Dugongs, an endangered marine species, in 2012 were inhabiting the reclamation site in Okinawa chosen for the relocation of the U.S. Futenma base, the first time their presence has been confirmed there in three years, a survey by the Okinawa Defense Bureau revealed Saturday. ...

During the week following the announcement in Buenos Aires that Tokyo would host the 2020 Olympic Games, the Japanese media was saturated with news of the capital’s celebratory reaction. NHK, which will broadcast the Games, was particularly enthusiastic, leading every news report with a ...

Ethnic Tamil voters in Sri Lanka’s war-ravaged north went to the polls Saturday to form their first functioning provincial government, hoping it will serve as the first step toward wider regional autonomy after decades of struggle and a bloody civil war. The elections are ...

In a move welcomed by Kabul, which hopes it will encourage peace talks with the insurgents, Pakistan on Saturday released Abdul Ghani Baradar, its most senior Afghan Taliban detainee, a senior official said. Baradar, a one-time military chief often described as the militants’ former ...

On Thursday, Pope Francis said in a historic interview that the Catholic Church talks too much about abortion. The following day, he gave his most forceful anti-abortion comments to date. What’s the strategy here? Since becoming pope last spring, Francis has electrified people with ...

A month after rockets carrying chemical payloads rained down on the suburbs of Damascus, doctors say hundreds are still suffering the ill effects of sarin poisoning. But the horror of the gas attack is being overtaken by continuing shelling and airstrikes, as well as ...

The world's chemical weapons watchdog begins examining the details of Syria's chemical arsenal while rebels agree to a cease-fire with jihadists in a key town.

I’m in a small van careering along a rough and narrow road beside a rushing river with brightly painted temples along its banks and craggy peaks towering overhead. We’re traveling in the prescribed Indian fashion — drive as fast as you can and hope ...

Careening through the winding streets of Chennai, India, in the back of black and yellow auto-rickshaws, I am always amazed by the drivers’ audacity — or perhaps a better term would be “death wish.” These are the subcontinent’s equivalent of New York’s exuberant cabbies, ...

In “You Only Live Twice” (1964), the 12th in Ian Fleming’s series of James Bond novels, a perplexed Tiger Tanaka, MI5′s Japanese secret police liaison, informs 007 he was unaware that ninjas still existed. JAPANTOWN, by Barry Lancet. Simon and Schuster, 2013, 416 pp., ...

After four matches without a win and facing criticism following a loss to FC Basel in the Champions League, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said Friday he is changing the way his team plays and dismissed talk of a crisis at Stamford Bridge. The expectation ...

Undefeated yokozuna Hakuho dispensed with another would-be challenger in the form of Chiyotairyu to retain sole possession of the lead on the seventh day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday. Hakuho was in his usual destruction mode to wrap up the first ...

Jack Nicklaus remains confident Tiger Woods will surpass his mark of 18 major titles despite facing a level of competition the Golden Bear says as good as any that’s ever been in golf. Nicklaus was in Charleston for the opening of a pizza restaurant, ...

The Boston Red Sox waited four years to get back to baseball’s postseason. They were more than happy to put off their playoff celebration one more day. One game after securing their first playoff appearance since 2009, the Red Sox clinched the AL East ...

Henrik Stenson broke another club on Friday — this time by accident. And it didn’t matter. Playing with only 13 clubs in the bag after his 4-wood broke on the practice range, Stenson made three birdies on the opening four holes at East Lake ...

Naoaki Aoyama scored in the 96th minute to rescue a precious point for Ventforet Kofu and dent Urawa Reds’ J. League title hopes with a 1-1 draw on Saturday. Second-place Urawa went into the game at Saitama Stadium trailing league-leaders Yokohama F. Marinos by ...

France ended Spain’s reign as European basketball champion Friday with a 75-72 overtime victory behind 32 points from Tony Parker to set up a final against Lithuania. Two-time defending champion Spain led by 14 points at halftime, but Parker led France’s comeback after the ...