Pictures of the Week: May 10 – May 17

1 minute read

From tornadoes in Texas and the demolition of Hurricane Sandy’s iconic roller coaster to President Obama’s rain check and a dancing lion, TIME presents the best pictures of the week.

Iconic JetStar Roller Coaster Damaged By Hurricane Sandy Torn Down
May 14, 2013. A crane demolishes the JetStar roller coaster more than 6 months after it fell into the ocean during Superstorm Sandy in Seaside Heights, New Jersey.John Moore—Getty Images
TOPSHOTS-EGYPT-POLITICS-TRIAL-MUBARAK
May 11, 2013. Supporters of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, hold his portrait and shout slogans outside the Egyptian police academy in Cairo, where Mubarak's trial is taking place. Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak appeared in court to face a new trial for complicity in the murder of hundreds protesters during the 2011 uprising.Gianluigi Guercia—AFP/Getty Images
APTOPIX Pakistan Elections
May 12, 2013. Supporters of Pakistan Muslim League-N party release firework to celebrate their party victory in the parliamentary election at outside the party's headquarter in Lahore, Pakistan. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif looked set Sunday to return to power for a third term, with an overwhelming election tally that just weeks ago seemed out of reach for a man who had been ousted by a coup and was exiled abroad before clawing his way back as an opposition leader.Anjum Naveed—AP
Gaza Body Building Contest
May 10, 2013. A Palestinian exercises prior a bodybuilding contest during a General bodybuilding championship for Gaza in the northern Gaza Strip. Some 23 men took part in the contest, while over 500 people attended the event, bodybuilding contests are rare in the Hamas-controlled territory.Ali Ali—EPA
SYRIA-CONFLICT
May 13, 2013. A picture shows an underground bunker used by the rebels fighters as Syrian troops take control of the village of Western Dumayna, some seven kilometers north of the rebel-held city of Qusayr. Joseph Eid—AFP/Getty Images
TOPSHOTS-AFGHANISTAN-EDUCATION-CHILDREN
May 14, 2013. Afghan schoolgirls, two of many claiming to be poisoned whilst at school, lie in bed at a hospital in Mazar-i Sharif. Afghanistan's education minister has threatened to punish schoolgirls who claim to suffer from alleged "poisonings" that many officials believe are actually temporary psychological illnesses. Scores of girls' schools over recent years have seen mysterious mass faintings, nausea and similar symptoms that are often blamed by police and the local media on poisoning by Taliban insurgents or toxic gas leaks.Farshad Usyan—AFP/Getty Images
India Langur Monkey
May 12, 2013. A wild gray langur monkey scowls as it jumps on a car at a rest stop on a road near Leela, in the state of Rajasthan, India.Kevin Frayer—AP
APTOPIX Afghanistan Daily Life
May 13, 2013. An Afghan boy flies his kite on a hill overlooking Kabul. Banned during the Taliban regime, kite flying is once again the main recreational escape for Afghan boys and some men.Anja Niedringhaus—AP
TOPSHOTS-PORTUGAL-RELIGION-FATIMA-CELEBRATIONS
May 13, 2013. The statue of the Our Lady of Fatima is carried during a mass ceremony at the Fatima catholic shrine in Fatima, central Portugal. Thousands of pilgrims converged on Fatima Santuary to celebrate the anniversary of the Fatima miracle when three shepherd children claimed to having seen the Virgin Mary in May 1917.Pedro Nunes—AFP/Getty Images
A deflated Rubber Duck by Dutch conceptual artist Florentijn Hofman floats on Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour
May 14, 2013. A deflated Rubber Duck by Dutch conceptual artist Florentijn Hofman floats on Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour, with the island skyline looming at the background. The Rubber Duck was deflated after some of its parts broke.Tyrone Siu—Reuters
Spire for the top of One World Trade Center is put in place
May 10, 2013. The spire for the top of One World Trade Center is hoisted into place at the top of the building in New York. The spire has been put in place on One World Trade Center bringing the iconic structure to its full, symbolic height of 1,776 feet (541.32 metres). The State of Liberty is seen bottom right. Gary He—EPA
Protest against Israel in Cairo
May 10, 2013. Egyptian men set the national flag of Israel on fire during a protest against Israel's decision to carry out air strikes in Syria, in Cairo, Egypt. Protesters gathered to condemn recent Israeli raid in Syria and the Israeli arrest of top Muslim cleric in Jerusalem.Oliver Weiken—EPA
Clashes Erupt At Women of The Wall Prayer Service in Jerusalem
May 10, 2013. Israeli police officers block ultra-Orthodox protestors from reaching the religious group 'Women Of The Wall' while they hold a prayer service to mark the first day of the Jewish month of Sivan at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.Uriel Sinai—Getty Images
Clashes Erupt At Women of The Wall Prayer Service in Jerusalem
