Photo stories| Global news in photos and captions

From the twists and turns in geopolitics to the subtle art of sports diplomacy, this week’s photo stories transform headlines into powerful visual narratives. Each image, with its distinct perspective, captures the essence of inter-state relations and global themes. Let’s explore the visuals of the moment and uncover the stories they tell.

This photo marks a major diplomatic breakthrough for Turkiye as it was all cheers between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Premier Abiy Ahmed in Ankara, the Turkish state capital. Both men have seen tensions escalate between their states since Ethiopia struck a “back-door” deal with Somaliland at the inception of 2024. This deal granted Ethiopia access to a portion of Somaliland’s coastline for the establishment of a port and military base in exchange for diplomatic recognition—an act that enraged Somalia, which regards Somaliland as a breakaway region with no authority to negotiate independently. With this “historic reconciliation” in place, Somaliland’s bid for global recognition dips, and only time will tell if Mogadishu and Addis Ababa will honour the Turkiye-brokered agreement.

Saudi Arabia’s sports minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, adorned in traditional Saudi attire, celebrates FIFA’s confirmation of Saudi Arabia as host for the host nation for 2036 FIFA World Cup. This milestone points to how politics can influence the fortunes of a state, as Riyadh hopes to transition from a fossil-fuel past to a sports-fuelled future. This initiative is central to its ambitious Vision 2030, which seeks to modernise the Gulf nation across economic, social, and cultural dimensions. For the record, Saudi Arabia will be the second state in the Middle East to host the Mundial after Qatar hosted the 2022 edition and this raises questions in some quarters. Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have criticised Riyadh for its record of “well-documented” abuses and as Prince Faisal promises to deliver the “finest World Cup in history”, the world watches on with keen interest.

As Georgia enters its third week of protests, a demonstrator waves a European Union flag in central Tbilisi to express his pro-EU stance. It is no news that the South Caucasian nation home to less than 4 million people, has faced ongoing unrest since the ruling Georgian Dream party declared victory in October’s parliamentary elections. The unrest deepened following Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s announcement November 28 to suspend EU accession talks until 2028. Georgian political landscape is indeed polarised as the world witnesses a tussle for state control between pro-EU and pro-Moscow politicians. More dramas are expected to unfold Saturday when the ruling party schedules to appoint former footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili as a successor to pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili, who has refused to step down.  

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken exchanges a handshake with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan after a joint press conference in Ankara, the Turkish state capital, to address the post-Assad landscape in Syria. For Blinken, this visit marks his 12th trip to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted and his first since rebel forces broke President Assad’s hold on Syria. Both NATO allies reaffirmed commitments to stabilise the politics of Damascus and forestall the resurgence of ISIS. However, their priorities differ. Washington continues to back the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in its counterterrorism efforts in northeast Syria, while Ankara views the SDF as a proxy for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which it considers a major national security threat. How the two NATO allies will reconcile these conflicting interests remains uncertain.

Thousands of Syrians gathered Friday in Damascus’ historic main mosque for the first Muslim Friday prayers since the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad from the corridors of power December 8, 2024.  It was indeed a historic moment for Syrians to flood the streets and celebrate freedom on a Friday after 53 years of Assad family rule in Syria. Ahmad al-Sharaa, leader of the insurgency, urged Syrians to unite and focus on rebuilding the nation. Despite the celebratory atmosphere in Damascus, the road ahead requires a lot. Whoever assumes ultimate power in Damascus will be forced to navigate a precarious landscape, balancing the conflicting interests of both local factions and international powers.