US: Rooftop Fire Breaks Out Near NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Midtown 4

Thick plumes of black smoke billowed into the sky over Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday, March 17, after a fire broke out in a cooling tower on the roof of a building under renovation near the start of the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. Construction workers evacuated safely and no impact reported on the parade.

Cherry blossoms in Tokyo

Cherry blossoms in Tokyo

The Somei Yoshino cherry tree that the Japan Meteorological Agency uses as a benchmark tree to declare the official start of the spring cherry blossom season, comes into bloom at Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on March 19, 2026, five days earlier than the average year.

Cherry blossoms in Tokyo

Cherry blossoms in Tokyo

The Somei Yoshino cherry tree that the Japan Meteorological Agency uses as a benchmark tree to declare the official start of the spring cherry blossom season, comes into bloom at Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on March 19, 2026, five days earlier than the average year.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani makes his first pitching start of the year in spring training against the San Francisco Giants in Glendale, Arizona, on March 18, 2026, throwing 4-1/3 shutout innings, striking out four and allowing one hit.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani makes his first pitching start of the year in spring training against the San Francisco Giants in Glendale, Arizona, on March 18, 2026, throwing 4-1/3 shutout innings, striking out four and allowing one hit.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani makes his first pitching start of the year in spring training against the San Francisco Giants in Glendale, Arizona, on March 18, 2026, throwing 4-1/3 shutout innings, striking out four and allowing one hit.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani makes his first pitching start of the year in spring training against the San Francisco Giants in Glendale, Arizona, on March 18, 2026, throwing 4-1/3 shutout innings, striking out four and allowing one hit.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani makes his first pitching start of the year in spring training against San Francisco Giants in Glendale, Arizona, on March 18, 2026, throwing 4-1/3 shutout innings, striking out four and allowing one hit.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani makes his first pitching start of the year in spring training against San Francisco Giants in Glendale, Arizona, on March 18, 2026, throwing 4-1/3 shutout innings, striking out four and allowing one hit.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani makes his first pitching start of the year in spring training against San Francisco Giants in Glendale, Arizona, on March 18, 2026, throwing 4-1/3 shutout innings, striking out four and allowing one hit.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani makes his first pitching start of the year in spring training against San Francisco Giants in Glendale, Arizona, on March 18, 2026, throwing 4-1/3 shutout innings, striking out four and allowing one hit.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani makes his first pitching start of the year in spring training against San Francisco Giants in Glendale, Arizona, on March 18, 2026, throwing 4-1/3 shutout innings, striking out four and allowing one hit.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani makes his first pitching start of the year in spring training against San Francisco Giants in Glendale, Arizona, on March 18, 2026, throwing 4-1/3 shutout innings, striking out four and allowing one hit.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani makes his first pitching start of the year in spring training against San Francisco Giants in Glendale, Arizona, on March 18, 2026, throwing 4-1/3 shutout innings, striking out four and allowing one hit.

Baseball: MLB spring training

Baseball: MLB spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani makes his first pitching start of the year in spring training against San Francisco Giants in Glendale, Arizona, on March 18, 2026, throwing 4-1/3 shutout innings, striking out four and allowing one hit.

US: Rooftop Fire Breaks Out Near NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Midtown 3

Thick plumes of black smoke billowed into the sky over Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday, March 17, after a fire broke out in a cooling tower on the roof of a building under renovation near the start of the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. Construction workers evacuated safely and no impact reported on the parade.

US: Rooftop Fire Breaks Out Near NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Midtown 2

Thick plumes of black smoke billowed into the sky over Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday, March 17, after a fire broke out in a cooling tower on the roof of a building under renovation near the start of the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. Construction workers evacuated safely and no impact reported on the parade.

US: Rooftop Fire Breaks Out Near NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Midtown

Thick plumes of black smoke billowed into the sky over Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday, March 17, after a fire broke out in a cooling tower on the roof of a building under renovation near the start of the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. The cause of the fire was under investigation with construction workers evacuating safely and no impact reported on the parade.

World Baseball Classic: Venezuela vs. Japan

World Baseball Classic: Venezuela vs. Japan

Shohei Ohtani of Japan awaits the start of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Venezuela at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 14, 2026.

World Baseball Classic: Venezuela vs. Japan

World Baseball Classic: Venezuela vs. Japan

Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata awaits the start of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Venezuela at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 14, 2026.

