US: Two Dead as Flash Floods Sweep Through Texas Hill Country 2

At least two people were dead in catastrophic flash flooding that tore through the Texas Hill Country, as torrential rain sent creeks and rivers rapidly rising. Governor Greg Abbott declared disasters in 59 counties and said more than 230 people were rescued.

France: Wildfires Rage Near Fontainebleau in Historic Forest Blaze 3

The department of Seine-et-Marne has faced several fires, including an exceptional wildfire in the Fontainebleau forest that has burned over 2,000 hectares, devastating the area and becoming one of the most severe forest fires recorded in France. Firefighters deployed Canadair water bombers, a Dash retardant plane, and water-bombing helicopters, with the water bombers refueling directly from the Seine.

US: Low Blue Angels Flyover Stuns Beachgoers at Pensacola Beach, Florida

A low Blue Angels flyover during "Breakfast with the Blues" caused a stir at Pensacola Beach, Florida, on Wednesday morning, July 15, 2026, sending sand, hats, tents and chairs flying as stunned beachgoers watched. The U.S. Navy said it is conducting a safety review after social media footage showed the jet flying lower than standard profiles during an arrival maneuver, calling it a "low-altitude pass" that disturbed civilian chairs and umbrellas on the beach.

France: Aerial Footage Captures Fontainebleau Forest Fire

Wildfires that broke out on Sunday, July 12, in the Fontainebleau forest south of Paris have been contained but not extinguished. They have scorched around 2,050 hectares and forced 1,000 residents to flee. Officials suspect arson.

US: Reflecting Pool Drained Again as Trump Repeats Vandalism Claims

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool sat completely drained on Tuesday, July 14. Contract workers draped black mesh onto the surrounding fences to block visitors' view of the pool. President Donald Trump said Monday that it was drained so crews could repair damage caused by "vandals" earlier this month.

France: Wildfires Rage Near Fontainebleau in Historic Forest Blaze 2

The department of Seine-et-Marne has faced several fires, including two wildfires that have been burning near Fontainebleau since Sunday, July 12, scorching nearly 1,920 hectares by Tuesday, in what could become the worst fire ever recorded in the forest. Firefighters deployed Canadair water bombers, a Dash retardant plane, and water-bombing helicopters, with the water bombers refueling directly from the Seine.

France: Wildfires Rage Near Fontainebleau in Historic Forest Blaze

The department of Seine-et-Marne has faced several fires, including two wildfires that have been burning near Fontainebleau since Sunday, July 12, scorching nearly 1,920 hectares by Tuesday, in what could become the worst fire ever recorded in the forest. Firefighters deployed Canadair water bombers, a Dash retardant plane, and water-bombing helicopters, with the water bombers refueling directly from the Seine.

US: Transfer Fire Near Lake Chelan Prompts Evacuation Orders 2

The Transfer Fire broke out near Lake Chelan, Washington, on Sunday, July 12, prompting a Level 3 "get out now" evacuation order that afternoon. Chelan County lowered the order to Level 2 around 6 p.m., and fire crews confirmed the blaze was fully extinguished by about 9 p.m. Some roads remained affected by heavy fire traffic. The cause is still under investigation.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia, July 13 Kyodo - The opening ceremony for Mongolia's Naadam sport festival is held in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026, with several thousands of athletes from across the country taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling. (Kyodo)

US: Transfer Fire Near Lake Chelan Prompts Evacuation Orders

The Transfer Fire broke out near Lake Chelan, Washington, on Sunday, July 12, prompting a Level 3 "get out now" evacuation order that afternoon. Chelan County lowered the order to Level 2 around 6 p.m., and fire crews confirmed the blaze was fully extinguished by about 9 p.m. Some roads remained affected by heavy fire traffic. The cause is still under investigation.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

The opening ceremony for Mongolia's Naadam sport festival is held in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026, with several thousands of athletes from across the country taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

The opening ceremony for Mongolia's Naadam sport festival is held in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026, with several thousands of athletes from across the country taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

The opening ceremony for Mongolia's Naadam sport festival is held in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026, with several thousands of athletes from across the country taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

The opening ceremony for Mongolia's Naadam sport festival is held in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026, with several thousands of athletes from across the country taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

The opening ceremony for Mongolia's Naadam sport festival is held in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026, with several thousands of athletes from across the country taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

An archery competition is held following the opening ceremony of Mongolia's Naadam sport festival in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026. Several thousand athletes from across the country are taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, wrestling and archery.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Former Japan sumo grand champion Hakuho (C) attends the opening ceremony of Mongolia's Naadam sport festival in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026. Several thousand athletes from across the country are taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

