This past weekend presented a vivid tapestry of human experience across the globe, captured through the lenses of photojournalists. From ancient purification rituals in Japan to heated protests in the American Midwest and serene winter landscapes in Europe, the images tell stories of faith, conflict, leisure, and tradition.
Rituals and Resilience Around the World
In Tokyo, Japan, participants braved an ice-cold bath at the Teppozu Inari shrine on Sunday, 11 January 2026. This ceremonial act, intended to purify the soul and offer prayers for the new year, saw individuals immersing themselves in freezing water as part of a long-standing spiritual practice.
Meanwhile, in Burghead, UK, the unique Burning of the Clavie fire festival lit up Moray. The community celebrated the new year for a second time, a custom dating back to the 1750s adjustment from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. This fiery tradition continues to bind the community to its historical roots.
Contrasting with the cold, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil sweltered under 39C heat, drawing massive crowds to the iconic Ipanema beach. The scene was one of sun-drenched leisure, as locals and tourists alike sought relief from the soaring temperatures.
Contrasts in Climate and Civil Unrest
The weekend also highlighted stark environmental and social contrasts. In Szantod, Hungary, a ferry cut through the icy waters of a frozen Lake Balaton, a striking image of Europe's enduring winter. Similarly, a snowy aerial view of the Taunus mountain range in Frankfurt, Germany showcased a pristine winter forest.
This serenity was sharply offset by scenes of tension in the United States. In Kansas City and Minneapolis, protesters marched and were escorted by police during rallies for Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. Further illustrating a federal immigration crackdown, a separate image from Minnesota showed ICE, Border Patrol, and Homeland Security Investigations agents detaining an entire family during a house raid, part of an operation involving over 2,000 federal personnel.
Sport, Commemoration, and the Everyday
The sporting world was active, with the two-woman bobsleigh world championships underway in St Moritz, Switzerland, featuring athletes from the Czech Republic. In Adelboden, Switzerland, skiers competed in the men's slalom World Cup, while in Funabashi, Japan, the Ground Self-Defence Force conducted its annual New Year military drill.
Cultural moments provided poignant highlights. In London's Brixton, a visitor contemplated a mural tribute to David Bowie, created by Australian street artist James Cochran, marking the tenth anniversary of the musician's death. In Madrid, Spain, a protester held a flag bearing the image of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last Shah.
Everyday life persisted in its varied forms. In Surabaya, Indonesia, ride-sharing app drivers caught naps on their motorcycles between jobs. In Mandalay, Myanmar, people strolled near a vibrant sunflower garden by the historic U Bein teak bridge. A more sombre scene unfolded in Cebu City, Philippines, where search and rescue teams combed a landfill after a landslide buried dozens and killed at least six people.
From the tourist-dotted Mingsha Mountain in Dunhuang, China to a photographer's close encounter with a great blue heron in Delray Beach, Florida, the weekend's frames collectively offered a powerful, unvarnished look at our shared world.
