JR East raises fares by 7.1%

JR East raises fares by 7.1%

A worker replaces a fare board at JR Tokyo Station after East Japan Railway Co. raised its fares by an average of 7.1 percent on March 14, 2026, its first hike since the major rail company's privatization in 1987.

JR East raises fares by 7.1%

JR East raises fares by 7.1%

A worker replaces a fare board at JR Tokyo Station after East Japan Railway Co. raised its fares by an average of 7.1 percent on March 14, 2026, its first hike since the major rail company's privatization in 1987.

JR East raises fares by 7.1%

JR East raises fares by 7.1%

A worker replaces a fare board at JR Tokyo Station after East Japan Railway Co. raised its fares by an average of 7.1 percent on March 14, 2026, its first hike since the major rail company's privatization in 1987.

Milan Cortina Paralympics: Alpine skiing

Milan Cortina Paralympics: Alpine skiing

The Russian flag is raised during the medal ceremony for the women's downhill standing at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Tofane Alpine Skiing Center in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, on March 7, 2026, after Varvara Voronchikhina won bronze. Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete in the Games, having been banned from the 2022 Beijing Games over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

China: Dog Seen Hanging From Moving Car in Jiangsu

On February 10, 2026, a video filmed in Jiangsu, eastern China, showed a car driving with a small dog hanging from its rear in a woven sack tied beneath the trunk. The filmer raised concerns about the dog’s safety, including possible exhaust exposure and the risk of injury in a rear-end collision, as the vehicle continued down the road.

Japan: Baby Macaque “Punch” Wins Hearts After Finding Comfort in Plush Surrogacy 2

A six-month-old Japanese macaque named Punch at Ichikawa City Zoo has gained attention in Japan and abroad. After being rejected by his first-time mother, he was hand-raised by staff and often clung to an orangutan plush toy as a surrogate comfort, touching many hearts. Even after rejoining the troop, he kept the toy for a while, but he is gradually bonding with other monkeys and growing stronger. On social media, the hashtag “#GoPunch” has spread, with visitors continuing to cheer him on.

US: Man Detained After Running Onto Active Runway at Phoenix Airport

A man experiencing a mental health crisis was detained Monday evening, February 23, after breaching security and running onto an active runway at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Pilots alerted air traffic control after spotting the individual approaching aircraft with his hands raised, prompting an immediate police response and a temporary disruption to airport operations.

Japan: Baby Macaque “Punch” Wins Hearts After Finding Comfort in Plush Surrogacy

A six-month-old Japanese macaque named Punch at Ichikawa City Zoo has gained attention in Japan and abroad. After being rejected by his first-time mother, he was hand-raised by staff and often clung to an orangutan plush toy as a surrogate comfort, touching many hearts. Even after rejoining the troop, he kept the toy for a while, but he is gradually bonding with other monkeys and growing stronger. On social media, the hashtag “#GoPunch” has spread, with visitors continuing to cheer him on.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Opening ceremony

Milan Cortina Olympics: Opening ceremony

The Italian flag is raised during the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Olympics in Milan on Feb. 6, 2026.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Opening ceremony

Milan Cortina Olympics: Opening ceremony

The Italian flag is raised during the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Olympics in Milan on Feb. 6, 2026.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Opening ceremony

Milan Cortina Olympics: Opening ceremony

The Italian flag is raised during the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Olympics in Milan on Feb. 6, 2026.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Opening ceremony

Milan Cortina Olympics: Opening ceremony

The Italian flag is raised during the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Olympics in Milan on Feb. 6, 2026.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Opening ceremony

Milan Cortina Olympics: Opening ceremony

The Italian flag is raised during the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, on Feb. 6, 2026.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Opening ceremony

Milan Cortina Olympics: Opening ceremony

The Italian flag is raised during the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, on Feb. 6, 2026.

Milan Cortina Olympics: Opening ceremony

Milan Cortina Olympics: Opening ceremony

People take photos as the Italian flag is raised during the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, on Feb. 6, 2026.

