Indonesia: Mount Marapi Erupts, Sending Ash Column 1.6 km Above Summit 3

Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted this morning, August 12, sending an ash column up to 1,600 meters above the summit.

Indonesia: Mount Marapi Erupts, Sending Ash Column 1.6 km Above Summit 2

Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted this morning, August 12, sending an ash column up to 1,600 meters above the summit.

Indonesia: Mount Marapi Erupts, Sending Ash Column 1.6 km Above Summit

Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted this morning, August 12, sending an ash column up to 1,600 meters above the summit.

Indonesia: Mount Marapi Erupts, Ash Plume Reaches 1.6 Kilometers 5

Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted on Wednesday morning, July 23, sending an ash plume 1.6 kilometers into the sky. The alert level remains at II, with residents advised to avoid areas within a three-kilometer radius of the crater.

Indonesia: Mount Marapi Erupts, Ash Plume Reaches 1.6 Kilometers 3

Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted on Wednesday morning, July 23, sending an ash plume 1.6 kilometers into the sky. The alert level remains at II, with residents advised to avoid areas within a three-kilometer radius of the crater.

Indonesia: Mount Marapi Erupts, Ash Plume Reaches 1.6 Kilometers 4

Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted on Wednesday morning, July 23, sending an ash plume 1.6 kilometers into the sky. The alert level remains at II, with residents advised to avoid areas within a three-kilometer radius of the crater.

Indonesia: Mount Marapi Erupts, Ash Plume Reaches 1.6 Kilometers

Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted on Wednesday morning, July 23, sending an ash plume 1.6 kilometers into the sky. The alert level remains at II, with residents advised to avoid areas within a three-kilometer radius of the crater.

Indonesia: Mount Marapi Erupts, Ash Plume Reaches 1.6 Kilometers 2

Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted on Wednesday morning, July 23, sending an ash plume 1.6 kilometers into the sky. The alert level remains at II, with residents advised to avoid areas within a three-kilometer radius of the crater.

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

ALTAY, CHINA - FEBRUARY 21, 2025 - Snow lovers ski at the International Ski Resort in Altay City, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Feb 21, 2025. Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort is the only alpine ski resort in China connected to a city, just 1.6 km from the city center.

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

ALTAY, CHINA - FEBRUARY 21, 2025 - Snow lovers ski at the International Ski Resort in Altay City, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Feb 21, 2025. Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort is the only alpine ski resort in China connected to a city, just 1.6 km from the city center.

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

ALTAY, CHINA - FEBRUARY 21, 2025 - Snow lovers ski at the International Ski Resort in Altay City, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Feb 21, 2025. Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort is the only alpine ski resort in China connected to a city, just 1.6 km from the city center.

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

ALTAY, CHINA - FEBRUARY 21, 2025 - Snow lovers ski at the International Ski Resort in Altay City, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Feb 21, 2025. Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort is the only alpine ski resort in China connected to a city, just 1.6 km from the city center.

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

ALTAY, CHINA - FEBRUARY 21, 2025 - Snow lovers ski at the International Ski Resort in Altay City, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Feb 21, 2025. Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort is the only alpine ski resort in China connected to a city, just 1.6 km from the city center.

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

ALTAY, CHINA - FEBRUARY 21, 2025 - Snow lovers ski at the International Ski Resort in Altay City, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Feb 21, 2025. Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort is the only alpine ski resort in China connected to a city, just 1.6 km from the city center.

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

ALTAY, CHINA - FEBRUARY 21, 2025 - Snow lovers ski at the International Ski Resort in Altay City, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Feb 21, 2025. Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort is the only alpine ski resort in China connected to a city, just 1.6 km from the city center.

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

ALTAY, CHINA - FEBRUARY 21, 2025 - Snow lovers ski at the International Ski Resort in Altay City, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Feb 21, 2025. Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort is the only alpine ski resort in China connected to a city, just 1.6 km from the city center.

