A major political summit took place this week, as well as protests in various parts of the world, military drills, active war operations, heavy snows and a record drought – see the images of this week in pictures.
© REUTERS / G20 Australia/Handout via ReutersOver the weekend, the Australian city of Brisbane has hosted world leaders and around 4,000 delegates for its G20 Summit. President Putin hailed the atmosphere of the high-profile meeting and warm attitude towards Russian delegation.
Above: Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) is escorted by security staff as he prepares to board his plane at Brisbane Airport to leave the G20 Leaders' Summit early in this November 16, 2014 handout photo provided by G20 Australia.
Above: Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) is escorted by security staff as he prepares to board his plane at Brisbane Airport to leave the G20 Leaders' Summit early in this November 16, 2014 handout photo provided by G20 Australia.
Over the weekend, the Australian city of Brisbane has hosted world leaders and around 4,000 delegates for its G20 Summit. President Putin hailed the atmosphere of the high-profile meeting and warm attitude towards Russian delegation.
Above: Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) is escorted by security staff as he prepares to board his plane at Brisbane Airport to leave the G20 Leaders' Summit early in this November 16, 2014 handout photo provided by G20 Australia.
Above: Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) is escorted by security staff as he prepares to board his plane at Brisbane Airport to leave the G20 Leaders' Summit early in this November 16, 2014 handout photo provided by G20 Australia.
© NASA . USGSNASA has released a series of images of sanctuaries around the globe as part of a new book that highlights how the view from space is being used to protect some of the world's most interesting, changing, and threatened places.
Above: An image from an American Earth observation satellite, Landsat 8, of the isolated island of protected forest around New Zealand's Mt. Taranaki in Egmont National Park, which is surrounded by once-forested pasturelands.
Above: An image from an American Earth observation satellite, Landsat 8, of the isolated island of protected forest around New Zealand's Mt. Taranaki in Egmont National Park, which is surrounded by once-forested pasturelands.
NASA has released a series of images of sanctuaries around the globe as part of a new book that highlights how the view from space is being used to protect some of the world's most interesting, changing, and threatened places.
Above: An image from an American Earth observation satellite, Landsat 8, of the isolated island of protected forest around New Zealand's Mt. Taranaki in Egmont National Park, which is surrounded by once-forested pasturelands.
Above: An image from an American Earth observation satellite, Landsat 8, of the isolated island of protected forest around New Zealand's Mt. Taranaki in Egmont National Park, which is surrounded by once-forested pasturelands.
© Sputnik / Said Tcarnaev / Go to the mediabankRussia’s Defense Ministry has started its first conscription campaign in the Chechen Republic in 20 years. The first group of conscripts left for the military forces on November 17.
Above: Seeing off recruits at the parade grounds of the Military Commissariat of the Chechen Republic.
Above: Seeing off recruits at the parade grounds of the Military Commissariat of the Chechen Republic.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has started its first conscription campaign in the Chechen Republic in 20 years. The first group of conscripts left for the military forces on November 17.
Above: Seeing off recruits at the parade grounds of the Military Commissariat of the Chechen Republic.
Above: Seeing off recruits at the parade grounds of the Military Commissariat of the Chechen Republic.
© REUTERS / Lucy Nicholson More than 30 automobiles are set to make their world debuts at the Los Angeles Convention Center, as the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show prepares to start during the coming weekend.
Above: The rear of the Chevrolet Chaparral 2X Vision Gran Tourism concept car at its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in California, November 19, 2014
Above: The rear of the Chevrolet Chaparral 2X Vision Gran Tourism concept car at its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in California, November 19, 2014
More than 30 automobiles are set to make their world debuts at the Los Angeles Convention Center, as the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show prepares to start during the coming weekend.
Above: The rear of the Chevrolet Chaparral 2X Vision Gran Tourism concept car at its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in California, November 19, 2014
Above: The rear of the Chevrolet Chaparral 2X Vision Gran Tourism concept car at its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in California, November 19, 2014
© Sputnik / Alexander Vilf / Go to the mediabankRussian figure skaters won six medals at the Rostelecom Cup 2014 ISU Grand Prix figure-skating tournament, hosted in Moscow over the past weekend.
Above: Russian Yelena Ilyinykh and Ruslan Zhigashin, who won the silver medals with 160.43 points, perform their short program during the ice dance competition at the fourth event of the 2014-15 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Moscow.
