Baseball: Japan Series

Yakult Swallows manager Shingo Takatsu (top) is tossed in the air by his players after the Swallows claimed their first Japan Series baseball title in 20 years with a 2-1, 12-inning Game 6 win over the Orix Buffaloes on Nov. 27, 2021, at Hotto Motto Field Kobe in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.

Baseball: Japan Series

Yakult Swallows manager Shingo Takatsu (top) is tossed in the air by his players after the Swallows claimed their first Japan Series baseball title in 20 years with a 2-1, 12-inning Game 6 win over the Orix Buffaloes on Nov. 27, 2021, at Hotto Motto Field Kobe in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.

Former East Timor Pres. Xanana Gusmao

Former East Timor President Xanana Gusmao speaks in Tokyo on Nov. 25, 2021, about the small island nation nearly 20 years after its independence from Indonesia.

Former East Timor Pres. Xanana Gusmao

Former East Timor President Xanana Gusmao speaks in Tokyo on Nov. 25, 2021, about the small island nation nearly 20 years after its independence from Indonesia.

Canada: Beloved Woody The Talking Christmas Tree Returns At Mall In Dartmouth

Woody the talking Christmas tree returned to Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, after a 15-year hiatus. Woody made a special appearance each Christmas for over 20 years but has not been seen since 2006.

Iran: Thousands Protest In Isfahan To Demand Revival Of Drought-Stricken River

Hundreds of thousands of farmers and protesters gathered near the dried-up Zayandeh Rud River near the historical Khaju Bridge in Isfahan on Friday, November 19, to demand a sustainable solution to droughts affecting their livelihood. "Isfahan claims the right of water that has been sold to Kerman and Yazd for many years. Zayandeh Rud River changed to a seasonal river 20 years ago. The river flows once or twice a year except for this year, so the people of Isfahan protested at a rally," the video owner said.

Baseball: Ohtani unanimously wins AL MVP

Hiroshi Sasaki, who was Shohei Ohtani's manager in his Hanamaki Higashi high school years, speaks to reporters in Machida, western Tokyo, on Nov. 19, 2021, after the Los Angeles Angels two-way star was unanimously named the American League's Most Valuable Player.

Baseball: Ohtani unanimously wins AL MVP

Hiroshi Sasaki (L), who was Shohei Ohtani's manager in his Hanamaki Higashi high school years, speaks to reporters in Machida, western Tokyo, on Nov. 19, 2021, after the Los Angeles Angels two-way star was unanimously named the American League's Most Valuable Player.

Baseball: Ohtani unanimously wins AL MVP

Hiroshi Sasaki, who was Shohei Ohtani's manager in his Hanamaki Higashi high school years, speaks to reporters in Machida, western Tokyo, on Nov. 19, 2021, after the Los Angeles Angels two-way star was unanimously named the American League's Most Valuable Player.

Dollar hits nearly 5-yr high vs yen

A financial board in Tokyo's Yaesu area shows the dollar (4th from top) advancing into the higher 114 yen range, a level not seen in almost five years, on the morning of Nov. 17, 2021.

Fujii talks about Ryuo shogi title

Shogi sensation Sota Fujii (top R) attends a press conference in the Yamaguchi Prefecture city of Ube, western Japan, on Nov. 14, 2021, a day after winning the Ryuo championship to become the youngest player in history to hold four major titles at 19 years and three months.

Fujii talks about Ryuo shogi title

Shogi sensation Sota Fujii attends a press conference in the Yamaguchi Prefecture city of Ube, western Japan, on Nov. 14, 2021, a day after winning the Ryuo championship to become the youngest player in history to hold four major titles at 19 years and three months.

Fujii talks about Ryuo shogi title

Shogi sensation Sota Fujii attends a press conference in the Yamaguchi Prefecture city of Ube, western Japan, on Nov. 14, 2021, a day after winning the Ryuo championship to become the youngest player in history to hold four major titles at 19 years and three months.

Fujii becomes youngest shogi player to hold 4 titles

Teenage shogi player Sota Fujii speaks at a press conference at a hotel in the Yamaguchi Prefecture city of Ube, western Japan, on Nov. 13, 2021, after clinching Ryuo, shogi's most prestigious title, from Masayuki Toyoshima in the fourth match of the best-of-seven series. At 19 years and three months, Fujii, holder of three other major titles -- Oi, Kisei and Eio -- became the youngest player to hold four of the eight major titles at the same time.