Twin giant pandas' arrival in China from Japan

CHENGDU, China, Jan. 28 Kyodo - Male giant panda Xiao Xiao and his twin sister Lei Lei head to a giant panda conservation and research center in the Chinese city of Yaan, Sichuan Province, after arriving at an airport in Chengdu from Japan on Jan. 28, 2026. The twin pandas left Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens, where they were born and raised, the previous day. (Kyodo)

Twin giant pandas' arrival in China from Japan

Twin giant pandas' arrival in China from Japan

A cage carrying giant panda Xiao Xiao and his twin sister, Lei Lei, is unloaded from a plane at an airport in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, in the early hours of Jan. 28, 2026, after leaving Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens, where they were born and raised, the previous day. The pandas will head to a giant panda conservation and research center in Ya'an in the province.

Japan: Tokyo’s Beloved Panda Twins Depart for China Amid Fan Farewell

Twin giant pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, born and raised at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo, departed for their return to China on Tuesday, January 27. As the two pandas left Ueno Zoo by truck in the afternoon, heading to Narita Airport, hundreds of fans gathered along the sidewalk near the zoo to see them off.

Twin giant pandas' arrival in China from Japan

Twin giant pandas' arrival in China from Japan

Male giant panda Xiao Xiao and his twin sister Lei Lei head to a giant panda conservation and research center in the Chinese city of Yaan, Sichuan Province, after arriving at an airport in Chengdu from Japan on Jan. 28, 2026. The twin pandas left Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens, where they were born and raised, the previous day.

Twin giant pandas' arrival in China from Japan

Twin giant pandas' arrival in China from Japan

Female giant panda Lei Lei is loaded into a truck after arriving at an airport in Chengdu in China's Sichuan Province from Japan on Jan. 28, 2026, with her twin brother Xiao Xiao. The twin pandas left the previous day Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens where they were born and raised.

Twin giant pandas' arrival in China from Japan

Twin giant pandas' arrival in China from Japan

Female giant panda Lei Lei is loaded into a truck after arriving at an airport in Chengdu in China's Sichuan Province from Japan on Jan. 28, 2026, with her twin brother Xiao Xiao. The twin pandas left the previous day Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens where they were born and raised.

Twin giant pandas' arrival in China from Japan

Twin giant pandas' arrival in China from Japan

An airplane carrying male giant panda Xiao Xiao and his twin sister Lei Lei arrives at an airport in Chengdu in China's Sichuan Province from Japan on Jan. 28, 2026. The twin pandas left the previous day Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens where they were born and raised.

China: Motorcyclist Thrown From Bike After Hitting Curb

On January 18, 2026, in Qujing, Yunnan, a motorcyclist was thrown from his bike after misjudging a road split and riding onto a raised curb, sending him flying in a violent crash captured on video.

A tower crane is built in the White House Ballroom construction zone where the East wing previously stood at the White House

A tower crane is built in the White House Ballroom construction zone where the East wing previously stood at the White House

A tower crane is built in the White House ballroom construction zone where the East wing previously stood at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 13 January 2026. Democrats are asking the nonprofit group that manages donations to the White House ballroom for details on how much has been raised for the project and if there are any conditions attached to the donations.

A tower crane is built in the White House Ballroom construction zone where the East wing previously stood at the White House

A tower crane is built in the White House Ballroom construction zone where the East wing previously stood at the White House

A tower crane is built in the White House ballroom construction zone where the East wing previously stood at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 13 January 2026. Democrats are asking the nonprofit group that manages donations to the White House ballroom for details on how much has been raised for the project and if there are any conditions attached to the donations.

A tower crane is built in the White House Ballroom construction zone where the East wing previously stood at the White House

A tower crane is built in the White House Ballroom construction zone where the East wing previously stood at the White House

A tower crane is built in the White House ballroom construction zone where the East wing previously stood at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 13 January 2026. Democrats are asking the nonprofit group that manages donations to the White House ballroom for details on how much has been raised for the project and if there are any conditions attached to the donations.

