US: Thick Haze From Canada Wildfires Blankets Washington, D.C.

A thick haze from Canadian wildfires spread across a wide swath of the United States on Friday, July 17, causing air quality to plummet, with dangerous conditions expected to persist. The smoke settled over Washington, DC, which had mostly avoided hazardous air until that point.

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9=July 10,2026,Osaka

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9=July 10,2026,Osaka

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9=July 10,2026,Osaka

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9=July 10,2026,Osaka

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9=July 10,2026,Osaka

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9=July 10,2026,Osaka

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9=July 10,2026,Osaka

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9=July 10,2026,Osaka

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9=July 10,2026,Osaka

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9

Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, which had its grand opening on July 9=July 10,2026,Osaka

US: New Yorkers Gather for Last Manhattanhenge Sunset of the Year 2

People gathered along Manhattan's cross streets on Sunday, July 12, to watch Manhattanhenge, when the setting sun aligned with the city's grid for a "half sun" effect. Clear skies allowed for near perfect viewing conditions of the phenomenon, which had occurred the night before as a "full sun" alignment and marked the last chance to see it in 2026.

UK: Smoke From Dovestone Reservoir Fire Spreads Through Greater Manchester 2

Firefighters battled a major moorland fire above Dovestone Reservoir in Saddleworth, Greater Manchester, which started Saturday, July 11. The massive fire sent smoke as far as Sale, Stockport and Levenshulme. Residents were advised to keep their windows shut. A woman has been arrested on suspicion of arson.

US: New Yorkers Gather for Last Manhattanhenge Sunset of the Year

People gathered along Manhattan's cross streets on Sunday, July 12, to watch Manhattanhenge, when the setting sun aligned with the city's grid for a "half sun" effect. Clear skies allowed for near perfect viewing conditions of the phenomenon, which had occurred the night before as a "full sun" alignment and marked the last chance to see it in 2026.

France: Fireworks Mortar Sparks Fire on Vacant Lot in Angers

A fire broke out around midnight on Tuesday, July 14, in the Hauts de Saint-Aubin district of Angers, France. The blaze, which burned a vacant area, was caused by a fireworks mortar.

UK: Smoke From Dovestone Reservoir Fire Spreads Through Greater Manchester

Firefighters battled a major moorland fire above Dovestone Reservoir in Saddleworth, Greater Manchester, which started Saturday, July 11. The massive fire sent smoke as far as Sale, Stockport and Levenshulme. The cause is under investigation. Residents were advised to keep their windows shut.

UK: Time-Lapse of Dovestone Reservoir Fire Smoke Drifting Over Greater Manchester

Firefighters battled a major moorland fire above Dovestone Reservoir in Saddleworth, Greater Manchester, which started Saturday, July 11. The massive fire sent smoke as far as Sale, Stockport and Levenshulme. The cause is under investigation. Residents were advised to keep their windows shut.

US: Winds Escalate Utah’s Stookey Fire to 4,000 Acres

The Stookey Fire, which started Friday, July 10, east of Vernon in Tooele County, Utah, grew to about 4,000 acres by Sunday as winds fueled its spread, prompting closure of Pony Express Road. No structures were threatened as of writing.

Mitsubishi Motors and Highlanders Joint Press Conference

Mitsubishi Motors and Highlanders Joint Press Conference

Mitsubishi Motors and Highlanders Joint Press Conference. The photo shows the humanoid robot “N,” which appeared during the demonstration.=July 9,2026,Toyko

US: Narrow Fire Breaks Out in Ladera Ranch Backyard Hills

A brush fire broke out in the backyard hills of Ladera Ranch, California, on Tuesday afternoon, July 7, prompting a rapid response from the Orange County Fire Authority, which deployed aircraft to drop fire retardant on the blaze. The fire, dubbed the Narrow Fire after nearby Narrow Canyon Road, was reported at around 4:45 p.m. and grew to about 5 acres before firefighters brought it under control by evening, with officials saying it did not threaten nearby homes.

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.

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.

China: Herders Rescue Horse Trapped in Wire Fence

A horse became trapped in a wire fence on the grassland in Inner Mongolia, China on June 27, 2026, with two hooves tangled and unable to move. Local herders carefully loosened the wire and freed the horse, which limped back toward the grassland, looking back at its rescuers several times.

