China: Wedding Feast Carries On as Heavy Rain Floods Venue in Shaanxi

This unforgettable scene was captured in Weinan, Shaanxi Province, on May 18, 2026. It looks like a party on a river, but it’s actually an outdoor wedding feast. A sudden heavy downpour flooded the square with dozens of centimeters of water. Relatives and friends sit around dozens of round tables, watching the ceremony and waiting for the meal. Thankfully, the organizers set up cozy canopies and fences, keeping guests dry. Rain can’t stop love and blessings—everyone shows up in the storm to celebrate the newlyweds.

New Zealand: Landslide Hits Mount Maunganui 3

Six people, including two teenagers, are missing after a major landslide struck a local campground in Mount Maunganui on Thursday, January 22. Police are also seeking information on three others as search and rescue operations continue in a dangerous environment, with authorities describing the incident as a national tragedy and the community rallying to support affected families.

Illustration - Londres

Illustration - Londres

UNITED KINGDOM. ENGLAND. EAST END. LIVERPOOL STREET. ANDAZ IS THE NEW BRAND OF THE HYATT GROUP. BUILT INSIDE A VICTORIAN BUILDING FROM 1884, THE ANDAZ LIVERPOOL HAS OPEN IN 2008. IT IS A VERY NICE MIXT OF STYLES, DESIGN AND ARTS. Photo by Antoine Lorgnier/Only World/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Londres

Illustration - Londres

UNITED KINGDOM. ENGLAND. EAST END. LIVERPOOL STREET. ANDAZ IS THE NEW BRAND OF THE HYATT GROUP. BUILT INSIDE A VICTORIAN BUILDING FROM 1884, THE ANDAZ LIVERPOOL HAS OPEN IN 2008. IT IS A VERY NICE MIXT OF STYLES, DESIGN AND ARTS. Photo by Antoine Lorgnier/Only World/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Londres

Illustration - Londres

UNITED KINGDOM. ENGLAND. EAST END. LIVERPOOL STREET. ANDAZ IS THE NEW BRAND OF THE HYATT GROUP. BUILT INSIDE A VICTORIAN BUILDING FROM 1884, THE ANDAZ LIVERPOOL HAS OPEN IN 2008. IT IS A VERY NICE MIXT OF STYLES, DESIGN AND ARTS. Photo by Antoine Lorgnier/Only World/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Londres

Illustration - Londres

UNITED KINGDOM. ENGLAND. EAST END. LIVERPOOL STREET. ANDAZ IS THE NEW BRAND OF THE HYATT GROUP. BUILT INSIDE A VICTORIAN BUILDING FROM 1884, THE ANDAZ LIVERPOOL HAS OPEN IN 2008. IT IS A VERY NICE MIXT OF STYLES, DESIGN AND ARTS. Photo by Antoine Lorgnier/Only World/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Londres

Illustration - Londres

UNITED KINGDOM. ENGLAND. EAST END. LIVERPOOL STREET. ANDAZ IS THE NEW BRAND OF THE HYATT GROUP. BUILT INSIDE A VICTORIAN BUILDING FROM 1884, THE ANDAZ LIVERPOOL HAS OPEN IN 2008. IT IS A VERY NICE MIXT OF STYLES, DESIGN AND ARTS. Photo by Antoine Lorgnier/Only World/ABACAPRESS.COM

Illustration - Londres

Illustration - Londres

UNITED KINGDOM. ENGLAND. EAST END. LIVERPOOL STREET. ANDAZ IS THE NEW BRAND OF THE HYATT GROUP. BUILT INSIDE A VICTORIAN BUILDING FROM 1884, THE ANDAZ LIVERPOOL HAS OPEN IN 2008. IT IS A VERY NICE MIXT OF STYLES, DESIGN AND ARTS. Photo by Antoine Lorgnier/Only World/ABACAPRESS.COM

Philippines: Typhoon Kalmaegi Triggers Severe Flooding, Displacing Thousands 2

Severe flooding has submerged towns and displaced hundreds of thousands as Typhoon Kalmaegi battered the central Philippines. Rivers overflowed in Cebu and nearby islands, forcing residents onto rooftops while cars and containers were swept through the streets. Local officials said some evacuation centers were inundated, and many survivors of a recent earthquake had to be evacuated again. More than 380,000 people fled their homes across the Visayas, southern Luzon, and northern Mindanao. Kalmaegi, locally named Tino, made landfall late Monday, November 3 with winds of up to 130 kph before moving toward the South China Sea on Tuesday, November 4.

