Search｜Photos & Images & Videos｜KYODO NEWS IMAGES INC

Australia: Record Flooding Batters Northern NSW After Heavy Rainfall 2

Flooding has battered cities and towns across the Mid-North Coast and the Hunter Region in northern New South Wales, leaving many residents stranded or forced to evacuate after days of heavy rainfall. In the city of Taree, the Manning River surpassed its 1929 record of six meters and was still rising as of Wednesday morning, May 21. Authorities have issued 13 emergency-level alerts.

E

Australia: Record Flooding Batters Northern NSW After Heavy Rainfall 3

Flooding has battered cities and towns across the Mid-North Coast and the Hunter Region in northern New South Wales, leaving many residents stranded or forced to evacuate after days of heavy rainfall. In the city of Taree, the Manning River surpassed its 1929 record of six meters and was still rising as of Wednesday morning, May 21. Authorities have issued 13 emergency-level alerts.

E

SDP chief in Nago over U.S. Marine Corps' relocation

NAGO, Japan - Mizuho Fukushima (2nd from L), leader of the Social Democratic Party, one of the two junior partners in the governing coalition, listens to citizens in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on May 25, 2010, on the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in the prefecture.

E

SDP chief will look closely at Japan-U.S. statement on Futemma

NAGO, Japan - Mizuho Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party, one of the two junior partners in the governing coalition, speaks at a news conference in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on May 25, 2010, after separate meetings with Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, Nago Mayor Susumi Inamie and Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha to discuss the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in the prefecture.

E

SDP chief will look closely at Japan-U.S. statement on Futemma

NAGO, Japan - Mizuho Fukushima (R), leader of the Social Democratic Party, one of the two junior partners in the governing coalition, and Nago Mayor Susumi Inamine shake hands after their talks at the city government building in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on May 25, 2010. Fukushima also held separate meetings with Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima and Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha to discuss the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in the prefecture.

E

SDP chief will look closely at Japan-U.S. statement on Futemma

NAHA, Japan - Mizuho Fukushima (L), leader of the Social Democratic Party, one of two junior partners in the governing coalition, and Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima shake hands at the Okinawa prefectural government building in Naha on May 25, 2010, after their meeting to discuss the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station.

E

SDP chief will look closely at Japan-U.S. statement on Futemma

NAGO, Japan - Mizuho Fukushima (L), leader of the Social Democratic Party, one of the two junior partners in the governing coalition, and Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha shake hands after their talks at the city government building in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on May 25, 2010. Fukushima also held separate meetings with Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima and Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine to discuss the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in the prefecture.

E

Hatoyama says ties with U.S. weighed heavily on base decision

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 24, 2010, a day after he unveiled for the first time his government's plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture to an area near the Henoko district of Nago in the prefecture. Hatoyama said that maintaining trust with the United States was paramount in determining the plan to relocate the base.

E

Hatoyama says ties with U.S. weighed heavily on base decision

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 24, 2010, a day after he unveiled for the first time his government's plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture to an area near the Henoko district of Nago in the prefecture. Hatoyama said that maintaining trust with the United States was paramount in determining the plan to relocate the base.

E

Hatoyama expected to announce Futemma relocation plan

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 20, 2010. Hatoyama expressed his intention to hold a news conference later this month to directly explain to the public the government's policy on the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.

E

U.S. envoy Roos talks with Defense Minister Kitazawa

TOKYO, Japan - U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos (R) leaves the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on May 18, 2010, after a meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa to discuss the issue of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.

E

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

GINOWAN, Japan - People join hands amid heavy rain to form a ''human chain'' encircling the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on May 16, 2010. About 17,000 people took part in the demonstration to call for an early return of the base and opposing plans to relocate its functions within the prefecture.

E

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

GINOWAN, Japan - People form a ''human chain'' encircling the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Ginowan (back), Okinawa Prefecture, amid rain on May 16, 2010, About 17,000 people took part in the demonstration to call for an early return of the base and opposing plans to relocate its functions within the prefecture.

E

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

GINOWAN, Japan - People join hands amid heavy rain to form a ''human chain'' encircling the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on May 16, 2010. About 17,000 people took part in the demonstration to call for an early return of the base and opposing plans to relocate its functions within the prefecture.

E

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

GINOWAN, Japan - People join hands amid heavy rain to form a ''human chain'' encircling the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on May 16, 2010. About 17,000 people took part in the demonstration to call for an early return of the base and opposing plans to relocate its functions within the prefecture.

E

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

NAHA, Japan - Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha (R) and Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine (C) join a ''human chain'' encircling the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on May 16, 2010. About 17,000 people took part in the demonstration to call for an early return of the base and opposing plans to relocate its functions within the prefecture.

