Japan-Vietnam talks

Japan-Vietnam talks

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) and her Vietnamese counterpart Le Minh Hung shake hands ahead of their talks in Hanoi on May 2, 2026.

Japan-Vietnam talks

Japan-Vietnam talks

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) and her Vietnamese counterpart Le Minh Hung pose for photos ahead of their talks in Hanoi on May 2, 2026.

Japan-Vietnam talks

Japan-Vietnam talks

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (L) and her Vietnamese counterpart Le Minh Hung pose for photos ahead of their talks in Hanoi on May 2, 2026.

Blue carnation shipments ready

Blue carnation shipments ready

Eight varieties of rare blue carnations with different shapes and shades, airlifted from Columbia and Ecuador, are prepared for shipment at a wholesaler company in Shibayama in Chiba Prefecture, eastern Japan, on May 1, 2026, ahead of Mother's Day on May 10. The carnation named Moondust was developed by the horticulture arm of major Japanese whiskey maker Suntory using gene engineering, with sales starting in 1997.

Blue carnation shipments ready

Blue carnation shipments ready

Eight varieties of rare blue carnations with different shapes and shades, airlifted from Columbia and Ecuador, are prepared for shipment at a wholesaler company in Shibayama in Chiba Prefecture, eastern Japan, on May 1, 2026, ahead of Mother's Day on May 10. The carnation named Moondust was developed by the horticulture arm of major Japanese whiskey maker Suntory using gene engineering, with sales starting in 1997.

Blue carnation shipments ready

Blue carnation shipments ready

Preparations to ship rare blue carnations, airlifted from Columbia and Ecuador, are underway at a wholesaler company in Shibayama in Chiba Prefecture, eastern Japan, on May 1, 2026, ahead of Mother's Day on May 10. The carnation named Moondust was developed by the horticulture arm of major Japanese whiskey maker Suntory using gene engineering, with sales starting in 1997.

Blue carnation shipments ready

Blue carnation shipments ready

Preparations to ship rare blue carnations, airlifted from Columbia and Ecuador, are underway at a wholesaler company in Shibayama in Chiba Prefecture, eastern Japan, on May 1, 2026, ahead of Mother's Day on May 10. The carnation named Moondust was developed by the horticulture arm of major Japanese whiskey maker Suntory using gene engineering, with sales starting in 1997.

Japan PM Takaichi heads for Vietnam, Australia

Japan PM Takaichi heads for Vietnam, Australia

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo on May 1, 2026, ahead of a five-day trip to Vietnam and Australia for bilateral summit talks.

Japan PM Takaichi heads for Vietnam, Australia

Japan PM Takaichi heads for Vietnam, Australia

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's residence in Tokyo on May 1, 2026, ahead of a five-day trip to Vietnam and Australia for bilateral summit talks.

Japan PM Takaichi heads for Vietnam, Australia

Japan PM Takaichi heads for Vietnam, Australia

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's residence in Tokyo on May 1, 2026, ahead of a five-day trip to Vietnam and Australia for bilateral summit talks.

Labor Day holiday in China

Labor Day holiday in China

A sightseeing spot in Beijing is crowded with tourists on April 26, 2026, ahead of a five-day Labor Day holiday starting May 1.

Labor Day holiday in China

Labor Day holiday in China

A sightseeing spot in Beijing is crowded with tourists on April 26, 2026, ahead of a five-day Labor Day holiday starting May 1.

Labor Day holiday in China

Labor Day holiday in China

A sightseeing spot in Beijing is crowded with tourists on April 26, 2026, ahead of a five-day Labor Day holiday starting May 1.

Labor Day holiday in China

Labor Day holiday in China

A sightseeing spot in Beijing is crowded with tourists on April 26, 2026, ahead of a five-day Labor Day holiday starting May 1.

Tennis: Kei Nishikori

Tennis: Kei Nishikori

Photo taken in Melbourne on Jan. 13, 2026, shows Japan's Kei Nishikori practicing ahead of an Australian Open men's singles qualifier. On April 30, 2026, the Japanese tennis icon and former world No. 4 said on social media that he will retire at the end of the season.

