US: Brush Fire Erupts In Del Mar Heights, San Diego 3

A brush fire erupted in the Del Mar Heights neighborhood in San Diego on Tuesday morning, June 25. The fire near Mira Montana Drive off Del Mar Heights Road prompted the mandatory evacuation of 2,500 residents from the area. The fire's forward progress was stopped by about 5:30 p.m. and all evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted by 7:20 p.m.

Costumes for Vancouver Olympics awards ceremony unveiled

Costumes for Vancouver Olympics awards ceremony unveiled

VANCOUVER, Canada - On Jan. 2, 2010, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and women in costumes stand behind a podium, presenting the wooden trays that will hold the Olympic medals for the awards ceremony for the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at a press conference in Vancouver. The Vancouver Olympic organizing committee has also unveiled the costumes for medal presenters and escorts for athletes, which were inspired by native Canadian hand-knit sweaters.

Some 100,000 people rally in Pyongyang

Some 100,000 people rally in Pyongyang

PYONGYANG, North Korea - Some 100,000 people gather at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on Jan. 2, 2010, to vow to implement national policy targets set forth in a New Year editorial.

Watches worth 300 mil. yen stolen from store in Tokyo's Ginza

Watches worth 300 mil. yen stolen from store in Tokyo's Ginza

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows Tenshodo, a watch and jewelry store in Tokyo's Ginza district, on Jan. 2, 2010. Around 200 high-end watches worth about 300 million yen were discovered the same day to have been stolen from the store.

Kashiwabara powers Toyo on 1st day of Tokyo-Hakone ekiden

Kashiwabara powers Toyo on 1st day of Tokyo-Hakone ekiden

HAKONE, Japan - Anchor Ryuji Kashiwabara (R) and his teammates rejoice in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Jan. 2, 2010, after winning the first-leg title in the Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay for the second year in a row.

Emperor offers New Year's greetings to well-wishers at palace

Emperor offers New Year's greetings to well-wishers at palace

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito offers his annual New Year's greetings to well-wishers who gathered at the Imperial Palace on Jan. 2, 2010. ''I hope this year will be a good year for each of you,'' the emperor said from the balcony of the Chowa-Den wing of the palace, overlooking the crowd.

Some 100,000 people rally in Pyongyang

Some 100,000 people rally in Pyongyang

PYONGYANG, North Korea - Some 100,000 people march through Pyongyang on Jan. 2, 2010, after a rally at Kim Il Sung Square. The rally was held to vow to implement national policy targets set forth in a New Year editorial.

Watches worth 300 mil. yen stolen from store in Tokyo's Ginza

Watches worth 300 mil. yen stolen from store in Tokyo's Ginza

TOKYO, Japan - A hole (R, below) can be seen in the wall of Tenshodo, a watch and jewelry store in Tokyo's Ginza district, on Jan. 2, 2010. Around 200 high-end watches worth about 300 million yen were discovered the same day to have been stolen from the store.

39 people injured in sightseeing bus accident in Gunma

39 people injured in sightseeing bus accident in Gunma

MAEBASHI, Japan - A sightseeing bus crashed through a center divider on an expressway in Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture, on Jan. 2, 2010, injuring 39 people, according to police. A total of 46 people were aboard the bus, which was heading for Saitama Prefecture from Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture.

39 people injured in sightseeing bus accident in Gunma

39 people injured in sightseeing bus accident in Gunma

MAEBASHI, Japan - A sightseeing bus crashed through a center divider on an expressway in Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture, on Jan. 2, 2010, injuring 39 people, according to police. A total of 46 people were aboard the bus, which was heading for Saitama Prefecture from Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture.

Kashiwabara powers Toyo on 1st day of Tokyo-Hakone ekiden

Kashiwabara powers Toyo on 1st day of Tokyo-Hakone ekiden

HAKONE, Japan - Anchor Ryuji Kashiwabara crosses the tape in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Jan. 2, 2010, leading Toyo University to the first-leg title in the Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay for the second year in a row. Kashiwabara stormed back from seventh place in the fifth and final leg as he and his four teammates completed the 108-kilometer course from Tokyo's Otematchi district to the spa resort of Hakone in 5 hours, 32 minutes, 02 seconds.

Dept. stores begin 2010 business, reasonable lucky bags popular

Dept. stores begin 2010 business, reasonable lucky bags popular

TOKYO, Japan - Customers buy lucky bags at a department store in Tokyo on Jan. 2, 2010. Major department stores kicked off their business for 2010 the same day, with reasonably priced lucky bags gaining popularity as consumers tightened their belts amid the recession.

Emperor offers New Year's greetings to well-wishers at palace

Emperor offers New Year's greetings to well-wishers at palace

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito waves to well-wishers who gathered at the Imperial Palace on Jan. 2, 2010 in an annual New Year's greetings.

Emperor offers New Year's greetings to well-wishers at palace

Emperor offers New Year's greetings to well-wishers at palace

TOKYO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (5th from R), Empress Michiko (4th from R), and other imperial family members wave to well-wishers who gathered at the Imperial Palace in an annual New Year's greetings on Jan. 2, 2010.