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Heatwave edit The climate takes center stage at the UN this week during Climate Week NYC. European Union's climate monitor Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said in its report on September 6, 2023 that the average global temperature in June, July and August 2023 was 16.77 degrees Celsius, breaking the previous record of 16.48 C set in 2019, putting 2023 on track to be the hottest year ever recorded in human history. The deadly summer of 2023 was marked by heatwaves, droughts and wildfires that wreaked havoc in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America and impacted human health, societies and ecosystems globally. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on the same day that "climate breakdown has begun" after the report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) that cited data from C3S. A new study by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicates that the planet could cross critical global warming thresholds of 1.5 C sooner than previously thought, and it could rise to cross the 2-degree threshold by mid-century even with significant global efforts to bring down the warming. Some scientists have reportedly warned that it’s "all hands on deck now" to prevent 3.0 Celsius global warming, urging world leaders to start telling the truth and act. 1. Leon, Spain, on August 8, 2023 📷 Felipe Trueba @ftruebag 2. Sicily, Italy on August 18, 2023 📷Jim Hollander @jimhollanderpix 3. Seoul, South Korea, on August 7, 2023 📷 Lee Kitae @likitaephotos 4. Paris, France, on August 19, 2023 📷Dai Kurokawa @dai.kurokawa 5. Leon province, northern Spain, on August 9, 2023 📷Felipe Trueba 6. Incheon, South Korea, on August 5, 2023 📷 Lee Kitae @likitaephotos 7. Cairo, Egypt, on July 25, 2023 📷Mohamed Hossam 8. Bangkok, Thailand, on August 31, 2023 📷 Diego Azubel @diegoazubel 9. Santander, Spain, 11 August 2023 📷Felipe Trueba @ftruebag 10. Beijing, China, on September 6, 2023 📷 Jiwei Han @jiweihan #matrixreportage #photojournalism #documentary #reportage #visualjournalism #photography #heat #climate #environment #heatwave #temperatures #hot #COP28 #climatechange #warming #globalwarming #weather #extremeweather #weather #warning

Since 2021, Myanmar has been engulfed in a civil war following a military coup that overthrew the democratically elected government. The military responded violently to protests against the coup, plunging the country into chaos. This has led to a humanitarian crisis, with widespread terror, arrests, disappearances, and torture. The UNHCR reports that thousands of people have been killed, and over 2.5 million have been internally displaced or sought asylum in neighboring countries. The military junta, led by General Min Aung Hlaing, has imposed martial law to maintain control over the population. They have restricted foreign aid and isolated Myanmar further. Opposition fighters and ethnic militias continue to resist the oppression. In August 2021, General Min Aung Hlaing appointed himself as prime minister and initially promised elections in two years. However, in February 2023, he extended the state of emergency by six months, effectively delaying the elections, citing the military's incomplete control over a significant portion of the country. The Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KDNF), an alliance of opposing forces, claims to control half of Myanmar. Local people's defense forces (PDF), made up of various ethnic armed groups, have garnered support from young individuals joining the fight against the government. Russia has emerged as the primary supporter and arms supplier to the junta. Despite these challenges, there is a strong sense of unity among different ethnic groups driven by a shared desire for freedom and the restoration of democracy. Matrix Images / Mar Naw #matrixreportage #photojournalism #documentary #reportage #visualjournalism #photography #authentic #storytelling #onassignment #conflict #war #myanmar

Global Oceans Picture Package - World Ocean Day, celebrated annually on June 8th, holds immense significance in raising awareness about the vital role of oceans and the pressing need to protect them. As humans, we have long enjoyed the oceans for their beauty, resources, and recreational opportunities. However, our actions have also had a profound impact on marine ecosystems. Overfishing, pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change have taken a toll on the health and biodiversity of our oceans. World Ocean Day serves as a global call to action, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding at least 30% of the oceans by 2030 through the establishment of marine protected areas. By preserving these precious ecosystems, we can ensure the sustainability of marine life, maintain essential ecological balance, and secure the well-being of future generations. It reminds us that the oceans not only bring joy and inspiration but also require our active protection and responsible stewardship. 2023 World Oceans Day is celebrated under the slogan "Planet Ocean: Tides are changing". 1. Colombo, Sri Lanka 📷Akila Jayawardena 2. Mumbai, India 📷 Ashish Vaishnav 3. Samut Sakhon province 📷 Diego Azubel 4. Samut Sakhon province, Thailand, Matrix Images / Diego Azubel 5. Normandy, in northwestern France, Matrix Images / Dai Kurokawa 6. Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Matrix Images / Jean Ekra 7. Cape Town, South Africa, on Matrix Images / Mike Hutchings 8. Cape Town, South Africa, Matrix Images / Nic Bothma 9. Amritsar, India 10. Jutten Island, South Africa / Thinus Maritz #matrixreportage #photojournalism #documentary #reportage #visualjournalism #photography #authentic #storytelling #environment #environmentaljournalism #circulareconomy #plastic #pollution #ecosystem #restoration #recycle #OceaniMPACt #onassignment #timetravel #wilderness #WorldOceanDay #BiologicalDiversity #ProtectBiodiversity #AgreementToAction #HarmonyWithNature #30x30 #ForNature #ActionDecade #Post2020 #Ocean

