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Akiyama, 1st Japanese to go to space, dies

File photo taken in Arkalyk in the Soviet republic of Kazakhstan in December 1990 shows Toyohiro Akiyama, a reporter for Japanese television broadcaster Tokyo Broadcasting System, waving from atop the Soyuz space capsule after returning to Earth. Akiyama, the first Japanese to fly into space, died at the age of 84.

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Akiyama, 1st Japanese to go to space, dies

File photo taken in December 2021 shows Toyohiro Akiyama, the first Japanese to fly into space. He died at the age of 84.

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Akiyama, 1st Japanese to go to space, dies

File photo taken in December 2021 shows Toyohiro Akiyama, the first Japanese to fly into space. He died at the age of 84.

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Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse Observed Across Americas and Europe 6

On Thursday night into Friday, August 27-28, a deep partial lunar eclipse darkened nearly the entire moon, with 96% of its surface passing into Earth's shadow at the moment of greatest eclipse. The celestial event was visible across most of the Americas, as well as parts of Europe and Africa, making it the closest the world will come to a total lunar eclipse until the next one occurs in December 2028.

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Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse Observed Across Americas and Europe 7

On Thursday night into Friday, August 27-28, a deep partial lunar eclipse darkened nearly the entire moon, with 96% of its surface passing into Earth's shadow at the moment of greatest eclipse. The celestial event was visible across most of the Americas, as well as parts of Europe and Africa, making it the closest the world will come to a total lunar eclipse until the next one occurs in December 2028.

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Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse Observed Across Americas and Europe 8

On Thursday night into Friday, August 27-28, a deep partial lunar eclipse darkened nearly the entire moon, with 96% of its surface passing into Earth's shadow at the moment of greatest eclipse. The celestial event was visible across most of the Americas, as well as parts of Europe and Africa, making it the closest the world will come to a total lunar eclipse until the next one occurs in December 2028.

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Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse Observed Across Americas and Europe 5

On Thursday night into Friday, August 27-28, a deep partial lunar eclipse darkened nearly the entire moon, with 96% of its surface passing into Earth's shadow at the moment of greatest eclipse. The celestial event was visible across most of the Americas, as well as parts of Europe and Africa, making it the closest the world will come to a total lunar eclipse until the next one occurs in December 2028.

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Japan: Polar Bear Cub Momota Delights Visitors by Wearing Traffic Cone on Its Head

A polar bear cub named Momota, born in December, 2025 at the Oga Aquarium GAO in Akita Prefecture, has become a popular attraction, with visitors charmed by the sight of the cub playfully wearing a traffic cone on its head.

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[Breaking News]Football: J-League kickoff event

TOKYO, Japan, Aug. 4 Kyodo - Players from J-League football teams pose for a photo at an event in Tokyo on Aug. 3, 2026, ahead of the start of the new season on Aug. 7. The J-League switched to an August-to-June season from the conventional February-to-December schedule, corresponding with the schedule of major European leagues. (Kyodo)

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Football: J-League kickoff event

Players from J-League football teams pose for a photo at an event in Tokyo on Aug. 3, 2026, ahead of the start of the new season on Aug. 7. The J-League switched to an August-to-June season from the conventional February-to-December schedule, corresponding with the schedule of major European leagues.

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Football: J-League kickoff event

Players from J-League football teams pose for a photo at an event in Tokyo on Aug. 3, 2026, ahead of the start of the new season on Aug. 7. The J-League switched to an August-to-June season from the conventional February-to-December schedule, corresponding with the schedule of major European leagues.

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Football: J-League kickoff event

Players from J-League football teams pose for a photo at an event in Tokyo on Aug. 3, 2026, ahead of the start of the new season on Aug. 7. The J-League switched to an August-to-June season from the conventional February-to-December schedule, corresponding with the schedule of major European leagues.

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Best-selling Japanese author Keigo Higashino dies of cancer

Photo taken in Tokyo in December 2023 shows Keigo Higashino, a bestselling Japanese author known for his mystery novels. Higashino, whose works gained wide popularity in South Korea, China and other parts of Asia, died of bowel cancer on July 23, 2026, aged 68.

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Dollar trades near 39-year high in lower 163 yen level

A monitor at a foreign exchange trading company in Tokyo shows the U.S. dollar trading in the lower 163 yen range on July 22, 2026, after hitting 163.24 yen, its highest level since December 1986, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

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Dollar trades near 39-year high in lower 163 yen level

Monitors at a foreign exchange trading company in Tokyo show the U.S. dollar trading in the lower 163 yen range on July 22, 2026, after hitting 163.24 yen, its highest level since December 1986, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

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Dollar trades near 39-year high in lower 163 yen level

Monitors at a foreign exchange trading company in Tokyo show the U.S. dollar trading in the lower 163 yen range on July 22, 2026, after hitting 163.24 yen, its highest level since December 1986, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

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Asahi Group Holdings: Financial Results Briefing for the Fiscal Year Ending December 2025

Asahi Group Holdings, Financial Results Briefing for the Fiscal Year Ending December 2025. The photo shows President Atsushi Katsuki.=July 8,2026,Tokyo

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Asahi Group Holdings: Financial Results Briefing for the Fiscal Year Ending December 2025

Asahi Group Holdings: Financial Results Briefing for the Fiscal Year Ending December 2025=July 8,2026,Tokyo

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Asahi Group Holdings: Financial Results Briefing for the Fiscal Year Ending December 2025

Asahi Group Holdings, Financial Results Briefing for the Fiscal Year Ending December 2025. The photo shows President Atsushi Katsuki (left).=July 8,2026,Tokyo

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Asahi Group Holdings: Financial Results Briefing for the Fiscal Year Ending December 2025

Asahi Group Holdings, Financial Results Briefing for the Fiscal Year Ending December 2025. The photo shows President Atsushi Katsuki.=July 8,2026,Tokyo

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Atomic bomb survivor Setsuko Thurlow in Vienna

Setsuko Thurlow, a 94-year-old atomic bomb survivor and nuclear disarmament campaigner, speaks about her experience in Hiroshima during a meeting hosted by the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in Vienna on June 17, 2026, in preparation for the first review conference on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, scheduled in November and December.

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Namibia: Sea Lion Climbs Aboard Boat and Enjoys Snacks

A sea lion leaped from the water and climbed directly into a boat in Namibia. It made its way to a raised platform while onlookers watched. A man fed it pieces of meat, which it eagerly ate. The animal remained calm even when touched, showing no signs of stress around humans.

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China: Hundreds of Ducks Spin in Formation on Darkened Roadway

On December 29, 2025, in Zhejiang Province, located in eastern China, a video recorded a surreal nighttime scene in which more than a hundred ducks formed a tidy square formation in the middle of the road. Under the dim streetlights, the birds marched in a slow circular pattern, forcing passing vehicles to stop and give way. Drivers watched as the ducks continued turning rhythmically, appearing completely absorbed in their movement. Their orderly behavior at such a late hour puzzled many who viewed the clip, and the unusual gathering drew significant attention online.

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China: Truck Spins 360 Degrees on Icy Highway, Regains Control Without Crashing

On December 19, 2025, on an icy highway in Gansu, China, a cargo truck lost traction and spun a full 360 degrees across the frozen road, briefly facing oncoming traffic. Despite the dangerous conditions, the driver kept the truck upright, avoided other vehicles and barriers, and steered back into the correct lane. The truck then pulled over and came to a stop as traffic resumed.

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China: Man Hurls Burning Gas Cylinder Out of Home, Bystander Shuts Valve by Hand

This is the heart-stopping moment that a Chinese resident hurled a burning liquefied gas cylinder out of his home as flames burst from the valve, triggering a chaotic scramble before another man intervened. On December 29, 2025, in Shandong, China, a household gas tank suddenly caught fire inside a room. As thick flames shot upward, a man rushed toward the cylinder, grabbed it with both hands and threw it out through the doorway to keep the blaze away from the house. He then snatched up a basin of water and prepared to douse the fire. Moments later, a second man approached calmly, stepped close to the still burning tank and quickly shut the valve by hand, stopping the fuel flow. The video ended with the flames fully extinguished and both men standing safely outside.

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China: Seal Delights Visitors by Waving Its Flipper in Zhuhai

On December 12, 2025, a seal at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, in Zhuhai, Guangdong, appeared to greet visitors by waving its front flipper in the water, drawing smiles and laughter from them.

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China: Four Young Men Save Driver Trapped in Overturned Truck in Shandong

On Wednesday, December 24, 2025, in Zhanqiu, Shandong, a cargo truck overturned on the G2 Beijing-Shanghai Expressway in the early morning hours. Four young men from Linyi rushed to the overturned truck without hesitation, working together to open the crushed cabin and pull the driver to safety.

