Pictures of the Week: August 29 – September 6

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From divides over American military strikes on Syria and wildfires in Yosemite National Park to the world’s first 100 million Euro soccer player and a limbless motivational speaker swimming with sharks, TIME presents the best pictures of the week.

TOPSHOTS-TURKEY-STORK-FEATURE
Sept. 1, 2013. Storks fly over the border between Turkey and Syria, as they prepare to migrate in Hatay.Bulent Kilic—AFP/Getty Images
A Free Syrian Army fighter takes a rest in a safe house beside the Canadian Hospital in Aleppo
Aug. 31, 2013. A Free Syrian Army fighter takes a rest in a safe house beside the Canadian Hospital in Aleppo.Molhem Barakat—Reuters
Jewish worshippers pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City
Sept. 3, 2013. Jewish worshippers pray at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, in Jerusalem's Old City ahead of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.Ammar Awad—Reuters
APTOPIX Afghanistan
Aug. 30, 2013. The body of an alleged militant lies on the ground after an Afghan commando operation in Herat Province, Afghanistan. Hoshang Hashimi—AP
Boy stretches as he exercises at a fitness center in Sanaa
Sept. 2, 2013. A boy stretches as he exercises at a fitness center in Sanaa, Yemen.Khaled Abdullah—Reuters
APTOPIX Mideast Israel Syria
Aug. 30, 2013. Israeli soldiers take part in a drill in the Golan Heights, near the border between the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights and Syria.Bernat Armangue—AP
BRITAIN-ARHCITECTURE-WEATHER-OFFBEAT-FILES
Aug. 30, 2013. A young couple kiss as they stand in a shaft of intense sunlight reflected from the glass windows of the new "Walkie Talkie" tower in central London. Leon Neal—AFP/Getty Images
Six people tattoo one women simultaneously in Manado
Aug. 29, 2013. Six tattoo artists work together on one women volunteer during Manado CityFest in Manado, Indonesia.Ronny Adolof Buol—Demotix/Corbis
A family walks through a cemetery in Kabul
Sept. 1, 2013. A family walks through a cemetery in Kabul.Omar Sobhani—Reuters
California News - Sept. 2, 2013
Sept. 2, 2013. Smoke from the fires below Pilot Peak intermingles with clouds from an arriving weather front as firefighters begin to get the Rim Fire under control near Old Yosemite Road, Division S, as seen from Greeley Hill, Calif.Al Golub—Zuma Press
APTOPIX Mideast Egypt
Aug. 30, 2013. Supporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi chant slogans during a demonstration in Dalga Village, in northern Egypt.Roger Anis—AP
APTOPIX Mideast Egypt
Aug. 30, 2013. A supporter of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi holds a placard on the top of a pile of debris during a protest following Friday Muslim prayers at Nasser City in Cairo.Manu Brabo—AP
India Kashmir Fighting
Aug. 30, 2013. Kashmiri villagers carry the body of a suspected rebel for burial during his funeral procession in Prang, some 45 kilometers (28 miles) northeast of Srinagar, India.Dar Yasin—AP
A Palestinian protester uses a metal rod at the controversial Israeli barrier during clashes with Israeli border policemen after a protest in Bilin
Aug. 30, 2013. A Palestinian protester uses a metal rod at the controversial Israeli barrier during clashes with Israeli border policemen after a protest, which was against Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails, in the West Bank village of Bilin near Ramallah.Mohamad Torokman—Reuters
Palestinians show support for Syrian opposition
Aug. 30, 2013. A Palestinian boy adjusts a flag used by the Syrian opposition in Al-Shaati refugee camp in Gaza Strip.Ali Ali—EPA
Portugal Fires
Aug. 30, 2013. A Portuguese military soldier uses a hoe to fight against a wildfire in Caramulo, north Portugal.Francisco Seco—AP
The Annual Cowal Highland Games
Aug. 30, 2013. Highland dancers perform the Real of Tulloch during competition at the Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon, Scotland.Jeff J. Mitchell—Getty Images
APTOPIX India Monsoon Flooding
Aug. 30, 2013. A young Indian boy sits inside his house damaged during monsoon floods due to the overflowing of the River Ganges in Allahabad, India.Rajesh Kumar Singh—AP
Johascara performs at the family-owned circus Clavito in `
Aug. 31, 2013. Johascara performs at the family-owned circus Clavito in Managua, Nicaragua.Oswaldo Rivas—Reuters
APTOPIX Romania Prince Beatified
Aug. 31, 2013. Catholic clerics wearing scarves depicting Monsignor Vladimir Ghika attend his beatification religious service in Bucharest, Romania.Grigore Popescu—AP
