The past week has been captured in a series of powerful and poignant images from across the globe, curated by picture editors at Sky News. From a sombre morning gathering in Sydney to vibrant fancy dress in North London, the photographs tell diverse stories of resilience, protest, sport, and the forces of nature.
A World in Mourning and Protest
In a moving display of community solidarity, swimmers gathered for a morning vigil at Sydney's Bondi Beach. The event was held in response to the devastating shooting that occurred there on Sunday, 19 December 2025, providing a space for collective mourning and reflection.
Meanwhile, in the heart of Europe, civil unrest took a tangible form. More than 150 tractors blockaded central Brussels as farmers staged a major protest. Their demonstration targeted the contentious EU-Mercosur free-trade deal, which they argue threatens their livelihoods, coinciding with a summit of European Union leaders in Belgium.
Sporting Focus and Global Tensions
The sporting world offered both concentration and spectacle. The intensity of competition was clear in a close-up shot of table tennis action at the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. In Portugal, Brazil's Pedro Scooby tackled massive waves during the Big Wave Challenge, while back in the UK, the London International Horse Show at ExCel hosted the Kennel Club Medium Agility Stakes.
Heavyweight boxing also made headlines as Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua faced off at a news conference to promote their upcoming bout. In a lighter sporting moment, the iconic World Darts Championship at London's Alexandra Palace saw fans arriving in elaborate and creative fancy dress costumes, adding a unique flavour to the event.
Geopolitical tensions were visually underscored by a military build-up in Puerto Rico, amid ongoing strains with Venezuela. This follows an order from former US President Donald Trump for a "total and complete" blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
Nature's Power and Symbolic Gestures
The natural world and human symbolism provided striking visuals. In Brazil, the Beira Rio stadium was illuminated in orange for 'Orange December', a national campaign for skin cancer awareness. In a bizarre incident, also in Brazil, a replica of the Statue of Liberty belonging to retailer Havan toppled over after strong winds hit the city of Guaiba.
From the skies, a drone captured a new section of border wall under construction in Arizona, USA. Elsewhere, the elements created beauty: a fiery sunrise blazed above Frankfurt, Germany, and rainfall on Iran's Hormuz Island temporarily transformed the coastline of the Red Beach into a remarkable natural scene. In Bolivia, a woman was pictured crossing a suspension bridge over the swollen Pirai River after floods isolated communities in the Santa Cruz region.