China: Tourists and Locals Rescue Yaks from Mud Pit in Qinghai

In Qinghai, China, tourists and locals joined forces with an excavator operator to rescue four yaks stuck in deep mud on September 30, 2025. After spotting the trapped animals, the tourists alerted a herdsman and enlisted help from a nearby construction site. Working for nearly an hour, they freed all four yaks safely. The herdsman said the rescue prevented losses of over RMB 40,000.

US: North Dakota Sees Powerful Winds Amid Tornado-Producing Storm

Severe weather swept across the upper Midwest on Friday, June 20, bringing powerful winds and leaving at least 3 dead in North Dakota as a tornado ripped through the area.

China: Typhoon Wutip Darkens Hainan Skies Ahead of Landfall in Hainan

This is the terrifying moment a massive wall of dark clouds engulfed the skies over Hainan as Typhoon Wutip approached southern China. On June 11, 2025, in Hainan, China, video captured thick, menacing clouds rolling in ahead of Typhoon Wutip's landfall. The sky turned eerily dark as the season’s first typhoon neared, creating a heavy, ominous atmosphere. The storm made landfall around 11 p.m. on June 13 along the coast of Dongfang, a city in Hainan, with winds reaching up to 30 meters per second and a central pressure of 980 hPa. Heavy rain swept through southern parts of the island, with some areas experiencing torrential downpours and localized extreme rainfall. According to China National Radio, by June 15, Typhoon Wutip had weakened into a tropical depression after moving inland into Jiangxi Province, and continued to lose strength. The video ends with the storm clouds blanketing the landscape as residents brace for the typhoon’s impact.

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: EF-1 Tornado Touches Down In Athens, AL, Leaving Devastating Damage

The National Weather Service in Huntsville has confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down in downtown Athens, Alabama, on Saturday night, December 28.

Philippines: Typhoon Yinxing Makes Landfall In Cagayan, Damaging Infrastructure 3

Typhoon Yinxing, known as Marce in the Philippines, made landfall near Santa Ana, Cagayan, on Thursday afternoon, November 7, forcing more than 21,000 people to evacuate and damaging two domestic airports and homes. Telecommunications and power supplies have remained down due to damaged cables and power lines, severely affecting residents in the affected areas.

Philippines: Typhoon Yinxing Makes Landfall In Cagayan, Damaging Infrastructure 2

Typhoon Yinxing, known as Marce in the Philippines, made landfall near Santa Ana, Cagayan, on Thursday afternoon, November 7, forcing more than 21,000 people to evacuate and damaging two domestic airports and homes. Telecommunications and power supplies have remained down due to damaged cables and power lines, severely affecting residents in the affected areas.

Thailand: Overflowing Of Ping River Causes Flooding In Chiang Mai Amid Rainy Season 3

Water levels in the Ping River rose, causing severe flooding across Chiang Mai on September 25 and affecting infrastructure. Small vehicles were stranded on flooded roads, and local shops and stalls were forced to close.

US: Beryl Causes Widespread Power Outages And Flooding, Leaves Multiple Dead In Texas 4

Beryl has weakened into a tropical storm after making landfall as a category 1 hurricane near Matagorda in Texas, on Monday, July 8, shortly before 4 a.m. local time. The hurricane caused power outages and life-threatening flooding and left multiple dead in Houston and the surrounding areas.

