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Japan: Performers Balance Towering Lanterns at Akita Kanto Festival

The Akita Kanto Festival, one of the three major festivals in Japan's Tohoku region with roughly 270 years of history, opened Sunday, August 2, in central Akita City and runs through August 6. This year's event features 67 groups—38 neighborhood teams and 29 school and workplace teams—swaying 273 lantern-laden bamboo poles through the night sky in a prayer for a bountiful harvest, the poles representing rice stalks. The largest of the poles measure up to 12 meters long and weigh 50 kilograms, balanced skillfully by performers on their foreheads, palms, and other parts of the body.

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Spain: Giant Hail Pelts Solsonès Region in Catalonia

A severe thunderstorm dropped hail as large as tennis balls across the Solsonès region and parts of the central Pre-Pyrenees in Catalonia, Spain, on Monday afternoon, August 3.

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Japan: Typhoon Dolphin Brings Powerful Winds and Outages to Ogasawara Islands 2

Powerful Typhoon Dolphin was making its closest approach to the Ogasawara Islands, located about 1,000 kilometers south of central Tokyo, on Tuesday, August 4, with maximum sustained winds near the center of 45 meters per second and maximum gusts of 60 meters per second, while power outages were reported on Chichijima and Hahajima.

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Japan: Typhoon Dolphin Brings Powerful Winds and Outages to Ogasawara Islands

Powerful Typhoon Dolphin was making its closest approach to the Ogasawara Islands, located about 1,000 kilometers south of central Tokyo, on Tuesday, August 4, with maximum sustained winds near the center of 45 meters per second and maximum gusts of 60 meters per second, while power outages were reported on Chichijima and Hahajima.

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[Breaking News]BOJ key monetary meeting

TOKYO, Japan, July 31 Kyodo - Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on July 31, 2026, following a two-day monetary policy meeting. (Kyodo)

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World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya

Two representatives from Hong Kong (C) celebrate after winning the championship at the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026.

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World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya

Two representatives from Hong Kong (C) celebrate after winning the championship at the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026.

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World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya

Two representatives from Hong Kong perform en route to winning the championship at the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026.

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World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya

Representatives from Japan perform at the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026.

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World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya

Representatives from Japan perform at the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026.

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World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya

Representatives from Japan perform at the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026.

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World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya

Representatives from Japan perform at the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026.

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Princess Aiko visits Ise Jingu shrine

Japanese Princess Aiko visits a museum at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits Ise Jingu shrine

Japanese Princess Aiko visits a museum at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits Ise Jingu shrine

Japanese Princess Aiko (C) visits Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits Ise Jingu shrine

Japanese Princess Aiko visits Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits Ise Jingu shrine

Japanese Princess Aiko visits Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026.

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Princess Aiko visits Ise Jingu shrine

Japanese Princess Aiko visits Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits Ise Jingu shrine

Japanese Princess Aiko visits Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits Ise Jingu shrine

Japanese Princess Aiko (C) joins others in pulling a rope to move a sacred tree trunk during a visit to Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026, as part of the rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction, conducted every 20 years. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits Ise Jingu shrine

Japanese Princess Aiko (C) joins others in pulling a rope to move a sacred tree trunk during a visit to Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026, as part of the rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction, conducted every 20 years. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits Ise Jingu shrine

Japanese Princess Aiko (C) joins others in pulling a rope to move a sacred tree trunk during a visit to Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026, as part of the rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction, conducted every 20 years. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits Ise Jingu shrine

Japanese Princess Aiko (C) joins others in pulling a rope to move a sacred tree trunk during a visit to Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 2, 2026, as part of the rites for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction, conducted every 20 years. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits Mie Pref.

Japanese Princess Aiko visits a lumbermill in Ise in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 1, 2026. The princess will visit Ise Jingu shrine the following day to watch a rite for the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine building reconstruction, which is conducted every 20 years. The rite will be performed using trees processed at the workshop. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits Mie Pref.

Japanese Princess Aiko watches a dugong during a visit to Toba Aquarium in Toba in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 1, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits Mie Pref.

Japanese Princess Aiko watches a sea otter during a visit to Toba Aquarium in Toba in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 1, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits Mie Pref.

Japanese Princess Aiko watches a dugong during a visit to Toba Aquarium in Toba in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 1, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits Mie Pref.

Japanese Princess Aiko waves upon arriving at Kintetsu Railway's Uji Yamada Station in Ise in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 1, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits Mie Pref.

Japanese Princess Aiko watches a sea otter during a visit to Toba Aquarium in Toba in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 1, 2026. (Pool photo)

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Princess Aiko visits Mie Pref.

