Parade in disaster-hit central Japan city

Parade in disaster-hit central Japan city

A 9-meter-tall lantern called Kiriko is paraded during a traditional festival on Oct. 13, 2024, in Suzu, a central Japan city in Ishikawa Prefecture that is still reeling after it was severely damaged by a powerful earthquake on New Year's Day, and heavy rain and subsequent flooding in September.

Parade in disaster-hit central Japan city

Parade in disaster-hit central Japan city

A 9-meter-tall lantern called Kiriko is paraded during a traditional festival on Oct. 13, 2024, in Suzu, a central Japan city in Ishikawa Prefecture that is still reeling after it was severely damaged by a powerful earthquake on New Year's Day, and heavy rain and subsequent flooding in September.

Parade in disaster-hit central Japan city

Parade in disaster-hit central Japan city

A 9-meter-tall lantern called Kiriko is paraded during a traditional festival on Oct. 13, 2024, in Suzu, a central Japan city in Ishikawa Prefecture that is still reeling after it was severely damaged by a powerful earthquake on New Year's Day, and heavy rain and subsequent flooding in September.

Parade in disaster-hit central Japan city

Parade in disaster-hit central Japan city

A 9-meter-tall lantern called Kiriko is paraded during a traditional festival on Oct. 13, 2024, in Suzu, a central Japan city in Ishikawa Prefecture that is still reeling after it was severely damaged by a powerful earthquake on New Year's Day, and heavy rain and subsequent flooding in September.

Parade in disaster-hit central Japan city

Parade in disaster-hit central Japan city

A 9-meter-tall lantern called Kiriko is paraded during a traditional festival on Oct. 13, 2024, in Suzu, a central Japan city in Ishikawa Prefecture that is still reeling after it was severely damaged by a powerful earthquake on New Year's Day, and heavy rain and subsequent flooding in September.

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

HANGZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2023 - Customers view a 9-meter-tall Christmas tree at a shopping mall in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec 19, 2023.

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

HANGZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2023 - Customers view a 9-meter-tall Christmas tree at a shopping mall in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec 19, 2023.

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

HANGZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2023 - Customers view a 9-meter-tall Christmas tree at a shopping mall in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec 19, 2023.

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

HANGZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2023 - Customers view a 9-meter-tall Christmas tree at a shopping mall in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec 19, 2023.

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

HANGZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2023 - Customers view a 9-meter-tall Christmas tree at a shopping mall in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec 19, 2023.

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

HANGZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2023 - Customers view a 9-meter-tall Christmas tree at a shopping mall in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec 19, 2023.

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

HANGZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2023 - Customers view a 9-meter-tall Christmas tree at a shopping mall in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec 19, 2023.

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

HANGZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2023 - Customers view a 9-meter-tall Christmas tree at a shopping mall in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec 19, 2023.

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

HANGZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2023 - Customers view a 9-meter-tall Christmas tree at a shopping mall in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec 19, 2023.

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

HANGZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2023 - Customers view a 9-meter-tall Christmas tree at a shopping mall in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec 19, 2023.

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

HANGZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2023 - Customers view a 9-meter-tall Christmas tree at a shopping mall in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec 19, 2023.

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

A Christmas Tree at A Shopping Mall in Hangzhou

HANGZHOU, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2023 - Customers view a 9-meter-tall Christmas tree at a shopping mall in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec 19, 2023.

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

JINAN, CHINA - NOVEMBER 27, 2023 - Staff members of Jinan Heavy Industry Group Co LTD pose for a group photo in front of the "Qilu" shield machine in Jinan, Shandong province, China, Nov 27, 2023.

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

JINAN, CHINA - NOVEMBER 27, 2023 - A staff member of Jinan Heavy Industry Group Co LTD carries out debugging work on the Qilu shield machine in Jinan, East China's Shandong province, Nov 27, 2023.

