Japan revises Imperial House Law

Japan revises Imperial House Law

People visit a square facing the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on July 17, 2026. Japan enacted the revised Imperial House Law the same day, permitting the imperial family to adopt males aged 15 or older who are descended from emperors through the male line in 11 former branch families and allowing female members to retain their imperial status even after marrying commoners.

Japan revises Imperial House Law

Japan revises Imperial House Law

People visit a square facing the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on July 17, 2026. Japan enacted the revised Imperial House Law the same day, permitting the imperial family to adopt males aged 15 or older who are descended from emperors through the male line in 11 former branch families and allowing female members to retain their imperial status even after marrying commoners.

Japan revises Imperial House Law

Japan revises Imperial House Law

People visit a square facing the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on July 17, 2026. Japan enacted the revised Imperial House Law the same day, permitting the imperial family to adopt males aged 15 or older who are descended from emperors through the male line in 11 former branch families and allowing female members to retain their imperial status even after marrying commoners.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia, July 13 Kyodo - The opening ceremony for Mongolia's Naadam sport festival is held in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026, with several thousands of athletes from across the country taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling. (Kyodo)

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

The opening ceremony for Mongolia's Naadam sport festival is held in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026, with several thousands of athletes from across the country taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

The opening ceremony for Mongolia's Naadam sport festival is held in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026, with several thousands of athletes from across the country taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

The opening ceremony for Mongolia's Naadam sport festival is held in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026, with several thousands of athletes from across the country taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

The opening ceremony for Mongolia's Naadam sport festival is held in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026, with several thousands of athletes from across the country taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

The opening ceremony for Mongolia's Naadam sport festival is held in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026, with several thousands of athletes from across the country taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

An archery competition is held following the opening ceremony of Mongolia's Naadam sport festival in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026. Several thousand athletes from across the country are taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, wrestling and archery.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Former Japan sumo grand champion Hakuho (C) attends the opening ceremony of Mongolia's Naadam sport festival in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026. Several thousand athletes from across the country are taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

An archery competition is held following the opening ceremony of Mongolia's Naadam sport festival in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026. Several thousand athletes from across the country are taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, wrestling and archery.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh attends the opening ceremony of the Naadam sport festival in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026. Several thousand athletes from across the country are taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh (R) and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attend the opening ceremony of Mongolia's Naadam sport festival in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026. Several thousand athletes from across the country are taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attends the opening ceremony of Mongolia's Naadam sport festival in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026. Several thousand athletes from across the country are taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

Naadam sport festival in Mongolia

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attends the opening ceremony of Mongolia's Naadam sport festival in Ulaanbaatar on July 11, 2026. Several thousand athletes from across the country are taking part in the three-day competition that involves horse racing, archery and wrestling.

Sumo: Ritual ahead of Nagoya tournament

Sumo: Ritual ahead of Nagoya tournament

A ritual is held at IG Arena in Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on July 11, 2026, to pray for safety during the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament starting the following day.

Sumo: Ritual ahead of Nagoya tournament

Sumo: Ritual ahead of Nagoya tournament

A ritual is held at IG Arena in Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on July 11, 2026, to pray for safety during the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament starting the following day.

Canada: Hail, Strong Winds Hit Edmonton 2

Severe weather, including heavy rain, strong winds, and hail, battered Edmonton on Saturday afternoon, July 11, after a severe thunderstorm swept through the area, causing damage and power outages the previous day.

Canada: Hail, Strong Winds Hit Edmonton

Severe weather, including heavy rain, strong winds, and hail, battered Edmonton on Saturday afternoon, July 11, after a severe thunderstorm swept through the area, causing damage and power outages the previous day.

Japan-U.S. drill to defend remote islands

Japan-U.S. drill to defend remote islands

Photo shows the U.S. Marine Corps' missile systems -- the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS (front), and the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS -- at Camp Hansen in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa on June 30, 2026, the final day of the Resolute Dragon Japan-U.S. joint defense drill. A total of 9,600 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and Marine Corps personnel took part in the 11-day drill, conducted in Okinawa and the southwestern Japan main island of Kyushu to strengthen capabilities to defend remote islands.

