The Stilfontein miners rescue operation, and more from around the world

Community members picket on the sidelines during rescue operations for trapped miners at the abandoned Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein, South Africa, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. It's unclear exactly how many people remain underground and are unable to resurface, with some estimates putting the number at at least 1,000. Photographer: Leon Sadiki/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Community and family members picket on the sidelines during rescue operations for trapped miners at the abandoned Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein, South Africa, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. It's unclear exactly how many people remain underground and are unable to resurface, with some estimates putting the number at at least 1,000. Photographer: Leon Sadiki/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Gwede Mantashe, South Africa's mineral and petroleum resources minister, speaks at a news conference during rescue operations for trapped miners at the abandoned Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein, South Africa, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. It's unclear exactly how many people remain underground and are unable to resurface, with some estimates putting the number at at least 1,000. Photographer: Leon Sadiki/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Medical services assist an exhausted miner during rescue operations at the abandoned Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein, South Africa, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. It's unclear exactly how many people remain underground and are unable to resurface, with some estimates putting the number at at least 1,000. Photographer: Leon Sadiki/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Mounted police patrol the area around shaft 11 during rescue operations for trapped miners at the abandoned Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein, South Africa, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. It's unclear exactly how many people remain underground and are unable to resurface, with some estimates putting the number at at least 1,000. Photographer: Leon Sadiki/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A policeman on horse controls the crowd of devotees before the Royal bath of Naga Sadhus at Sangam, confluence of Ganges, Yamuna and mythological Saraswati rivers on the occasion of 'Makar Sankranti' the first royal bathing day of Kumbh Mela on January 14, 2025 in Allahabad, India. Kumbh Mela in 2025 is a Maha Kumbh, which is a significant Hindu festival celebrated once every 144 years at Prayagraj (Allahabad). Scheduled from January 13 to February 26, 2025, it attracts millions of devotees for ritual bathing at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, marking a unique spiritual occasion with enhanced significance compared to regular Kumbh Mela. (Photo by Ritesh Shukla/Getty Images)

Naga Sadhus take a holy dip at Sangam, confluence of Ganges, Yamuna and mythological Saraswati rivers on the occasion of 'Makar Sankranti' the first royal bathing day of Kumbh Mela on January 14, 2025 in Allahabad, India. Kumbh Mela in 2025 is a Maha Kumbh, which is a significant Hindu festival celebrated once every 144 years at Prayagraj (Allahabad). Scheduled from January 13 to February 26, 2025, it attracts millions of devotees for ritual bathing at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, marking a unique spiritual occasion with enhanced significance compared to regular Kumbh Mela. (Photo by Ritesh Shukla/Getty Images)

People watch water laser show on the banks of Yamuna River on January 12, 2025 in Allahabad, India. Kumbh Mela in 2025 is a Maha Kumbh, which is a significant Hindu festival celebrated once every 144 years at Prayagraj (Allahabad). Scheduled from January 13 to February 26, 2025, it attracts millions of devotees for ritual bathing at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, marking a unique spiritual occasion with enhanced significance compared to regular Kumbh Mela. (Photo by Ritesh Shukla/Getty Images)

Supporters react as a hearse carrying the coffin with the body of Prince Yormie Johnson, a former Liberian warlord and senator, arrives to the grounds of the National Legislature to lie in state in Monrovia, Liberia, 14 January 2025. Johnson, one of the key figures in Liberia's two civil wars between 1989 and 2003, died on 28 November 2024. EPA-EFE/ABDU BAH JALLANZO

Mozambique's President-elect Daniel Chapo (C-L), accompanied by his wife Gueta Chapo (C-R), arrives for his inauguration ceremony as Mozambique's fifth president at Independence Square in Maputo, Mozambique, 15 January 2025. On 23 December, Chapo, 48, was declared the winner of the presidential election by the Constitutional Council (CC) with 65 percent of the vote in the general elections held on 9 October, which included legislative and provincial assembly elections also won by Frelimo. EPA-EFE/LUISA NHANTUMBO

A protester sets fire to tires during a demonstration during the inauguration ceremony of Mozambique's fifth president, Daniel Chapo, in Maputo, Mozambique, 15 January 2025. Mozambique's Constitutional Council (CC) announced on 23 December that Chapo, the Frelimo-backed candidate, won the presidential election with 65.17 percent of the votes, succeeding Filipe Nyusi. Frelimo also won legislative and provincial assembly elections. EPA-EFE/ESTEVAO CHAVISSO

