Today's Liberal News

Alan Taylor

Vaccine Centers in Cathedrals, Stadiums, and Parking Lots

As more vaccines against COVID-19 become available and distribution keeps ramping up, governments and health-care institutions worldwide have set up centers to deliver as many vaccinations as possible. Gymnasiums, sports venues, and existing clinics have been readied, and early candidates are now passing through. Efforts are already under way in some areas to reach vulnerable populations living in remote regions as well.

Photos: A Second Weekend of Protests in Russia

For a second weekend, tens of thousands of people in cities across Russia protested the jailing of the opposition leader, Alexei Navalny. An outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, Navalny was detained on January 17, after returning from Germany, where he had been recovering from a near-fatal poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin. According to the Associated Press, more than 5,100 protesters were arrested yesterday—1,000 more than had been detained the previous week.

The Dogs Trained to Sniff Out COVID-19

Promising early results from several studies have encouraged researchers around the world to develop and expand canine programs that may screen people for COVID-19 infection at places like airports, hospitals, or sports venues. While these early experiments appear to demonstrate high levels of accuracy by the sniffer dogs, researchers also caution that peer-review processes and larger-scale studies are still needed.

Photos From the 2021 Dakar Rally

On January 3, a group of more than 300 competitors departed from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to begin the 43rd annual Dakar Rally: a 14-day, 4,751-mile off-roading adventure held entirely in Saudi Arabia once again. The race used to be held in Africa, until 2008, when unrest in Mauritania forced organizers to move to South America, where it was hosted until last year.

Photos of the Week: Ice Castles, Northern Lights, Inauguration Fireworks

Fashion Week in Berlin, the departure of former President Donald Trump, the swearing-in of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, COVID-19 burials in Turkey and Mexico, an earthquake in Indonesia, bull-taming in India, a snow-covered Great Wall in China, National Guard soldiers in the U.S. Capitol, diploma artwork in New York City, and much more.

An Inauguration Like No Other

As the final day of the Trump presidency passes, rehearsals and preparations are underway for the upcoming inaugural ceremony of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President–elect Kamala Harris, set to take place on January 20. Amid unprecedented security concerns and an ongoing pandemic, the visual landscape of Washington is different from any previous inaugural ceremony.

2020 Seen Through the Lens of Justin Sullivan

Justin Sullivan has been a staff photographer with Getty Images since 2003. Primarily working out of California, Sullivan covered nearly the full spectrum of U.S. news stories in 2020, from the New Hampshire primaries to the early days of the pandemic, through a summer of lockdowns, protests, social distancing, and wildfires, to the November election, and much more.

Alaska: Images of the Last Frontier

Alaska is, by far, the largest state in the U.S. It is also one of the least-populated states, with vast, protected open spaces. From the North Slope through Denali Park to the Aleutian Islands, the Kenai Peninsula, the Inside Passage, and much more, here are a few glimpses of the landscape of Alaska, and some of the wildlife and people calling it home.This photo story is part of Fifty, a collection of images from each of the United States.

Photos of the Week: Patagonian Eclipse, Canal Skating, Sydney Surf

Images from the past two weeks, including a robot assistant in an Indian hospital, Santa in a snow globe in Seattle, an orangutan returned to Indonesia, Fashion Week in Senegal, a snowstorm in the northeastern U.S., a gingerbread town in Norway, a health-care worker in a nativity scene in Italy, and much more.

2020: The Year in Volcanic Activity

This has been a relatively average year for the world’s active volcanoes. Out of an estimated 1,500 active volcanoes, about 50 erupt every year, spewing steam, ash, toxic gases, and lava. In 2020, erupting volcanoes included Taal Volcano in the Philippines, La Cumbre in the Galapagos, Mount Shishaldin in Alaska, Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala, Mount Semeru and Mount Sinabung in Indonesia, Piton de la Fournaise on Réunion Island, Mount Etna in Sicily, and more.

Virginia: Images of the Old Dominion

More than 8.5 million people live across Virginia, the 35th-largest state by area. From the Blue Ridge Mountains, through the Shenandoah National Park, and from the Potomac River to Virginia Beach, here are a few glimpses of the landscape of Virginia, and some of the wildlife and people calling it home.This photo story is part of Fifty, a collection of images from each of the United States.

Hopeful Images From 2020

This has been a year like no other, and moments of joy were difficult to come by. The few happy events that took place did so despite harrowing circumstances—or, in many cases, as a response to overwhelming adversity. Health-care workers took on enormous burdens, saved countless lives, and earned the gratitude and admiration of millions. Celebrations and public events were modified for safety, but many still took place. And new vaccines against COVID-19 are starting to roll out.

2020 in Photos: Wrapping Up the Year

As the year comes to a close, it’s time to take a look at some of the most memorable events and images of 2020. Events covered in this essay (the last of a three-part photo summary of the year) include the devastating wildfires in California, the passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Nagorno-Karabakh War, the U.S. presidential election, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and much more.

2020 in Photos: A Look at the Middle Months

As the year comes to a close, it’s time to revisit some of the most memorable events and images of 2020. Events covered in this essay (the second of a three-part photo summary of the year) include the widespread protests against the killing of George Floyd, the realities of the growing coronavirus pandemic, historic flooding across China, locust swarms in Africa, a terrifying explosion in Beirut, and much more.

