Ex-Chinese Premier Zhu dies at 97

Ex-Chinese Premier Zhu dies at 97

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji (R, front) and his wife, Lao An, take a ride on a high-speed maglev train on an experimental track in Tsuru, Yamanashi Prefecture, west of Tokyo, on Oct. 16, 2000, during his official visit to Japan. Zhu, who played a key role in China's economic reforms as premier from 1998 to 2003 under President Jiang Zemin, died on Aug. 12, 2026, at the age of 97.

Ex-Chinese Premier Zhu dies at 97

Ex-Chinese Premier Zhu dies at 97

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji talks with Japan's Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Oct. 16, 2000. Zhu, who played a key role in China's economic reforms as premier from 1998 to 2003 under President Jiang Zemin, died on Aug. 12, 2026, at the age of 97.

(1)Takaoka 3rd in Chicago marathon with national record

(1)Takaoka 3rd in Chicago marathon with national record

CHICAGO, United States - Daniel Njenga of Kenya (L) and Toshinari Takaoka cross the finish line in the Chicago marathon on Oct. 13. They clocked the identical time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 16 seconds, but Njenga was declared the second-place finisher. Takaoka, running in only the second marathon of his career, shattered the Japanese national record set by Atsushi Fujita at the Fukuoka international marathon in 2000. American world record holder Khalid Khannouchi won the men's race in 2:05:56.

(1)Takaoka 3rd in Chicago marathon with national record

(1)Takaoka 3rd in Chicago marathon with national record

CHICAGO, United States - Daniel Njenga of Kenya (L) and Toshinari Takaoka cross the finish line in the Chicago marathon on Oct. 13. They clocked the identical time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 16 seconds, but Njenga was declared the second-place finisher. Takaoka, running in only the second marathon of his career, shattered the Japanese national record set by Atsushi Fujita at the Fukuoka international marathon in 2000. American world record holder Khalid Khannouchi won the men's race in 2:05:56. (Kyodo)

3 Honda models named Car of the Year Japan

3 Honda models named Car of the Year Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Honda Motor Co.'s Civic (L, forefront), Civic Ferio (R) and Stream (L, background) have been awarded the title of 2000-2001 Car of the Year Japan, a group of 54 automobile critics, analysts and journalists announced Nov. 16. Group members selected the best passenger car launched between Nov. 1, 1999, and Oct. 31 this year, assessing all elements, including design, performance and price.