Total Solar Eclipse Dazzles Skywatchers Across Europe, Arctic Region 3

A total solar eclipse dazzled skies over parts of Europe on Wednesday, August 12, with prime viewing in Iceland, northern Spain, and northeastern Portugal. A partial eclipse was visible in parts of the northern US, Canada, and much of Europe and northwestern Africa.

Total Solar Eclipse Dazzles Skywatchers Across Europe, Arctic Region 2

A total solar eclipse dazzled skies over parts of Europe on Wednesday, August 12, with prime viewing in Iceland, northern Spain, and northeastern Portugal. A partial eclipse was visible in parts of the northern US, Canada, and much of Europe and northwestern Africa.

Total Solar Eclipse Dazzles Skywatchers Across Europe, Arctic Region

A total solar eclipse dazzled skies over parts of Europe on Wednesday, August 12, with prime viewing in Iceland, northern Spain, and northeastern Portugal. A partial eclipse was visible in parts of the northern US, Canada, and much of Europe and northwestern Africa.

Powerful typhoon in northeastern Japan

Powerful typhoon in northeastern Japan

High waves pound the shore in Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 11, 2026, as Typhoon Chan-hom approaches.

Powerful typhoon in northeastern Japan

Powerful typhoon in northeastern Japan

High waves surround a "torii" shrine gateway on the shore in Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 11, 2026, as Typhoon Chan-hom approaches.

Tanabata festival in Sendai

Tanabata festival in Sendai

Colorful streamers decorate a shopping arcade in Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 6, 2026, as the annual Sendai Tanabata Festival begins for a three-day run.

Tanabata festival in Sendai

Tanabata festival in Sendai

Colorful streamers decorate a shopping arcade in Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 6, 2026, as the annual Sendai Tanabata Festival begins for a three-day run.

Tanabata festival in Sendai

Tanabata festival in Sendai

Colorful streamers decorate a shopping arcade in Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 6, 2026, as the annual Sendai Tanabata Festival begins for a three-day run.

Tanabata festival in Sendai

Tanabata festival in Sendai

Colorful streamers decorate a shopping arcade in Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 6, 2026, as the annual Sendai Tanabata Festival begins for a three-day run.

Tanabata festival in Sendai

Tanabata festival in Sendai

Colorful streamers decorate a shopping arcade in Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 6, 2026, as the annual Sendai Tanabata Festival begins for a three-day run.

Tanabata festival in Sendai

Tanabata festival in Sendai

Colorful streamers decorate a shopping arcade in Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 6, 2026, as the annual Sendai Tanabata Festival begins for a three-day run.

Dance festival in northeastern Japan

Dance festival in northeastern Japan

Dancers wave hats adorned with orange safflowers in a parade at the traditional Yamagata Hanagasa Festival on Aug. 5, 2026, in Yamagata, northeastern Japan.

Dance festival in northeastern Japan

Dance festival in northeastern Japan

Dancers wave hats adorned with orange safflowers in a parade at the traditional Yamagata Hanagasa Festival on Aug. 5, 2026, in Yamagata, northeastern Japan.

Dance festival in northeastern Japan

Dance festival in northeastern Japan

Dancers wave hats adorned with orange safflowers in a parade at the traditional Yamagata Hanagasa Festival on Aug. 5, 2026, in Yamagata, northeastern Japan.

Dance festival in northeastern Japan

Dance festival in northeastern Japan

Dancers wave hats adorned with orange safflowers in a parade at the traditional Yamagata Hanagasa Festival on Aug. 5, 2026, in Yamagata, northeastern Japan.

Dance festival in northeastern Japan

Dance festival in northeastern Japan

Dancers wave hats adorned with orange safflowers in a parade at the traditional Yamagata Hanagasa Festival on Aug. 5, 2026, in Yamagata, northeastern Japan.

US: Flash Flooding Hits Virginia’s Hampton Roads Region 2

Heavy rain triggered flash flooding across Virginia's Hampton Roads region and northeastern North Carolina on Tuesday, August 4, causing significant travel delays and impassable roads.

US: Flash Flooding Hits Virginia’s Hampton Roads Region

Heavy rain triggered flash flooding across Virginia's Hampton Roads region and northeastern North Carolina on Tuesday, August 4, causing significant travel delays and impassable roads.

