Ikuko, the "big sister" of Tokyo's Akasaka geisha district, came to the capital to seek her fortune in 1964, the year Tokyo first hosted the Olympics. But the novel coronavirus pandemic has made her fear for her centuries-old profession as never before. Though the number of geisha - famed for their witty conversation, beauty and skill at traditional arts - has been falling for years, Ikuko and her colleagues were without work for months due to Japan's state of emergency and now operate under awkward social distancing rules. "There were more than 400 geisha in Akasaka when I came, so many I couldn't remember their names. But times changed," Ikuko, now 80, said. Only 20 remain, and there aren't enough engagements to take on new apprentices - especially now. Coronavirus-induced austerity has slashed expense accounts, and many people remain wary of spending hours in the elegant but closed traditional rooms where geisha entertain. Engagements are down 95 percent, and come with new rules: no pouring drinks for customers or touching them even to shake hands, and sitting 2 metres apart. Masks are hard to wear with their elaborate wigs, so they mostly don't. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Koiku, who is a geisha, gets ready at Ikuko's home to work at a party being hosted by customers at a luxury restaurant, where she will be entertaining with other geisha, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. "I thought it was a world you couldn't enter unless you started training in your teens", said Koiku. "Of course traditional Japanese dance is completely different from ballet, and it was very hard for me to follow at first. It's still hard for me now." REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Mayu adjusts Koiku's kimono, both of who are geisha, as Koiku wears a protective face mask to pose for a photograph, before working at a party being hosted by customers, where they will entertain with other geisha, at Asada, a luxury Japanese restaurant, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2020. "My father really didn't understand geisha, he thought it was like the sex trade. He opposed me so violently I thought it would tear the family apart", said Mayu. "After six years I just gave up and left", she added. "When he saw our first performance, and how hard we work, he came backstage and went to his knees and bowed really low ... Now he's a huge fan." REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Ikuko, the "big sister" of Tokyo's Akasaka geisha district, came to the capital to seek her fortune in 1964, the year Tokyo first hosted the Olympics. But the novel coronavirus pandemic has made her fear for her centuries-old profession as never before. Though the number of geisha - famed for their witty conversation, beauty and skill at traditional arts - has been falling for years, Ikuko and her colleagues were without work for months due to Japan's state of emergency and now operate under awkward social distancing rules. "There were more than 400 geisha in Akasaka when I came, so many I couldn't remember their names. But times changed," Ikuko, now 80, said. Only 20 remain, and there aren't enough engagements to take on new apprentices - especially now. Coronavirus-induced austerity has slashed expense accounts, and many people remain wary of spending hours in the elegant but closed traditional rooms where geisha entertain. Engagements are down 95 percent, and come with new rules: no pouring drinks for customers or touching them even to shake hands, and sitting 2 metres apart. Masks are hard to wear with their elaborate wigs, so they mostly don't. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon SEARCH "GEISHA COVID-19" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Alexander Caiafas, a 25 year-old data analyst, is seen working through a window into his home in Ikoyi, as authorities around the world impose various guidelines on lockdowns and social distancing to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Lagos, Nigeria May 25, 2020. When asked, what will you miss most about being in lockdown? Alexander replied: ' Spending quality time with relatives and parents because you know, thatÕs often hard to do. Secondly, I would say I miss speaking over the phone to close friends like on FaceTime, HouseParty, Zoom, all those kinds of applications'. Picture taken May 25, 2020. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja

A combination picture shows Alexander Caiafas, a 25 year-old data analyst, working from his home in Ikoyi, and a view seen from his balcony, as authorities around the world impose various guidelines on lockdowns and social distancing to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Lagos, Nigeria May 25, 2020. When asked, what will you miss most about being in lockdown? Alexander replied: ' Spending quality time with relatives and parents because you know, that’s often hard to do. Secondly, I would say I miss speaking over the phone to close friends like on FaceTime, HouseParty, Zoom, all those kinds of applications'. Picture taken May 25, 2020. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja

