A photographic review of the past week captures major international events, ranging from pivotal electoral outcomes and political demonstrations to severe transit disasters and natural phenomena across the globe.
In South America, Brazilian politics reached a milestone as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured a fourth term following a presidential runoff. Photographs from October 25, 2026, captured a Brazilian lawmaker embracing Lula as he delivered his victory speech to supporters.
Meanwhile, the Middle East dominated headlines as voters went to the polls in Israel’s legislative elections. Ahead of the vote, aerial views in Tel Aviv on October 26 captured campaign billboards featuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party alongside U.S. President Donald Trump. In the Gaza Strip, the human toll of the ongoing conflict remained visible; on October 30, eight-year-old Tamer al-Qirnawy was photographed searching for his toys among the rubble of his destroyed home in the Bureij refugee camp following an overnight Israeli air strike.
Europe recorded significant transit and civil developments. In Spain, emergency services responded to a deadly high-speed train collision occurring roughly 150 kilometers south of Madrid. The October 28 crash involved two high-speed units—a Renfe AVE train and an Iryo train—between Urda and Los Yebenes in the province of Toledo. In Germany, the aftermath of Gen Z protests left visible damage, highlighted by the shattered window of a jewelry store in Frankfurt on November 1. Across France, nationwide demonstrations on October 31 saw protesters draped in Halloween costumes taking to the streets, including organized gatherings in Lyon.
Political activities and demonstrations extended further. In India, opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi led a protest in New Delhi on November 1, standing atop a vehicle alongside fellow opposition leaders. In the United States, political campaigning continued as President Donald Trump tossed hats into a crowd during an October 27 rally at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center in Texas.
Environmental and seasonal events also drew visual documentation. In Indonesia, Mount Semeru spewed thick columns of volcanic ash over Lumajang, East Java, on October 29. In South America, zookeepers in Cali, Colombia, prepared for Halloween by feeding animals pumpkins stuffed with meat, drawing a curious Komodo dragon on October 27.
