The best photos of the week: from the Expo finale to the beginning of Ramadan

  • Expo 2020 Dubai closing ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
    Expo 2020 Dubai closing ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
  • Will Smith hits Chris Rock during the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 27, 2022. Reuters
    Will Smith hits Chris Rock during the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 27, 2022. Reuters
  • A cyclist passes a fire caused by artillery fire on the 30th day of the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv on March 25, 2022. AFP
    A cyclist passes a fire caused by artillery fire on the 30th day of the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv on March 25, 2022. AFP
  • Hot air balloons take flight from Brown Brothers Milawa Airfield on March 26, 2022 in Wangaratta, Australia. Star of the King Valley Balloon Fiesta was a 33-metre tall three-toed sloth called Tico. Getty Images
    Hot air balloons take flight from Brown Brothers Milawa Airfield on March 26, 2022 in Wangaratta, Australia. Star of the King Valley Balloon Fiesta was a 33-metre tall three-toed sloth called Tico. Getty Images
  • Members of the Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 gangs in custody at the prison in Ciudad Barrios, El Salvador. The country's President Nayib Bukele issued an ultimatum on March 28, 2022 to gangs considered responsible for dozens of recent homicides, threatening to increase punishments on their more than 16,000 imprisoned members. AFP
    Members of the Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 gangs in custody at the prison in Ciudad Barrios, El Salvador. The country's President Nayib Bukele issued an ultimatum on March 28, 2022 to gangs considered responsible for dozens of recent homicides, threatening to increase punishments on their more than 16,000 imprisoned members. AFP
  • Curtains flutter in the wind at a building damaged by shelling in a neighbourhood in Kharkiv now largely abandoned and left without water, gas or heating as Russia's attacks on Ukraine continue. March 28, 2022. Reuters
    Curtains flutter in the wind at a building damaged by shelling in a neighbourhood in Kharkiv now largely abandoned and left without water, gas or heating as Russia's attacks on Ukraine continue. March 28, 2022. Reuters
  • Two Pili puppet characters do battle with real fire during a demonstration at a film studio in Yunlin, Taiwan. Reuters
    Two Pili puppet characters do battle with real fire during a demonstration at a film studio in Yunlin, Taiwan. Reuters
  • The Great Ziggurat temple, background, in the ancient city of Ur in Iraq's southern province of Dhi Qar, near the city of Nasiriyah. After decades of conflict, several Western countries still formally advise against travelling to Iraq, but Baghdad is trying to revive its tourism sector. AFP
    The Great Ziggurat temple, background, in the ancient city of Ur in Iraq's southern province of Dhi Qar, near the city of Nasiriyah. After decades of conflict, several Western countries still formally advise against travelling to Iraq, but Baghdad is trying to revive its tourism sector. AFP
  • Power lines along the Trans-Canada Highway in Walhachin, British Columbia, catch the setting sun on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. AP
    Power lines along the Trans-Canada Highway in Walhachin, British Columbia, catch the setting sun on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. AP
  • Senegal fans aim lasers at Egyptian Mohammed Salah face as he steps up to take a penalty.
    Senegal fans aim lasers at Egyptian Mohammed Salah face as he steps up to take a penalty.
