It’s never been easier to keep up with what’s going on in the world. The news is everywhere – in our Facebook feeds, on the morning commute, during that lazy half hour before you switch off the TV and go to bed. But the tide of global affairs is often more upsetting than uplifting and it can be tempting to bury our heads in the sand. As the saying goes: a picture is worth a thousand words, so to offer a different perspective we've rounded up some of the most memorable images of the week's events, captured by the best photojournalists on the planet.
A naked man playing guitar stands in front of police officers during a protest called by several French unions against the labour law reform in Paris, on 12th September 2017. French unions launched a day of strikes and protests against the French president's flagship labour reforms, a key test as he stakes his presidency on overhauling the sluggish economy. More than 180 street protests are planned nationwide against the reforms, which are intended to tackle stubbornly high unemployment by loosening the rules that govern how businesses hire and fire people.
Photo: Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Imag
Palestinian children do their homework during a power cut in an impoverished area in Gaza City, on 11th September 2017. Residents of Gaza, home to 1.8 million people, have been experiencing for the past two weeks long hours of electricity outage.
Photo: Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images
Thousands gather to rally for marriage equality ahead of a national postal survey on 10th September 2017 in Sydney, Australia. The High Court handed down its decision on Thursday to allow the government's proposed postal ballot survey to go ahead. Ballots with the question 'Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?' will be sent to households across Australia on 12th September.
Photo: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
A Cuban carrying his pet wades through a flooded street in Havana, on 10th September 2017. Deadly Hurricane Irma battered central Cuba on Saturday, knocking down power lines, uprooting trees and ripping the roofs off homes as it headed towards Florida. Authorities said they had evacuated more than a million people as a precaution, including about 4,000 in the capital.
Photo: Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty Images
The Skybolt 2 Research Rocket is successfully launched from Otterburn in Northumberland on 11th September 2017 in Hexham, England. Standing at over 8 metres tall, the reusable British-made rocket is the UK's biggest ever rocket and will pave the way for manned tests of Starchaser's planned Space Tourism rocket. This test flight is in collaboration with the Science and Engineering Faculty of the University of Chester and will test vital electronic systems and the bespoke parachute recovery system. Other payloads include a science project from Sheffield Hallam University, commercial cargo, video cameras and a stuffed toy dog called Sam from Morecambe Bay Primary School. Starchaser Industries is a privately held, high technology group of companies that specialises in the development, operation and commercialisation of space-related products and services.
Photo: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
High school students draw the Twin Towers and write messages on the pavement in front of their school on 11th September 2017 in New York, in observance of the 16th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The attack, the deadliest ever on US soil, killed 2,997 people and plunged the United States into a chain of rolling wars against Islamic militants.
Photo: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
Weather reporters jump and cling on to illustrate the force of the winds caused by Hurricane Irma as it arrives in Miami, Florida on 10th September 2017.
Photo: Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Turkish gendarmes stand guard during the controversial trial of staff from Turkey's main opposition newspaper on 11th September 2017 at the Silivri district in Istanbul. A Turkish court ordered that five staff members of the opposition daily Cumhuriyet being tried on charges of 'terror activities' remain in custody. The court rejected a plea to free them from detention during a trial being seen as a test for press freedom under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Photo: Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images
Children from the 'Little Owls' project join residents at Home Meadow care home on 11th September 2017 in Toft, England. Since January, the five children aged 1-4 have been regularly visiting the residents at Home Meadow, spending an entire day together and taking part in their activities including dancing, arts and crafts, and singing, and forming relationships. The 'Little Owls' project is run by local childminders, Nat Jackson and Amanda Strong. Home Meadow, part of the Healthcare Homes group, provides residential care for up to 49 residents, many of whom live with dementia.
Photo: Rob Stothard/Getty Images
Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks about the new iPhone lineup during a media event at Apple's new headquarters in Cupertino, California on 12th September 2017.
Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images
A dead grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) washed ashore at Maria Martha beach is seen on 12th September 2017, in Rosarito, Baja California state, northwestern Mexico.
Photo: Guillermo Arias/AFP/Getty Images
A sparrow gets a piece of bread in a park in Dresden, eastern Germany, on 13th September 2017.
Photo: Monika Skolimowska/Getty Images
Aerial view of primary school students writing Chinese calligraphy on 14th September 2017 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province of China. About 1,000 students attended the grand calligraphy writing event.
Photo: VCG/VCG/Getty Images
Crossrail engineers inspect the completed track as the Crossrail project celebrates the completion of the Elizabeth Line track, on 14th September 2017 in London, England.
Photo: John Phillips/Getty Images
A boat is seen next to a home after Hurricane Irma passed through the area on 13th September 2017 in Duck Key, Florida. The Florida Keys took the brunt of the hurricane as it passed over the island chain as a category 4 storm.
Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
A general view of London's highest outdoor running track at AHMM/Derwent's White Collar Factory on 13th September 2017 in London, England.
Photo: John Phillips/Getty ImagesLike what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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