Construction of Airbus final assembly line in China's Tianjin makes breakthrough

STORY: Construction of Airbus final assembly line in China's Tianjin makes breakthrough SHOOTING TIME: March 31, 2024 DATELINE: April 1, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:49 LOCATION: TIANJIN, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the construction site STORYLINE: The foundation construction of the largest single building of the second Airbus Tianjin A320 Family Final Assembly Line Project was completed on Sunday in north China's Tianjin Municipality. In September 2023, Airbus kicked off construction on its second final assembly line in Tianjin. The project, which aims to manufacture both A320 and A321neo aircraft, is expected to enter into service by the end of 2026. Airbus' first final assembly line outside the borders of its four founding European countries was opened in Tianjin in 2008. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tianjin, China. (XHTV)

US: Days-Long Winter Storm Dumps Heavy Snow On Sierra Nevada, Closing Roads, Schools

A days-long winter storm dumped heavy snow on the Sierra Nevada, closing major highways, ski resorts, and schools in parts of California. More than 10 feet of snow and hurricane-force wind gusts of 170 mph-plus were reported.

US: Strong Winter Storm Brings Blizzard Conditions To Sierra Nevada

A strong winter storm hit the Sierra Nevada on Friday, March 1, bringing heavy snow and high winds. Blizzard Warnings were issued for the Sierra, including Lake Tahoe and eastern Nevada. The Sierra Avalanche Center warned that the danger of avalanches was high. Yosemite National Park and many ski resorts in the region announced they were closing at least for the day.

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

(230803) -- NAPO COUNTY, Aug. 3, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This combination of two aerial photos shows houses built with bricks and mortar in Shuinongtun on March 18, 2018 (above) and new houses constructed with concrete and steel in Shuinongtun on Oct. 16, 2020, in Napo County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Guangxi started at the end of 2008 an infrastructure project in its border area to improve the life of local people. During the five years between 2008 and 2012, Guangxi had conducted 8,801 projects in the Napo border area, covering various aspects of people's daily life including transportation, education, water supply, house renovation and so on, benefiting over 77,000 people from 59 villages in six townships. With continuous efforts of local government and people, living conditions in border area of Guangxi have been improved fundamentally. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

(230803) -- NAPO COUNTY, Aug. 3, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on April 5, 2009 shows the houses of local people in Shuinongtun of Napo County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Guangxi started at the end of 2008 an infrastructure project in its border area to improve the life of local people. During the five years between 2008 and 2012, Guangxi had conducted 8,801 projects in the Napo border area, covering various aspects of people's daily life including transportation, education, water supply, house renovation and so on, benefiting over 77,000 people from 59 villages in six townships. With continuous efforts of local government and people, living conditions in border area of Guangxi have been improved fundamentally. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

(230803) -- NAPO COUNTY, Aug. 3, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This aerial photo taken on July 30, 2023 shows renovated houses of local people in Shuinongtun of Napo County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Guangxi started at the end of 2008 an infrastructure project in its border area to improve the life of local people. During the five years between 2008 and 2012, Guangxi had conducted 8,801 projects in the Napo border area, covering various aspects of people's daily life including transportation, education, water supply, house renovation and so on, benefiting over 77,000 people from 59 villages in six townships. With continuous efforts of local government and people, living conditions in border area of Guangxi have been improved fundamentally. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

(230803) -- NAPO COUNTY, Aug. 3, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This aerial photo taken on July 31, 2023 shows a view of Shangbaotun in Napo County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Guangxi started at the end of 2008 an infrastructure project in its border area to improve the life of local people. During the five years between 2008 and 2012, Guangxi had conducted 8,801 projects in the Napo border area, covering various aspects of people's daily life including transportation, education, water supply, house renovation and so on, benefiting over 77,000 people from 59 villages in six townships. With continuous efforts of local government and people, living conditions in border area of Guangxi have been improved fundamentally. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

(230803) -- NAPO COUNTY, Aug. 3, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on July 14, 2009 shows houses of local people in Shangbaotun of Napo County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Guangxi started at the end of 2008 an infrastructure project in its border area to improve the life of local people. During the five years between 2008 and 2012, Guangxi had conducted 8,801 projects in the Napo border area, covering various aspects of people's daily life including transportation, education, water supply, house renovation and so on, benefiting over 77,000 people from 59 villages in six townships. With continuous efforts of local government and people, living conditions in border area of Guangxi have been improved fundamentally. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

