Fire festival at Kongobuji temple

Fire festival at Kongobuji temple

Monks burn wooden tablets in a Buddhist rite during a fire festival held in front of Kongobuji temple located on World Heritage-listed Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, on March 1, 2026.

China: Driver Encounters Bear Family on Dark Road in Yunnan

A video filmed on January 10, 2026, in Yunnan Province, southwestern China, shows several Tibetan blue bears running along a dark road at night. As the car approached, the mother bear lunged at the car, hitting the right front of it. The filmer later said the car suffered only a minor scrape and that the bear was unharmed.

Tokyo SkyTree elevator halt

Tokyo SkyTree elevator halt

An emergency vehicle is seen in front of Tokyo SkyTree tower in the Japanese capital on the night of Feb. 22, 2026, after 20 visitors were trapped in an elevator that stopped about 30 meters above street level while descending from the 350-meter-high observation deck. The visitors were rescued after more than five hours, and no one was injured.

Tokyo SkyTree elevator halt

Tokyo SkyTree elevator halt

Emergency vehicles are seen in front of Tokyo SkyTree tower in the Japanese capital on the night of Feb. 22, 2026, after 20 visitors were trapped in an elevator that stopped about 30 meters above street level while descending from the 350-meter-high observation deck. The visitors were rescued after more than five hours, and no one was injured.

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura (front) and Ryuichi Kihara pose with their medals from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics during a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Feb. 25, 2026. They won the pairs gold and team event silver.

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura (front) and Ryuichi Kihara pose with their medals from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics during a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Feb. 25, 2026. They won the pairs gold and team event silver.

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura (front) and Ryuichi Kihara pose with their medals from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics during a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Feb. 25, 2026. They won the pairs gold and team event silver.

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura (front) and Ryuichi Kihara pose with their medals from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics during a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Feb. 25, 2026. They won the pairs gold and team event silver.

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Figure skating: Japan pair Miura, Kihara

Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura (front) and Ryuichi Kihara pose with their medals from the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics during a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Feb. 25, 2026. They won the pairs gold and team event silver.

German Chancellor Merz in China

German Chancellor Merz in China

German (L) and Chinese flags are hoisted in front of Beijing's Tiananmen gate on Feb. 25, 2026, amid German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to China.

German Chancellor Merz in China

German Chancellor Merz in China

German (L) and Chinese flags are hoisted in front of Beijing's Tiananmen gate on Feb. 25, 2026, amid German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to China.

Japan gov't economic, fiscal policy meeting

Japan gov't economic, fiscal policy meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (2nd from L, front row) attends a Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2026.

Athletes' press conference after Milan Cortina Olympics

Athletes' press conference after Milan Cortina Olympics

Japan's Yuma Kagiyama (C, front) speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2026, upon his return from the Milan Cortina Olympics. He won silver in the men's figure skating and silver in the team event.

Athletes' press conference after Milan Cortina Olympics

Athletes' press conference after Milan Cortina Olympics

Japan's Riku Miura (L, front row) and Ryuichi Kihara (R, front row) attend a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2026, upon their return from the Milan Cortina Olympics. They won gold in the figure skating pairs and silver in the team event.

Athletes' press conference after Milan Cortina Olympics

Athletes' press conference after Milan Cortina Olympics

Japan's Riku Miura (L, front row) and Ryuichi Kihara (R, front row) attend a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2026, upon their return from the Milan Cortina Olympics. They won gold in the figure skating pairs and silver in the team event.

Athletes' press conference after Milan Cortina Olympics

Athletes' press conference after Milan Cortina Olympics

Japan's Riku Miura (L, front row) and Ryuichi Kihara (R, front row) attend a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2026, upon their return from the Milan Cortina Olympics. They won gold in the figure skating pairs and silver in the team event.

Athletes' press conference after Milan Cortina Olympics

Athletes' press conference after Milan Cortina Olympics

Japan's Kaori Sakamoto (L, front row) hands the microphone to athletes in the back row during a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2026, upon her return from the Milan Cortina Olympics. She won silver in the women's figure skating and silver in the team event.

Japan team back home after Milan Cortina Olympics

Japan team back home after Milan Cortina Olympics

Japan's Ami Nakai (front) arrives at Narita airport in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, on Feb. 24, 2026, after winning bronze in the women's figure skating at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Japan team back home after Milan Cortina Olympics

Japan team back home after Milan Cortina Olympics

Japan's Ami Nakai (front) arrives at Narita airport in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, on Feb. 24, 2026, after winning bronze in the women's figure skating at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Japan team back home after Milan Cortina Olympics

Japan team back home after Milan Cortina Olympics

Japan's Yuma Kagiyama (front) arrives at Narita airport in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, on Feb. 24, 2026, after winning silver in the men's figure skating at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Closing ceremony

Milan Cortina Olympics: Closing ceremony

Japanese figure skater Kaori Sakamoto (front, C) takes a selfie with fellow figure skaters after the closing ceremony of the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 22, 2026, at the Verona Olympic Arena, a Roman amphitheater in Verona, Italy.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Closing ceremony

Milan Cortina Olympics: Closing ceremony

Giovanni Malago (C), president of the Milan Cortina Olympics organizing committee, speaks alongside International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry (front, R) during the closing ceremony of the Milan Cortina Olympics at the Verona Olympic Arena, a Roman amphitheater in Verona, Italy, on Feb. 22, 2026.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Closing ceremony