An archery competition is held following the opening ceremony of Mongolia's Naadam sport festival in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026. Several thousand athletes from across the country are taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, wrestling and archery.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh attends the opening ceremony of the Naadam sport festival in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026. Several thousand athletes from across the country are taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh (R) and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attend the opening ceremony of Mongolia's Naadam sport festival in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026. Several thousand athletes from across the country are taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attends the opening ceremony of Mongolia's Naadam sport festival in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026. Several thousand athletes from across the country are taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attends the opening ceremony of Mongolia's Naadam sport festival in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026. Several thousand athletes from across the country are taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

US: Fast-Moving Storm Floods Roads Across New Orleans, Strands Vehicles

A fast-moving storm dropped several inches of rain on New Orleans on Saturday, July 11, flooding roads and stranding vehicles while exposing ongoing issues with the city's drainage system. The Sewerage and Water Board later said an operational error involving the vacuum system at one pumping station contributed to the flooding, and that it was conducting an internal investigation.

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.

US: Hundreds Rally in San Francisco Against AI Race, Demand Training Pause

About 200 protesters marched through San Francisco on Saturday, moving from the offices of OpenAI to Anthropic and Google DeepMind to demand that the companies pause all new AI model training, citing concerns over rising rents, job losses, environmental harm and existential risk. The demonstration, organized by the group Stop the AI Race, drew a diverse crowd including students, AI researchers and longtime residents calling for greater regulation of the artificial intelligence industry.

10th anniv. of South China Sea arbitral ruling

10th anniv. of South China Sea arbitral ruling

Japanese Parliamentary Vice Foreign Minister Tomoaki Shimada makes a speech at an event held in Manila on July 10, 2026, to mark the 10th anniversary on July 12 of the landmark 2016 international tribunal ruling that rejected China's claims in the South China Sea under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

10th anniv. of South China Sea arbitral ruling

10th anniv. of South China Sea arbitral ruling

Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro makes a speech at an event held in Manila on July 10, 2026, to mark the 10th anniversary on July 12 of the landmark 2016 international tribunal ruling that rejected China's claims in the South China Sea under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. ==Kyodo

China: Sugar Glider Reacts Wildly to Fan for First Time

A pet sugar glider had a startled reaction to an electric fan for the first time in Beijing on July 4, 2026. As its owner held it in front of the fan to cool it down in the summer heat, the animal panicked, flailing its limbs and swinging its tail into its own face. Viewers found the reaction funny and noted that such pets require patience.

China: Severe Weather With Tornado Tears Across Hubei, 11 Killed

On July 7, 2026, in Hubei, China, the video captured violent winds ripping through several areas in eastern Hubei as rare tornadoes formed during severe convective weather. Footage showed objects being blown across open spaces while a dark, rotating funnel stretched down from the storm clouds. In another dramatic scene, the tornado appeared to move across a river as residents watched the destructive weather unfold from a distance. Authorities reported that the severe weather had affected about 14,600 people, killed 11 people and left one person missing.

France: Lightning-Triggered Wildfire in Planay, Savoie, Burns 60 Hectares

A wildfire that broke out in Planay, Savoie, France, after a lightning strike on June 24, has burned 60 hectares and threatens the D915 road to Pralognan-la-Vanoise. A 22-year-old volunteer firefighter was killed overnight on July 7-8 after being struck by a falling boulder while battling the blaze.

[Breaking News]Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

TOKYO, Japan, July 9 Kyodo - Video taken in Tokyo shows a private room unveiled to the media on July 8, 2026, that will become available on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen bullet trains from October. Use of the room, including the travel fare, will cost at least 42,000 yen ($260) for journeys between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations. (Kyodo)

Spain: Smoke Rises From Wildfire Near Selvanera, Catalonia

Firefighters brought a wildfire under control near Selvanera in Torrefeta i Florejacs, in Catalonia's Segarra region, after it broke out Tuesday in an unharvested cereal field. The blaze, which burned an estimated 113.25 hectares, forced a lockdown of several municipalities that was lifted Tuesday afternoon.

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Photo taken in Tokyo shows a private room unveiled to the media on July 8, 2026, that will become available on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen bullet trains from October. Use of the room, including the travel fare, will cost at least 42,000 yen ($260) for journeys between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations.

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Photo taken in Tokyo shows a private room unveiled to the media on July 8, 2026, that will become available on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen bullet trains from October. Use of the room, including the travel fare, will cost at least 42,000 yen ($260) for journeys between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations.

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Photo taken in Tokyo shows a private room unveiled to the media on July 8, 2026, that will become available on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen bullet trains from October. Use of the room, including the travel fare, will cost at least 42,000 yen ($260) for journeys between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations.

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Photo taken in Tokyo shows a private room unveiled to the media on July 8, 2026, that will become available on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen bullet trains from October. Use of the room, including the travel fare, will cost at least 42,000 yen ($260) for journeys between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations.