Fujii becomes youngest shogi player to hold 4 titles

Teenage shogi player Sota Fujii poses at a hotel in the Yamaguchi Prefecture city of Ube, western Japan, on Nov. 13, 2021, after clinching Ryuo, shogi's most prestigious title, from Masayuki Toyoshima in the fourth match of the best-of-seven series. At 19 years and three months, Fujii, holder of three other major titles -- Oi, Kisei and Eio -- became the youngest player to hold four of the eight major titles at the same time.

Fujii becomes youngest shogi player to hold 4 titles

Teenage shogi player Sota Fujii poses at a hotel in the Yamaguchi Prefecture city of Ube, western Japan, on Nov. 13, 2021, after clinching Ryuo, shogi's most prestigious title, from Masayuki Toyoshima in the fourth match of the best-of-seven series. At 19 years and three months, Fujii, holder of three other major titles -- Oi, Kisei and Eio -- became the youngest player to hold four of the eight major titles at the same time.

Fujii becomes youngest shogi player to hold 4 titles

People in teenage shogi player Sota Fujii's hometown Seto in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, celebrate on Nov. 13, 2021, after he clinched Ryuo, shogi's most prestigious title, from Masayuki Toyoshima in the fourth match of the best-of-seven series. At 19 years and three months, Fujii, holder of three other major titles -- Oi, Kisei and Eio -- became the youngest player to hold four of the eight major titles at the same time.

Fujii becomes youngest shogi player to hold 4 titles

People in teenage shogi player Sota Fujii's hometown Seto in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, celebrate on Nov. 13, 2021, after he clinched Ryuo, shogi's most prestigious title, from Masayuki Toyoshima in the fourth match of the best-of-seven series. At 19 years and three months, Fujii, holder of three other major titles -- Oi, Kisei and Eio -- became the youngest player to hold four of the eight major titles at the same time.

Fujii becomes youngest shogi player to hold 4 titles

People in teenage shogi player Sota Fujii's hometown Seto in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, celebrate on Nov. 13, 2021, after he clinched Ryuo, shogi's most prestigious title, from Masayuki Toyoshima in the fourth match of the best-of-seven series. At 19 years and three months, Fujii, holder of three other major titles -- Oi, Kisei and Eio -- became the youngest player to hold four of the eight major titles at the same time.

Fujii becomes youngest shogi player to hold 4 titles

Teenage shogi player Sota Fujii poses at a hotel in the Yamaguchi Prefecture city of Ube, western Japan, on Nov. 13, 2021, after clinching Ryuo, shogi's most prestigious title, from Masayuki Toyoshima in the fourth match of the best-of-seven series. At 19 years and three months, Fujii, holder of three other major titles -- Oi, Kisei and Eio -- became the youngest player to hold four of the eight major titles at the same time.

Fujii becomes youngest shogi player to hold 4 titles

People in teenage shogi player Sota Fujii's hometown Seto in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, celebrate on Nov. 13, 2021, after he clinched Ryuo, shogi's most prestigious title, from Masayuki Toyoshima in the fourth match of the best-of-seven series. At 19 years and three months, Fujii, holder of three other major titles -- Oi, Kisei and Eio -- became the youngest player to hold four of the eight major titles at the same time.

Fujii becomes youngest shogi player to hold 4 titles

People in teenage shogi player Sota Fujii's hometown Seto in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, celebrate on Nov. 13, 2021, after he clinched Ryuo, shogi's most prestigious title, from Masayuki Toyoshima in the fourth match of the best-of-seven series. At 19 years and three months, Fujii, holder of three other major titles -- Oi, Kisei and Eio -- became the youngest player to hold four of the eight major titles at the same time.