May 10, 2013. An Ultra Orthodox Jewish girl looks over a barrier as members of the religious group 'Women Of The Wall' hold a prayer service to mark the first day of the Jewish month of Sivan at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.Uriel Sinai—Getty Images
APYTOPIX Pakistan Election
May 11, 2013. A Pakistani girl stands next to her mother, waiting with other women at a polling station to cast their ballots, on the outskirts of Islamabad. Defying the danger of militant attacks, Pakistanis streamed to the polls Saturday for a historic vote pitting a former cricket star against a two-time prime minister and an unpopular incumbent.Muhammed Muheisen—AP
Pakistanis Vote In General Election
May 11, 2013. A Pakistani woman casts her vote at a polling station in the Old City of Lahore, Pakistan. Millions of Pakistanis cast their votes in parliamentary elections. It is the first time in the country's history that an elected government will hand over power to another elected government.Daniel Berehulak—Getty Images
Pakistanis Vote In General Election
May 11, 2013. Pakistanis cast their ballots at a polling station on the outskirts of Lahore, Pakistan.Daniel Berehulak—Getty Images
Supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz watch news on a TV screen at the party's election headquarters in Lahore
May 11, 2013. Supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) watch news on a television screen at the party's election headquarters after polling stations closed in Lahore. Damir Sagolj—Reuters
People line up to collect water at Yazarthingyan lake in Dala township, near Yangon
May 12, 2013. People line up to collect water at Yazarthingyan lake in Dala township, near Yangon. Dala township is located near the sea and the only source of freshwater is from the inland lakes which have all dried up, with the exception of Yazarthingyan lake.Soe Zeya Tun—Reuters
COLOMBIA-AFRO-HAIRSTYLE-CONTEST
May 12, 2013. A girl presents an Afro-Colombian hairstyle during the 9th contest of Afro-hairdressers, in Cali, Valle del Cauca departament, Colombia. Luis Robayo—AFP/Getty Images
Relatives of Ahmet Uyan and Ahmet Ceyhan who were killed in yesterday's car bombings mourn in the town of Reyhanli of Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border
May 12, 2013. Relatives of Ahmet Uyan, 45, and Ahmet Ceyhan, 23, who were killed in car bombings on May 11, mourn in the town of Reyhanli of Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border.Umit Bektas—Reuters
TOPSHOTS-FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-PSG
May 13, 2013. Paris Saint-Germain's supporters gather as PSG team parades to celebrate the French L1 football championship title in Paris.Franck Fife—AFP/Getty Images
SYRIA-CONFLICT
May 13, 2013. Syrian army soldiers take control of the village of Western Dumayna, some seven kilometers north of the rebel-held city of Qusayr. Joseph Eid—AFP/Getty Images
SOMALIA-UNREST
May 13, 2013. An Amisom soldier, as part of the Burundian contingent to the mission, stands guard at an underground bunker in Daynille, Somalia. Tobin Jones—AFP/Getty Images
POLAND-HISTORY-JUSTICE-COMMUNISM
May 13, 2013. The human remains are seen during the exhumation of a Stalinist-era mass grave on the military cemetary in the heart of the Polish capital Warsaw. The grave is believed to contain the remains of around 200 victims of a post-war campaign of communist terror.Wojtek Radwanski—AFP/Getty Images
Mohamed Dawalbeit
May 13, 2013. A woman suffering from malaria rests on a bed at a hospital in El Sereif village, North Darfur, Sudan. Albert Gonzalez Farran—UNAMID/AP
SYRIA-CONFLICT
May 13, 2013. Syrian troops take control of the village of Western Dumayna, some seven kilometers north of the rebel-held city of Qusayr. Joseph Eid—AFP/Getty Images
APTOPIX India Sufi Festival
May 13, 2013. An Indian Muslim Sufi devotee offers prayers at the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti during the Urs festival in Ajmer, India. Thousands of Sufi devotees from different parts of India travel to the shrine for the annual festival, marking the death anniversary of Sufi Muslim saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.Kevin Frayer—AP
Singapore Weather
May 13, 2013. Swimmers soak in a swimming pool overlooking the financial skyline in Singapore. The city-state is experiencing the hottest time of the year in a climate which is already predominantly hot and wet all year round.Wong Maye-E—AP
APTOPIX Portugal Fatima
May 13, 2013. A photograph of the Pope Francis is seen at the Our Lady of Fatima shrine in Fatima, central Portugal. Every year on May 12 and 13, thousands of Catholic faithful pilgrimage to Fatima's Sanctuary where it is believed the Virgin Mary was witnessed by three shepherd children, Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco.Francisco Seco—AP
APTOPIX Bangladesh Building Collapse
May 14, 2013. Bangladesh army soldiers stand at the wreckage of a Bangladeshi garment factory building to offer prayers for the souls of the 1,127 people who died in the structureís collapse last month, in Savar, Bangladesh. A.M. Ahad—AP
