People across the US cast their ballots on Tuesday in the midterm elections, voting for candidates who will impact immigration, health care, and education policy moving forward. Politics aside, election night was a major win for gender equality and diverse representation in Congress as several candidates made history. More than 100 women were elected to the House of Representatives — and among them were the first Muslim and Native American congresswomen. Colorado also took a leap forward and elected the country’s first openly gay male governor.
As people in the US celebrated many firsts, communities across India and around the world celebrated Diwali, a Hindu holiday with ancient origins. Known as the festival of lights, Diwali celebrates good triumphing over evil, and light over darkness. The five-day festival is a time for community, feasts, and new beginnings.
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While this week was one of celebration for some, it was also one of immense challenge for many communities facing violence, displacement, and environmental degradation caused by climate change.
From Yemen to Central America, families and children are most vulnerable to violence and poverty. As the Yemeni civil war continues to fuel unbearable famine, gang violence and poverty have driven a caravan of migrants to flee Honduras and undertake a dangerous journey by foot.
These are some of the best photos from around the world this week.
A boy is taken from a truck as Central American migrants arrive at the outskirts of Mexico City, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. A big group of Central Americans pushed on toward Mexico City from a coastal state Monday, planning to exit a part of the country that has long been treacherous for migrants seeking to get to the United States.
1) Migrant Caravan: A boy is taken from a truck as Central American migrants arrive at the outskirts of Mexico City, November 5. A big group of Central Americans pushed on toward Mexico City from a coastal state Monday, planning to exit a part of the country that has long been treacherous for migrants seeking to get to the United States. Many of the migrants in the caravan are fleeing extreme poverty, violence, and persecution.
Kristen Leach votes with her six-month-old daughter, Nora, on election day in Atlanta, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018.
2) Midterm Elections in the US: Kristen Leach votes with her six-month-old daughter, Nora, on election day in Atlanta, November 6. This week, American voters had the opportunity to choose representatives who could have major impacts on issues like immigration, health care, and education.
3) Tree of Life Shooting Aftermath: People greet each other in the sanctuary at Temple Sinai before Friday evening Shabbat services on November 2 in Pittsburgh, Penn. Temple Sinai, just a half mile from Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, opened their doors to Pittsburgh-area Jews and people of all faiths in the wake of the mass shooting that left 11 people dead at the Tree of Life on October 27, 2018.
4) Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen: Yemeni children who were affected by the ongoing war wait to receive free lunch meal from a charity food distribution center on November 3 in Sana’a, Yemen. The United Nations Children’s Fund regional director says local Yemeni authorities are making it “impossible” for the delivery and distribution of much-needed humanitarian aid in Yemen and warned that impeding relief efforts could accelerate famine conditions.
Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., gives her victory speech during an election night watch party in Boston,, Nov. 6, 2018.
5) History in Massachusetts: Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., gives her victory speech during an election night watch party in Boston on November 6. Pressley made history as she was elected to be Massachusetts' first black woman in Congress. On Tuesday, voters elected over 100 women to the House of Representatives, setting a new record for female representation in the US legislative chamber and trouncing the previous record of seats held by women.
A voter fills out a ballot at a polling place at Lake Shore Elementary School, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, in Pasadena, Md.
6) Midterm Elections in the US: A voter fills out a ballot at a polling place at Lake Shore Elementary School on November 6, in Pasadena, Md. This week, American voters had the opportunity to choose representatives who could have major impacts on issues like immigration, health care, and education.
7) Diwali: A Pakistani Hindu lights firecrackers during Diwali Festival celebrations in Karachi on November 7. Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, marks the triumph of good over evil, and commemorates the return of Hindu deity Rama to his birthplace Ayodhya after victory against the demon king Ravana.
8) Rapidly-Spreading Wildfire In California's Butte County: Firefighters try to save a building as the Camp Fire moves through the area on November 8 in Paradise, California. Fueled by high winds and low humidity, the rapidly spreading wildfire has ripped through the town of Paradise, charring 18,000 acres and destroying dozens of homes in a matter of hours. The fire is currently at zero containment.
9) Migrant Caravan Arrives In Mexico City: Members of the Central American migrant caravan rest in a stadium after arriving into the Mexican capital yesterday on November 6 in Mexico City, Mexico. The group, which is estimated to be near 5000 in number, spent the day relaxing, eating and washing after weeks on the road in often grueling conditions. The group of migrants, many of them fleeing violence in their home countries, will conduct meetings over the coming days to decide when and how to continue their journey towards the United States border. Hundreds more are still heading north in two other migrant caravans.
10) Minnesota Congressional Candidate Ilhan Omar: Minnesota Democratic Congressional Candidate Ilhan Omar arrives at an election night results party on November 6, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Omar won the race for Minnesota's 5th congressional district seat to become one of the first two Muslim women elected to the US Congress for the first time ever. With the historic result, Omar will also become the first representative to wear a hijab in the US Congress as well as the first refugee elected to the US Congress.
A Nepalese vendor reacts as she sells marigold flower garlands during Tihar festival during Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. Hindus decorate their houses and worship, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth during this festival of lights. Marigold flowers are popularly used as offerings and for rituals and decorative purposes during Hindu festivals.
11) Tihar Festival in Nepal: A Nepalese vendor reacts as she sells marigold flower garlands during Tihar festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Nov. 7, 2018. Hindus decorate their houses and worship, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth during this festival of lights. Marigold flowers are popularly used as offerings and for rituals and decorative purposes during Hindu festivals.
Democratic New York Attorney General-elect Letitia James, center, celebrates her victory during an election night party in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018.
12) Historic Election in New York: Democratic New York Attorney General-elect Letitia James, center, celebrates her victory during an election night party in the Brooklyn borough of New York on November 6. James made history on Tuesday by becoming the first women to be elected as the attorney general of New York, the first black woman elected to statewide office in New York, and the first black person to serve as attorney general in New York.
13) Shooting in Thousand Oaks: Two people embrace each other others stand in a gas station parking lot along South Moorpark Road in the aftermath of a mass shooting at Borderline Bar & Grill, on Thursday, November 8 in Thousand Oaks, California. The gunman burst into the bar around 11:20 p.m., cloaked in all black as he threw smoke bombs and began shooting at targets as young as 18 inside the Borderline Bar & Grill, authorities and witnesses said.
14) Madagascar Fisheries: A Malagasy fisherman tends to his net in the waters opposite the fishing community of Anakao on November 4. Already threatened by the effects of the global warming, Malagasy fishermen see their traditional way of life threatened by the presence in their waters of Chinese fishing boats following the signature of a fishing agreement between Chinese investors and Madagascar parastatal entities.