(230803) -- NAPO COUNTY, Aug. 3, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on March 15, 2018 shows a road leading to Shangbaotun of Napo County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Guangxi started at the end of 2008 an infrastructure project in its border area to improve the life of local people. During the five years between 2008 and 2012, Guangxi had conducted 8,801 projects in the Napo border area, covering various aspects of people's daily life including transportation, education, water supply, house renovation and so on, benefiting over 77,000 people from 59 villages in six townships. With continuous efforts of local government and people, living conditions in border area of Guangxi have been improved fundamentally. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

(230803) -- NAPO COUNTY, Aug. 3, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on Nov. 4, 2008 by Xinhua photographer Zhang Ailin shows a view of Shuinongtun (above) and photo taken on July 30, 2023 by Xinhua photographer Zhou Hua shows new houses of villagers from Shuinongtun, in Napo County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Guangxi started at the end of 2008 an infrastructure project in its border area to improve the life of local people. During the five years between 2008 and 2012, Guangxi had conducted 8,801 projects in the Napo border area, covering various aspects of people's daily life including transportation, education, water supply, house renovation and so on, benefiting over 77,000 people from 59 villages in six townships. With continuous efforts of local government and people, living conditions in border area of Guangxi have been improved fundamentally. (Xinhua)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

(230803) -- NAPO COUNTY, Aug. 3, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on July 14, 2009 shows a road leading to Shangbaotun of Napo County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Guangxi started at the end of 2008 an infrastructure project in its border area to improve the life of local people. During the five years between 2008 and 2012, Guangxi had conducted 8,801 projects in the Napo border area, covering various aspects of people's daily life including transportation, education, water supply, house renovation and so on, benefiting over 77,000 people from 59 villages in six townships. With continuous efforts of local government and people, living conditions in border area of Guangxi have been improved fundamentally. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

CHINA-GUANGXI-NAPO COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)

(230803) -- NAPO COUNTY, Aug. 3, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on July 30, 2023 shows renovated houses of local people in Shuinongtun of Napo County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Guangxi started at the end of 2008 an infrastructure project in its border area to improve the life of local people. During the five years between 2008 and 2012, Guangxi had conducted 8,801 projects in the Napo border area, covering various aspects of people's daily life including transportation, education, water supply, house renovation and so on, benefiting over 77,000 people from 59 villages in six townships. With continuous efforts of local government and people, living conditions in border area of Guangxi have been improved fundamentally. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

Swedish central bank announces rate hike of 25 basis points

STORY: Swedish central bank announces rate hike of 25 basis points DATELINE: June 30, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:48 LOCATION: Stockholm CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Sweden's central bank 2. various of street views in Stockholm 3. various of a gas station STORYLINE: Sweden's central bank on Thursday announced a 25 basis point hike of its benchmark interest rate to 3.75 percent -- a level not seen since 2008. It is the seventh consecutive rate hike by the Riksbank since May last year. Before this round of interest rate hikes, the policy rate in Sweden had been at zero or sub-zero for more than seven years. Another increase is also likely to come before the end of the year, the Riksbank said in a press release. Inflation in the country stood at 9.7 percent in May, according to Statistics Sweden. Although it is falling, the rate is still "far too high," the bank said. The unexpected rapid rise in service prices, which may reflect demand pressures in parts of the Swedish economy, is the mai

Indian expat confident in future growth of his business in China

STORY: Indian expat confident in future growth of his business in China DATELINE: May 17, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: GUIYANG, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of daily life of Akhilesh 2. SOUNDBITE (English): AKHILESH, Restaurant owner STORYLINE: SOUNDBITE (English): AKHILESH, Restaurant owner "My name is Akhilesh. And I'm from India, New Delhi. I came to China in 2008 to work as a waiter in Shanghai in an Indian restaurant. And at the end of 2019, I decided to come to Guizhou, because some of my friends told me that there is no Indian restaurant in Guizhou, in Guiyang. I said okay, it could be a good decision. Luckily in Guiyang, it was pretty good. People are much more open to try Indian food. Indian food and Chinese food are very, very different. Indian food is basically based on all the curries. So that's very different from Chinese (food). Chinese food is more of like, it's based on the meat and vegetables to eat. I'm a person who likes the countryside life kind of thing. And Guiyang

