Photos of the week
Stephen McDonagh takes part in the Irish Bog Snorkeling championship at Peatlands Park in Dungannon, Northern Ireland, July 27, 2014. The annual event sees male and female competitors swim the 60-meter length of the bog watched by scores of spectators. The event takes place on International Bog Day.
Indonesia
Indonesian Muslims perform Eid Al-Fitr prayer on the 'sea of sands' at Parangkusumo beach, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, July 28, 2014. Eid Al-Fitr, marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, and begins after the sighting of a new crescent moon. On this day, Muslims in countries around the world start the day with prayer and spend time with family, offer gifts and often give to charity.
China
Flames illuminate the Jiangbei Cathedral in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China, July 28, 2014. The cathedral was built in the Jiangbei District of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province by a French bishop in 1872. The church, a landmark of Ningbo, is a key cultural relic under state-level protection for its great historical and architectural value. The bell tower and ancillary buildings were unscathed.
Great Britain
Caitlin Jenkins, 17, left, and Natascha Newbold, 17, ride the StarFlyer on London's South Bank in London, England, July 29, 2014.
Washington, D.C.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry answers questions about the conflict in Gaza and the current situation in Ukraine following a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin at the State Department in Washington, D.C., July 29, 2014. Kerry responded to questions raised about his attempts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Ukraine
A trench runs along the border of Ukraine with Russia in the Kharkiv region, July 29, 2014. Ukrainian border guards had dug more than 75 kilometers of a 300- kilometer trench to prevent possible sudden intrusion of Russian-armored vehicles to the northeastern Ukrainian region.
Washington, D.C.
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, center, joins GOP members of Congress to call for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to be "fired" before a rally outside the U.S. Capitol July 29, 2014. Priebus said that Reid could be 'fired' from his leadership position if the GOP were to take control of the Senate in this fall's midterm elections.
Gaza
Flyers are dropped over Gaza City by the Israeli army urging residents to evacuate their homes, July 30, 2014. Israeli bombardments early on July 30 killed "dozens" of Palestinians in Gaza, including at least 16 at a U.N. school, medics said, on day 23 of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Gaza
Palestinians try to put out a building on fire following several Israeli strikes on Gaza City, July 30, 2014.
Illinois
Traders take orders in the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index options pit at the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) in Chicago, July 30, 2013.
Missouri
President Barack Obama orders iced tea and samples some food while at Parkville Coffee during an unscheduled stop in Parkville, Missouri, July 30, 2014.
Great Britain
A racegoer arrives for Ladies Day at Goodwood Races in Chichester, England, July 31, 2014.
North Korea
North Korean war veteran, Kim Hak Chol, 81, right, together with other veterans decorated with medals, attends a parade in Pyongyang, North Korea to celebrate the anniversary of the Korean War armistice agreement, July 27, 2014. North Koreans gathered at Kim Il Sung Square as part of celebrations for the 61st anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War.
Spain
Demonstrators show their hands painted with red paint as they protest against the Israeli army's bombings in the Gaza strip during a protest in Barcelona, Spain, July 31, 2014.
Guatemala
Clowns gather for a group picture during the sixth annual Latin American Clown Congress in Guatemala City, July 29, 2014. Clowns from Central America and North America have gathered for four days in the capital city to exchange ideas and attend workshops.
California
Doves fly over a memorial paddle-out for Joe Larson, the original owner of Hinano Cafe, as the U.S. Coast Guard holds training exercises at Venice Beach in Los Angeles Monday, July 28, 2014. The popular beach teemed with people enjoying a weekend outing on the boardwalk and sand when lifeguards and other witnesses say lightning from a rare summer thunderstorm hit without warning, injuring or rattling more than a dozen people and leaving a 21-year-old man dead.
Mexico
Migrants waiting for a northbound train gather their belongings as they hear a train whistle in Huehuetoca, outside Mexico City, Wednesday, July 30, 2014. One of the two men had been deported from Texas the day before and was already on his way back north. He said it was his third time being deported.
California
A campus police officer walks on a wall on the UCLA campus, which was flooded by a broken 30-inch water main in the Westwood section of Los Angeles, July 29, 2014. The 100-year old water main flooded parts of the campus and stranded motorists on surrounding streets.
Great Britain
Kenya's Denis Okoth lands a punch on England's Samuel Maxwell during their men's Light Welterweight boxing bout at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, July 27, 2014.
Syria
Civil defense members look for survivors at a site hit by what activists said were two barrel bombs dropped by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the Al-Shaar neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria, July 27, 2014.
Spain
Boys climb a rock before jumping into the Mediterranean Sea on El Salon beach in Nerja, near Malaga, July 27, 2014.
Afghanistan
Members of Afghanistan's president guard of honor, together with a boy, left, offer Eid al-Fitr prayers at the presidential palace in Kabul, July 28, 2014.
China
A man looks at a contaminated river in Cangnan county of Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, China, July 24, 2014. Local authorities said the water in the river turned red after several buckets of red dye were misplaced near the riverbank. The local environmental protection administration did not find harmful substances in the water, local media reported. Picture taken in July 24, 2014.
