The week’s most striking images capture moments of conflict, culture and celebration from around the world. In the Middle East, rescue workers sift through the aftermath of airstrikes on residential buildings in Beirut, while restrictions at a major religious site in Jerusalem leave worshippers absent amid rising regional tensions. In Iraq, a damaged tanker smoulders after catching fire in territorial waters near Basra.

Elsewhere, scenes of national life and leadership unfold, from North Korea’s leader inspecting weapons at a factory to a United States bomber landing at an airbase in Britain. In Beijing, delegates gather for the closing ceremony of a major political conference, as hostesses prepare tea inside the Great Hall of the People.

Moments of pageantry and performance also feature prominently. Warwick Davis receives an honour from the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle, while Conan O'Brien appears on the red carpet ahead of the Academy Awards in Los Angeles. Fashion and art draw crowds in Paris and Cologne, with a Louis Vuitton show and Yayoi Kusama’s immersive exhibition offering vivid displays.

The collection is rounded out by images of daily life and spectacle, from Pride celebrations in Buenos Aires and racehorses training ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, to a curious cat wandering among miniature cars in Crimea.