Tokyo

Japan's nuclear power-reliant utility Kansai Electric Power said yesterday it had found a pool of contaminated water at a nuclear reactor slated to restart in late February after years of being shut down. 

Around $82.5 billion of Istanbul's projected annual GDP of roughly $500 billion is at risk from 18 threats, mainly earthquakes, according to a leading insurance specialist. 

A Japanese actor has died after being stabbed in the stomach with a samurai sword during rehearsals.

Activists from Bosnia and Kosovo meeting in Pristina on Friday issued a joint call to their governments to end the visa restrictions impeding relations between the two countries. 

Japan's economy minister Akira Amari said on Jan. 28 he was stepping down over graft allegations, dealing a major blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who faces a key leadership vote later this year.

The world's oldest man, Yasutaro Koide, died on Jan. 19 at the age of 112 in central Japan, a local official said.

The prominent Bulgarian female freestyle wrestler Stanka Zlateva announced her retirement on Monday due to an injury in the back.

The treatment of the injury, which occurred in the summer of last year, was a lengthy one and it did not allow her to prepare for the forthcoming Olympic qualifications which are to take place in April.

The Bulgarian men's national volleyball team lost on Thursday its second match from the European 2016 Olympic qualification tournament which is taking place in Berlin.

Bulgaria was defeated by Russia with 0:3 (20:25, 22:25, 17:25) in a match which lasted 78 minutes.

Thus Bulgarian chances of qualifying for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro considerably diminished.

The Bulgarian men's national volleyball team defeated Finland in its opening game of the European Olympic qualification tournament, which is taking place in Berlin between January 5 and 10.

Bulgaria won with 3:1 (29:27, 25:15, 23:25, 25:22) in a match which lasted slightly over two hours.

Millions of people gathered in central squares and streets around the world to welcome the New Year amid terror fears.

At least two million people crowded at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro to watch a spectacular fireworks show that lasted 16 minutes.