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Scenic road in central Japan

Scenic road in central Japan

Vehicles drive along the Hakusan Shirakawago White Road in Hakusan in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on June 12, 2026. The scenic road fully reopened to traffic the same day after a seven-month winter closure.

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Scenic road in central Japan

Scenic road in central Japan

A car drives along the Hakusan Shirakawago White Road in Shirakawa in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, on June 12, 2026. The scenic road fully reopened to traffic the same day after a seven-month winter closure.

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Shanghai film festival

Shanghai film festival

Photo taken in Shanghai on June 12, 2026, shows the venue for the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival, which opened the same day. Japanese films, often featured at the event, will not be screened this year amid a diplomatic row between the two countries.

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Shanghai film festival

Shanghai film festival

Photo taken in Shanghai on June 12, 2026, shows the venue for the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival, which opened the same day. Japanese films, often featured at the event, will not be screened this year amid a diplomatic row between the two countries.

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Shanghai film festival

Shanghai film festival

Photo taken in Shanghai on June 12, 2026, shows the venue for the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival, which opened the same day. Japanese films, often featured at the event, will not be screened this year amid a diplomatic row between the two countries.

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Japan: H3 Rocket Successfully Launches from Tanegashima in New Configuration Debut

Japan's H3 rocket successfully launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Friday, June 12, at 9:53 a.m. local time. The rocket reached its intended orbit, marking a successful mission for the country's flagship launch vehicle.

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Japan: H3 Rocket Successfully Launches from Tanegashima in New Configuration Debut 2

Japan's H3 rocket successfully launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on Friday, June 12, at 9:53 a.m. local time. The rocket reached its intended orbit, marking a successful mission for the country's flagship launch vehicle.

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Nikkei index briefly retakes 67,000

Nikkei index briefly retakes 67,000

A stock monitor in Tokyo shows the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average retaking the 67,000 threshold during morning trading on June 12, 2026.

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Japan launches H3 rocket

Japan launches H3 rocket

A Japanese H3 rocket lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 12, 2026. It marked the country's first rocket launch powered solely by liquid-fuel engines.

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Japan launches H3 rocket

Japan launches H3 rocket

People watch a Japanese H3 rocket lifting off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 12, 2026. It marked the first domestic rocket launch powered solely by liquid-fuel engines.

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Japan launches H3 rocket

Japan launches H3 rocket

People watch a Japanese H3 rocket lifting off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 12, 2026. It marked the first domestic rocket launch powered solely by liquid-fuel engines.

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Japan launches H3 rocket

Japan launches H3 rocket

A Japanese H3 rocket lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 12, 2026. It marked the country's first rocket launch powered solely by liquid-fuel engines.

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Japan launches H3 rocket

Japan launches H3 rocket

A Japanese H3 rocket lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 12, 2026. It marked the country's first rocket launch powered solely by liquid-fuel engines.

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Japan launches H3 rocket

Japan launches H3 rocket

A Japanese H3 rocket lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 12, 2026. It marked the country's first rocket launch powered solely by liquid-fuel engines.

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Japan launches H3 rocket

Japan launches H3 rocket

A Japanese H3 rocket lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 12, 2026. It marked the country's first rocket launch powered solely by liquid-fuel engines.

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Japan launches H3 rocket

Japan launches H3 rocket

A Japanese H3 rocket lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 12, 2026. It marked the country's first rocket launch powered solely by liquid-fuel engines.

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Japan launches H3 rocket

Japan launches H3 rocket

A Japanese H3 rocket lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 12, 2026. It marked the country's first rocket launch powered solely by liquid-fuel engines.

  •  
Japan launches H3 rocket

Japan launches H3 rocket

A Japanese H3 rocket lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 12, 2026. It marked the country's first rocket launch powered solely by liquid-fuel engines.

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Japan launches H3 rocket

Japan launches H3 rocket

A Japanese H3 rocket lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 12, 2026. It marked the country's first rocket launch powered solely by liquid-fuel engines.

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Japan PM Takaichi

Japan PM Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on June 12, 2026. The government said the prime minister will visit Britain and Italy for bilateral talks and France for the Group of Seven summit in Evian.

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Japan PM Takaichi

Japan PM Takaichi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on June 12, 2026. The government said the prime minister will visit Britain and Italy for bilateral talks and France for the Group of Seven summit in Evian.

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Kioxia becomes biggest Japan company by market cap

Kioxia becomes biggest Japan company by market cap

Photo taken in Tokyo on May 14, 2026, shows a signboard with a Kioxia Holdings Corp. logo. The flash memory maker surpassed Toyota Motor Corp. as Japan's largest company in terms of total market value on June 12, 2026.

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Japan Defense Minister Koizumi

Japan Defense Minister Koizumi

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi holds a press conference at a parliament building in Tokyo on June 12, 2026.

