A devastating pair of earthquakes struck Venezuela’s northern coast on Wednesday, leaving hundreds of people dead.
The second quake, at magnitude 7.5, was Venezuela’s most powerful in more than a century.
Many people were missing or still trapped beneath rubble as search and rescue efforts continued on Thursday. Some displaced residents have nowhere to go after their homes were flattened in the port city of La Guaira, the capital Caracas and surrounding areas.
The disaster comes at a dire time for Venezuela, which was already deep in a political and financial crisis.
Here are some of the stories that made headlines over the past week, as well as some photos that caught our eye.

US Vice President JD Vance is seen before peace talks with Iran in Switzerland on Sunday, June 21. Vance told the media later that it was a “very, very good” day of negotiations.
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Pool/Getty Images

A lavender field is seen in Valensole, France, on Monday, June 22.
Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hugs his wife, Victoria, outside No. 10 Downing Street after announcing his resignation in London on Monday, June 22. Starmer’s resignation follows disastrous results for his party in May’s local elections. The United Kingdom is now on track for its sixth leader in seven years.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Argentina’s Lionel Messi, center, scores during a World Cup match against Austria on Monday, June 22. It was the 18th World Cup goal of his career, making him the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
Hannah McKay/Reuters

Chipped paint and algae are visible in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC, on Sunday, June 21. The pool has been riddled with issues in recent weeks, including algae blooms, claims of vandalism, and peeling blue material. The National Park Service will drain and repair the pool after July Fourth celebrations, the agency’s deputy director for operations said in a court filing Wednesday.
Aaron Schwartz/Reuters

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, left, celebrates with congressional candidate Brad Lander after Lander, the candidate he endorsed, won the 10th District Democratic primary on Tuesday, June 23. It was one of several wins that signify how New York politics and the Democratic Party have a new power broker.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

A woman cools off under a mist sprayer during a street music festival in Bordeaux, France, on Sunday, June 21. Extreme heat has been melting national records across Europe. France endured its hottest day on record on Tuesday.
Romain Perrocheau/AFP/Getty Images

Norway fans take part in a “viking row” together in New York’s Times Square on Sunday, June 21. The celebration has been a viral part of the World Cup atmosphere as Norway’s national team competes in the tournament.
Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu/Getty Images

Aymara people raise their hands to receive the first rays of sunlight as they celebrate the Andean New Year, which marks the Southern Hemisphere's winter solstice, in El Alto, Bolivia, on Sunday, June 21.
Juan Karita/AP

Pigs walk along a roadside after the vehicle transporting them overturned between the Danish towns of Aabybro and Birkelse on Friday, June 19.
Martin Damgaard/Ritzau Scanpix Denmark/Reuters

A woman holds a child during an Ashura ceremony in Tehran, Iran, on Thursday, June 25. The holy day commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
Vahid Salemi/AP

Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas lands on Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during a WNBA game in Indianapolis on Wednesday, June 24. Thomas was not called for a foul on the play, but the league reviewed it and later issued a one-game suspension to Thomas "for recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area."
Grace Smith/IndyStar/USA Today Network/Imagn Images

Smoke from a warehouse fire fills the air in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21. The community has been left reeling since the persistent blaze at the privately owned cold-storage warehouse broke out on June 17.
Jae C. Hong/AP

From left, Kehinde Oguntoye, Kehinde Adediran, Taiwo Adediran and Taiwo Oguntoye prepare to go to church ahead of their wedding ceremony in Ibadan, Nigeria, on Saturday, June 20. The two sets of twins tied the knot in what many described as a once-in-a-lifetime wedding.
Olympia De Maismont/AFP/Getty Images

A child looks toward the stage before President Donald Trump spoke at the opening of the Great American State Fair in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, June 24.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

US players Antonee Robinson, right, and Folarin Balogun celebrate after taking a lead against Australia during a World Cup match in Seattle on Friday, June 19. The Americans won 2-0 to clinch a spot in the tournament’s round of 32.
Troy Wayrynen/Imagn Images/Reuters