A doctor works at a testing site for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) next to an advertisement for Corona Hard Seltzer in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., May 18, 2020. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as he poses with nurse Amy Ford of Williamson, West Virginia, who is currently working in New York City during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic at an event honoring "hard work and heroism" in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 15, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as he poses with NYPD police officer Spencer Garrett during an event honoring "hard work and heroism" during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 15, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Lisa Mehring, 45, a registered nurse who works in a biocontainment unit with COVID-19 patients, poses for a photograph after a 12.5-hour shift, outside the hospital where she works, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, Maryland, U.S., April 2, 2020. "Seeing these new moms have babies has been the hardest moment along with having do their pumping for the new moms and them not being able to be with their newborn children, it's hard to think of the family that they are missing," Mehring said. REUTERS/Rosem Morton SEARCH "MARYLAND COVID-19 HEALTH WORKERS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Tiffany Fare, 25, a registered nurse who works at a biocontainment unit with COVID-19 patients, poses for a photograph after a 13-hour shift, outside the hospital where she works, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, Maryland, U.S., April 6, 2020. "One of the hardest moments was having to see a family member of a Covid patient, say goodbye over an iPad, rooms away. That was a tough one, I can't imagine how hard it would be to be saying goodbye, you can't see your loved one and then they're gone," Fare said. "My team has been really great to me. We've worked really well together and we've really come together in this crisis. We don't really know each other, we all come from different units within the same hospital, so for us to come together and work so well as a team, it's been a journey but I think that's what is giving me hope." REUTERS/Rosem Morton SEARCH "MARYLAND COVID-19 HEALTH WORKERS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Jacqueline Hamil, 30, a registered nurse who is caring for COVID-19 patients in an emergency department, poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift outside the hospital where she works, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, Maryland, U.S., April 6, 2020. "The hardest moment of my shift today, I was in charge, and we had a really sick patient that was in a really, really small room and usually, when we have sick crashing patients, we can have a ton of resources and a ton of staff go in and help with the nurse and the doctors that are taking care of that patient. But due to the patient being ruled out for the coronavirus, we could only have five or six people in the room at a time and putting on all the gowns and gloves and masks and face shields to protect us in case the patient does have coronavirus, it takes a while, so the nurse that was in there, ended up being in the room for you know 6, 7 hours with minimal breaks and it was hard being in charge and knowing that she was stuck in the room and really nothing I could do to help her," Hamil said. REUTERS/Rosem Morton SEARCH "MARYLAND COVID-19 HEALTH WORKERS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Dr. Kyle Fischer, 35, an emergency medicine doctor who is caring for COVID-19 patients, poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift, outside the hospital where he works, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, Maryland, U.S., April 10, 2020. "Since it's a new virus, we don't have any experience with it. For most diseases I am used to seeing it and taking care of it and this, I don't have any starting place. I know what I'm hearing from New York, I've read all of the papers it seems like, but no one knows what the correct answers are, so there's a huge amount of uncertainty and people are really, really sick. So it's hard to second guess whether or not you are doing the right thing when you think you are but you never quite know," said Fischer. REUTERS/Rosem Morton SEARCH "MARYLAND COVID-19 HEALTH WORKERS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Kaitlyn Martiniano, 25, a registered nurse who works at a biocontainment unit with COVID-19 patients, poses for a photograph after a 12.5-hour shift, outside the hospital where she works, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, Maryland, U.S., April 12, 2020. "We have a lot of patients and they are pretty sick right now but we have not yet been hit as hard as New York or Seattle, so I feel like we are very lucky with that so far. Every day you have to just be optimistic." Said Martiniano. "I think the reason that we are not being hit as hard right now is because so many things are closed, and because so many people are staying at home." REUTERS/Rosem Morton SEARCH "MARYLAND COVID-19 HEALTH WORKERS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Foxton Harding, left and Adison Pucci, both 12, who both attend Northshore Middle School in the Northshore School District, which has moved to online only schooling for two weeks due to coronavirus concerns, work on school assignments at their home in Bothell, Washington, U.S. March 11, 2020. REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Masaichi Kawasaki, 69, a descendent of 'Hidden Christians', works at a port on Ikitsuki Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, November 5, 2019. Japan's "Kakure Kirishitan," or "Hidden Christians," preserved their faith in secret during centuries of persecution. "I worry that what my ancestors worked hard to preserve will disappear, but that is the trend of the times," said Kawasaki. "I have a son but I don't expect him to carry on," he added. "To think this will disappear is sad, without a doubt." REUTERS/Issei Kato SEARCH "HIDDEN CHRISTIANS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Masaichi Kawasaki, 69, a descendent of 'Hidden Christians', chants 'orasho' in front of an altar adorned with a statue of the Virgin Mary at his home on Ikitsuki Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, November 4, 2019. Japan's "Kakure Kirishitan," or "Hidden Christians," preserved their faith in secret during centuries of persecution. "I worry that what my ancestors worked hard to preserve will disappear, but that is the trend of the times," said Kawasaki. "I have a son but I don't expect him to carry on," he added. "To think this will disappear is sad, without a doubt." REUTERS/Issei Kato SEARCH "HIDDEN CHRISTIANS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Masaichi Kawasaki, 69, a descendant of 'Hidden Christians', stands on a fishing boat at a port on Ikitsuki Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, November 5, 2019. Japan's "Kakure Kirishitan," or "Hidden Christians," preserved their faith in secret during centuries of persecution. "I worry that what my ancestors worked hard to preserve will disappear, but that is the trend of the times," said Kawasaki. "I have a son but I don't expect him to carry on," he added. "To think this will disappear is sad, without a doubt." REUTERS/Issei Kato SEARCH "HIDDEN CHRISTIANS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Masaichi Kawasaki, 69, a descendent of 'Hidden Christians', crosses himself as he chants 'orasho' in front of an altar adorned with a statue of the Virgin Mary during a ceremony to mark the eve of the birth of the Virgin Mary at his home on Ikitsuki Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, November 5, 2019. Japan's "Kakure Kirishitan," or "Hidden Christians," preserved their faith in secret during centuries of persecution. "I worry that what my ancestors worked hard to preserve will disappear, but that is the trend of the times," said Kawasaki. "I have a son but I don't expect him to carry on," he added. "To think this will disappear is sad, without a doubt." REUTERS/Issei Kato SEARCH "HIDDEN CHRISTIANS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY.

