A curated selection of 20 powerful images captures the past week's most striking events worldwide, from protests in Venice to conflict in Gaza, with photojournalists documenting moments of tension, resilience, and culture.
Europe and Protests
In Venice, Italy, activists from Femen and Pussy Riot staged a protest against Russia's participation at the Venice Biennale art show. The event saw the jury resign en masse before the opening, stating they would not consider entries from countries whose leaders face international arrest warrants, a move that would exclude Russia and Israel. Meanwhile, in Moscow, Russian soldiers rehearsed for the Victory Day military parade, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the Kremlin of 'utter cynicism' for seeking a truce to hold the parade while 23 people were killed in attacks on Ukraine.
Ukraine Conflict
In Dovhenke, Ukraine, a damaged monument to a Soviet soldier stands as a reminder of the ongoing war. Ukraine has intensified long-range strikes on Russian territory, hitting oil refineries and military targets. In Chornomorsk, a woman surveys the site of a Russian drone strike, as Russia warned foreign embassies in Kyiv to evacuate staff ahead of potential attacks during the Victory Day parade. In Moscow, a patriotic flashmob called 'Victory Waltz' took place.
United States
In Nashville, Democratic state representative Justin J. Pearson and his brother were removed from the house gallery during a silent sit-in protesting redistricting maps that eliminated the state's only Black-majority congressional district. In Washington DC, Donald Trump signed a proclamation in the Oval Office, with reports that Saudi Arabia's refusal to allow US military escorts for oil tankers led to the shelving of 'Project Freedom'. In Berlin, an art installation featured robotic dogs with silicone heads of Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, as Musk's court case against Sam Altman continued.
Middle East
In Beirut, Lebanon, Ali Soueidan drinks coffee at his damaged home, as Israeli attacks have killed over 2,700 people since March. In Gaza City, relatives mourned Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, with over 800 deaths since the October truce. In the northern Gaza Strip, sisters Lina and Aya Zeid prepared food for displaced children. In Nablus, members of the Samaritan sect participated in a traditional pilgrimage on Mount Gerizim before Shavuot.
Global Events
In Praia, Cape Verde, health personnel assisted passengers from a cruise ship at the center of a deadly hantavirus outbreak, as authorities raced to trace disembarked passengers. In Kidal, Mali, soldiers from the National Front for the Liberation of Azawad patrolled streets after jihadist attacks. In Benguela, Angola, a boy observed a damaged railway bridge after floods. In Mississippi, people surveyed debris after tornadoes damaged nearly 500 homes. In Liuyang, China, firefighters extinguished a blast at a fireworks factory that killed 26 and injured 61. In Guangzhou, employees worked and rested at a sewing workshop. In New York City, influencer Emma Chamberlain posed at the Met Gala, which faced protests over Jeff Bezos's role as honorary chair. In Louisville, horses raced in the Kentucky Derby, with Golden Tempo winning under trainer Cherie DeVaux, the first woman to train a Derby winner.
