Japan defense minister in Okinawa

Japan defense minister in Okinawa

Taketoyo Toguchi, mayor of Okinawa Prefecture's Nago, where land reclamation work is under way for the relocation of a U.S. military base, meets the press following a meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in the southern Japan prefecture's capital Naha on Jan. 7, 2026.

Japan defense minister in Okinawa

Japan defense minister in Okinawa

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi speaks during a meeting in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, on Jan. 7, 2026, with Taketoyo Toguchi, mayor of Nago, where land reclamation work is under way for the relocation of a U.S. military base.

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Maduro with Is Wife Arrive at New York Heliport - NYC

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro with his wife Cilia Flores arrive at New York Heliport on their way to the Federal Court in Manhattan, New York on January 5, 2026. Photo by Charles Guerin/ABACAPRESS.COM

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