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

ALTAY, CHINA - FEBRUARY 21, 2025 - Snow lovers ski at the International Ski Resort in Altay City, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Feb 21, 2025. Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort is the only alpine ski resort in China connected to a city, just 1.6 km from the city center.

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

ALTAY, CHINA - FEBRUARY 21, 2025 - Snow lovers ski at the International Ski Resort in Altay City, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Feb 21, 2025. Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort is the only alpine ski resort in China connected to a city, just 1.6 km from the city center.

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort

ALTAY, CHINA - FEBRUARY 21, 2025 - Snow lovers ski at the International Ski Resort in Altay City, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Feb 21, 2025. Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort is the only alpine ski resort in China connected to a city, just 1.6 km from the city center.

Illumination event in Sendai

Illumination event in Sendai

The annual Sendai Pageant of Starlight illumination event begins in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on Dec. 6, 2024. Zelkova trees lining a 450-meter street are lit up with about 450,000 LED lights, with about 1.6 million people expected to visit through Dec. 25.

Illumination event in Sendai

Illumination event in Sendai

The annual Sendai Pageant of Starlight illumination event begins in Sendai, northeastern Japan, on Dec. 6, 2024. Zelkova trees lining a 450-meter street are lit up with about 450,000 LED lights, with about 1.6 million people expected to visit through Dec. 25.

Japan provides surveillance radar to Philippines

Japan provides surveillance radar to Philippines

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro (L) and Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo (C) pose for a photo with Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuya Endo in Manila on Dec. 5, 2024, after the two countries signed an agreement for Japan to provide coastal surveillance radar valued at 1.6 billion yen ($10.7 million) to Manila.

Texas Instruments Booth at The 6th CIIE in Shanghai

Texas Instruments Booth at The 6th CIIE in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, CHINA - NOVEMBER 6, 2023 - Visitors visit various integrated circuit chips developed and produced by Texas Instruments at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China, November 6, 2023. On August 17, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced on August 16 that the U.S. government will provide $1.6 billion in grants and $3 billion in loans to Texas Instruments under the Chip Act passed in 2022.

Texas Instruments Booth at The 6th CIIE in Shanghai

Texas Instruments Booth at The 6th CIIE in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, CHINA - NOVEMBER 6, 2023 - Visitors visit various integrated circuit chips developed and produced by Texas Instruments at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China, November 6, 2023. On August 17, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced on August 16 that the U.S. government will provide $1.6 billion in grants and $3 billion in loans to Texas Instruments under the Chip Act passed in 2022.

Texas Instruments Booth at The 6th CIIE in Shanghai

Texas Instruments Booth at The 6th CIIE in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, CHINA - NOVEMBER 6, 2023 - Visitors visit various integrated circuit chips developed and produced by Texas Instruments at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China, November 6, 2023. On August 17, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced on August 16 that the U.S. government will provide $1.6 billion in grants and $3 billion in loans to Texas Instruments under the Chip Act passed in 2022.

Texas Instruments Booth at The 6th CIIE in Shanghai

Texas Instruments Booth at The 6th CIIE in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, CHINA - NOVEMBER 6, 2023 - Visitors visit various integrated circuit chips developed and produced by Texas Instruments at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China, November 6, 2023. On August 17, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced on August 16 that the U.S. government will provide $1.6 billion in grants and $3 billion in loans to Texas Instruments under the Chip Act passed in 2022.

Texas Instruments Booth at The 6th CIIE in Shanghai

Texas Instruments Booth at The 6th CIIE in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, CHINA - NOVEMBER 6, 2023 - Visitors visit various integrated circuit chips developed and produced by Texas Instruments at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China, November 6, 2023. On August 17, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced on August 16 that the U.S. government will provide $1.6 billion in grants and $3 billion in loans to Texas Instruments under the Chip Act passed in 2022.

