Rice fields, shrines, fireworks, museums, humidity, judo, shopping, convenience store food, meeting a famous dog, Pokémon, host families, Japanese hospitality and fire torches are just a few of the memories that come to mind when I think of the 11 day trip to Tsuruta, Japan, I and 15 others embarked on this past August.

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BAGHDAD (AP) — Residents of the Iraqi city of Mosul say Islamic extremist militants have blown up a revered Muslim shrine traditionally said to be the burial place of the Prophet Jonah.