The first week of 2026 has been captured in a series of powerful images by photojournalists across the globe, documenting a period marked by conflict, natural disaster, and human resilience.
Conflict and Crisis Across Continents
Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, endured a massive aerial assault from Russian forces. The attack, which took place across Friday night and Saturday, involved more than 500 drones and ballistic missiles over a 12-hour period. The strikes killed four people, left half a million residents without power, and severely damaged an 18-storey apartment building in the Darnytskyi district, where emergency crews worked to clear rubble and search for victims.
The war's frontlines remained active, with Ukrainian recruits undergoing military training near Zaporizhzhia. This comes amid diplomatic manoeuvres, as former US President Donald Trump met with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stating a peace deal was 'closer than ever' though 'thorny' questions over Donbas persist. Zelenskyy later accused Russia of sabotaging talks after the Kremlin claimed it foiled a drone attack on Vladimir Putin's residence, a claim the Ukrainian leader dismissed as 'typical Russian lies'.
In the Middle East, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continued. Images show displaced families living in flooded tents in Nuseirat, a stark illustration of the dire conditions. This week, Israel announced it would stop dozens of aid organisations from working in Gaza for failing to meet new stringent requirements regarding staff details. Meanwhile, in Bnei Brak, Israel, Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men clashed with police during protests against army conscription.
Tragedy and Natural Forces
A devastating fire tore through the crowded Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana during a New Year's Eve party, killing at least 40 people. Investigators say it could take days to identify all victims, with early evidence suggesting the room's ceiling played a key role in the rapid spread of the blaze.
In Southern California, communities faced an epic clean-up after the region's wettest Christmas holiday in recent history. Vehicles were left stranded and streets turned to rivers, such as East Palmdale boulevard in Sun Village, creating a panorama of mud and debris across the state.
Elsewhere, Mount Etna in Sicily continued its explosive eruption which began on 24 December, and mourners in Homs, Syria, gathered for the funerals of victims killed in a bombing at the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib mosque.
Moments of Culture and Continuity
Amid the turmoil, moments of culture, sport, and tradition provided contrast. The Africa Cup of Nations kicked off, with passionate fans like a Senegal supporter in Tangier captured in full voice. In Spain, the town of Ibi held its traditional 'Els Enfarinants' flour battle on Spanish Fool's Day, a 19th-century tradition.
New Year celebrations were seen on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, while in Johannesburg's Sebokeng township, a young man swung a burning tyre in a New Year tradition rooted in the apartheid era. The 137th Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena went ahead despite the rain, and the NBA season continued with a game between the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks.
These twenty frames, frozen in time, offer a profound and unflinching look at the complex tapestry of human experience across the globe in a single week.