Masaichi Kawasaki, 69, a descendant of 'Hidden Christians', prepares to board a fishing boat at a port on Ikitsuki Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, November 5, 2019. Japan's "Kakure Kirishitan," or "Hidden Christians," preserved their faith in secret during centuries of persecution. "I worry that what my ancestors worked hard to preserve will disappear, but that is the trend of the times," said Kawasaki. "I have a son but I don't expect him to carry on," he added. "To think this will disappear is sad, without a doubt." REUTERS/Issei Kato SEARCH "HIDDEN CHRISTIANS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Masaichi Kawasaki, 69, a descendant of 'Hidden Christians', eats breakfast with his fellow fishermen at a port on Ikitsuki Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, November 5, 2019. Japan's "Kakure Kirishitan," or "Hidden Christians," preserved their faith in secret during centuries of persecution. "I worry that what my ancestors worked hard to preserve will disappear, but that is the trend of the times," said Kawasaki. "I have a son but I don't expect him to carry on," he added. "To think this will disappear is sad, without a doubt." REUTERS/Issei Kato SEARCH "HIDDEN CHRISTIANS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Recently-harvested coffee fruits are pictured at a plantation in Tepezonapa, in Veracruz state, Mexico, August 14, 2019. Picture taken Agosto 14, 2019. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

A worker cleans a wall at the Jaffna Fort, a fort built by the Portuguese in 1618, in Jaffna, Sri Lanka August 25. 2019. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Native Hong Kong resident Roy Lam, 23, who works in HR, and lives with his mother and four sisters, poses for a picture in his 7 sq metre bedroom of his family's apartment in Hong Kong, China, June 30, 2019. "We rather lose standing up than lose sitting down," Lam said. He added young people were determined to stand up for what they deserved but it was hard to stay positive. "We do also sometimes think 'let's just give up, let's just move to some place else'." REUTERS/Thomas Peter SEARCH "YOUNG HK" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A combination picture shows native Hong Kong resident Roy Lam, 23, who works in HR, and lives with his mother and four sisters, posing for a picture in his 7 sq metre bedroom of his family's apartment in Hong Kong, China, June 30, 2019 and pipes on the outside wall of a residential apartment block in Hong Kong, China, June 29, 2019. "We rather lose standing up than lose sitting down," Lam said. He added young people were determined to stand up for what they deserved but it was hard to stay positive. "We do also sometimes think 'let's just give up, let's just move to some place else'." REUTERS/Thomas Peter SEARCH "YOUNG HK" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Jerry Green, a resident of one of South Bend's poorest neighborhoods, praised Pete Buttigieg, the city's mayor and a Democratic presidential candidate, saying Buttigieg had worked hard to help poorer, black people in the city and was proud of the mayor, as he speaks to Reuters in South Bend, Indiana, U.S., June 25, 2019. Picture taken June 25, 2019. REUTERS/Tim Reid