Boxing: world title bout between Inoue and Nakatani

Boxing: world title bout between Inoue and Nakatani

Undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (L) of Japan and countryman and challenger Junto Nakatani, a former unified bantamweight world champion, pose for a photo in Tokyo on April 30, 2026, ahead of their title match at Tokyo Dome on May 2.

Baseball: Red Sox vs. Blue Jays

Baseball: Red Sox vs. Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto reacts after reaching first base on his go-ahead two-run single in the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 29, 2026.

Baseball: Red Sox vs. Blue Jays

Baseball: Red Sox vs. Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto reacts after reaching first base on his go-ahead two-run single in the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 29, 2026.

Baseball: Red Sox vs. Blue Jays

Baseball: Red Sox vs. Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto hits a go-ahead two-run single in the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 29, 2026.

Baseball: Red Sox vs. Blue Jays

Baseball: Red Sox vs. Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto hits a go-ahead two-run single in the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 29, 2026.

Baseball: Red Sox vs. Blue Jays

Baseball: Red Sox vs. Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto hits a go-ahead two-run single in the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 29, 2026.

Baseball: Red Sox vs. Blue Jays

Baseball: Red Sox vs. Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto hits a go-ahead two-run single in the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 29, 2026.

Baseball: Red Sox vs. Blue Jays

Baseball: Red Sox vs. Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto hits a go-ahead two-run single in the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 29, 2026.

US: Dramatic Cloud Formation Spotted in Kentucky Ahead of Severe Storm System

A dramatic cloud formation was spotted in Kentucky on Monday, April 27 as several rounds of storms swept through the state.

US: Dramatic Cloud Formation Spotted in Kentucky Ahead of Severe Storm System 2

A dramatic cloud formation was spotted in Kentucky on Monday, April 27 as several rounds of storms swept through the state.

China: Out-of-Control Cement Mixer Causes Accident on Sichuan Mountain Road

On February 4, 2026, in Sichuan, a video recorded a tense moment on a mountain road. The filmer was driving when a cement mixer truck suddenly appeared from the opposite direction. The truck was moving unstably and collided with a white car before continuing forward in a swerving motion. It then veered toward the filmer’s vehicle. A black car ahead narrowly avoided being struck. Reacting quickly, the filmer pressed the accelerator and moved forward to escape the truck’s path. The unstable truck passed by without direct impact.

Baseball: Marlins vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Marlins vs. Dodgers

Japanese musician and songwriter Yoshiki performs the U.S. anthem on the piano ahead of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 27, 2026.

Baseball: Marlins vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Marlins vs. Dodgers

Japanese musician and songwriter Yoshiki performs the U.S. anthem on the piano ahead of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 27, 2026.

Baseball: Marlins vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Marlins vs. Dodgers

Japanese musician and songwriter Yoshiki performs the U.S. anthem on the piano ahead of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 27, 2026.

Baseball: Marlins vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Marlins vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki gives Jun Endo, a Japanese footballer who plays for U.S. professional soccer team Angel City FC based in Los Angeles, the ball she threw for the ceremonial first pitch ahead of a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 27, 2026.

Baseball: Marlins vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Marlins vs. Dodgers

Jun Endo, a Japanese footballer who plays for U.S. professional soccer team Angel City FC based in Los Angeles, throws the ceremonial first pitch ahead of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 27, 2026.

Baseball: Marlins vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Marlins vs. Dodgers

Jun Endo, a Japanese footballer who plays for U.S. professional soccer team Angel City FC based in Los Angeles, throws the ceremonial first pitch ahead of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 27, 2026, with Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki acting as catcher.

Baseball: Marlins vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Marlins vs. Dodgers

Jun Endo, a Japanese footballer who plays for U.S. professional soccer team Angel City FC based in Los Angeles, reacts after throwing the ceremonial first pitch ahead of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 27, 2026.

Baseball: Marlins vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Marlins vs. Dodgers

Jun Endo, a Japanese footballer who plays for U.S. professional soccer team Angel City FC based in Los Angeles, throws the ceremonial first pitch ahead of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 27, 2026, with Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki acting as catcher.

