Photos of the week
People launch Kongming lanterns in celebration of the Mid-autumn Festival on September 7, 2014 in Yichun, Jiangxi Province, China. These laterns were launched to celebrate China's upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival on September 8.
Nevada
Horses walk through flood water behind a home in Moapa, Nev., Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. Flooding throughout the area damaged homes and roads.
South Africa
Oscar Pistorius reacts in the dock in Pretoria, South Africa, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014 as Judge Thokozile Masipa delivers her verdict in Pistorius' murder trial.
The South African judge in Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial said Thursday that prosecutors have not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the double-amputee Olympic athlete is guilty of premeditated murder.
South Africa
Barry Steenkamp, father of Reeva Steenkamp, looks at Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius as he sits in the dock at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, Sept. 11, 2014.
Pistorius, the double amputee who became one of the biggest names in world athletics, faced justice on Thursday as a South African judge started her verdict in his murder trial, a decision that could put him behind bars for 25 years.
India
A performer practices a dance move before taking part in at the festivities marking the end of the annual harvest festival of Onam in Trichur, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, Sept. 10, 2014.
The ten-day long festival is celebrated annually in India's southern coastal state of Kerala to symbolise the return of King Mahabali to meet his subjects.
India
An aerial view showing buildings partially submerged in Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Sept. 10, 2014.
Raging monsoon floods sweeping across India and Pakistan have killed more than 440 people, authorities said Tuesday, warning hundreds of thousands more to be prepared to flee their homes as helicopters and boats raced to save marooned victims.
Japan
In this photo taken Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, a family ties a written oracle to a branch of a tree at Izumo Grand Shrine in Izumo, western Japan. The shrine is one of the most ancient and important Shinto shrines in Japan, dedicated to the deity of marriage.
Kazakhstan
Expedition 40 Flight Engineer Oleg Artemyev of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), left, Flight Engineer Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos, center, and Expedition 40 Commander Steve Swanson of NASA, sit in chairs outside the Soyuz TMA-12M capsule just minutes after they landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014.
Swanson, Skvortsov and Artemyev returned to Earth after more than five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 39 and 40 crews.
New Jersey
In this February 2014, file photo from a still image taken from a hotel security video released by TMZ Sports, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punches his fiancee, Janay Palmer, in an elevator at the Revel casino in Atlantic City, N.J.
A law enforcement official says he sent a video of Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee to an NFL executive three months ago, while league officers have insisted they didn't see the violent images until this week.
TMZ Sports published the video on Sept. 8, 2014.
Washington, D.C.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), left, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) sit together during a ceremony to present a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the Fallen Heroes of 9/11 on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 10, 2014. The three gold medals will be provided to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania, one going to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York, and one going to the Pentagon Memorial at the Pentagon.
France
British history enthusiast portraying German 'Feldwebelleutnant' officer Fritz Brandt leads members of the Sturmabteilungbrandt group during the re-enactment of the First Battle of the Marne, which took place a century ago, at Chauconin-Neufmontiers, Eastern Paris, Sept. 6, 2014.
Dozens of volunteers dressed in French and German military uniforms recreated the battle from two trenches dug out by local residents to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War (WWI).
Texas
Fernando Rivera Jr., center, looks at a neighbor's pet raccoon jumping up onto his son Fernando Rivera III's rifle as a group of patriots patrolling in a UTV look on outside their home in Brownsville, Texas, Sept. 2, 2014 (published Sept. 11, 2014).
According to Rivera Jr, there is an open gate in the U.S.-Mexico border fence which immigrants would stroll through and onto the Rivera's property. The "Patriots" are a heavily armed group who patrol the U.S. border with Mexico, trying to deter immigrants from crossing the border illegally. The group, who portray themselves as defending the American way, use a strong display of force to intimidate anyone from making the crossing from Mexico into Texas. To critics, they are vigilantes spoiling for a fight. To the immigrants, they are another barrier to entry and to the U.S. Border Patrol, groups like this can either be a nuisance interfering with their operations or an aide in spotting migrants illegally trying to enter the country.
France
An illegal migrant steps out of a truck about to board a ferry to Great Britain after being arrested by policemen in the French port of Calais, Sept. 10, 2014.
Illegal camps of migrants seeking to cross the Channel have sprung up in the Calais area since the French authorities closed down the infamous Sangatte immigrant detention centre in 2002. Between 40 and 50 people are caught every night trying to cross the Channel illegally, according to Calais authorities.
Ukraine
A woman walks with her cattle in a suburb of Donetsk, Ukraine, Sept. 10, 2014.
