Our top photos from the past week.

The month of October has been a dramatic month of deaths, from Steve Jobs of Apple succumbing to cancer to the demise of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, as well as the dramatic racetrack death of Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon.   But toward the end of the month, life was celebrated with the birth of the seven billionth person on Earth.  Also in the news was the continued and now global growth of the Occupy Wall Street movement, Palestinian prisoner releases for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and a devastating earthquake in Turkey. WARNING: Graphic content.

For the past week, snow was more than just a single story, it encompassed many stories.  This week’s Best of Britain features a selection of pictures ranging from a sheep in a winter landscape to students determined to protest despite the snow.  There’s a West Ham United player frolicking after scoring a goal and the trace footprints of pedestrians walking down a London street.

Also included are photos of Elton John guest editing The Independent, the cries of anguish as a fallen soldier is lead through Wootton Bassett and football fans distraught that the World Cup will not be coming to England in the near future.

In honor of the announcement of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s upcoming engagement, this week’s Best of Britain is all about duos, whether it’s the big WBA heavyweight fight in Manchester over the weekend, a polar bear’s new companion at the Highland Wildlife Park, or just a couple looking out on the London skyline.

Also included are photos of judges at the World Scotch Pie Championship, people viewing an art exhibition on postcards and an Australian rugby player losing the ball during a friendly match at Twickenham.

Two events highlighted the past week’s Best of Britain photos: Remembrance Day and the protests that made their way inside the Conservative Party headquarters.  In a simultaneous mirror of war and peace, there were the somber Remembrance Day vigils honoring those who’d given their lives in war, contrasted with the chaos of student protesters, angry at the Conservative Party’s plans for higher tuition fees and cuts to education.

Also included are photos of a girl celebrating Diwali and a scientist showing a new high tech material that can manipulate visible light.

From a snowboarding event in downtown London to a gay couple preparing to fight for the right to marry, this week’s Best of Britain features photos showing creativity, skill or love on display.  Whether it’s graffiti art under threat of being painted over or Mini Coopers from the original Italian Job movie, to an art installation made up of an actual Harrier jet.

Also included are a photo of Keith Richards during a book signing for his autobiography amd a picturesque view of Big Ben through browning autumn leaves.

This week’s Best of Britain features several photos that are about waiting, whether it’s a referee pointing to his watch during a football match, people on shore watching crews trying to free the stuck submarine HMS Astute, or officials and leaders watching the construction of an Olympic venue.

Also included are photos of stag running through Deergate Park, a penguin bobbing for apples, cross-dressing Stoke City fans, or a solemn funeral for an aid worker slain in Afghanistan.

Whether they’re eager for an audience like climate change activists near an oil refinery, or just captive observers like football players watching a goal go in, this week’s Best of Britain theme is all about watching or being watched.

Included are photos of rows of televisions showing Chancellor Osborne during a speech on future budget cuts, a model with an unusual hair style during the Alternative Hair Show, as well as the shadows of workers as they cross the road in Whitehall.

Whether they’re pumping up the crowd, or getting ready to cut people down, this week’s Best of Britain photos are about power players. Whether it’s bodybuilder-turned-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger joking with David Cameron, Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton greeting excited fans, or defending WBA heavyweight champion David Haye training for his next bout, these are people that mean business.

Also included are photos of a re-enactor at Hastings posing as if to cleave off the photographer’s head, smoke bombs at a demonstration, a soldier’s homecoming, and the Queen looking at a painting of her likeness as she tours a new liner, also bearing her name.

This week’s Best of Britain photos are about people in, or trying to take the lead, whether it’s David Cameron laughing during the Conservative party conference or a streaker proudly strutting through the greens of Celtic Manor. There’s also photos of former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf talking about his potential return to Pakistani politics as well as European team captain Colin Montgomerie proudly displaying the Ryder Cup after his team’s win.

Also included are photos of a paper Buckingham Palace model, tourists watching the changing of the guard at Clarence House, and the tragic suspected arson fire which destroyed much of Hastings Pier.