Workers melt metal scraps in the furnace of a steel mill to produce rods in Dhaka, Bangladesh, June 22, 2019. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain

Venezuelan migrant Crisyesmil Rosales, 23, poses for a picture with her children Andres, 6, Aranza, 2, Sara, 20 months, her sister Angeli, 8, and her brother Abraham, 6, while they wait to process their documents at the Ecuadorian-Peruvian border service center, before continuing their journey to Arequipa, on the outskirts of Tumbes, Peru, June 16, 2019. Rosales is travelling with her siblings, her children and an aunt. She said that after eight days travelling, the toughest thing of her journey has been to sleep with the children on the street. "My mother is in Peru and as we thought they were going to close the border, she decided to send us money to travel," she said. "My mom was desperate there in Venezuela because if you are able to eat, you can't dress, and if you dress, you don't eat. That is something hard." "I want to give the best to the children, that is the most important. I want to work and a have good job to move forward." REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins SEARCH "MOTHERS REFUGEE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

An employee enters into a research and development building at Huawei's headquarters in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China May 29, 2019. Picture taken May 29, 2019. The banner reads "Dare to be the first, work hard to create the future". REUTERS/Jason Lee

An empty bedroom belonging to Rasika Dilrukshi, 30, her daughters Rashini 13 and Shalomi 10, and son Shalom, seven, who were killed during Easter Sunday bombings at St. Sebastian Church, is seen inside their house in Negombo, Sri Lanka, May 1, 2019. Pradeep Thusantha who lost his wife and kids was outside the church. He rushed towards his family when he heard the explosion. "Me and my wife were deeply in love for the last 15 years. Our family was bonded together. All five of us slept in one bedroom. I remember how beautiful they all looked when they left for the church. I worked hard to keep my family happy. Now I just want to leave this country and work for God for the rest of my life." REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui SEARCH "SIDDIQUI GOMEZ" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Photos of Rashini, 13, her sister Shalomi, 10, and brother Shalom, seven, who were killed during Easter Sunday bombings at St. Sebastian Church, are seen inside their house in Negombo, Sri Lanka, May 1, 2019. Pradeep Thusantha who lost his wife and children was outside the church. He rushed towards his family when he heard the explosion. "Me and my wife were deeply in love for the last 15 years. Our family was bonded together. All five of us slept in one bedroom. I remember how beautiful they all looked when they left for the church. I worked hard to keep my family happy. Now I just want to leave this country and work for God for the rest of my life." REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui SEARCH "SIDDIQUI GOMEZ" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Nahla Mohamed Abdel Rahman, 37, a professor at faculty of applied arts, holds her three-month-old baby Younis, at their house in her first week back at work, in Cairo, Egypt, February 22, 2019. Nahla took only three months off work for her maternity leave. Nahla's husband Ahmed Saleh Sobhie, 39, works as an accountant at the Eye Bank. He didn't take any leave. By the Egyptian labour law, mothers can take between three and four months off in paid maternity leave, and up to two years in unpaid leave. Fathers cannot take any paternity leave. Nahla goes to work five days a week and her sister takes care of her baby as nurseries are too expensive for her. "I always feel worried and afraid when I leave Younis, feeding and sleeping times are still too hard to control, that's why I always keep calling my sister Heba to make sure my baby is fine", she said. "I think it would be better to have longer period of time with my baby, until he is six months old. By then, he can start eating and won't rely totally on breastfeeding." REUTERS/Hayam Adel SEARCH "MOTHERS GLOBAL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Jenny Shrestha, 34, who works as a supervisor at Prime Commercial Bank LTD, holds her three-months-old son Aayan Shrestha as she poses for a photograph along with her husband Ashish Shrestha, 35, and elder son Aayush Shrestha, 7, in the week Jenny went back to work, in Kathmandu, Nepal, February 25, 2019. Jenny was on a maternity leave for two months and Ashish for ten days. The statutory maternity leave in Nepal is 98 days. "I fell very sad because I'm very attached to my child and it's very hard to leave him", Jenny said. "At least six months would be the fair amount of maternity leave." She said her mother and sister will help take care of her baby. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar SEARCH "MOTHERS GLOBAL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Public relations account director Peiru Ng, 32, poses with her husband, finance manager Kenny Lee, 33, and their two-and-a-half year old daughter Faith and 12-week-old son Scott in her first week back at work, at their home in Singapore, February 17, 2019. Singaporean mothers are by and large entitled to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave while fathers are allowed two weeks of leave. Peiru chose to end her maternity leave after 12 weeks, four weeks earlier than she is entitled, because of a busy period at work. "Having my work is like having me time. I feel that work makes me a better mum. Of course, this is not to say that there's anything wrong with being a stay-at-home mum, but personally I like the sense of also leading a life for myself and not solely playing the role of a mother", she said, "It's better to have things more flexible and to see maternity leave in a more long-term way rather than a one-off, (and) to have a workplace more parent-friendly, allowing us to take leave as and when we need to. Kenny took five days off even though his company allows him two months. "I just take this as and when needed", he said, "I think, two weeks for dads is pathetic. One or two months would be great for the family bonding time. But practically and realistically, it's hard because it's difficult to detach from work." REUTERS/Feline Lim SEARCH "MOTHERS GLOBAL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

