A Global Week Captured in Twenty Powerful Photographs
This week's collection of twenty photographs from around the world offers a stark visual narrative of conflict, protest, tragedy, and cultural celebration. From the streets of Minneapolis to the stadiums of Rabat, these images capture the diverse and often distressing realities of our current global moment.
Protests and Political Tensions Across Continents
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, federal immigration officers confronted protesters during a community-organised 'blackout day' against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. The dramatic scene saw photographer John Abernathy pushed to the ground while documenting the tensions. Meanwhile, posters of Renee Good, an unarmed US citizen killed by an ICE officer, lined streets as a private autopsy revealed she was shot three times.
Thousands of miles away in Nuuk, Greenland, protesters gathered outside the US consulate opposing Donald Trump's push to take control of the island. This occurred as Trump walked back tariff threats against European countries, claiming a future deal framework for Greenland had been agreed.
Conflict Zones and Humanitarian Crises
Russian military actions continued to devastate Ukraine, with missile strikes targeting energy infrastructure and residential buildings during power cuts. Firefighters battled blazes from drone strikes in Druzhkivka as three-way talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the US began for the first time since the 2022 invasion, though with Kremlin territorial demands remaining.
In the Middle East, displaced Palestinian families sheltered on the roof of Bilal Mosque in Khan Younis, Gaza, facing increasingly harsh living conditions. Meanwhile, in Sakhnin, Israel, protesters held flowers during demonstrations against police failure to curb violent crime in Arab-Israeli communities.
Tragedies and Natural Disasters
A deadly derailment of two high-speed trains in Córdoba, Spain, killed 45 people, with investigators examining whether damaged rail sections caused the collision. In Chile, wildfires raging during a heatwave killed at least 18 people and destroyed thousands of hectares, leaving charred remains of homes in Concepción.
South Africa faced severe flooding in Limpopo province after heavy rains, while in Sulawesi, Indonesia, search teams recovered wreckage from an Indonesian Air turboprop that crashed at Mount Bulusaraung.
Cultural and Sporting Moments
The Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, Morocco, descended into chaos as fans stormed the pitch after a penalty decision against Senegal, causing a fifteen-minute delay. Morocco's football federation announced legal action, believing the disruption materially affected the match outcome.
In Melbourne, Coco Gauff stretched for returns during the Australian Open, while in Guwahati, India, Bagurumba dancers rehearsed for a Guinness World Record attempt at the largest-ever performance of the Bodo community's traditional 'butterfly dance'.
Political Developments and Deportations
Venezuela saw dramatic scenes as deportees from the US landed at Simón Bolívar International Airport under Trump's deportation project, which claims to have removed 2.5 million people in under a year. Children watched pro-government marches in La Guaira demanding the release of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, following the US military's capture of Venezuela's president earlier this month.
In Syria, government reinforcements moved toward Dayr Hafir after demanding Kurdish forces withdraw, taking control of northern territories that had enjoyed effective autonomy for over a decade.
These twenty photographs collectively document a week of global upheaval, resilience, and human experience across multiple continents and contexts.
