Lightning strikes at a beach in Lhokseumawe, Northern Aceh, in Aceh province on May 25, 2022. (Photo by AZWAR IPANK / AFP)
Lightning strikes at a beach in Lhokseumawe, Northern Aceh, in Aceh province on May 25, 2022. (Photo by AZWAR IPANK / AFP)
Texas Democratic candidate for governor, Beto O'Rourke, disrupts a press conference held by Governor Greg Abbott the day after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Reuters
Texas Democratic candidate for governor, Beto O'Rourke, disrupts a press conference held by Governor Greg Abbott the day after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Reuters
A child sits during the weekly general audience held by Pope Francis at the Vatican. Reuters
A child sits during the weekly general audience held by Pope Francis at the Vatican. Reuters
Girls filling containers with drinking water from a tap in Kandahar, Afghanistan. AFP
Girls filling containers with drinking water from a tap in Kandahar, Afghanistan. AFP
The remains of ships at the Donjon Iron and Metal Scrap Processing Facility, also known as the Staten Island boat graveyard, in the Arthur Kill, a tidal waterway off the coast of the Staten Island borough of New York. The scrapyard, which dates back to the 1930s, once featured more than 400 ships that were sold off for parts. EPA
The remains of ships at the Donjon Iron and Metal Scrap Processing Facility, also known as the Staten Island boat graveyard, in the Arthur Kill, a tidal waterway off the coast of the Staten Island borough of New York. The scrapyard, which dates back to the 1930s, once featured more than 400 ships that were sold off for parts. EPA
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, left, with President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde, second right, during the 51st annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. EPA
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, left, with President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde, second right, during the 51st annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. EPA
The beautiful game played on a dusty field in Barrancas, Guajira province, Colombia. AFP
The beautiful game played on a dusty field in Barrancas, Guajira province, Colombia. AFP
Francisco Fabiano Rodrigues and his children on the porch of their home on a street flooded by the rise of the Negro river in Iranduba, Brazil. The Amazon region is being hit hard with 35 municipalities facing the worst flooding in years and water levels expected to rise over the coming months. AP Photo
Francisco Fabiano Rodrigues and his children on the porch of their home on a street flooded by the rise of the Negro river in Iranduba, Brazil. The Amazon region is being hit hard with 35 municipalities facing the worst flooding in years and water levels expected to rise over the coming months. AP Photo
People near Kibumba in the Democratic Republic of Congo flee fighting between Congolese forces and M23 rebels in North Kivu. Congolese authorities accuse Rwandan forces of supporting armed groups in mineral-rich eastern Congo, where dozens of such groups are active. Rwanda says the allegations are baseless. AP Photo
People near Kibumba in the Democratic Republic of Congo flee fighting between Congolese forces and M23 rebels in North Kivu. Congolese authorities accuse Rwandan forces of supporting armed groups in mineral-rich eastern Congo, where dozens of such groups are active. Rwanda says the allegations are baseless. AP Photo
Rain clouds over Gauhati, India. AP Photo
Rain clouds over Gauhati, India. AP Photo
Guests in baroque style costumes in the Hall of Mirrors at the Chateau de Versailles Palace during the sixth edition of the Fetes Galantes fancy dress evening. Tickets cost more than €500 and guests can wander through the private apartments of the chateau, which is a World Heritage site and one of France's biggest tourist attractions. AFP
Guests in baroque style costumes in the Hall of Mirrors at the Chateau de Versailles Palace during the sixth edition of the Fetes Galantes fancy dress evening. Tickets cost more than €500 and guests can wander through the private apartments of the chateau, which is a World Heritage site and one of France's biggest tourist attractions. AFP
Journalists gather for the presentation of an aircraft dedicated to the late soccer legend Diego Maradona, at a military base in Moron, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The aircraft will carry and display jerseys and other objects that belonged to Maradona. It is one of the many tributes planned to coincide with the first World Cup since his death. AP Photo
Journalists gather for the presentation of an aircraft dedicated to the late soccer legend Diego Maradona, at a military base in Moron, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The aircraft will carry and display jerseys and other objects that belonged to Maradona. It is one of the many tributes planned to coincide with the first World Cup since his death. AP Photo
Abdul Latif Al Banna shows off a pineapple at his Al Aweer farm in Dubai, where he grows the fruit using hydroponics. Pawan Singh / The National
Abdul Latif Al Banna shows off a pineapple at his Al Aweer farm in Dubai, where he grows the fruit using hydroponics. Pawan Singh / The National
Migrants struggle to cling to the side of an upturning boat off the coast of Tunisia. About 110 people were rescued by the non-governmental organisation Open Arms during a mission in the Mediterranean Sea. AP Photo
Migrants struggle to cling to the side of an upturning boat off the coast of Tunisia. About 110 people were rescued by the non-governmental organisation Open Arms during a mission in the Mediterranean Sea. AP Photo
Police officers block activists during a protest denouncing the proclamation of the new Philippine president and vice president, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Reuters
Police officers block activists during a protest denouncing the proclamation of the new Philippine president and vice president, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Reuters
Air Force Academy cadets celebrate their graduation as Thunderbirds fly over in Colorado Springs. AP
Air Force Academy cadets celebrate their graduation as Thunderbirds fly over in Colorado Springs. AP
