Japan: Heavy Snow Triggers Building Collapses in Niigata

Across Niigata Prefecture, multiple structures collapsed due to heavy snowfall between Monday, February 2 and Tuesday, February 3, leaving two people in critical condition. This video shows a house in the Hanazono area of Nagaoka City that is believed to have collapsed under the weight of snow. As of February 3, snow accumulation in Nagaoka had reached about 1.4 meters, roughly 2.6 times the seasonal average.

Uruguayan president in Beijing

Uruguayan president in Beijing

Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi (R) receives a guard of honor during his welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Feb. 3, 2026. Walking next to him is Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Pool photo)

Heavy snow in Aomori

Heavy snow in Aomori

People remove snow near a house in Aomori, northeastern Japan, on Feb. 2, 2026, as heavy snow continues to hit the region.

Heavy snow in Aomori

Heavy snow in Aomori

People remove snow near a house in Aomori, northeastern Japan, on Feb. 2, 2026, as heavy snow continues to hit the region.

China's Lunar New Year holidays

China's Lunar New Year holidays

People head to Beijing Station in the Chinese capital on Feb. 2, 2026, as the travel rush starts ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays.

China's Lunar New Year holidays

China's Lunar New Year holidays

People head to Beijing Station in the Chinese capital on Feb. 2, 2026, as the travel rush starts ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays.

Milan Cortina Winter Olympics

Milan Cortina Winter Olympics

People pass by the Olympic rings set up at city hall in Milan, Italy, on Jan. 29, 2026, ahead of the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

Turkey: Heavy Rains Trigger Severe Flooding in Mersin

Heavy rain triggered severe flooding in Mersin, southern Turkey on Friday, January 30, after overflowing streams inundated neighborhoods, damaging 51 homes and businesses and 8 vehicles, while 12 people were rescued. Floodwaters submerged agricultural land, damaged bridges and schools, and swept away vehicles.

US: Deadly Winter Storm Grips North Carolina

A weekend winter storm brought record snowfall and extreme cold to the U.S. Southeast, killing two people in traffic accidents and causing more than 1,000 crashes in North Carolina. Coastal areas suffered severe damage, including homes washed away. North Carolina saw a foot of snow in several areas, Charleston, South Carolina set a new daily snowfall record, and Florida experienced its coldest temperatures in over a decade.

Anti-ICE protest in Los Angeles

Anti-ICE protest in Los Angeles

People rally in Los Angeles during an anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest held on Jan. 30, 2026, in the wake of the killing of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot dead by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.

Anti-ICE protest in Los Angeles

Anti-ICE protest in Los Angeles

People rally in Los Angeles during an anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest held on Jan. 30, 2026, in the wake of the killing of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot dead by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.

Anti-ICE protest in New York

Anti-ICE protest in New York

People rally in New York during an anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest held on Jan. 30, 2026, in the wake of the killing of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot dead by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.

Anti-ICE protest in New York

Anti-ICE protest in New York

People rally in New York during an anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest held on Jan. 30, 2026, in the wake of the killing of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot dead by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.

Anti-ICE protest in New York

Anti-ICE protest in New York

People rally in New York during an anti-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest held on Jan. 30, 2026, in the wake of the killing of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot dead by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.

Illumination event in Kobe in memory of quake victims

Illumination event in Kobe in memory of quake victims

The "Luminarie" illumination event opens on Jan. 30, 2026, in memory of the victims of the January 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake in the western Japan city and its vicinity that killed more than 6,400 people.

Illumination event in Kobe in memory of quake victims

Illumination event in Kobe in memory of quake victims

The "Luminarie" illumination event opens on Jan. 30, 2026, in memory of the victims of the January 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake in the western Japan city and its vicinity that killed more than 6,400 people.

Illumination event in Kobe in memory of quake victims

Illumination event in Kobe in memory of quake victims

The "Luminarie" illumination event opens on Jan. 30, 2026, in memory of the victims of the January 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake in the western Japan city and its vicinity that killed more than 6,400 people.

Illumination event in Kobe in memory of quake victims

Illumination event in Kobe in memory of quake victims

The "Luminarie" illumination event opens on Jan. 30, 2026, in memory of the victims of the January 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake in the western Japan city and its vicinity that killed more than 6,400 people.

Illumination event in Kobe in memory of quake victims

Illumination event in Kobe in memory of quake victims

The "Luminarie" illumination event opens on Jan. 30, 2026, in memory of the victims of the January 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake in the western Japan city and its vicinity that killed more than 6,400 people.

Illumination event in Kobe in memory of quake victims

Illumination event in Kobe in memory of quake victims

The "Luminarie" illumination event opens on Jan. 30, 2026, in memory of the victims of the January 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake in the western Japan city and its vicinity that killed more than 6,400 people.

Illumination event in Kobe in memory of quake victims

Illumination event in Kobe in memory of quake victims

The "Luminarie" illumination event opens on Jan. 30, 2026, in memory of the victims of the January 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake in the western Japan city and its vicinity that killed more than 6,400 people.

US: Four Injured in Metallurgical Plant Explosion in Langeloth, Pennsylvania

Four people were injured after an explosion at the Langeloth Metallurgical Company plant in Washington County, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, January 29. Authorities initially issued a shelter-in-place order due to a potential hydrogen peroxide release during a chemical transfer, but the notice was later lifted after officials confirmed there was no public health threat.