Despite a declared ceasefire between separatists forces and the Ukrainian military, tensions on the ground are still high throughout the east of the country. Sporadic shelling was heard in Donetsk today and gunfire in the port city of Mariupol. The city of Donetsk has only around 300,000 people remaining out of a population of 900,000 due to the fighting.
Nevada
A Mercedes sedan is pictured partially submerged in mud in the median of Interstate 15 near Glendale, Nev., Sept. 9, 2014.
About 1 mile (1.6 km) of freeway was severely damaged by the runoff from Monday's storm. The Nevada Department of Transportation expects to have two lanes open by the weekend, a spokesman said.
Syria
Civilians transport an injured man on a motorbike after what activists said were airstrikes by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, in the Duma neighborhood of Damascus, Sept. 10, 2014.
Syria
A rebel fighter carries improvised mortar shells inside a weapons factory in the southern countryside of Idlib, Syria, Sept. 9, 2014.
Ukraine
Pro-Russian rebels stand near a monument during a ceremony to honor the World War Two defenders of Donetsk from Nazi forces in Donetsk, Ukraine, Sept. 8, 2014.
A ceasefire struck between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists was largely holding on Monday in eastern Ukraine despite sporadic violations, but Europe's security watchdog said the sides must push for a political settlement.
Iraq
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry looks over papers while flying from Jordan to Iraq, Sept. 10, 2014.
Kerry arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday as he began a tour of the Middle East to build military, political and financial support to defeat Islamic State militants controlling parts of Iraq and Syria.
Iraq
A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter holds a a rocket-propelled grenade launcher as he takes up position in an area overlooking Baretle village (background), which is controlled by the Islamic State, in Khazir, on the edge of Mosul, Iraq, Sept. 8, 2014.
The Kurdish fighters are firing from an area they had retaken from the Islamic State, on Bashiqah mountain. September 8, 2014.
Syria
An injured child awaits treatment in a field hospital after what activists claim were at least five air strikes carried out by forces of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Douma, eastern al-Ghouta, near Damascus, Syria, Sept. 11, 2014.
California
A wildfire burns next to Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, Calif., Sept. 7, 2014.
As of Monday, the fire has burned through about four square miles.
Argentina
Horse whisperer Martin Tata sits on his five-year-old horse "Primavera" as he performs a demonstration of "Indian taming" at the Polo Club Puesto Viejo ranch in Canuelas, northeast of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept. 9, 2014.
Tata says the techniques that he uses to tame unbroken horses avoids unnecessary violence and helps build a more harmonious relationship between humans and the horses.
Israel
A visitor stands on the art installation "Big Bambu: 5,000 Arms to Hold You" at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, Sept. 9, 2014. The installation by artists Doug and Mike Starn is made of 10,000 bamboo stalks and cover an area of more than 700 sq. meters.
Great Britain
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, front, poses with supporters of the 'Yes Campaign', in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sept. 9, 2014.
Scottish nationalist leader Salmond said on Tuesday there was nothing new in London's offer of greater powers to Scotland and that the unionist campaign was falling apart ahead of next week's referendum.The referendum on Scottish independence will take place on September 18, when Scotland will vote whether or not to end the 307-year-old union with the rest of the United Kingdom.
France
A general view shows the Reservoir Montsouris, a large supply of drinking water, located in the 14th district of Paris, France, Sept. 9, 2014.
Built in the 19th century, the "cathedral of water" located in the south of the capital is one of the five largest water reservoirs in Paris and has a capacity of 203,000 cubic-meters of water. It will be open to the public during the 31st European heritage days event "Journees europeennes du Patrimoine", on September 20 and 21, 2014.
China
The moon shines behind the Lanterns at the Wonderland Mid- Autumn festival at Victoria Park in Hong Kong, China, Sept. 8, 2014. Mid-Autumn festival takes place on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, on which the moon is at its brightest and roundest.
India
Indian Hindu devotees splash water on a large statue of the elephant-headed Hindu God Ganesha before immersing it in the Arabian Sea on the final day of the festival of Ganesha Chaturthi in Mumbai, India, Sept. 8, 2014.
Missouri
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kendall Wright (13) scores a touchdown in front of Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith (21) in the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014.
New York
The Ralph Lauren Spring 2015 collection is modeled during Fashion Week, in New York, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014.
Gaza Strip
A Palestinian militant from the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) ride in a vehicle as others are reflected in the window during a military show in Gaza City, Sept. 11, 2014.
An open-ended ceasefire between Israel and Hamas-led Gaza militants, mediated by Egypt, took effect on August 26, 2014 after a seven-week conflict. It called for an indefinite halt to hostilities, the immediate opening of Gaza's blockaded crossings with Israel and Egypt, and a widening of the territory's fishing zone in the Mediterranean.