APTOPIX Portugal Fires
Aug. 31, 2013. A burned tree remains as smoke rises up, background, in a forest area devastated by a wildfire in Serra de Caramulo, Teixo, north Portugal.Francisco Seco—AP
Tension Rises In Israel Amid International Talks Of Military Intervension In Syria
Aug. 31, 2013. A monument of soldiers holding rifles in Mount Bental near Kibutz Merom Golan in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Ilia Yefimovich—Getty Images
*** BESTPIX *** Tension Rises In Israel Amid International Talks Of Military Intervension In Syria
Aug, 31, 2013. An Israeli man rides his horse past the 'Iron Dome' missile defense system as it is deployed in Tel Aviv, Israel. Uriel Sinai—Getty Images
People swim and dive in the Black Sea at the south Russian coastal resort of Sochi
Sept. 1, 2013. People swim and dive in the Black Sea at the south Russian coastal resort of Sochi.Kazbek Basayev—Reuters
TOPSHOTS-SWEDEN-TOUGH VIKING-RACE
Sept. 1, 2013. A man competes during the 10000 Volt obstacle as he competes during the Tough Viking race in Stockholm.Jonathan Nickstrand—AFP/Getty Images
100 Horsemen take to The Streets Of Tarifa
Sept. 1, 2013. Horsemen ride in procession during the Agricultural Cavalcade in Tarifa, Spain.Pablo Blazquez Dominguez—Getty Images
APTOPIX Mideast Bahrain
Sept. 1, 2013. A Bahraini anti-government protester reacts to tear gas during clashes with riot police in Sehla, Bahrain. Hasan Jamali—AP
Bahrain: funeral march of Martyr Sadiq Sabt
Sept. 1, 2013. Masked anti-regime protesters march during the funeral of a martyr Sabt. in Sehla Village, Bahrain.Ahmed Alfardan—Zuma Press
Horse race in Gaza Strip
Sept. 1, 2013. Palestinian spectators attend a horse race and show in the North of the Gaza Strip.Ali Ail—EPA
A horse stands near a water reservoir in the Golan Heights
Sept. 1, 2013. A horse stands near a water reservoir in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.Ronem Zvulun—Reuters
Marquez, carries cross during peace march, as he walks along Winston Churchill Avenue after entering the British territory of Gibraltar
Sept. 1, 2013. Justo Marquez, 50, carries a cross during a peace march, as he walks along Winston Churchill Avenue after entering the British territory of Gibraltar, at its border with Spain in Gibraltar, south of Spain.Jon Nazca—Reuters
APTOPIX Afghanistan
Sept. 2, 2013. An Afghan policeman stands guard near burning NATO supply trucks following an attack by militants on a U.S. base in the Torkham area near the Pakistan--Afghanistan border in Jalalabad province east of Kabul.Rahmat Gul—AP
Smoke rises from burning NATO supply trucks after a Taliban attack at Torkham district
Sept. 2, 2013. Smoke rises from burning NATO supply trucks after a Taliban attack at Torkham district, in Jalalabad province, Afghanistan. Reuters
Free Syrian Army fighters call out to forces loyal to Syria's President Assad urging them to defect as another fighter stands guard in the old city of Aleppo
Sept. 1, 2013. Free Syrian Army fighters call out to forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad urging them to defect as another fighter stands guard in the old city of Aleppo. Molhem Barakat—Reuters
TOPSHOTS-SYRIA-CONFLICT-DEIR EZZOR
Sept. 2, 2013. A rebel fighter and a child cross a damaged bridge in Syria's eastern town of Deir Ezzor.Abo Shuja—AFP/Getty Images
SYRIA-GOVERNMENT-CONFLICT-MEDIAS
Sept. 2, 2013. A handout picture released by the Syrian presidency media office in Damascus shows Syrian president Bashar al-Assad answering questions by French journalist Georges MalbrunotAFP/Getty Images
A Free Syrian Army fighter takes up a position on the stairs of a building in the old city of Aleppo
Sept. 2, 2013. A Free Syrian Army fighter takes up a position on the stairs of a building as he monitors the movements of snipers loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the old city of Aleppo.Molhem Barakat—Reuters
A Congolese soldier guards suspected rebels arrested during an operation against M23 rebels in Goma
Sept. 2, 2013. A Congolese soldier guards suspected rebels arrested during an operation against M23 rebels in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.Thomas Mukoya—Reuters
Shuttlecocks are scattered inside a damaged gymnasium at Hokuyo junior high school after what seemed to be a tornado in Koshigaya
Sept. 2, 2013. Shuttlecocks are scattered inside a damaged gymnasium at Hokuyo junior high school after what seemed to be a tornado in Koshigaya, north of Tokyo.Toru Hanai—Reuters
Roger Federer