US: Aspen Acres Fire Sends Smoke Cloud Soaring to 32,000 Feet

Footage filmed from an aircraft flying alongside the Aspen Acres Fire in Colorado shows a massive pyrocumulus cloud, formed by the fire's intense heat, towering to an altitude of 32,000 feet. The wildfire, which has burned more than 50,000 acres in Pueblo and Custer counties with zero containment as of Thursday, July 2, has produced extreme fire behavior driven by record-low humidity and windy conditions.

US: Snyder Fire Surges, Killing Three Firefighters Along Colorado-Utah Border

Thick smoke from the Snyder Fire darkened skies over Fruita, Colorado, near Grand Junction, as the lightning-sparked wildfire, which broke out Saturday in Utah along the Colorado border, merged with multiple other fires and surged to more than 29,000 acres.

China: Duck’s Riverside Meal Draws Crowd of Fish

On June 21, 2026, a duck eating beside a river in Guangdong province unintentionally attracted a crowd of small fish, which gathered nearby hoping for scraps. A mouse also darted past the duck's food bowl, adding to the lively scene.

Baseball: Dodgers vs. Twins

Baseball: Dodgers vs. Twins

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani walks back to the dugout after the second inning, in which he allowed three runs, during a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on June 24, 2026.

Japan: Magnitude 6.9 Earthquake Strikes Off Iwate Coast 2

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, Japan, on Thursday morning, June 25, triggering an upper-5 intensity shaking in Aomori Prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. No tsunami threat was reported, though the quake, which occurred at a depth of approximately 50 kilometers, caused disruptions to Shinkansen and other rail services.

US: Aerial Footage Captures Massive Smoke From Iron Fire Burning in Utah 2

The Iron Fire, which broke out in Juab County, Utah, has burned over 37,000 acres. The fire forced the evacuation of the entire town of Eureka, with hundreds of firefighters from a multi-agency team deployed to battle the human-caused blaze.

Venezuela: Powerful Quake Levels Buildings in La Guaira

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck near Montalbán, Venezuela, on Wednesday, June 24, causing buildings to collapse in the capital Caracas and triggering a tsunami advisory. La Guaira, a port city north of Caracas, was among the hardest-hit areas. This video shows Eduard's Hotel Boutique, which was nearly completely destroyed.

Japan: Quake Damage Seen at Convenience Store in Hachinohe After M6.9 Tremor

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, Japan, on Thursday morning, triggering upper-5 seismic intensity in Aomori Prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. No tsunami threat was reported, though the quake, which occurred at a depth of approximately 50 kilometers, caused disruptions to Shinkansen and other rail services. This video shows products, including a broken wine bottle, scattered on the floor of a convenience store in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture.

Japan: Magnitude 6.9 Earthquake Strikes Off Iwate Coast

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, Japan, on Thursday morning, June 25, triggering an upper-5 intensity shaking in Aomori Prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. No tsunami threat was reported, though the quake, which occurred at a depth of approximately 50 kilometers, caused disruptions to Shinkansen and other rail services.

[Breaking News]Shinkansen bullet train services suspended after incident

NAGOYA, Japan, June 19 Kyodo - JR Nagoya Station in Nagoya, central Japan, is crowded with passengers on June 19, 2026, after services on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line bullet trains were suspended following an incident in which a person entered the tracks at Hamamatsu Station in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, and was fatally hit. (Kyodo)

US: Possible Scud Clouds Spotted in Smithton, Pennsylvania

The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning and a Flash Flood Warning for Southwestern Pennsylvania on Monday, June 22. This video shows ominous clouds in Smithton, which the NWS later described as most likely scud clouds being pulled into a storm's updraft.

Berlin flash mob conducted by Japan's Yamada

Berlin flash mob conducted by Japan's Yamada

Kazuki Yamada of Japan, set to become the artistic director and chief conductor of the German Symphony Orchestra in September 2026, conducts the Symphonic Mob 2026 in a Berlin square on June 20, 2026. An estimated 900 amateur musicians performed works by composers such as Johannes Brahms and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with the German Symphony Orchestra at the flash mob, which is Germany's largest spontaneous orchestra.

Berlin flash mob conducted by Japan's Yamada

Berlin flash mob conducted by Japan's Yamada

Kazuki Yamada of Japan, set to become the artistic director and chief conductor of the German Symphony Orchestra in September 2026, conducts the Symphonic Mob 2026 in a Berlin square on June 20, 2026. An estimated 900 amateur musicians performed works by composers such as Johannes Brahms and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with the German Symphony Orchestra at the flash mob, which is Germany's largest spontaneous orchestra.