A humanoid robot monk participates in a lantern parade during the Yeon Deung Hoe, or Lotus Lantern Festival, to celebrate Buddha’s Birthday in Seoul, South Korea, May 16, 2026. Matrix Images / Jung Ui-Chel @justice_fe_foto #matrixreportage #photojournalism #robotics #monk #southkorea

A man douses a car exiting the Philippine Senate with water during a protest against the arrest warrant of former Philippine National Police Chief and current Philippine Senator Ronald dela Rosa at the Philippine Senate in Manila, Philippines on May 11, 2026. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for the former Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa in connection with his role in former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. 📷Matrix Images/Mark Cristino @mfrcristino #matrixreportage #photojournalism #protest #icc #philippines

A woman shouts slogans during a May Day rally marking International Workers’ Day near the White House in Washington, D.C., USA, on May 1, 2026. The protest is part of nationwide May Day events centered on progressive causes, including workers’ rights, immigrant rights, and climate change. Matrix Images / Gent Shkullaku @gentshkullaku #matrixreportage #photojournalism #trump #protest #usa

Protesters burn an effigy depicting US President Donald Trump during a demonstration to mark International Labor Day in Manila, Philippines, on May 01, 2026. Protesters from various labor groups gathered to demand higher wages and improved working conditions amid rising costs of living. Matrix Images / Mark Fredesjed R. Cristino @mfrcristino #matrixreportage #photojournalism #trump #protest #philippines

Volunteers rescue a stranded Short-Tail Stingray at Milnerton Beach, Cape Town, South Africa, on April 29, 2026. The stranded mother went into stress-induced labour. In total she delivered 24 babies during the ordeal. Rescuers carefully gathered each baby for transport to the Two Oceans Aquarium for rearing in a holding tank of fresh sea water. Returning the mother to the ocean was the culmination of a rescue led by volunteers from Millie’s Movers walk group and the Two Oceans Aquarium. Matrix Images / Mark Wessels @kwazigramz #matrixreportage #photojournalism #marine #animalrescue #capetown @cityofcapetown @2oceansaquarium @capetownmag

A pagoda-shaped lantern is illuminated during a lighting ceremony to commemorate the upcoming Buddha’s Birthday at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, South Korea, April 22, 2026. The annual Buddhist cultural festival, recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is held in the weeks leading up to Buddha’s Birthday, which falls on May 24 this year. Matrix Images / Jung Ui-Chel @justice_fe_foto #matrixreportage #photojournalism #buddha #culture #southkorea

Visitors explore the Halo Chamber, a towering circular LED column that conceals an enclosed five-by-five-metre cave of responsive light during the Lumenocity annual light art festival in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 09, 2026. Lumenocity, held from 9-12 April 2026 in Cape Town’s historic Company’s Garden, is an annual light art festival that transforms one of South Africa’s oldest public spaces into an immersive open-air gallery after dark. Over four nights, visitors move through a series of large-scale illuminated installations created exclusively by South African artists, designers, and storytellers, giving local creative talent a platform on a global stage. Highlights include video mapping projected onto the fa ades of the Iziko Museum and South African National Gallery, merging the city’s colonial-era architecture with contemporary digital art; the Halo Chamber, a towering circular LED column that conceals an enclosed five-by-five-metre cave of responsive light; and Mobius, a kinetic sculpture that shifts in form as viewers move around it. The festival’s signature Beam of Hope, a powerful shaft of light rising from the heart of the city, serves as both a beacon visible across Cape Town’s skyline and a symbolic gesture of optimism. Matrix Images / Nic Bothma @nicbothma #matrixreportage #photojournalism #lumenocity #capetown #southafrica

Buddhist monks on the Global Peace Walk through Yakkala, Sri Lanka, on April 27, 2026. The seven-day pilgrimage began in Anuradhapura on April 21, and features the transport of a sacred sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. The walk is scheduled to conclude on April 28, with a state ceremony at Independence Square in Colombo. Matrix Images / Akila Jayawardena @akijayawardena #matrixreportage #photojournalism #buddhism #peace #srilanka

Members of the Samsung Electronics Labor Union (SELU) chant slogans while holding up pickets during a rally to demand higher bonuses at the Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on April 23, 2026. The joint struggle committee, including the SELU, held the rally ahead of a planned general strike in May, demanding greater transparency in bonus calculations and the abolition of caps on performance-based pay. Matrix Images / Jung Ui-Chel @justice_fe_foto #matrixreportage #photojournalism #samsung #strike #sᴏᴜᴛʜᴋᴏʀᴇᴀ