CNN correspondent Jim Acosta enters the White House grounds though the Northwest Gate as he returns to work covering the White House with CNN Washington Bureau Chief Sam Feist (R) after a federal court ruling in CNN's favor led to the return of Acosta's White House press hard pass in Washington, U.S. November 16, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

U.S. President Donald Trump wears a hard hat as he tours the Granite City Works hot strip steel mill in Granite City, Illinois, U.S., July 26, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

U.S. President Donald Trump wears a hard hat as he tours the Granite City Works hot strip steel mill in Granite City, Illinois, U.S., July 26, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Whoever wins Cambodia's general election next week, 27-year-old Khen Srey Touch knows only that she will have to keep working hard for years to come. Khen Srey Touch is among thousands of workers in the garment industry who are being courted by Prime Minister Hun Sen ahead of the July 29 election. Like many Cambodians, she has known no other leader but Hun Sen. Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for more than 30 years, is trying to ensure victory after two close elections in 2013 and 2017, by handing out cash inducements and a series of punishing measures against the opposition. His government has targeted opposition politicians, civil society groups and independent media ahead of the poll, which he appears set to win easily. Hun Sen has also been a fixture at campaign rallies with garment workers - promising them more benefits and handing cash envelopes to pregnant employees. REUTERS/Ann Wang SEARCH "CAMBODIA FACTORY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Nueva Union doesn't have running water, a connection to the electrical grid or paved roads. But the neighbourhood has something that makes life in a Peruvian shantytown more bearable: a soccer field. Nueva Union residents, mostly migrants from poor Peruvian provinces, carved a flat clearing for playing soccer into the dusty hillside when they settled in Lima some 15 years ago. The grassless soccer field - like scores of similar makeshift pitches across the country - is a testament to Peru's love for the game as its team prepares to play in the World Cup for the first time since 1982. World Cup fever has injected fresh enthusiasm into the games played on the pitch in Nueva Union, which overlooks the capital of some 10 million people. Like the Peruvian team, Nueva Union is an underdog - home to hard-working families struggling to build a better future for themselves with scant help from authorities. REUTERS/Mariana Bazo SEARCH "NUEVA SOCCER" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. Matching text: SOCCER-WORLDCUP/PERU