World Baseball Classic: Japan vs. Venezuela

World Baseball Classic: Japan vs. Venezuela

Japan's Yoshinobu Yamamoto works out in Miami, Florida, on March 12, 2026, two days ahead of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Venezuela. The right-hander will start in the game.

World Baseball Classic: Japan vs. Venezuela

World Baseball Classic: Japan vs. Venezuela

Japan's Yoshinobu Yamamoto works out in Miami, Florida, on March 12, 2026, two days ahead of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Venezuela. The right-hander will start in the game.

World Baseball Classic: Japan vs. Venezuela

World Baseball Classic: Japan vs. Venezuela

Japan's Yoshinobu Yamamoto works out in Miami, Florida, on March 12, 2026, two days ahead of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Venezuela. The right-hander will start in the game.

World Baseball Classic: U.S. vs. Canada

World Baseball Classic: U.S. vs. Canada

Pitcher Michael Soroka of Canada attends a press conference in Houston, Texas, on March 12, 2026, a day ahead of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against the United States. The right-hander will start in the game.

World Baseball Classic: U.S. vs. Canada

World Baseball Classic: U.S. vs. Canada

Pitcher Logan Webb of the United States attends a press conference in Houston, Texas, on March 12, 2026, a day ahead of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Canada. The right-hander will start in the game.

World Baseball Classic: U.S. vs. Canada

World Baseball Classic: U.S. vs. Canada

Pitcher Logan Webb of the United States attends a press conference in Houston, Texas, on March 12, 2026, a day ahead of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Canada. The right-hander will start in the game.

CORRECTED: Milan Cortina Paralympics: Cross-country skiing

CORRECTED: Milan Cortina Paralympics: Cross-country skiing

Para cross-country skier Oksana Masters of the United States looks at her gold medal she won in the women's 10-kilometer interval start sitting at the Milan Cortina Paralympics during the medal ceremony on March 11, 2026, at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy.

CORRECTED: Milan Cortina Paralympics: Cross-country skiing

CORRECTED: Milan Cortina Paralympics: Cross-country skiing

Para cross-country skier Oksana Masters of the United States celebrates with the gold medal she won in the women's 10-kilometer interval start sitting at the Milan Cortina Paralympics at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy, during the medal ceremony on March 11, 2026.

CORRECTED: Milan Cortina Paralympics: Cross-country skiing

CORRECTED: Milan Cortina Paralympics: Cross-country skiing

Para cross-country skier Oksana Masters of the United States smiles at the medal ceremony with the gold medal she won in the women's 10-kilometer interval start sitting at the Milan Cortina Paralympics on March 11, 2026, at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy.

CORRECTED: Milan Cortina Paralympics: Cross-country skiing

CORRECTED: Milan Cortina Paralympics: Cross-country skiing

Para cross-country skier Anastasiia Bagiian (C, L) of Russia poses for a photo with her guide at the medal ceremony after winning gold in the women's 10-kilometer interval start classic vision impaired at the Milan Cortina Paralympics at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy, on March 11, 2026, alongside Leonie Maria Walter (2nd from R) of Germany. Silver medalist Simona Bubenickova of the Czech Republic (far L) refused to stand close to the Russian winner.

CORRECTED: Milan Cortina Paralympics: Cross-country skiing

CORRECTED: Milan Cortina Paralympics: Cross-country skiing

Para cross-country skier Anastasiia Bagiian (L) of Russia waves to the crowd with her guide at the medal ceremony after winning gold in the women's 10-kilomter interval start classic vision impaired at the Milan Cortina Paralympics at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy, on March 11, 2026.

[Breaking News]Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

OTSU, Japan, March 7 Kyodo - Video taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows sightseeing ships parading on Lake Biwa in the Shiga Prefecture capital of Otsu, western Japan, in a ceremony marking the start of the tourist season at Japan's largest lake on March 7, 2026. (Kyodo)

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a sightseeing ship parading on Lake Biwa in the Shiga Prefecture capital of Otsu, western Japan, in a ceremony marking the start of the tourist season at Japan's largest lake on March 7, 2026.

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a sightseeing ship parading on Lake Biwa in the Shiga Prefecture capital of Otsu, western Japan, in a ceremony marking the start of the tourist season at Japan's largest lake on March 7, 2026.