People pull a cow over a bonfire as part of the Makara Sankranthi or Pongal festival celebrations in Bangalore, India, 14 January 2025. Cows and bulls are decorated with bright colors during the Hindu festival of thanksgiving, celebrated after the harvesting season. EPA-EFE/JAGADEESH NV

The Blue Ghost Mission 1 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from NASA’s Launch Complex 39A at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, 15 January 2025. According to NASA, the agency's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative and Artemis campaign, Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 1, was successfully launched on 15 January 2025. EPA-EFE/CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH

French skipper Charlie Dalin, who sailed his Macif Sante Prevoyance in the 2024/2025 of the Vendee Globe round-the-world solo sailing race in action before crossing the finish line and winning the race, at Les Sables d'Olonne, western France, 14 January 2025. EPA-EFE/Christophe Petit Tesson

A general view of the statue of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad lying on the ground on one of the hills of the town of Deir Atiyah, Qalamoun, Syria 14 January 2025, after the Syrian opposition toppled it with the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in early December 2024. EPA-EFE/MOHAMMED AL RIFAI

Unidentified white and grey balls are seen on Dee Why Beach on January 15, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. Nine popular beaches in Sydney, including Manly Beach, have been closed to the public after small white and grey balls of mysterious debris washed ashore, prompting concerns during the busy summer holiday season. The Northern Beaches Council is currently working on safely removing the debris and investigating its origin to ensure public safety. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

Images are projected onto the hemispherical ceiling of the Sound Dome during the press presentation of the visual artwork titled 'The Mysterious City Park' in the House of Music at Varosliget (City Park) in Budapest, Hungary, 15 January 2025. Functioning as a 360-degree panoramic screen, the dome-shaped chamber is provided with a state-of-the-art ambisonic sound system, with over 40 separate sound sources transforming motion pictures into an audiovisual experience. EPA-EFE/ROBERT HEGEDUS

An Iranian cleric walks next to an anti-US mural in Tehran, Iran, 15 January 2025. According to IRNA news agency, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in his interview with NBC that Iran is ready to negotiate with US President-elect Donald Trump's government based on mutual respect and commitment and equal interest. EPA-EFE/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

Berber women and girls wearing traditional clothes attend a celebration on the occasion of the celebration of the Amazigh New Year 2975, in Rabat, Morocco, 14 January 2025. Amazighs are an ethnic group belonging to the Berber tribes. EPA-EFE/JALAL MORCHIDI

A woman wears a clothing pattern from the northeast region of the country, at a seasonal market selling goods for the upcoming Lunar New Year and Spring Festival on January 15, 2025 in Beijing, China. China will celebrate the Year of the Snake on January 29th. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Same-sex couple Natnicha Somparn (L) and Sorsomrudee Thippayatum (R) prepare for a photoshoot at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, 15 January 2025, to promote the Marriage Equality bill, which is scheduled to take effect on 22 January 2025. Thailand will become the first Southeast Asian country and the third Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage. EPA-EFE/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

Bangladeshi people stand on a decorated roof top during the Poush Sankranti celebration in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh, 14 January 2025. The annual festival, also known as Makar Sankranti, marks the end of the Bengali month of Poush and is celebrated with fireworks and kite flying. EPA-EFE/MONIRUL ALAM

Pope Francis greets the faithful during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall, Vatican City, 15 January 2025. EPA-EFE/ALESSANDRO DI MEO

Protesters wait for US Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth to arrive to his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, USA, 14 January 2025. Senators are expected to question the controversial nominee over allegations of financial mismanagement, sexual misconduct, and alcohol abuse. EPA-EFE/JIM LO SCALZO

Volunteers sort donated goods at the Santa Anita Racetrack parking lot in Arcadia, California, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Southern California faces another round of dangerous fire weather, even as crews struggle to contain wind-driven blazes that have paralyzed Los Angeles for nearly a week and killed at least 24 people. Photographer: Jill Connelly/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Farmers harvest cabbage in a field in Jeju City on South Korea's largest island, 14 January 2025. EPA-EFE/YONHAP

The sun sets above the St. Sophia Cathedral in downtown Kyiv, Ukraine, 14 January 2025. EPA-EFE/SERGEY DOLZHENKO. DM