On Tuesday, 18th November 2025, the world presented a tapestry of human experience, captured through the lenses of photojournalists and curated by The Guardian's picture editors. From political symbolism to seasonal shifts, these images offer a powerful, visual narrative of the day's events.
Politics and Social Action
In the Bronx, New York, a gesture of service took centre stage as Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani was photographed serving food at a local soup kitchen. The image, captured by Olga Federova for EPA, signals a hands-on approach from the city's new leader even before his official term begins.
Meanwhile, in Washington DC, a stark message was projected onto the wall of the FBI's headquarters, publicly calling on Congress to vote for the release of the Epstein files. This act, photographed by Tom Brenner for Reuters, underscores the ongoing public pressure for transparency in one of the most high-profile cases.
Federal agents were also in action in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Ryan Murphy's photograph for Getty Images shows them searching for undocumented migrants at a petrol station, highlighting the continued focus on immigration enforcement.
Global Tensions and Environmental Concerns
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East was reflected in two contrasting scenes. In the West Bank town of Jaba, a Palestinian man inspected a vehicle damaged by Israeli settlers, his quiet assessment captured by Ahmad Gharabli for AFP/Getty Images. In Southern Israel, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man was photographed in conversation with a soldier at a bus stop near the Gaza Strip border, a moment of interaction amid the tension, taken by Abir Sultan for EPA.
On the environmental front, the severe issue of air pollution prompted action in Delhi, India. Protesters took to the streets, demanding government action to curb the city's notorious pollution levels, as shown in a photograph by Harish Tyagi for EPA.
Culture, Ritual, and the Changing Seasons
The cultural sphere offered moments of performance and devotion. In San Francisco, music legend David Byrne delivered a powerful performance at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, with Dana Jacobs capturing the energy for Getty Images. In Kolkata, India, a Hindu devotee offered prayers to the rising sun after a ritual dip in the Hooghly River, a serene image by Aijaz Rahi for AP.
Hollywood's glamour was on display in Los Angeles at Elle's 2025 Women in Hollywood celebration, where actors Teyana Taylor and Jayme Lawson attended, photographed by Michael Kovac. A different kind of spectacle unfolded in Zagreb, Croatia, where firefighters battled a blaze in a high-rise building, an image provided by AFP/Getty Images.
The first signs of winter also made their mark. In St Margrethenberg, Switzerland, and Carrshield, England, villages awoke to the first snowfall of the season, with photographs by Gian Ehrenzeller and Owen Humphreys respectively documenting the serene, white blankets covering the landscapes.
Finally, a press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, saw Chinese cybercrime suspects, wanted by Beijing, about to be deported, a scene captured by Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana for Reuters, illustrating international legal cooperation.