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Philippines: Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake Strikes Mindanao

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the southern coast of Mindanao in the Philippines at 7:37 a.m. on Monday, June 8, triggering a tsunami warning and causing widespread damage across the region, including building collapses. At least 12 deaths and more than 100 injuries were confirmed, according to the Office of Civil Defense. This video shows the evacuation at Little Baguio Elementary School in Mindanao.

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Japan: Izu Oshima Pounded by Giant Waves as Typhoon Jangmi Strikes

Typhoon Jangmi swept across Japan over several days, bringing powerful winds and heavy rainfall that caused widespread damage throughout the country. On the island of Izu Oshima — located roughly 120 kilometers south of central Tokyo — massive waves were seen crashing against the shore on Wednesday, June 3.

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Japan: Izu Oshima Pounded by Giant Waves as Typhoon Jangmi Strikes 2

Typhoon Jangmi swept across Japan over several days, bringing powerful winds and heavy rainfall that caused widespread damage throughout the country. On the island of Izu Oshima — located roughly 120 kilometers south of central Tokyo — massive waves were seen crashing against the shore on Wednesday, June 3.

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RECAP: Typhoon Jangmi Lashes Okinawa and Amami, Leaving 16 Injured

Typhoon Jangmi brought heavy rain and strong winds to Okinawa and Amami islands, southern Japan on Monday, June 1. In Okinawa Prefecture, 16 people sustained minor injuries, including some who were knocked down by strong winds and others who were struck by shattered car windows.

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SoftBank Group becomes biggest Japan firm in market cap

SoftBank Group becomes biggest Japan firm in market cap

Photo taken on April 12, 2026, shows a signboard with a SoftBank Group Corp. logo in front of the building housing its headquarters in Tokyo. The tech conglomerate's market capitalization topped 47 trillion yen ($295 billion) on June 1, 2026, following recent stock price gains backed by the company's aggressive investments in AI, surpassing Toyota Motor Corp. as Japan's largest company in terms of total market value.

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SoftBank Group becomes biggest Japan firm in market cap

SoftBank Group becomes biggest Japan firm in market cap

Photo taken on April 12, 2026, shows a building housing the headquarters of SoftBank Group Corp. in Tokyo. The tech conglomerate's market capitalization topped 47 trillion yen ($295 billion) on June 1, 2026, following recent stock price gains backed by the company's aggressive investments in AI, surpassing Toyota Motor Corp. as Japan's largest company in terms of total market value.

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Japan: Typhoon Jangmi Batters Okinawa With Destructive Winds and Power Outages 3

Typhoon Jangmi (No. 6) made its closest approach to Okinawa's main island on Monday, June 1, with the southern part of the island entering the storm's danger zone. The storm brought wind gusts of up to 35.2 meters per second in Naha City and widespread power outages. All flights to and from Naha Airport were cancelled, while public transport, schools, and businesses were also shut for the day.

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China: Diving Piglets Steal the Show at Qinhuangdao Scenic Attraction

Tourists at a scenic area in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province were delighted when a group of black-and-white piglets ran out of their pen and dived one by one into a pond, swimming with surprising ease.

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US: Drivers Navigate Smoke-Filled Roads as Bain Fire Burns in Riverside County, California

This video was filmed from a car driving through a road filled with smoke from the Bain Fire burning in Riverside County, California. The wildfire broke out in the Santa Ana River bottom in Jurupa Valley on Tuesday, May 19, prompting evacuations and warnings for residents.

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US: Two Wildfires Force Evacuations in Riverside County, California 3

Two wildfires broke out in Riverside County, California, on Tuesday, May 19, prompting evacuations and warnings for residents. The Bain Fire ignited at 11:22 a.m. in the Santa Ana River bottom in Jurupa Valley, spreading rapidly toward homes in the direction of Riverside, injuring four people. Separately, the Verona Fire in Homeland jumped containment lines and forced additional evacuations. Crews from multiple agencies responded to both blazes.

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China: Dog Rides Perched on Scooter Riders’ Shoulders at Red Light in Yunnan

On April 12, 2026, in Pu'er, Yunnan province, a video captured a group of electric scooter riders waiting at a red light. Among them, one scooter carried a man in front, a woman behind him, and a dog perched between them — its paws resting on both riders' shoulders. From that elevated position, the dog surveyed the traffic with calm confidence, showing no sign of discomfort. Its composed stance made it look less like a pet and more like a passenger enjoying a view of the road.

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US: Evacuations Ordered as Sandy Fire Tears Through Simi Valley, California 2

The Sandy Fire broke out Monday, May 18, in Simi Valley, roughly 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, burning over 1,600 acres, destroying at least one home, and putting more than 28,000 people under mandatory evacuation orders.

