A captivating series of images from around the globe has been compiled, showcasing diverse moments from a mass reading event in Rome to the aftermath of a drone strike in Moscow.
Europe
In Rome, Italy, people gathered at sunset to read Fyodor Dostoevsky's White Nights as part of The Silent Storm (La Tempesta Silenziosa), a mass reading initiative conceived by Alessandro Baricco and organized by the city’s Department of Culture. Meanwhile, in Moscow, Russia, black smoke rose from the Gazprom Neft oil refinery after a drone attack by Ukraine. In Versailles, France, US President Donald Trump received a tour of the Château de Versailles from French President Emmanuel Macron following the G7 summit in Évian.
United Kingdom
In Wigan, UK, a voter spoke to a police officer outside a polling station in Makerfield as voting began in the byelection triggered by Labour MP Josh Simons stepping down to allow Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to stand.
Asia
In North Sumatra, Indonesia, students blocked a military vehicle at a mass rally in Medan as part of nationwide protests accusing the government of neglecting the economic struggles of ordinary people. In Jammu, India, security personnel carried out checks at a railway station ahead of the annual Hindu Amarnath pilgrimage. In Tehran, Iran, locals walked past a billboard in Enqelab Square after Iran and the US signed a peace agreement to end the war between the two countries.
Middle East
In Kfar Yona, Israel, Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protested against Israel’s military draft outside the Beit Lid military base.
Americas
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, police surrounded members of the Bolivian community as they marched towards the Bolivian Embassy to protest against the government of Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz.
Oceania
On Heard Island, in the Indian Ocean, a wildlife team from the Australian Antarctic Program assessed the site where a strain of bird flu killed several thousand elephant seal pups last year. In Canberra, Australia, Arthur Boyd's tapestries, each featuring a scene from the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, were on display at the National Gallery of Australia.
Asia (continued)
In Vietnam, women used hand shuttles to repair fishing nets and traps. In Kathmandu, Nepal, a man touched one of the 16th-century Bhairava masks as it left the National Museum of Nepal for its original shrine in Dolakha; the masks were stolen in 1994 and recovered from a US museum, returned to Nepal 30 years later. In Chennai, India, a food delivery driver prayed in front of a temple before starting his day.
These images were selected by Natasha Rees-Bloor and published on Thursday, 18 June 2026.
