The Buriganga River is one of the most polluted rivers in the world due to the mismanagement of pollution in Bangladesh. Millions of people in Dhaka pass daily through this unrecyclable ocean of plastic bridges that connect two sides of the Buriganga River. The city of Dhaka discharges about 4,500 tons of solid waste every day. Only 37.2 percent of the plastic waste in the Buriganga is recycled. Plastic pollution has persisted across the country over the years, despite official commitments to curb it.

In a highly polluted river, which is full of froth due to high amount of water pollution where a fisherman going for fishing with his family over there, It looks like he is entering into a different planet and they are travelling into the icebergs by their boat. The froth is caused by the daily discharge of millions of toxic waste into the river through drains. They are praying for hope to clean and minimise the toxicity of the river, because aquatic ecosystem is severely damaged and they can’t live without water.

A Syrian woman stands inside her damaged house and looks at the rubble around her after the devastating earthquake in the Syrian town of Jindires, north of Aleppo. The earthquake, combined with over 12 years of civil war, has only added to the suffering of the Syrian people. Even areas that the war had previously spared were now destroyed, and many of their inhabitants lost their lives and homes.

A woman gestures to catch the attention of a firefighter. She and another person are trapped during a terrible fire in a building in the neighborhood of Campanar, in Valencia, Spain, where the flames have rapidly spread across the facade. After more than two hours, they were rescued. Ten people died in the fire.

A Ural Airlines passenger plane made an emergency landing on soil in the Ubinsky district, Novosibirsk Region. There were 167 people on board flying from Sochi to Omsk, including 6 crew members and 23 children. There were no casualties. Photo: The pilot returns to the cockpit after the emergency landing in a field.

June 2nd in Balasore, Odisha, India, a tragic incident unfolded. 290 passengers lost their lives while around 1000 were injured in the train crash. Safety measures are being questioned and the world witnessed one of the largest derailed train incidents.

Train carriages are seen derailed after a three-train collision which led to death of 292 passengers near Balasore, in the eastern state of Odisha, on June 4, 2023.

On 19 December 2023, a fire began in Simon’s Town, south of Cape Town on the Cape Peninsula. Aggravated by climate change, the fire raged for four days and tore through 3500ha of land, much of it part of Table Mountain National Park, a natural world heritage site.

Fisherman Rory poses for a quick photo with a Bronze Whaler before releasing the shark into the water. Meanwhile, thick smoke covers Simon’s Town. The wildfire that started six hours before is closing in on the navy town.

Torrential rains in neighbouring countries have left swathes of South Sudan submerged year-round. Roughly 15 percent, up from 5 percent just a few years ago, flooding homes, schools, and medical centres.

Pedestrians walk along a causeway, recently reclaimed from floodwater on November 29, 2023 in Bentiu, South Sudan.

Espadín, the most common agave used for mezcal production, takes about 8 years to grow; wild agaves - up to 30 years. The western request for mezcal is pressuring the Mexican territory at a far too aggressive rate for the plant’s intrinsic temporalities. The agave system is facing the confrontation of the ancestral time with the haste of a liquid modernity. It needs to accelerate not to die and slow down to survive. The Time of Agave is tabu and shame, proudness and identity. Covering both the pulque and mezcal regions, as well as using time as a reading-key to highlight the damaged agave system, the photos aim to show the subtile and sensible testimonies of a territory living the consequences of its own economic apogee.

Palenque in Candelaría Yegolé, Oaxaca, Mexico - To produce mezcal, an oven needs to burn for six to seven hours before reaching the adequate temperature. Once reached, the « piñas » of the agaves burn in the oven for about six to seven days. In the mezcal region, it is common to see huge clouds of smoke rising from the palenques. Workers and inhabitants often complain about air quality.

A child named Sabina lives near of Bay of Bengal. She got wet while collecting floating bottles from the sea, and sitting by the fire trying to keep herself warm. She helps the family financially by collecting plastic bottles discarded by tourists and discarded plastic from ships and selling them to scrap shops. By doing this, she unknowingly helps to protect the family as well as the beautiful environment.

This picture is clicked while walking through a wooden trail that connects Dal Lake with the city Srinagar. The majestic beauty of Kashmir, coupled with the mystic charm of her culture finds way in the delicate charm of each and every corner. This Kashmiri woman was coming back from the morning vegetable market of Dal Lake where she sells Lotus Stem ("Nadru"as the local says). Alone she rows the boat of her life as she is the only earner of her family. But the hardship of life has never seized her smiling face, that illuminates her soulful expression in the soft morning light.

