Today's Liberal News

Alan Taylor

The Influenza Masks of 1918

As people worldwide adapt to living with the threat of COVID-19, and especially as the rate of new cases continues to grow in the United States, the wearing of face masks remains widely recommended, and in many places, mandatory. A century ago, an outbreak of influenza spread rapidly across the world, killing more than 50 million—and possibly as many as 100 million—people within 15 months.

Tennessee: Images of the Volunteer State

Tennessee is the 16th most populous state in the nation, home to more than 6.8 million people. The landscape ranges from the Appalachian Mountains in the east to the Mississippi River, which makes up its western border. From Memphis to the Great Smoky Mountains, here are a few glimpses of the landscape of Tennessee 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: Deadly Flooding in Japan

Days of torrential rainfall in central Japan have led to extensive flooding and mudslides, leaving as many as 58 people dead so far. Rivers that overflowed their banks have swept away bridges and roads, cutting off communities and making it difficult for rescue workers to reach many areas. Emergency crews are now working against the clock, trying to find people who may still be trapped.

The Colorful Blooms of Castelluccio, Italy

In central Italy, the small village of Castelluccio sits atop a hill overlooking the Piano Grande—a broad basin surrounded by the Sibillini Mountains—where fields of lentils and poppies bloom every year, carpeting the landscape with a colorful quilt of blossoming flowers. Every summer the phenomenon is viewed by thousands of tourists, and this year, the photographers Antonio Masiello and Tiziana Fabi visited the fields, sending back these photos.

New Mexico: Images of the Land of Enchantment

New Mexico is the fifth-largest state by area and is sparsely populated, with nearly half of the state’s 2.1 million residents living in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. Below are a few glimpses of the diverse geography and history of New Mexico 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: Pride Lights, Paddy Day, Grizzly Swim

A new waterslide in the Czech Republic, a cat on the Algerian waterfront, scuffles in Taiwan’s legislature, a grotto reopening in Italy, a building collapse in Brooklyn, burying a coronavirus victim in Russia, a model village in England, a wildfire in Colorado, and much more.

The Statues Brought Down Since the George Floyd Protests Began

In the widespread protests that followed the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police on May 25, statues of and memorials to Confederate soldiers and generals were vandalized or torn down. Some of the many statues of Christopher Columbus were targeted as well, as voices rose against historic and systemic racism and oppression. State and local governments then began acting to remove even more Confederate statues from public places.

Photos: The Locust Swarms of 2020

Throughout the year, parts of East Africa have been suffering record-setting waves of locust swarms. In the past few months, even more swarms have dramatically struck parts of Yemen, Pakistan, and India. Farmers and communities are fearful of the damage to crops and rangeland, harming income and food supplies, all while dealing with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Scenes From Antarctica

Antarctica is currently approaching the coldest months of its long winter, and the previous summer’s activities have mostly wrapped up. Collected below are recent images of the Antarctic landscape, wildlife, and research facilities, as well as some of the work taking place there.

Maine: Images of the Pine Tree State

Although Maine is the largest of the New England states, it is still relatively small—ranking 39th in area. It remains a state with a low population density, at just about 1.3 million residents, mostly living near the southern coast. From its wooded interior to its rocky shoreline, here are a few glimpses of the landscape of Maine 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: Yoga Dome, Iron Lady, Speedo Mick

Mountaintop yoga in China, a sunrise over Glastonbury Tor, a solstice fire in Lithuania, a baby hippo in France, a sneaky gull in Denmark, a field of lavender in England, statues pulled down in the U.S., “Rays of Victory” in Russia, a concert for plants in Spain, a ski run in Australia, and much more.

Coronavirus: Thousands of Burials Across Latin America

Responses to the coronavirus pandemic have differed widely from country to country. Experts from the World Health Organization recently warned that the number of cases is now soaring in larger countries, with “worrying increases” developing in Latin America, with “a jump in cases in Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Panama, Bolivia and Guatemala.” Brazil has now passed more than 1 million recorded cases, with more than 52,700 deaths attributed to the virus so far.

A Solstice ‘Ring of Fire’ Solar Eclipse

Yesterday, the moon crossed in front of the sun in an annular solar eclipse, as seen by residents across broad sections of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. A “ring of fire” was visible in the sky above the zone of totality, as the moon appeared slightly smaller than the sun. Photographers in several countries documented the phenomenon—one of only two solar eclipses taking place this year—and some of its many observers.

Iowa: Images of the Hawkeye State

More than 85 percent of the land in Iowa is dedicated to agricultural use, divided up among more than 86,500 farms. More than 3.1 million residents live and work in the state, on its farms and in its cities. Below are a few glimpses of the landscape of Iowa 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: Soccer Zoom, Wading Elk, Global Rainbow

Continued burials of coronavirus victims in Chile, dinosaur art in Shanghai, an outdoor town meeting in Massachusetts, ongoing protests against police brutality and systemic racism worldwide, workout pods in California, phased reopening of Grand Teton National Park, a horse named Mr. Glitter Sparkles in England, the Skyline Drive-In in Brooklyn, the removal of a Confederate statue in Houston, and much more.

Cautious Reopenings Across Europe

Over the past few weeks, governments across Europe have been slowly easing coronavirus lockdown restrictions—some moving in phases, others more quickly. Nonessential businesses, churches, museums, and more public places are being allowed to host visitors once again, with new rules in place to enforce smaller crowd sizes and proper social distancing. Collected below are images from across Europe over the past two weeks, as different countries emerge from months of pandemic lockdown.

Delaware: Images of the First State

Fewer than 1 million people live in Delaware, the second-smallest state in America by area. The region is primarily coastal: The state’s entire eastern border is formed by the Delaware River and Delaware Bay. Below are a few glimpses of the landscape of Delaware 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: Monastery Move, Desert Ride, Backpack Pup

Rhythmic gymnastics on a British seashore, anti-racism protests across the United States, the funeral procession of George Floyd in Houston, a defaced statue of King Leopold II in Brussels, a moment of silence at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a wildfire in California, idled elephants in Thailand, a sea turtle release in Bali, and much more.

Coronavirus: Health Care in Brazil’s River Communities

Brazil has reported more than 775,000 cases of the new coronavirus and has attributed more than 39,800 deaths to the disease so far, with daily death tolls continuing to climb in recent days—as many as 1,200 per day. While President Jair Bolsonaro has tried to downplay the threat, local authorities and communities are working hard to slow the spread of the virus, as well as to treat those affected.

Images From a Worldwide Protest Movement

Over the weekend, demonstrations took place around the world, with thousands of people outside the United States marching to show solidarity with American protests over the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. In many places, marchers also voiced their anger about systemic racism and police brutality within their own countries.

Alabama: Images of the Yellowhammer State

Nearly 5 million people live in Alabama, which takes its nickname from its state bird, the yellowhammer. The terrain of Alabama ranges from mountains in the north, to rolling hills and gentle plains sloping toward Mobile and the Gulf Coast in the southwest. Below are a few glimpses of the landscape of Alabama 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.