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 seven of the most memorable images of the last seven days' events, captured by the best photojournalists on the planet.
Tourists release sky lanterns during the Pingxi lantern festival on 2nd March 2018 in Pingxi, Taiwan. Known for its old train tracks and lantern launchings, the district hosts the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival annually to celebrate the last day of the Lunar New Year by releasing thousands of lanterns into the night. The former coal-mining town is lined with workshops which help visitors build lanterns with paper and glue but critics have said the event has become unsustainable and angered the locals as up to 600,000 half-burnt lanterns crash back to earth in the surrounding mountains. Sky lanterns were invented in ancient China between AD 220-265 by military strategist Zhuge Liang to transmit information, and were first introduced to Taiwan in the 19th century. They were originally released as prayers for the coming year at the beginning of the spring planting season; currently, their release is only allowed in the rural district of New Taipei.
Photo: Billy H.C. Kwok/Getty Images
Drag queen Ms J poses ahead of the 2018 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on 3rd March 2018 in Sydney, Australia. The Sydney Mardi Gras Parade began in 1978 as a march and commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall Riots of New York. It is an annual event promoting awareness of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues and themes.
Photo: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
Two sea lions reach out to snap a fish during lunchtime at Schoenbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria, on 6th March 2018, as the freezing temperatures of the last days changed to snowfall.
Photo: JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images
Indian devotees and foreign tourists take part in the 'kapda phaar' or cloth tearing during Holi festival celebrations in Pushkar, in the Indian state of Rajasthan on 2nd March 2018. Holi, the popular Hindu spring festival of colours, is observed in India at the end of the winter season on the last full moon of the lunar month.
Photo: SHAUKAT AHMED/AFP/Getty Images
A woman protester wipes tears from her eye during a rally to celebrate International Women's Day in Manila on 8th March 2018. The protesters, including the relatives of victims of the extra-judicial killings, assailed the government of continuing violence against women and the drug war.
Photo: TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images
An owner sits with her Newfoundland dog during a competition round at Crufts dog show at the NEC Arena on 8th March 2018 in Birmingham, England. The annual four-day event sees around 22,000 pedigree dogs visit the centre, before the 'Best in Show' is awarded on the final day.
Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images
A Brazilian woman wears an earring reading 'Temer out' as she takes part in the commemoration of International Women's Day in São Paulo, Brazil on 8th March 2018. International Women's Day is marked worldwide with rallies and strikes.
Photo by Cris Faga/NurPhoto/Getty ImagesLike what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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