Relatives cover the body of 22-year-old Ayten Calim with a Muslim prayer rug and her wedding dress as they lower her into a grave in the town of Reyhanli in Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border
May 14, 2013. Relatives cover the body of 22-year-old Ayten Calim with a Muslim prayer rug and her wedding dress as they lower her into a grave in the town of Reyhanli in Hatay province near the Turkish-Syrian border.Umit Bektas—Reuters
Wildfire Evacuation Wisconsin
May 14, 2013. This photo provided by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources shows a smoky wildfire in northwestern Wisconsin that has consumed 8,700 acres, destroyed nearly 50 structures and forced dozens from their homes.Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources/AP
CHINA-LIFESTYLE-TOURISM
May 14, 2013. A Chinese boy floats in the historic Houhai Lake in Beijing. The man-made lake which is over 700 years old attracts hardcore ice swimmers in winter and is filled with tourist boats and people trying to cool off from the cities heat in the summer.Mark Ralston—AFP/Getty Images
USS Kearsarge in the red sea port of Eilat
May 14, 2013. US soldiers stand guard on the flight deck of the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) Wasp-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy as she anchors in the red sea port of Eilat, Israel.Abir Sultan—EPA
TOPSHOTS-US-DEFENSE-NAVY-X-47B
May 14, 2013. This US Navy handout image shows an X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator launching from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) during flight operations in the Atlantic Ocean. George H.W. Bush is the first aircraft carrier to successfully catapult launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck.MC3 Brian Read Castillo—AFP/Getty Images/US Navy
Palestinian refugees in the West Bank city of Hebron
May 14, 2013. Palestinian refugee children play in front of their family house in Jabaliya Refugee camp, in the Gaza Strip.Ali Ali—EPA
TOPSHOTS-KENYA-PARLIAMENT-POLITICS-DEMO-LABOUR
May 14, 2013. Riot police stand by the gates of parliament during a demonstration against members of parliament who have demanded higher wages in Nairobi. Kenyan demonstrators released two dozen piglets at the gates of parliament and poured blood on the pavement today to protest demands by newly elected lawmakers for a wage hike.Carl de Souza—AFP/Getty Images
Piglets and pig's blood are seen during a demonstration against lawmakers' salary demands outside parliament buildings in the capital Nairobi
May 14, 2013. Piglets and pig's blood are seen during a demonstration against lawmakers' salary demands outside parliament buildings in the capital Nairobi. Kenyan police in riot gear fired teargas and water cannons on Tuesday to disperse about 200 protesters gathered outside parliament to demonstrate against lawmakers' salary demands. The words written on the pigs are the names of the legislators.Thomas Mukoya—Reuters
Devotees in a trance walk on fire while performing rituals of salvation and peace for people of the village who died untimely deaths, at Banepa
May 15, 2013. Devotees in a trance walk on fire while performing rituals of salvation and peace for people of the village who died untimely deaths, at Banepa in Kavre.Navesh Chitrakar—Reuters
Pope Francis holds a dove before his Wednesday general audience at San Peter's square at the Vatican
May 15, 2013. Pope Francis holds a dove before his general audience at San Peter's square at the Vatican.Stefano Rellandini—Reuters
A handler steadies his Teeswater sheep in the ring on the first day of the Balmoral Show in northern Ireland
May 15, 2013. A handler steadies his Teeswater sheep in the ring on the first day of the Balmoral Show in northern Ireland. Cathal McNaughton—Reuters
Pakistan Daily Life
May 15, 2013. An Afghan refugee, right, drinks water leaked from a water point on the outskirts of Islamabad. Pakistan hosts over 1.6 million registered Afghans, the largest and most protracted refugee population in the world, according to the U.N. refugee agency.Muhammed Muheisen—AP
Afghanistan
May 15, 2012. An Afghan woman harvests wheat on the outskirts of Kabul. Afghani's harvest wheat to feed their animals.Ahmad Jamshid—AP
A Palestinian demonstrator returns a tear gas canister towards Israeli  security forces during clashes to mark Nakba Day near the West Bank city of Ramallah
May 15, 2013. A Palestinian demonstrator returns a tear gas canister towards Israeli security forces during clashes to mark Nakba Day near the West Bank city of Ramallah. Palestinians clashed with Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank and at East Jerusalem on Wednesday during demonstrations to mark 65 years since what they call the Nakba (Catastrophe) when Israel's creation caused many to lose their homes and become refugees.Mohamad Torokman—Reuters
Palestinians react as a stun grenade was thrown towards them during clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian protestors for the Nakba day near Damascus Gate at Jerusalem's old city
