Japan: Heavy Snowfall Hits Sea Of Japan Coast 4

Heavy snowfall has battered a wide area of Japan, especially the Hokuriku region along the Sea of Japan coast. This video shows blizzard conditions in the city Otaru, Hokkaido.

US: Level 2 Evacuations Issued As Upper Cemetery Fire Sparks In Spokane

The Upper Cemetery Fire, previously called the Hills Fire, sparked near Greenwood Memorial Terrace in the Spokane Palisades Park area on Friday, July 26. The fire burned 90 acres, threatening more than 500 structures within hours, and level 2 evacuations were in place.

Japanese author translates Chinese novel by Liu Liu

Japanese author translates Chinese novel by Liu Liu

BEIJING, China - Japanese writer Akiko Aoki holds the book "Shanghai: Katatsumuri no Ie" (Snail House), her Japanese translation of the Chinese novel written by Liu Liu, in Beijing on Sept. 14, 2012. The book is a comedy depicting the rollercoaster life of a young couple striving to leave their tiny "snail shell" house to buy a bigger home during a time of soaring house prices.

Japanese author translates Chinese novel by Liu Liu

Japanese author translates Chinese novel by Liu Liu

BEIJING, China - Chinese writer Liu Liu (L) and Japanese writer Akiko Aoki stand on a street in Shanghai on May 28, 2012. Aoki's Japanese translation "Shanghai: Katatsumuri no Ie" (Snail House) of the Chinese novel written by Liu Liu was published in August 2012. The book is a comedy depicting the rollercoaster life of a young couple striving to leave their tiny "snail shell" house to buy a bigger home during a time of soaring house prices. (Photo by Minoru Iwasaki)

Lawmakers sleep, 'ox-walk'

Lawmakers sleep, 'ox-walk'

TOKYO, Japan - In a bid to run out the clock on anti-organized crime bills they oppose, opposition legislators ''ox-walk'' at a snail's pace during balloting on a censure motion against Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi around 5 a.m. on Aug. 12. Some ruling-camp legislators napped during the long plenary session of the House of Councillors.

MIDEAST-GAZA CITY-RECONSTRUCTION

MIDEAST-GAZA CITY-RECONSTRUCTION

(220908) -- GAZA CITY, Sept. 8, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Children stand on the rubbles of a house damaged by Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Aug. 9, 2022. Naji Sarhan, undersecretary of the Hamas-run ministry of public works and housing, told Xinhua that the absence of donors is the biggest challenge in the current reconstruction process, compared to that in 2014. TO GO WITH "Feature: Reconstruction in Gaza advances at snail pace amid donors' absence" (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

MIDEAST-GAZA CITY-RECONSTRUCTION

MIDEAST-GAZA CITY-RECONSTRUCTION

(220908) -- GAZA CITY, Sept. 8, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A girl looks from a house window, which was damaged by Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Aug. 9, 2022. Naji Sarhan, undersecretary of the Hamas-run ministry of public works and housing, told Xinhua that the absence of donors is the biggest challenge in the current reconstruction process, compared to that in 2014. TO GO WITH "Feature: Reconstruction in Gaza advances at snail pace amid donors' absence" (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

MIDEAST-GAZA CITY-RECONSTRUCTION

MIDEAST-GAZA CITY-RECONSTRUCTION

(220908) -- GAZA CITY, Sept. 8, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A boy stands on the rubbles of his house, which was damaged by Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Aug. 9, 2022. Naji Sarhan, undersecretary of the Hamas-run ministry of public works and housing, told Xinhua that the absence of donors is the biggest challenge in the current reconstruction process, compared to that in 2014. TO GO WITH "Feature: Reconstruction in Gaza advances at snail pace amid donors' absence" (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

MIDEAST-GAZA CITY-RECONSTRUCTION

MIDEAST-GAZA CITY-RECONSTRUCTION

(220908) -- GAZA CITY, Sept. 8, 2022 (Xinhua) -- People inspect the rubbles of a house damaged by Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Aug. 9, 2022. Naji Sarhan, undersecretary of the Hamas-run ministry of public works and housing, told Xinhua that the absence of donors is the biggest challenge in the current reconstruction process, compared to that in 2014. TO GO WITH "Feature: Reconstruction in Gaza advances at snail pace amid donors' absence" (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

"Rohan" children's park in Tokyo

"Rohan" children's park in Tokyo

Snail-shaped playground equipment is seen on May 30, 2015, at the "Rohan" children's park in Tokyo's Sumida Ward that was named after renowned Japanese author Rohan Koda (1867-1947), who called his house "Kagyuan" or snail cottage, as he often had to move. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo