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Popular mascot Hikonyan

Hikonyan, the popular mascot of the city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, serves as a guide during a special event on Aug. 9, 2026, allowing the owners of stuffed toys to bring them to Hikone Castle Museum for a weeklong stay.

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Popular mascot Hikonyan

Hikonyan, the popular mascot of the city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, serves as a guide during a special event on Aug. 9, 2026, allowing the owners of stuffed toys to bring them to Hikone Castle Museum for a weeklong stay.

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China: Puppies Fall Into Ditch One by One in Sichuan

In Deyang, Sichuan, on August 4, 2026, four puppies were seen playing near a small wooden bridge when misfortune struck them one after another. A black puppy fell into the ditch below while attempting to cross, followed by a yellow puppy and another black puppy. Even the last puppy, after hesitating, slipped while backing away and tumbled in as well.

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JAXA unveils space probe for Mars moon project

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency unveils a space probe to be used for the Martian Moons eXploration project at the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 13, 2026. An H3 rocket carrying the probe will be launched possibly this fall for the five-year mission, which aims to collect samples from Mars' moon Phobos and return them to Earth.

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JAXA unveils space probe for Mars moon project

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency unveils a space probe to be used for the Martian Moons eXploration project at the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 13, 2026. An H3 rocket carrying the probe will be launched possibly this fall for the five-year mission, which aims to collect samples from Mars' moon Phobos and return them to Earth.

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China: Small Parrot Fights Back After Being Pushed Off Monitor in Shandong

On August 6, 2026, in Shandong province, a video showed a small budgerigar squeezed off a computer monitor by two larger parrots fighting, before it returned and shoved one of them back. Viewers called the little bird stubborn and tough.

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China: Rabbit Shelters Six Chicks Beneath Its Body in Gansu

On August 6, 2026, in Gansu province, a video captured a rabbit crouching over six chicks huddled beneath its body, appearing to shelter them like a mother. Viewers found the moment adorable and joked that the chicks had picked the wrong mother.

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China: Tourists Shelter Under Buddha Statues as Storm Hits Longmen Grottoes

A powerful convective storm brought heavy rain, hail, and strong winds to the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan on August 3. Tourists were seen rushing to shelter beneath the Buddha statues, with some crouching close to the stone carvings as rain poured down around them. A visitor said the storm lasted less than 40 minutes before conditions improved.

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China: River Packed With Boats at Qinling Rafting Attraction

Video from Ankang, Shaanxi on July 26, 2026 shows crowds of tourists packed onto kayaks at the Qinling rafting attraction, with boats covering much of the river and leaving little space between them.

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China: Portable Gas Stove Explodes at Dinner Table

A portable gas stove exploded without warning at a table in Jieyang, Guangdong, while a group was eating together, startling everyone and prompting them to quickly back away from the table.

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China: Dog Washes Its Face Like a Cat After Growing Up Together

A video filmed on June 15, 2026, in Jiangsu province, eastern China, showed a pet dog raising both front paws to its face and licking them in a motion resembling how cats wash their faces. The owner said the dog grew up with an older cat and appeared to have picked up the habit from it.

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Japan: Balck-and-White Calbee Chips Spotted in Store Before Color Return

Major snack maker Calbee announced on July 9 that it will gradually restore color packaging for eight products starting in late July, after switching them to black-and-white printing due to naphtha supply concerns. The "black-and-white potato chips" ended up on shelves for about two months since late May, sparking varied reactions on social media. Some said they never saw the black-and-white version in stores at all, since only the full-color packaging was available, while others speculated the black-and-white chips could become a collector's item.

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China: Cat Plays Fruit-Cutting Game on Screen in Guangdong

A cat in Guangdong stood on a table in front of the monitor while its owner opened the game. As fruits appeared on the screen, the cat tapped them with its paws, but mistakenly hit a bomb that appeared, ending the game.

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China: Mother Shields Child With Her Body as Earthquake Hits Sichuan

On June 29, 2026, in Yibin, Sichuan, a mother instinctively threw herself over her child the moment a 5.5-magnitude earthquake began shaking their home. The father, who was nearby, immediately reached over to shield them both as the tremor continued.

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China: Mother Hen Shields Chicks From Downpour With Her Wings

A mother hen in Anhui, China, sheltered her chicks from heavy rain by spreading her wings and lowering her body over them, keeping them dry while she remained fully exposed to the storm.

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Emperor, empress return home

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (front, L) and Empress Masako are greeted upon arrival at Tokyo's Haneda airport on June 26, 2026, following their official trip to the Netherlands and Belgium. Standing behind them is Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. (Pool photo)

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China: Oncoming Driver’s High Beam Warning Prevents Accident in Zhejiang

On June 21, 2026, in Jiaxing, Zhejiang, dashcam footage captured a car traveling along a dark road at night. An oncoming driver began flashing their high beams rapidly, prompting the dashcam driver to slow down. As the vehicle decelerated, a person lying motionless in the middle of a crosswalk came into view, allowing the driver to safely navigate around them.

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Japan emperor, empress in Belgium

Japan's Emperor Naruhito (front row, 2nd from R) and Empress Masako (front row, 2nd from L) pose for a photo with Belgium's King Philippe (front row, far L) and Queen Mathilde (front row, far R) at the Royal Castle of Ciergnon in Houyet, southern Belgium, a residence and summer retreat of the Belgian royal family, on June 21, 2026. Standing behind them are (from R to L) Prince Gabriel, Princess Elisabeth, Princess Eleonore and Prince Emmanuel. (Pool photo)

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Japan emperor, empress in Belgium

Japan's Emperor Naruhito (front row, 2nd from R) and Empress Masako (front row, 2nd from L) pose for a photo with Belgium's King Philippe (front row, far L) and Queen Mathilde (front row, far R) at the Royal Castle of Ciergnon in Houyet, southern Belgium, a residence and summer retreat of the Belgian royal family, on June 21, 2026. Standing behind them are (from R to L) Prince Gabriel, Princess Elisabeth, Princess Eleonore and Prince Emmanuel. (Pool photo)

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Japan emperor, empress in Belgium

Japan's Emperor Naruhito (front row, 2nd from R) and Empress Masako (front row, 2nd from L) pose for a photo with Belgium's King Philippe (front row, far L) and Queen Mathilde (front row, far R) at the Royal Castle of Ciergnon in Houyet, southern Belgium, a residence and summer retreat of the Belgian royal family, on June 21, 2026. Standing behind them are (from R to L) Prince Gabriel, Princess Elisabeth, Princess Eleonore and Prince Emmanuel. (Pool photo)

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Japan emperor, empress in Belgium

Japan's Emperor Naruhito (front row, 2nd from R) and Empress Masako (front row, 2nd from L) pose for a photo with Belgium's King Philippe (front row, far L) and Queen Mathilde (front row, far R) at the Royal Castle of Ciergnon in Houyet, southern Belgium, a residence and summer retreat of the Belgian royal family, on June 21, 2026. Standing behind them are (from R to L) Prince Gabriel, Princess Elisabeth, Princess Eleonore and Prince Emmanuel. (Pool photo)

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Japan's imperial couple arrive in Belgium

Japan's Emperor Naruhito (front, 2nd from R) and Empress Masako (front, 3rd from R) are greeted upon arriving at Melsbroek Air Base near Brussels on June 20, 2026, on the second leg of their official trip to the Netherlands and Belgium. Standing behind them is Belgium's Crown Princess Elisabeth.

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Japan's imperial couple visit children's cancer hospital in Utrecht

Japan's Empress Masako (front, R) and Dutch Queen Maxima (behind her) speak to children during a visit to a hospital for child cancer patients in Utrecht, the Netherlands, on June 19, 2026. Standing behind them are Japan's Emperor Naruhito (L) and Dutch King Willem-Alexander. (Pool photo)

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China: Woman “Walks” Butterflies Like Pets in Hunan Park

A woman in Hunan province was filmed on June 7 in a park using a stick to gently guide a group of butterflies fluttering nearby, creating the illusion of walking them like pets.

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World Cup 2026 – Mexico Squad Greeted by Fans in Guadalajara Before South Korea Showdown

Mexico's national soccer team arrived in Guadalajara on Tuesday ahead of their Group A World Cup 2026 match against South Korea, where dozens of fans welcomed them at the team hotel. Players later came out of their rooms to greet supporters, who gathered with flags and chants. The match is scheduled for Friday, June 19 at Estadio Guadalajara.

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