Scenes from Around the World: Captured Moments of Triumph, Turmoil, and Timeless Beauty

Nov. 15, 2024

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - In a day where the world’s stories unfold in vivid hues and compelling moments, photographers from every corner of the globe have captured striking scenes that illustrate humanity’s resilience, beauty, and strife.

From the golden ginkgo foliage brightening Seoul’s streets to a dramatic return of Donald Trump to the White House, and from the breathtaking coral ecosystems of the Solomon Islands to the turmoil in Beirut’s southern suburbs, these images weave a mosaic of our shared experience.

This captivating visual report offers glimpses into art festivals, political transitions, climate crises, and the unbreakable spirit of people confronting adversity.

Seoul, South Korea - A man walks past a ginkgo tree with yellow autumn foliage in Seoul on November 14, 2024. The Seoul Metropolitan Government designated the ginkgo biloba as the capital’s official tree in 1971. 

Bangkok, Thailand - Visitors take pictures with “Parvati” by Indian sculptor Ravinder Reddy during the Bangkok Art Biennale 2024 at National Museum Bangkok on November 14, 2024. 

Jabalia, Palestinian Territories - Children sit in the back of a donkey cart as Palestinians displaced from shelters in Beit Hanoun cross the main Salaheddine road into Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip following Israeli army evacuation orders on November 12, 2024, amid the ongoing war in the Palestinian territory between Israel and Hamas. 

Hargeisa, Somalia - A senior woman is assisted by a Somaliland police officer as she arrives to cast her vote to a polling station during the 2024 Somaliland presidential election in Hargeisa on November 13, 2024. Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, holds a presidential election on November 13, 2024 at a time of diplomatic tensions in the Horn of Africa. 

Srinagar, India - A man walks past oriental plane trees also known as chinar trees during autumn in Srinagar on November 12, 2024. 

Undisclosed, Ukraine - A Ukrainian serviceman of the 24th Mechanized Brigade prepares to fire a 2S1 'Gvozdika' 122mm self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions at an undisclosed location near Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region on November 13, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

Washington, United States - US President Joe Biden meets with US President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on November 13, 2024. Trump thanked Biden for pledging a smooth transfer of power as the victorious Republican made a historic return visit to the White House on Wednesday. 

Zhuhai, China - A Russian Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation fighter aircraft flies during the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, in southern China's Guangdong province on November 15, 2024. 

Beirut, Lebanon - Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike in a neighborhood of Beirut’s southern suburbs on November 15, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. 

Beirut, Lebanon - An old man walks amid the destruction in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the neighbourhood of Rweiss in Beirut's southern suburbs on November 14, 2024. Israel's air force "carried out a heavy strike on the southern suburbs targeting the Haret Hreik-Rueis" area, the official National News Agency reported, following a series of at least seven Israeli strikes since November 13. 

Gonzaga, Philippines - This handout photo taken on November 15, 2024 and received courtesy of the Bloggers of Tuguegarao Facebook page shows an aerial view of a house amongst logs and debris near a river in Gonzaga town, Cagayan province, a day after Typhoon Usagi hit the province. Typhoon Usagi blew out of the Philippines early on November 15 as another dangerous storm drew closer, threatening an area where scores were killed by flash floods and landslides just weeks ago, the weather service said. 

Port-au-Prince, Haiti - A woman receives aid after losing consciousness while fleeing her home due to armed gang violence in the Solino area of Port-au-Prince on November 14, 2024. Around 100 people were attempting to find refuge at the Saint François D'Assise College as they escaped their homes. Haiti has suffered from decades of political instability but in recent months, the Caribbean country has seen a surge in violence with gangs now controlling 80 percent of the capital. 

Málaga, Spain - US' Taylor Townsend serves against Slovakia's Renata Jamrichova during their singles tennis match between Slovakia and USA at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena in Malaga, Spain, on November 14, 2024.

London, United Kingdom - Britain's King Charles III waves as he leaves after the inauguration of the Coronation Food Project hub, located at the Deptford Trading Estate, in southeastern London, on November 14, 2024. The King, to celebrate his 76th birthday and the first anniversary of the Coronation Food Project, opened the initiative’s first two Coronation Food Hubs – one in person and one virtually. The hubs are major distribution centres, designed to save and circulate surplus food and to support communities in need. 