Milan Cortina Olympics: Closing ceremony

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry (C) delivers a speech alongside Giovanni Malago (front, L), president of the Milan Cortina Olympics organizing committee, during the closing ceremony of the Milan Cortina Olympics at the Verona Olympic Arena, a Roman amphitheater in Verona, Italy, on Feb. 22, 2026.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Canadian ice dancers Piper Gilles (front) and Paul Poirier perform in the figure skating exhibition gala at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 21, 2026, at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

American ice dancers Madison Chock (front) and Evan Bates perform in the figure skating exhibition gala at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 21, 2026, at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

German figure skating pair Minerva Fabienne Hase (front) and Nikita Volodin perform in the exhibition gala at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 21, 2026, at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

American ice dancers Madison Chock (front) and Evan Bates perform in the figure skating exhibition gala at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 21, 2026, at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura (front) and Ryuichi Kihara perform in the exhibition gala at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 21, 2026, at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura (front) and Ryuichi Kihara perform in the exhibition gala at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 21, 2026, at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Japanese figure skating pair Riku Miura (front) and Ryuichi Kihara perform in the exhibition gala at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 21, 2026, at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Ayano Sato (front) competes in the women's mass start final at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 21, 2026, at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Milan Cortina Olympics: Speed skating

Japanese speed skater Ayano Sato (front, 2nd from R) competes in the women's mass start final at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 21, 2026, at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in Milan.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Freestyle skiing

Milan Cortina Olympics: Freestyle skiing

Japanese freestyle skier Satoshi Furuno (front row, C) poses for a photo after placing fourth in the men's ski cross final at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 21, 2026, at Livigno Snow Park in Livigno, Italy.

US: Cold Front Sweeps Through Charlotte Area With Scattered Showers 2

A cold front moved into North Carolina on Friday, February 20, bringing scattered showers and gusty winds to the Charlotte area.

US: Cold Front Sweeps Through Charlotte Area With Scattered Showers

A cold front moved into North Carolina on Friday, February 20, bringing scattered showers and gusty winds to the Charlotte area.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Short track speed skating

Milan Cortina Olympics: Short track speed skating

South Korea's Kim Gil Li (front) competes en route to winning the women's short track speed skating 1,500 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 20, 2026, at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Freestyle skiing

Milan Cortina Olympics: Freestyle skiing

German freestyle skier Daniela Maier (front, L) competes en route to winning the women's ski cross gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 20, 2026, at Livigno Snow Park in Livigno, Italy.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Freestyle skiing

Milan Cortina Olympics: Freestyle skiing

German freestyle skier Daniela Maier (front, L) competes en route to winning the women's ski cross gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 20, 2026, at Livigno Snow Park in Livigno, Italy.

US: High Winds and Blowing Dust Hit Parts of New Mexico

High winds and blowing dust hit parts of New Mexico on Tuesday, February 17, as a cold front brought gusts over 60 mph and forced brief highway closures.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Ami Nakai (front) of Japan celebrates winning the bronze medal with gold medalist Alysa Liu of the United States in the women's figure skating event at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on Feb. 19, 2026.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Ami Nakai (front) of Japan celebrates winning the bronze medal with gold medalist Alysa Liu of the United States in the women's figure skating event at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on Feb. 19, 2026.

CORRECTED: Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

CORRECTED: Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Ami Nakai (front) of Japan celebrates winning the bronze medal with gold medalist Alysa Liu of the United States in the women's figure skating event at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on Feb. 19, 2026.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Kaori Sakamoto (front) of Japan is pictured before her performance in the women's figure skating free program at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on Feb. 19, 2026.

US: Northern Arizona Battered by Winter Storm, Whiteout Conditions Hit High Country

A powerful winter storm has rocked Northern Arizona, damaging power lines and forcing school closures in Flagstaff and at the Grand Canyon. On February 18, the National Weather Service issued a High Wind Warning for gusts up to 60 mph, which combined with snowfall to create dangerous whiteout conditions. The Flagstaff Unified School District cancelled all classes as a result, and unsettled winter weather is expected to persist through the week.

US: Winter Storm Lashing North Dakota’s Capital, Blowing Snow Seen Across Bismarck

The Capital Region’s winter storm began on Tuesday night, February 17, as rain due to unseasonably mild temperatures. As the cold front pushed through, the precipitation transitioned to snow; Bismarck recorded a quarter-inch of rain followed by two inches of snowfall, while northern North Dakota saw significantly higher accumulations. The Bismarck-Mandan area remained under a Winter Weather Advisory through Wednesday night, February 18, as strong winds continued to cause hazardous blowing snow.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Milan Cortina Olympics: Figure skating

Japanese figure skater Kaori Sakamoto (front, R) applauds during compatriots Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara's performance in the pairs free program at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on Feb. 16, 2026.

New Takaichi Cabinet inaugurated

New Takaichi Cabinet inaugurated

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front, C) and her Cabinet members pose for a photo at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo after being inaugurated in a ceremony with Emperor Naruhito following her reelection as Japan's prime minister in parliament on Feb. 18, 2026.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Cross-country skiing

Milan Cortina Olympics: Cross-country skiing

Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (front) competes en route to winning the men's team sprint free gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 18, 2026, at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Cross-country skiing

Milan Cortina Olympics: Cross-country skiing

Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (front) competes en route to winning the men's team sprint free gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 18, 2026, at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Cross-country skiing

Milan Cortina Olympics: Cross-country skiing

Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (front) competes en route to winning the men's team sprint free gold at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 18, 2026, at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Tesero, Italy.