This week has witnessed a convergence of global crises, from environmental protests at the Cop30 summit to devastating attacks in Ukraine and controversial immigration operations in the United States. The world's leading photojournalists have captured these pivotal moments, providing a stark visual narrative of our current challenges.
Climate Crisis and Indigenous Protests Dominate Cop30
In Belém, Brazil, the Cop30 climate summit faced significant disruption as Indigenous communities made their voices heard. Munduruku Indigenous protesters blockaded the main entrance to the conference venue for several hours early on Friday morning, demanding to speak directly with Brazil's president about the plight of the country's native peoples.
The dramatic scenes saw a Munduruku woman holding a squirrel monkey while standing against Brazilian army members who stood guard. Meanwhile, trucks were photographed carrying wood from deforested areas in the Amazon rainforest, creating a powerful contrast with the climate discussions happening just miles away.
Ukraine Endures Relentless Attacks and Energy Crisis
The situation in Ukraine deteriorated significantly as Russia targeted the national power grid, reducing the country's energy generating capacity to what state power firm Centrenergo described as 'zero'. The attacks have led to frequent blackouts across many towns and cities, with residents in frontline areas like Huliaipole forced to hide from Russian drones.
Kyiv suffered particularly heavy blows, with six people killed and dozens injured in a wave of night-time strikes across the capital. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that a massive combined attack early on Friday sparked fires and scattered debris across multiple districts. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned what he called 'deliberate, calculated and wicked' attacks against civilian infrastructure.
Photographs show citizens attempting to clear up after missile strikes in central Kyiv and people riding buses during complete power blackouts, highlighting the severe impact on daily life.
US Immigration Operations and Global Humanitarian Crises
In the United States, immigration raids in Chicago continued under the Trump administration's Operation Midway Blitz. Federal agents have been conducting operations across almost every part of the city since the programme began on 9 September. A federal judge this week ordered the release of hundreds of people arrested in recent months in the Chicago area.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump faced political challenges as attempts to prevent the release of Jeffrey Epstein files appeared to have failed. The president was photographed standing by as attendees helped a guest who collapsed during an Oval Office event on lowering drug prices.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remained dire, with displaced Palestinian families living in tents amid destruction caused by the Israeli offensive. New research reveals Israeli armed forces and settlers have attacked Palestinian water sources more than 250 times in the past five years.
In Chad, grave fears emerged for civilians who survived the capture of El Fasher by a Sudanese paramilitary group last month. The UN warned relief operations were on the brink of collapse, while aid groups reported malnutrition in displacement camps had reached 'staggering' levels.
Extreme Weather and Remembrance
The Philippines faced devastation from super-typhoon Fung-wong, the 21st typhoon to hit the country in 2025. The storm left at least eight dead and displaced 1.4 million people, coming just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi killed at least 224 people. Climate scientists note the crisis is making tropical storms more intense and frequent.
In London, the city witnessed both solemn remembrance and social challenges. Veterans of the second world war were applauded as they arrived at the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph, while tents lined roads opposite University College Hospital amid record high rough sleeping numbers - over 13,000 people recorded in the last year, representing a 27% increase.
The week concluded with a spectacular natural display as the aurora borealis, powered by a severe solar storm, illuminated skies over Whitley Bay's St Mary's lighthouse, providing a moment of beauty amid global turmoil.
