Japan secured a gold medal in pairs figure skating at the Milan Winter Olympics, despite challenging ice conditions, according to Time. Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara delivered a flawless routine, seemingly unfazed by the soft ice at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, which had caused falls and doubled jumps for other competitors.
The competition took place amidst a flurry of international news. February 16th, 2026, saw a mix of events, including the anniversary of Alexei Navalny's death and a foiled ISIS plot, as reported by Variety. The same day, Netflix announced its 2026 Australia-New Zealand slate, featuring major productions. Meanwhile, India hosted a significant AI Impact Summit, attracting substantial investment and industry leaders. U.S. venture capital firms, like Andreessen Horowitz, were increasingly focusing on international deal flow, particularly in the Swedish startup ecosystem, according to Variety.
The ice at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, as detailed by Time, was made with a new, more environmentally friendly system. However, this system proved less consistent and more sensitive to the heat and moisture of spectators. The venue's shared use with short track speed skating further complicated matters, as speed skaters prefer harder, colder ice. Despite these challenges, Miura and Kihara's performance earned the crowd's approval.
Elsewhere, officials from Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. were scheduled to meet in Geneva that week for discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict, as reported by NPR Politics. The war was approaching its fourth anniversary. While some U.S. representatives expressed optimism, others, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, remained cautious about Russia's willingness to negotiate a genuine end to the war, according to NPR Politics.
In other news, the Cologne Carnival featured satirical floats that mocked world leaders, including Trump and Putin, as reported by Euronews. The parade, known for its playful atmosphere, also included local targets and sharp designs by sculptor Jacques Tilly, demonstrating the event's role in processing current events.
Finally, Saatva, the mattress company, was set to be the official mattress provider for the LA 2028 Summer Games, according to Wired. Their Memory Foam Hybrid mattresses were already being tested by athletes at the Olympic Training Center. While the Memory Foam Hybrid offers strong lumbar support and uses natural materials, some sources noted potential drawbacks like limited pressure relief for side sleepers, Wired reported.
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