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China: Bystanders and Emergency Teams Work Together to Rescue Car From River in Hubei

On Saturday, December 27, 2025, in Tianmen, Hubei, a Wuling new energy vehicle drove into a river near Xingxing Bridge and the Ship Lock Bridge. Emergency rescue teams and bystanders gathered along the riverbank, working together with ropes and equipment to pull the submerged vehicle toward the shore.

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China: Green Parrot With Impressive Handstand Skills in Jiangsu

On December 21, 2025, in Jiangsu Province, a video captured a green parrot on its 52nd day in its new home. Despite not having spoken a single word yet, the bird devoted all its energy to physical “training.” Perched upside down on the owner’s palm, the parrot held a perfect handstand, keeping its body rigid and pulling in its tiny claws.

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China: Trapped Black-Faced Spoonbill Freed From Fishing Line in Lushan

On December 13, 2025, in Lushan, Jiangxi, a video captured a black faced spoonbill whose beak and wings had been tightly tangled in a fishing line. The bird thrashed in the shallow water, clearly exhausted and unable to free itself. Two anglers approached slowly and patiently worked to loosen the thin but stubborn line from its beak and feathers. After several moments of careful handling, the line was finally removed and the spoonbill was no longer restrained.

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China: Pet Owner Reveals Unusual Two-Headed Bearded Dragon

This is the rare moment that a Chinese man presented an unusual two-headed bearded dragon, drawing attention as the reptile calmly moved with both heads sharing a single body. On December 8, 2025, in Hubei, China, the video captured a pet owner gently holding out his finger while the small reptile slowly crawled forward. The bearded dragon appeared to have two fully formed heads connected to one body, each head moving slightly independently as it balanced itself. The man kept his hand steady, allowing the creature to explore without disturbance. The reptile’s tiny claws gripped his finger as both heads looked around, creating a striking and rare visual. The video ended with the two-headed bearded dragon continuing to crawl calmly along the man’s finger as he observed it closely.

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China: Cat Accidentally Plays Guzheng, Creating a Surprisingly Clear Melody

A curious cat in Jiangxi, China, accidentally played a surprisingly clear melody on a guzheng on December 15, 2025. In the video, the cat gently pawed at the strings, pausing and repeating the motion as each touch produced soft, recognizable tones. Unfazed by the sounds, the cat calmly explored the instrument before sitting quietly beside it as the final note faded.

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Japan: Sakurajima Volcano Erupts Twice in Two Days for First Time This Year 2

Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima, southern Japan, erupted explosively on consecutive days for the first time this year. The blasts from the Minamidake summit crater on April 11 and 12 sent ash plumes up to 3,400 meters high and scattered volcanic rocks up to 1,000 meters from the crater. No pyroclastic flows were observed. The eruptions are the first and second of the year, following the previous event on December 13 last year. Volcanic alert level 3 — prohibiting entry into the mountain — remains in effect, with authorities warning of large projectiles and pyroclastic flows within 2 kilometers of the crater.

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Japan: Sakurajima Volcano Erupts Twice in Two Days for First Time This Year

Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima, southern Japan, erupted explosively on consecutive days for the first time this year. The blasts from the Minamidake summit crater on April 11 and 12 sent ash plumes up to 3,400 meters high and scattered volcanic rocks up to 1,000 meters from the crater. No pyroclastic flows were observed. The eruptions are the first and second of the year, following the previous event on December 13 last year. Volcanic alert level 3 — prohibiting entry into the mountain — remains in effect, with authorities warning of large projectiles and pyroclastic flows within 2 kilometers of the crater.

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Christmas illuminations in Lagos

File photo taken in December 2025 shows Christmas illuminations in Lagos, Nigeria.

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Christmas illuminations in Lagos

File photo taken in December 2025 shows Christmas illuminations in Lagos, Nigeria.

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Christmas illuminations in Lagos

File photo taken in December 2025 shows Christmas illuminations in Lagos, Nigeria.

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China: Climbing Perch Fish Spotted Crawling Across Muddy Road in Guangdong

On December 27, 2025, in Guangdong Province, a video showed a line of shiny black fish moving across a muddy country road. The fish advanced slowly in an orderly row. Viewers identified the species as climbing perch, an amphibious freshwater fish in the family Anabantidae, known for crawling onto muddy ground after rain in search of water. Their tough bodies allow them to traverse rough surfaces with ease.

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Memorial ceremony for Japan golf legend Ozaki

Pro golfers make tee shots during a memorial ceremony for Japan golf legend Masashi Ozaki at a country club in Kuwana in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on April 8, 2026. Nicknamed Jumbo Ozaki after the Boeing 747 "Jumbo Jet," he died aged 78 in December 2025, after scoring 112 wins, the most for a Japanese pro golfer, between 1971 and 2002.