Sept. 2, 2013. Roger Federer, of Switzerland, walks off the court after losing to Tommy Robredo, of Spain, during the fourth round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. Darron Cummings—AP
A man jumps over a water stream on a beach along the Arabian Sea in Mumbai
Sept. 2, 2013. A man jumps over a water stream on a beach along the Arabian Sea in Mumbai.Danish Siddiqui—Reuters
DIANA NYAD SUCCEEDS IN SWIM FROM CUBA TO FLORIDA
Sept. 2, 2013. Diana Nyad is loaded into an awaiting ambulance and taken to Lower Keys Medical Center where she is receiving fluids and being held for observation in Key West, Fla.Rob O'Neal—Barcroft Media/Landov
TOPSHOTS-COLOMBIA-TOURISM-CARTAGENA
Sept. 2, 2013. A man sells cotton candy as others sit by the fortress walls in the port city of Cartagena, Colombia.Joaquin Sarmiento—AFP/Getty Images
APTOPIX India Hindu Festival
Sept. 2, 2013. An Indian artist takes a rest as he prepares idols of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesh ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi festival at a workshop in Hyderabad, India.Mahesh Kumar A.—AP
Child Shot in Head
Sept. 2, 2013. Mourners visit a memorial for Antiq Hennis in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn where a day earlier, the 1-year-old boy was shot and killed in his stroller during a walk with his parents. John Minchillo—AP
CUBA-EDUCATION-CLASSES-FIRST DAY
Sept. 2, 2013. Schoolchildren are pictured on the first day of the 2013-2014 academic year at their school in the province of Granma, Cuba.AFP/Getty Images
Gareth Bale Officially Unveiled At Real Madrid
Sept. 2, 2013. Gareth Bale greets the audience during his presentation as a new Real Madrid player at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on in Madrid, Spain.Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno—Getty Images
Horse race in Gaza City
Sept. 2, 2013. Palestinians compete during a horse race in Gaza City.Majdi Fathi—Zuma Press
The remains removed from the cemetery at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys waits to be loaded for transportation in Marianna
Sept. 2, 2013. The remains removed from the cemetery at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys waits to be loaded for transportation in Marianna, Fla. Reuters
TOPSHOTS-INDIA-WEATHER-FLOOD
Sept. 3, 2013. An Indian man clears debris from the banks of the Ganga river as the flood level recedes in Allahabad.Sanjay Kanojia—AFP/Getty Images
Labourers work at a coal dump site outside Kabul
Sept. 3, 2013. Laborers work at a coal dump site outside Kabul.Mohammad Ismail—Reuters
YMCA Fire
Sept. 3, 2013. Fire, smoke and water damage covers an office inside the Greater Naples YMCA in Naples, Fla. David Albers—AP
TOPSHOTS-SYRIA-CONFLICT
Sept. 3, 2013. A rebel fighter carries homemade mortar rounds in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa.Mezar Matar—AFP/Getty Images
APTOPIX Mideast Lebanon
Sept. 3, 2013. Lebanese young adults prepare to jump into the Mediterranean Sea off the Corniche, or waterfront promenade, in Beirut, Lebanon.Nariman El-Mofty—AP
Chile: Greenpeace Protest To Demand Protection Of The Arctic
Sept. 3, 2013. International NGO Greenpeace members protest dressed as polar bears holding banners in Santiago, Chile.Mario Ruiz—EFE/Sipa USA
CHINA-WUHAN-RIVER POLLUTION (CN)
Sept. 3, 2013. Dead fish float on the Fuhe River in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province.Cheng Min—Xinhua Press/Corbis
Female Jewish worshippers pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City
Sept. 3, 2013. Female Jewish worshippers pray behind the men's section at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, in Jerusalem's Old City ahead of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.Ammar Awad—Reuters
CHINA-CRIME-CHILDREN-SOCIAL
Sept. 3, 2013. Six-year-old boy, Guo Bin, known as Bin-Bin, blinded when his eyes were gouged out after he went missing while playing outside on August 24, kisses his mother in a hospital in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi province. AFP/Getty Images
TOPSHOTS-ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-UNREST-JERUSALEM
Sept. 4, 2013. A Palestinian protester is detained by Israeli policemen outside the entrance to al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem's old city during disturbances that caused the temporary closure to the access of the Mosque.Marco Longari—AFP/Getty Images
Afghan children climb onto a fence while playing as they sell tea in Kabul
Sept. 4, 2013. Afghan children climb onto a fence while playing as they sell tea in Kabul.Mohammad Ismail—Reuters
