24 hours in pictures, 17 July 2025
Through the lens: The Citizen's Picture Editors select the best news photographs from South Africa and around the world.
A sprinkler machine cools the air, the ground, and people during a hot day on the Dvortsovaya (Palace) Square in St. Petersburg, Russia, 16 July 2025. The temperature reached up to 28 degrees Celsius in Russia's second largest city. Picture: EPA/ANATOLY MALTSEV
First-time authors Ethan Jones (11), left, and Nako Masango (10) pose for a photograph with their recently published fictional book 'The Quest for the Ballon d'Or: Global Soccer Giants From Africa', 16 July 2025, in Florida, Roodepoort. As part of the upcoming Nelson Mandela Day celebrations the pair have been invited to speak on Saturday (19 July) at the Life Vision Church in Klipspruit, Soweto, encouraging the youth to read and write their own stories. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen A woman carries a small child along the outer perimeter of the splash fountain at the Christian Science Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 16 July 2025. Temperatures in Boston reached a high of 95F (35C) and a heat index of 100F (37.8C) prompting Boston's Mayor Michelle Wu to declare a heat emergency in the city. Picture: EPA/CJ GUNTHER Bophelong children play with their kites during school holidays in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg, 17 July 2025. Picture: Nigel Sibanda/The Citizen Shamiema Jacobs appears at Bellville Magistrate's Court on July 17, 2025 in Bellville, South Africa. Jacobs is charged with the kidnapping of a baby at Middestad Mall, who was only a few days old at the time of the alleged incident and the obstruction of justice. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach) Demonstrators hold flares during a protest rally at a pier in Perama port, where the cargo ship Cosco Shipping Pisces is expected to dock, in Piraeus, Greece, 16 July 2025. Protesters gathered following indications that the vessel is transporting containers with military-use equipment destined for Israel. Picture: EPA/GEORGE VITSARAS Participants of the largest Polish canoeing trip pose for a photo on the Pilica River in Sulejow village, central Poland, 16 July 2025. The Pilica Trail is one of the country's most popular canoe routes on lowland rivers. Picture: EPA/Marian Zubrzycki A man wades through a waterlogged street in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, 17 July 2025. Heavy monsoon rains continue to pound Pakistan, posing risks of flash floods, landslides, and urban flooding across several provinces. Picture: EPA/SOHAIL SHAHZAD A vendor carrying plastic balls on a bicycle, rides along a street in New Delhi on July 17, 2025. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP) German rapper August Jean Diederich also known as Ski Aggu performs on the Main Stage at the 42nd edition of the Gurtenfestival in Bern, Switzerland, 16 July 2025. The open air music festival runs from 16 to 19 July. Picture: EPA/ANTHONY ANEX Migrants wait on a beach to board an inflatable dinghy boat to cross the English Channel, in Gravelines, northern France, 17 July 2025. On July 10, 2025, during President Macron's state visit to the UK, an agreement was reached on cross-Channel migration. France agreed to accept back individuals who crossed the Channel but are not eligible for asylum in the UK. In exchange, the British government promised to accept individuals who can be legally integrated. Since the beginning of 2025, an estimated 21,000 people have reached the British coasts in small boats. Picture: EPA/YOAN VALAT This photo taken on July 2, 2025 shows Chinese farmer Zhang Shengwu piloting his homemade submarine in a river in Hanshan county, in China's eastern Anhui province. A 60-year-old farmer in China has built his own 'Big Black Fish' — a homemade submarine that can accommodate two people, dive eight metres and stay underwater for 30 minutes at a time. Zhang recently launched his five-ton sub into the river near his rural home, state broadcaster CCTV reported on July 17. (Photo by AFP) Engineering teams work as the world's largest land crane 'Big Carl' is used to lift a 245-tonne domed roof onto Hinkley Point C's second reactor building at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station near Bridgwater in southwest England on July 17, 2025. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) Retired Adelaide Zoo panda Fu Ni is seen during a visit by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (not pictured) in Chengdu, China, 17 July 2025. Albanese is on a six-day official visit to China. Picture: EPA/LUKAS COCH
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Estelle Smith, CEO of Underdogs SA Pit Bull Rescue, agreed, but stated that it took a well-balanced individual to raise a pit bull correctly. She clarified that pit bulls were not nanny dogs, property protectors, status symbols, fighting machines, or fashion statements. Smith said they were patient, intelligent, loyal and highly sensitive to their owners' emotions; mimicking their owners' stress, anxiety and frustration. 'A pit bull is not naturally aggressive; they get trained to be aggressive. They get abused to get aggressive,' said Smith, noting the similarity in how an adverse social environment can affect human psychology. 'When a pit bull gets aggressive, it is when it gets locked in a small space or confined to a chain. They get frustrated, they get irritated. They flourish on love and attention,' Smith said. Smith warned that chaos was like poison to a pit bull, saying, 'Don't get these dogs if you have small children who are hyperactive'. Pit bulls as service animals? The South African Guide Dogs Association trains and pairs suitable animals with vulnerable members of society, mainly the visually impaired. Their preferred breeds are the Labrador and Golden Retriever as they are 'highly human focused, biddable and kind in temperament', while being easily trained using positive reinforcement. Leigh De Beaufort, head of Kennels and Puppy Training, said dogs that do not make the cut are ones that are easily distracted, as they pose a risk to their handlers. 'We select the most suitable breed of dogs and breeding lines with the correct temperament to be trained to work as an assistance dog,' said De Beaufort. 'Each breed of dog has a common trait in temperament; there are of course the outliers who may not carry the same trait…but no two dogs were alike' she explained. Asked if pit bulls had ever been considered for such service, she stated that the history of the breed being bred for fighting and violence ruled them out. 'This is not a trait our association would like to attempt to breed out, as this would not be financially viable. Genetics do play a large part in a dog's psychological makeup. 'We would not entertain this breed as an assistance dog,' De Beaufort concluded. Responsible ownership When considering a pit bull as a pet, Smith said it took absolute dedication, as they 'will do anything to please you as an owner'. This devotion is what can be exploited, and given the wrong input, the results of the dog's behaviour can be deadly. 'The dogs that do kill people are trained to attack. Never teach a pit bull attack training as they will instinctively protect you as their owner, as they are so loyal. 'A pit bull will protect you with every millimetre in him if he has bonded with you,' said Smith, adding that they get intense separation anxiety Matching the right person with the right animal is important, says Smith, saying this can only be done by experienced behaviourists, and not casual sellers. 'You need to get a behavioural report on the puppy and know the history of the breed and the bloodline,' said Smith, warning that pit bull's behaviour is known to change over time. 'It is very, very important that you take the dog for puppy training. They need to be stimulated, they need positive reinforcement to know the rules, regulations and boundaries,' Smith concluded. NSPCA advice The National Council for the Society for the Prevention and Care for Animals (NSPCA) encouraged responsible pet ownership and forethought when considering a new pet. 'Certain breeds may require more experienced owners or specialised care depending on their background, temperament, and individual history,' said NSPCA spokesperson Jacques Peacock. 'As such, we encourage case-by-case assessments rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.' On their own adoption policies, Peacock said the NSPCA did not have any breed-specific bans, but were wary of those adopting for the wrong reason. 'General adoption guidelines provided by the NSPCA advise that only healthy, behaviourally sound animals should be considered for adoption.' 'These guidelines stress the importance of thorough pre- and post-adoption checks, to ensure animals are placed in responsible and suitable homes,' Peacock concluded. NOW READ: Man in critical condition after being attacked by a pit bull