Oladipupo Baruwa, 44, an investment promotion officer and Funke Baruwa, 41, a gender and development expert, pose for a photograph at home in Abuja, Nigeria, February 9, 2018. "Well, he is persistent. We met at a church on the first Sunday service of the year 2000 and he followed me home after every service from that day on until about two years later. I just loved his persistence and the fact that he didn't want to give up," said Funke. After the birth of their first daughter in 2003 the pair made a commitment that, whatever lay ahead, they would face it together. "For me that has always been the unifying factor... Marriage is a commitment, it is a hard work and when you are willing to work at it, you get better," Baruwa said. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde SEARCH "GLOBAL LOVE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A hard hat sits on a table with a sticker reading the name of Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, before Trudeau meets with steel workers from Stelco Hamilton Works, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Oladipupo Baruwa, 44, an investment promotion officer and Funke Baruwa, 41, a gender and development expert, pose for a photograph at home in Abuja, Nigeria, February 9, 2018. "Well, he is persistent. We met at a church on the first Sunday service of the year 2000 and he followed me home after every service from that day on until about two years later. I just loved his persistence and the fact that he didn't want to give up," said Funke. After the birth of their first daughter in 2003 the pair made a commitment that, whatever lay ahead, they would face it together. "For me that has always been the unifying factor... Marriage is a commitment, it is a hard work and when you are willing to work at it, you get better," Baruwa said. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde SEARCH "GLOBAL LOVE" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A boy moves away as a United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) helicopter lands in Rubkuai village, Unity State, northern South Sudan, February 18, 2017. Siegfried Modola: "I took this picture in the remote village of Rubkuai in South Sudan. The village is controlled by government forces. I had been in the area for several days, photographing people affected by insecurity and a food crisis days after the government and the international community declared a famine. It had been long day's work. I was trying to show the scale of the crisis and suffering. But I also wanted to capture moments of joy and playfulness to help the audience relate to the images and feel their urgency. I have never worked in a place as difficult as South Sudan. Access is extremely hard due to government restrictions, insecurity and the sheer remoteness of many locations. The village had been cut off from food supplies for months and thousands were threatened with famine. I spotted the arriving helicopter from a distance. It had come to help with a U.N. food distribution and I knew it would be swamped by children. I had my camera ready, looking for a picture of the helicopter and the village. Just then, a child ran past trying to escape the dust from the propellers. I clicked, hoping I had measured the light correctly and kept the boy in focus. I am fond of this image as it was taken unexpectedly, capturing a playful moment in an otherwise difficult situation." REUTERS/Siegfried Modola/File photo SEARCH "POY STORY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS POY" FOR ALL BEST OF 2017 PACKAGES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY.

Wildcat gold miner, or garimpeiro, works at a wildcat mine, also known as garimpo, at a deforested area of Amazon rainforest near Crepurizao, in the municipality of Itaituba, Para State, Brazil, August 6, 2017. Nacho Doce: "This image is meaningful to me for two reasons. The first is the deep fatigue on the face of the young man I was photographing as he turned boulders in his search for gold. The second is that while on the long assignment I fell into a ravine and twisted my ankle. The pain made walking difficult, so while taking pictures of the man I had to sit rather than stand. Working on stories about wildcat gold mining in the Amazon is dangerous. But the hardest part of the whole long assignment was staying with the story until I had what I wanted. The miners live incredibly hard lives. Just to reach them meant travelling 24 hours by bus and eight hours by van and I couldn't reveal the exact place where I was working. Illegal miners have been at work in the Amazon for generations and there is constant tension between them and the big mining companies that have legal contracts. At the end of this assignment, I was happy. The wildcat miners helped me cope with my ankle and I rode home with a pastor who told me he believed in what I was doing. The help and support of the miners while I was working was crucial. To make pictures isn't just an individual thing - it requires a team." REUTERS/Nacho Doce/File photo SEARCH "POY STORY" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "REUTERS POY" FOR ALL BEST OF 2017 PACKAGES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY.

