Pictures of the week: From the Northern Lights in the US to base jumping in Sri Lanka

Striking pictures from around the world

The Northern Lights illuminate in the night sky over Plum Island and the mouth of the Merrimack River, in Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA, 11 May 2024. The Northern lights, or aurora borealis, were visible in the sky over a large portion of the United States, after an 'extreme' solar storm began to hit the Earth on 10 May. EPA / CJ GUNTHER

Matias Palacios of Al Ain has a goal ruled out for offside in the AFC Champions League final first leg against Yokohama F Marinos in Yokohama, Japan. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The aftermath of an overnight explosion at a kiosk in Dusseldorf, Germany, in which three people were killed and 16 injured. Reuters

High-flying action from the women's skateboarding heats at the Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai. Getty Images

An overturned car in Noumea, a sign of the violent protests linked to a constitutional bill aimed at enlarging the electorate in the Pacific French territory of New Caledonia. AFP

A boy leads a buffalo herd on the outskirts of the city of Gedaref, eastern Sudan. AFP

Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party legislator Chung Chia-pin grabs opposition Kuomintang MP Chen Ching-hui as Speaker Han Kuo-yu, second left, looks on during voting for a bill to reform parliament, in Taipei. AFP

Internally displaced Palestinians leave with their belongings following an evacuation order issued by the Israeli army, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. EPA

A person is detained after the shooting of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico in Handlova, Slovakia. Reuters

Textile colouring in process at Salama's laundry in Cairo, one of the oldest dye houses in Egypt. The family business, owned by Salama Salem, 87, uses a Pharaonic method of dyeing. Getty Images

A volcanic eruption from Mount Ibu in Indonesia's North Maluku province. AFP

Malians take part in the annual replastering of the Great Mosque of Djenne, the world's largest mud-brick building. AP

The Unesco World Heritage site Mont-Saint-Michel in France at sunset. AFP

Action from the International Horse Race Grand Prix in Maroua, Cameroon. AFP

A car crushed by falling bricks from a fallen building wall sits in a downtown parking lot after a severe thunderstorm battered Houston, Texas. AP

Young people take part in a tradition that features people being flung from a carpet, in Brasov, Romania. Reuters

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators face police outside the Malmo Arena venue ahead of the final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden. AFP

Fishing nets on a dhow in Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ukrainians arrive by bus at an evacuation point after thousands of people were transported from border areas in the Kharkiv region. AFP

A gutted hall at the Islamic University of Gaza, which was destroyed during Israel's military offensive. Reuters

Stranded cars on a road in Sao Leopoldo after a storm lashed Brazil's flood-hit Rio Grande do Sul state, two weeks after rains caused river banks to burst. AFP

Women wait to cast their votes at a polling station in Rangareddy district, Telangana, during the fourth phase of India's general election. Reuters

Houses on the slopes of Jalousie district in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. AP

Mia, a beagle from Connecticut, gets ready to compete during the 148th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, in New York City. Reuters

The controlled demolition of a section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which fell on the Dali container ship, in Baltimore. The bridge collapsed on March 26 after the ship lost power and collided into a support column, killing six road construction workers. AFP

Farmers sell watermelons at the fruit market in Lahore. AFP

A child stands above the crowd with the support of an elaborate rig of hidden metal rods during the Bun Festival parade, in Hong Kong. Reuters

Britain's Queen Camilla watches as King Charles III unveils an official portrait of himself, by artist Jonathan Yeo, fifth left. AFP

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken performs the song Rockin' in the Free World, with members of The 1999 band, at a bar in Kyiv, Ukraine. Reuters

A base jumper leaps off the 351.5m Lotus Tower, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Reuters

More from The National:

Friday's best photos: From a brawl in Taiwan's parliament to a dye house in Cairo

Thursday's best photos: From buffalo herding in Sudan to skateboarding in Shanghai

Wednesday's best photos: From Blinken on guitar in Kyiv to Meryl Streep's Cannes moment

Tuesday's best photos: From demolition of Baltimore bridge to rainbow over Kuwait City

Monday's best photos: From a protest in Tbilisi to the Cannes Film Festival

Sunday's best photos: From Real Madrid's celebrations to a puppet festival

Saturday's best photos: From the Northern Lights to volcanic eruption