This week, the Netherlands held its grand annual flower parade, highlighted by floats decorated with about 400,000 dahlias each, crafted by volunteers who dedicated months of work.
In New York City, a drone display formed the Twin Towers with 2,977 lights, honoring the number of victims lost in the 9/11 attacks 25 years ago.
Good news from an Indian startup that introduced the idea of dogs wearing AI sensor hats to sniff human breath and screen for cancer, with plans for a commercial launch next year.
The United Nations General Assembly voted to adopt a new world map reflecting Africa’s true size, replacing the outdated map, with only the United States voting against it.
Back in Asia, Indonesia has resumed normal operations at five airports after the Anak Krakatoa volcano erupted heavily, disrupting over 3,000 flights.
Prince Harry and Meghan were surprised after King Charles sent a letter reaffirming their status as 'non-royal' members while they relocated back to England.
The week ended with lively scenes from the Philippines celebrating the 'Ber Months' festival, decorating with lights to mark an early and extended Christmas season lasting four months.
The Netherlands' spectacular annual flower parade featured giant floats adorned with 400,000 dahlias each.
Large crowds of locals and tourists flocked to witness the annual flower parade in Zundert, Netherlands. The event’s highlight was giant floats decorated entirely with dahlias, created by volunteers who spent months preparing and assembling hundreds of thousands of flowers by hand. Organizers noted that a single float could contain up to 400,000 dahlias. Twenty local community associations competed, presenting floats with diverse themes ranging from war stories and Italian comedy to the sci-fi film 'Interstellar.' This flower parade, held continuously since 1936, attracts visitors nationwide and internationally, and is a source of pride for North Brabant province residents.
In the United States, 2,977 drones formed the Twin Towers to commemorate 25 years since the 9/11 attacks.
The New York Arts Foundation organized a show titled "2977 Lights Over New York Harbor," using 2,977 illuminated drones to represent the number of victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The drones flew in the shape of the original World Trade Center Twin Towers, true to architectural scale, lighting up the sky over lower Manhattan’s waters alongside the "Tribute in Light" beam shining from Ground Zero. During the event, drones and other small aircraft were temporarily grounded in the area for safety.
In India, AI sensor-equipped dogs offer over 90% accuracy in cancer screening.
Dognosis, a startup in Bengaluru, India, is trialing the use of scent-trained dogs to screen human breath for cancer. A trained mixed-breed Labrador named Chloe wears a 3D-printed hat and harness fitted with AI sensors that analyze her brain activity, breathing rate, and body language when detecting patient breath samples. Dogs have about 300 million olfactory cells compared to humans’ 5 million. Studies involving over 1,500 participants from six hospitals in Karnataka showed this method achieves over 90% accuracy in detecting seven major cancer types. The company aims to commercially launch this affordable and accessible preliminary cancer screening tool next year.
At the United Nations, a new world map reflecting true continent sizes was approved, with only the U.S. opposing.
United Nations member states voted 164 to 1 to endorse a resolution supporting a new world map that more accurately reflects the true proportions and sizes of continents, replacing the Mercator projection used since the 16th century. The Mercator map distorts sizes, exaggerating northern hemisphere countries and minimizing Africa’s scale. This campaign, led by African nations including Togo and the African Union, aims to restore knowledge justice. Although non-binding, France has abandoned the old map and supports the new campaign. The United States was the sole dissenting vote, labeling the resolution an ideological campaign undermining the UN’s credibility.
Indonesia faces risk of further Anak Krakatoa eruptions after canceling 3,000 flights, stranding 300,000 passengers.
Indonesian authorities reopened five airports after suspending flights for two days due to a violent eruption of the Anak Krakatoa volcano over the weekend. Volcanic ash soared up to 15,000 meters, covering Jakarta and Lampung provinces, causing nearly 3,000 flight cancellations and stranding over 340,000 passengers, especially at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, where long queues formed for refunds and rescheduling. While airports have resumed operations, Indonesia’s geological agency warns of a high risk of further eruptions and prohibits people and vessels within a three-kilometer radius of the volcano’s crater.
In the United Kingdom, Prince Harry and Meghan were stunned as King Charles reaffirmed their non-royal status.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, expressed surprise upon receiving a letter from King Charles III reaffirming that they are no longer "working members of the royal family." The royal household sent this letter to their staff and government agencies, clarifying that any official duties they perform in the UK will be as private citizens, without the right to use HRH titles. This development follows their recent return to live in England with their children last month.
In the Philippines, a four-month Christmas celebration called the 'Ber Months' begins, bringing hope amid crises.
Starting 1 September, the Philippines launched the world’s longest Christmas festival known as the "Ber Months." Shopping malls and homes nationwide are decorated with lights, Christmas trees, and star-shaped lanterns, while Christmas music plays on the radio. Sociologists observe that beginning the festival four months early serves as emotional healing and hope for Filipinos facing economic, political, and natural disasters like typhoons and floods during the rainy season. It is also the period when over 100,000 overseas Filipino workers prepare to return home to celebrate with family. The festival extends until 6 January the following year.
References
https://www.euronews.com/video/2026/09/07/400000-dahlias-and-giant-floats-netherlands-hosts-spectacular-flower-parade
https://nypost.com/2026/09/10/us-news/nyc-drone-show-illuminates-skies-before-9-11-anniversary/
https://japantoday.com/category/features/health/can-dogs-sniff-cancer-ai-joins-the-hunt-in-india
https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/09/1168284
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czezydp4l97o
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp30kv53qvdo
https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/%27the-ber-months%27-christmas-arrives-early-in-the-philippines