Week in pictures: 12-19 April 2024

A selection of striking news photographs taken around the world this week.

Apr 20, 2024 - 13:41 Updated: Apr 20, 2024 - 13:45
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Jeff Spicer/Getty Images Sarah Snook with the Best Actress awardJeff Spicer/Getty Images
Sarah Snook with the Best Actress award during The Olivier Awards 2024 at The Royal Albert Hall in London. The Succession star won the award for her performance in an adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Adnan Abidi/Reuters A security guard brushes his teeth near to a polling stationAdnan Abidi/Reuters
A security guard at a remote polling station in the village of Nongriat, in north-eastern India, brushes his teeth under a double-decker root bridge. India's 2024 general election - to be held over six weeks between 19 April and 1 June - will be the biggest the world has ever seen.
Emil Nicolai Helms/AFP A firefighter tries to extinguish the flames as plumes of smoke billow from the historic Boersen stock exchange building in Copenhagen, DenmarkEmil Nicolai Helms/AFP
A firefighter tries to put out the blaze as Denmark's historic Old Stock Exchange building in the centre of Copenhagen is engulfed by fire. Culture minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said 400 years of Danish cultural heritage had "gone up in flames".
Ulises Ruiz/AFP A Jimador (a person who works on the agave plant) cuts an agave plantUlises Ruiz/AFP
A Jimador cuts an agave plant to extract the pineapple used to make tequila, in Mexico.
iSsouf Sanogo/AFP Congo Brazzaville's group Danseincolor performs in AbidjaniSsouf Sanogo/AFP
Republic of the Congo's Danseincolor perform at the 13th edition of the African Performing Arts Market at the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
George Vitsaras/EPA-EFE Greek actress Mary Mina (centre), in the role of the High Priestess, raises the torch of the Olympic Flame during the Olympic Flame lighting ceremonyGeorge Vitsaras/EPA-EFE
Greek actress Mary Mina took the role of the High Priestess as the Olympic torch began its journey from Olympia in Greece, where the first Olympic games were held in 776 BC, to the Paris 2024 Summer Games.
Victoria Jones/PA Media The Duke of Kent is applauded as he leaves the Scots Guards' Black Sunday ParadeVictoria Jones/PA Media
The Duke of Kent, who is stepping down as Colonel of the Scots Guards after 50 years, is applauded as he leaves the Scots Guards' Black Sunday Parade at the Wellington Barracks in Westminster, London.
Safin Hamid/AFP Ranyia Raid takes part in ritual purification during her wedding ceremonySafin Hamid/AFP
Ranyia Raid, a member of Iraq's Sabean-Mandaean community, takes part in ritual purification during her wedding ceremony in the Kurdish town of Shaqlawa, north of Arbil.
Kieran Cleeves/PA Media Racing cars Goodwood Motor Circuit in West SussexKieran Cleeves/PA Media
Classic racing cars take to the track at the 81st Members' Meeting at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in West Sussex. The circuit is celebrating its 10th anniversary since the event was restarted in 2014. The season opener recreates the atmosphere of the original race meetings held at Goodwood between 1948 and 1966.
-bbc