US: Super Typhoon Bavi Slams Guam, Northern Marianas 2

Super Typhoon Bavi made landfall Monday, July 6, passing directly over Rota in the Northern Mariana Islands around 8 a.m. local time, with sustained winds over 150 mph. Guam and nearby islands also reported major damage from the storm.

US: North Dakota Sees Powerful Winds Amid Tornado-Producing Storm

Severe weather swept across the upper Midwest on Friday, June 20, bringing powerful winds and leaving at least 3 dead in North Dakota as a tornado ripped through the area.

LNG ship docked at import base in Aomori, north Japan

LNG ship docked at import base in Aomori, north Japan

AOMORI, Japan - A ship carrying liquefied natural gas from Malaysia is docked at JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp.'s nearly completed import base in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan, on Jan. 8, 2015, for the first LNG arrival at the facility scheduled to begin full-fledged operation in April.

Nat'l council to hand down 'washoku' culture to be launched

Nat'l council to hand down 'washoku' culture to be launched

TOKYO, Japan - Isao Kumakura (C), president of Shizuoka University of Art and Culture, and others in Tokyo on Dec. 8, 2014, announce they will establish a national council for passing the tradition and culture of "washoku" Japanese cuisine to the next generation. The council is expected to start its activities in April 2015. Washoku was registered in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2013.

Narita airport to open terminal for LCCs in April

Narita airport to open terminal for LCCs in April

NARITA, Japan - Photo taken Oct. 29, 2014 shows Terminal 3 of Narita airport near Tokyo, under construction to open as an exclusive facility for low-cost carriers on April 8, 2015. It will consist of a three-story building and a two-story satellite and have a total floor area of 66,000 square meters.

Narita airport to open terminal for LCCs in April

Narita airport to open terminal for LCCs in April

NARITA, Japan - Photo taken Oct. 29, 2014 shows Terminal 3 of Narita airport near Tokyo, under construction to open as an exclusive facility for low-cost carriers on April 8, 2015. It will consist of a three-story building and a two-story satellite and have a total floor area of 66,000 square meters.

7 mil. visitors expected for rare opening of temple image

7 mil. visitors expected for rare opening of temple image

TOKYO, Japan - Monks at Zenkoji Temple and tourism officials in Nagano, central Japan, announce at a press conference in Tokyo on July 8, 2014, plans for a rare opening to the public next year of the principal image enshrined at the temple. They expect seven million visitors during the event scheduled for April 5 to May 31, 2015, held once every six years, compared with 6.73 million visitors during the previous opening in 2009.