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Published April 30, 2013
An elderly Indian widow prays during a function organized by Sulabh International on the bank of Holy River Ganga in Varanasi, India, Sunday, April 28, 2013. In India, being a widow remains one of the worst stigmas. When her husband dies, the widow often becomes a pariah, excluded from family gatherings for fear the mere fall of her shadow will bring bad luck and tragedy. In the North, many journey to the holy cities of Vrindavan and Varanasi, where they beg, and are paid a pittance to recite prayers in the temple
An elderly Indian widow prays during a function organized by Sulabh International on the bank of Holy River Ganga in Varanasi, India, Sunday, April 28, 2013. In India, being a widow remains one of the worst stigmas. When her husband dies, the widow often becomes a pariah, excluded from family gatherings for fear the mere fall of her shadow will bring bad luck and tragedy. In the North, many journey to the holy cities of Vrindavan and Varanasi, where they beg, and are paid a pittance to recite prayers in the temple
In this photo made using a fisheye lens, Matt Kenseth (20) and Brian Vickers (11) lead the field at the start the Toyota Owners 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race April 27, 2013, at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va. — AP Photo
In this photo made using a fisheye lens, Matt Kenseth (20) and Brian Vickers (11) lead the field at the start the Toyota Owners 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race April 27, 2013, at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va. — AP Photo
A general view of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).The mosque is named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahayan the founder and the first president of the UAE. — AFP Photo
A general view of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).The mosque is named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahayan the founder and the first president of the UAE. — AFP Photo
Nasa handout image shows Saunders Island and Wolstenholme Fjord with Kap Atholl in the background seen during an IceBridge survey flight near Qaasuitsup, Greenland. Sea ice coverage in the fjord ranges from thicker, white ice seen in the background, to thinner grease ice and leads showing open ocean water in the foreground. — AFP Photo
Nasa handout image shows Saunders Island and Wolstenholme Fjord with Kap Atholl in the background seen during an IceBridge survey flight near Qaasuitsup, Greenland. Sea ice coverage in the fjord ranges from thicker, white ice seen in the background, to thinner grease ice and leads showing open ocean water in the foreground. — AFP Photo
French performance group Compagnie Off members gather before performing 'Les Girafes', a stilt-walking show, at Roppongi Hills in Tokyo on April 29, 2013. The performance was held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Roppongi Hills, a large-complex that incorporates offices, shopping malls, theaters, a museum and a luxury hotel. — AFP Photo
French performance group Compagnie Off members gather before performing 'Les Girafes', a stilt-walking show, at Roppongi Hills in Tokyo on April 29, 2013. The performance was held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Roppongi Hills, a large-complex that incorporates offices, shopping malls, theaters, a museum and a luxury hotel. — AFP Photo
Dancers perform on stage during a rehearsal of the ballet "Les Nuits" (The Nights) by French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj on April 27, 2013 at the Grand Theatre de Provence, in Aix-en-Provence, southern France, as part of the Marseille-Provence 2013 European capital of culture. — AFP Photo
Dancers perform on stage during a rehearsal of the ballet "Les Nuits" (The Nights) by French choreographer Angelin Preljocaj on April 27, 2013 at the Grand Theatre de Provence, in Aix-en-Provence, southern France, as part of the Marseille-Provence 2013 European capital of culture. — AFP Photo
People, most of them wearing orange tee shirts, hats or plastic crowns, gather on April 30, 2013 at the Dam Square in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, to attend the investiture of the country's new King. — AFP Photo
People, most of them wearing orange tee shirts, hats or plastic crowns, gather on April 30, 2013 at the Dam Square in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, to attend the investiture of the country's new King. — AFP Photo
Leaders of the Munduruku Amazon Indian tribe, from the Tapajos and Teles Pires river basins, hold a protest march after a meeting to discuss their opposition to the government's plans to build the Tapajos hydroelectric project, which the leaders claim will affect more than 30 indigenous communities, in Jacareacanga, western Para state, April 26, 2013. The leaders decided to reaffirm their opposition to the dams and burnt a document sent by the government explaining the goals of the project, a series of five dams wh
Leaders of the Munduruku Amazon Indian tribe, from the Tapajos and Teles Pires river basins, hold a protest march after a meeting to discuss their opposition to the government's plans to build the Tapajos hydroelectric project, which the leaders claim will affect more than 30 indigenous communities, in Jacareacanga, western Para state, April 26, 2013. The leaders decided to reaffirm their opposition to the dams and burnt a document sent by the government explaining the goals of the project, a series of five dams wh
A worker packs tomatoes in a tomato farm in Salto, 100 km west of Sao Paulo, April 29, 2013. As Brazilian policymakers try to contain the fastest inflation rate the South American country has seen in years without disrupting a fragile economic recovery, increasingly wary consumers are feeling the pinch in everything from services to fruits and vegetables. — Reuters Photo