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

JINAN, CHINA - NOVEMBER 27, 2023 - Staff members of Jinan Heavy Industry Group Co LTD pose for a group photo in front of the "Qilu" shield machine in Jinan, Shandong province, China, Nov 27, 2023.

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

JINAN, CHINA - NOVEMBER 27, 2023 - A staff member of Jinan Heavy Industry Group Co LTD carries out debugging work on the Qilu shield machine in Jinan, East China's Shandong province, Nov 27, 2023.

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

JINAN, CHINA - NOVEMBER 27, 2023 - A staff member of Jinan Heavy Industry Group Co LTD carries out debugging work on the Qilu shield machine in Jinan, East China's Shandong province, Nov 27, 2023.

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

JINAN, CHINA - NOVEMBER 27, 2023 - Shandong Province's first 9-meter shield machine "Qilu" rolls off the assembly line at Jinan Heavy Industry Group Co., LTD., in Jinan, Shandong Province, China, Nov. 27, 2023.

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

JINAN, CHINA - NOVEMBER 27, 2023 - A staff member of Jinan Heavy Industry Group Co LTD carries out debugging work on the Qilu shield machine in Jinan, East China's Shandong province, Nov 27, 2023.

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

JINAN, CHINA - NOVEMBER 27, 2023 - A staff member of Jinan Heavy Industry Group Co LTD carries out debugging work on the Qilu shield machine in Jinan, East China's Shandong province, Nov 27, 2023.

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

JINAN, CHINA - NOVEMBER 27, 2023 - A staff member of Jinan Heavy Industry Group Co LTD carries out debugging work on the Qilu shield machine in Jinan, East China's Shandong province, Nov 27, 2023.

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

JINAN, CHINA - NOVEMBER 27, 2023 - A staff member of Jinan Heavy Industry Group Co LTD carries out debugging work on the Qilu shield machine in Jinan, East China's Shandong province, Nov 27, 2023.

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

JINAN, CHINA - NOVEMBER 27, 2023 - Shandong Province's first 9-meter shield machine "Qilu" rolls off the assembly line at Jinan Heavy Industry Group Co., LTD., in Jinan, Shandong Province, China, Nov. 27, 2023.

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

JINAN, CHINA - NOVEMBER 27, 2023 - A staff member of Jinan Heavy Industry Group Co LTD carries out debugging work on the Qilu shield machine in Jinan, East China's Shandong province, Nov 27, 2023.

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

Shandong Province First 9-meter Shield Machine

JINAN, CHINA - NOVEMBER 27, 2023 - A staff member of Jinan Heavy Industry Group Co LTD carries out debugging work on the Qilu shield machine in Jinan, East China's Shandong province, Nov 27, 2023.

Mandela statue

Mandela statue

PRETORIA, South Africa - Photo shows a 9-meter-tall statue of the late former South African President Nelson Mandela in Pretoria on Dec. 18, 2013. The South African government ordered the removal of a sculpted rabbit from inside one of the ears of the statue.

School-turned-French art museum opens in Hokkaido

School-turned-French art museum opens in Hokkaido

NIIKAPPU, Japan - French artist Gerard Di-Maccio (L) stands in front of his 9-meter-tall oil painting at the Di-Maccio Visionary Art Museum in the rural Hokkaido town of Niikappu on Aug. 5, 2010. The museum, using buildings of the closed Taiyo Elementary School, opened the same day featuring some 250 pieces of his artwork.

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Photo taken on Nov. 3, 2022, in Okinawa's capital Naha shows a 9-meter log weighing 4 tons ahead of a ceremony later in the day to reconstruct Shuri Castle. The log will be used as a beam for the main building of the castle, of which six buildings were burned down in the Oct. 31, 2019, fire.

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Photo taken on Nov. 3, 2022, in Okinawa's capital Naha shows a 9-meter log weighing 4 tons ahead of a ceremony later in the day to reconstruct Shuri Castle. The log will be used as a beam for the main building of the castle, of which six buildings were burned down in the Oct. 31, 2019, fire.

