Peace eludes the world as war continues to rage in Ukraine, Palestine and Israel; high tides affect humans and animals; lightning strikes the hand of the Christ the Redeemer statue. See these events in pictures.

Feb 23

Ukrainian soldiers at an event held at Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv on Thursday, the eve of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. During the event, an illumination called “Ray of Memory” was projected over the graves of Ukrainian soldiers who died in the war with Russia.

PHOTO: AFP

Feb 25

A vehicle that skidded off a snowy road into a pond in the Sierra Pelona Mountains in Los Angeles County on Saturday. The driver was pulled from the car to safety by family members. A storm, carrying a rare blizzard warning for parts of Southern California, is delivering heavy snowfall to the mountains.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Feb 22

A US Air Force pilot looking down from his cockpit at a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon as it hovered over the central continental United States. Recovery efforts began shortly after the balloon was downed.

PHOTO: US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE via EPA-EFE

Feb 22

A Palestinian man flashing the victory sign as he faces an Israeli military vehicle during a raid on the occupied West Bank city of Nablus on Wednesday. Israeli troops killed at least 10 Palestinians in the raid on Nablus, while more than 80 people had gunshot wounds.

PHOTO: AFP

Feb 19

Kashmiri Muslims praying and looking at a holy relic believed to contain hair from the beard of Prophet Muhammad on the occasion of Meraj-u-Alam – which marks the ascension of the Prophet to heaven – at the famous Hazratbal shrine, in Srinagar, India, on Sunday.

PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Feb 21

Rio de Janeiro’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue appears to be holding a bolt of lightning in its hand on Tuesday. The statue is located at the peak of the 701m Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca National Park overlooking the city, and is often struck by lightning.

PHOTO: AFP

Feb 16

Thousands of knot birds gathering at a lagoon in the village of Snettisham in Norfolk, England. The “Snettisham Spectacular” is the term used to describe the impressive sight of these countless wading birds taking to the air, especially during particularly high tides that push them off their feeding ground on the Wash – a vast expanse of mudflats – over the lagoon, where they wait for the tide to recede to continue feeding. The event is one of the most incredible wildlife spectacles in Britain.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Feb 22

The ground at East Coast Park Area B covered in water after a high tide caused the drains and canal in the area to overflow at about 12.45pm on Feb 22, 2023. The tide on Wednesday was as high as 3.4m, according to the National Environment Agency. With climate change and rising sea levels, the risk of transient flooding in coastal areas – due to the combined effects of high tides and heavy rainfall – will be heightened over the long term.

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Feb 20

The peloton in the UAE Tour riding the first stage from Al Dhafra Castle to Qassar al-Mighayra Street in Al Mirfa, in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, on Monday.

PHOTO: AFP

Feb 26

A child spinning a ring of fire during rituals in celebration of Sirni Zagovezni, also known as Shrove Sunday, to mark the start of the Lent season, in Lozen, Bulgaria, on Sunday.

PHOTO: REUTERS