Mosaic Portrait of Pope Leo XIV for St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica - Vatican

Mosaic Portrait of Pope Leo XIV for St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica - Vatican

In keeping with tradition, the Vatican Mosaic Studio shows the mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV destined for the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls (Rome) on January 14, 2026, Vatican. In accordance with the ancient tradition that accompanies the election of every Pope, just over eight months after the election of Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican Mosaic has completed the mosaic portrait destined for the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. The mosaic roundel, with a diameter of 137 centimeters, was created using glass enamels and gold on a metal structure at the studio of the Fabric of Saint Peter. The work will be installed in the space next to the portrait of Pope Francis, in the right nave of the Basilica, at a height of approximately 13 meters. Photo by (EV) Simone Risoluti/ Vatican Media /ABACAPRESS.COM

Mosaic Portrait of Pope Leo XIV for St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica - Vatican

Mosaic Portrait of Pope Leo XIV for St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica - Vatican

In keeping with tradition, the Vatican Mosaic Studio shows the mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV destined for the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls (Rome) on January 14, 2026, Vatican. In accordance with the ancient tradition that accompanies the election of every Pope, just over eight months after the election of Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican Mosaic has completed the mosaic portrait destined for the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. The mosaic roundel, with a diameter of 137 centimeters, was created using glass enamels and gold on a metal structure at the studio of the Fabric of Saint Peter. The work will be installed in the space next to the portrait of Pope Francis, in the right nave of the Basilica, at a height of approximately 13 meters. Photo by (EV) Simone Risoluti/ Vatican Media /ABACAPRESS.COM

Mosaic Portrait of Pope Leo XIV for St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica - Vatican

Mosaic Portrait of Pope Leo XIV for St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica - Vatican

In keeping with tradition, the Vatican Mosaic Studio shows the mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV destined for the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls (Rome) on January 14, 2026, Vatican. In accordance with the ancient tradition that accompanies the election of every Pope, just over eight months after the election of Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican Mosaic has completed the mosaic portrait destined for the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. The mosaic roundel, with a diameter of 137 centimeters, was created using glass enamels and gold on a metal structure at the studio of the Fabric of Saint Peter. The work will be installed in the space next to the portrait of Pope Francis, in the right nave of the Basilica, at a height of approximately 13 meters. Photo by (EV) Simone Risoluti/ Vatican Media /ABACAPRESS.COM

Mosaic Portrait of Pope Leo XIV for St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica - Vatican

Mosaic Portrait of Pope Leo XIV for St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica - Vatican

In keeping with tradition, the Vatican Mosaic Studio shows the mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV destined for the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls (Rome) on January 14, 2026, Vatican. In accordance with the ancient tradition that accompanies the election of every Pope, just over eight months after the election of Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican Mosaic has completed the mosaic portrait destined for the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. The mosaic roundel, with a diameter of 137 centimeters, was created using glass enamels and gold on a metal structure at the studio of the Fabric of Saint Peter. The work will be installed in the space next to the portrait of Pope Francis, in the right nave of the Basilica, at a height of approximately 13 meters. Photo by (EV) Simone Risoluti/ Vatican Media /ABACAPRESS.COM

Mosaic Portrait of Pope Leo XIV for St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica - Vatican

Mosaic Portrait of Pope Leo XIV for St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica - Vatican

In keeping with tradition, the Vatican Mosaic Studio shows the mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV destined for the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls (Rome) on January 14, 2026, Vatican. In accordance with the ancient tradition that accompanies the election of every Pope, just over eight months after the election of Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican Mosaic has completed the mosaic portrait destined for the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. The mosaic roundel, with a diameter of 137 centimeters, was created using glass enamels and gold on a metal structure at the studio of the Fabric of Saint Peter. The work will be installed in the space next to the portrait of Pope Francis, in the right nave of the Basilica, at a height of approximately 13 meters. Photo by (EV) Simone Risoluti/ Vatican Media /ABACAPRESS.COM

Mosaic Portrait of Pope Leo XIV for St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica - Vatican

Mosaic Portrait of Pope Leo XIV for St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica - Vatican

In keeping with tradition, the Vatican Mosaic Studio shows the mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV destined for the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls (Rome) on January 14, 2026, Vatican. In accordance with the ancient tradition that accompanies the election of every Pope, just over eight months after the election of Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican Mosaic has completed the mosaic portrait destined for the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. The mosaic roundel, with a diameter of 137 centimeters, was created using glass enamels and gold on a metal structure at the studio of the Fabric of Saint Peter. The work will be installed in the space next to the portrait of Pope Francis, in the right nave of the Basilica, at a height of approximately 13 meters. Photo by (EV) Simone Risoluti/ Vatican Media /ABACAPRESS.COM

[Breaking News]New Year's traditional card game ceremony in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan, Jan. 3 Kyodo - Women dressed in traditional attire from ancient Heian period play karuta traditional card game in a New Year's ceremony at Yasaka shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 3, 2026.

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

Ancient court football at Kyoto shrine

People clad in traditional attire play "kemari," a football game played by nobles in Japan's Heian period (794-1185), at Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on Jan. 4, 2026.

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

The Ancient Guardians of Bakhazner - Iraq

In the isolated village of Bakhazner in the Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, two sisters, Mestan Rasul Muhiddin and Gustan Rasul Muhiddin, both over 85 years old, continue to embody a vanishing way of life. Born and raised in Bakhazner, the sisters have spent their entire lives on their family's land, witnessing decades of regional transformation without ever leaving. Living independently, they dedicate their lives to the arduous tasks of livestock farming and shepherding, traditions passed down through generations. Their self-sufficiency and deep-rooted connection to the rugged Zagros foothills landscape provide a rare insight into traditional Kurdish pastoral life, which is under threat from modernisation and rural-to-urban migration. Despite their advanced age, the Rasul Muhiddin sisters remain the primary caretakers of their flock, serving as the living memory of their community, on January 3, 2026, in Taq Taq district of the Kurdistan Region, in Iraq. Photo by Othman Sabur Rashid/ABACAPR