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Photo taken on Nov. 3, 2022, in Okinawa's capital Naha shows a 9-meter log weighing 4 tons ahead of a ceremony later in the day to reconstruct Shuri Castle. The log will be used as a beam for the main building of the castle, of which six buildings were burned down in the Oct. 31, 2019, fire.

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Photo taken on Nov. 3, 2022, in Okinawa's capital Naha shows a 9-meter log weighing 4 tons at a ceremony to reconstruct Shuri Castle. The log will be used as a beam for the main building of the castle, of which six buildings were burned down in the Oct. 31, 2019, fire.

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Photo taken in the northern Okinawa village of Kunigami on Oct. 29, 2022, shows a 9-meter log weighing 4 tons being transported to the capital Naha to be used as a beam for the main building of Shuri Castle. It is now under reconstruction after the Oct. 31, 2019, fire that completely destroyed its six buildings.

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Photo taken in the northern Okinawa village of Kunigami on Oct. 29, 2022, shows a 9-meter log weighing 4 tons being transported to the capital Naha to be used as a beam for the main building of Shuri Castle. It is now under reconstruction after the Oct. 31, 2019, fire that completely destroyed its six buildings.

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

A ceremony is held in the northern Okinawa village of Kunigami on Oct. 29, 2022, before a 9-meter log weighing 4 tons is transported to the capital Naha to be used as a beam for the main building of Shuri Castle. It is now under reconstruction after the Oct. 31, 2019, fire that completely destroyed its six buildings.

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

A ceremony is held in the northern Okinawa village of Kunigami on Oct. 29, 2022, before a 9-meter log weighing 4 tons is transported to the capital Naha to be used as a beam for the main building of Shuri Castle. It is now under reconstruction after the Oct. 31, 2019, fire that completely destroyed its six buildings.

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

A ceremony is held in the northern Okinawa village of Kunigami on Oct. 29, 2022, before a 9-meter log weighing 4 tons is transported to the capital Naha to be used as a beam for the main building of Shuri Castle. It is now under reconstruction after the Oct. 31, 2019, fire that completely destroyed its six buildings.

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

A ceremony is held in the northern Okinawa village of Kunigami on Oct. 29, 2022, before a 9-meter log weighing 4 tons is transported to the capital Naha to be used as a beam for the main building of Shuri Castle. It is now under reconstruction after the Oct. 31, 2019, fire that completely destroyed its six buildings.

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

A ceremony is held in the northern Okinawa village of Kunigami on Oct. 29, 2022, before a 9-meter log weighing 4 tons is transported to the capital Naha to be used as a beam for the main building of Shuri Castle. It is now under reconstruction after the Oct. 31, 2019, fire that completely destroyed its six buildings.

Israel begins building wall in northern West Bank

STORY: Israel begins building wall in northern West Bank DATELINE: July 7, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:23 LOCATION: Jerusalem CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Salem checkpoint between Israel and West Bank 2. various of the construction site STORYLINE: Israel has begun building a 9-meter-tall wall to replace the old fence barrier in the northern occupied West Bank, said Israeli Defense Ministry, citing security reasons. The 45-kilometer-long wall will stretch from near the Palestinian village of Salem, east of Nablus city in the northern West Bank, to the north of Tulkarm city, the ministry said in a statement. "The security barrier will include a massive concrete wall, protection measures and other technological means," the ministry said, The project was approved by Israeli government in April amid a wave of deadly Palestinian attacks in Israeli cities, and a total of 360 million shekels (about 104 million U.S. dollars) were allocated for the construction. The controversial fence barrier built abou

School-turned-French art museum opens in Hokkaido

School-turned-French art museum opens in Hokkaido

NIIKAPPU, Japan - French artist Gerard Di-Maccio (L) stands in front of his 9-meter-tall oil painting at the Di-Maccio Visionary Art Museum in the rural Hokkaido town of Niikappu on Aug. 5, 2010. The museum, using buildings of the closed Taiyo Elementary School, opened the same day featuring some 250 pieces of his artwork. (Kyodo)