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Memorial ceremony for Japan golf legend Ozaki

Pro golfers pose for a photo during a memorial ceremony for Japan golf legend Masashi Ozaki at a country club in Kuwana in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on April 8, 2026. Nicknamed Jumbo Ozaki after the Boeing 747 "Jumbo Jet," he died aged 78 in December 2025, after scoring 112 wins, the most for a Japanese pro golfer, between 1971 and 2002.

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Serbia: Students Clash With Police Over University of Belgrade Raid 3

On Tuesday, March 31, hundreds of students clashed with police in Belgrade after officers searched University of Belgrade offices as part of an investigation into a student's death. The incident is the latest flashpoint in anti-government protests that have swept Serbia since December 2024, following the deaths of 16 people in a railway station collapse in Novi Sad.

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China: Two Wild Leopard Cats Caught Fighting in Car Headlights on Highway

On December 25, 2025, on the Sichuan–Tibet highway in Qinghai, a driver stopped to rest and caught two leopard cats wrestling in the headlights. The wild cats fought intensely, completely unfazed by the car or its passengers.

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Serbia: Students Clash With Police Over University of Belgrade Raid 2

On Tuesday, March 31, hundreds of students clashed with police in Belgrade after officers searched University of Belgrade offices as part of an investigation into a student's death. The incident is the latest flashpoint in anti-government protests that have swept Serbia since December 2024, following the deaths of 16 people in a railway station collapse in Novi Sad.

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China: Massive Rodent Roams Fearlessly on Yulin Street

On December 6, 2025, in Yulin, Guangxi, a large black rodent — nearly the size of a small cat — was filmed calmly roaming among scattered chairs, sniffing the ground without any fear of people. Chinese netizens identified the animal as a coypu, a species commonly seen on roads in southern China.

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China: Toddler and Dog Share Wobbly Walk Together in Zhejiang

On December 18, 2025, in Zhejiang, a video captured a toddler wobbling forward after recently learning to walk, as a small dog gently grabbed the strap on the child's clothing. The dog pulled lightly, causing the toddler to lose balance repeatedly as they moved together.

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China: Two Cars Collide at Intersection, Nearly Hit Pedestrian in Hunan

A pedestrian in Taoyuan County, China, narrowly escaped injury on December 21, 2025, after two cars collided at full speed at a busy intersection and slid toward bystanders. The person calmly walked through the gap between the spinning vehicles and continued on, completely unhurt.

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China: Ducks Killed After Pecking at Feed Bags Causes Grain Stack to Collapse on Farm

This is the shocking moment that a group of Chinese ducks were accidentally crushed when a pile of stored corn suddenly collapsed inside a farm warehouse. On December 21, 2025, in Yancheng, Jiangsu, the video captured a group of ducks sneaking toward stacked feed bags filled with corn inside a grain storage area. The ducks gathered beneath the pile and pecked at the lower bags, which gradually weakened the structure holding the corn in place. Moments later, the entire stack lost balance and collapsed downward. The falling corn bags and grain pile suddenly buried several ducks underneath, leaving some of them trapped and unable to escape. According to the farm owner, eight ducks had been found dead after the cleanup was completed. The video ended with the collapsed grain pile covering the ducks, leaving some of them completely trapped underneath.

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Memorial ceremony for Japanese golf legend Ozaki

TOKYO, Japan, March 16 Kyodo - Japanese pro baseball's all-time home run king Sadaharu Oh prays for legendary professional golfer Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki at a memorial ceremony for him in Tokyo. Ozaki died in December 2025 at age 78 after recording 112 wins, the most by a Japanese player, including 94 on the Japan Golf Tour. (Kyodo)

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Memorial ceremony for Japanese golf legend Ozaki

Japanese professional golfer Ryo Ishikawa prays for legendary professional golfer Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki at a memorial ceremony for him in Tokyo. Ozaki died in December 2025 at age 78 after recording 112 wins, the most by a Japanese player, including 94 on the Japan Golf Tour.

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Memorial ceremony for Japanese golf legend Ozaki

Japanese golfer Isao Aoki delivers a eulogy at a memorial ceremony for Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki in Tokyo on March 16, 2026. Ozaki died in December 2025 aged 78 after scoring 112 wins, the most for a Japanese player, including 94 on the Japan Golf Tour.