Philippines
Police take up positions behind anti-riot shields as protesters try to remove a police barricade while Philippine President Benigno Aquino delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) during the joint session of the 16th Congress at the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Quezon city, July 28, 2014. The biggest political crisis that Aquino has faced in four years in power could damage his image as a crusader against corruption and undermine his ability to deliver on reforms to sustain strong economic growth. The Supreme Court this month declared partly illegal a 145 billion pesos ($3.34 billion) economic stimulus fund that Aquino created in 2011 from budget savings, sparking a storm of controversy.
Great Britain
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, right, with her husband Prince William, center, and Britain's Prince Harry react while watching hockey at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, July 28, 2014.
Tennessee
Lightning strikes over downtown in Knoxville, Tenn., July 27, 2014. Authorities say powerful storms crossing east Tennessee have destroyed 10 homes and damaged others, though there are no immediate reports of any deaths or injuries.
Israel
An Israeli soldier attends the funeral of Israeli soldier Liad Lavi, who died from wounds sustained fighting in Gaza, July 28, 2014.
China
Paramilitary policemen raise their fists as they attend an oath-taking rally to ensure the security of the upcoming 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games, in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China, July 29, 2014. The eastern Chinese city of Nanjing will host the 2014 Youth Olympic Games between Aug. 16 and Aug. 28.
Gaza
Palestinian children play on a mini ferris wheel along a street in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, July 29, 2014. Israel knocked out Gaza's only power plant, flattened the home of its Islamist Hamas political leader and pounded dozens of other high-profile targets in the enclave .
Maryland
A U.S. Marine braces against the rotor wash as President Barack Obama arrives via Marine One helicopter to meet with wounded armed service members at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., July 29, 2014.
Mexico
Members of Mexican immigrant welfare agency Grupo Beta search in the mountains between Mexico and the U.S. for potential border crossers during a patrol on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, July 29, 2014. Grupo Beta is a Mexican federal entity founded to provide rescue, guidance and humanitarian aid to migrants and to help them get back home.
Israel
A guitar leans on an armored personnel carrier (APC) that Israeli soldiers are sleeping on top of near the border with Gaza, July 30, 2014.
Gaza
Palestinians look at the bodies of people, whom medics said were killed in an Israeli air strike, at a hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, July 30, 2014.
Belgium
A statue of Buddha and storm debris are covered with mud outside a flooded house after heavy rains hit the town of Ittre, Belgium, July 30, 2014.
Romania
A man looks at a car partially submerged in floodwaters in Novaci, southwest Romania, July 30, 2014. Hundreds of people were evacuated from floods in southern Romania, local authorities reported.
Great Britain
Sarah Barrow, right, and Tonia Couch of England compete in the Women's Synchronized 10m Platform final at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland, July 30, 2014.
Great Britain
Firefighters from the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service work to dampen down flames following a fire on the pier in Eastbourne, East Sussex July 30, 2014. A Victorian-era seaside pier at Eastbourne on Britain's south coast was badly damaged when fire broke out in an amusement arcade on Wednesday. Flames could be seen leaping from the roof of the two-story structure. No injuries were reported.
China
A man walks through the dried-up bed of a reservoir in Sanyuan county, Shaanxi province, China, July 30, 2014. Lingering drought in most parts of China has affected millions of acres of agricultural crops, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said.
India
A resident sits with her dogs inside her flooded house after heavy monsoon rains in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, July 31, 2014. July, the second month of the monsoon season, usually gets the maximum rainfall, accounting for about a third of the seasonal downpour.
France
Children play in a fountain during a hot and sunny summer day in Nice, France, July 31, 2014.
New York
Jorge, an immigrant from Mexico, dressed as the Sesame Street character Elmo rests in Times Square, New York City, July 29, 2014. Elmo and Cookie Monster have long delighted young viewers on TV's "Sesame Street," but the recent antics of New York street performers dressed as the beloved characters have drawn the ire of city officials and now the show's producers. Sesame Workshop, which owns the rights to Big Bird, Ernie and the assorted puppet monsters on the 45-year-old program, said that it is drafting plans to stop performers who dress up as the characters from appearing in Times Square, where they pose for photos with tourists and then demand tips.
Taiwan
Rescue personnel survey the wreckage following an explosion in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, August 1, 2014. The explosion caused by a gas leak in Taiwan's second city killed 22 people, injured 270 and sent flames shooting into the air, a government agency said.
Great Britain
Patricia Bezzoubenko of Canada performs during her ribbon routine as she competes in the rhythmic Gymnastics individual all-around final at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, July 25, 2014.
Syria
A civil defense member is stuck under debris at a site hit by what activists said were two barrel bombs dropped by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the Al-Shaar neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria, July 27, 2014.
Canada
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford arrives at "Ford Fest," a party held by the Ford family where the public is invited, at Thomson Memorial Park in Toronto, July 25, 2014. Ford, who shot to prominence last year after admitting to smoking crack, buying illegal drugs and driving after drinking, has returned from a rehabilitation stint and is running for Mayor in Toronto's municipal elections in October.
New Hampshire
Meriam Ibrahim, left, and her husband, Daniel Wani, of Sudan, are greeted by family and friends shortly after arriving in Manchester, N.H., Thursday, July 31, 2014. Ibrahim, who refused to recant her Christian faith in the face of a death sentence that was later overturned, will make her new home in New Hampshire.