A Visual Chronicle of Global Events: Conflict, Resilience, and Culture
This week, the world's leading photojournalists captured a diverse array of moments, from the devastation of war to the quiet resilience of daily life. Twenty powerful images tell the story of a planet grappling with conflict, climate challenges, and cultural expressions.
Conflict Zones: Gaza, Ukraine, and Beyond
In Gaza City, the Palestinian Nasir family broke their fast amid the rubble of the Abu Hilwe school in the Bureij refugee camp, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Progress on the Gaza peace plan stalled over disagreements on Hamas disarmament, with Israel threatening a return to full-scale war. Elsewhere, Palestinians spun steel wool sparklers during Ramadan amidst destroyed buildings, and mourners in Beit Furik, West Bank, reacted during the funeral of Muhammad Hanani, killed in an Israeli raid. The US decision to provide consular services in Israeli settlements drew criticism as a violation of international law.
In Kyiv, Ukraine, firefighters worked at the site of a Russian missile strike on a residential area, as Russia's invasion continues into 2026, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. A makeshift memorial in Independence Square honored fallen soldiers on the conflict's four-year mark, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealing to Donald Trump to visit Kyiv and vowing not to betray the Ukrainian people in negotiations.
Global Unrest: Mexico, Cuba, and Africa
In Mexico, burned vehicles littered a highway near Acatlán de Juárez after cartel gunmen retaliated for the killing of their leader, "El Mencho." In Puerto Vallarta, a burned-out bus stood before a closed pharmacy, as 10,000 troops were deployed to quell clashes that left dozens dead. Cuba faced a deepening crisis, with doctors assisting a birth at the Ramón González Coro maternity hospital amid economic slump and mass migration, while people walked along the Malecón as international frustration grew over US policy.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a woman carried firewood near Romée village, escaping investor seizures in the tropical wilderness. In South Sudan, Nyayual Chuol watched her grandson receive treatment after being shot in conflict, and in Chad, Sudanese refugees waited for papers at the Oure Cassoni camp, with a UN report warning of genocide hallmarks in Sudan's El Fasher capture.
Climate and Cultural Moments
In France, land flooded near the overflowing River Garonne after heavy rainfall, underscoring climate impacts. In Syria, clothes lay in a tent housing Australian relatives of suspected Islamic State militants after a failed repatriation attempt. At the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, Taliban guards stood near Torkham after exchanges of fire, with Pakistan declaring "open war" after bombing Kabul.
In the US, Representative Al Green protested silently before Donald Trump's State of the Union address, marking his second ejection from the event. New York City faced heavy snowstorms, grounding flights and cutting power to millions. In Kyiv, performers danced at a Masnytsya celebration, marking the end of winter, as Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine's resilience. In Milan, a model walked the runway at the Diesel show during fashion week, offering a glimpse of cultural normalcy.
These images, from Gaza to New York, provide a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of global events, capturing both tragedy and hope in a rapidly changing world.