Texas Instruments Booth at The 6th CIIE in Shanghai

Texas Instruments Booth at The 6th CIIE in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, CHINA - NOVEMBER 6, 2023 - Visitors visit various integrated circuit chips developed and produced by Texas Instruments at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China, November 6, 2023. On August 17, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced on August 16 that the U.S. government will provide $1.6 billion in grants and $3 billion in loans to Texas Instruments under the Chip Act passed in 2022.

SRI LANKA-INFLATION-INCREASE

SRI LANKA-INFLATION-INCREASE

(240722) -- COLOMBO, July 22, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- People buy vegetables at the Pettah Market in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 22, 2024. Sri Lanka's inflation increased to 2.4 percent in June from 1.6 percent reported in May, according to the national consumer price index, the department of census and statistics said on Monday. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 11, 2024 - Zhanbi Building is seen inside the Wine-making Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer at West Lake in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, July 11, 2024. Recently, Zhanbi building group room leasing rights network auction with a transaction price of 2.855 million yuan, its auction price than 1.6 million yuan premium rate reached 78.4%.

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 11, 2024 - Zhanbi Building is seen inside the Wine-making Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer at West Lake in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, July 11, 2024. Recently, Zhanbi building group room leasing rights network auction with a transaction price of 2.855 million yuan, its auction price than 1.6 million yuan premium rate reached 78.4%.

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 11, 2024 - Zhanbi Building is seen inside the Wine-making Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer at West Lake in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, July 11, 2024. Recently, Zhanbi building group room leasing rights network auction with a transaction price of 2.855 million yuan, its auction price than 1.6 million yuan premium rate reached 78.4%.

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 11, 2024 - Zhanbi Building is seen inside the Wine-making Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer at West Lake in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, July 11, 2024. Recently, Zhanbi building group room leasing rights network auction with a transaction price of 2.855 million yuan, its auction price than 1.6 million yuan premium rate reached 78.4%.

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 11, 2024 - Zhanbi Building is seen inside the Wine-making Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer at West Lake in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, July 11, 2024. Recently, Zhanbi building group room leasing rights network auction with a transaction price of 2.855 million yuan, its auction price than 1.6 million yuan premium rate reached 78.4%.

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 11, 2024 - Zhanbi Building is seen inside the Wine-making Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer at West Lake in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, July 11, 2024. Recently, Zhanbi building group room leasing rights network auction with a transaction price of 2.855 million yuan, its auction price than 1.6 million yuan premium rate reached 78.4%.

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 11, 2024 - Zhanbi Building is seen inside the Wine-making Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer at West Lake in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, July 11, 2024. Recently, Zhanbi building group room leasing rights network auction with a transaction price of 2.855 million yuan, its auction price than 1.6 million yuan premium rate reached 78.4%.

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 11, 2024 - Zhanbi Building is seen inside the Wine-making Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer at West Lake in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, July 11, 2024. Recently, Zhanbi building group room leasing rights network auction with a transaction price of 2.855 million yuan, its auction price than 1.6 million yuan premium rate reached 78.4%.

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 11, 2024 - Zhanbi Building is seen inside the Wine-making Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer at West Lake in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, July 11, 2024. Recently, Zhanbi building group room leasing rights network auction with a transaction price of 2.855 million yuan, its auction price than 1.6 million yuan premium rate reached 78.4%.

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 11, 2024 - Zhanbi Building is seen inside the Wine-making Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer at West Lake in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, July 11, 2024. Recently, Zhanbi building group room leasing rights network auction with a transaction price of 2.855 million yuan, its auction price than 1.6 million yuan premium rate reached 78.4%.

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 11, 2024 - Zhanbi Building is seen inside the Wine-making Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer at West Lake in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, July 11, 2024. Recently, Zhanbi building group room leasing rights network auction with a transaction price of 2.855 million yuan, its auction price than 1.6 million yuan premium rate reached 78.4%.

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

Zhanbi Building Rental Auction

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 11, 2024 - Zhanbi Building is seen inside the Wine-making Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer at West Lake in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, July 11, 2024. Recently, Zhanbi building group room leasing rights network auction with a transaction price of 2.855 million yuan, its auction price than 1.6 million yuan premium rate reached 78.4%.