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV attends the annual meeting with ambassadors accredited to the Holy See for the traditional exchange of New Year greetings on January 9, 2026 in the Hall of Benedictions, Vatican. Pope raised alarm over human rights and a spreading ‘zeal for war’. Photo by (EV) Mario Tomassetti/ Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV attends the annual meeting with ambassadors accredited to the Holy See for the traditional exchange of New Year greetings on January 9, 2026 in the Hall of Benedictions, Vatican. Pope raised alarm over human rights and a spreading ‘zeal for war’. Photo by (EV) Elisabetta Trevisan/ Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV poses in the Sistine Chapel with the members of the Diplomatic Corps at the end of the annual meeting with ambassadors accredited to the Holy See for the traditional exchange of New Year greetings on January 9, 2026, Vatican. Pope raised alarm over human rights and a spreading ‘zeal for war’. Photo by (EV) Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV attends the annual meeting with ambassadors accredited to the Holy See for the traditional exchange of New Year greetings on January 9, 2026 in the Hall of Benedictions, Vatican. Pope raised alarm over human rights and a spreading ‘zeal for war’. Photo by (EV) Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV attends the annual meeting with ambassadors accredited to the Holy See for the traditional exchange of New Year greetings on January 9, 2026 in the Hall of Benedictions, Vatican. Pope raised alarm over human rights and a spreading ‘zeal for war’. Photo by (EV) Mario Tomassetti/ Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV poses in the Sistine Chapel with the members of the Diplomatic Corps at the end of the annual meeting with ambassadors accredited to the Holy See for the traditional exchange of New Year greetings on January 9, 2026, Vatican. Pope raised alarm over human rights and a spreading ‘zeal for war’. Photo by (EV) Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV attends the annual meeting with ambassadors accredited to the Holy See for the traditional exchange of New Year greetings on January 9, 2026 in the Hall of Benedictions, Vatican. Pope raised alarm over human rights and a spreading ‘zeal for war’. Photo by (EV) Elisabetta Trevisan/ Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV attends the annual meeting with ambassadors accredited to the Holy See for the traditional exchange of New Year greetings on January 9, 2026 in the Hall of Benedictions, Vatican. Pope raised alarm over human rights and a spreading ‘zeal for war’. Photo by (EV) Mario Tomassetti/ Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV attends the annual meeting with ambassadors accredited to the Holy See for the traditional exchange of New Year greetings on January 9, 2026 in the Hall of Benedictions, Vatican. Pope raised alarm over human rights and a spreading ‘zeal for war’. Photo by (EV) Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV Meets The Diplomatic Corps - Vatican

Pope Leo XIV attends the annual meeting with ambassadors accredited to the Holy See for the traditional exchange of New Year greetings on January 9, 2026 in the Hall of Benedictions, Vatican. Pope raised alarm over human rights and a spreading ‘zeal for war’. Photo by (EV) Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

Preparing a vessel to be raised from underwater

Preparing a vessel to be raised from underwater

07.01.2026, Tallinn. Preparations for rescuing a sunken vessel. The former training vessel Juku went down in the Seaplane Harbour following the storm. Photo Madis Veltman, Postimees

Preparing a vessel to be raised from underwater

Preparing a vessel to be raised from underwater

07.01.2026, Tallinn. Preparations for rescuing a sunken vessel. The former training vessel Juku went down in the Seaplane Harbour following the storm. Photo Madis Veltman, Postimees

Preparing a vessel to be raised from underwater

Preparing a vessel to be raised from underwater

07.01.2026, Tallinn. Preparations for rescuing a sunken vessel. The former training vessel Juku went down in the Seaplane Harbour following the storm. Photo Madis Veltman, Postimees

Preparing a vessel to be raised from underwater

Preparing a vessel to be raised from underwater

07.01.2026, Tallinn. Preparations for rescuing a sunken vessel. The former training vessel Juku went down in the Seaplane Harbour following the storm. Photo Madis Veltman, Postimees

Preparing a vessel to be raised from underwater

Preparing a vessel to be raised from underwater

07.01.2026, Tallinn. Preparations for rescuing a sunken vessel. The former training vessel Juku went down in the Seaplane Harbour following the storm. Photo Madis Veltman, Postimees

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