Fujii becomes youngest shogi player to hold 4 titles

Teenage shogi player Sota Fujii (R) reviews his match against Masayuki Toyoshima at a hotel in the Yamaguchi Prefecture city of Ube, western Japan, on Nov. 13, 2021, after clinching Ryuo, shogi's most prestigious title, from him in Game 4 of the best-of-seven series. At 19 years and three months, Fujii, holder of three other major titles -- Oi, Kisei and Eio -- became the youngest player to hold four of the eight major titles at the same time. (Pool photo)

Fujii becomes youngest shogi player to hold 4 titles

Teenage shogi player Sota Fujii reviews his match against Masayuki Toyoshima at a hotel in the Yamaguchi Prefecture city of Ube, western Japan, on Nov. 13, 2021, after clinching Ryuo, shogi's most prestigious title, from him in Game 4 of the best-of-seven series. At 19 years and three months, Fujii, holder of three other major titles -- Oi, Kisei and Eio -- became the youngest player to hold four of the eight major titles at the same time. (Pool photo)

Fujii becomes youngest shogi player to hold 4 titles

Teenage shogi player Sota Fujii reviews his match against Masayuki Toyoshima at a hotel in the Yamaguchi Prefecture city of Ube, western Japan, on Nov. 13, 2021, after clinching Ryuo, shogi's most prestigious title, from him in Game 4 of the best-of-seven series. At 19 years and three months, Fujii, holder of three other major titles -- Oi, Kisei and Eio -- became the youngest player to hold four of the eight major titles at the same time. (Pool photo)

Interview with German navy chief

German navy chief Vice Adm. Kay-Achim Schonbach gives an interview on the frigate Bayern at Tokyo International Cruise Terminal on Nov. 6, 2021. The frigate arrived in Tokyo on Nov. 5, becoming Germany's first military vessel to make a port call in Japan in nearly 20 years.

German frigate Bayern in Tokyo

Photo taken on Nov. 6, 2021, shows German frigate Bayern at Tokyo International Cruise Terminal. The frigate arrived in Tokyo on Nov. 5, becoming Germany's first military vessel to make a port call in Japan in nearly 20 years.

German frigate Bayern in Tokyo

Photo taken on Nov. 6, 2021, shows German frigate Bayern at Tokyo International Cruise Terminal. The frigate arrived in Tokyo on Nov. 5, becoming Germany's first military vessel to make a port call in Japan in nearly 20 years.

German frigate Bayern in Tokyo

Photo taken on Nov. 6, 2021, shows German frigate Bayern at Tokyo International Cruise Terminal. The frigate arrived in Tokyo on Nov. 5, becoming Germany's first military vessel to make a port call in Japan in nearly 20 years.

Interview with German navy chief

German navy chief Vice Adm. Kay-Achim Schonbach gives an interview on the frigate Bayern at Tokyo International Cruise Terminal on Nov. 6, 2021. The frigate arrived in Tokyo on Nov. 5, becoming Germany's first military vessel to make a port call in Japan in nearly 20 years.

Japan opposes plan to hold FIFA World Cup every 2 yrs

Japan Football Association President Kozo Tashima gives an online interview on Nov. 5, 2021. The JFA has informed FIFA of its opposition to holding the World Cup every two years, Tashima said.

German navy frigate Bayern at Tokyo port

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi (2nd from L) talks with Gen. Eberhard Zorn (far R), the German chief of Defense, after inspecting the German navy frigate Bayern at Tokyo International Cruise Terminal on Nov. 5, 2021. The Bayern became Germany's first military vessel to make a port call in Japan in about 20 years. (Pool photo)

German navy frigate Bayern at Tokyo port

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi (C) and Gen. Eberhard Zorn (far R), the German chief of Defense, attend a joint press conference at Tokyo International Cruise Terminal after Kishi inspected the German navy frigate Bayern on Nov. 5, 2021. The Bayern became Germany's first military vessel to make a port call in Japan in about 20 years. (Pool photo)

German navy frigate Bayern at Tokyo port

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi speaks to the press at Tokyo International Cruise Terminal after inspecting the German navy frigate Bayern on Nov. 5, 2021. The Bayern became Germany's first military vessel to make a port call in Japan in about 20 years. (Pool photo)

German navy frigate Bayern at Tokyo port

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi (C) speaks to the press at Tokyo International Cruise Terminal after inspecting the German navy frigate Bayern on Nov. 5, 2021. The Bayern became Germany's first military vessel to make a port call in Japan in about 20 years. (Pool photo)

Archaeological museum reopens in western Japan after renovation

Photo taken on Nov. 3, 2021, shows the inside of a museum at the Archaeological Institute of Kashihara in Nara Prefecture, western Japan. The museum, equipped with an anti-quake system and displaying about 3,700 archaeological items, reopened the same day following almost three years of renovation work.

