INDIA — The power of education — even with nature’s revenge, more floods in India, affection for books prevails: A flood-affected girl dries her school books on a road in Teok village in upper Assam, Friday, July 24, 2026.
Flooding was caused by the Brahmaputra River overflowing from monsoon rains, submerging almost 900 villages, displacing 700,000 people and killing at least 50. It forced 300,000 people into government relief camps and left over 7,000 homes without electricity.
Climate change is making the monsoon season less predictable. Storms now shed extreme amounts of water in short bursts with dry spells in between.
SPAIN — Nature’s revenge — sometimes manmade rain is needed: A seaplane drops water onto the fire as a wildfire advances near La Adrada, Ávila, Friday.
Europe is battling multiple wildfires being exacerbated by a heatwave, with temperatures expected to reach 102 degrees Fahrenheit — a situation worsened by climate change. Spain and France were forced to evacuate over 200,000 people. Two major fires merged near Madrid as well. For the first time in history, Spain declared a national emergency for wildfires.
In the last week, Spain has seen the worst fires on record for both Castilla La Mancha and Madrid. The second largest fire recorded in Guadalajara is still going.
GLASGOW — Would we see more ‘headers’ if soccer players wore a helmet like this? Kenya’s Amina Faki is punched by England’s Lauren Mackie during the Women’s 54kg round of 32 boxing bout during the Commonwealth Games in Scotland, Friday. Mackie won the match in a unanimous points decision.
The Commonwealth Games, founded in 1930, occur every four years and are a multi-sport event for nations in the British Commonwealth, former territories of the U.K.
MUMBAI — The cockroach is a hardy beast and a survivor: Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration demanding educational reforms as part of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ongoing protest movement in India, Friday.
CJP held talks with the Indian government about the exam paper leak crisis amid the protests. Shortly before the talks, activist Sonam Wangchuk ended a 26-day hunger strike over concerns about possible violence. Protesters say they will continue until the education minister resigns, legal action against demonstrators is dropped and families of students who died by suicide are compensated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced plans for tougher penalties and fast-track courts for exam paper leaks, but protesters say the examination system itself needs broader reform.
FRANCE — Note wall of the mountain … this is one of the climbing stages: Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, rides in the pack during the 19th stage of the Tour de France cycling race which starts in Gap and finishes in Alpe d’Huez, Friday.
Pogačar extended his lead by over seven minutes after winning the 19th stage, strengthening his chances of winning this year’s Tour again. A victory would give him his fifth Tour de France title and third consecutive title. Pogačar’s climb up Alpe d’Huez, a mountain pasture in the French Alps, broke Marco Pantani’s 1997 record by over a minute.
So far, Pogačar has won five stages of the Tour.
FRANCE — Wait, the cyclists have to ride up HERE? Spectators wait for the riders in the Alpe d’Huez during the 19th stage of the Tour de France, Friday.
Expenses for cycling teams range from $30-60 million, but they only receive about $63,000 from the Amaury Sport Organisation, which manages the tour.
A.S.O. keeps the roughly $170 million annual revenue from television rights. Cities also pay around $160,000 to host stages.
GEORGIA — Dressing like a nerd for court, this minor shooter made history when his father was also convicted of complicity: Colt Gray, the 16-year-old Apalachee High School shooting suspect, is led in by deputies for a plea hearing at Barrow County Superior Court in Winder, on Friday.
Gray killed two students and two teachers when he was 14. He outlined his attack in a notebook before carrying it out, despite telling investigators that he acted spontaneously after hearing voices.
Gray pleaded guilty to all 55 counts, including murder. His father was also convicted of involuntary manslaughter and second-degree murder in a separate trial for providing his son with the rifle used in the shooting.
MANHATTAN — How does she do it, dancing in these kinds of heels? Tyla performs on NBC’s Today show at Rockefeller Plaza on Friday in New York.
The 24-year-old South African pop and R&B singer performed her breakthrough single “Water” to promote the release of her new album “A*Pop.”
She recently became the first artist to spend 100 cumulative weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart.