Yulia Panchenya, 82, makes Easter cakes on the eve of Orthodox Easter in the village of Pogost, Belarus, April 15, 2017. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko SEARCH "BELARUS VILLAGES" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Weaving threads are seen in the house of 75-year-old Ekaterina Panchenya in the village of Pogost, Belarus, February 2, 2017. "I do everything myself: feed the animals in the barn, the chickens in the yard, and I pickle and preserve all the vegetables. The river is nearby, the forest, mushrooms and berries in the summer. No, I'll never in my life move to town," she said. Panchenya is also skilled in local folk traditions such as floral embroidery, a cappella choral singing and ancient pagan ceremonies, which survived the ideological white-washing of the Soviet era. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko SEARCH "BELARUS VILLAGES" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Vladimir Krivenchik, 41, and Nikolay Skidan slaughter a pig at their house in the village of Khrapkovo, Belarus, February 3, 2017. "We're far from civilisation - and that's a good thing. I feel comfortable here," said Krivenchik, who is raising a young family in his native village of Khrapkovo, close to Belarus's southern border with Ukraine. "We survive thanks to this scrap of land. You go to Minsk for half a day and your head starts to hurt and you want to go home." Krivenchik supplements his income as a watchman at a granary by raising pigs for slaughter and hunting. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko SEARCH "BELARUS VILLAGES" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Ekaterina Panchenya, 75, works on embroidery at her home in the village of Pogost, Belarus, February 2, 2017. "I do everything myself: feed the animals in the barn, the chickens in the yard, and I pickle and preserve all the vegetables. The river is nearby, the forest, mushrooms and berries in the summer. No, I'll never in my life move to town," she said. Panchenya is also skilled in local folk traditions such as floral embroidery, a cappella choral singing and ancient pagan ceremonies, which survived the ideological white-washing of the Soviet era. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko SEARCH "BELARUS VILLAGES" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY.

Ekaterina Panchenya, 75, works on an old loom in her house in the village of Pogost, Belarus, February 2, 2017. "I do everything myself: feed the animals in the barn, the chickens in the yard, and I pickle and preserve all the vegetables. The river is nearby, the forest, mushrooms and berries in the summer. No, I'll never in my life move to town," she said. Panchenya is also skilled in local folk traditions such as floral embroidery, a cappella choral singing and ancient pagan ceremonies, which survived the ideological white-washing of the Soviet era. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko SEARCH "BELARUS VILLAGES" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

People gather before a wedding ceremony in the village of David-Gorodok, Belarus, October 1, 2017. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko SEARCH "BELARUS VILLAGES" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Bride Tatyana Pashkovets stands at her home before her wedding ceremony in the village of David-Gorodok, Belarus, October 1, 2017. Tatyana is waiting for the groom Alexander, with whom they will hold a wedding celebration in accordance with the traditions that have developed in this village - to walk through the village to the registry office, then to the church and back home. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko SEARCH "BELARUS VILLAGES" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY.

Women dance during a wedding party in the village of David-Gorodok, Belarus, October 1, 2017. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko SEARCH "BELARUS VILLAGES" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Vladimir Krivenchik, 41, his wife Nina Skidan and his daughters are seen at their kitchen in the village of Khrapkovo, Belarus, August 31, 2017. "We're far from civilisation - and that's a good thing. I feel comfortable here," said Krivenchik, who is raising a young family in his native village of Khrapkovo, close to Belarus's southern border with Ukraine. "We survive thanks to this scrap of land. You go to Minsk for half a day and your head starts to hurt and you want to go home." Krivenchik supplements his income as a watchman at a granary by raising pigs for slaughter and hunting. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko SEARCH "BELARUS VILLAGES" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Painting are seen over washbasins outside school cafeteria in the village of Sudkovo, Belarus, September 1, 2017. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko SEARCH "BELARUS VILLAGES" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

An Orthodox priest conducts a wedding ceremony in the village of David-Gorodok, Belarus, October 1, 2017. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko SEARCH "BELARUS VILLAGES" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

Oleg (L), Lada and Ulyana Skidan sit at their home before Oleg goes to classes on the first day of school in the village of Khrapkovo, Belarus, September 1, 2017. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko SEARCH "BELARUS VILLAGES" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

A boy waits at a bus stop in the village of Khrapkovo, Belarus, September 1, 2017. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko SEARCH "BELARUS VILLAGES" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.