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An assistant chief priest at Ryugasan Unmon Temple in Annaka, Gunma Prefecture, is working to become an interfaith chaplain, challenging the traditional view that monks should not be involved at hospitals. Kodai Furutani, 30 — whose unconventional methods of teaching Buddhism include rapping a modern translation of the Heart Sutra — believes everyone should face the reality of death and live their life without regrets. Rather than focusing on missionary work, chaplains offer emotional care to hospital patients or those who have experienced a natural disaster, helping them navigate their grief. Source link

PARIS/RIYADH – European leaders meeting in Paris for emergency talks Monday called for higher spending to ramp up the continent’s defense capabilities but remained split on the idea of deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine to back up any peace deal. The leaders also agreed it would be dangerous to conclude a Ukraine ceasefire without a peace agreement at the same time, and that they were ready to provide security guarantees to Kyiv “depending on the level of American support,” a European official said. “We agree with (U.S.) President (Donald) Trump on a ‘peace through strength’ approach,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Source link

Beirut – A deadline expired Tuesday for all Israeli troops to leave south Lebanon under a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, hours after Israel said it planned to remain in five strategic locations. Israeli troops had started withdrawing Monday from some border villages, according to a Lebanese security official, but they seemed poised to stay in key areas. “Israeli forces are beginning to withdraw from border villages, including Mais al-Jabal and Blida, as the Lebanese army advances,” the official said, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Source link

New York – Canada set up another politically charged ice hockey grudge match against the United States on Monday by beating Finland 5-3 to reach the final of the NHL Four Nations tournament. Two days after suffering a bruising 3-1 loss to the USA in a chaotic clash in Montreal, Canada ensured it would have a chance to avenge that loss against the Americans in Thursday’s final in Boston. Saturday’s first meeting between Canada and the U.S. descended into mayhem within seconds of the puck being dropped, with three fistfights breaking out in the first nine seconds. Source link

WASHINGTON/TAIPEI – Taiwan is exploring buying arms worth billions of dollars from the United States, sources briefed on the matter said, hoping to win support from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump as China continues to apply military pressure on the island. Three sources familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation, said Taiwan is in talks with Washington. The package is meant to demonstrate to the United States that Taiwan is committed to its defense, one of the sources said. Source link

Tables up, seats in an upright position, cabin crew prepare for takeoff. Nils Nielsen’s version of Nadeshiko Japan is all set for its inaugural outing to the United States for the 2025 edition of the SheBelieves Cup. Japan will be making its fourth appearance in the invitational competition and is pitted against Australia, Colombia and the host, the United States. Each team will play each other once with the final standings decided by the total number of points accumulated for a win, draw or loss across three games. Although an exhibition tournament, SheBelieves is widely regarded as a highly competitive contest that typically involves some of the strongest teams international women’s soccer has to offer. Source link

Toronto – A Delta Airlines jet with 80 people onboard crash landed Monday at the Toronto airport, officials said, flipping upside down and leaving at least 15 people injured but causing no fatalities. The Endeavor Air flight 4819 with 76 passengers and four crew was landing at around 3:30 pm in Canada’s biggest metropolis, having flown from Minneapolis in the U.S. state of Minnesota, the airline said. Paramedic services said that 15 people were injured including three critically: a child, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 40s. Source link

Riyadh – Top U.S. and Russian diplomats will meet in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for talks on resetting the countries’ fractured relations and making a tentative start on trying to end the Ukraine war. Both sides played down the chances that the first high-level meeting between the countries since Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022 would result in a breakthrough. Nevertheless, the very fact of the talks has triggered concern in Kyiv and Europe — left reeling by Washington’s dramatic diplomatic moves towards the Kremlin. Source link

Thailand’s Minor Hotels is entering the Japanese market in an effort to get a piece of the booming inbound tourist business. “This market entry is a pivotal milestone in our global growth strategy,” said Minor Hotels CEO Dillip Rajakarier during a news conference on Feb 5. Minor Hotels, founded in 1978 by American-born Willlam Heinecke, now has 550 hotels worldwide. It is following other major Thai hospitality brands, such as Dusit International and Centara Hotels & Resorts, to the Japanese market. Source link

Armed with a slingshot, Taiwanese bounty hunter Wu Cheng-hua bends sideways and aims his lethal weapon up at a green iguana, one of tens of thousands in the crosshairs of a government cull. Taiwan’s iguana population has exploded since the spikey-backed giant lizards were introduced from Central and South America more than 20 years ago as exotic pets. Many escaped, or were dumped, and have bred rapidly in the warm climate of the island’s south, invading neighbourhoods and ravaging farmers’ crops. Source link