Pictures of the week brings you the best images over the past seven days from around the world, chosen by our very own photo editors, Elliot Wagland, Tahira Mirza and Michael Cripps.
pics of the week
(01 of26)
Huge seas are seen courtesy of Tropical Cyclone Marcia on the Gold Coast, Friday, Feb. 20, 2015. Marcia, a category five cyclone, made landfall on the central Queensland coast today, with severe weather conditions expected for the south-east Queensland region over the next 48 hours. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) (credit:DAVE HUNT/AAP)
(02 of26)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge jokes with staff as she visits the 'Emma Bridgewater' pottery factory to view the production of a mug that the company has launched in support of East Anglia's Children's Hospices on February 18, 2015 in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. (Photo by Oli Scarff - WPA Pool/Getty Images) (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
(03 of26)
CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 19: A man takes a selfie as President Barack Obama walks past after the president delivered a speech at the Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy on February 19, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. Obama used the event to designate Chicago's historic Pullman district a national monument. Dating back to the 1880s, the Pullman district, on the city's Far South Side, is one of the country's first company towns. The 'town' was founded by George Pullman to house workers at his now-defunct Pullman Palace Car Co., which made luxurious rail cars. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (credit:Scott Olson via Getty Images)
(04 of26)
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 19: Surfers head out Snapper Rocks as Cyclone Marcia approaches the coast of Queensland on February 19, 2015 in Gold Coast, Australia. Cyclone Marcia is a category 4 storm expected to hit central Queensland between Mackay and Gladstone early Friday morning. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images) (credit:Chris Hyde via Getty Images)
(05 of26)
Two polar bear cubs follow their mother as they venture outside their enclosure for the first time since they were born at Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen, Netherlands, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015. Three cubs were born Nov. 22, 2014 but one of the triplets died soon after birth, the cub's mother and grandmother live at the zoo, their father now lives at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(06 of26)
Dragon and lion performers weave through the crowd during celebration of the Chinese New Year at Manila's Chinatown district of Binondo Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015 in Manila, Philippines. This year marks the "Year of the Sheep" in the Chinese Lunar calendar. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(07 of26)
VUGLEGIRSK , UKRAINE - FEBRUARY 18: Pro-Russian rebels fire artillery grad rockets towards Debaltseve on February 18, 2015, near Vuglegirsk, Ukraine. Ukrainian troops have been forced to retreat from Debaltseve following continued fighting as rebel fighters advance into the town in spite of the recent ceasefire agreement. (Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images) (credit:Pierre Crom via Getty Images)
Northern lights show(08 of26)
The aurora borealis, or the northern lights as they are commonly known at Dunstanburgh Castle in Northumberland. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(09 of26)
Lawmakers from the main opposition Republican People's Party and ruling Justice and Development Party fight during a debate at the parliament in Ankara, Turkey, late Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015. A proposed security bill that would expand Turkish police powers to crackdown on demonstrators has blown up a debate over the governmentâs burgeoning means to quash dissent. (AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(10 of26)
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 17 : A fisherman with a rod is seen at Galata Bridge as the snow falls in Istanbul, Turkey on February 17, 2015. (Photo by Onur Coban/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
(11 of26)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 17: 'Shut Down Manus' is written in the sky, funded by asylum seeker activists over Sydney Harbour on February 17, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. The sky message was commissioned by activists on the one year anniversary of the death of Iranian asylum seeker, Reza Berati during a riot at the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Ryan Pierse via Getty Images)
(12 of26)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 16: Actress Keira Knightley attends The New York Times' TimesTalk & TIFF In Los Angeles Presents 'The Immitation Game' at The Paley Center for Media on February 16, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) (credit:Alberto E. Rodriguez via Getty Images)
(13 of26)
Figures depicting Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (L) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are pictured during the traditional rosemonday carnival parade in the western German city of Duesseldorf on February 16, 2015. AFP PHOTO / PATRIK STOLLARZ (Photo credit should read PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PATRIK STOLLARZ via Getty Images)
(14 of26)