Above: Russian Yelena Ilyinykh and Ruslan Zhigashin, who won the silver medals with 160.43 points, perform their short program during the ice dance competition at the fourth event of the 2014-15 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Moscow.
Russian figure skaters won six medals at the Rostelecom Cup 2014 ISU Grand Prix figure-skating tournament, hosted in Moscow over the past weekend.
Above: Russian Yelena Ilyinykh and Ruslan Zhigashin, who won the silver medals with 160.43 points, perform their short program during the ice dance competition at the fourth event of the 2014-15 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Moscow.
Above: Russian Yelena Ilyinykh and Ruslan Zhigashin, who won the silver medals with 160.43 points, perform their short program during the ice dance competition at the fourth event of the 2014-15 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Moscow.
© Sputnik / Grigori Sisoyev / Go to the mediabankMoscow opens up the skating season: while the largest skating rink in Europe is set to open at Moscow’s All-Russian Exhibition Center (VDNKh) later this month, the one in the capital’s Gorky Park is already open to visitors.
Above: an all-weather surface is being prepared at Moscow’s All-Russian Exhibition Center (VDNKh).
Above: an all-weather surface is being prepared at Moscow’s All-Russian Exhibition Center (VDNKh).
Moscow opens up the skating season: while the largest skating rink in Europe is set to open at Moscow’s All-Russian Exhibition Center (VDNKh) later this month, the one in the capital’s Gorky Park is already open to visitors.
Above: an all-weather surface is being prepared at Moscow’s All-Russian Exhibition Center (VDNKh).
Above: an all-weather surface is being prepared at Moscow’s All-Russian Exhibition Center (VDNKh).
© Sputnik / Evgenya Novozhenina / Go to the mediabankMoscow hosted 20th Festival of Talent and Beauty “Krasa Rossii” (Russian Beauty).
Above: Participants in the 20th Krasa Rossii (Russian Beauty) Festival of Talent and Beauty, held at the Moscow State Musical Folklore Theater.
Above: Participants in the 20th Krasa Rossii (Russian Beauty) Festival of Talent and Beauty, held at the Moscow State Musical Folklore Theater.
Moscow hosted 20th Festival of Talent and Beauty “Krasa Rossii” (Russian Beauty).
Above: Participants in the 20th Krasa Rossii (Russian Beauty) Festival of Talent and Beauty, held at the Moscow State Musical Folklore Theater.
Above: Participants in the 20th Krasa Rossii (Russian Beauty) Festival of Talent and Beauty, held at the Moscow State Musical Folklore Theater.
© AP Photo / M. Spencer GreenA twin-engine aircraft crashed into a home in Chicago early on Tuesday morning, killing the pilot but sparing a couple who were asleep just centimeters away.
Above: Police and fire officials walk near a small twin-engine cargo plane that crashed into a home on Chicago's southwest side early Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014, killing the pilot.
Above: Police and fire officials walk near a small twin-engine cargo plane that crashed into a home on Chicago's southwest side early Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014, killing the pilot.
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© AP Photo / M. Spencer Green
A twin-engine aircraft crashed into a home in Chicago early on Tuesday morning, killing the pilot but sparing a couple who were asleep just centimeters away.
Above: Police and fire officials walk near a small twin-engine cargo plane that crashed into a home on Chicago's southwest side early Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014, killing the pilot.
Above: Police and fire officials walk near a small twin-engine cargo plane that crashed into a home on Chicago's southwest side early Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014, killing the pilot.
© REUTERS / Antonio BronicWorkers started winching debris from Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on to trucks in eastern Ukraine, paving the way for its eventual return to the Netherlands.
Above: Local workers transport a piece of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 wreckage at the site of the plane crash near the village of Hrabove (Grabovo) in Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine November 20, 2014
Above: Local workers transport a piece of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 wreckage at the site of the plane crash near the village of Hrabove (Grabovo) in Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine November 20, 2014
Workers started winching debris from Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 on to trucks in eastern Ukraine, paving the way for its eventual return to the Netherlands.