Mohammad Jisad (19), a physically impaired cricket player poses for a portrait in Hathazari, Chittagong. His feet were like this at the time of his birth. Despite having this condition of the legs at birth, Jisad never fainted. With unwavering faith in himself, he gets on the stretcher and goes about his daily work. Where he cherishes cricket, his favorite game, and becomes a madman with joy. Because cricket is his childhood love

During a community emergency on the left bank of Novosibirsk, Azerbaijani Rza Rzayev, a loader from a nearby market, constructed a makeshift bridge using wooden pallets to help people cross a river of boiling water. He carried children in his arms and used a phone flashlight when the water levels rose. Despite getting wet, he managed to assist over a hundred individuals to safety on the other side of Plakhotny Street. Residents of Novosibirsk raised over 70,000 rubles for him to visit his family, but he donated the money to an orphanage instead. “The children were scared, but I’m a father myself,” he later said in an interview.

The photographs show the everyday life of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, whose teachers and students strive to bring light to the world.

An autumnal sunset in an academic corridor.

Rostov-on-Don is an important military and strategic center during the special military operation. It is also the largest city near the frontline. There are military vehicles near the stations, and you often see people in uniform on the streets. Collection points for humanitarian aid have been set up here, as well as places where people weave nets. They can be found in unexpected places: small offices, museums, former nurseries. Weaving points sprung up spontaneously, but for several years now women have been going there in shifts and weaving nets non-stop.

Women weaving masking nets in Rostov-on-Don call themselves weavers. Svetlana Mikhailovna, one of the eldest volunteers, is seen at a weaving point in the Rostov Local Lore and History Museum.

In Vrindavan, India, there are 15,000 to 20,000 widows, mainly from West Bengal, who face a harsh reality. They are forced out of their homes and mistreated by their own families. In 2007, Winnie Singh founded Maitri Ashram as a refuge for these vulnerable women.

Traditional expectations require the widows to give up enjoyment, confining them to a life centered around worship. The government's Widow Pension Yojana, which offers Rs 1000 (approximately 12 USD) per month, aims to provide assistance. However, many widows struggle to benefit from it due to a lack of proper documentation.

Mukta Pal, a 67-year-old woman from Malda, West Bengal, has a heartbreaking story. Her husband, a science teacher, passed away at the age of 50 after suffering from a debilitating brain disease for five years. Unfortunately, tragedy struck again when both of her sons also fell victim to the same illness. Within a span of just ten years, three family members had lost their lives to this illness, leaving Mukta feeling devastated. Bankrupt from the futile attempts at treatment, sunable to bear it any longer, she sought solace in Radha Kund, a town located approximately 20 kilometers away in Vrindavan.

I first met autistic people while teaching at an inclusive photography workshop. These were teenagers who came to classes with their mothers. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cannot always be seen from the outside, but can be expressed in different forms and degrees. Early diagnosis and the opportunity to find their place in this world, where they are different from the majority, are important for special children. I am amazed by the strength of spirit of women who are constantly close to their children, and their love, which gives them the strength to fight the diagnosis in spite of everything.

A playground in front of the house where Miron and Miroslav live. One of the brothers has ASD.

Shaheen is a day laborer. Worked as day laborers to make sandbag blocks to prevent river erosion. Perhaps he has not had time to remember the Creator in the midst of sweaty work all day. So at the end of the work, he was praying his Salat on that bag and remembering the creator.

The Khibiny Mountains are seen through the brick ruins on Mount Poazuaivench in Monchegorsk. The Severonickel plant is one of the largest copper-nickel enterprises in Europe. It also influenced the environmental situation in the town.Today, nature has largely recovered, and where there was nothing, young trees have already grown. There are desert tundra, lakes and mountains very close to the city. This is truly amazing.

Moscow, Russia. A child playing near garages on the outskirts of the city.

The situation in Pakistan continues to reflect a worrying picture, as highlighted by the World Bank. Just over 37% of the population lives below the poverty line, earning less than $3.65 a day. This figure, however alarming, represents only the tip of the iceberg of a series of challenges plaguing the country. The lakes are suffocated by human remains; humans are suffocated by the remnants of the world, and the last ones are increasingly last without the possibility of becoming second to last. Hell is green; in artificial rivers of radioactive color, waste, excrement, and even corpses are thrown. The rising steam smells of death. The struggle to survive blends with the struggle to breathe, while the outside world seems indifferent to the suffering of this land tormented by corruption and indifference.

I was born a city built amidst the Nogai steppe during the 1960s. My parents often mentioned a genuine desert not far from our town, yet it didn't quite resonate with me until my first visit in 2020. What I beheld left me astounded. Subsequently, I discovered that the shifting sands encroach upon the land. Each year overgrazing, fierce winds, salt residue from the Caspian Sea, and deforestation contribute to the erosion of the precious topsoil layer. The restoration of merely one centimeter of this layer could take anywhere from 70 to 150 years

The Nogai steppe, situated in northwestern Dagestan, is an arid expanse facing the threat of extinction owing to the relentless encroachment of sand, as highlighted by the Russian Geographical Society. Despite the looming environmental crisis, these landscapes offer a striking and majestic portrayal of nature's grandeur and power.

