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Cadini di Misurina, Dolomites, Veneto, Italy
The image captures the jagged skyline of Cadini di Misurina at sunrise in Veneto, northeastern Italy. Visitors heading toward nearby Tre Cime di Lavaredo often come for the famous route only to find their attention hijacked by the Cadini. Part of the Dolomites, these needle-like peaks reaching more than 2,800 metres at their highest point seem sculpted for drama. The twist? They started out as ancient coral reefs.
Around 250 million years ago, this region lay beneath a warm tropical sea. As the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collided, the seabed was thrust thousands of metres into the sky, preserving shells and other marine fossils in cliffs now explored by hikers instead of fish.
At sunrise and sunset, the Dolomites glow pink and orange in the Alpine phenomenon known as 'enrosadira,' making these former reefs appear almost lit from within. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site preserves one of geology's most improbable stories. From coral reef to mountain skyline, few places have travelled farther.
MisurinaPeak
Old Town Hall, Bamberg, Germany
Perched above the Regnitz River, the Old Town Hall is one of Bamberg's most iconic landmarks in Germany. According to local tradition, the building stands on an artificial island because the town's bishop refused to grant the citizens land for their town hall. In response, residents are said to have created their own site in the middle of the river, giving the structure its remarkable setting and enduring appeal.
The building combines elements of Gothic and Baroque architecture, while its colourful exterior is adorned with elaborate frescoes. A stone bridge connects the hall to both sides of the historic town, creating one of the most photographed scenes in Bavaria.
Today, the Old Town Hall remains a symbol of Bamberg's rich heritage and distinctive character. Surrounded by winding streets, historic buildings and riverside views, it offers a glimpse into centuries of local history and continues to captivate visitors from around the world.
BambergTownhall
Brazil's Independence Day
It is said that Brasília was planned to be seen from above. Today, Independence Day invites us to do the opposite. On September 7, 1822, after a long crisis between Brazil and Portugal, Dom Pedro proclaimed our Independence. The scene became a painting, a monument, a holiday and a parade. And, in Brasilia, it gained a very Brazilian update: planes pirouetting in the sky.
Today's image shows the Brazilian Air Force's Air Demonstration Squadron, which was born in 1952 when instructors from the then Aeronautics School, in Rio de Janeiro, began to practice acrobatics in their spare time. A year later, smoke came on the scene. The public approved. The nickname, Smoke Squadron, did not take long to take off.
The famous cry of "independence or death" attributed to Dom Pedro on the banks of the Ipiranga, more than two centuries ago, left no sound record. The smoke also disappears. But every September 7, she writes in the sky another chapter of a story that we are still telling.
IndependenceBR
Labor Day
Labor Day honors the contributions of American workers and the history of labor in the United States. Established as a federal holiday in 1894, it emerged during a period of rapid industrial growth and social change. Today, Labor Day recognizes the people whose efforts have helped build communities, industries, and infrastructure across the nation. From farms and factories to railroads and construction sites, generations of workers have played a vital role in shaping the country's history.
That story comes to life in today's image, showing a section of 'Industries of California,' a mural by artist Ralph Stackpole at San Francisco's Coit Tower. Completed in 1934 as part of a New Deal public art program, the mural depicts agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and daily life during the Great Depression. It celebrates the labor and ingenuity that powered California's economy, making it a fitting tribute on a day dedicated to the people whose work continues to move society forward.
RalphStackpole
Beech tree in a cereal field, Hampshire, England
A beech tree stands alone amid golden fields near East Meon in Hampshire, providing a striking focal point in the rolling landscape of England's South Downs National Park. Agriculture has shaped these chalk hills for centuries, and farming remains an important part of the region today. The area's free-draining chalk soils support extensive arable farming, with wheat and barley among the most common crops. Throughout the summer, these crops ripen in the fields before harvest transforms the countryside into a patchwork of gold and stubble.
Early September coincides with the main harvest season, when rural communities begin celebrating the year's bounty. In villages such as East Meon, harvest traditions remain an enduring part of local life, reflecting the deep connection between the land and the people who work it. Framed by open skies and sweeping farmland, this solitary tree stands as a symbol of the South Downs' long agricultural heritage.
BeechEngland
Extremadura Day
The Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe, in the province of Cáceres (Spain), is the heart of the Day of Extremadura, which has been celebrated every September 8 since 1985. The date coincides with the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of the region, and the building hides an extraordinary wink: its main axis points to the exact point where the sun rises precisely on that day.
Built since the fourteenth century with the impetus of Alfonso XI, the complex combines Gothic, Mudejar, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical without anything squeaking, and has been a World Heritage Site since 1993. In its sacristy hang eight canvases by Francisco de Zurbarán, the only group of works by the painter from Extremadura that remain in the place for which it was painted.
Around it lie the mountain ranges of the Villuercas-Ibores-Jara Global Geopark. Few regional festivals can boast of such a scenario.
ExtremaduraCaceres
Today is the Double Ninth Festival.