Doll-like lantern parade in northeastern Japan

Doll-like lantern parade in northeastern Japan

Doll-like lanterns each more than 20 meters tall are paraded on the opening day of the five-day Goshogawara Tachi Neputa festival in the northeastern Japan city of Goshogawara, Aomori Prefecture, on Aug. 4, 2026.

Doll-like lantern parade in northeastern Japan

Doll-like lantern parade in northeastern Japan

A doll-like lantern more than 20 meters tall is paraded on the opening day of the five-day Goshogawara Tachi Neputa festival in the northeastern Japan city of Goshogawara, Aomori Prefecture, on Aug. 4, 2026.

Doll-like lantern parade in northeastern Japan

Doll-like lantern parade in northeastern Japan

Doll-like lanterns each more than 20 meters tall are paraded on the opening day of the five-day Goshogawara Tachi Neputa festival in the northeastern Japan city of Goshogawara, Aomori Prefecture, on Aug. 4, 2026.

Doll-like lantern parade in northeastern Japan

Doll-like lantern parade in northeastern Japan

Doll-like lanterns each more than 20 meters tall are paraded on the opening day of the five-day Goshogawara Tachi Neputa festival in the northeastern Japan city of Goshogawara, Aomori Prefecture, on Aug. 4, 2026.

Doll-like lantern parade in northeastern Japan

Doll-like lantern parade in northeastern Japan

Doll-like lanterns each more than 20 meters tall are paraded on the opening day of the five-day Goshogawara Tachi Neputa festival in the northeastern Japan city of Goshogawara, Aomori Prefecture, on Aug. 4, 2026.

Doll-like lantern parade in northeastern Japan

Doll-like lantern parade in northeastern Japan

A doll-like lantern more than 20 meters tall is paraded on the opening day of the five-day Goshogawara Tachi Neputa festival in the northeastern Japan city of Goshogawara, Aomori Prefecture, on Aug. 4, 2026.

Doll-like lantern parade in northeastern Japan

Doll-like lantern parade in northeastern Japan

A doll-like lantern more than 20 meters tall is paraded on the opening day of the five-day Goshogawara Tachi Neputa festival in the northeastern Japan city of Goshogawara, Aomori Prefecture, on Aug. 4, 2026.

Kanto Festival in northeastern Japan

Kanto Festival in northeastern Japan

Participants hold bamboo poles adorned with paper lanterns, resembling ears of rice, in the northeastern Japan city of Akita on Aug. 3, 2026, the opening day of the four-day Kanto Festival.

Kanto Festival in northeastern Japan

Kanto Festival in northeastern Japan

Participants hold bamboo poles adorned with paper lanterns, resembling ears of rice, in the northeastern Japan city of Akita on Aug. 3, 2026, the opening day of the four-day Kanto Festival.

Kanto Festival in northeastern Japan

Kanto Festival in northeastern Japan

Paper lanterns hanging on bamboo poles light up the northeastern Japan city of Akita on Aug. 3, 2026, the opening day of the four-day Kanto Festival.

Kanto Festival in northeastern Japan

Kanto Festival in northeastern Japan

Paper lanterns hanging on bamboo poles light up the northeastern Japan city of Akita on Aug. 3, 2026, the opening day of the four-day Kanto Festival.

Kanto Festival in northeastern Japan

Kanto Festival in northeastern Japan

Paper lanterns hanging on bamboo poles light up the northeastern Japan city of Akita on Aug. 3, 2026, the opening day of the four-day Kanto Festival.

Kanto Festival in northeastern Japan

Kanto Festival in northeastern Japan

Participants hold bamboo poles adorned with paper lanterns, resembling ears of rice, in the northeastern Japan city of Akita on Aug. 3, 2026, the opening day of the four-day Kanto Festival.

Aomori Nebuta Festival in northeastern Japan

Aomori Nebuta Festival in northeastern Japan

Colorful lantern floats are paraded through the streets of the northeastern Japan city of Aomori on Aug. 2, 2026, the first day of the six-day Aomori Nebuta Festival.

Aomori Nebuta Festival in northeastern Japan

Aomori Nebuta Festival in northeastern Japan

A colorful lantern float is paraded through the streets of the northeastern Japan city of Aomori on Aug. 2, 2026, the first day of the six-day Aomori Nebuta Festival.

Aomori Nebuta Festival in northeastern Japan

Aomori Nebuta Festival in northeastern Japan

A colorful lantern float is paraded through the streets of the northeastern Japan city of Aomori on Aug. 2, 2026, the first day of the six-day Aomori Nebuta Festival.

