Sky News Editors' Picks: The Week's Most Powerful Global Images
Every week, the picture editors at Sky News curate a compelling selection of the most striking and newsworthy images from around the world. This week's collection, dated Friday 6 February 2026, offers a vivid snapshot of global events, ranging from natural wonders to human struggles and cultural celebrations. These photographs, sourced from trusted agencies like AP and Reuters, provide a visual narrative that complements the headlines, capturing moments of beauty, conflict, and activism.
A World in Focus: Highlights from the Collection
The selection begins with a poignant image from the Gaza Strip, where Palestinians are seen struggling to reach donated food, highlighting ongoing humanitarian challenges. In Kenya, emaciated cattle from the Maasai pastoralist community walk in a dried river bed, illustrating the severe impact of a failed rainy season and worsening drought on local livelihoods.
Activism and Conflict on Display
Environmental activism takes centre stage in Milan, Italy, where Greenpeace activists unveiled a large symbolic installation near the Duomo di Milano as the Olympic torch arrived, drawing attention to climate issues. Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is depicted through two powerful shots: an industrial enterprise hit by Russian drone strikes in the Poltava region, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visiting a heavily damaged thermal power plant, underscoring the war's devastating effects on infrastructure.
Cultural Celebrations and Natural Phenomena
On a lighter note, the Venice Carnival provides a whimsical scene with people dressed as Star Wars characters during a masquerade parade on the Grand Canal. Edinburgh mask maker Lorraine Pritchard models a new Venetian mask and costume created for the event, showcasing artistic collaboration. Natural wonders are also featured, including a spectacular view of the partially frozen Niagara Falls and blueberry plants covered in ice in Florida, where temperatures have plunged unexpectedly.
Urban and Environmental Challenges
The collection also addresses urban and environmental issues. Traffic during evening rush hour in Jakarta's business district captures the hustle of city life, while tonnes of waste, including plastic bottles and used tires, float on the Drina river in Bosnia and Herzegovina, creating a floating rubbish dump that highlights pollution problems. In Singapore, the People's Liberation Army Air Force Bayi Aerobatic Team performed at an airshow, adding a military spectacle to the mix.
Protest and Space Exploration
Activism continues with protesters wearing red rose dresses and faces covered in treacle outside Equinor's offices, staging an 'oil spill' demonstration to criticise fossil fuel practices. Looking to the skies, a full moon rises near the Space Launch System with the Orion crew capsule at launch complex 39B, as preparations advance for the Artemis II mission to the moon, symbolising human ambition in space exploration.
This diverse array of images, chosen by Sky News editors, not only informs but also evokes emotion, offering a visual journey through the week's key events across the globe.