Japan-U.S. drill to defend remote islands

Japan-U.S. drill to defend remote islands

Lt. Gen. Seiji Toriumi (R), commander of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Western Army, shakes hands with Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, commanding general of the U.S. Marine Corps' III Marine Expeditionary Force, during a press conference at the Marine Corps' Camp Hansen in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa on June 30, 2026, the final day of the Resolute Dragon joint defense drill. A total of 9,600 GSDF and Marine Corps personnel took part in the 11-day drill, conducted in Okinawa and the southwestern Japan main island of Kyushu to strengthen capabilities to defend remote islands.

Japan-U.S. drill to defend remote islands

Japan-U.S. drill to defend remote islands

Lt. Gen. Seiji Toriumi (R), commander of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Western Army, shakes hands with Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, commanding general of the U.S. Marine Corps' III Marine Expeditionary Force, during a press conference at the Marine Corps' Camp Hansen in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa on June 30, 2026, the final day of the Resolute Dragon joint defense drill. A total of 9,600 GSDF and Marine Corps personnel took part in the 11-day drill, conducted in Okinawa and the southwestern Japan main island of Kyushu to strengthen capabilities to defend remote islands.

Football: 2026 World Cup

Football: 2026 World Cup

A Mexico supporter wears a traditional sombrero hat decorated with a trophy, a ball and football shoes in Mexico City on June 11, 2026. Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the World Cup opener at the venue the same day.

[Breaking News]Football: 2026 World Cup

NEW YORK, United States, June 11 Kyodo - A building in New York's Times Square projects a video in support of the Japan national football team in the early hours of June 11, 2026, ahead of the opening later in the day of the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. (Kyodo)

Tokyo Tower lit up in blue

Tokyo Tower lit up in blue

Tokyo Tower is illuminated in blue, the Japan's national football team's color, in the capital on June 11, 2026, as the 2026 World Cup finals hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico open the same day.

Tokyo Tower lit up in blue

Tokyo Tower lit up in blue

Tokyo Tower is illuminated in blue, the Japan's national football team's color, in the capital on June 11, 2026, as the 2026 World Cup finals hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico open the same day.

Tokyo Tower lit up in blue

Tokyo Tower lit up in blue

Tokyo Tower is illuminated in blue, the Japan's national football team's color, in the capital on June 11, 2026, as the 2026 World Cup finals hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico open the same day.

Football: 2026 World Cup

Football: 2026 World Cup

A building in New York's Times Square projects a video in support of the Japan national football team in the early hours of June 11, 2026, ahead of the opening later in the day of the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Football: 2026 World Cup

Football: 2026 World Cup

A building in New York's Times Square projects a video in support of the Japan national football team in the early hours of June 11, 2026, ahead of the opening later in the day of the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Football: 2026 World Cup

Football: 2026 World Cup

A building in New York's Times Square projects a video in support of the Japan national football team in the early hours of June 11, 2026, ahead of the opening later in the day of the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Football: 2026 World Cup

Football: 2026 World Cup

A building in New York's Times Square projects a video in support of the Japan national football team in the early hours of June 11, 2026, ahead of the opening later in the day of the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Football: 2026 World Cup

Football: 2026 World Cup

A building in New York's Times Square projects a video in support of the Japan national football team in the early hours of June 11, 2026, ahead of the opening later in the day of the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Football: 2026 World Cup

Football: 2026 World Cup

A building in New York's Times Square projects a video in support of the Japan national football team in the early hours of June 11, 2026, ahead of the opening later in the day of the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Japanese stewartia at Kyoto temple

Japanese stewartia at Kyoto temple

Torin-in temple's garden is dotted with fallen Japanese stewartia flowers in Kyoto, western Japan, on June 11, 2026. It opened to the public for two weeks that day to allow visitors to view the flowers, which bloom and fall in a single day.

Japanese stewartia at Kyoto temple

Japanese stewartia at Kyoto temple

Torin-in temple's garden is dotted with fallen Japanese stewartia flowers in Kyoto, western Japan, on June 11, 2026. It opened to the public for two weeks that day to allow visitors to view the flowers, which bloom and fall in a single day.

Japanese stewartia at Kyoto temple

Japanese stewartia at Kyoto temple

Torin-in temple's garden is dotted with fallen Japanese stewartia flowers in Kyoto, western Japan, on June 11, 2026. It opened to the public for two weeks that day to allow visitors to view the flowers, which bloom and fall in a single day.

