CHINA-STARBUCKS-COFFEE INDUSTRIAL CHAIN (CN)

CHINA-STARBUCKS-COFFEE INDUSTRIAL CHAIN (CN)

(231201) -- BEIJING, Dec. 1, 2023 (Xinhua) -- A barista brews coffee at the Starbucks China Coffee Innovation Park in Kunshan, east China's Jiangsu Province, Sept. 19, 2023. At the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), U.S. coffee giant Starbucks has attracted great attention through its coffee industrial chain and products. Starbucks entered the Chinese mainland in 1999 and now operates more than 6,800 stores in over 250 cities in China. In 2012, a Starbucks Farmer Support Center was set up in Pu'er of Yunnan Province, the first of its kind in Asia, to further bolster the local coffee farming community. In 2017, Starbucks opened a Roastery location in Shanghai, its second after the one in Seattle in Washington state on the U.S. west Pacific. This September, Starbucks opened a new coffee innovation park in Kunshan of Jiangsu Province, the company's largest manufacturing and distribution investment outside the United States. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

CHINA-STARBUCKS-COFFEE INDUSTRIAL CHAIN (CN)

CHINA-STARBUCKS-COFFEE INDUSTRIAL CHAIN (CN)

(231201) -- BEIJING, Dec. 1, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This aerial photo taken on Sept. 19, 2023 shows the Starbucks China Coffee Innovation Park in Kunshan, east China's Jiangsu Province. At the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), U.S. coffee giant Starbucks has attracted great attention through its coffee industrial chain and products. Starbucks entered the Chinese mainland in 1999 and now operates more than 6,800 stores in over 250 cities in China. In 2012, a Starbucks Farmer Support Center was set up in Pu'er of Yunnan Province, the first of its kind in Asia, to further bolster the local coffee farming community. In 2017, Starbucks opened a Roastery location in Shanghai, its second after the one in Seattle in Washington state on the U.S. west Pacific. This September, Starbucks opened a new coffee innovation park in Kunshan of Jiangsu Province, the company's largest manufacturing and distribution investment outside the United States. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

Nikkei plunges to 21-month closing low

Nikkei plunges to 21-month closing low

TOKYO, Japan - The Nikkei Stock Average dived to a 21-month closing low Dec. 19 as growing economic uncertainty combined with weakness in U.S. high-tech stocks sparked selling in Tokyo. The signboard in Tokyo's Toranomon shows the benchmark 225-issue Nikkei plummeting some 351 points for the fourth straight day of decline to 14,132.37, its lowest close since March 2, 1999.

Macao residents waiting for handover ceremony

Macao residents waiting for handover ceremony

MACAO - Macao residents gather in front of the ruins of St. Paul's Church to wait for the start of the handover ceremony on the night of Dec. 19, 1999. Ending 442-years of colonial rule by Portugal, Macao was handed back to China.

Colombian student wins Miss Int'l title

Colombian student wins Miss Int'l title

TOKYO, Japan - Paulina Galves (C), a 19-year-old Colombian student, was named Miss International at the International Beauty Congress for 1999 held in Tokyo on Dec. 14. She is seen with runner-up Carmen Fernandez (L), a 21-year-old Spanish model, and Saija Palin (R), a 21-year-old model from Finland, who came third.

Police reveals kidnapping suspect's sketch

Police reveals kidnapping suspect's sketch

OSAKA, Japan - A sketch of the suspect in the kidnapping of an 8-year-old girl in Settsu, Osaka Prefecture in December 1999, is made public by police on Feb. 19. Sayaka Teranishi, a second grade pupil, told police she was forced into a car on her way home from school Dec. 20. She was held until the morning of Dec. 22 before she was released unhurt near her home in Settsu.

Macao residents waiting for handover ceremony

Macao residents waiting for handover ceremony

MACAO - Macao residents gather in front of the ruins of St. Paul's Church to wait for the start of the handover ceremony on the night of Dec. 19, 1999. Ending 442-years of colonial rule by Portugal, Macao was handed back to China.

Colombian student wins Miss Int'l title

Colombian student wins Miss Int'l title

TOKYO, Japan - Paulina Galves (C), a 19-year-old Colombian student, was named Miss International at the International Beauty Congress for 1999 held in Tokyo on Dec. 14. She is seen with runner-up Carmen Fernandez (L), a 21-year-old Spanish model, and Saija Palin (R), a 21-year-old model from Finland, who came third.