Avignon, France - Gisele Pelicot (L) walks with her lawyer Stephane Babonneau (R) past a wall message reading in French "Rape is Rape" outside the Avignon courthouse between sessions of the trial of her former partner Dominique Pelicot accused of drugging her for nearly ten years and inviting strangers to rape her at their home in Mazan, a small town in the south of France, in Avignon, on November 14, 2024. A court in the French southern town of Avignon is trying Dominique Pelicot, a 71-year-old retiree, for repeatedly raping and enlisting dozens of strangers to rape his heavily sedated wife in her own bed over a decade. Fifty other men, aged between 26 and 74, are also on trial for alleged involvement, in a case that has horrified France. The court proceedings, which runs until December, are open to the public at the request of Dominique Pelicot's ex-wife and victim. 

Paris, France - This photograph shows the Eiffel Tower at sunset, in Paris on November 13, 2024.

Honiara, Solomon Islands - This handout photo taken by National Geographic Pristine Seas on October 24, 2024, and released on November 14, shows divers swimming over the world's largest coral located near the Pacific's Solomon Islands. Scientists say they have found the world's largest coral near the Pacific's Solomon Islands, announcing on November 14, a major discovery "pulsing with life and colour". 

Lahore, Pakistan - A man rides his motorbike along a street engulfed in smog in Lahore on November 14, 2024. Lahore -- a city of 14 million people stuffed with factories on the border with India -- regularly ranks among the world's most polluted cities, but it has hit record levels this month. 

Namhkam, Myanmar - This photo taken on November 9, 2024 shows members of Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) receiving military equipments at a graduation ceremony after getting special combat training for three months in a secret jungle near Namhkam, Myanmar's northern Shan State. The Ta'ang National Liberation Army has battled with the Myanmar military for years and has launched the "Operation 1027" in 2023 -- named after its starting date. The operation has ejected the junta from around 50,000 square kilometres according to analysts and an AFP tally. 

New York, United States - A New York City Fire Department (FDNY) boat works to put out a brush fire in the Inwood Hill Park section of northern Manhattan, New York, on November 13, 2024. Since Friday, wildfires have burned through thousands of acres on the border between New York and New Jersey, just an hour from Manhattan, claiming the life of an 18-year-old firefighter battling the blazes. New York and other parts of the state north of the city are under a red flag warning for bush and forest fires with high winds, low humidity and dry conditions creating tinderbox conditions. 

Greenwood Lake, United States - A helicopter drops water over a wildfire in Greenwood Lake, New York, November 13, 2024. Hundreds of brushfires have broken out in New Jersey and Connecticut in recent weeks amid an unseasonably warm and dry fall -- including three blazes that forced evacuations and roads closures, reports said.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia - Participants row their dragon boats as they prepare to compete during the Cambodian Water Festival on the Tonle Sap river in Phnom Penh on November 14, 2024. 

Bardhosh, Kosovo - A farmer spreads organic fertilizer on his corn field, near a coal power plant in a suburb of Bardhosh village, north of Pristina on November 14, 2024. 

Amsterdam, Netherlands - Police officers detain a protestor during an unauthorised pro-Palestinian demonstration on Dam Square in Amsterdam on November 13, 2024. Dutch parliamentarians clashed on November 13, 2024, in a heated debate to discuss the attacks on Israeli fans after a football match last week, with some lawmakers pointing fingers and others urging unity. 

Irving, United States - US boxer Mike Tyson (L) and US boxer-actor Jake Paul (R) face each other during a press conference ahead of their heavyweight bout at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Texas on November 13, 2024.

Lisbon, Portugal - Agility Robotics' robot named “Digit”, the first human-centric multi-purpose robot made for logistics work, is pictured at the Web Summit at Parque das Nacoes in Lisbon, on November 13, 2024. Leading lights of the tech industry met in Lisbon for the Web Summit, the sector's first big event since the US election, with Donald Trump's victory expected to be a key theme of their discussions. The Web Summit runs with some 3,000 startups pitching their products to 1,000 investors, and 70,000 visitors taking part in events and debates, according to organisers.

Herat, Afghanistan - Afghan female workers harvest saffron flowers at a field on the outskirts of Herat on November 13, 2024.