A worker packs tomatoes in a tomato farm in Salto, 100 km west of Sao Paulo, April 29, 2013. As Brazilian policymakers try to contain the fastest inflation rate the South American country has seen in years without disrupting a fragile economic recovery, increasingly wary consumers are feeling the pinch in everything from services to fruits and vegetables. — Reuters Photo
Orange sunglasses on sale in a shop in central Amsterdam on April 29, 2013 on the eve of the investiture of the country's new King. Dutch Queen Beatrix, who ruled the Netherlands for 33 years, announced on January 28, 2013 her abdication from the throne in favour of her son, Prince Willem-Alexander. — AFP Photo
Orange sunglasses on sale in a shop in central Amsterdam on April 29, 2013 on the eve of the investiture of the country's new King. Dutch Queen Beatrix, who ruled the Netherlands for 33 years, announced on January 28, 2013 her abdication from the throne in favour of her son, Prince Willem-Alexander. — AFP Photo
A woman harvests Quinoa plants in Tarmaya, some 120 km south of La Paz April 29, 2013. Still a nutritional staple for the indigenous people living in the Altiplano of Bolivia, Quinoa is also producing many profits for the region. The global boom for the golden grain, cultivated at high altitudes, has boosted prices five times in just nine years. Government officials hope $10 million in credits for producers will help boost production further still to meet the increasing demands at home and abroad. — Reuters Photo
A woman harvests Quinoa plants in Tarmaya, some 120 km south of La Paz April 29, 2013. Still a nutritional staple for the indigenous people living in the Altiplano of Bolivia, Quinoa is also producing many profits for the region. The global boom for the golden grain, cultivated at high altitudes, has boosted prices five times in just nine years. Government officials hope $10 million in credits for producers will help boost production further still to meet the increasing demands at home and abroad. — Reuters Photo
Feet painted like shoes are displayed during the opening ceremony of South Korean shoe store LesMore in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, April 30, 2013. — AP Phot
Feet painted like shoes are displayed during the opening ceremony of South Korean shoe store LesMore in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, April 30, 2013. — AP Phot
A man reacts toward the photographer as he collects bricks from burnt Muslim homes in Meikhtila April 25, 2013. In Myanmar's central heartlands, justice and security is elusive for thousands of Muslims who lost their homes in a deadly rampage by Buddhist mobs in March. Many are detained in prison-like camps, unable to return to neighbourhoods and businesses razed in four days of violence in Meikhtila that killed at least 43 people, most of them Muslims, displaced nearly 13,000, and touched off a wave of anti-Muslim
A man reacts toward the photographer as he collects bricks from burnt Muslim homes in Meikhtila April 25, 2013. In Myanmar's central heartlands, justice and security is elusive for thousands of Muslims who lost their homes in a deadly rampage by Buddhist mobs in March. Many are detained in prison-like camps, unable to return to neighbourhoods and businesses razed in four days of violence in Meikhtila that killed at least 43 people, most of them Muslims, displaced nearly 13,000, and touched off a wave of anti-Muslim
Concert-goers dance and gesture during a performance at the 2013 Strawberry Music Festival at Tongzhou Canal Park in Beijing. The festival will be held from April 29 to May 1. — Reuters Phot
Concert-goers dance and gesture during a performance at the 2013 Strawberry Music Festival at Tongzhou Canal Park in Beijing. The festival will be held from April 29 to May 1. — Reuters Phot
A pack of runners from Valley View High School and Scranton High School sprint past a rain puddle during the 800-meter event during athletics meet at Scranton High School on Monday, April 29, 2013 in Scranton, Pa. — AP Photo
A pack of runners from Valley View High School and Scranton High School sprint past a rain puddle during the 800-meter event during athletics meet at Scranton High School on Monday, April 29, 2013 in Scranton, Pa. — AP Photo
A Sri Lankan labourer pulls a cart laden with sacks of potatoes at the main market in Colombo on April 30, 2013 the eve of the Indian Ocean nation marking International Labour day. Sri Lankan trade unions are promising to turn May Day rallies as protests against sharp increases in electricity tariffs announced late April. — AFP Photo
A Sri Lankan labourer pulls a cart laden with sacks of potatoes at the main market in Colombo on April 30, 2013 the eve of the Indian Ocean nation marking International Labour day. Sri Lankan trade unions are promising to turn May Day rallies as protests against sharp increases in electricity tariffs announced late April. — AFP Photo
In this Friday, Oct. 26, 2012 file photo, Afghans listen to preacher while offering the Eid al Adha's prayers outside of Shah-e-Dushamshera mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan. As the country braces for next year's presidential election and the planned withdrawal of most foreign combat troops by the end of 2014, the panel urges the U.S. government and its allies to work harder to promote religious rights in the war-torn nation. — AP Photo
In this Friday, Oct. 26, 2012 file photo, Afghans listen to preacher while offering the Eid al Adha's prayers outside of Shah-e-Dushamshera mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan. As the country braces for next year's presidential election and the planned withdrawal of most foreign combat troops by the end of 2014, the panel urges the U.S. government and its allies to work harder to promote religious rights in the war-torn nation. — AP Photo
Clouds build up over the Victoria harbour before a storm in Hong Kong on April 30, 2013. — AFP Photo
Clouds build up over the Victoria harbour before a storm in Hong Kong on April 30, 2013. — AFP Photo

This gallery is a compilation of fine images from around the world, taken by photographers working with various agencies.

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