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China: Intense Hailstorm Hits Shandong

On May 12, 2026, in Shandong, eastern China, a video captured a courtyard covered with hail as more hail continued falling from the sky. The owner stood outside and sighed about the heavy hailstorm. The ground was already covered in white ice pellets.

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US: Fast-Moving Sandy Fire Burns More Than 800 Acres, Prompting Evacuations 3

The Sandy Fire broke out Monday, May 18, in Simi Valley, roughly 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, burning over 836 acres, destroying at least one home, and forcing more than 29,000 residents to evacuate.

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US: Fast-Moving Sandy Fire Burns More Than 800 Acres, Prompting Evacuations 5

The Sandy Fire broke out Monday, May 18, in Simi Valley, roughly 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, burning over 836 acres, destroying at least one home, and forcing more than 29,000 residents to evacuate.

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Australia: Rainbows Form Over Crashing Waves

On April 12, 2026, in Australia, a video recorded waves rolling along a rocky coastline under bright sunlight. Blue ocean water moved up and down against the rocks as sea spray filled the air. As sunlight passed through the mist above the waves, a colorful rainbow appeared over the ocean. Soon afterward, another incoming wave created a second rainbow nearby. The scene looked especially vivid because of the clear weather and high visibility along the coast. Rainbows forming directly above moving sea waves are not commonly seen.

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New train for Shinano express

KASUGAI, Japan, May 13 Kyodo - Central Japan Railway Co. unveils to the press the interior of its new train cars for the Shinano express train running between Nagoya and Nagano stations in central Japan, on May 12, 2026, in Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture, a day before the start of its test run. JR Central plans to start running the mass-produced 385 series cars for the Shinano train in around fiscal 2029. (Kyodo)

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US: Episode 47 of Kīlauea Eruption Sends Lava Fountains and Ash

Episode 47 of the Halemaʻumaʻu eruption at the summit of Kīlauea, Hawaii, lasted nine hours, beginning at 3:27 p.m. HST on Wednesday, May 14, and ending at 12:27 a.m. HST on Thursday, May 15. Lava fountained from the north vent, with fine ash and Peleʻs hair falling in communities to the northeast of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

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China: Avalanche Bears Down on Climbers at Mount Everest Camp

On May 12, 2026, at a camp on the south slope of Mount Everest in Tibet, a video captured a sudden avalanche in the Himalayas. A climber was filming the mountain scenery when a teammate recorded the avalanche behind them. Snow mist suddenly rose across the valley and moved very quickly. The snow cloud soon covered the sky, and the teammates quickly lay down to avoid danger. Fortunately, everyone was safe in the end.

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Spain: Teachers Strike Continue Across Valencian Community

A strike in public education continued across the Valencian Community on Thursday, May 14. Teachers and the wider education community took to the streets demanding better pay, quality public education, and instruction in Valencian.

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Austria: Four Protesters Removed From Eurovision Arena During Israel’s Performance 2

Four audience members were removed from Vienna's Wiener Stadthalle during the Eurovision Song Contest first semi-final on Tuesday, May 12, after chants of "Stop the genocide" were heard as Israel's Noam Bettan performed. Despite the protests, Bettan qualified for Saturday's grand final.

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Vietnam's foreign minister arrives in Pyongyang

Vietnam's foreign minister arrives in Pyongyang

Vietnam's Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung (L) is pictured upon arriving at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang on May 12, 2026.

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Canada: Granville Street Bridge Closed Due to Police Incident in Vancouver

The Granville Street Bridge in Vancouver was closed in both directions on Tuesday afternoon, May 12, during rush hour due to a police incident. While authorities did not confirm details, social media posts suggested the closure was related to a mental health crisis involving a person on the bridge structure.

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US: All 11 Survivors Rescued After Small Plane Crashes off Florida Coast

A small plane crashed approximately 80 miles off Melbourne, Florida on Tuesday, May 12, after encountering rough weather. All 11 people aboard the Beechcraft BE30, which had taken off from Abaco Island in the Bahamas, were rescued and taken to hospital for evaluation.

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US: Powerful Storms Bring Rain, Hail and Flooding to Central Florida 3

Powerful storms swept through Central Florida on Tuesday, May 12, bringing widespread rain, hail, and flooding with severe thunderstorm warnings issued for multiple counties. A tornado warning was issued for Pasco County in the afternoon. National Weather Service later confirmed two tornadoes touch down in the county.

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US: Shoppers Camp Out for Audemars Piguet x Swatch “Royal Pop” Drop in New York

Dozens of people are camped out outside of the Times Square Swatch store ahead of the May 16 in-store-only release of the Audemars Piguet x Swatch "Royal Pop." Lines started to form on Sunday, six days ahead of the watch’s official release.

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Opening of cormorant fishing season in central Japan

GIFU, Japan, May 12 Kyodo - The traditional "ukai" cormorant fishing season starts on the Nagara River in the central Japan city of Gifu on May 11, 2026. (Kyodo)

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