Today, September 9th, is the "Chongyang Festival." It is one of the five seasonal festivals alongside the Seven Herb Festival, Peach Festival, Tango Festival, and Sasa Festival (Tanabata), with origins tracing back to ancient China. In the Chinese theory of Yin-Yang and Five Elements, it is considered an auspicious day with odd numbers overlapping, and events are held to pray for protection from misfortune and longevity. This concept was introduced to Japan, and since around the ninth day of the ninth lunar month was also the season when chrysanthemums bloomed in full bloom, it came to be called the 'Chrysanthemum Festival' in Japan. During the Heian period, nobles held chrysanthemum festivals. It is also said that the dew on chrysanthemum flowers was transferred onto pure cotton called 'kisewata,' which was used to wipe the body and pray for good health and longevity.
ChungYang2026
Gabit Keni Beach near Ankola, Karnataka
When people think of South India, they often picture spice trade routes, classical music, folk traditions and a coastline shaped by centuries of maritime life. Follow Karnataka's Arabian Sea coast to the quieter shores of Gabit Keni Beach near Ankola, where fishing remains part of everyday life.
The beach is named after the Gabit fishing community. It's an easy stop while exploring the Uttara Kannada district, especially alongside Gokarna, Karwar and the historic Mirjan Fort. It also has an unusual landmark just offshore: a rocky island topped by the Sri Mangteshwar Temple. A path of large rocks crosses the water, providing access to the temple when sea conditions permit. The setting has earned comparisons with Bali's famous Tanah Lot, although Gabit Keni remains far less developed and crowded.
The surrounding Ankola region is known for its fishing communities, cashews and Ishaad mangoes. Nearby Gokarna, Karwar and Mirjan Fort make the beach an easy addition to a coastal Karnataka itinerary.
GabitKeni
Atlantic puffin in Elliston, Newfoundland, Canada
As morning breaks over Elliston, a small seabird appears with a wild iris held across its bill. The scene looks almost like a gift, yet biologists say Atlantic puffins are not known to offer flowers to their mates during courtship. The colourful bill, which becomes brightest in the breeding season and fades later in the year, helps make the photograph memorable. Even their feet turn brighter.
Across Canada, puffins breed mainly on the coasts and islands of Newfoundland and Labrador. They spend most of their lives on the open Atlantic and return to land to raise a single chick in a burrow or rocky crevice. Both parents incubate the egg and deliver food. Their diet consists largely of capelin, sand lance and other small fish, which they catch underwater by using their wings as paddles. Puffins can even carry several fish at once, using backward-pointing spines on the tongue and palate to keep their catch from slipping away.
PurplePuffin
Aerial view of Olvera, Andalusia, Spain
Ever wondered why Andalusia is one of Spain's best-known regions? Flamenco, tapas, Moorish architecture and extensive olive groves all play a part. Beyond its famous cities, you'll find historic places like Olvera. Surrounded by more than 2 million olive trees, this village developed as a strategic frontier settlement shaped by centuries of change. The Castle of Olvera still watches over the town, while the Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation dominates the skyline below. Visit La Cilla Cultural Centre to discover Olvera's medieval history and traditions.
Hungry? Try 'gazpacho,' a chilled tomato soup; 'jamón ibérico,' Spain's famous cured ham or the 'torta de aceite,' a crisp olive oil biscuit. For a scenic walk or bike ride, head to the Vía Verde de la Sierra, a former railway line turned popular trail. Watch your step on the steep cobbled streets—your camera might stay steady, but your footing may not! As the saying goes, 'poco a poco'—little by little. Slow down, wander and let Olvera reveal itself.
Olvera
51st Toronto International Film Festival
Ready for eleven days of movie mania? TIFF starts today, and Toronto is slipping into festival mode: coffee in one hand, screening schedule in the other. The event began in 1976 as the Festival of Festivals, giving Canadian audiences access to standout films from around the world. Fifty-one editions later, Roy Thomson Hall, along with other venues, is once again welcoming premieres, filmmakers and crowds hoping to catch the next big conversation before everyone else does.
This year's lineup features 293 films, with 'Being Heumann' by Siân Heder opening the festival and 'Villeneuve: The Rise of a Legend' by Yan Lanouette Turgeon bringing it to a close. Along the way, audiences can expect gala premieres, documentaries, shorts, industry events and late-night discussions that continue well beyond the theatre doors. One of the most entertaining TIFF traditions is the race for the People's Choice Award, where ordinary cinemagoers help decide which film leaves Toronto with the loudest buzz. So, which film gets your first popcorn at the festival?
TIFFRoy
Villefranche-sur-Mer, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
In September, the French Riviera is bathed in a softer light, and the Mediterranean landscape takes on fresher tones after the peak of summer. The hills are scented with Aleppo pine, rosemary and wild thyme. In the hinterland, centuries-old olive trees and hilltop villages tell a story shaped by Greek, Roman and Provençal influences.
Along the coastal trails, holm oaks and strawberry trees withstand the summer drought, while fig trees still offer an abundance of ripe fruit. In the bays of coastal towns such as Villefranche-sur-Mer, sailboats and yachts glide gracefully between sea and sky, while the red rocks of the Esterel Massif contrast strikingly with the deep green hues of the Mediterranean scrubland.
Around a secluded cove, the gentle song of the cicadas gradually gives way to a more peaceful atmosphere. The French Riviera offers far more than a postcard-perfect setting: it is a harmonious blend of nature, heritage and the art of living, where the Mediterranean reigns supreme.
FrenchRivieraVillage