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows sightseeing ships parading on Lake Biwa in the Shiga Prefecture capital of Otsu, western Japan, in a ceremony marking the start of the tourist season at Japan's largest lake on March 7, 2026.

Athletics: Tokyo Marathon

Athletics: Tokyo Marathon

Runners start the Tokyo Marathon en masse near the Tokyo metropolitan government building on March 1, 2026.

Athletics: Tokyo Marathon

Athletics: Tokyo Marathon

Runners start the Tokyo Marathon en masse near the Tokyo metropolitan government building on March 1, 2026.

Athletics: Tokyo Marathon

Athletics: Tokyo Marathon

Runners start the Tokyo Marathon en masse near the Tokyo metropolitan government building on March 1, 2026.

Athletics: Tokyo Marathon

Athletics: Tokyo Marathon

Runners start the Tokyo Marathon en masse near the Tokyo metropolitan government building on March 1, 2026. (Pool photo)

Athletics: Tokyo Marathon

Athletics: Tokyo Marathon

Runners start the Tokyo Marathon en masse near the Tokyo metropolitan government building on March 1, 2026. (Pool photo)

Japan: Hay Fever Alert Issued as Mass Pollen Dispersal Expected to Peak Nationwide

As of February 16, the start of cedar pollen dispersal has been confirmed in parts of the region stretching from Kyushu to Tokai. By late February, dispersal is expected to begin across a wide area ranging from Kyushu to southern Tohoku. In Shizuoka Prefecture specifically, cedar pollen began dispersing in early February 2026; total volume is expected to reach 1.9 times the average of the past 10 years. Thick pollen is visible in the video, creating hazy conditions across the mountain range.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Closing ceremony

Milan Cortina Olympics: Closing ceremony

Gold medalist Ebba Andersson (C) of Sweden celebrates at the medal ceremony for the women's cross country skiing 50km mass start classic during the closing ceremony of the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 22, 2026, at the Verona Olympic Arena in Verona, Italy, alongside silver medalist Heidi Weng (L) of Norway and bronze medalist Nadja Kaelin of Switzerland.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Closing ceremony

Milan Cortina Olympics: Closing ceremony

Gold medalist Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (C) of Norway celebrates at the medal ceremony for the men's cross-country skiing 50km mass start classic during the closing ceremony of the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 22, 2026, at the Verona Olympic Arena in Verona, Italy, alongside compatriots silver medalist Martin Loewstroem Nyenget (L) and bronze medalist Emil Iversen.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Closing ceremony

Milan Cortina Olympics: Closing ceremony

Gold medalist Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (C) of Norway celebrates at the medal ceremony for the men's cross-country skiing 50km mass start classic during the closing ceremony of the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 22, 2026, at the Verona Olympic Arena in Verona, Italy, alongside compatriots silver medalist Martin Loewstroem Nyenget (bottom) and bronze medalist Emil Iversen.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Closing ceremony

Milan Cortina Olympics: Closing ceremony

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry (R) awards Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway the gold medal in the men's cross-country skiing 50km mass start classic at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 22, 2026, during the closing ceremony at the Verona Olympic Arena in Verona, Italy.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Closing ceremony

Milan Cortina Olympics: Closing ceremony

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry (R) awards Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway the gold medal in the men's cross-country skiing 50km mass start classic at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 22, 2026, during the closing ceremony at the Verona Olympic Arena in Verona, Italy.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Cross-country skiing

Milan Cortina Olympics: Cross-country skiing

Swedish cross-country skier Ebba Andersson wins gold in the women's 50km mass start classic at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy, on Feb. 22, 2026.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Cross-country skiing

Milan Cortina Olympics: Cross-country skiing

Swedish cross-country skier Ebba Andersson competes en route to winning gold in the women's 50km mass start classic at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy, on Feb. 22, 2026.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Cross-country skiing

Milan Cortina Olympics: Cross-country skiing

Swedish cross-country skier Ebba Andersson celebrates after winning gold in the women's 50km mass start classic at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy, on Feb. 22, 2026.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Cross-country skiing

Milan Cortina Olympics: Cross-country skiing

Swedish cross-country skier Ebba Andersson celebrates after winning gold in the women's 50km mass start classic at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy, on Feb. 22, 2026.