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Private room for shinkansen bullet trains

Photo taken in Tokyo shows a private room unveiled to the media on July 8, 2026, that will become available on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen bullet trains from October. Use of the room, including the travel fare, will cost at least 42,000 yen ($260) for journeys between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations.

Canada: Orange Haze Blankets Kamloops Skies as Wildfire Smoke Drifts In 3

Skies over Kamloops, British Columbia, darkened significantly on Tuesday evening, July 7, as smoke drifted in from the Brunswick Creek wildfire burning near Boston Bar. Videos shared on social media show an orange haze in the sky that evening.

Spain: Madrid Hit by Sudden Storm After Scorching Heatwave

Madrid experienced extreme weather contrasts on Tuesday, as a sudden summer storm with strong winds struck the city following a scorching heatwave that pushed temperatures to 41°C. The storm, which began shortly after 6 p.m., caught pedestrians off guard and forced the closure of El Retiro and five other historic parks.

Canada: Orange Haze Blankets Kamloops Skies as Wildfire Smoke Drifts In 2

Skies over Kamloops, British Columbia, darkened significantly on Tuesday evening, July 7, as smoke drifted in from the Brunswick Creek wildfire burning near Boston Bar. Videos shared on social media show an orange haze in the sky that evening.

US: Partial Collapse Forces Evacuation of Midtown Manhattan High-Rise

A partial structural collapse forced the evacuation of a 33-story high-rise under construction in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday morning, July 7, after two columns buckled and floors 21 through 26 caved in at the former Pfizer building at 235 East 42nd Street. The FDNY reported no injuries, though the incident triggered major street closures and traffic restrictions around Second and Third Avenues that caused significant commuter delays.

Canada: Orange Haze Blankets Kamloops Skies as Wildfire Smoke Drifts In

Skies over Kamloops, British Columbia, darkened significantly on Tuesday evening, July 7, as smoke drifted in from the Brunswick Creek wildfire burning near Boston Bar. Videos shared on social media show an orange haze in the sky that evening.

Rainy season ends in parts of Japan

Rainy season ends in parts of Japan

A pedestrian is pictured with a parasol under the scorching sun in a commercial district of Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on July 8, 2026. Japan's weather agency announced the same day that the rainy season appears to have ended in the northern part of the Kyushu region, including Fukuoka, as well as western Japan's Chugoku and Kinki regions.

Rainy season ends in parts of Japan

Rainy season ends in parts of Japan

A pedestrian is pictured with a parasol under the scorching sun in a commercial district of Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on July 8, 2026. Japan's weather agency announced the same day that the rainy season appears to have ended in the northern part of the Kyushu region, including Fukuoka, as well as western Japan's Chugoku and Kinki regions.

Rainy season ends in parts of Japan

Rainy season ends in parts of Japan

A woman walks with a portable fan under the scorching sun in a commercial district of Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on July 8, 2026. Japan's weather agency announced the same day that the rainy season appears to have ended in the northern part of the Kyushu region, including Fukuoka, as well as western Japan's Chugoku and Kinki regions.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning speaks at a press conference in Beijing on July 7, 2026, reiterating that the previous day's test-firing of a missile from a nuclear-powered submarine was part of China's annual military training and was conducted in accordance with international law.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning speaks at a press conference in Beijing on July 7, 2026, reiterating that the previous day's test-firing of a missile from a nuclear-powered submarine was part of China's annual military training and was conducted in accordance with international law.

5th anniversary of Atami landslide

ATAMI, Japan, July 3 Kyodo - Atami Mayor Sakae Saito and Shizuoka Gov. Yasutomo Suzuki observe a moment of silence on July 3, 2026, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of a deadly landslide that hit the city in central Japan. (Kyodo)

Pokemon-themed airport on quake-hit Noto Peninsula

Pokemon-themed airport on quake-hit Noto Peninsula

An airport in Wajima in Ishikawa Pref., central Japan, begins operation as the world's first Pokemon-themed airport with a nickname of "Noto Satoyama Pokemon With You Airport" on July 7, 2026, as part of efforts to revitalize the Noto Peninsula area struck by a devastating earthquake on New Year's Day in 2024 and by heavy rains later that year.

Pokemon-themed airport on quake-hit Noto Peninsula

Pokemon-themed airport on quake-hit Noto Peninsula

An airport in Wajima in Ishikawa Pref., central Japan, begins operation as the world's first Pokemon-themed airport with a nickname of "Noto Satoyama Pokemon With You Airport" on July 7, 2026, as part of efforts to revitalize the Noto Peninsula area struck by a devastating earthquake on New Year's Day in 2024 and by heavy rains later that year.