Japan's imperial couple meet grandchild of ex-Dutch general in Amsterdam

Japan's imperial couple meet grandchild of ex-Dutch general in Amsterdam

Inez Schelfhout (L), the granddaughter of a former Dutch general who survived a Japanese internment camp as a child during World War II, is pictured before meeting with Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako in Amsterdam on June 19, 2026. Her late grandfather was imprisoned in what is now Indonesia after the country was occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army. In 2000, he attended a ceremony in which Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko laid flowers at a war memorial during their visit to the Netherlands. (Pool photo)

Japan's imperial couple meet grandchild of ex-Dutch general in Amsterdam

Japan's imperial couple meet grandchild of ex-Dutch general in Amsterdam

Inez Schelfhout, the granddaughter of a former Dutch general who survived a Japanese internment camp as a child during World War II, speaks to the press after meeting with Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako in Amsterdam on June 19, 2026. Her late grandfather was imprisoned in what is now Indonesia after the country was occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army. In 2000, he attended a ceremony in which Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko laid flowers at a war memorial during their visit to the Netherlands. (Pool photo)

Shinkansen bullet train services suspended after incident

Shinkansen bullet train services suspended after incident

JR Nagoya Station in Nagoya, central Japan, is crowded with passengers on June 19, 2026, after services on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line bullet trains were suspended following an incident in which a person entered the tracks at Hamamatsu Station in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, and was fatally hit.

Shinkansen bullet train services suspended after incident

Shinkansen bullet train services suspended after incident

JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka, western Japan, is crowded with passengers on June 19, 2026, after services on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line bullet trains were suspended following an incident in which a person entered the tracks at Hamamatsu Station in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, and was fatally hit.

Shinkansen bullet train services suspended after incident

Shinkansen bullet train services suspended after incident

JR Nagoya Station in Nagoya, central Japan, is crowded with passengers on June 19, 2026, after services on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line bullet trains were suspended following an incident in which a person entered the tracks at Hamamatsu Station in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, and was fatally hit.

Shinkansen bullet train services suspended after incident

Shinkansen bullet train services suspended after incident

Passengers look at an information board at JR Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka, western Japan, on June 19, 2026, after services on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line bullet trains were suspended following an incident in which a person entered the tracks at Hamamatsu Station in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, and was fatally hit.

Japan's emperor in Amsterdam

Japan's emperor in Amsterdam

Emperor Naruhito of Japan and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands pose for a photo in front of the Rembrandt's "The Night Watch," which is currently undergoing restoration, at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on June 18, 2026, during his state visit.

Japan's emperor in Amsterdam

Japan's emperor in Amsterdam

Emperor Naruhito (C) of Japan and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands pose for a photo in front of the Rembrandt's "The Night Watch," which is currently undergoing restoration, at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on June 18, 2026, during his state visit.

China: Residents Form Human Chain in Floodwater to Rescue Four People from Trapped Car

A group of residents waded into waist-deep floodwater in Pubei, Guangxi, on June 8, 2026, to rescue four people trapped inside a car during heavy rain. Using tools and their own bodies, they formed a human chain between the stranded vehicle and the roadside. The four occupants were pulled out one by one and brought to safety, after which the group pushed the car to the roadside.

Shanghai film festival

Shanghai film festival

Photo taken in Shanghai on June 12, 2026, shows the venue for the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival, which opened the same day. Japanese films, often featured at the event, will not be screened this year amid a diplomatic row between the two countries.

Shanghai film festival

Shanghai film festival

Photo taken in Shanghai on June 12, 2026, shows the venue for the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival, which opened the same day. Japanese films, often featured at the event, will not be screened this year amid a diplomatic row between the two countries.

Shanghai film festival

Shanghai film festival

Photo taken in Shanghai on June 12, 2026, shows the venue for the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival, which opened the same day. Japanese films, often featured at the event, will not be screened this year amid a diplomatic row between the two countries.

Japanese stewartia at Kyoto temple

Japanese stewartia at Kyoto temple

Torin-in temple's garden is dotted with fallen Japanese stewartia flowers in Kyoto, western Japan, on June 11, 2026. It opened to the public for two weeks that day to allow visitors to view the flowers, which bloom and fall in a single day.

Japanese stewartia at Kyoto temple

Japanese stewartia at Kyoto temple

Torin-in temple's garden is dotted with fallen Japanese stewartia flowers in Kyoto, western Japan, on June 11, 2026. It opened to the public for two weeks that day to allow visitors to view the flowers, which bloom and fall in a single day.