Above: Local workers transport a piece of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 wreckage at the site of the plane crash near the village of Hrabove (Grabovo) in Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine November 20, 2014
Above: Local workers transport a piece of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 wreckage at the site of the plane crash near the village of Hrabove (Grabovo) in Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine November 20, 2014
© REUTERS / Yusuf AhmadProtesters took to the streets of Indonesia to rally against a fuel-price increase announced by President Joko Widodo on Monday.
Above: An Indonesian student protester runs after accidentally setting himself on fire while attempting to lob a Molotov cocktail at police in Makassar, South Sulawesi Province November 19, 2014
Above: An Indonesian student protester runs after accidentally setting himself on fire while attempting to lob a Molotov cocktail at police in Makassar, South Sulawesi Province November 19, 2014
Protesters took to the streets of Indonesia to rally against a fuel-price increase announced by President Joko Widodo on Monday.
Above: An Indonesian student protester runs after accidentally setting himself on fire while attempting to lob a Molotov cocktail at police in Makassar, South Sulawesi Province November 19, 2014
Above: An Indonesian student protester runs after accidentally setting himself on fire while attempting to lob a Molotov cocktail at police in Makassar, South Sulawesi Province November 19, 2014
© REUTERS / Nacho DoceThe worst drought in 80 years has hit large swathes of Brazil, threatening the Cantareira system which provides greater Sao Paulo with most of its water; the city's reservoir currently holds its lowest water level on record.
Above: An aerial view of the Atibainha dam, part of the Cantareira reservoir, during a drought in Nazare Paulista, Sao Paulo state November 18, 2014
Above: An aerial view of the Atibainha dam, part of the Cantareira reservoir, during a drought in Nazare Paulista, Sao Paulo state November 18, 2014
The worst drought in 80 years has hit large swathes of Brazil, threatening the Cantareira system which provides greater Sao Paulo with most of its water; the city's reservoir currently holds its lowest water level on record.
Above: An aerial view of the Atibainha dam, part of the Cantareira reservoir, during a drought in Nazare Paulista, Sao Paulo state November 18, 2014
Above: An aerial view of the Atibainha dam, part of the Cantareira reservoir, during a drought in Nazare Paulista, Sao Paulo state November 18, 2014
© REUTERS / Ammar Awad Following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's order, Israeli Defense Forces have started the process of demolishing the homes of Palestinians who recently committed terror attacks in Israel.
Above: A Palestinian boy, relative of Abdel-Rahman Shaloudi, stands on rubble in Shaloudi's destroyed home in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan November 19, 2014.
Above: A Palestinian boy, relative of Abdel-Rahman Shaloudi, stands on rubble in Shaloudi's destroyed home in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan November 19, 2014.
Following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's order, Israeli Defense Forces have started the process of demolishing the homes of Palestinians who recently committed terror attacks in Israel.
Above: A Palestinian boy, relative of Abdel-Rahman Shaloudi, stands on rubble in Shaloudi's destroyed home in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan November 19, 2014.
Above: A Palestinian boy, relative of Abdel-Rahman Shaloudi, stands on rubble in Shaloudi's destroyed home in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan November 19, 2014.
© Fotobank.ru/Getty ImagesStunt rider Danny MacAskill amazed onlookers with a 5-meter loop-the-loop on his bike in front of the London Eye in a bid to promote Microsoft’s personal assistant software Cortana.
Above: cyclist Danny MacAskill performs a 5-meter loop-the-loop in front of the London Eye.
Above: cyclist Danny MacAskill performs a 5-meter loop-the-loop in front of the London Eye.
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© Fotobank.ru/Getty Images
Stunt rider Danny MacAskill amazed onlookers with a 5-meter loop-the-loop on his bike in front of the London Eye in a bid to promote Microsoft’s personal assistant software Cortana.
Above: cyclist Danny MacAskill performs a 5-meter loop-the-loop in front of the London Eye.
Above: cyclist Danny MacAskill performs a 5-meter loop-the-loop in front of the London Eye.
© Sputnik / Evgeny Biyatov / Go to the mediabankThe exhibition "Energy Search" by Rossiya Segodnya photojournalist Vladimir Vyatkin, has opened up in the Museum and exhibition center Worker and Collective Farm Girl in Moscow.
