INDONESIA — Balinese Hindu ceremony marks the beginning of the Tenganan calendar year, spanning June and July, celebrating the birth of their ancestors: Women in traditional dress gather during a Balinese Hindu ritual called Usaba Kasa, a ceremony held to express gratitude to God for a bountiful harvest and the safety of their village, in Karangasem, Bali, Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
Rituals include communal preparation of rice and offerings. On the closing day of this monthlong festival, young girls accompany their mothers to a sacred place where they dance the Rejang and Abuang. The girls are dressed in ceremonial attire and traditional gold jewelry passed down within families.
SEOUL — This carnival performance is part of a signature summer festival at Lotte World, a major recreation and entertainment complex: Brazilian samba dancers perform during a summer festival season showcase near an amusement park on Myeongdong Street in South Korea, Wednesday.
Samba de roda, a traditional Afro-Brazilian music and dance form from the Recôncavo region of Bahia, is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and is considered an important influence on the development of modern samba in Brazil.
Lotte World is a year-round indoor theme park and entertainment complex in Seoul featuring amusement rides, an ice rink, a folk museum and a water park.
BUCHAREST — Storm flooding after days of extreme heat: A dog splashes water in a flooded area of a park in Romania, Wednesday, after a violent thunderstorm hit the Romanian capital the night before.
The storm, which Romania’s National Meteorological Administration attributed to “atmospheric instability” following a heat wave, killed one person when a tree fell on a car, which was among 495 damaged. Almost a thousand trees were toppled in the storm, which hit Bucharest and Ilfov hardest. Rescuers pumped water from more than 350 houses.
Much of Europe has been experiencing intense heat, with temperatures in some areas exceeding 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Similar temperatures are forecast for the U.S. East Coast states this week, leading to the national holiday.
PETERSBURG — Distinct orange color appears when the moon is low above the horizon: The full moon sets behind the Saviour of Spilled Blood Cathedral in Russia, early Wednesday.
St. Petersburg’s most recognizable church is officially named the Church of the Resurrection of Christ. Its familiar name commemorates the assassination of Emperor Alexander II by rebels in 1881. Alexander is often remembered as a reformist emperor who enacted major reforms, including the emancipation of the serfs.
Emperor Alexander III had the church built on the site of his father’s assassination. It is sometimes called the Church on the Spilled Blood.
GERMANY — Elsewhere in Germany is a town called Büdingen, known as the “City of Frogs”: A frog swims in a pond in a forest near Frankfurt, Wednesday.
The association with frogs comes from a local 16th-century legend about a count and his bride, Elisabeth. In the story, noisy frogs near their home caused marital conflict, prompting demands that the town deal with the nocturnally noisy amphibians.
In some versions, the frogs were driven out or killed, while in others they remained, becoming part of Büdingen’s folklore, about 40 miles east of Frankfurt.
LONDON — Fans attempt to “be the ball”: Tennis fans Pam Ross and Jackie Selcraig pose in tennis-themed costumes during day three of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, Wednesday.
Wednesday’s schedule at Wimbledon featured second-round singles matches in the men’s and women’s draws, along with first-round men’s doubles play.
On Thursday, play continues in the second round of singles, including Karolína Plíšková against Iga Świątek on Centre Court. Swiatek is ranked third in the singles category.
MEXICO CITY — Fan attempts to be FIFA: A soccer fan poses for a picture ahead of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
Mexico, the Group A winner, defeated Ecuador and advances to meet England in the Round of 16 on July 5.
Not all teams have completed their Round of 32 matches. The United States is scheduled to challenge Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday night. The Round of 32 continues July 2 with Portugal v. Croatia and Spain v. Austria. Additional Round of 32 matches are scheduled for July 3.
MUMBAI — Pollution and climate change are affecting the strength and predictability of monsoons: Auto rickshaws drive through a waterlogged street during monsoon rains in India, Wednesday.
The Indian summer monsoon develops as seasonal winds draw warm, moisture-rich air from the Indian Ocean onto the heated Asian landmass.
The monsoon winds bring periods of torrential rainfall over the region for several months.