Japanese Princess Aiko arrives at Kintetsu Railway's Uji Yamada Station in Ise in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Aug. 1, 2026.

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BOJ key monetary meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on July 31, 2026, following a two-day monetary policy meeting.

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BOJ key monetary meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on July 31, 2026, following a two-day monetary policy meeting.

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BOJ key monetary meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on July 31, 2026, following a two-day monetary policy meeting.

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BOJ policy-setting meeting

The Bank of Japan's Policy Board meets at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on July 31, 2026, for the second day of its two-day monetary policy meeting, with Governor Kazuo Ueda seated in the center. (Pool photo)

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BOJ policy-setting meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda enters the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on July 31, 2026, for the second day of a two-day monetary policy meeting. (Pool photo)

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Switzerland: Rooftop Fire Erupts in Central Geneva

A large fire broke out in the roof of a building on Rue du Cendrier near the Pont de la Machine in central Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday, July 30, sending thick black smoke visible for miles. No injuries were reported and no forced evacuations were needed, and firefighters brought the blaze under control while police cordoned off the surrounding area.

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Switzerland: Rooftop Fire Erupts in Central Geneva 2

A large fire broke out in the roof of a building on Rue du Cendrier near the Pont de la Machine in central Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday, July 30, sending thick black smoke visible for miles. No injuries were reported and no forced evacuations were needed, and firefighters brought the blaze under control while police cordoned off the surrounding area.

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US: Wildfire Smoke Reduces Visibility, Worsens Air Quality in Central Oregon

Smoke from wildfires burning across Central Oregon reduced visibility and hurt air quality this week. By Wednesday, July 29, conditions had improved across most of the region, though Prineville still logged an unhealthy reading of 101.

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Thatched-roof house catches fire in World Heritage-listed village

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows firefighters watering a traditional thatched-roof house in the World Heritage-listed Gokayama hamlet in Nanto in Toyama Prefecture, central Japan, on July 30, 2026. No one was injured in the fire, put under control about 50 minutes after the incident was reported to the local fire station.

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Thatched-roof house catches fire in World Heritage-listed village

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows firefighters watering a traditional thatched-roof house in the World Heritage-listed Gokayama hamlet in Nanto in Toyama Prefecture, central Japan, on July 30, 2026. No one was injured in the fire, put under control about 50 minutes after the incident was reported to the local fire station.

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Thatched-roof house catches fire in World Heritage-listed village

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows firefighters watering a traditional thatched-roof house in the World Heritage-listed Gokayama hamlet in Nanto in Toyama Prefecture, central Japan, on July 30, 2026. No one was injured in the fire, put under control about 50 minutes after the incident was reported to the local fire station.

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Thatched-roof house catches fire in World Heritage-listed village

Firefighters water a traditional thatched-roof house in the World Heritage-listed Gokayama hamlet in Nanto in Toyama Prefecture, central Japan, on July 30, 2026. No one was injured in the fire, put under control about 50 minutes after the incident was reported to the local fire station.

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Thatched-roof house catches fire in World Heritage-listed village

Firefighters water a traditional thatched-roof house in the World Heritage-listed Gokayama hamlet in Nanto in Toyama Prefecture, central Japan, on July 30, 2026. No one was injured in the fire, put under control about 50 minutes after the incident was reported to the local fire station.

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BOJ key monetary meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda enters the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, for the first day of a two-day policy-setting monetary meeting.

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BOJ key monetary meeting

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda enters the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, for the first day of a two-day policy-setting monetary meeting.

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Day after car crash into LGBT parade in Berlin

People stand in front of flowers and candles placed at a makeshift memorial in central Berlin on July 26, 2026, a day after a vehicle driven by a man plowed through a crowd of revelers taking part in a nearby parade for sexual minorities, leaving one person dead and about 30 injured.

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Day after car crash into LGBT parade in Berlin

People stand in front of flowers and candles placed at a makeshift memorial in central Berlin on July 26, 2026, a day after a vehicle driven by a man plowed through a crowd of revelers taking part in a nearby parade for sexual minorities, leaving one person dead and about 30 injured.

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Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament

Sekiwake Aonishiki holds a press conference in Nisshin in Aichi Prefecture on July 27, 2026, a day after winning the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya, the capital of the central Japan prefecture.

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Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament

Sekiwake Aonishiki holds a press conference in Nisshin in Aichi Prefecture on July 27, 2026, a day after winning the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya, the capital of the central Japan prefecture.

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Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament

Sekiwake Aonishiki holds a press conference in Nisshin in Aichi Prefecture on July 27, 2026, a day after winning the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya, the capital of the central Japan prefecture.