APTOPIX India Kathakali
Sept. 4, 2013. An Indian Kathakali artist is reflected in a mirror as he dons make up prior to a performance in Chennai, India. Arun Sankar K.—AP
TOPSHOTS-DRCONGO-UNREST
Sept. 4, 2013. A soldier from the Democratic Republic of Congo regular army (FARDC) stands guard in Kibati near Goma, with the Nyiragongo Volcano in the background.Carl de Souza—AFP/Getty Images
Detroit Struggles To Re-Build A Bankrupt City Amidst Poverty And Blight
Sept. 4, 2013. Lawrence Payne practices backflips on his front lawn on in the Six Mile Gratiot neighborhood of Detroit, Mich.Andrew Burton—Getty Images
Sweden: President Barack Obama visits Stockholm
Sept. 4, 2013. Swedish police and army snipers are seen preparing on a roof at Arlanda Airport in Stockholm, Sweden. Scanpix Sweden/Sipa USA
APTOPIX Germany Gloriosa Bell
Sept. 4, 2013. Workers inspect the bell during the annual maintenance at the Gloriosa bell in the Mariendom (Cathedral of Mary) in Erfurt, central Germany.Jens Meyer—AP
New Stalin monument in Telavi paint bombed
Sept. 4, 2013. A view of the new monument of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin at the World War II Memorial in Telavi, some 100 km from Tbilisi, Georgia.Zurab Kurtsikidze—EPA
A worker sprays paint on the beak of the "Rubber Duck" in New Taipei City
Sept. 5, 2013. A worker sprays paint on the beak of the "Rubber Duck" inflatable floating sculpture by Dutch conceptual artist Florentijn Hofman at a factory in New Taipei City, Taiwan.Pichi Chuang—Reuters
BESTPIX Britain Enjoys A Two-Day Heatwave
Sept. 5, 2013. A woman practices yoga on the beach on in Sheerness, England.Peter Macdiarmid—Getty Images
Palestinian children catch migrant quails with a net
Sept. 5, 2013. A Palestinian child removes a migrant quail snared in a net on the beach of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza Strip.Ali Ali—EPA
Orthodox Christian worshippers gather before the start of a procession outside Jerusalem's Old City
Sept. 5, 2013. Orthodox Christian worshippers gather before the start of a procession outside Jerusalem's Old City.Ammar Awad—Reuters
SWEDEN-US-SYRIA-RUSSIA-CONFLICT-G20-OBAMA
Sept. 5, 2013. U.S. President Barack Obama (R) meets King Carl Gustaf of Sweden during a reception at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.Jewel Samad—AFP/Getty Images
SWEDEN-US-OBAMA
Sept. 5, 2013. U.S. President Barack Obama boards Air Force One at Stockholm-Arlanda International Airport in Sweden en route to St. Petersburg to attend the G20 summit. Jewel Samad—AFP/Getty Images
Vujicic, an Australian motivational speaker who was born without limbs, swims with sharks at the Marine Life Park in Singapore
Sept. 5, 2013. Nick Vujicic, an Australian motivational speaker who was born without limbs, swims with sharks at the Marine Life Park in Singapore.Edgar Su—Reuters
The early morning sun hits The Shard building as fog clears over  London
Sept. 5, 2013. The early morning sun hits The Shard building as fog clears over London.Dylan Martinez—Reuters
U.S. President Obama walks into Konstantin Palace after shaking hands with Russia's President Putin during arrivals for the G20 summit in St. Petersburg
Sept. 5, 2013. U.S. President Barack Obama (L) walks into Konstantin Palace after shaking hands with Russia's President Vladimir Putin during arrivals for the G20 summit in St. Petersburg.Pablo Martinez Monsivais—Reuters
US President Obama listens to Russian President Putin during the start of the G20 Working Session in St. Petersburg
Sept. 5, 2013. U.S. President Barack Obama listens to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the start of the G20 Working Session at the Konstantin Palace in St. Petersburg.Pablo Martinez Monsivais—Reuters
Police officer inspects the damaged windshield of a police bus after clashes between police and rubber farmers in Bangsaphan
Sept. 6, 2013. A police officer inspects the damaged windshield of a police bus after clashes between police and rubber farmers in Bangsaphan, Prachuap Khiri Khan.Athit Perawongmetha—Reuters
A remote-controlled helicopter camera flies above an inflated Rubber Duck by Dutch conceptual artist Florentijn Hofman floating on a lake at the 9th China International Garden Expo in Beijing
Sept. 6, 2013. A remote-controlled helicopter camera flies above an inflated Rubber Duck by Dutch conceptual artist Florentijn Hofman floating on a lake at the 9th China International Garden Expo in Beijing.Petar Kujundzic—Reuters

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