The world watched this week as severe mudslides devastated communities in Southern California, just weeks after wildfires blazed through the region. The mudslides have killed at least 17 people, with many more still unaccounted for.
And while much of the Northern Hemisphere and even the Sahara Desert experienced chilly weather, countries south of the equator found ways to beat the heat. In Australia, which recorded the highest temperatures in the world this week, children splashed around in park fountains.
While conflict and political turmoil throughout much of the world, positivity remained a powerful force in culture. In an iconic moment this week in the US, Oprah Winfrey ascended to the stage at Sunday night's Golden Globes ceremony and delivered a strong message to people of color and, especially, women facing oppression and discrimination.
“I want all the girls watching here, now, to know that a new day is on the horizon,” Winfrey said. “And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say ‘Me too’ again.”
The Jefferson Memorial is reflected in the frozen surface of the Tidal Basin at daybreak in Washington, DC, Jan. 8, 2018. The Tidal Basin, famous for the Cherry Trees that surround it, is a sheet of ice after several days of bitter cold weather in the Nation's Capital.
1) Winter Weather, United States: The Jefferson Memorial is reflected in the frozen surface of the Tidal Basin at daybreak in Washington, DC, Janurary 8. The Tidal Basin, famous for the Cherry Trees that surround it, is a sheet of ice after several days of bitter cold weather in the Nation's Capital.
2) UNESCO World Heritage Site in Turkey: A tourist swimming in the Cleopatra's Pool in the ruins of ancient city of Hierapolis at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pamukkale in Denizli, Turkey on January 6.
This aerial photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department shows mudflow and damage to homes in Montecito, Calif., Jan. 10, 2018.
3) California Mudslides: This aerial photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department shows mudflow and damage to homes in Montecito, Calif., January 10. Anxious family members awaited word on loved ones Wednesday as rescue crews searched grimy debris and ruins for more than a dozen people missing after mudslides in Southern California on Tuesday destroyed over a 100 houses, swept cars to the beach and left more than a dozen victims dead.
4) Syria: A Syrian woman hangs laundry in Raqqa, the former 'capital' of the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria, on January 11.
5) Winter Weather Belarus: An aerial picture taken with a drone on January 12 shows a truck driving on a forest road near the village of Krevo, north of Minsk.
6) Rohingya in Bangladesh: Rohingya refugees study the Koran at a school in Balukhali camp on January 11 in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Over 650,000 Rohingya have crossed the border to Bangladesh since August last year, fleeing the violence at Rakhine State when their villages were attacked. Many worry that they will face further reprisals if they return to Myanmar. The refugee camps in Bangladesh no longer seem temporary as thousands of tents made of plastic and bamboo spread across the undulating terrain and long, wooden bridges connect parts of the camps divided by water.
7) Immigration in the United States: Immigrants and activists protest near the White House to demand that the Department of Homeland Security extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 195,000 Salvadorans on January 8 in Washington, DC. The US government announced Monday the end of a special protected status for about 200,000 Salvadoran immigrants, a move that threatens with deportation tens of thousands of well-established families with children born in the United States.
Indian passengers warm their hands near a bonfire on a cold and foggy morning while they wait at Lucknow train station, India, Jan. 11, 2018.
8) India Daily Life: Indian passengers warm their hands near a bonfire on a cold and foggy morning while they wait at Lucknow train station, India, January 11.
9) Frozen Niagara Falls: An observation point at the base of Niagara Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario, is covered in ice as the falls are illuminated by colored light on January 9.
This image released by NBC shows Oprah Winfrey accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Jan. 7, 2018.
10) Oprah at the Golden Globes: This image released by NBC shows Oprah Winfrey accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on January 7.
11) California Mudslides: Trees that were burned by a wildfire stand in an area full of debris and mud following a mudslide on January 11 in Montecito, Calif. At least 17 people have died and hundreds hundreds of homes have been destroyed or damaged after massive mudslides crashed through Montecito, California early Tuesday morning.
Hundreds of Victoria Cruziana plants float over the Salado river water in Piquete Cue, near Limpio, on Asuncion's outskirts, Paraguay, January 7. This water lily can grow up to 2 meters wide (over 6ft) and, according to locals, was believed to be extinct in the area.
12) Water Lillies in Paraguay: Hundreds of Victoria Cruziana plants float over the Salado river water in Piquete Cue, near Limpio, on Asuncion's outskirts, Paraguay, January 7. This water lily can grow up to 2 meters wide (over 6ft) and, according to locals, was believed to be extinct in the area.
13) Australia Heat: Families take refuge from the heat at Darling Harbour on January 8 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney was the hottest place on earth yesterday, with temperatures reaching 117.14F in some suburbs, a recording not seen since 1939. Temperatures in western Sydney are expected to remain above 104F, before a cool change.
A firefighter stands on the roof of a house submerged by mud and rocks, Jan. 10, 2018, in Montecito, Calif.
14) California Mudslides: A firefighter stands on the roof of a house submerged by mud and rocks, Jan. 10, 2018, in Montecito, Calif.
15) Lunar New Year: A Chinese worker makes red lanterns ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations on February 15, at a factory in the village of Tuntou in Hebei province southwest of Beijing on January 11. In preparation for the biggest Chinese holiday of the year, the lunar new year of the dog, the town has been churning out the pumpkin-shaped lamps for over a month.
Photo provided by European Space Agency ESA on Jan. 12, 2018 shows rare snowfall near the town of El Baydah in northwest Algeria captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2A on Jan. 8 on the edge of the Sahara desert. Part of the Sahara was covered with snow, despite the desert at times being one of the hottest places on Earth. The snow was reported to be up to 40 cm thick in some places.
16) Snow in the Sahara: Photo provided by European Space Agency ESA on January 12, shows rare snowfall near the town of El Baydah in northwest Algeria captured on Jan. 8 on the edge of the Sahara desert. Part of the Sahara was covered with snow, despite the desert at times being one of the hottest places on Earth.
17) Gay Marriage Australia: Australian Commonwealth Games sprinter Craig Burns (R) and fiance Luke Sullivan (L) are congratulated by friends after exchanging vows at their marriage ceremony at Summergrove Estate, New South Wales on January 9. Australia officially become the 26th country to legalise same-sex marriage after the law was passed on Dec. 9, 2017, with the overwhelming backing of the Federal Parliament.