Japan finance minister meets with U.S. treasury secretary

Japan finance minister meets with U.S. treasury secretary

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama is pictured after a dinner meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Tokyo on May 11, 2026. Bessent arrived at Haneda airport earlier in the day ahead of the U.S.-China summit in Beijing in mid-May.

U.S. treasury secretary in Japan

U.S. treasury secretary in Japan

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is pictured after a dinner meeting with Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama in Tokyo on May 11, 2026. Bessent arrived at Haneda airport earlier in the day ahead of the U.S.-China summit in Beijing in mid-May.

China: Pet Owner Reveals Unusual Two-Headed Bearded Dragon

This is the rare moment that a Chinese man presented an unusual two-headed bearded dragon, drawing attention as the reptile calmly moved with both heads sharing a single body. On December 8, 2025, in Hubei, China, the video captured a pet owner gently holding out his finger while the small reptile slowly crawled forward. The bearded dragon appeared to have two fully formed heads connected to one body, each head moving slightly independently as it balanced itself. The man kept his hand steady, allowing the creature to explore without disturbance. The reptile’s tiny claws gripped his finger as both heads looked around, creating a striking and rare visual. The video ended with the two-headed bearded dragon continuing to crawl calmly along the man’s finger as he observed it closely.

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

Police officers and Japan Coast Guard officers observe a moment of silence at a beach in Yamada, Iwate Prefecture, on March 11, 2026, the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Police officers in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima searched tsunami-hit coastal areas the same day for clues about the fate of people still missing.

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

15th anniversary of 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

Police officers and Japan Coast Guard officers observe a moment of silence at a beach in Yamada, Iwate Prefecture, on March 11, 2026, the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Police officers in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima searched tsunami-hit coastal areas the same day for clues about the fate of people still missing.

US: Thousands Gather at Lincoln Memorial as Monks End 2,300-Mile Peace Journey

About 19 Buddhist monks completed a 108-day, 2,300-mile Walk for Peace from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., ending with a ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday, February 11. Thousands gathered to welcome them as they concluded the pilgrimage with a message of peace.

US: Thousands of San Francisco Teachers Strike Over Pay and Benefits

Thousands of teachers rallied in San Francisco on Wednesday, February 11, the third day of a strike by about 6,000 educators over wages, health benefits and support for special needs students, leaving nearly 50,000 students out of class and 120 schools closed.

US: Teachers’ Strike Continues in San Francisco as Schools Remain Closed

More than 1,000 San Francisco Unified School District teachers, including parents and students, rallied on Tuesday, February 10, on the second day of a teachers’ strike amid ongoing contract negotiations with the district. Following 11 months of failed contract negotiations, SFUSD announced that schools will remain closed for a third day on Wednesday.

Sapporo Snow Festival

SAPPORO, Japan, Feb. 4 Kyodo - People view a snow sculpture of a cake on Feb. 4, 2026, the opening day of the 76th Sapporo Snow Festival in the capital of Hokkaido in northern Japan. About 2 million people are expected to visit the event through Feb. 11 featuring more than 200 snow and ice sculptures. (Kyodo)

Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival

Snow sculptures are lit up at Odori Park in Sapporo, Hokkaido, on Feb. 4, 2026, the opening day of the Sapporo Snow Festival. About 2 million people are expected to visit the event through Feb. 11 featuring more than 200 snow and ice sculptures.

Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival

Snow sculptures are lit up at Odori Park in Sapporo, Hokkaido, on Feb. 4, 2026, the opening day of the Sapporo Snow Festival. About 2 million people are expected to visit the event through Feb. 11 featuring more than 200 snow and ice sculptures.

Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival

People view a snow sculpture of a cake on Feb. 4, 2026, the opening day of the 76th Sapporo Snow Festival in the capital of Hokkaido in northern Japan. About 2 million people are expected to visit the event through Feb. 11 featuring more than 200 snow and ice sculptures.

Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo Snow Festival

People view a snow sculpture of a cake on Feb. 4, 2026, the opening day of the 76th Sapporo Snow Festival in the capital of Hokkaido in northern Japan. About 2 million people are expected to visit the event through Feb. 11 featuring more than 200 snow and ice sculptures.