Annual number of travelers using Haneda airport to top 60 mil.

Annual number of travelers using Haneda airport to top 60 mil.

TOKYO, Japan - Officials of Tokyo's Haneda airport and airline companies cut a tape at the airport's departure lounge Dec. 26 in a ceremony to mark the annual number of travelers using the airport exceeding 60 million, expected to be achieved on Dec. 27. The annual number of travelers using the airport has been rising by 5% on average since 1998 when the number topped 50 million.

Nara temples expected to be on World Heritage List

Nara temples expected to be on World Heritage List

The World Heritage Committee (WHC) is expected to decide, on Dec. 2,1998, on placing some of the temples and shrines in Japan's ancient capital of Nara on the World Heritage List. The photo, taken on Dec. 1,1998, shows the Yakushiji Temple, one of the Nara treasures. The WHC is likely to announce the inclusion of the new sites in the World Heritage List on Dec. 5, 1998, at the close of its annual meeting, which began from Nov. 30, 1998, in Kyoto, another ancient capital north of Nara, both in western Japan. The temple was built early in the 8th century.

600,000 more saxaul saplings planted in Xinjiang's desert county

STORY: 600,000 more saxaul saplings planted in Xinjiang's desert county DATELINE: Dec. 2, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:21 LOCATION: QIEMO, China CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of desert in Qiemo County 2. various of people planting saxaul saplings 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): PATIGUL YASIN, Staff at the desertification control station in Qiemo County, Xinjiang 4. various of desert in Qiemo County 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese):PATIGUL YASIN, Staff at the desertification control station in Qiemo County, Xinjiang STORYLINE: Qiemo County Xinjiang, China About 600,000 saxaul saplings have been planted in Qiemo County in the early winter. These wind-blocking plants are expected to become new "guardians" of the desert county. Qiemo is surrounded by the Taklimakan Desert on three sides. It carried out desertification prevention and control projects in 1998 and has been planting trees in the desert for 24 consecutive years. It takes longer to plant trees in autumn and winter than in spring. However, the newly plante

Annual number of travelers using Haneda airport to top 60 mil.

Annual number of travelers using Haneda airport to top 60 mil.

TOKYO, Japan - Officials of Tokyo's Haneda airport and airline companies cut a tape at the airport's departure lounge Dec. 26 in a ceremony to mark the annual number of travelers using the airport exceeding 60 million, expected to be achieved on Dec. 27. The annual number of travelers using the airport has been rising by 5% on average since 1998 when the number topped 50 million. (Kyodo)