February 20, 2026 — 6:00pm

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The historic release of the first Manning River turtles bred in captivity is a beacon of hope we can look to in a week of headlines that, aside from the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, were nothing to smile about.

On the home front, a plan to protect children from toxic metals in Broken Hill was erased from a state government report. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s claim that there are no “good Muslims” in Australia, and a third violent threat sent to Lakemba Mosque, threatened to cast a shadow over Ramadan, the holiest period in Islam, which started on Wednesday. Oh, and did we mention that US President Donald Trump will decide on bombing Iran within 10 days?

A Manning River turtle egg at Aussie Ark within the Australian Reptile Park on the Central Coast of NSW. The endangered turtles are being bred in captivity, which has never been done before, to be released back into the wild. A Manning River turtle egg at Aussie Ark within the Australian Reptile Park on the Central Coast of NSW. The endangered turtles are being bred in captivity, which has never been done before, to be released back into the wild. Janie BarrettA Manning River turtle hatching from its egg.A Manning River turtle hatching from its egg.Janie BarrettThe program is aiming to boost the species’ chances of survival. Pictured here is a three-month-old Manning River turtle.The program is aiming to boost the species’ chances of survival. Pictured here is a three-month-old Manning River turtle.Janie Barrett

But as The Sydney Morning Herald’s award-winning team of staff photographers and contributors discover on their travels across the state, country and globe to document history as it happens, there is light in the darkness.

Janie Barrett went underwater with Aussie Ark chief conservation officer Hayley Shute in the Barrington River, watching as Shute and her team released eight tiny turtles – the culmination of a years-long conservation effort to boost the species’ chances of survival – one by one.

Meanwhile, Lakemba locals laughed for Sam Mooy and Steven Siewert’s cameras as they prepared to welcome Sydneysiders – and tourists from all over, including cherry farmers from Young – to the Ramadan night markets, which started on Thursday. Last year, the month-long event attracted more than one million visitors to the south-west Sydney suburb that Hanson branded “unwelcoming”.

Read on to see this week in pictures from our team of photographers.

“The more you meet people, the more educated you get, the less scared you get,” Lakemba pharmacist Fatima Youssef said of Hanson’s comments.“The more you meet people, the more educated you get, the less scared you get,” Lakemba pharmacist Fatima Youssef said of Hanson’s comments.Sam MooyNSW Police forensic officers process the crime scene established on Hunt Street in Guilford West after a car and residential house was impacted by fire. A crime gang has declared war on the son of ex-NRL star Matt Utai.NSW Police forensic officers process the crime scene established on Hunt Street in Guilford West after a car and residential house was impacted by fire. A crime gang has declared war on the son of ex-NRL star Matt Utai.Kate Geraghty

With Bronte Gossling

Hear the story behind the headlines on The Morning Edition podcast, every weekday from 5am on Apple, Spotify or your favourite podcast platform.

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