The past seven days have been defined by state power, human resilience, and the stark realities of conflict across the globe. From the streets of Minneapolis to the rubble of Gaza, the world's leading photojournalists have captured moments of profound tension, grief, and defiance.
State Power and Civil Unrest
In the United States, a major federal immigration enforcement operation has intensified in Minnesota. More than 2,400 people have been arrested in recent weeks, with many transferred to out-of-state detention centres or removed from the country. Images show federal agents using a battering ram to break down a door and attempting to drag a woman from her car, prompting Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to condemn the actions and tell Immigration and Customs Enforcement to leave his city.
Meanwhile, in Iran, a nationwide protest movement appears to have slowed under the weight of a brutal government crackdown that has left thousands dead and tens of thousands imprisoned. Harrowing photographs from Kahrizak show bodies lying on the ground as relatives search for loved ones. In a related development, former US President Donald Trump stated he had temporarily pulled back from threats to strike Iran, claiming he received assurances the killing of protesters had halted.
Ongoing Conflicts and Their Fallout
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues unabated. Although the Israeli bombardment has diminished, it has not ceased, with around 450 Palestinians reported killed since a ceasefire began. Heavy winter rains have compounded the misery, collapsing the flimsy tents of displaced families and killing at least four people. Children huddle around fires for warmth in the damp cold, highlighting the dire living conditions after more than two years of war.
In Ukraine, Russia's sustained campaign against energy infrastructure has plunged cities into darkness and cold during the depths of winter. Kyiv's residents face power, water, and heating cuts, with the government warning it has only 20 days of energy reserves left The week's imagery also captured significant political moments and disparate global events. In Washington DC, Donald Trump met with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who gifted him her gold Nobel peace prize medal. In Havana, Cubans protested outside the US embassy following a raid in Caracas that resulted in the deaths of 32 Cuban security personnel. Tragedy struck in Thailand, where a crane from a Beijing-backed high-speed rail project fell onto a passenger train, killing at least 32 people. A landfill collapse in the Philippines buried a waste facility, prompting desperate rescue efforts. In Uganda, opposition supporters celebrated candidate Bobi Wine ahead of an election that seems set to extend President Museveni's long rule. Amidst the turmoil, moments of normalcy and tradition persisted, such as community fishing celebrations for Bhogali Bihu in an Indian village. Yet, from the flooded fields of Kosovo to the stranded canal boat in Shropshire, the impact of severe weather served as a constant reminder of the planet's changing climate.A World of Contrasts
