The Year in Pictures

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Workers stand in a suspended platform ready to clean windows at the Shanghai World Financial Center in the Pudong area of Shanghai, China. China's economic growth accelerated for the first time in two years as government efforts to revive demand drove a rebound in industrial output, retail sales and the housing market.

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A military regiment takes part in a morning exercise in Heilongjiang Province of China. The temperature dipped to minus 30 degrees Celsius.

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A man comforts his daughter on their roof as they inspect damage to their neighbourhood as parts of southern Queensland experiences record flooding in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Oswald in Bundaberg, Australia.

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A man hangs onto the railing of North Curl Curl ocean pool after winds and rain battered Sydney last night producing large swell in Sydney, Australia. Parts of Sydney are experienced record rainfall after ex-cyclone Oswald swept through the city last night.

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Ifandbutwhynot ridden by Timmy Murphy falls during the QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle Race, at Ayr racecourse in Ayr, Scotland.

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Richard III Society member Philippa Langley stands besides a facial reconstruction of King Richard III before it is unveiled by the Richard III Society in London, England. After carrying out a series scientific investigations on remains found in a car park in Leicester, the University of Leicester announced yesterday that they were those of King Richard III.

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Lightning strikes St Peter's dome at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI announced today he will resign as leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics because his age prevented him from carrying out his duties -- an unprecedented move in the modern history of the Catholic Church.

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Thousands of couples take part in a mass wedding ceremony at Cheongshim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, South Korea. 3,500 couples from 200 countries around the world exchanged wedding vows for the first time after the Unification Church founder Moon Sun-Myung passed away.

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People walk around the Buddha Statue holding candles for prayers during Makha Bucha Day at Buddhist Park in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.

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Duchess of Cambridge gets her shoe stuck in the grating and is helped by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge as they visit the Irish Guards' St Patrick's Day Parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, England.