CHINA-FUJIAN-ZHANGPU-WIND FARM (CN)

CHINA-FUJIAN-ZHANGPU-WIND FARM (CN)

(240628) -- ZHANGZHOU, June 28, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- This photo taken on June 19, 2024 shows workers installing the blade of a 16-megawatt wind turbine of the phase II project of Zhangpu wind farm in southeast China's Fujian Province. The phase II project of Zhangpu wind farm, China's first offshore wind farm with the largest single-capacity with turbines, was connected to the grid for power generation on Thursday. The project is located about 30 kilometers from the coastline of Zhangpu County in Fujian, and built by China Three Gorges Corporation. With a total installed capacity of 400 megawatt, the wind farm project will be able to generate 1.6 billion kWh of electricity annually, meeting the annual electricity consumption needs of 680,000 households and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.36 million tonnes. Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM/Lin Shanchuan)

CHINA-FUJIAN-ZHANGPU-WIND FARM (CN)

CHINA-FUJIAN-ZHANGPU-WIND FARM (CN)

(240628) -- ZHANGZHOU, June 28, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- An aerial drone photo taken on June 19, 2024 shows workers installing the blade of a 16-megawatt wind turbine of the phase II project of Zhangpu wind farm in southeast China's Fujian Province. The phase II project of Zhangpu wind farm, China's first offshore wind farm with the largest single-capacity with turbines, was connected to the grid for power generation on Thursday. The project is located about 30 kilometers from the coastline of Zhangpu County in Fujian, and built by China Three Gorges Corporation. With a total installed capacity of 400 megawatt, the wind farm project will be able to generate 1.6 billion kWh of electricity annually, meeting the annual electricity consumption needs of 680,000 households and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.36 million tonnes. Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM/Lin Shanchuan)

CHINA-FUJIAN-ZHANGPU-WIND FARM (CN)

CHINA-FUJIAN-ZHANGPU-WIND FARM (CN)

(240628) -- ZHANGZHOU, June 28, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- This photo taken on June 19, 2024 shows the phase II project of Zhangpu wind farm in southeast China's Fujian Province. The phase II project of Zhangpu wind farm, China's first offshore wind farm with the largest single-capacity with turbines, was connected to the grid for power generation on Thursday. The project is located about 30 kilometers from the coastline of Zhangpu County in Fujian, and built by China Three Gorges Corporation. With a total installed capacity of 400 megawatt, the wind farm project will be able to generate 1.6 billion kWh of electricity annually, meeting the annual electricity consumption needs of 680,000 households and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.36 million tonnes. Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM/Lin Shanchuan)

CHINA-FUJIAN-ZHANGPU-WIND FARM (CN)

CHINA-FUJIAN-ZHANGPU-WIND FARM (CN)

(240628) -- ZHANGZHOU, June 28, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- This photo taken on June 19, 2024 shows the phase II project of Zhangpu wind farm in southeast China's Fujian Province. The phase II project of Zhangpu wind farm, China's first offshore wind farm with the largest single-capacity with turbines, was connected to the grid for power generation on Thursday. The project is located about 30 kilometers from the coastline of Zhangpu County in Fujian, and built by China Three Gorges Corporation. With a total installed capacity of 400 megawatt, the wind farm project will be able to generate 1.6 billion kWh of electricity annually, meeting the annual electricity consumption needs of 680,000 households and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.36 million tonnes. Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM/Lin Shanchuan)

CHINA-FUJIAN-ZHANGPU-WIND FARM (CN)

CHINA-FUJIAN-ZHANGPU-WIND FARM (CN)

