Syrian rebels take position near Qusayr, nine miles from the flashpoint city of Homs. Syrian government forces recently conducted a massacre in the town of al-Houla, killing more than 100 civilians, many of them children.  Activists say that more than  13,000 people have been killed in the Syrian unrest, which began as a peaceful protest movement and has become gradually more violent.
Syrian rebels take position near Qusayr, nine miles from the flashpoint city of Homs. Syrian government forces recently conducted a massacre in the town of al-Houla, killing more than 100 civilians, many of them children.  Activists say that more than 13,000 people have been killed in the Syrian unrest, which began as a peaceful protest movement and has become gradually more violent.

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Syrian rebels take position near Qusayr, nine miles from the flashpoint city of Homs. Syrian government forces recently conducted a massacre in the town of al-Houla, killing more than 100 civilians, many of them children.  Activists say that more than  13,000 people have been killed in the Syrian unrest, which began as a peaceful protest movement and has become gradually more violent.
Syrian rebels take position near Qusayr, nine miles from the flashpoint city of Homs. Syrian government forces recently conducted a massacre in the town of al-Houla, killing more than 100 civilians, many of them children.  Activists say that more than 13,000 people have been killed in the Syrian unrest, which began as a peaceful protest movement and has become gradually more violent.

Syrian rebels take position near Qusayr, nine miles from the flashpoint city of Homs. Syrian government forces recently conducted a massacre in the town of al-Houla, killing more than 100 civilians, many of them children.  Activists say that more than 13,000 people have been killed in the Syrian unrest, which began as a peaceful protest movement and has become gradually more violent.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel feeds a penguin on the roof  of the Baltic Sea aquarium during the 2012 Council of Baltic Sea States Summit  at the Ozeaneum maritime museum on May 30 in Stralsund, Germany. Leaders  of the 11 member states, as well as representatives of the European Union, met to discuss matters related to energy, the environment, and economic  development during the two-day summit.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel feeds a penguin on the roof of the Baltic Sea aquarium during the 2012 Council of Baltic Sea States Summit at the Ozeaneum maritime museum on May 30 in Stralsund, Germany. Leaders of the 11 member states, as well as representatives of the European Union, met to discuss matters related to energy, the environment, and economic development during the two-day summit.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel feeds a penguin on the roof of the Baltic Sea aquarium during the 2012 Council of Baltic Sea States Summit at the Ozeaneum maritime museum on May 30 in Stralsund, Germany. Leaders of the 11 member states, as well as representatives of the European Union, met to discuss matters related to energy, the environment, and economic development during the two-day summit.

Chinese activist Chen Guancheng sits in a car after  speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations on May 31 in New York City.  This was Chen's first major public engagement since he escaped confinement and  left China nearly two weeks ago.
Chinese activist Chen Guancheng sits in a car after speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations on May 31 in New York City. This was Chen's first major public engagement since he escaped confinement and left China nearly two weeks ago.

Chinese activist Chen Guancheng sits in a car after speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations on May 31 in New York City. This was Chen's first major public engagement since he escaped confinement and left China nearly two weeks ago.

Liberian ex-president Charles Taylor, convicted of arming  Sierra Leone's rebels in echange for "blood diamonds," listens to the judge at  the opening of his sentencing hearing at the court in Leidschendam,  near The Hague, on May 30. The former warlord was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Liberian ex-president Charles Taylor, convicted of arming Sierra Leone's rebels in echange for "blood diamonds," listens to the judge at the opening of his sentencing hearing at the court in Leidschendam, near The Hague, on May 30. The former warlord was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Liberian ex-president Charles Taylor, convicted of arming Sierra Leone's rebels in echange for "blood diamonds," listens to the judge at the opening of his sentencing hearing at the court in Leidschendam, near The Hague, on May 30. The former warlord was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi waves to migrant workers on a trip to a Burmese migrant community outside of  Bangkok on May 30 in Mahachai, Thailand. Suu Kyi pledged to help improve the rights of Burmese nationals living in  Thailand. The popular icon and longtime prisoner arrived in Thailand on her first trip outside  of Burma in 24 years to attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia.
Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi waves to migrant workers on a trip to a Burmese migrant community outside of Bangkok on May 30 in Mahachai, Thailand. Suu Kyi pledged to help improve the rights of Burmese nationals living in Thailand. The popular icon and longtime prisoner arrived in Thailand on her first trip outside of Burma in 24 years to attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia.

Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi waves to migrant workers on a trip to a Burmese migrant community outside of Bangkok on May 30 in Mahachai, Thailand. Suu Kyi pledged to help improve the rights of Burmese nationals living in Thailand. The popular icon and longtime prisoner arrived in Thailand on her first trip outside of Burma in 24 years to attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia.

Damage to the clock tower of Novi di Modena is apparent after an earthquake  on May 30 in Novi di Modena, Italy. Following a second series of strong  earthquakes across the Emilia-Romagna region, the death toll has risen  to 17 people, with more than 15,000 displaced.
Damage to the clock tower of Novi di Modena is apparent after an earthquake on May 30 in Novi di Modena, Italy. Following a second series of strong earthquakes across the Emilia-Romagna region, the death toll has risen to 17 people, with more than 15,000 displaced.

Damage to the clock tower of Novi di Modena is apparent after an earthquake on May 30 in Novi di Modena, Italy. Following a second series of strong earthquakes across the Emilia-Romagna region, the death toll has risen to 17 people, with more than 15,000 displaced.

The father of Palestinian militant Ahmed Abu Nasser, 20, holds his  son's picture at their house in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip  on June 1. The militant and an Israeli soldier were killed during  an exchange of fire near the Gaza border, according to sources on both sides.
The father of Palestinian militant Ahmed Abu Nasser, 20, holds his son's picture at their house in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on June 1. The militant and an Israeli soldier were killed during an exchange of fire near the Gaza border, according to sources on both sides.

The father of Palestinian militant Ahmed Abu Nasser, 20, holds his son's picture at their house in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on June 1. The militant and an Israeli soldier were killed during an exchange of fire near the Gaza border, according to sources on both sides.

Boys escaping the heat play in a fountain at the India Gate  monument on May 31 in New Delhi.
Boys escaping the heat play in a fountain at the India Gate monument on May 31 in New Delhi.

Boys escaping the heat play in a fountain at the India Gate monument on May 31 in New Delhi.

U.S. Naval Academy graduates throw their hats in the air  during graduation ceremonies at the U.S. Naval Academy on May 29 in  Annapolis, Maryland. U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta was the  commencement speaker for the 1,099 graduates of the class of 2012.
U.S. Naval Academy graduates throw their hats in the air during graduation ceremonies at the U.S. Naval Academy on May 29 in Annapolis, Maryland. U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta was the commencement speaker for the 1,099 graduates of the class of 2012.

U.S. Naval Academy graduates throw their hats in the air during graduation ceremonies at the U.S. Naval Academy on May 29 in Annapolis, Maryland. U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta was the commencement speaker for the 1,099 graduates of the class of 2012.

             Pilgrims attend an open-air mass on May 27 in Al  Monte, near Huelva, Spain. Tens of thousands of pilgrims converge on Al Monte  on May 27 and 28 in honor of the virgin of el Rocio.
  Pilgrims attend an open-air mass on May 27 in Al Monte, near Huelva, Spain. Tens of thousands of pilgrims converge on Al Monte on May 27 and 28 in honor of the virgin of el Rocio.

 

Pilgrims attend an open-air mass on May 27 in Al Monte, near Huelva, Spain. Tens of thousands of pilgrims converge on Al Monte on May 27 and 28 in honor of the virgin of el Rocio.

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