Rome, Italy — Pope Benedict XVI attends a ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican to mark the 900th birthday of the Knights of Malta. The pope made a surprise announcement during a Mass on Monday that he will be stepping down from his post on Feb. 28.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Eric Vandeville / MCT

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Beijing, China — A performer passes a snake through his nose and mouth during a show at a fair as part of lunar new year festivities at the Temple of Earth park in Beijing. A billion-plus Asians are ushering in the lunar Year of the Snake with a week of festivities.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ED JONES / AFP / Getty Images

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Beijing, China — Worshipers burn incense as part of lunar new year festivities at the Yonghegong Lama temple in Beijing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ED JONES / AFP / Getty Images

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — Revelers perform during the first night of Carnival at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANTONIO SCORZA / AFP / Getty Images

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — Performers from the Mocidade Independente de Padre Miguel samba school participate during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Felipe Dana / Associated Press

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Herbstein, Germany — Participants jump about during the Springerzug Carnival parade in Herbstein, Germany. The Springerzug, literally "jumping parade," is an interpretation of Carnival particular to Herbstein. The parade has been an annual tradition since 1823 and celebrates free-spirited merrymaking before the beginning of Lent.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Thomas Lohnes / Getty Images

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New Haven, Connecticut — A neighborhood near New Haven is buried in snow after a storm hit much of New England on Friday and Saturday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Craig Ruttle / AFP / Getty Images

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Lausanne, Switzerland — A man walks behind a snow-covered table and chairs in Lausanne, Switzerland.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: LAURENT GILLIERON / EPA

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Tegucigalpa, Honduras — In Tegucigalpa, police officers arrest a number of young members of the Olympia sports club's Ultrafiel fans group, notoriously infiltrated by "maras," or juvenile gangs.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ORLANDO SIERRA / AFP / Getty Images

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Gao, Mali — A man collects cartridge cases at a damaged police station a day after Islamist gunmen battled French and Malian troops following two straight days of suicide bombings in Gao.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: PASCAL GUYOT / AFP / Getty Images

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Oban, Scotland — Emily Armstrong, 7, from Tiree, Scotland, prepares a calf for a show as farmers gather for the 122nd Highland Cattle Society spring sale at the Oban Livestock Center. The show and sale held over two days is open to all highland breed enthusiasts and attracts buyers from across Europe and North America.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images

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Dresden, Germany — People walk by a Leopard I tank covered with knitted fabric in front of the Museum of Military History in Dresden. The cross-generational handicrafts project takes a stand against war and violence on the occasion of the 68nd anniversary of the bombing of Dresden.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ROBERT MICHAEL / AFP / Getty Images

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Schladming, Austria — Will Brandenburg of the United States crashes in the downhill event during the men's super combined at the 2013 Ski World Championships in Schladming.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: OLIVIER MORIN / AFP

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Khokana, Nepal — A migrant worker heats mustard grains as he makes oil at Seekali Oil Mill in Khokana, on the outskirts of Kathmandu. The mustard oil, which is locally known as tori ko tel, is largely used for cooking and infant massages.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: NARENDRA SHRESTHA / EPA

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