(240628) -- ZHANGZHOU, June 28, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- An aerial drone photo taken on June 19, 2024 shows workers installing the blade of a 16-megawatt wind turbine of the phase II project of Zhangpu wind farm in southeast China's Fujian Province. The phase II project of Zhangpu wind farm, China's first offshore wind farm with the largest single-capacity with turbines, was connected to the grid for power generation on Thursday. The project is located about 30 kilometers from the coastline of Zhangpu County in Fujian, and built by China Three Gorges Corporation. With a total installed capacity of 400 megawatt, the wind farm project will be able to generate 1.6 billion kWh of electricity annually, meeting the annual electricity consumption needs of 680,000 households and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.36 million tonnes. Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM/Lin Shanchuan)

CHINA-FUJIAN-ZHANGPU-WIND FARM (CN)

CHINA-FUJIAN-ZHANGPU-WIND FARM (CN)

(240628) -- ZHANGZHOU, June 28, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- An aerial drone photo taken on June 19, 2024 shows the phase II project of Zhangpu wind farm in southeast China's Fujian Province. The phase II project of Zhangpu wind farm, China's first offshore wind farm with the largest single-capacity with turbines, was connected to the grid for power generation on Thursday. The project is located about 30 kilometers from the coastline of Zhangpu County in Fujian, and built by China Three Gorges Corporation. With a total installed capacity of 400 megawatt, the wind farm project will be able to generate 1.6 billion kWh of electricity annually, meeting the annual electricity consumption needs of 680,000 households and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.36 million tonnes. Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM/Lin Shanchuan)

CHINA-FUJIAN-ZHANGPU-WIND FARM (CN)

CHINA-FUJIAN-ZHANGPU-WIND FARM (CN)

(240628) -- ZHANGZHOU, June 28, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- This photo taken on June 19, 2024 shows workers installing the blade of a 16-megawatt wind turbine of the phase II project of Zhangpu wind farm in southeast China's Fujian Province. The phase II project of Zhangpu wind farm, China's first offshore wind farm with the largest single-capacity with turbines, was connected to the grid for power generation on Thursday. The project is located about 30 kilometers from the coastline of Zhangpu County in Fujian, and built by China Three Gorges Corporation. With a total installed capacity of 400 megawatt, the wind farm project will be able to generate 1.6 billion kWh of electricity annually, meeting the annual electricity consumption needs of 680,000 households and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.36 million tonnes. Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM/Lin Shanchuan)

CHINA-FUJIAN-ZHANGPU-WIND FARM (CN)

CHINA-FUJIAN-ZHANGPU-WIND FARM (CN)

(240628) -- ZHANGZHOU, June 28, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- An aerial drone photo taken on June 19, 2024 shows the phase II project of Zhangpu wind farm in southeast China's Fujian Province. The phase II project of Zhangpu wind farm, China's first offshore wind farm with the largest single-capacity with turbines, was connected to the grid for power generation on Thursday. The project is located about 30 kilometers from the coastline of Zhangpu County in Fujian, and built by China Three Gorges Corporation. With a total installed capacity of 400 megawatt, the wind farm project will be able to generate 1.6 billion kWh of electricity annually, meeting the annual electricity consumption needs of 680,000 households and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.36 million tonnes. Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM/Lin Shanchuan)

Tokyo consumer inflation accelerates in May

STORY: Tokyo consumer inflation accelerates in May SHOOTING TIME: recent footage DATELINE: June 3, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:39 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in Tokyo STORYLINE: Core inflation in Tokyo continued to rise in May as utility costs expanded, government data showed. The Tokyo core consumer price index, which excludes volatile fresh food but includes fuel costs, rose 1.9 percent in May from a year earlier, accelerating from a 1.6 percent rise in April, according to the internal affairs ministry. Seen as a leading indicator of nationwide trends in Japan, the Tokyo data released on Friday stood below the Bank of Japan's 2-percent target. The acceleration was largely pushed up by utility costs related to renewable energy promotion, as electricity bills increased for the first time in 16 months by rising 13.1 percent year on year. Meanwhile, prices of food excluding fresh items rose 3.2 percent, unchanged from the previous month. Xinhua News Agency correspondent