  • A transit officer in protective gear controls access to a tunnel during a lockdown measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Shanghai on March 28, 2022. AFP
    A transit officer in protective gear controls access to a tunnel during a lockdown measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Shanghai on March 28, 2022. AFP
  • An owner trying to get her dogs to look at the camera at Interpets, an international fair for pet-related products and services, in Tokyo, Japan, March 31, 2022. Reuters
    An owner trying to get her dogs to look at the camera at Interpets, an international fair for pet-related products and services, in Tokyo, Japan, March 31, 2022. Reuters
  • Competitors during the second stage of the 36th Marathon des Sables in the Moroccan Sahara desert, central Morocco, on March 28, 2022. AFP
    Competitors during the second stage of the 36th Marathon des Sables in the Moroccan Sahara desert, central Morocco, on March 28, 2022. AFP
  • Lusail Stadium, the 80,000-capacity venue that will host the Fifa World Cup final in December, on the outskirts of Qatar's capital Doha. March 28, 2022. AFP
    Lusail Stadium, the 80,000-capacity venue that will host the Fifa World Cup final in December, on the outskirts of Qatar's capital Doha. March 28, 2022. AFP
  • Amputees disabled after incidents in the war in Syria take part in a football match during a tournament organised by a local charity and Social Development International relief organisation, in the city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province. March 28, 2022. AFP
    Amputees disabled after incidents in the war in Syria take part in a football match during a tournament organised by a local charity and Social Development International relief organisation, in the city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province. March 28, 2022. AFP
  • The claimed launch of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile in an undated photo released on March 25, 2022 by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency. Reuters
    The claimed launch of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile in an undated photo released on March 25, 2022 by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency. Reuters
  • Visitors admire blooming cherry blossoms at Chidorigafuchi Park in Tokyo, Japan, March 27, 2022. Reuters
    Visitors admire blooming cherry blossoms at Chidorigafuchi Park in Tokyo, Japan, March 27, 2022. Reuters
  • An air display on the final day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    An air display on the final day of Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A Terminator figure made from automobile transmission parts, near a checkpoint in Kyiv, Ukraine. March 25, 2022. AP Photo
    A Terminator figure made from automobile transmission parts, near a checkpoint in Kyiv, Ukraine. March 25, 2022. AP Photo
  • Tunisia's players celebrate qualifying for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Tunisia secured a place at the finals in Qatar despite being held 0-0 at home by Mali in the second leg of an African play-off. March 29, 2022. AFP
    Tunisia's players celebrate qualifying for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Tunisia secured a place at the finals in Qatar despite being held 0-0 at home by Mali in the second leg of an African play-off. March 29, 2022. AFP
  • Mourners at the funeral of a policeman and his brother at Chattabugh village in central Kashmir’s Budgam district near Srinagar on March 27, 2022, a day after suspected militants reportedly shot the policeman and his brother. AFP
    Mourners at the funeral of a policeman and his brother at Chattabugh village in central Kashmir’s Budgam district near Srinagar on March 27, 2022, a day after suspected militants reportedly shot the policeman and his brother. AFP
  • Skateboarders at a park in Hong Kong, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. AP Photo
    Skateboarders at a park in Hong Kong, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. AP Photo
  • The statue of Christ the Redeemer after being plunged into darkness for the Earth Hour environmental campaign on top of Corcovado hill in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. March 26, 2022. AFP
    The statue of Christ the Redeemer after being plunged into darkness for the Earth Hour environmental campaign on top of Corcovado hill in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. March 26, 2022. AFP
  • A Palestinian man feeds stray cats on the beach in Gaza City, March 29, 2022. Reuters
    A Palestinian man feeds stray cats on the beach in Gaza City, March 29, 2022. Reuters
  • Truong Van Dao in a wooden tank he made by converting an old minibus. The Vietnamese father spent hundreds of hours, investing thousands, to convert an old van into a wooden tank for his son – an unusual hobby in a country once ravaged by war. March 28, 2022. AFP
    Truong Van Dao in a wooden tank he made by converting an old minibus. The Vietnamese father spent hundreds of hours, investing thousands, to convert an old van into a wooden tank for his son – an unusual hobby in a country once ravaged by war. March 28, 2022. AFP
  • Country Grammer, ridden by Frankie Dettori, wins the Dubai World Cup at Meydan racecourse in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Country Grammer, ridden by Frankie Dettori, wins the Dubai World Cup at Meydan racecourse in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A US Marine during an annual US-Philippines joint military exercise on the beaches of Claveria, Cagayan province, northern Philippines. March 31, 2022. AP Photo
    A US Marine during an annual US-Philippines joint military exercise on the beaches of Claveria, Cagayan province, northern Philippines. March 31, 2022. AP Photo
  • A boy showers with water from a plastic bottle at a camp for internally displaced people in Afdera town, Afar region, Ethiopia. Reuters
    A boy showers with water from a plastic bottle at a camp for internally displaced people in Afdera town, Afar region, Ethiopia. Reuters
  • Misha, 5, who was injured and lost his mother during a Russian strike, is helped by his grandfather to dress in the basement of a hospital in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. March 26, 2022. AFP
    Misha, 5, who was injured and lost his mother during a Russian strike, is helped by his grandfather to dress in the basement of a hospital in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. March 26, 2022. AFP
  • Children play in the grounds of the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque before the start of Ramadan in Banda Aceh. March 30, 2022. Indonesia recently lifted restrictions to allow the resumption of traditional practices for the holy month after two years of tight pandemic restrictions. AFP
    Children play in the grounds of the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque before the start of Ramadan in Banda Aceh. March 30, 2022. Indonesia recently lifted restrictions to allow the resumption of traditional practices for the holy month after two years of tight pandemic restrictions. AFP