A bathroom mirror and sink remain standing amid the rubble of buildings damaged by Israeli strikes near the Jabal Amel Hospital in Tyre, Lebanon, on Thursday, June 18. Persistent fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon is threatening a tentative deal reached between the United States and Iran to end their war.
Hassan Ammar/AP

Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo De La Espriella addresses supporters in Barranquilla on Sunday, June 21. On Wednesday, the right-winger was formally declared the winner of the runoff election, defeating leftist candidate Iván Cepeda.
Jair Coll/Reuters

Golfer Matthew Fitzpatrick plays a shot on the 18th hole during the third round of the US Open on Saturday, June 20. The tournament was played at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.
Kate McShane/Getty Images

Fans watch a World Cup match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, Mexico, on Wednesday, June 24.
David Ramos/Getty Images

Windows in Nantes, France, are covered by sheets to reflect the sun during an intense European heat wave on Tuesday, June 23.
Sebastien Salom-Gomis/AFP/Getty Images

US Marine Corps officer candidates navigate a water obstacle during training in Quantico, Virginia, on Monday, June 22.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

China’s Pan Yufei competes in a World Climbing Series event in Innsbruck, Austria, on Saturday, June 20.
Marco Kost/Getty Images

Students relax after performing yoga in Guwahati, India, on Sunday, June 21. It was International Yoga Day.
Anupam Nath/AP

Cape Verde fan Jackie Fontes attends a World Cup watch party in Boston on Sunday, June 21.
Taylor Coester/Reuters

A man watches from his balcony after his residential building was hit by a Russian drone in Druzhkivka, Ukraine, on Monday, June 22.
Anatolii Stepanov/Reuters

Bioluminescent Shiino Tomoshibitake mushrooms glow in the dark in Kobe, Japan, on Tuesday, June 23.
The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images

NASCAR driver Corey Heim celebrates after winning the Cup Series race in San Diego on Sunday, June 21.
David Jensen/Getty Images

Police officers detain protesters in Nairobi, Kenya, on Thursday, June 25. The protests marked the second anniversary of anti-tax demonstrations that left dozens dead and sparked nationwide outrage.
Monicah Mwangi/Reuters

A newly construction border fence is seen in Kino Springs, Arizona, on Wednesday, June 24. President Donald Trump is accelerating his effort to finish his border wall, setting an ambitious goal of completing it by the end of his administration.
Rebecca Noble/Reuters

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo is swarmed by teammates after scoring against Uzbekistan during a World Cup match on Tuesday, June 23. Ronaldo is the first man to score in six World Cups.
Etsuo Hara/Getty Images

People in Havana, Cuba, watch a televised speech by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Thursday, June 18. Cuba has been facing severe shortages, economic hardship and growing public frustration.
Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty Images

People sit on a bench before horse races at the Royal Ascot in Ascot, England, on Friday, June 19.
Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters

Hooded crows perch on a railing overlooking the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem on Monday, June 22.
Dedi Hayun/Reuters

US Rep. Maxwell Frost gestures while his staff films a video on an event stage at the US Capitol on Wednesday, June 24. This was after President Donald Trump canceled a scheduled signing of bipartisan legislation aimed at speeding up the construction and availability of more affordable housing. Trump posted on social media that the planned signing was canceled because his attention was focused on another bill that would tighten ID requirements to vote in US elections. Even if Trump refuses to sign the housing legislation, it will still become law within 10 days while Congress is in session, so long as Trump doesn’t veto it.
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

Two women dressed as mermaids lounge under the pier in New York’s Coney Island neighborhood on Saturday, June 20. The Coney Island Mermaid Parade has been taking place in Coney Island since 1983, and thousands of people come out for what is billed as the nation’s largest art parade. The parade is inspired by old Coney Island Mardi Gras parades, and it sort of marks the official start of summer in New York City. See last week in 36 photos.
Yunghi Kim/Contact Press Images