WUHAN, CHINA - FEBRUARY 16: (CHINA OUT) Heavy fog envelops the city on February 16, 2015 in Wuhan, Hubei province of China. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images) (credit:ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images)
(15 of26)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE 40TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL -- Pictured: (l-r) Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short on February 15, 2015 -- (Photo by: Theo Wargo/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (credit:NBC via Getty Images)
(16 of26)
BOSTON, MA. - FEBRUARY 15: Snow covers the barred entrance to Arlington MBTA station iduring winter storm Neptune which dropped over a foot of snow February 15, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. This is the fourth major storm to hit the New England region that has already seen more than 6 feet of snow in some areas. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images) (credit:Scott Eisen via Getty Images)
(17 of26)
HONG KONG - FEBRUARY 20: Fireworks illuminate the city's skyline on February 20, 2015 in Hong Kong. The Chinese lunar new year, which this year marks the Year of Sheep, is celebrated by Chinese communities the world over. (Photo by Anthony Kwan/Getty Images) (credit:Anthony Kwan via Getty Images)
(18 of26)
A West Highland White Terrier in the benching area at Pier 92 and 94 in New York City on the 2nd day of competition at the 139th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show February 17, 2015. The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a two-day, all-breed benched show that takes place at both Pier 92 & 94 and at Madison Square Garden in New York City. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TIMOTHY A. CLARY via Getty Images)
(19 of26)
British soccer player David Beckham (C) takes a selfie with his children as he attends a fashion show by his wife and designer Victoria Beckham during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2015 in New York on February 15, 2015. AFP PHOTO/JEWEL SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JEWEL SAMAD via Getty Images)
(20 of26)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 14: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Justin Bieber and Naomi Campbell hold hands backstage at Naomi Campbell's Fashion For Relief Charity Fashion Show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2015 at The Theatre at Lincoln Center on February 14, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images For Fashion For Relief) (credit:Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images)
(21 of26)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 15: A general view as Indian fans in the crowd celebrate as a Pakistan wicket falls during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between India and Pakistan at Adelaide Oval on February 15, 2015 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) (credit:Scott Barbour via Getty Images)
(22 of26)
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE 40TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL -- Pictured: (l-r) Tom Hanks, Glenn Close, Rita Wilson walk the red carpet at the SNL 40th Anniversary Special at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York, NY on February 15, 2015 -- (Photo by: Michael Loccisano/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) (credit:NBC via Getty Images)
(23 of26)
SANYA, CHINA - FEBRUARY 18: In this handout image provided by the Volvo Ocean Race onboard Team Alvimedica, Seb Marsset drives south as equatorial clouds begin to appear on the horizon in every direction, the first signs of ITCZ convergence and volatility during Leg 4 from Sanya to Auckland on February 18, 2015 in Sanya, China. The Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 is the 12th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain on October 04, 2014, the route, spanning some 39,379 nautical miles, visits 11 ports in eleven countries (Spain, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, China, New Zealand, Brazil, United States, Portugal, France, The Netherlands and Sweden) over nine months. The Volvo Ocean Race is the world's premier ocean yacht race for professional racing crews. (Photo by Amory Ross/Team Alvimedica/Volvo Ocean Race via Getty Images) (credit:Handout via Getty Images)
(24 of26)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 14: (L-R) Kim Kardashian, North West and Kanye West attend the Alexander Wang Fashion Show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2015 at Pier 94 on February 14, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images) (credit:Craig Barritt via Getty Images)
(25 of26)
A boy dressed as Superman mocks on a masked man dressed as an 'Antruejo' carrying cowbells tied to his back taking a rest during the carnival of Carrizo de la Ribera, in the northern Spanish province of Leon, on February 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO/ CESAR MANSO (Photo credit should read CESAR MANSO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:CESAR MANSO via Getty Images)
(26 of26)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 19: A model walks the runway wearing a design by MT Costello at the Art Hearts Fashion Show Presented By AIDS Healthcare Foundation fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2015 at The Theatre at Lincoln Center on February 19, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Arun Nevader/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) (credit:Arun Nevader via Getty Images)