The week around the world in 20 pictures

Israel's political landscape shifted dramatically as President Isaac Herzog chose Gadi Eisenkot, Benjamin Netanyahu's strongest rival, to attempt forming a new government. Eisenkot has pledged to crack down on extremist West Bank settlers who have attacked Palestinians with impunity, condemning recent incidents as 'Jewish terror' abetted by Netanyahu's administration.

In Gaza, tens of thousands of Palestinians faced dire conditions after deadly storms left their waterlogged tents damaged. Aid agencies reported that 150,000 new shelters remained outside Gaza, awaiting Israeli approval to enter the territory. Meanwhile, the award-winning documentary 'NAZA,' detailing Israel's mass killing of civilians in Gaza, has been viewed by over 1.5 million people worldwide since its theatrical release last month.

The humanitarian crisis deepened when an Israeli airstrike on Nasser hospital in Khan Younis killed six people, including a surgeon and a disabled man, while wounding 28 others, according to the hospital director. Despite the devastation, Gazans found moments of resilience as a bride prepared for a mass wedding celebration organized by Operation Chivalrous Knight, a humanitarian relief campaign.

European Unrest

Europe witnessed widespread protests as millions across Spain participated in the country's first general strike in 14 years, demanding wages that would allow access to decent housing. The demonstrations came ahead of elections where the far right could gain significant power. In Paris, police clashed with demonstrators at Place de la Nation during protests organized by student groups and trade unions over economic concerns.

Youth-led movements continued to sweep Europe, with French students protesting for better working conditions and Spanish activists pitching tents to rally for affordable housing. In Kraków, Poland, six people were killed and 16 wounded when a gunman opened fire in the main market square, which Poland's defense minister called an 'act of terror' against the city.

Global Developments

In Russia, Novaya Gazeta held its final editorial meeting before shutting down, citing a relentless campaign by authorities. The newspaper faced eviction from its newsroom and banks stopped processing donations, its only legal income. Employees risked being declared extremists and potentially jailed under these circumstances.

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy reported that speed restrictions on SpaceX's Starshield system had made it harder to shoot down Russian drones, which subsequently attacked a hospital in central Kyiv near western embassies. In the United States, a building collapse in Brooklyn resulted in eight deaths, including two children and two construction workers from a nearby site.

International tensions flared when Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it destroyed a US early-warning radar in Bahrain, marking Iran's first direct attack on US military installations in months. The action came in response to a US airstrike on a communications tower in Sirik overlooking the strait of Hormuz.

Climate and Cultural Events

Pope Leo XIV returned to Peru where tens of thousands lined the streets as his cavalcade traveled from the airport to the presidential palace. At the Cop31 UN climate conference in Turkey, Brazilian President Lula da Silva was greeted by indigenous delegates as more than 100 corporations and industry groups linked to fossil fuel interests sent delegations to the talks.

Environmental concerns were evident in Brazil where dead fish lined the shores of Lake Manaquiri, a tributary of the Amazon. Meanwhile, the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games featured competitions including artistic gymnastics, while Japan showcased its natural beauty with Mount Fuji visible behind autumn-colored maple trees in Kawaguchiko.