May 15, 2013. Palestinians react as a stun grenade was thrown towards them during clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian protestors during a demonstration for Nakba (Catastrophe) day near Damascus Gate at Jerusalem's old city.Baz Ratner—Reuters
Russian conscripts are seen inside a train carriage at a local railway station before departing Stavropol
May 15, 2013. Russian conscripts, wearing military uniforms, are seen inside a train carriage at a local railway station before their departure in Stavropol, in southern Russia. The conscripts will serve in Moscow in the Kremlin regiment, also known as Presidential regiment, which is part of the Federal Guard Service.Eduard Korniyenko—Reuters
A deflated Rubber Duck by Dutch conceptual artist Florentijn Hofman floats on Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour
May 15, 2013. A deflated Rubber Duck by Dutch conceptual artist Florentijn Hofman floats on Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour. The Rubber Duck was deflated after some of its parts broke.Tyrone Siu—Reuters
Thai traffic police officers practise cardiac resuscitation during an emergency situation and baby delivery training course at Bangkok hospital in Bangkok
May 15, 2013. Thai traffic police officers practice cardiac resuscitation during an emergency situation and baby delivery training course at Bangkok hospital in Bangkok.Chaiwat Subprasom—Reuters
The living room of a home that had its roof blown off by a tornado is pictured in Cleburne
May 16, 2013. The living room of a home that had its roof blown off by a tornado in Cleburne, Texas. At least six people were killed and seven were missing after as many as 10 tornadoes ripped through north-central Texas.Richard Rodriguez—Reuters
Rescue workers comb through debris after tornados swept through the town of Granbury
May 16, 2013. Rescue workers comb through debris after tornados swept through the town of Granbury, Texas.Richard Rodriguez—Reuters
An Iraqi soldier steps over wreckage of acar bomb at the site of a car bomb attack in Baghdad's Sadr City
May 16, 2013. An Iraqi soldier steps over wreckage of a car bomb at the site of a car bomb attack in Baghdad's Sadr City. Mohammed Ameen—Reuters
Pilgrims walk across the Quema river on their way to the shrine of El Rocio in the province of Seville, southern Spain
May 16, 2013. Pilgrims walk across the Quema river on their way to the shrine of El Rocio in the province of Seville, southern Spain.Marcelo del Pozo—Reuters
M23 rebel recruits stand at attention during a training session in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
May 16, 2013. M23 rebel recruits stand at attention during a training session at the Rumangabo military camp in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.James Akena—Reuters
Pakistan Daily Life
May 16, 2013. Following his daily work at a brick factory, a Pakistani laborer, center, washes himself in a stream, on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan.Muhammed Muheisen—AP
INDIA-KASHMIR-AGRICULTURE
May 16, 2013. A Kashmiri youth (C) plays while women (background) clear grass from a rice field in the outskirts of Srinagar. Tauseef Mustafa—AFP/Getty Images
APTOPIX Myanmar Asia Cyclone
May 16, 2013. Internally displaced Rohingya gather outside a window, right, to receive rice at a school where they took refuge in Sittwe, northwestern Rakhine State, Myanmar.Gemunu Amarasinghe—AP
TOPSHOTS-BANGLADESH-MYANMAR-WEATHER-CYCLONE
May 16, 2013. Bangladeshi pedestrians gather to watch the sea at a beach while Cyclone Mahasen heads towards landfall in Chittagong on A cyclone has slammed into the Bangladeshi coast as a million people hunkered down in evacuation shelters.Munir Uz Zaman—AFP/Getty Images
Barack Obama, Recep Tayyip Erdogan
May 16, 2013. President Barack Obama, accompanied by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan checks for rain during their joint news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington.Charles Dharapak—AP
A boy bathes in a stream at Dara on the outskirts of Srinagar
May 16, 2013. A boy bathes in a stream at Dara on the outskirts of Srinagar.Danish Ismail—Reuters
Children playing in Beit Lahiya
May 16, 2013. Palestinian refugee children play in a poverty-stricken quarter of the town of Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip.Ali Ali—EPA
VENEZUELA HAVE DESTROYED 12 CLANDESTINE AIRSTRIPS NEAR THE COLOMBIAN BORDER
May 17, 2013. Venezuelan soldiers destroy a clandestine track used for drug trafficking in Chaparralito, Venezuela.Miguel Gutierrez—EPA
Hong Kong Bun Festival
May 17, 2013. A man performs a lion dance on top of a pole during a parade-in-the-air at the bun festival on the outlying island of Cheung Chau, Hong Kong, China.Jerome Favre—EPA
Ukraine Circus
May 15, 2013. Oleksiy Pinko, a circus artist, dances with a lion during presentation of the new program in Ukraine's National Circus in Kiev, Ukraine.Efrem Lukatsky—AP

More Must-Reads From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com