Above: A woman at the opening of the exhibition by Vladimir Vyatkin "Energy Search" in the museum and exhibition center Worker and Collective Farm Girl in Moscow
Above: A woman at the opening of the exhibition by Vladimir Vyatkin "Energy Search" in the museum and exhibition center Worker and Collective Farm Girl in Moscow
The exhibition "Energy Search" by Rossiya Segodnya photojournalist Vladimir Vyatkin, has opened up in the Museum and exhibition center Worker and Collective Farm Girl in Moscow.
Above: A woman at the opening of the exhibition by Vladimir Vyatkin "Energy Search" in the museum and exhibition center Worker and Collective Farm Girl in Moscow
Above: A woman at the opening of the exhibition by Vladimir Vyatkin "Energy Search" in the museum and exhibition center Worker and Collective Farm Girl in Moscow
© REUTERS / Yonhap/Kim Jun-beomlSouth Korea staged a live-fire military drill near its disputed Yellow Sea border with North Korea, despite warnings from Pyongyang ahead of a sensitive anniversary. The drill was held on two front-line islands - one of which was shelled by North Korea on November 23, 2010, killing four people and briefly triggering fears of a full-scale conflict.
Above: South Korean Marines take part in a landing operation which is a part of an annual military exercise, "Hokuk", on a beach in Pohangb November 18, 2014
Above: South Korean Marines take part in a landing operation which is a part of an annual military exercise, "Hokuk", on a beach in Pohangb November 18, 2014
South Korea staged a live-fire military drill near its disputed Yellow Sea border with North Korea, despite warnings from Pyongyang ahead of a sensitive anniversary. The drill was held on two front-line islands - one of which was shelled by North Korea on November 23, 2010, killing four people and briefly triggering fears of a full-scale conflict.
Above: South Korean Marines take part in a landing operation which is a part of an annual military exercise, "Hokuk", on a beach in Pohangb November 18, 2014
Above: South Korean Marines take part in a landing operation which is a part of an annual military exercise, "Hokuk", on a beach in Pohangb November 18, 2014
© REUTERS / Lindsay DeDario At least eight people have fallen victim to historic snowstorms which hit the north-eastern United States.
Above: A man clears snow from his roof in the town of Cheektowaga near Buffalo, New York, November 19, 2014.
Above: A man clears snow from his roof in the town of Cheektowaga near Buffalo, New York, November 19, 2014.
At least eight people have fallen victim to historic snowstorms which hit the north-eastern United States.
Above: A man clears snow from his roof in the town of Cheektowaga near Buffalo, New York, November 19, 2014.
Above: A man clears snow from his roof in the town of Cheektowaga near Buffalo, New York, November 19, 2014.
© REUTERS / Tyrone SiuHong Kong police have successfully removed protesters from one of the three protest sites on Tuesday.
Above: Masked pro-democracy protesters try to break a glass window of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong with a fence, early November 19, 2014, in response to an earlier clear up of part of the "Occupy Central" protest site
Above: Masked pro-democracy protesters try to break a glass window of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong with a fence, early November 19, 2014, in response to an earlier clear up of part of the "Occupy Central" protest site
Hong Kong police have successfully removed protesters from one of the three protest sites on Tuesday.
Above: Masked pro-democracy protesters try to break a glass window of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong with a fence, early November 19, 2014, in response to an earlier clear up of part of the "Occupy Central" protest site
Above: Masked pro-democracy protesters try to break a glass window of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong with a fence, early November 19, 2014, in response to an earlier clear up of part of the "Occupy Central" protest site
© AP Photo / Vadim GhirdaThe US Air Force conducted 31 airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq between November 14-17.
Above: Smoke rises from the Syrian city of Kobani, following airstrikes by the US-led coalition, seen from a hilltop outside Suruc, on the Turkey-Syria border Monday, Nov. 17, 2014
Above: Smoke rises from the Syrian city of Kobani, following airstrikes by the US-led coalition, seen from a hilltop outside Suruc, on the Turkey-Syria border Monday, Nov. 17, 2014
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© AP Photo / Vadim Ghirda
The US Air Force conducted 31 airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq between November 14-17.
Above: Smoke rises from the Syrian city of Kobani, following airstrikes by the US-led coalition, seen from a hilltop outside Suruc, on the Turkey-Syria border Monday, Nov. 17, 2014
Above: Smoke rises from the Syrian city of Kobani, following airstrikes by the US-led coalition, seen from a hilltop outside Suruc, on the Turkey-Syria border Monday, Nov. 17, 2014