2020 in Photos: How the First Months Unfolded

As the year comes to a close, it’s time to take a look at some of the most memorable events and images of 2020. Events covered in this essay (the first of a three-part photo summary of the year) include the disastrous Australian wildfires, the onset of the global coronavirus pandemic and the new reality of empty public spaces, innovative ways to cope with social-distancing measures, the Democratic presidential primaries, Brexit Day, and much more.

Top 25 News Photos of 2020

As we approach the end of a year unlike any other in recent memory, here is a look back at some of the major news events and moments of 2020. The coronavirus pandemic took center stage worldwide, disrupting societies, sickening tens of millions, and killing more than 1.5 million people. In June, widespread protests against racial injustice and police brutality erupted after the Minneapolis police killed George Floyd. In the U.S.

Nevada: Images of the Silver State

While 3 million people live in the state of Nevada—the seventh-largest state by area—nearly 75 percent of that population is concentrated in just one county, Clark County, home to the city of Las Vegas. From the Jarbidge Wilderness Area, through the Great Basin, to Lake Tahoe, and down to the Hoover Dam, here are a few glimpses of the landscape of Nevada, and some of the wildlife and people calling it home.

Photos of the Week: Taxi Ornament, Russky Bridge, Turning Torso

Aquarium dining in Singapore, the damaged Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, starlings over Rome, increasing COVID-19 cases worldwide, a drive-through Santa experience in Los Angeles, an aggressive woodpecker in New York, Christmas lights in in London, snow-making in Switzerland, and much more.

Photos: The Reality of the Current Coronavirus Surge

As the number of cases of COVID-19 worldwide nears 65 million, and the number of deaths attributed to the disease approaches 1.5 million, many countries are enduring a crushing surge in numbers. The toll on health-care workers, families, and the victims of the disease has been enormous. Gathered below are photographs from around the world of the current battle against COVID-19, taken over the past few weeks.

Pennsylvania: Images of the Keystone State

Pennsylvania is the fifth-most-populous state in the U.S., home to nearly 13 million residents. From Lake Erie, through the Ridge and Valley region, across Pennsylvania Dutch Country, to the city of Philadelphia, here are a few glimpses of the landscape of Pennsylvania, and some of the wildlife and people calling it home.This photo story is part of Fifty, a collection of images from each of the United States.

Photos of the Week: Turkey Pardon, Deer Hoof, Seattle Owl

A foggy sunrise in Germany, a fiery protest in Guatemala, a resort in the Andaman Sea, a strongman contest in Crimea, the ongoing pandemic worldwide, mourning in Argentina for Diego Maradona, figure skating in Russia, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, and much more.

Kansas: Images of the Sunflower State

Kansas is the 15th-largest state in the U.S. by area, and home to almost 3 million residents. Nearly 90 percent of the state’s land is dedicated to agricultural use, carried out on some 59,500 farms. Here are a few glimpses of the landscape of Kansas, and some of the wildlife and people calling it home.This photo story is part of Fifty, a collection of images from each of the United States.

Photos of the Week: Tiger Check, Spanish Fog, Duck Shields

The Bailong elevators in China, continued wildfires in California, hats on display in Russia, dancers in Australia and Italy, damaging storms in Honduras and the Philippines, a surge in COVID-19 cases in the U.S., Christmas preparations during a pandemic, a rocket launch to the International Space Station, and much more.

Top Shots From the 2020 International Landscape Photographer of the Year

More than 3,800 entries were received in this year’s landscape-photography competition, from professional and amateur photographers around the world. Judges of the International Landscape Photographer of the Year contest narrowed the field down to a “Top 101” and then further, to award several category prizes and the International Landscape Photographer of the Year award, which went to Kelvin Yuen for his images of Norway, Scotland, and the American Southwest.

Photos: The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War

One week ago, on November 10, a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement was signed by the president of Azerbaijan and the prime minister of Armenia, ending six weeks of warfare over disputed territory in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. It is estimated that thousands of fighters and more than a hundred civilians were killed in the fierce conflict.

Montana: Images of the Treasure State

Montana is the fourth-largest state in the nation, yet it is home to just over 1 million residents. Big Sky Country has about 30 million acres of public lands—roughly one-third of the state. From the mountains, along the rivers, to the vast plains, here are a few glimpses of the landscape of Montana, and some of the wildlife and people calling it home.This photo story is part of Fifty, a collection of images from each of the United States.

Photos of the Week: Fire Tunnel, Golden Dog, Santa Mask

Dancing on Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, curfew measures in Bucharest, coronavirus testing in the U.K., monowheel broomsticks in Brazil, a marigold harvest in Kathmandu, celebrations of Joe Biden’s presidential win, a press conference at Philadelphia’s Four Seasons Total Landscaping, Veteran’s Day memorials, a wedding in Moscow, and much more.

Winners of Close-Up Photographer of the Year

The second year of the Close-Up Photographer of the Year competition has just come to a close, and the winners have been announced. The contest “celebrates close-up, macro, and micro photography,” among seven separate categories. More than 6,500 entries were received from 52 countries this year. Organizers have been kind enough to share some of the winners and finalists with us below.

New York: Images of the Empire State

New York has the fourth-largest population of any U.S. state, and is home to the most populous city in the country, New York City. From Buffalo, through the Finger Lakes, to the Hudson Valley, Manhattan, and more, here are a few glimpses of the landscape of New York, and some of the wildlife and people calling it home.This photo story is part of Fifty, a collection of images from each of the United States.An earlier version of this photo essay misidentified the location of one of the photos.