The Most Breathtaking Photos From Around The World This Week

Welcome to "Moving Image," our roundup of the best photos from around the world this week.

The following images tell the story of the past seven days' most compelling events, capturing happenstance moments and monumental occurrences all over the globe.

Our picks for this week are:



11. This rocket lifting off from Cape Canaveral, Florida.


A Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket lifts off from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013. The rocket is carrying its first commercial payload, a communications satellite.


2. These schoolchildren in Afghanistan.


Afghan schoolchildren take lessons in an open classroom at a refugee camp on the outskirts of Jalalabad, Nangarhar province on December 1, 2013. Afghanistan has had only rare moments of peace over the past 30 years, its education system being undermined by the Soviet invasion of 1979, a civil war in the 1990s and five years of Taliban rule.


3. These history enthusiasts in the Czech Republic.


History enthusiasts dressed as soldiers take part in a re-enactment of Napoleon's 1805 Battle of Austerlitz near the South Moravian city of Slavkov, Czech Republic, on November 30 , 2013.


4. These twirling performers in Germany.


Group scene during rehearsals for 'Momix Botanica' at Admiralspalast on December 4, 2013 in Berlin, Germany.


5. This stomach-wrenching view from the bottom of a bike parking system in Japan.


A view from the bottom of the ECO Cycle system at the Konan Hoshi No Koen Parking on December 3, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan. This ECO Cycle underground bicycle parking system is developed by a construction solutions company GIKEN. The system is designed to tackle the over-crowded bike parking issues in urban areas of Japan.


6. This child listening to a press conference on immigration reform in Washington, D.C.


A child listens as Erika Andiola, who recently resigned her position in the congressional office of Rep. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), speaks at a press conference held by the Dream Action Coalition on immigration reform December 4, 2013 in Washington, DC. Andiola's mother, Maria Andiola, faces deportation proceedings being conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.


7. This prancing horse in Hong Kong.


General view of horses on the All Weather Track during a Hong Kong International Trackwork Session at Sha Tin racecourse on December 5, 2013 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong.


8. These paratroopers in Kenya.


British Elite Paratrooper, 3rd battalion Parachute regiment (3rd Para), Corporal Andy Smith (C) instructs Kenya Wildlife and Forest Services rangers during an anti-poaching training exercise in Nanyuki on December 5, 2013. British paratroopers are helping to train Kenyan Wildlife and Forest service rangers in basic infantry skills near their base in Nanyuki.


9. This policeman saluting anti-government protesters in Thailand.


A Thai policeman salutes to anti-government protesters from inside the government house building, in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013. Anti-government protesters swarmed into the Thai prime minister's office compound Tuesday as police stood by and watched, allowing them to claim a symbolic victory after three days of bitter clashes. Hundreds of protesters poured onto the lawn of Government House, waving Thai flags and blowing whistles to celebrate a symbolic victory.


10. These daredevil window washers in Atlanta, Georgia.


Window washers descend the 36-story Centennial Tower downtown skyscraper, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013, in Atlanta.


11. This man shouting and dancing in India.


A Naga tribal man in traditional attire shouts while he performs a dance during the Hornbill festival at Kisama village on the outskirts of Kohima, Nagaland, India, Monday, Dec. 2, 2013. The 10-day long festival named after the Hornbill bird is one of the biggest festivals of India’s northeast that showcases the rich tradition and cultural heritage of the indigenous Nagas.


12. This grinning chimpanzee in Mechanicsville, Virginia.


Chaos, a Chimpanzee, looks through the glass at visitors during his public debut in the Onstead Foundation Chimpanzee Habitat at the Houston Zoo Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013, in Houston. Six chimpanzees were relocated to the zoo through the combined efforts of Lincoln Park Zoo’s Project ChimpCARE, the Houston Zoo, and Curtis and Bea Shepperson, the chimps’ owners. The Sheppersons had been under pressure from officials in the Mechanicsville, Virginia area to relocate the chimpanzees because of a recent escape and the lack of proper licenses.


13. This moving shot of Barack Obama speaking in Washington, D.C.


President Barack Obama speaks about the economy and growing economic inequality, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013, at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus in Washington. The president said the income gap between America's rich and poor is a "defining challenge of our time." Obama said income inequality has jeopardized the nation's middle class. And he is urging Washington to take steps to ensure that the economy works for everyone.

Let us know your favorite photos in the comments section and check back next week to see new images.

This story appears in Issue 78 of our weekly iPad magazine, Huffington, in the iTunes App store, available Friday, Dec. 6.