

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday accused North Korea of being behind the theft of $1.5 billion worth of digital assets last week, the largest crypto heist in history.

'Escaping hell': Myanmar scam centre workers plead to go home

Hundreds of exhausted young men lie in an open-sided detention centre in a seedy Myanmar border town, sweating through thick tropical heat by day and prey to clouds of mosquitoes by night.

'Contemplated suicide': Ethiopians recount horror of SE Asia scam centres

Starved, beaten and electrocuted, Ahmed remains traumatised months after being trafficked to Southeast Asia, one of an untold number of Africans forced to work in scam centres far from home.

French paedophile surgeon's ex-wife 'suspected nothing', she tells court

The ex-wife of a French former surgeon on trial for allegedly assaulting or raping 299 patients insisted Wednesday that she "suspected nothing" of his crimes following accusations by the physician's brother that she was in the know and failed to act.

The Japan Times - Boulevard (English)

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