California
Filmmaker and comedian Mel Brooks gestures as he places his footprints in cement, with a fake sixth finger attached to his left hand, in the forecourt of the TCL Chinese theater in Hollywood, California September 8, 2014.
Brooks's directed the film and created the musical "The Producers," featuring a movie called "Springtime for Hitler."
Germany
Luisa Riedel's rabbit called Lenny jumps during the Kaninhop (rabbit-jumping) competition in Weissenbrunn vorm Wald, Germany, Sept. 7, 2014.
Competitors take part in three different categories, with an obstacle height ranging between 25 and 40 centimeters.
Nepal
A youth struggles to drink a mouthful of homemade alcohol poured from the mouth of an idol of Sweaita Bhairab during the Indra Jatra festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sept. 7, 2014.
The annual festival, named after Indra, the god of rain and heaven, is celebrated by worshipping, rejoicing, singing, dancing and feasting in Kathmandu Valley to mark the end of monsoon season. Indra, the living goddess Kumari and other deities are worshipped during the festival.
China
Leng Yuting, 26, poses underwater for her wedding pictures at a photo studio in Shanghai, China, ahead of her wedding next year. Her fiance Riyang said they had their wedding photographs taken underwater because 'its romantic and beautiful'. Mr Wedding studio owner, Tina Lui, started providing underwater pictures four years ago.
Germany
German Oliver Struempfl competes to set a new world record in carrying one liter beer mugs over a distance of 40 m (131 feet, 3 in.) in Abensberg, Germany, Sept. 7, 2014. Struempfl carried 27 mugs over 40 meters to set a new record for the Guinness book of records.
New York
Serena Williams of the U.S. bounces a ball as she serves to Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during their women's singles finals match at the 2014 U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Sept. 7, 2014.
New York
Emma Sulkowicz, a senior visual arts student at Columbia University, carries a mattress on Sept. 5, 2014 in protest of the university's lack of action after she reported being raped during her sophomore year in New York City.
Sulkowicz has said she is committed to carrying the mattress everywhere she goes until the university expels the rapist or he leaves. The protest is also doubling as her senior thesis project.
Argentina
Fans walk alongside the hearse carrying the remains of Argentine musician Gustavo Cerati, who died yesterday at the age of 55, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept. 5, 2014. Cerati was a flamboyant showman who brought stadium rock to Latin America with his band Soda Stereo. Grammy-winning Cerati had been in a coma since suffering a stroke in May 2010, after a show in Venezuela.
South Africa
Ceremonial reeds are carried by South African maidens during the Reed Dance ceremony at the eNyokeni Royal Palace in Nongoma in the KwaZulu-Natal region, during the 13th anniversary of the Reed Dance (uMkhosi woMhlanga) celebrated by the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithin, Sept. 5, 2014.
As part of the ceremony, the young women dance bare-breasted for the king, each carrying a long reed, deposited later as they approach the King and is a cultural celebration that promotes respect for young women, and preserves the custom of keeping girls as virgins until marriage.
Chile
A woman lights a candle in a sculpture of acrylic shoes and a person representing the victims of 1973 military coup, in front of the National Stadium during a candlelight vigil marking the 41st anniversary of the coup, in Santiago, Chile, Sept. 11, 2014.
The stadium served as a detention center in the early years of the military dictatorship led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet who ousted the late President Salvador Allende in 1973.
Germany
Niklas Thiel sits inside a flight simulator with an electroencephalography (EEG) cap measuring brain activity, at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) in Garching, Germany near Munich, Sept. 9, 2014.
Researchers from TUM and the Technische Universitaet Berlin (team Phypa) try to find ways to control an airplane with computer translated brain impulses without the pilot touching the plane's controls. The solution, if achieved, would contribute to greater flight safety and reduce pilots' workload.
China
Pigs are seen trapped in a partially submerged pig pen after heavy rainfall hit Chongqing, China, Sept. 11, 2014.
At least 17 farmhouses were flooded in the county after heavy downpours in the area since Thursday morning, local media reported.
Belgium
Participants wearing Star Wars costumes are seen at the Parc metro station after the Balloon's Day Parade in Brussels, Belgium, Sept. 6, 2014.
California
A view shows a portion of the 2,977 flags laid out to signify the people who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, during a remembrance event on the campus of Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, Calif., Sept. 11, 2014.
New York
The Tribute in Light rises behind the Brooklyn Bridge and buildings adjacent to the World Trade Center complex in New York, Sept. 10, 2014. The tribute, an art installation of 88 searchlights aiming skyward in two columns, is a remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.