The China Mail - Boulevard

Verdict due in Burkina leader Sankara's 1987 assassination trial

A court in Burkina Faso will on Wednesday hand down the long-awaited verdict in the prosecution of 14 men accused of assassinating revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara, crowning a six-month trial marked by grim testimony and disrupted by a military coup.

Unhappy spouses celebrate as England adopts 'no-fault divorce'

No more faked evidence or years-long waits -- from Wednesday, unhappy spouses in England and Wales can end their marriages without blaming each other, in the biggest reform of divorce law for half a century.

Orban's Hungary risks EU funding cut over corruption fears

The EU executive on Tuesday launched a never-used procedure against Hungary that could see the Hungarian government stripped of EU funding for falling short on anticorruption and flouting democratic standards.

Iran shrine stabbing kills cleric, wounds two others

An attacker stabbed to death an Iranian Shiite Muslim cleric Tuesday and wounded two others, one of them seriously, in the shrine city of Mashhad, officials and state media said.

Hunger crisis across Africa 'going unnoticed,' says Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross warned Tuesday that a major hunger crisis in Africa is "going largely unnoticed" as the world focuses on Ukraine and other crises.

Tied in knots? Polygamy persists in DR Congo despite ban

"I can get married again -- the dream is to get to seven wives," said Congolese church pastor Chirhuza Zagabe, a husband to four spouses and father of 16 children.

James Foley's mother, brother testify at trial of IS 'Beatle'

The mother of slain American journalist James Foley said Monday at the trial of one of his alleged Islamic State captors that she initially hoped reports her son had been executed were "some cruel joke."

Indonesian teacher sentenced to death for raping 13 students

An Indonesian teacher found guilty of raping 13 students at an Islamic boarding school, and who impregnated at least eight of the victims, was sentenced to death on Monday.

Players with disabilities score in video game world

Carlos Vasquez is a master of video fighting game "Mortal Kombat" despite being unable to see the action on screen because he is blind.

At least 12 dead in Ecuador prison riot

At least 12 people died in a prison riot early Sunday in southern Ecuador, the president's office said, the latest outburst of deadly violence in the South American country's detention facilities.

At least six dead in California shooting

Six people were killed and 12 others injured, some critically, in a shooting early Sunday morning in California's state capital of Sacramento.

Somaliland capital counts cost of devastating blaze

Stunned residents of the northern Somali city of Hargeisa were struggling to pick up the pieces Sunday after a massive inferno destroyed the central market, and with it the livelihoods of thousands.

Brazil storm death toll rises to 16

The death toll from torrential downpours that triggered flash floods and landslides in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state rose to 16 Sunday, with three people still missing, authorities said.

At least six dead in California shooting: police

At least six people were killed and 10 others wounded in a shooting in the California state capital of Sacramento early Sunday, police said.

Pope laments 'tormented Ukraine' on final day of Malta visit

Pope Francis condemned the "sacrilegious war" in Ukraine at an open-air mass in Malta on Sunday, ahead of a visit to a migrant centre preparing to take refugees fleeing Russia's invasion.

Singaporeans protest the death penalty in rare demonstration

Hundreds of protesters in tightly controlled Singapore staged a rare demonstration against the death penalty Sunday as fears grow the city-state is set to carry out a wave of hangings.

Taliban chief orders ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan

The Taliban's supreme leader on Sunday ordered a ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, warning that the hardline Islamist government would crack down on farmers planting the crop.

Pope visits Malta grotto of shipwrecked St. Paul

Pope Francis will visit the grotto Sunday where St Paul lived after washing up on Malta, on a trip to the island nation dominated by calls for better treatment of migrants.

Hong Kong-based chef gets first Michelin star for Venezuela

Arepas, tacos and an old family recipe of chimichurri: Ricardo Chaneton's symphony of flavours familiar to Latin Americans has earned his Hong Kong restaurant a coveted Michelin star -- the first awarded to a Venezuelan chef.

Torrential rains kill 10 in Brazil

Torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides across Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state, killing at least 10 people including eight children, and leaving nine missing, authorities said Saturday.

Under 'shadows of war', Pope urges Malta not to fear migrants

Pope Francis reminded Malta of its roots as a "safe harbour" in his first visit to the Mediterranean island nation Saturday, warning it not to succumb to isolation and fear amid migrant crises on multiple fronts.

Afghans mark Ramadan -- first since Taliban seized power

Afghans across the country broke their dawn-to-dusk Ramadan fast on Saturday as Afghanistan marked the Muslim holy month -- the first since the Taliban seized power last year.

Pope tells 'safe harbour' Malta to resist isolation in migrant surge

Pope Francis reminded Malta of its roots as a "safe harbour" in his first visit to the Mediterranean island nation Saturday, warning it not to succumb to isolation and fear amid migrant crises on multiple fronts.

No stairs for Francis, pope boards plane via lift to Malta

Pope Francis skipped the stairs in boarding the papal plane for a two-day trip to Malta on Saturday, instead using a boarding lift for reduced mobility passengers.

Pope visits Malta, refuge of St. Paul, in Mediterranean mission

Pope Francis makes his first visit to Malta Saturday where he is expected to ask the heavily Catholic country to do more to help migrants who have risked their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe.

Stranded Ukrainians find comfort in crisis-hit Sri Lanka

As the sun dips below the Indian Ocean waves, Ukrainian tourist Viktoria Makarenko and her daughter light incense every evening at a temple in a Sri Lankan beach resort to pray for a return home.

US judge denies Ghislaine Maxwell request for new trial

A request for a new trial by Ghislaine Maxwell, the former Jeffrey Epstein associate who was convicted of child sex trafficking late last year, was denied Friday by a federal judge in New York.

First aid convoy in three months reaches Ethiopia's Tigray: UN

The first aid convoy in three months reached Ethiopia's war-stricken Tigray region on Friday, the UN said, a week after the government and Tigrayan rebels agreed to a conditional humanitarian truce.

Assault fine threatens Liang Wenbo's snooker tour spot

Liang Wenbo's position on the world snooker tour is under review after the Chinese cueman was fined for assaulting a woman in the northern English city of Sheffield, officials said.

Honduras seizes assets of ex-president awaiting extradition to US

Honduran authorities on Friday seized properties, financial holdings and other assets belonging to ex-president Juan Orlando Hernandez, who is awaiting extradition to the United States to face drug-trafficking charges, the public ministry said.

FIFA urged to eject Iran from World Cup over women stadium ban

FIFA on Friday faced calls to sanction Iran and even throw its team out of the 2022 World Cup finals over the Islamic republic's renewed failure to allow women to attend an international football match.

Ethiopia fails to block UN funding for human rights investigation

Ethiopia on Thursday failed to block the United Nations from funding an international committee that will investigate human rights violations by all parties in the nation's recent war.

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