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| 2026‑06‑21 ‑ | India |
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| en | • | Colourful sky and clouds reflecting over the Ganges River, Rishikesh |
| (© fbxx/iStock/Getty Images) |
International Day of Yoga
At sunrise, parks around the world become giant stretching sessions as mats roll out and millions practice balance, breathing and poses that sometimes wobble more than they flow smoothly. That is the spirit of the International Day of Yoga, celebrated every year on 21 June.
The date is no accident. It marks the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. In yogic tradition, it also signals the beginning of Dakshinayana, when Lord Shiva is believed to have begun sharing yogic knowledge with his disciples.
The United Nations recognised the day in 2014 after India's proposal gained support from a record 175 member states. A year later, the first celebration in New Delhi set Guinness World Records for the largest yoga lesson (35,985 participants) and the most nationalities in a single yoga lesson (84 countries). Today, yoga spans the globe through mass events, the 'Guardian Ring' broadcasts and even sessions aboard naval ships.
| 2026‑06‑21 ‑ | China / Japan |
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| ja | • | オウサマペンギンの父親 |
| zh | • | 企鹅爸爸正在检查蛋的情况 |
| (© McDonald Wildlife Photography Inc./Getty Images) |
Happy Father's Day!
On the third Sunday in June, we celebrate Father's Day—a moment to thank the steady, watchful figures who help life grow and thrive. Across the world, fatherhood can take surprising and extraordinary forms.
In the image, a king penguin father carefully cradles a single egg on his feet, tucked beneath a warm fold of skin called a brood pouch. After laying the egg, the mother heads out to sea to rebuild her energy, leaving the father to take over incubation and keep the egg from freezing. There are no nests here—just balance, patience, and precision. For weeks, he may stand almost motionless, fasting while shielding his fragile cargo. Their routine is a carefully timed exchange: one protects, one provides, then they swap roles in a rhythm perfected by nature.
Whether in a bustling city or a windswept colony, fatherhood often looks the same—a careful balancing act of strength, sacrifice, and quiet devotion.
| 2026‑06‑20 ‑ | International / Brazil / Canada ‑ English / Canada ‑ French / China / France / India / Italy / Japan / Spain / United Kingdom / United States |
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| en | • | Arched iceberg floating off the western Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean |
| es | • | Iceberg arqueado flotando frente a la península Antártica occidental, océano Austral |
| fr | • | Arche naturelle sculptée dans un iceberg, Océan Antarctique |
| it | • | Iceberg, costa occidentale della penisola Antartica, oceano Antartico |
| ja | • | アーチ状の氷山, 南極半島西部 |
| pt | • | Iceberg flutuando na Antártica Ocidental, oceano Antártico |
| zh | • | 漂浮在南极半岛西部海域的拱形冰山, 南大洋 |
| (© Steven Kazlowski/Nature Picture Library) |
Arched iceberg, western Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean
A sculpted arch of ice rises from the Southern Ocean along the Antarctic Peninsula, one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth. This formation began as compacted snow that turned into glacial ice over thousands of years. Eventually, part of a glacier or floating ice shelf fractured and broke free—a process known as calving—creating a drifting iceberg.
Icebergs are classified by size and shape. To qualify, a mass must tower more than 4 metres above sea level, yet nearly 90% of it remains hidden below the surface. Flat-topped 'tabular' forms are common in Antarctica, while eroded features like this arch fall into irregular, non-tabular categories.
Though seemingly barren, these floating giants support life. Algae cling to their undersides, feeding swarms of krill, which sustain fish, seals and whales. As ice melts, it releases nutrients that fertilise surrounding waters, turning these frozen sculptures into mobile ecosystems.
| 2026‑06‑20 ‑ | Germany |
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| de | • | Windjammerparade zur Kieler Woche in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein |
| (© Snapshot freddy/Shutterstock) |
Kiel Week
"Cast off!" – this is how one of the largest and most traditional sailing events in the world begins in Kiel every year: the Kiel Week. The renowned festival in Schleswig-Holstein combines international regattas with a maritime folk festival that characterises the city for nine days. Modern yachts, historic sailing ships and numerous smaller boats meet on the Kiel Fjord and determine the image of the coast.
A special highlight is the famous windjammer parade, which can also be seen in this photo, but traditionally only takes place towards the end of the Kiel Week. Impressive tall ships move in formation across the water, accompanied by many smaller boats. High masts, wide-span sails and the smooth gliding of the ships give the scene an almost timeless appearance.
The scene is particularly impressive in the interplay of light and water: the bright light is reflected on the fjord, while the silhouettes of the ships stand out clearly against the sky and clouds. In this way, the Kiel Week combines seafaring tradition with an impressive interplay of movement and water.
| 2026‑06‑19 ‑ | International / Brazil / Canada ‑ English / Canada ‑ French / France / Germany / India / Italy / Spain / United Kingdom |
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| de | • | Leuchtturm „La Rocchetta“, Piombino, Italien |
| en | • | La Rocchetta Lighthouse, Piombino, Italy |
| • | La Rocchetta Lighthouse, Piombino, Tuscany, Italy | |
| es | • | Faro de La Rocchetta, Piombino, Toscana, Italia |
| fr | • | Phare de La Rocchetta, Piombino, Toscane, Italie |
| it | • | Faro di Piombino, provincia di Livorno, Toscana |
| pt | • | Farol La Rocchetta, Piombino, Toscana, Itália |
| (© StevanZZ/Getty Images) |
La Rocchetta Lighthouse, Piombino, Italy
Perched at the far edge of Piazza Bovio in Piombino, Tuscany, Italy, is the Piombino Lighthouse. Locally, it is known as 'Faro di Piombino' or 'La Rocchetta Lighthouse.' It overlooks the point where the Tuscan coast faces the island of Elba.
The lighthouse was built in the 20th century on the remains of an older fortification. Despite its small size and neo-Gothic style, it plays an important role. Its light is visible offshore and helps guide vessels through the channel between Piombino and the Tuscan Archipelago.
What makes it especially memorable, however, is its setting. Piazza Bovio, often described as one of Italy's most striking seaside squares, offers expansive views across the Tyrrhenian Sea and the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago. On clear days, you can see all the way to Elba, while sunset turns the headland into a natural lookout point. More than a navigational aid, the lighthouse has become one of Piombino's best-known symbols, where maritime history and the coastal landscape still meet.
| 2026‑06‑19 ‑ | United States |
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| en | • | National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, DC |
| (© Walter Bibikow/Alamy) |
Happy Juneteenth!
Across the National Mall in Washington, DC, the National Museum of African American History and Culture rises with a striking bronze-colored exterior. This powerful landmark reflects the story of Juneteenth, a holiday marking June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and finally announced freedom for more than 250,000 enslaved people—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation took effect.
Often called Freedom Day, Juneteenth honors both the end of slavery in the United States and the long struggle for equality that followed. Celebrations began in Texas and gradually spread nationwide, becoming a federal holiday in 2021.
ike the museum's intricate facade—a tiered 'corona' form inspired by African artistry and craftsmanship—Juneteenth reflects layered meanings of resilience, memory, and hope. Together, the holiday and the museum invite reflection on a past that continues to shape the nation's present.