Pictures of the week

 

 

 

Pictures of the week: From Obama's big win to a tiny tortoise

Here's the pick of the pics from around the world this week.

1. Lightning illuminates a cumulonimbus cloud over Corio Bay, Victoria. The Bureau of Meteorology and Australian Meteorological 

and Oceanographic Society organises a competition each year for the best weather pictures. And its 2013 calendar is one of its 

most dramatic yet with lightning bolts, dust storms and enormous clouds creating dramatic. One of the star moments was captured 

by amateur photographer James Collier after he witnessed a thunderstorm. (SWNS)

2. Delegates sit at the stage before the opening ceremony of 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China 

at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, November 8, 2012. China's outgoing President Hu Jintao said the nation faced risk

 and opportunity in equal measure as he formally opened a congress of the ruling Communist Party that will usher 

in a once-in-a-decade leadership change. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

3. Meet Tank, the tiny tortoise who is no bigger than a fifty pence coin. The adorable Hermanns tortoise is just six months old 

and is being cared for by staff at the Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire. Tank, who isn't fazed by anything despite his size, 

was given to the park by a former staff member as a leaving present. The tiny tortoise, pictured here settling into his new home, 

is dwarfed by practically everything he comes up against, from a house key to a Remembrance poppy (Caters)

4.The night of November 5 saw millions up and down the country celebrate Guy Fawkes Night. As temperatures plummeted, 

some parts of the UK braved the cold in the chilliest Bonfire Night in 14 years. The small East Sussex market town of Lewes 

held a particularly spectacular procession, where tens of thousands lined the streets in an anti-papist display of flaming torches. (PA)

5.President Barack Obama was re-elected this week after a tightly fought and expensive race to the White House. 

Obama tweeted this photograph with the words "Four more years", which went on to be the most retweeted post of all time (PA)

6. These are the glorious red poppy fields in full bloom showing Britain's countryside at its best. They were taken by photographer 

Alan Ranger, 43, at Blackstone Farm nature reserve in Bewdley, Worcestershire. Alan managed to capture the amazing shots during a 

one-week window when the poppies appear in full bloom. The glorious shot was taken in the lead-up to Remembrance Sunday, 

when poppy wreaths are laid at war memorials up and down the country (Caters)

7. A few days after Superstorm Sandy killed 121 people in the US and Canada, destroyed thousands of homes and businesses alongthe 

East Coast and cut power to millions, a second storm cut through the East Coast. Heavy snow, strong winds and freezing temperatures 

added to the struggles of those already affected and set back the recovery in the area (PA)

8. Swiss photographer Robert Boesch insists that this picture, of 28 climbers is not doctored. The snap was taken on the Swiss 

and Italian border on 'Cleopatra's Needle', which stands 3,000ft above sea level. As if climbing the mountain wasn't hard enough, 

the climbers all had to pose horizontally against the cliff face, allowing Swiss photographer Robert Boesch the chance to capture 

the picture perfect moment (SWNS)

9. Car designer Michael Vetter was bored with regular motors and built a futuristic car that is less Renault Clio and more like a vehicle 

featured in the Sci-fi film 'The Fifth Element'. The car has even been named The Extra Terrestrial Vehicle - ETV - to reflect its alien-like look. 

ETV is based on the same platform as a modest, run-of-the-mill Chevrolet, but this is where the similarities end. It has a five-feet high 

windscreen and gullwing doors which open automatically via remote control. (SWNS)

10. This suspended trampoline playground was created by Argentinian artist Tomas Saraceno. Composed of three levels of thin 

clear film hanging 65ft in the air, the spectacular structure is a mammoth 1,200 square metres of bouncy castle fun and is for adults only 

(Caters)

11. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney hangs his head in defeat as he walks out on stage to concede to President Barack Obama (PA)

12. Adrenaline junkie and yoga fan Martina Cufar showed incredible balance and bravery by completing her daredevil yoga routine 

on top of a 3,500m peak in the French Alps while her photographer, Lukasz Warzecha, captured the remarkable feat (Caters)