Baseball: Braves-Astros World Series

The Atlanta Braves celebrate their first World Series title in 26 years after defeating the Houston Astros 7-0 in Game 6 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, on Nov. 2, 2021.

Baseball: Braves-Astros World Series

The Atlanta Braves celebrate their first World Series title in 26 years after defeating the Houston Astros 7-0 in Game 6 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, on Nov. 2, 2021.

UK: Chimney Of Fawley Power Station In Hampshire Demolished

The cigarette-like chimney of Fawley Power Station was demolished on Sunday, October 31. The southern part of Turbine Hall was demolished as well. The project was executed as part of a redevelopment plan. The oil-fired facility stopped working in 2013 after operating for more than 40 years.

Horse racing: 3-year-old Efforia wins Tenno-sho

Takeshi Yokoyama (R) celebrates after riding Efforia to victory in the autumn Tenno-sho championship at Tokyo Racecourse on Oct. 31, 2021. Efforia became the first three-year-old in 19 years to win the international Grade 1 race.

Horse racing: 3-year-old Efforia wins Tenno-sho

Efforia, ridden by Takeshi Yokoyama, wins the autumn Tenno-sho championship at Tokyo Racecourse on Oct. 31, 2021, making him the first three-year-old in 19 years to win the international Grade 1 race.

Baseball: Kudo retires as Hawks manager

Kimiyasu Kudo (R), who won five Japan Series baseball titles in seven years as SoftBank Hawks manager, poses for a photo with Sadaharu Oh, chairman of the club, after attending a press conference on his retirement in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 27, 2021.

Baseball: Kudo retires as Hawks manager

Kimiyasu Kudo, who won five Japan Series baseball titles in seven years as SoftBank Hawks manager, speaks at a press conference on his retirement in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 27, 2021.

Baseball: Braves-Dodgers NLCS

The Atlanta Braves celebrate after advancing to the World Series for the first time in 22 years with a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Oct. 23, 2021, at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia.

US: Andrew Lloyd Webber Plays DJ Set After ‘Phantom Of The Opera’ Reopens

Andrew Lloyd Webber, a 73-years-old composer, performed an unexpected DJ set outside the Majestic Theater in New York on Friday, October 22 to celebrate the reopening of his musical, “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Baseball: Jersey autographed by Ohtani, Kikuchi

Visitors look at a Hanamaki Higashi high school baseball jersey (C in gray) autographed by Shohei Ohtani and Yusei Kikuchi, Ohtani's Los Angeles Angels jersey (red) and Kikuchi's Seattle Mariners jersey (18) at a museum in the Iwate Prefecture city of Hanamaki, northeastern Japan, on Oct. 22, 2021. Both major leaguers spent their high school years at Hanamaki Higashi.

Baseball: Jersey autographed by Ohtani, Kikuchi

A Hanamaki Higashi high school baseball jersey autographed by Los Angeles Angels two-way player Shohei Ohtani and Seattle Mariners pitcher Yusei Kikuchi is on display at a museum in the Iwate Prefecture city of Hanamaki, northeastern Japan, on Oct. 22, 2021. Both major leaguers spent their high school years at Hanamaki Higashi.

Campaigning begins for Japan's Oct. 31 general election

Campaigning for Japan's Oct. 31 general election began Tuesday, with new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida seeking a mandate for his COVID-19 and economic policies while opposition parties are banding together in a bid to loosen the ruling coalition's grip on power. Kishida, who took office on Oct. 4, has pledged to realize economic growth and redistribute wealth to the middle class in a course correction of "Abenomics," which has been criticized as helping lift corporate earnings and share prices but failing to spark wage gains. A stimulus package worth "tens of trillions of yen" to deal with the coronavirus pandemic will be drawn up within the year, he has said. As well as being a gauge of confidence in Kishida, a 64-year-old former foreign minister, the vote will be a referendum on nearly nine years of LDP governance under his predecessors Shinzo Abe and Yoshihide Suga.

Celebration in Beijing to mark 110th anniversary of 1911 revolution

Chinese President Xi Jinping (front, L) attends an official celebration at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 9, 2021, to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the 1911 revolution that ended 2,000 years of imperial rule in China.

Celebration in Beijing to mark 110th anniversary of 1911 revolution

Attendees applaud as Chinese President Xi Jinping makes a speech at an official celebration at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 9, 2021, to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the 1911 revolution that ended 2,000 years of imperial rule in China.