U.S. fabricates conflicts to retain unipolar hegemony: Turkish analyst

STORY: U.S. fabricates conflicts to retain unipolar hegemony: Turkish analyst DATELINE: March 2, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:34 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the U.S. 2. SOUNDBITE (Turkish): TURKER ERTURK, Turkish retired Admiral STORYLINE: A Turkish analyst says the U.S. fabricates conflicts to retain its unipolar hegemony, noting that its operations undermine world peace and stability. Turker Erturk, who served as commander of the Turkish Naval Academy between 2008 and 2010, blamed Washington for willfully prolonging the Ukraine crisis. SOUNDBITE (Turkish): TURKER ERTURK, Turkish retired Admiral "At the end of the Cold War, the U.S. emerged as the largest and only global power. And now, it makes various plans and conducts operations to maintain this unipolar world order. Our experiences are manifestations of this. The U.S. had invested much in this (crisis) to get Ukraine away from Russia and the crisis that started on Feb. 24 last year is escalating very seriously with

Japanese golfer Koga to retire

Japanese golfer Koga to retire

TAKASAKI, Japan - Japanese golfer Miho Koga wipes away tears as she formally announces that she will retire at the end of this season during a press conference in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, on Oct. 5, 2011. The 2008 Japan LPGA money winner has struggled since injuring her left wrist in May 2009.

Japanese golfer Koga to retire

Japanese golfer Koga to retire

TAKASAKI, Japan - Japanese golfer Miho Koga announces that she will retire at the end of this season during a press conference in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, on Oct. 5, 2011. The 2008 Japan LPGA money winner has struggled since injuring her left wrist in May 2009.

Suit filed to seek decommissioning of Hamaoka reactors

Suit filed to seek decommissioning of Hamaoka reactors

SHIZUOKA, Japan - Plaintiffs carrying banners calling for an end to nuclear power walk to the Shizuoka District Court in the city of Shizuoka on July 1, 2011, to file a lawsuit seeking the decommissioning of the reactors at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in the prefecture. Located in a major active fault zone, Chubu Electric Power Co. suspended the plant's Nos. 3 to 5 reactors in May at the request of the central government in the wake of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant crippled by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The Nos. 1 and 2 reactors at the Hamaoka plant were deactivated in 2008 for decommissioning.

JAL plane with revived red crane logo

JAL plane with revived red crane logo

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Airlines Corp. President Masaru Onishi (2nd from R) and employees of the airline pose in front of an aircraft featuring the reintroduced red crane logo at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Feb. 28, 2011. JAL aims to make the revised logo a symbol of rebirth as it will finish its rehabilitation process in the end of March, after the logo introduced in the 1950s disappeared in 2008.

Longest operation eyed at Japan nuclear plant

Longest operation eyed at Japan nuclear plant

SENDAI, Japan - This October 2008 file photo shows the No. 3 reactor of the Fukushima No. 2 nuclear plant in Fukushima Prefecture. The operator of the plant, Tokyo Electric Power Co., is planning to commence by the end of 2011 continuous operation of the reactor for up to 16 months, which would be the longest period it has operated a nuclear reactor without a checkup.

Scandal-tainted Asashoryu calls it quits

Scandal-tainted Asashoryu calls it quits

TOKYO, Japan - This photo shows Mongolian yokozuna (grand champion) Asashoryu (R) and his compatriot yokozuna Hakuho squaring off after Asashoryu downed Hakuho on the final day of the 15-day summer tournament on May 25, 2008, and gave his opponent a cheeky shove after the bout ended. Asashoryu said on Feb. 4, 2010, that he has decided to bring an end to his illustrious but trouble-laden sumo career.

Toshiba sees FY08 operating loss of 280 bil. yen, 1st red ink in 7 yrs

Toshiba sees FY08 operating loss of 280 bil. yen, 1st red ink in 7 yrs

TOKYO, Japan - Toshiba Corp. President Atsutoshi Nishida bows at the end of a press conference at the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Jan. 29. The struggling Japanese electronics giant said it will lay off 4,500 temporary workers in its loss-making semiconductor and liquid crystal display businesses and it expects to incur group net and operating losses of 280 billion yen each for fiscal 2008 through March, its first red-ink figures in seven years.

