A captivating series of photographs from around the world captures moments of natural phenomena, cultural devotion, and social tension.
Turkey: Dam Spillways Open After Seven Years
In Diyarbakır, Turkey, the spillway gates of the Karakaya dam were opened for the first time in seven years following unusually heavy rainfall. The rushing torrents provided a dramatic sight, as captured by photographer Bestami Bodruk.
Eid al-Adha Celebrations Across the Globe
Muslim worshippers marked the start of Eid al-Adha with prayers in various locations. In Butuh, Indonesia, Ulet Ifansasti captured devotees in prayer. Similarly, in Salé, Morocco, Abdel Majid Bziouat photographed morning prayers. In St Petersburg, Russia, Vladimir Shevchenko documented the occasion, while in Mina, Saudi Arabia, pilgrims gathered for the annual hajj pilgrimage, casting stones at a pillar symbolising the devil.
Health Precautions and Protests
In Kanyaruchinya, Democratic Republic of Congo, health workers checked people's temperatures as a preventive measure against Ebola. Meanwhile, in Newark, New Jersey, federal agents detained a protester outside a federal immigration centre housing detained immigrants, as seen in a photograph by Adam Gray.
Political and Social Unrest
In Madrid, Spain, journalists gathered outside the headquarters of the ruling Socialist party after police entered the building to investigate alleged illegal party financing. In Burj al-Shamali, Lebanon, rescue workers removed a body from the rubble of a residential building hit by an Israeli strike. In Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, soldiers fired a howitzer toward Russian positions on the frontline.
Cultural and Natural Highlights
In Bayingolin, China, people from different ethnic groups performed a square dance together. In Van, Turkey, gulls fought over a pearl mullet, which had increased in number in local streams after recent rainfall. In Oxford, England, people enjoyed punting on the River Cherwell. In Prayagraj, India, a basket vendor endured a hot summer day as temperatures reached 44°C.
These images, selected by Natasha Rees-Bloor, offer a glimpse into the diverse events shaping our world on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.
