Ruins, Racers and Rockers: Photos of the Week

Ethan Swope/AP

Wildfires spread through parts of Los Angeles, California, killing at least 10 people, destroying thousands of buildings and prompting mass evacuations. In this photo, a firefighter battles the Eaton fire in Altadena.

Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The Pacific Palisades fire became the most destructive in the history of Los Angeles.

Christina House/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The Eaton fire destroyed the Altadena Community Church. While high winds and lack of rain are causing the fires, experts argue that climate change is worsening the underlying conditions, making such fires more common.

Salvimento Marítimo/Handout via Reuters

The Spanish coast guard says a baby was born this week on a crowded migrant boat traveling from Africa to the Canary Islands. It published a photo of the child who was rescued along with his mother and several other migrants.

Jonathan Lanza/Nurfoto via Getty Images

Venezuela’s opposition said its leader Maria Corina Machado was briefly arrested and then released. It came as he addressed a protest rally in Caracas on the eve of the disputed inauguration of President Nicolas Maduro. The United Nations expressed concern after reports of arbitrary detentions and intimidation ahead of an opposition march in Venezuela.

Saul Loeb/AFP

Former US President Jimmy Carter lies in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC. The 39th US President died at his home in Plains, Georgia on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100.

Ben Birchall/PA

Artist Luke Jerram during the unveiling of his latest celestial sculpture, Helios, at the Bath Assembly Rooms in England.

Olympia de Masmont/AFP

A devotee dances in the sacred forest of Ouidah during the first day of the Voodoo Festival. In Benin, Voodoo or Vodou is recognized as an official religion and is practiced by about 40% of the population.

Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

On Twelfth Night revelers parade through the streets of New Orleans on a streetcar, marking the beginning of the Carnival season.

Khalid Dessouki/AFP The sun was rising in a sky filled with hot air balloons as people ran down the street as part of Egypt's marathon.

Khaled Dessouki/AFP

Runners started the 32nd Egypt Marathon in front of the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, while hot air balloons flew over the west bank of the Nile in Egypt’s southern city of Luxor.