South Korea: Two Missing as Massive Fire Rages at North Chungcheong Manufacturing Plant

A massive fire broke out at a manufacturing plant in Duseong-ri, Maengdong-myeon, Eumseong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, on Friday, January 30, spreading to a nearby mountain and leaving two people missing. Authorities issued a Level 2 fire response alert and are investigating the whereabouts of two employees believed to be inside the factory building.

Scene of Kyiv

Scene of Kyiv

People fish on a frozen river in Kyiv on Jan. 29, 2026.

Scene of Ukraine

Scene of Ukraine

People walk a dark street in Kyiv on Jan. 29, 2026, amid a power outage caused by Russian attacks on critical infrastructure.

Power outage disrupts train services in Tokyo

Power outage disrupts train services in Tokyo

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows people walk along the tracks of the JR Joban Line in Tokyo on Jan. 30, 2026, as train services are disrupted following a power outage at Ueno Station.

Power outage disrupts train services in Tokyo

Power outage disrupts train services in Tokyo

People walk along the tracks of the JR Joban Line in Tokyo on Jan. 30, 2026, as train services are disrupted following a power outage at Ueno Station.

Power outage disrupts train services in Tokyo

Power outage disrupts train services in Tokyo

People walk along the tracks of the JR Joban Line in Tokyo on Jan. 30, 2026, as train services are disrupted following a power outage at Ueno Station.

Japan: Record January Snowfall Hits Aomori, Disrupting Traffic and Trains

On January 28, Aomori City recorded 150 centimeters of snowfall for the first time in 40 years, causing traffic congestion across the city and a series of train service suspensions. Snow depth reached 154 centimeters by 9 p.m., tying for the second-highest January total on record, last seen on January 30, 1986. According to Aomori Prefecture, as of 2 p.m. on January 29, two people had died and 85 others were injured, while damage was confirmed at four residential properties. The video captures conditions in Aomori City on the morning of January 29, showing the extent of the heavy snowfall.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

People listen to a stump speech by a politician in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, on Jan. 29, 2026, ahead of the Feb. 8 general election.

Emperor meets with awardees at Imperial Palace

Emperor meets with awardees at Imperial Palace

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako meet with people who received awards for their contribution to the fields of agriculture, fisheries and livestock raising at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 29, 2026. (Pool photo)

Emperor meets with awardees at Imperial Palace

Emperor meets with awardees at Imperial Palace

Japanese Emperor Naruhito (2nd from R) and Empress Masako (far R) meet with people who received awards for their contribution to the fields of agriculture, fisheries and livestock raising at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Jan. 29, 2026. (Pool photo)

British PM Starmer meets with China's Xi

British PM Starmer meets with China's Xi

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (2nd from R) holds talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 29, 2026. (Pool photo)

China's Xi meets with British PM Starmer

China's Xi meets with British PM Starmer

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 29, 2026. (Pool photo)

China's Xi meets with British PM Starmer

China's Xi meets with British PM Starmer

Chinese President Xi Jinping (3rd from L) holds talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 29, 2026. (Pool photo)

China's Xi meets with British PM Starmer

China's Xi meets with British PM Starmer

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 29, 2026. (Pool photo)

Multivehicle crash in Tokyo

Multivehicle crash in Tokyo

Police investigators probe an official car belonging to the Cabinet Office on Jan. 29, 2026, after it allegedly caused a fatal multivehicle accident, leaving a man dead and five people injured, in Tokyo's busy Akasaka district on Jan. 22.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki makes a stump speech in southwestern Japan city in Fukuoka on Jan. 28, 2026, as official campaigning began the previous day for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

China return for Ueno zoo pandas

China return for Ueno zoo pandas

People bid farewell to male giant panda Xiao Xiao and his twin sister Lei Lei of Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens as an airplane carrying them left for China from Narita airport near Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026.

Japan: Record Snowfall Leaves Cars Stuck in Downtown Sapporo

A cold front stalled over Hokkaido on Sunday, January 25, dumping a record 54 cm of snow on Sapporo — the highest January total ever recorded in 24 hours. The following day, a video captured people pushing a car stuck in the snow in the Susukino area of downtown Sapporo.

Australia: Tens of Thousands Join Invasion Day Rallies

Invasion Day rallies were held across multiple cities and regions in Australia on Monday, Januar 26, 2026, drawing tens of thousands of participants nationwide. In Sydney, several thousand people took part in rallies calling for Indigenous rights, truth-telling about history, and reconciliation. In Melbourne, large crowds gathered for mostly peaceful demonstrations, with speeches urging action on injustices faced by Indigenous communities and reforms to history education.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

People listen to a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

People listen to a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

People listen to a stump speech in Hirosaki in Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

People listen to a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

People listen to a stump speech in Hirosaki in Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

US: Time-Lapse Shows Heavy Snow Blanketing Ohio State University’s South Oval

Time-lapse footage shows snow accumulating over a 24-hour period on Sunday, January 25, at the South Oval on the Ohio State University campus. A major winter storm swept across the U.S., bringing widespread heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain. The storm has caused seven deaths and massive power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of people.

China return for Ueno zoo pandas

China return for Ueno zoo pandas

People watch a truck carrying male giant panda Xiao Xiao and his twin sister Lei Lei leave Ueno Zoological Gardens in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, before the animals are sent to China, marking the first time that Japan will be without pandas since the first ones arrived in the country in 1972.

China return for Ueno zoo pandas

China return for Ueno zoo pandas

People watch a truck carrying male giant panda Xiao Xiao and his twin sister Lei Lei leave Ueno Zoological Gardens in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, before the animals are sent to China, marking the first time that Japan will be without pandas since the first ones arrived in the country in 1972.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.