Jan. 20, 2013. People throw turnips at the Jarramplas as he makes his way through the streets beating his drum during the Jarramplas Festival in Piornal, Spain. (Photo: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez—Getty Images)

Dec. 28, 2012. Revelers take part in festival of Els Enfarinats, in the town of Ibi near Alicante, Spain. (Photo: Alberto Saiz—AP)

See more of the week’s best images on TIME LightBox

July 29, 2012. A woman gestures during the Holi festival in Berlin.

From protests in Yemen and a religious festival in Nicaragua to continued fighting in Syria and the summer Olympic games in London, TIME’s photo department presents the best pictures of the week.

See more photos here.

Nati Harnik–AP

July 6, 2012. A sun bear reacts to triple-digit temperatures at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb.

From Libya’s landmark election and America’s heat wave to Spain’s running of the bulls and captured Syrian Army soldiers, TIME’s photo department presents the best images of the week.

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July 3, 2012. New arrivals wait in long lines for hours to register with UNHCR at the Yida refugee camp along the border with North Sudan.

From Spain’s historic Euro Cup 2012 win and a muddy swim in Nepal to refugees in South Sudan and a polar bear piggyback , TIME’s photo department presents the best images of the week.

See more photos here.

Daniel Ochoa de Olza—AP

April 8, 2012. Pablo Leal Requejo plays the role of an angel during the ‘Bajada del Angel’ Eastern Holy Week celebration in Penafiel, Spain.

TIME’s photo department selects the pictures of the week. See more here.

Famous for exploring the effects of industry on nature, Edward Burtynsky is being honored with twin New York City exhibitions this fall. See more here. 

Damir Sagoli—Reuters

From flooding in Bangkok and the baseball playoffs to Cairo’s deadly clashes and the Liberian-flagged Rena cargo ship grounded off New Zealand’s coast, TIME’s photo department presents the best images of the week. See more here.