The Guardian’s picture editors have selected striking images from around the world for Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Highlights include a large ash plume from Mount Etna in Italy, a mirrored art installation in Berlin marking the 65th anniversary of the Berlin Wall, and long queues in Weymouth for eclipse glasses ahead of a partial solar eclipse.
Natural Disasters and Environmental Events
In Catania, Italy, Mount Etna emitted a large plume of ash, captured by photographer Fabrizio Villa. Meanwhile, in Palangka Raya, Indonesia, a person attempted to extinguish a wildfire on the island of Borneo, as documented by AFP/Getty Images. The aftermath of a wildfire at Dunwich Heath, a National Trust site in Suffolk, UK, was also shown in a photo by Justin Minns for the National Trust.
In Lianyungang, eastern China’s Jiangsu province, fishing boats headed out to sea at dawn after the passing of Typhoon Dolphin, with a photo by CN-STR/AFP/Getty Images. In Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, a fire burned after a deadly Russian strike on the city, as captured by Ukrinform/Shutterstock.
Commemorations and Cultural Events
In Berlin, Germany, people stood next to a mirrored art installation set up in front of the Brandenburg Gate to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the construction of the Berlin Wall, photographed by Lisi Niesner of Reuters. In Tibet, monks carried a large rolled-up thangka painting of Buddha at the Drepung monastery in Lhasa at the start of the traditional Shoton festival, as shown by Xinhua/Shutterstock.
In Weymouth, UK, people queued around the block from 6am to buy eclipse glasses after Howleys Toymaster collected 10,000 pairs from the Midlands to meet high demand before Wednesday evening’s partial solar eclipse, according to a photo by Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images.
Sports and Politics
In Washington, US, Washington Nationals centre fielder Jacob Young attempted to prevent a home run hit by the Chicago Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki, photographed by Terrance Williams of AP. In Birmingham, UK, Norway’s Erlend Bolstad Raa competed in the men’s high jump qualifier during the European Athletics Championships, as captured by Ben Stansall of AFP/Getty Images.
In Minneapolis, US, supporters of Peggy Flanagan celebrated after she won the Democratic primary for the US Senate, with a photo by Stephen Maturen of Getty Images. In Buckfastleigh, Devon, police officers stood in the grounds of Buckfast Abbey before the funeral of former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe, photographed by Matt Keeble of PA.
Other Notable Images
In Pereira, Colombia, rescue workers carried a survivor pulled from the rubble the day after an earthquake struck, as shown by Fernando Vergara of AP. In Delhi, India, schoolchildren joined a tricolour flag march ahead of the country’s 80th Independence Day on Saturday, photographed by Rajat Gupta of EPA.
The selection was curated by Natasha Rees-Bloor. These images offer a snapshot of global events, from natural phenomena to cultural commemorations and sporting moments.
