Japan's New Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada smiles as he speaks with outgoing Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone during a handover ceremony at Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. Japan's new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will make his diplomatic debut next week with a visit to the United Nations and an economic summit meeting in Pittsburgh, officials said Thursday. Okada said Tokyo's diplomatic priorities are the U.S.-Japan security alliance, efforts to bring peace to the Pakistan-Afghanistan area, and climate change. And said he hoped the Japanese pledge to aim for a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would "encourage" the U.S. and other countries to follow suit. AP Photo logo AP Photo 2 months ago

Japan's New Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada smiles as he speaks with outgoing Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone during a handover ceremony at Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. Japan's new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will make his diplomatic debut next week with a visit to the United Nations and an economic summit meeting in Pittsburgh, officials said Thursday. Okada said Tokyo's diplomatic priorities are the U.S.-Japan security alliance, efforts to bring peace to the Pakistan-Afghanistan area, and climate change. And said he hoped the Japanese pledge to aim for a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would "encourage" the U.S. and other countries to follow suit.

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  1. Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada attends a Diet session in Tokyo on October 26, 2009. Japan's Emperor Akihito should be able to speak his mind rather than read from a bureaucrat's prepared script when he next opens parliament, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada suggested on October 23. The 75-year-old opens sessions of the Diet legislature, but his prepared messages have been almost identical every time, Okada told reporters later, acknowledging that Akihito under the constitution must steer clear of politics.
  2. China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (L) shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada before their meeting in Tokyo November 19, 2009. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang will be in Japan until this Sunday.
  3. China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (L) shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada before their meeting in Tokyo November 19, 2009. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang will be in Japan until this Sunday.
  4. US Ambassador John Roos (R), accompanied by Wallace C. Gregson (L), US Assistant Secretary of Defence, arrives at the Japanese Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on November 17, 2009 for talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa. Japanese and US high-level officials kicked off talks in a bid to resolve a tense disagreement over the US base realignment in Japan.
  5. US Ambassador John Roos (R) arrives at the Japanese Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on November 17, 2009 for talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa. Japanese and US high-level officials kicked off talks in a bid to resolve a tense disagreement over the US base realignment in Japan.
  6. Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada speaks at a press conference at the foreign ministry in Tokyo on November 17, 2009. Japanese and US high-level officials kicked off talks in a bid to resolve a tense disagreement over the US base realignment in Japan. Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa met with US Ambassador John Roos and Wallace C. Gregson, US Assistant Secretary of Defense for the talks.
  7. Japan's New Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada smiles as he speaks with outgoing Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone during a handover ceremony at Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. Japan's new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will make his diplomatic debut next week with a visit to the United Nations and an economic summit meeting in Pittsburgh, officials said Thursday. Okada said Tokyo's diplomatic priorities are the U.S.-Japan security alliance, efforts to bring peace to the Pakistan-Afghanistan area, and climate change. And said he hoped the Japanese pledge to aim for a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would "encourage" the U.S. and other countries to follow suit.
  8. Japan's New Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, left, shakes hands with outgoing Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone during a handover ceremony at Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. Japan's new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will make his diplomatic debut next week with a visit to the United Nations and an economic summit meeting in Pittsburgh, officials said Thursday. Okada said Tokyo's diplomatic priorities are the U.S.-Japan security alliance, efforts to bring peace to the Pakistan-Afghanistan area, and climate change. And said he hoped the Japanese pledge to aim for a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would "encourage" the U.S. and other countries to follow suit.
  9. Afghan opposition candidate Abdullah Abdullah (R) shakes hands with United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon (C) as United Nation's special envoy to Afghanistan, Kai Eide (L, background) looks on prior to a meeting in Kabul on November 2, 2009. UN chief Ban Ki-moon flew into Kabul on November 2 to meet President Hamid Karzai over the Afghan election crisis with organisers to announce whether or not to scrap the poll after the only challenger pulled out. The surprise visit from Ban accompanied a diplomatic push to ensure the November 7 one-horse race does not take place, despite the initial insistence from some officials that it is too late to halt the process.
  10. Palestinian and UN vehicles take a flooded street following heavy rains in the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City on October 29, 2009. Hamas said it will ban the organisation of elections in its Gaza Strip stronghold after president Mahmud Abbas called for a vote in the Palestinian territories.
  11. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (C) meets with French senatorial delegation members, Senator of Val-d'Oise Robert Hue (2ndL), Senator of Morbihan Josselin de Rohan (2ndR), Senator of Meurthe-et-Moselle Daniel Renier (R) and Secretary General of the French Delegates for the 64th Session of the General Assembly Philippe Thiebaud (L), at the United Nations headquarters in New York, October 28, 2009.
  12. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (2ndL) meets with French senatorial delegation members, Senator of Val-d'Oise Robert Hue (L), Senator of Morbihan Josselin de Rohan (2ndR) and Senator of Meurthe-et-Moselle Daniel Renier, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, October 28, 2009.
  13. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaks during a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York, October 28, 2009. Ban Ki-Moon condemned the 'despicable and brutal' attack on a UN guesthouse in Kabul, which left five UN staff dead, but said the UN remained committed to Afghanistan.
  14. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaks during a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York, October 28, 2009. Ban Ki-Moon condemned the 'despicable and brutal' attack on a UN guesthouse in Kabul, which left five UN staff dead, but said the UN remained committed to Afghanistan.

