Japan

16 September 2007, Hangzhou, China (By Jim Stevenson) -- The fifth FIFA Women's World Cup in China is being broadcast to a record number of viewers around the world. VOA's Jim Stevenson has more on the growth of the quadrennial football (soccer) event since it began in 1991.

China hosted the inaugural Women's World Cup 16 years ago. At that time, 12 nations competed, with the United States winning the title. But football fans following that team and the others often had to wait about a day for game results to appear in newspapers.    » read more »

Tuesday, September 11, 2007, TOKYO – Governor Jim Doyle today announced that Milwaukee will host the 2008 Midwest U.S. - Japan Conference on September 7 - 9, 2008. The annual Midwest U.S. - Japan Association Conference brings together international business leaders from Japan and the U.S. and serves as the principal forum for bilateral trade and investment discussion between the Midwest and Japan.    » read more »

September 11, 2007, TOKYO – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today met with top executives and business leaders at Sumitomo, Toshiba Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation to promote ongoing relationships with Wisconsin companies and encourage future investments in Wisconsin. Sumitomo has developed a strong business partnership with Milwaukee based Super Steel and Toshiba Corporation recently invested heavily in ReGENco of West Allis.    » read more »

September 10, 2007 (Tokyo) -- Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman was in Tokyo this weekend to promote Nebraska businesses. During the third portion of his trade mission, Governor Heineman delivered remarks at the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association (MWJA) conference and witnessed the signing of several agreements between Nebraska and Japanese businesses. He also visited the Nebraska Center, the state’s international trade office.    » read more »

01 September 2007, Osaka, Japan (By David Byrd) -- The United States has won the gold medals in the men's and women's relay while an American took the pole vault title at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan. VOA's David Byrd was trackside and has this report on the action.

Tyson Gay of the United States won his third world championship gold medal this week. Gay, who won the men's 100-meter and 200-meters titles, was the third runner in the U.S. 4x100 men's relay.    » read more »

30 August 2007 Osaka, Japan (By David Byrd) -- American sprinter Tyson Gay has won his second gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan. As VOA's David Byrd reports, Gay added the 200-meters title to his 100-meters gold medal.

Thursday's race was a duel between two men - Tyson Gay of the United States and Jamaica's Usain Bolt. After a false start, the sprinters took off clean and Bolt had a slight lead through the curve of the track.    » read more »

31 August 2007, Osaka, Japan (By David Byrd) -- Some of the marquee names in athletics take the track Friday night as competition continues at the World Athletics championships in Osaka, Japan. As VOA's David Byrd reports, Americans will try to win medals in at least three events.

Defending women's 200-meter champion Alyson Felix of the United States wants another gold medal. Felix, the top ranked runner in the 200-meters race the past two years, won her semifinal Thursday in 22.21 seconds.    » read more »

For Third Consecutive Year, Citi Wins Majority of Internet Bank Awards in Asia

August 28, 2007, Singapore/Hong Kong – Citi has picked up the majority of awards for the World's Best Internet Banks in Asia Pacific from Global Finance magazine. This is the third year in a row that Citi has dominated the Global Finance magazine awards in Asia Pacific, underscoring Citi's continued commitment to invest in technology to meet the evolving needs of its clients.    » read more »

By David Byrd
Osaka, Japan
29 August 2007

Bernard Lagat has won his first world championship and his first major title since becoming an American citizen. From the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan, VOA's David Byrd reports on the 1500 meters race and the rest of the day's action.

Bernard Lagat wanted to win his first gold medal before Wednesday. He had come close, winning world and Olympic silver medals while running for his native Kenya.

When he became an American citizen, he could not compete in the 2005 World Championships because of citizenship regulations.    » read more »

29 August 2007, Osaka (By David Byrd) -- The men's 1,500 meters title is one of five gold medals up for grabs Wednesday at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan. VOA's David Byrd is there and has this preview of the action.

Bernard Lagat, of the United States, is running in his first world championship since becoming an American citizen. The Kenyan-born Lagat, a two-time Olympic medalist, has the second-fastest time ever in the event (3:26.34). However, he did not compete in 2005 in Helsinki because of his citizenship change.    » read more »

28 August 2007Osaka, Japan (By David Byrd) -- Kenyan athletes have won four medals, including two golds, on the fourth day of the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan. As VOA's David Byrd reports, the Kenyans won gold in both men's and women's races.

Kenya has traditionally dominated men's steeplechase, and Tuesday was no exception. Kenyans swept the medals with Olympic silver medalist Brimin Kiprop Kipruto taking gold in eight minutes, 13.82 seconds.    » read more »

Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele won his third world 10,000 meters championship

28 August 2007, Osaka, Japan (By David Byrd) -- Jamaican sprinter Veronica Campbell has won the women's 100-meters title at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan. As VOA's David Byrd reports, Campbell edged defending champion Lauryn Williams to take the crown.

By the narrowest of margins Veronica Campbell walked away with the gold medal in a photo finish. In the end, both the Jamaican and defending champion Lauryn Williams of the United States were credited with the same time of 11.01 seconds.    » read more »

27 August 2007, Osaka, Japan (By David Byrd) -- The title of world's fastest woman will be decided Monday night at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan. As VOA's David Byrd reports, the women's 100-meters race is just one of five gold medals up for grabs.

Lauryn Williams (1007) races with Bahamas' Timicka Clarke in a heat of the Women's 100m dash at the World Athletics Championships, 26 Aug 2007
Lauryn Williams (1007) races with Bahamas' Timicka Clarke in a heat of the Women's 100m dash at the World Athletics Championships, 26 Aug 2007    » read more »

August 26, 2007, Osaka, Japan (By David Byrd) -- American sprinter Tyson Gay has won the gold medal in the men's 100-meters race at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan.

Tyson Gay blasted out of the starting blocks and never looked back until the finish. The American took the gold medal with a time of 9:85. Gay said afterwards that he knew he could not rest until he had the gold.    » read more »

25 August 2007, Osaka, Japan (By David Byrd) -- Two Africans and an American have captured gold medals on the first day of the in Osaka, Japan. As VOA's David Byrd reports, Luke Kibet of Kenya, Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba and American Reese Hoffa were winners.

Kenya's Luke Kibet finished the 42.195-kilometer race in 2:15:59 seconds. The Kenyan is the first men's marathon world champion from his country in 20 years. Kibet said that his victory was driven by a promise he made before coming to Osaka.    » read more »