BOJ remains concerned about corporate financing amid crisis

BOJ remains concerned about corporate financing amid crisis

TOKYO, Japan - Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa (2nd from R) attends a quarterly meeting of the central bank's branch managers at the BOJ's headquarters in Tokyo on Jan. 16. Shirakawa reiterated his strong concerns about recent deterioration in corporate debt markets that has led companies to face difficulty raising operating capital to cover the approaching end of fiscal 2008 through March.

Lotte makes Iguchi 3-year, 600 mil. yen offer

Lotte makes Iguchi 3-year, 600 mil. yen offer

TOKYO, Japan - Infielder Tadahito Iguchi shakes hands with Lotte Marines president Ryuzo Setoyama at a hotel in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, on Jan. 7. Lotte offered Iguchi, who was released by the Philadelphia Phillies at the end of the 2008 season, a three-year deal worth about 600 million yen. Iguchi has not made a decision yet as he is awaiting offers from several other clubs in Japan as well as in the major leagues.

Tuna sold for 9.6 mil. yen at 1st auction in Tokyo

Tuna sold for 9.6 mil. yen at 1st auction in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market held the new year's first auction of tuna Jan. 5 with a 128.4-kilogram bluefin tuna caught off Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan, sold for an eight-year high of 9.63 million yen due to the small catch of the tuna in rough seas at the end of 2008.

Teenager Ishikawa named most valuable performer in pro sports

Teenager Ishikawa named most valuable performer in pro sports

TOKYO, Japan - Teenage golfer Ryo Ishikawa holds his trophy during an award ceremony at a hotel in Tokyo on Dec. 24 after being named the most valuable performer in Japan's professional sports in 2008. Ishikawa, a 17-year-old who turned pro in January, is the youngest winner of the annual year-end award given to an individual sportsperson, team or organization considered to have made the most outstanding contribution to professional sports in Japan.

Fuji Heavy to withdraw from FIA World Rally Championship

Fuji Heavy to withdraw from FIA World Rally Championship

TOKYO, Japan - Ikuo Mori, president of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., bows at a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 16 after announcing that the company will withdraw from the FIA World Rally Championship at the end of the 2008 season to boost its management efficiency amid shrinking global auto sales due to the worldwide economic downturn.

Shinginko Tokyo's capital-asset ratio may fall below 4%

Shinginko Tokyo's capital-asset ratio may fall below 4%

TOKYO, Japan - Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara attends the Tokyo metropolitan assembly's budget committee session on troubled Shinginko Tokyo on March 11. The capital-to-asset ratio at the bank, which is backed by the Tokyo metropolitan government, could fall below 4 percent by the end of fiscal 2008 if no additional capital injection is made.

Japan to decide on 2008 G-8 summit venue after regional elections

Japan to decide on 2008 G-8 summit venue after regional elections

TOKYO, Japan - Hokkaido Gov. Harumi Takahashi (R) chats with Foreign Minister Taro Aso after their talks at the Foreign Ministry on April 17. Takahashi said later Japan will decide where it will host the 2008 Group of Eight summit after the second round of regional elections end in April.

Kawasaki Heavy succeeds in trial run of battery-powered tramcar

Kawasaki Heavy succeeds in trial run of battery-powered tramcar

KOBE, Japan - Staff of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. successfully run a battery-powered tramcar they have developed on a trial basis on Aug. 30 in a bid to realize commercial use at the end of 2008. The 18.4-meter-long streetcar, weighing 30.8 tons and powered by 16 nickel-hydrogen batteries, smoothly ran on a 280-meter track at some 20 kilometers per hour, a normal speed for commercially operated tramcars, in the company's plant in Kobe.

Work in progress on main stadium of 2008 Beijing Olympics

Work in progress on main stadium of 2008 Beijing Olympics

BEIJING, China - Construction work is in progress on China's new National Athletic Stadium, the venue of the track and filed events as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The facility, designed after an image of a bird's nest, was put to press preview on March 28. Chinese officials said that it is due for completion toward the end of 2007.

China, EU reach textile trade accord

China, EU reach textile trade accord

SHANGHAI, China - Chinese Commerce Minister Bo Xilai (R) and EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson announce a textile agreement during a news conference in Shanghai on June 11. The accord would gradually adjust the growth of Chinese textile exports to the European Union until the end of 2008.