The past seven days have been defined by seismic geopolitical shocks and dramatic weather, captured in stark detail by the world's leading photojournalists. The week's events ranged from a surprise US military operation in Venezuela and renewed Russian assaults on Ukraine to fierce domestic protests and a major storm battering Britain.
Geopolitical Shockwaves: Venezuela Raid and Kyiv Under Fire
The most startling development unfolded in Venezuela, where a surprise assault ordered by the US resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. Images show the handcuffed couple being escorted by heavily armed federal agents after landing at a Manhattan helipad on Friday 9 January 2026. Maduro has pleaded not guilty to drugs, weapons and 'narco-terrorism' charges in a New York court.
In response, paramilitary Colectivos militia groups criss-crossed Caracas on motorbikes, carrying assault rifles in a show of force. Meanwhile, from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, former US President Donald Trump monitored operations alongside officials, warning of a potential second strike if Venezuela's remaining administration fails to cooperate.
In Eastern Europe, Kyiv and Kharkiv faced fresh Russian aggression. A private hospital in Kyiv was heavily damaged by a drone strike, while rescuers worked at the scene of a missile strike in Kharkiv's city centre. The Kremlin has vowed to oppose any NATO troop deployment in Ukraine, making a swift negotiated settlement seem unlikely.
Domestic Unrest and Global Protests
Tensions flared in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a US citizen and mother of three. Border Patrol and ICE agents used chemical irritants to disperse crowds, sparking continued outrage and protests over the highly contested confrontation.
In Jerusalem, mounted police and water cannon were deployed to disperse thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protesting against a new law requiring their conscription into the Israeli army, a move aimed at addressing military personnel shortages.
Further unrest was seen in Iran, where nationwide anti-government protests led to the toppling of a statue of late IRGC commander General Qassem Suleimani, marking the largest unrest in the country for years.
Storm Goretti Grips Britain and Global Scenes
The UK felt the force of Storm Goretti, with overnight snow blanketing Birmingham and causing widespread power cuts, school closures and travel disruption across the country. The pink glow from grow lights at Birmingham City football club illuminated the snowy sky in a striking image.
Elsewhere, a poignant graduation ceremony for 230 medical students was held in the severely damaged al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, while in the West Bank, a family was pictured leaving their home after harassment from a nearby illegal Israeli settler outpost.
From the icy Epiphany celebrations in Kyiv to king tides flooding California's Bay Area and heat building in Sydney, the week's photographs provided a powerful, global snapshot of conflict, resilience, and the human condition amidst continuing turmoil.
