This week's most powerful images capture a world grappling with conflict, climate emergencies, and political tension. From the frontlines in Ukraine to climate protests in Brazil and devastating typhoons in the Philippines, global photojournalists have documented pivotal moments across continents.
Conflict and Humanitarian Crises
In Ukraine, Russia's targeted attacks on the national power grid have created a severe energy crisis. The state power firm Centrenergo stated that further attacks last weekend reduced the country's energy generating capacity to 'zero'.
Residents in the frontline town of Huliaipole were photographed hiding from Russian drones, while in Kyiv, people attempted to clear up after missile strikes that killed six people and injured dozens. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Russia's latest attack as 'deliberate, calculated and wicked'.
The humanitarian situation remains dire in Gaza, where a displaced Palestinian girl was photographed standing at the entrance to her family tent amid widespread destruction. Meanwhile, in Chad, Sudanese refugees queued for water at Oure Cassoni camp, with the UN warning that relief operations were on the brink of collapse.
Political Tensions and Climate Emergency
In the United States, immigration raids continued across Chicago as part of the Trump administration's Operation Midway Blitz. Federal agents detained individuals in Waukegan, while a federal judge ordered the release of hundreds arrested in recent months.
President Donald Trump faced political challenges as he attended an event on lowering drug prices, amid attempts to prevent the release of Jeffrey Epstein files.
In Brazil, Indigenous protesters forced their way into the Cop30 climate summit in Belém, demanding to speak with Brazil's president about the plight of Indigenous peoples. A Munduruku Indigenous woman blocked access while holding a squirrel monkey as Brazilian army members stood guard.
The climate crisis showed its destructive power in the Philippines, where super-typhoon Fung-wong displaced 1.4 million people and left at least eight dead. This marked the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025, demonstrating how climate change is making tropical storms more intense and frequent.
Moments of Remembrance and Hope
Amid the global turmoil, moments of reflection and beauty emerged. In Washington DC, Vietnam veteran Harry Metzler touched the names of lost friends at the Vietnam memorial wall. In London, the massed bands of the Household Division waited on Whitehall during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph.
A striking natural phenomenon occurred in Whitley Bay, where the aurora borealis, powered by a severe solar storm, glowed over St Mary's lighthouse, providing a moment of wonder amid the week's challenging events.
The photographs collectively tell a story of a world facing multiple, interconnected crises while demonstrating remarkable human resilience across different continents and circumstances.