Aomori Nebuta Festival in northeastern Japan

Aomori Nebuta Festival in northeastern Japan

Dancers parade through the streets of the northeastern Japan city of Aomori with colorful lantern floats on Aug. 2, 2026, the first day of the six-day Aomori Nebuta Festival.

Traditional dance parade in northeastern Japan

Traditional dance parade in northeastern Japan

Performers march through the streets on the opening day of the Morioka Sansa dance festival in Morioka in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 1, 2026. About 26,600 people are expected to take part in the four-day event.

Traditional dance parade in northeastern Japan

Traditional dance parade in northeastern Japan

Performers march through the streets on the opening day of the Morioka Sansa dance festival in Morioka in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 1, 2026. About 26,600 people are expected to take part in the four-day event.

Traditional dance parade in northeastern Japan

Traditional dance parade in northeastern Japan

Performers march through the streets on the opening day of the Morioka Sansa dance festival in Morioka in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 1, 2026. About 26,600 people are expected to take part in the four-day event.

Traditional dance parade in northeastern Japan

Traditional dance parade in northeastern Japan

Performers march through the streets on the opening day of the Morioka Sansa dance festival in Morioka in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 1, 2026. About 26,600 people are expected to take part in the four-day event.

Traditional dance parade in northeastern Japan

Traditional dance parade in northeastern Japan

Performers march through the streets on the opening day of the Morioka Sansa dance festival in Morioka in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Aug. 1, 2026. About 26,600 people are expected to take part in the four-day event.

Japan crown prince at high school cultural festival

Japan crown prince at high school cultural festival

Japan's Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko chat with students who will perform during the Kanto Festival at a high school in Akita on July 27, 2026. The imperial couple is visiting the northeastern Japan city, where a national high school cultural festival is held.

Japan crown prince at high school cultural festival

Japan crown prince at high school cultural festival

Japan's Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko chat with a student while looking at calligraphy works during a national high school cultural festival in the northeastern Japan city of Akita on July 27, 2026.

Japan crown prince at high school cultural festival

Japan crown prince at high school cultural festival

Japan's Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko (C) chat with a student while looking at calligraphy works during a national high school cultural festival in the northeastern Japan city of Akita on July 27, 2026.

Japan crown prince at high school cultural festival

Japan crown prince at high school cultural festival

Japan's Crown Prince Fumihito (C, L) and Crown Princess Kiko (C, R) watch a parade during a national high school cultural festival in Akita, northeastern Japan, on July 26, 2026.

Japan crown prince at high school cultural festival

Japan crown prince at high school cultural festival

Japan's Crown Prince Fumihito addresses the opening ceremony of a national high school cultural festival in Akita, northeastern Japan, on July 26, 2026.

Japan crown prince at high school cultural festival

Japan crown prince at high school cultural festival

Japan's Crown Prince Fumihito addresses the opening ceremony of a national high school cultural festival in Akita, northeastern Japan, on July 26, 2026.

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

HANAMAKI, Japan, July 19 Kyodo - Stanford University slugger Rintaro Sasaki holds a press conference in Hanamaki in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 19, 2026. The 21-year-old infielder, a graduate of Hanamaki Higashi High School, said he will begin his professional baseball career with the Miami Marlins, following his draft selection by the Major League Baseball team earlier in the month. (Kyodo)

Akita Pref. promotes sake, food in Hong Kong

Akita Pref. promotes sake, food in Hong Kong

Kenta Suzuki (R), governor of Japan's Akita Prefecture, visits a supermarket in Hong Kong on July 22, 2026, to pitch made-in-Akita sake, which was on sale there. The governor is visiting Hong Kong to promote sake and food made in the northeastern Japan prefecture.

US: Boston Area Skies Turn Hazy as Wildfire Smoke Lingers

Smoke from wildfires burning in Canada and Minnesota drifted into the northeastern United States, intermittently flowing into New England, including Massachusetts. Skies over the Boston area, including Cambridge, appeared hazy as the smoke lingered over the region.

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Baseball: Stanford slugger Sasaki to join Marlins

Stanford University slugger Rintaro Sasaki wipes away some tears during a press conference in Hanamaki in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on July 19, 2026. The 21-year-old infielder, a graduate of Hanamaki Higashi High School, said he will begin his professional baseball career with the Miami Marlins, following his draft selection by the Major League Baseball team earlier in the month.