Australia's marine ecosystem plays a critical role in maintaining global biodiversity, regulating climate patterns and supporting livelihoods through fisheries and tourism. For Aboriginal communities, the oceans are a vital aspect of their identity and connection to the land, intertwined with their cultural heritage, spiritual beliefs, subsistence and traditional practices for thousands of years. Climate change and human impacts have significantly altered Australia's marine environment, posing significant threats to its fragile ecosystems, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of coastal communities. Australia is recognized among global leader in marine science and research, contributing significantly to advances in the understanding of this environment. The combined efforts of marine scientists and indigenous communities are essential to ensure the long-term health and survival of the oceans so that future generations can benefit from their ecological, economic and cultural value.

Marley and Chae are two brothers who grew up in the city of Geraldton but are descendants of the Malgana Traditional Owners of Shark Bay. They made a life choice to leave behind the city and return to their roots by moving to the land of their ancestors. In Shark Bay, they work with Tidal Moon, an Aboriginal business that is involved in sustainable sea cucumber trade and environmental conservation. They share, "We feel fulfilled when we contribute to preserving our environment, just as our ancestors did. We want to make them proud of us".

The Urals represent a unique region of Russia, steeped in a rich history and possessing a distinctive identity. Its harsh climate, industrial environment, and demanding physical labor have forged a character often perceived as reserved and stern. However, this outward aloofness belies the kindness and compassion of the local people, who boast a unique sense of humor and are renowned for their independent thinking. Several generations of my ancestors called the Urals home. Though I was born and raised here until the age of five, my family later relocated to another region. Twenty years later, I returned to my roots, rediscovering the rugged beauty of this region while capturing the essence of everyday life in its cities.

A miniature model of Soviet Volga police car inside a real car.

Growing up in my grandparent's house, I was surrounded by warmth. It wasn't just the house or the yard that provided this comforting feeling, but the entire village. However, when I return to my childhood village of Morichbunia now, all I feel is the heat of development that has destroyed the land, the economy, and the people's last remaining asset. The loss is not only visible in the form of land, but it also affects our homes, culture, agriculture, memories, kinship system, and even our identity. This destruction doesn't just impact human life; it also harms the ecosystem, local plants, rivers, and animals. The memories of underdevelopment reveal the complex issues of identity, belonging, and loss that individuals experience when their homes are transformed by large-scale development projects. This highlights the profound social, cultural, and environmental consequences of such endeavors.

A significant portion of the country's GDP is invested by the government in mega projects. However, the construction of each mega project comes at a cost - homes are lost, agricultural land is forfeited, and people experience profound grief. Thousands of acres of land have already been acquired for the purpose of building coal power stations, and it is estimated that approximately 20,000 people will ultimately be displaced as a result.

Farmers participate in the rural cattle race named “MOICHARA” in the Baghmari village of South 24 Pargana, West Bengal, outskirts of Kolkata ahead of the harvesting season. For decades, this festival has taken place in many rural villages, and farmers from neighboring villages come to participate in the race. The primary purpose of this cattle race is to test the capacity of the cattle before starting the cultivation in the rainy season and increase the fertility of the land.

On January 31, 2024, citizens skated on the ice rink at the National Fitness Center in Heihe City. In the cold winter season, in Heihe City, Heilongjiang Province, located on the border between China and Russia, many citizens come to the ice rink of the National Fitness Center to skate, enjoying the fun of ice and snow sports while exercising.

Dirt jumpers in the Urals display remarkable toughness! Artem Dvinyaninov fearlessly jumps from a four-meter trampoline in the forest of Perm, even in twenty-degree frost. In a photo capturing his daring trick, aptly named "Suicide Without Hands," Artem skillfully navigates through falling snow from a pine tree, breaking through the obstacle and landing smoothly.

At present, there is no playground for children and teenagers to play leisurely in the brick town. However, children and teenagers find open spaces for sports. Such a scene was seen in the city where the work of digging a canal was going on for the renovation of the city's drains. Due to the lack of a field, some children and teenagers went down to play cricket after finding a part of the canal dry. This is a rare sight in a brick town.

People Walk on the bridges over the dirt-filled canal. The once-clear waters of this canal now lie stagnant and polluted, a sad testament to Bangladesh's struggle with plastic waste. With approximately 646 tons of plastic collected daily in Dhaka alone, the pollution is taking its toll on the Buriganga River, once the lifeblood of the city.

Female workers carefully sort vibrant red chili peppers spread across a sandy bar, left to dry under the sun. The peppers form intricate patterns, creating a visually striking scene when viewed from above.

The Kapitan Kosolapov Icebreaker in the roadstead in the Gulf of Finland.

In the tranquil mornings of Vietnam, people delicately clean lily flowers with water, enhancing their natural beauty. From a bird's eye view, this simple yet elegant ritual unfolds like a graceful dance, showcasing the intricate patterns and vibrant colors of the flowers against the serene backdrop of the landscape.