Community members clean up the devastating aftermath at the home of Steve and Theresa Haskes in Gaylord, Michigan, after a tornado ripped through the small northern Michigan city. AP
Community members clean up the devastating aftermath at the home of Steve and Theresa Haskes in Gaylord, Michigan, after a tornado ripped through the small northern Michigan city. AP
Central Post Office employees disinfect a vehicle as part of efforts to slow the spread of Covid-19 in Pyongyang, North Korea. Reuters
Central Post Office employees disinfect a vehicle as part of efforts to slow the spread of Covid-19 in Pyongyang, North Korea. Reuters
A malnourished baby on the scale at the Indira Gandhi hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. More than a million Afghan children under the age of five are expected to be affected by malnutrition by the end of the year. AP Photo
A malnourished baby on the scale at the Indira Gandhi hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. More than a million Afghan children under the age of five are expected to be affected by malnutrition by the end of the year. AP Photo
French tightrope walker Nathan Paulin uses a slackline to cross the bay of Le Mont Saint-Michel, north-west France, during a world record distance attempt. AFP
French tightrope walker Nathan Paulin uses a slackline to cross the bay of Le Mont Saint-Michel, north-west France, during a world record distance attempt. AFP
Men in traditional costume during a horse race in Misrata, Libya. Reuters
Men in traditional costume during a horse race in Misrata, Libya. Reuters
Floyd Mayweather throws a punch against Don Moore during the Abu Dhabi Unity Boxing event at the Etihad Arena in the UAE capital. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Floyd Mayweather throws a punch against Don Moore during the Abu Dhabi Unity Boxing event at the Etihad Arena in the UAE capital. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Kvitbjorn (Norwegian for polar bear, a hybrid tourist boat that combines a diesel motor and electric batteries, makes its way through the sea ice in Borebukta Bay on the north-west side of Isfjorden, in Svalbard archipelago, northern Norway. Home to polar bears, the midnight sun and the northern lights, the Norwegian archipelago perched high in the Arctic is trying to find a way to profit from its pristine wilderness without ruining it. AFP
The Kvitbjorn (Norwegian for polar bear, a hybrid tourist boat that combines a diesel motor and electric batteries, makes its way through the sea ice in Borebukta Bay on the north-west side of Isfjorden, in Svalbard archipelago, northern Norway. Home to polar bears, the midnight sun and the northern lights, the Norwegian archipelago perched high in the Arctic is trying to find a way to profit from its pristine wilderness without ruining it. AFP
A bus with the AS Roma football team passes the Colosseum in Rome during the celebration for their victory in the Europe Conference League final against Feyenoord in Tirana on Wednesday. AP Photo
A bus with the AS Roma football team passes the Colosseum in Rome during the celebration for their victory in the Europe Conference League final against Feyenoord in Tirana on Wednesday. AP Photo
Destroyed bed linen and blankets in a pool of water after a fire at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, in the Piraeus district of Athens. About 20 tonnes of bed linen and blankets intended for Ukraine were destroyed in a fire on May 26, 2022. The cause of the fire is not known. AFP
Destroyed bed linen and blankets in a pool of water after a fire at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, in the Piraeus district of Athens. About 20 tonnes of bed linen and blankets intended for Ukraine were destroyed in a fire on May 26, 2022. The cause of the fire is not known. AFP
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to St Mary Cray Primary Academy School in Orpington, south-east London. Reuters
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to St Mary Cray Primary Academy School in Orpington, south-east London. Reuters
Palestinians flee clashes with the Israeli army in the West Bank city of Hebron after a protest against Israel's plans to change the status quo in the Ibrahimi mosque, also known as the Cave of the Patriarchs and building a lift to serve Jewish worshippers. EPA
Palestinians flee clashes with the Israeli army in the West Bank city of Hebron after a protest against Israel's plans to change the status quo in the Ibrahimi mosque, also known as the Cave of the Patriarchs and building a lift to serve Jewish worshippers. EPA
Spanish divers try to cut an illegal drift net off a 12-metre humpback whale, who got entangled in it near Cala Millor beach off the Balearic island of Mallorca, Spain. Reuters
Spanish divers try to cut an illegal drift net off a 12-metre humpback whale, who got entangled in it near Cala Millor beach off the Balearic island of Mallorca, Spain. Reuters
US actress Sharon Stone arrives for the screening of 'Crimes of the Future' at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France. AFP
US actress Sharon Stone arrives for the screening of 'Crimes of the Future' at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France. AFP
A Bedouin boy accompanying shepherds grazing their flocks in the Al Henniyah area outside Najaf during a sandstorm in Iraq. AFP
A Bedouin boy accompanying shepherds grazing their flocks in the Al Henniyah area outside Najaf during a sandstorm in Iraq. AFP

Weekend

The best photos of the week: from lightning in Aceh to sandstorms in Iraq

The most striking pictures from around the world

Tim Knowles
Tim Knowles

May 27, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

More from The National:

Friday's best photos: from triumph at the Colosseum to a record crowd of 'vampires'

Thursday's best photos: flying high with Maradona and Air Force cadet celebrations

Wednesday's best photos: from saving a whale to a record-breaking tightrope walk in France

Tuesday's best photos: from Hall of Mirrors fancy dress to Sharon Stone at Cannes

Monday's best photos: from Chelsea Flower Show to AC Milan fans

Sunday's best photos: from a heatwave in Spain to a block party in Brooklyn - in pictures

Saturday's best photos: from purple skies in Germany to a heatwave in India

Updated: May 27, 2022, 6:01 PM
WeekendPhotography