The best photos of the week: from James Webb's deep space to Eid fireworks - in pictures

  • Galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. The telescope is able to see back so far in time that scientists can get a glimpse of the dawn of the universe about 13.7 billion years ago and zoom in on closer cosmic objects, even our own solar system, with sharper focus. AP
    Galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. The telescope is able to see back so far in time that scientists can get a glimpse of the dawn of the universe about 13.7 billion years ago and zoom in on closer cosmic objects, even our own solar system, with sharper focus. AP
  • A 'Rhopilema nomadica' jellyfish in the Mediterranean Sea near Lebanon's coastal city of Tripoli. The invasive species has been entering the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal since the 1970s and is becoming a threat to the Mediterranean ecosystem, scientists say. AFP
    A 'Rhopilema nomadica' jellyfish in the Mediterranean Sea near Lebanon's coastal city of Tripoli. The invasive species has been entering the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal since the 1970s and is becoming a threat to the Mediterranean ecosystem, scientists say. AFP
  • Fans in rain ponchos and face masks during the friendly match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. United won 4-0. Reuters
    Fans in rain ponchos and face masks during the friendly match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. United won 4-0. Reuters
  • Port employees in Qingdao, in China's eastern Shandong province. AFP
    Port employees in Qingdao, in China's eastern Shandong province. AFP
  • A waxing gibbous moon rises behind a rundown Ferris wheel at an abandoned amusement park near al-Nayrab, a village ravaged by attacks by pro-government forces in Idlib province, Syria. AFP
    A waxing gibbous moon rises behind a rundown Ferris wheel at an abandoned amusement park near al-Nayrab, a village ravaged by attacks by pro-government forces in Idlib province, Syria. AFP
  • Workers clean the red carpet at Ben Gurion Airport in Lod near Tel Aviv ahead of US President Joe Biden's arrival on an official visit. AFP
    Workers clean the red carpet at Ben Gurion Airport in Lod near Tel Aviv ahead of US President Joe Biden's arrival on an official visit. AFP
  • Sunset over Manhattan on 42nd street during 'Manhattanhenge' in New York. The Manhattanhenge is an event in which the sunset or sunrise is aligned on the east-west grid of main streets in Manhattan, New York. AFP
    Sunset over Manhattan on 42nd street during 'Manhattanhenge' in New York. The Manhattanhenge is an event in which the sunset or sunrise is aligned on the east-west grid of main streets in Manhattan, New York. AFP
  • Alphajets from the French Air Force Patrouille de France over the Arc de Triomphe during a rehearsal, three days before Bastille Day parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. AFP
    Alphajets from the French Air Force Patrouille de France over the Arc de Triomphe during a rehearsal, three days before Bastille Day parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. AFP
  • A quiet day at the beach in Hoylake, Britain. Reuters
    A quiet day at the beach in Hoylake, Britain. Reuters
  • Officials said this car caught fire after an electrical short circuit when it was stuck in a water-logged road after heavy rains in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters
    Officials said this car caught fire after an electrical short circuit when it was stuck in a water-logged road after heavy rains in Ahmedabad, India. Reuters
  • Supermoon over Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Supermoon over Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Buddhists gather around the Shwedagon Pagoda during the Warso Full Moon Festival in Yangon, Myanmar. AFP
    Buddhists gather around the Shwedagon Pagoda during the Warso Full Moon Festival in Yangon, Myanmar. AFP
  • Slovenia's Milan Preskar competes in the semi-finals of the men's lead competition at the IFSC Climbing World Cup on Mont-Blanc square in Chamonix, French Alps. AFP
    Slovenia's Milan Preskar competes in the semi-finals of the men's lead competition at the IFSC Climbing World Cup on Mont-Blanc square in Chamonix, French Alps. AFP
  • Participants during the bull-run at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain. On each day of the festival six bulls are released at 8am to run from their corral through the narrow, cobbled streets of the old town over an 850-metre course. Ahead of them are the runners, who try to stay close to the bulls without falling over or being gored. AFP
    Participants during the bull-run at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain. On each day of the festival six bulls are released at 8am to run from their corral through the narrow, cobbled streets of the old town over an 850-metre course. Ahead of them are the runners, who try to stay close to the bulls without falling over or being gored. AFP