E

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

GINOWAN, Japan - People join hands amid heavy rain to form a ''human chain'' encircling the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on May 16, 2010. About 17,000 people took part in the demonstration to call for an early return of the base and opposing plans to relocate its functions within the prefecture.

E

17,000 people encircle Futemma base in 'human chain'

GINOWAN, Japan - People form a ''human chain'' encircling the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, amid rain on May 16, 2010, About 17,000 people took part in the demonstration to call for an early return of the base and opposing plans to relocate its functions within the prefecture.

E

Hirano seeks local understanding over Futemma relocation

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano speaks to reporters at a hotel in Kagoshima on May 15, 2010, after talks with business people from Tokunoshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. Hirano asked them to accept some functions and drills from the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa ''within the limits of what local people will allow.''

E

Hirano seeks local understanding over Futemma relocation

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano speaks to reporters at a hotel in Kagoshima on May 15, 2010, after talks with business people from Tokunoshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. Hirano asked them to accept some functions and drills from the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa ''within the limits of what local people will allow.''

E

Anti-U.S. base rally near Hatoyama's office

TOKYO, Japan - Protesters form a human chain near the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 14, 2010, calling for the closure of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.

E

Anti-U.S. base rally near Hatoyama's office

TOKYO, Japan - Protesters form a human chain near the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 14, 2010, calling for the closure of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture. The placard reads, ''No base necessary in Okinawa.''

E

Anti-U.S. base rally near Hatoyama's office

TOKYO, Japan - Protesters form a human chain near the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 14, 2010, calling for the closure of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.

E

Peace event in Okinawa

NAGO, Japan - Demonstrators march in the Henoko area of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, near the government-envisioned relocation site for the U.S. Marine Corps Futemma Air Station on May 14, 2010. The march is part of an annual peace event commemorating the anniversary of the May 15, 1972, reversion of Okinawa Prefecture from the United States to Japan.

E

Hatoyama gives up on settling Futemma issue by May 31: sources

TOKYO, Japan - Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa arrives at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 10, 2010, for a meeting with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Seiji Maehara, state minister in charge of Okinawa and Northern Territories, to discuss the issue of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.

E

Hatoyama gives up on settling Futemma issue by May 31: sources

TOKYO, Japan - Seiji Maehara, state minister in charge of Okinawa and Northern Territories, arrives at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 10, 2010, for a meeting with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa to discuss the issue of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.

E

Hatoyama gives up on settling Futemma issue by May 31: sources

TOKYO, Japan - Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada arrives at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 10, 2010, for a meeting with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and Seiji Maehara, state minister in charge of Okinawa and Northern Territories, to discuss the issue of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.

E

Japanese Communist Party head backs U.S. base removal

WASHINGTON, United States - Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii gives a speech in Washington on May 7, 2010. Shii, the first JCP chief to visit the United States, also met with a U.S. State Department official the same day, calling for the unconditional removal of the controversial U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.

E

Hatoyama rebuffed by Tokunoshima mayors

TOKYO, Japan - (From L to R) Isen Mayor Akira Okubo, Amagi Mayor Kosuke Ohisa, and Tokunoshima Mayor Hideki Takaoka from Tokunoshima Island give a press conference in Tokyo on May 7, 2010, after meeting with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. The mayors rebuffed Hatoyama's request for the island to accommodate some functions of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.

E

Hatoyama rebuffed by Tokunoshima mayors

TOKYO, Japan - (From L to R) Isen Mayor Akira Okubo, Amagi Mayor Kosuke Ohisa and Tokunoshima Mayor Hideki Takaoka from Tokunoshima Island speak to reporters after meeting with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama at his office in Tokyo on May 7, 2010. The mayors rebuffed Hatoyama's request for the island to accommodate some functions of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.

E

Hatoyama rebuffed by Tokunoshima mayors

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama bows in apology during a meeting at his office in Tokyo with three mayors from Tokunoshima Island on May 7, 2010. Hatoyama, who was rebuffed by the mayors after requesting that the island accommodate some functions of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, apologized to the mayors for keeping them in the dark about the plan.

E

Hatoyama rebuffed by Tokunoshima mayors

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) receives signatures collected by opponents of a plan to relocate some of the functions of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture to Tokunoshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 7, 2010. The signatures were handed over by Isen Mayor Akira Okubo (L), Amagi Mayor Kosuke Ohisa (2nd L) and Tokunoshima Mayor Hideki Takaoka.

E

Hatoyama rebuffed by Tokunoshima mayors

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama speaks during a meeting at his office in Tokyo with three mayors from Tokunoshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture on May 7, 2010. The mayors rebuffed Hotoyama's request for the island to accommodate some functions of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.