Recent Photos From The Wire

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  2. A woman in a raincoat rides her bicycle in Frankfurt November 28, 2009.
  3. A shopping mall employee gift-wraps a perfume in Frankfurt November 28, 2009.
  4. F1 powerboat driver Guido Cappellini of Italy celebrates with the trophy after winning Qatar Grand Prix Formula 1 speed boat in Doha November 28, 2009.
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  7. OFFENBACH, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 28: Stefan Zinnow (R) of Offenbach battles for the ball with Jan Fiesser (R) of Sandhausen during the 3. Liga match between Kickers Offenbach and SV Sandhausen at the Bieberer Berg stadium on November 28, 2009 in Offenbach, Germany.
  8. OFFENBACH, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 28: Stefan Zinnow (R) of Offenbach battles for the ball with Jan Fiesser (R) of Sandhausen during the 3. Liga match between Kickers Offenbach and SV Sandhausen at the Bieberer Berg stadium on November 28, 2009 in Offenbach, Germany.
  9. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: A boy looks through boxes of helmets at Angels Costumiers Uniform Sale, in a warehouse in Wembley on November 28, 2009 in London, England. The Angels Uniform Sale included thousands of items ranging from authentic uniforms, helmets, headgear and leather jackets, to tunics, flack jackets and belts. All items from Europe's largest costumier, Angels, were sold off in a one day sale. All the clothes were authentic, some having featured in TV, and films such as Saving Private Ryan, and The Great Escape.
  10. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Customers look through boxes of items at Angels Costumiers Uniform Sale, in a warehouse in Wembley on November 28, 2009 in London, England. The Angels Uniform Sale included thousands of items ranging from authentic uniforms, helmets, headgear and leather jackets, to tunics, flack jackets and belts. All items from Europe's largest costumier, Angels, were sold off in a one day sale. All the clothes were authentic, some having featured in TV, and films such as Saving Private Ryan, and The Great Escape.
  11. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: A man looks through boxes of items at Angels Costumiers Uniform Sale, in a warehouse in Wembley on November 28, 2009 in London, England. The Angels Uniform Sale included thousands of items ranging from authentic uniforms, helmets, headgear and leather jackets, to tunics, flack jackets and belts. All items from Europe's largest costumier, Angels, were sold off in a one day sale. All the clothes were authentic, some having featured in TV, and films such as Saving Private Ryan, and The Great Escape.
  12. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Customers look through boxes of items at Angels Costumiers Uniform Sale, in a warehouse in Wembley on November 28, 2009 in London, England. The Angels Uniform Sale included thousands of items ranging from authentic uniforms, helmets, headgear and leather jackets, to tunics, flack jackets and belts. All items from Europe's largest costumier, Angels, were sold off in a one day sale. All the clothes were authentic, some having featured in TV, and films such as Saving Private Ryan, and The Great Escape.
  13. Iraqis enjoy a ride at an amusement park during the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009. Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, is celebrated to commemorate the prophet Ibrahim's faith in being willing to sacrifice his son.
  14. Chinese actor Yu Shao Qun holds his award for Best New Performer at the 46th Golden Horse Awards, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, in Banchiau, Taipei County, Taiwan. The Golden Horse awards are the Chinese-language film industry's biggest annual events.
  15. Hong Kong director Cheung King-wai holds his three awards at the 46th Golden Horse Awards, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, in Banchiau, Taipei County, Taiwan. The Golden Horse awards are the Chinese-language film industry's biggest annual events.
  16. Hong Kong director Cheung King-wai smiles with three awards he won at the 46th Golden Horse Awards, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, in Banchiau, Taipei County, Taiwan. The Golden Horse awards are the Chinese-language film industry's biggest annual events.