  • Bartosz Bednorz of Poland during the 2022 men's FIVB Volleyball Nations League match against the Netherlands in Gdansk, Poland. EPA
    Bartosz Bednorz of Poland during the 2022 men's FIVB Volleyball Nations League match against the Netherlands in Gdansk, Poland. EPA
  • Insulating foam covers part of the Rhone Glacier to prevent it from melting. The glacier is one of 10 selected to be monitored by high resolution time-lapse cameras as part of the Planet Watch project to document and measure the effects of global warming. AFP
    Insulating foam covers part of the Rhone Glacier to prevent it from melting. The glacier is one of 10 selected to be monitored by high resolution time-lapse cameras as part of the Planet Watch project to document and measure the effects of global warming. AFP
  • A firefighter at Casais do Vento in Alvaiazere. About 1,500 firefighters were mobilised to put out three wildfires raging for more than 48 hours in central and northern Portugal. AFP
    A firefighter at Casais do Vento in Alvaiazere. About 1,500 firefighters were mobilised to put out three wildfires raging for more than 48 hours in central and northern Portugal. AFP
  • A demonstrator introduces a dog as the new wildlife minister in the Cabinet meeting room at the president of Sri Lanka's house the day after demonstrators entered the building. Reuters
    A demonstrator introduces a dog as the new wildlife minister in the Cabinet meeting room at the president of Sri Lanka's house the day after demonstrators entered the building. Reuters
  • Mirek Struzik's 'Dandelions'. One of a series of photographs of public sculptures in the UAE. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Mirek Struzik's 'Dandelions'. One of a series of photographs of public sculptures in the UAE. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Milwaukee Brewers' Keston Hiura at the plate during a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Milwaukee. AP Photo
    Milwaukee Brewers' Keston Hiura at the plate during a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Milwaukee. AP Photo
  • A giant biodegradable landart painting entitled 'Vers l'equilibre' (Towards balance) by French-Swiss artist Saype near the summit of the Grand Chamossaire mountain, above the alpine resort of Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland. The 2,500-square-metre fresco was created using biodegradable pigments made from charcoal, chalk, water and milk proteins. EPA
    A giant biodegradable landart painting entitled 'Vers l'equilibre' (Towards balance) by French-Swiss artist Saype near the summit of the Grand Chamossaire mountain, above the alpine resort of Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland. The 2,500-square-metre fresco was created using biodegradable pigments made from charcoal, chalk, water and milk proteins. EPA
  • Muslim pilgrims make their way across the valley of Mina, near Makkah in western Saudi Arabia, to perform the 'stoning of the devil' ritual that marks the start of the Eid Al Adha holiday. AFP
    Muslim pilgrims make their way across the valley of Mina, near Makkah in western Saudi Arabia, to perform the 'stoning of the devil' ritual that marks the start of the Eid Al Adha holiday. AFP
  • French elite acrobatic flying team Patrouille de France over the Louvre Pyramid during the Bastille Day military parade in Paris. AFP
    French elite acrobatic flying team Patrouille de France over the Louvre Pyramid during the Bastille Day military parade in Paris. AFP
  • An emergency response drill for members of rescue teams in New Taipei City, Taiwan. AFP
    An emergency response drill for members of rescue teams in New Taipei City, Taiwan. AFP
  • Boys play in a city fountain in Bucharest, Romania. AP Photo
    Boys play in a city fountain in Bucharest, Romania. AP Photo
  • Swimmers dive from a platform on Lake Geneva, in Lutry, near Lausanne. AFP
    Swimmers dive from a platform on Lake Geneva, in Lutry, near Lausanne. AFP
  • Receding water levels at Lindley Wood Reservoir in Otley, England. Getty Images
    Receding water levels at Lindley Wood Reservoir in Otley, England. Getty Images
  • Performers during the musical 'Ocheg Eddenya' on opening night of the 56th International Festival of Carthage, at the Roman Theatre of Carthage in Tunis, Tunisia. EPA
    Performers during the musical 'Ocheg Eddenya' on opening night of the 56th International Festival of Carthage, at the Roman Theatre of Carthage in Tunis, Tunisia. EPA
  • Forest fires rage in Morocco's northern region of Ksar Sghir. AFP
    Forest fires rage in Morocco's northern region of Ksar Sghir. AFP
  • Eid Al Adha fireworks at Yas Bay Waterfront in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Eid Al Adha fireworks at Yas Bay Waterfront in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National