E

Hatoyama rebuffed by Tokunoshima mayors

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) receives signatures collected by opponents of a plan to relocate some of the functions of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture to Tokunoshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on May 7, 2010. The signatures were handed over by Isen Mayor Akira Okubo (L), Amagi Mayor Kosuke Ohisa (2nd L) and Tokunoshima Mayor Hideki Takaoka.

E

Hatoyama tells governor moving Futemma out of Okinawa difficult

NAHA, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama listens to requests from Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima over the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station at the Okinawa prefectural office in Naha on May 4, 2010. Hatoyama made his first trip to Okinawa since taking office in September 2009. (Pool photo)

E

Hatoyama tells governor moving Futemma out of Okinawa difficult

NAHA, Japan - A woman holds signs demanding Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama keep his election pledge to move the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station out of Okinawa Prefecture as citizens protest in Naha on May 4, 2010. Hatoyama made his first trip to Okinawa since taking office in September 2009.

E

Hatoyama tells governor moving Futemma out of Okinawa difficult

NAHA, Japan - Citizens protest before Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama meets with Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima over the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station at the Okinawa prefectural office in Naha on May 4, 2010. Hatoyama made his first trip to Okinawa since taking office in September 2009.

E

Hatoyama tells governor moving Futemma out of Okinawa difficult

NAHA, Japan - Citizens protest over the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station as Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's limousine nears the Okinawa prefectural office in Naha on May 4, 2010. Hatoyama made his first trip to Okinawa since taking office in September 2009.

E

Anti-U.S. base ad in Washington Post

WASHINGTON, United States - Photo shows an opinion advertisement that the Japanese peace group Juco Network placed in the April 28, 2010, issue of The Washington Post, protesting a plan to build a relocation site for the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture. Former Okinawa Gov. Masahide Ota was among some 90 signatories.

E

Campbell arrives in Japan

NARITA, Japan - Kurt Campbell, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, arrives at Narita airport, east of Tokyo, on April 27, 2010, for bilateral talks on the transfer of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.

E

Campbell arrives in Japan

NARITA, Japan - Kurt Campbell, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, arrives at Narita airport, east of Tokyo, on April 27, 2010, for bilateral talks on the transfer of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.

E

Okada stresses U.S. Marines' role in Japan's defense

TOKYO, Japan - Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada (R) receives a request from Zenshin Takamine (L), chairman of the Okinawa prefectural assembly, at his ministry on April 27, 2010, on relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture. Takamine led the Okinawa delegation which had taken part in a mass rally April 25 to seek the removal of the Futemma base out of the prefecture.

E

Okinawa mayors stage sit-in at Diet to seek U.S. base removal

TOKYO, Japan - Demonstrators including Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine (second from left) stage a sit-in, holding a banner demanding the removal of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station from Okinawa Prefecture, in front of a Diet building in Tokyo on April 27, 2010. They were among 90,000 participants of a recent mass anti-base rally in the prefecture.

E

Hatoyama silent on slightly modified Futemma relocation

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama speaks to reporters about the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on April 26, 2010. Hatoyama did not deny weekend reports that the Japanese government has proposed to the United States slightly modifying the existing plan for the relocation of the base.

E

Rally in U.S. against Okinawa military base

WASHINGTON, United States - Demonstrators hold signs opposing the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station within Okinawa Prefecture in front of the Japanese Embassy in Washington on April 25, 2010. The gathering of around 30 people coincided with a massive rally in Okinawa Prefecture.

E

Anti-Futemma base rally in Okinawa

YOMITAN, Japan - Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha addresses a nonpartisan rally in Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 25, 2010, calling for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station now in Ginowan.

E

Anti-Futemma base rally in Okinawa

YOMITAN, Japan - Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine addresses a nonpartisan rally calling for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 25, 2010. Inamine lashed out at the state government for only trying to deal with the politically sensitive issue ''on a day-to-day basis.''

E

Anti-Futemma base rally in Okinawa

NAHA, Japan - A rally calling for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station is held in Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 25, 2010. About 90,000 people took part in the event, according to the organizer.

E

Anti-Futemma base rally in Okinawa

YOMITAN, Japan - Narumi Shikiya and Kana Okamoto, both students of Futemma Senior High School, take turns addressing a rally calling for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 25, 2010. The girls urged ''all people in Japan'' to put themselves in Okinawans' shoes.

E

Anti-Futemma base rally in Okinawa

YOMITAN, Japan - Narumi Shikiya (L) and Kana Okamoto, both students of Futemma Senior High School, take turns addressing a rally calling for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station in Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 25, 2010. The girls urged ''all people in Japan'' to put themselves in Okinawans' shoes.