A World in Pictures: The Weekend's Defining Moments
The past weekend presented a stark contrast of human experience across the globe, from festive charity events to severe weather and political unrest. The Guardian's picture editors have curated a powerful collection of images that capture these diverse stories, offering a window into lives and events from Tokyo to Wales.
Community Spirit and Global Unrest
In a heartwarming display of seasonal charity, people took part in the Santa Parade in Tokyo. This event was held in support of seriously ill children in Japan as well as children living in poverty overseas, bringing festive cheer to the city's streets for a noble cause.
Meanwhile, in Monmouth, UK, a very different scene unfolded as residents and business owners began the arduous clean-up after severe floods. The widespread flooding in Wales was caused by heavy rain from Storm Claudia, which swept the area and caused water to breach local flood defences.
Political tensions flared in Mexico City, where young people clashed with police during a protest against the government of Claudia Sheinbaum. This demonstration, which saw more than 120 people injured—most of them police officers—followed the assassination of a mayor who had led a crusade against drug trafficking gangs in Michoacan state.
From Peaceful Gatherings to Frontline Realities
In the United States, two contrasting scenes emerged. In Lawrence, Kansas, a mesmerising gathering of starlings filled the sky above the Baker wetlands, while in Washington DC, demonstrators marched around the White House to protest against the Trump administration.
The fashion world found a spotlight in Bijilo, The Gambia, where models waited backstage during Gambia Fashion Week at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre.
In conflict zones, the resilience of daily life continued. In Mosul, Iraq, municipal workers were seen pushing a bus through floodwater after heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, civilians took part in tactical training at one of the country’s regional centres, preparing for national resistance by learning practical skills in tactical and firearms training, mine safety, and military topography.
A poignant moment of humanity emerged from the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, where a Colombian member of the Ukrainian armed forces was photographed petting a kitten from a position on the frontline.
Cultural Events and Humanitarian Efforts
Young minds were being nurtured in Nairobi, Kenya, where 195 children from different informal settlements in the Kenyan capital competed at a chess tournament in the Kibera township, an initiative aimed at strengthening critical thinking.
A more desperate scene played out in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, where Palestinians grabbed sacks of flour from a moving truck carrying World Food Programme aid through central Gaza.
In Varanasi, India, a more serene image captured tourists feeding Siberian gulls from a boat on the River Ganges in the early morning. Celebrity presence was noted in Pasay City, The Philippines, where George and Amal Clooney attended the Social Good summit just south of Manila.
Political dissent continued in Tel Aviv, Israel, where anti-government protesters held aloft their phone torches during a demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also showing support for establishing a state commission of inquiry into the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023.
The weekend also featured sporting and cultural events, with Leopard Racing’s Adrian Fernandez competing in the 2025 Valencia Moto3 Grand Prix at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Cheste, Spain. In Chakla, India, people held lamps while they prayed at a temple in Bihar state during Rakher Upobash, a religious festival and fasting event in honour of the Hindu saint Loknath Brahmachari.
These images, selected on Sunday 16 November 2025, collectively paint a portrait of our complex, interconnected world—a tapestry of struggle, celebration, and the enduring human spirit.