Japan-Australia foreign ministerial talks

Japan-Australia foreign ministerial talks

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (R) and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong shake hands ahead of their talks at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo on April 28, 2026.

Baseball: Cubs vs. Dodgers

Baseball: Cubs vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani is pictured in the dugout ahead of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on April 26, 2026.

Hibakusha rally in New York ahead of NPT review conference

Hibakusha rally in New York ahead of NPT review conference

Kunihiko Sakuma (C), head of an association for Hiroshima atomic bomb survivors' groups, march with other hibakusha near the U.N. headquarters in New York on April 26, 2026, calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons ahead of the 2026 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review conference, which will begin on April 27.

Hibakusha rally in New York ahead of NPT review conference

Hibakusha rally in New York ahead of NPT review conference

Hibakusha sing an anti-nuclear song before marching toward the U.N. headquarters in New York on April 26, 2026, calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons ahead of the 2026 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review conference, which will begin on April 27.

Hibakusha rally in New York ahead of NPT review conference

Hibakusha rally in New York ahead of NPT review conference

Hibakusha march near the U.N headquarters in New York on April 26, 2026, calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons ahead of the start on April 27 of the 2026 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review conference.

Hibakusha rally in New York ahead of NPT review conference

Hibakusha rally in New York ahead of NPT review conference

Hibakusha march near the U.N headquarters in New York on April 26, 2026, calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons ahead of the start on April 27 of the 2026 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review conference.

Int'l confab on nuclear safety at Chernobyl nuclear plant

Int'l confab on nuclear safety at Chernobyl nuclear plant

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the press ahead of an international conference on nuclear safety and recovery at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, Ukraine, on April 26, 2026, the 40th anniversary of the 1986 nuclear accident at the plant.

Ritual at Ise Jingu shrine

ISE, Japan, April 21 Kyodo - Priests conduct a ritual to pray for the safety of construction at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on April 21, 2026, ahead of the start of the "Shikinen Sengu" shrine hall reconstruction every 20 years at the Shinto shrine in the central Japan city. The 63rd "Shikinen Sengu," with a history of about 1,300 years, will culminate in 2033 when an object believed to contain the spirit of the shrine's deity will be transferred to the shrine's newly reconstructed main hall. (Kyodo)

NPT review conference

NPT review conference

Izumi Nakamitsu, U.N. undersecretary general for disarmament affairs, speaks during a press conference at the U.N. headquarters in New York on April 24, 2026, ahead of the start on April 27 of the 2026 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review conference.

NPT review conference

NPT review conference

Izumi Nakamitsu, U.N. undersecretary general for disarmament affairs, speaks during a press conference at the U.N. headquarters in New York on April 24, 2026, ahead of the start on April 27 of the 2026 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review conference.

NPT review conference

NPT review conference

Izumi Nakamitsu, U.N. undersecretary general for disarmament affairs, speaks during a press conference at the U.N. headquarters in New York on April 24, 2026, ahead of the start on April 27 of the 2026 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review conference.

NPT review conference

NPT review conference

Izumi Nakamitsu, U.N. undersecretary general for disarmament affairs, speaks during a press conference at the U.N. headquarters in New York on April 24, 2026, ahead of the start on April 27 of the 2026 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review conference.

Baseball: White Sox vs. Diamondbacks

Baseball: White Sox vs. Diamondbacks

Chicago White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami (L) signs autographs for fans ahead of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 23, 2026.

Int'l forum in Beijing

Int'l forum in Beijing

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (front, R) and Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo (far L) are pictured ahead of the opening ceremony for an international forum on global action for shared development hosted by China in Beijing on April 22, 2026.

Japan-Montenegro meeting in Tokyo

Japan-Montenegro meeting in Tokyo

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) and Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic shake hands ahead of their meeting in Tokyo on April 22, 2026.

NASA's telescope ready for dark matter search

NASA's telescope ready for dark matter search

Photo taken on April 21, 2026, shows NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, ahead of its planned launch in September to search for dark matter.