13th anniversary of Sumatra earthquake-tsunami disaster

13th anniversary of Sumatra earthquake-tsunami disaster

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia, Dec. 26 Kyodo - Zuhra Abu visits a cemetery in Indonesia's Aceh province on Dec. 26, 2017, the 13th anniversary of the earthquake-tsunami disaster off Sumatra Island. She lost three children in the disaster.

Automatic boat steering system

Automatic boat steering system

TOKYO, Japan, Dec. 26 Kyodo - A data gathering system is tested at a boat steering simulator at Japan Marine Science Inc. in Kawasaki, near Tokyo, on Dec. 26, 2017, as part of work to develop an automatic ship maneuvering system.

Football: World Cup venue in Russia

Football: World Cup venue in Russia

MOSCOW, Russia, Dec. 21 Kyodo - File photo taken on Nov. 26, 2017, shows Kazan Arena in Kazan, Russia, a venue of the 2018 football World Cup finals in Russia.

Football: World Cup venue in Russia

Football: World Cup venue in Russia

MOSCOW, Russia, Dec. 21 Kyodo - File photo taken on Nov. 26, 2017, shows Kazan Arena in Kazan, Russia, a venue of the 2018 football World Cup finals in Russia.

Japanese lawmaker to quit party over alleged abuse against staffer

Japanese lawmaker to quit party over alleged abuse against staffer

TOKYO, Japan, June 23 Kyodo - Mayuko Toyota points at her name listed at the Diet building in Tokyo on Dec. 26, 2012, on her first trip to parliament after being elected to the House of Representatives. Toyota submitted an application to leave the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on June 22, 2017, after a weekly magazine released an audio file seeming to back up allegations that she physically and verbally abused a secretary.

JCP vows to cancel consumption tax hike to 10%

JCP vows to cancel consumption tax hike to 10%

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Communist Party chief Kazuo Shii announces a set of campaign pledges for the Dec. 14 lower house election at the party headquarters in Tokyo on Nov. 26, 2014. The JCP promises to "cancel" another consumption tax hike in 2017 and seek other ways to secure funds for social security.