Saturday 26 March 2016

AP PHOTOS: A selection of pictures from the past week

Two boys look out of a truck in a convoy carrying families fleeing Islamic State-held Hit, Iraq, at a checkpoint on the western edge of Ramadi, Iraq. Much of Iraq’s north and west fell to the Islamic State group in the summer of 2014, but over the past year Iraq’s military has slowly regained pockets of territory. While IS still controls a large swath of Iraq and neighboring Syria, the group has lost an estimated 40 percent of the territory it once held in Iraq, according to U.S.-led coalition officials.
Two boys look out of a truck in a convoy carrying families fleeing Islamic State-held Hit, Iraq, at a checkpoint on the western edge of Ramadi, Iraq. Much of Iraq’s north and west fell to the Islamic State group in the summer of 2014, but over the past year Iraq’s military has slowly regained pockets of territory. While IS still controls a large swath of Iraq and neighboring Syria, the group has lost an estimated 40 percent of the territory it once held in Iraq, according to U.S.-led coalition officials.
           
In this photo provided by Ralph Usbeck, an unidentified woman lies on the ground in a smoke filled terminal at Brussels Airport after explosions in the Belgian capital on Tuesday, March 22, 2016. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks at the city's airport and subway.
In this photo provided by Ralph Usbeck, an unidentified woman lies on the ground in a smoke filled terminal at Brussels Airport after explosions in the Belgian capital on Tuesday, March 22, 2016. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks at the city's airport and subway.                    
A girl dressed as an angel walks to a synagogue of the Tzanz Hasidic dynasty community to read the Book of Esther, which tells the story of the Jewish festival of Purim, in Netanya, Israel, Wednesday, March 23, 2016. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews' salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther.
A girl dressed as an angel walks to a synagogue of the Tzanz Hasidic dynasty community to read the Book of Esther, which tells the story of the Jewish festival of Purim, in Netanya, Israel, Wednesday, March 23, 2016. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews' salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the Book of Esther.                      
Migrants stand around a fire at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Saturday, March 19, 2016. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is urging migrants in the squalid tent city, on the border with Macedonia, to trust Greek authorities and leave for better accommodation as thousands have stayed on site after the closure of the Macedonian border, hoping the Balkan route used for months by migrants heading for central Europe will reopen.
Migrants stand around a fire at the northern Greek border point of Idomeni, Greece, Saturday, March 19, 2016. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is urging migrants in the squalid tent city, on the border with Macedonia, to trust Greek authorities and leave for better accommodation as thousands have stayed on site after the closure of the Macedonian border, hoping the Balkan route used for months by migrants heading for central Europe will reopen.                        
Election officials count votes by flashlight inside a school used as a polling station during elections in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, March 20, 2016. The electoral commission released results Tuesday showing that President Mahamadou Issoufou received more than 92 percent of the runoff vote.
Election officials count votes by flashlight inside a school used as a polling station during elections in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, March 20, 2016. The electoral commission released results Tuesday showing that President Mahamadou Issoufou received more than 92 percent of the runoff vote.                    
North Carolina forward Brice Johnson (11) reacts after dunking the ball against Providence during the second half of a second-round men's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, March 19, 2016. North Carolina won 85-66.
North Carolina forward Brice Johnson (11) reacts after dunking the ball against Providence during the second half of a second-round men's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, March 19, 2016. North Carolina won 85-66.                                 
Workers start to load garbage bags into trucks from a street in Jdeideh, east Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, March 19, 2016, in what residents hope marks the end of Lebanon's eight-month garbage crisis. Authorities managed to blunt public anger by ensuring that the streets of Beirut were kept relatively garbage-free. However, the trash was instead pushed to the city's periphery, where it piled up along roadsides and the banks of the Beirut River.
Workers start to load garbage bags into trucks from a street in Jdeideh, east Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, March 19, 2016, in what residents hope marks the end of Lebanon's eight-month garbage crisis. Authorities managed to blunt public anger by ensuring that the streets of Beirut were kept relatively garbage-free. However, the trash was instead pushed to the city's periphery, where it piled up along roadsides and the banks of the Beirut River.                                
The USS Zumwalt, a new guided missile destroyer, makes it way down the Kennebec River as it heads out to sea in Bath, Maine, Monday, March 21, 2016. The ship, which was built at Bath Iron Works, will undergo final builder trials before it is presented to the U.S. Navy for inspection.
The USS Zumwalt, a new guided missile destroyer, makes it way down the Kennebec River as it heads out to sea in Bath, Maine, Monday, March 21, 2016. The ship, which was built at Bath Iron Works, will undergo final builder trials before it is presented to the U.S. Navy for inspection.                         
People gather to mourn for bombing victims at the Place de la Bourse in the center of Brussels, Tuesday, March 22, 2016. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks at the Belgian capital's airport and subway.
People gather to mourn for bombing victims at the Place de la Bourse in the center of Brussels, Tuesday, March 22, 2016. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks at the Belgian capital's airport and subway.                  
Hooded penitents from the "La Candelaria" brotherhood walk to the church to take part in a traditional annual procession in Seville, Spain, Tuesday, March 22, 2016. Hundreds of processions take place throughout Spain during the Easter Holy Week.
Hooded penitents from the "La Candelaria" brotherhood walk to the church to take part in a traditional annual procession in Seville, Spain, Tuesday, March 22, 2016. Hundreds of processions take place throughout Spain during the Easter Holy Week.