Through the lens: The Citizen's Picture Editors select the best news photographs from South Africa and around the world.
Waves hit the coast during a storm on the Baltic Sea in Kolobrzeg, northwestern Poland, 28 December 2025. The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management issued a warning about strong winds along the entire Polish coast. Picture: EPA/PIOTR KOWALAA Bolero (a main character of Holy Innocents’ Day) with his face painted black poses for a portrait during the celebration of Holy Innocents’ Day in Caucagua, Miranda state, Venezuela on December 28, 2025. (Photo by Federico PARRA / AFP)A Ukrainian reacts near a grave on the Alley of Heroes at the military cemetery in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, 28 December 2025, amid the ongoing Russian invasion. Russian troops entered Ukraine on 24 February 2022, starting a conflict that has provoked destruction and a humanitarian crisis. Picture: EPA/SERGEY KOZLOVUkrainians sing Christmas carols and carry decorated stars during a parade in Lviv, western Ukraine, 28 December 2025, as part of the upcoming New Year’s celebrations, amid the ongoing Russian invasion. Russian troops entered Ukraine on 24 February 2022, starting a conflict that has provoked destruction and a humanitarian crisis. Picture: EPA/MYKOLA TYSBelarus’ Aryna Sabalenka interacts with her goddaughter Nicole during the trophy ceremony following her defeat in her Battle of the Sexes exhibition tennis match against Australia’s Nick Kyrgios in Dubai on December 28, 2025. (Photo by Amr Alfiky / POOL / AFP)A Taiwan Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter jet prepares to take off inside the airbase in Hsinchu, Taiwan, 29 December 2025. China announced that it would conduct live-fire drills around Taiwan on 30 December. Picture: EPA/RITCHIE B. TONGOJohannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway in action during the Men’s Sprint Qualification Free race at the FIS Cross Country Skiing World Cup in Toblach, Italy, 28 December 2025. Picture: EPA/ANDREA SOLEROSupporters of the Vetevendosje (LVV) party set off fireworks as they celebrate in Pristina, Kosovo, 28 December 2025. Preliminary results indicated a strong performance for incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party, though the final seat count will determine if he can secure the majority needed to form a new government. Picture: EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKIPeople walk across a park amid dense smog in Lahore on December 29, 2025. (Photo by Arif ALI / AFP)A man bits a poster depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanjahu as demonstrators gather during an anti-Israel protest in Mogadishu, Somalia, 28 December 2025. This comes a day after Israel announced that it has recognized the breakaway Somali region of Somaliland as a sovereign and independent nation and established full diplomatic ties. Picture: EPA/Said Yusuf WarsamePeople wearing traditional outfits take part in the Dance of the Fools to mark Spanish Fools’s Day in the town of Fuente Carreteros, in Cordoba, Andalusia, southern Spain, 28 December 2025. The Dance of Fools and Dance of the Bear, dated back to 1765, are the two only dances brought by European colonizers that settled down in Andalusia and are still performed nowadays. Picture: EPA/SalasA person walks past a mural of Simon Bolivar in Caracas, Venezuela, 28 December 2025. Picture: EPA/RONALD PENA RAn Afghan balloon vendor wades through traffic as he looks for customers along a busy street in Kabul on December 29, 2025. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP)
