Photos of the day

Hostages released and a protest over whales: photos of the day – Thursday

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world

Arlington, US

Rescue boats search the water and wreckage in the Potomac River after a passenger plane from Kansas, on approach to Reagan National airport, and a military helicopter collided outside Washington DC, crashing into the river

Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images

Sumy, Ukraine

Rescuers work at the site of a damaged residential building after shelling in northeastern Ukraine. At least four people were killed and nine others injured in the Russian drone attack

Photograph: State Emergency Service Of Ukraine /EPA

Jabalia, Gaza

A large Palestinian flag hangs on a damaged building ahead of the handover of hostages to members of the International Committee of the Red Cross as part of a ceasefire deal

Photograph: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters

Jabalia, Gaza

Hamas militants escort the Israeli hostage Agam Berger before handing her over to a Red Cross team as part of their third hostage-prisoner exchange

Photograph: Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images

Holon, Israel

Family members and supporters of Berger show their joy as they watch a broadcast of her during her release. Berger was seized from her army base in southern Israel during Hamas’s 7 October attack

Photograph: Tomer Appelbaum/Reuters

Khan Younis, Gaza

Islamic Jihad and Hamas fighters escort Arbel Yehoud to hand her over to a Red Cross team as part of their third hostage-prisoner exchange

Photograph: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images

Toronto, Canada

The CN Tower is illuminated with green lights to mark the national day of remembrance of the Quebec City mosque attack and action against Islamophobia

Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Berlin, Germany

Left to right: Heidi Reichinnek, Gregor Gysi and Ines Schwerdtner, co-leader of the leftwing Die Linke, dance at the party’s election campaign launch rally. Germany will hold snap federal parliamentary elections on 23 February

Photograph: Christian Mang/Getty Images

Warsaw, Poland

Supporters hold photos of the pro-choice activist Justyna Wydrzyńska before a hearing at the appeals court. Wydrzyńska was found guilty in 2023 of supplying a pregnant woman with abortion pills in Poland’s first such case

Photograph: Sergei Gapon/AFP/Getty Images

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Maria Martins de Souza, a nurse from the Brazilian state Sistema Unico de Saude or Unified Health System, checks a patient, Josenilda Vitoriosa, 57. The nurse visits vulnerable and elderly people and patients with reduced mobility in the working-class district of Caju, in the north of Rio de Janeiro, attending to high rates of dehydration and high blood pressure caused by high temperatures

Photograph: Aline Massuca/Reuters

Mexico City, Mexico

Environmentalists and protesters rallying against a gas project in the Gulf of California, which they say can endanger whales, gather at Mexico City’s Zocalo main square

Photograph: Henry Romero/Reuters

Los Angeles, US

The rapper Rakim Mayers, aka A$AP Rocky, leaves court during his felony assault trial at the Clara Shortridge Foltz criminal justice center in downtown Los Angeles, California. The 36-year-old faces two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm during confrontations with Terell Ephron, a former childhood friend

Photograph: Frazer Harrison/AFP/Getty Images

Prayagraj, India

Pilgrims bathe at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers at the Kumbh Mela festival in Uttar Pradesh. The festival is expected to be the largest ever gathering of humanity, pulling in an estimated 400 million people over a 40-day period. The busiest day so far saw an estimated 17.5 million people attend

Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

Paris, France

A model prepares backstage for the presentation of Spanish designer Juana Martin’s spring/summer 2025 haute couture collection during Paris Fashion Week

Photograph: Teresa Suárez/EPA

London, England

Anthony Mackie attends the UK photocall of Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World in Trafalgar Square

Photograph: Tim P Whitby/Getty Images for the Walt Disney Company Ltd

Beijing, China

Performers pose for a photo before going on stage at the Longtan Park Temple Fair on the second day of lunar new year celebrations

Photograph: Aaron Favila/AP