AUGUST 30 - CILVEGOZU, TURKEY: <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/28/world/meast/syria-how-did-we-get-here/index.html">Syrian refugees</a> greet each other at the Turkish Cilvegozu gate border with Syria. The crisis in Syria has escalated this week, with United Nations experts investigating the alleged use of <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/28/world/meast/syria-how-did-we-get-here/index.html?hpt=hp_t2">chemical weapons</a>. The U.S. and allies are preparing for the <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/30/world/europe/syria-civil-war/index.html?hpt=hp_t1">possibility of a punitive strike</a> against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Meet me at the border —
AUGUST 30 - CILVEGOZU, TURKEY: Syrian refugees greet each other at the Turkish Cilvegozu gate border with Syria. The crisis in Syria has escalated this week, with United Nations experts investigating the alleged use of chemical weapons. The U.S. and allies are preparing for the possibility of a punitive strike against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia
AUGUST 29 - WASHINGTON DC, U.S.: Sandy Redman cries as she listens to <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/28/politics/obama-king-speech/index.html?hpt=hp_bn3">President Barack Obama </a>during the anniversary of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.'s <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/28/us/mlk-i-have-a-dream-9-things/index.html?hpt=hp_inthenews">"I Have a Dream" speech</a>. Fifty years ago, Redman attended the <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/22/living/march-on-washington-freed-photos/index.html?iid=article_sidebar">first march</a>, labeled by King and his followers as "the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation."
Tears in Washington —
AUGUST 29 - WASHINGTON DC, U.S.: Sandy Redman cries as she listens to President Barack Obama during the anniversary of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. Fifty years ago, Redman attended the first march, labeled by King and his followers as "the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation."
AP Photo/Susan Walsh
AUGUST 28 - GAZA, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: A Palestinian tunnel worker peers inside a smuggling tunnel dug beneath the Gaza-Egypt border in southern Gaza on August 27. <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/02/26/world/meast/egypt-gaza-tunnels">An Egyptian court ordered the destruction of the tunnels in February.</a>
Tunnel vision —
AUGUST 28 - GAZA, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: A Palestinian tunnel worker peers inside a smuggling tunnel dug beneath the Gaza-Egypt border in southern Gaza on August 27. An Egyptian court ordered the destruction of the tunnels in February.
SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images
AUGUST 27 - JALALABAD, AFGHANISTAN: A health worker administers polio vaccine drops to an Afghan child. <a href="http://cnn.com/2012/07/27/health/polio-eradication-efforts">Polio</a>, once a worldwide scourge, is endemic in just three countries now -- Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. But the global goal to <a href="http://cnn.com/2012/10/02/health/time-un-polio">eradicate polio by 2015</a> is threatened by frequent <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/05/28/world/asia/pakistan-polio-workers-attack">attacks on the health workers</a> giving the vaccination.
A few drops against polio —
AUGUST 27 - JALALABAD, AFGHANISTAN: A health worker administers polio vaccine drops to an Afghan child. Polio, once a worldwide scourge, is endemic in just three countries now -- Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. But the global goal to eradicate polio by 2015 is threatened by frequent attacks on the health workers giving the vaccination.
Noorullah Shirzada/AFP/Getty Images
AUGUST 26 - CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES: Smoke rises from smoldering trees as <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/26/us/california-yosemite-wildfire/index.html?hpt=hp_t3">more than 3,400 firefighters battle the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park</a> on Sunday, August 25. The wildfire has become the <a href="https://twitter.com/CALFIRE_PIO/statuses/371822607345016833" target="_blank" target="_blank">14th largest in state history</a>, devouring nearly 144,000 acres and an area about the size of the city of Chicago.
Smoldering Yosemite —
AUGUST 26 - CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES: Smoke rises from smoldering trees as more than 3,400 firefighters battle the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park on Sunday, August 25. The wildfire has become the 14th largest in state history, devouring nearly 144,000 acres and an area about the size of the city of Chicago.
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
AUGUST 23 - BAALBEK, LEBANON: <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/23/opinion/syria-million-child-refugees-mercy-corps/index.html?hpt=imi_t2">The UNHCR announced there are now one million Syrian child refugees.</a> Mustafa, 12, fled his home in Aleppo, Syria, under intense shelling and fighting. He attends an activity center run by Mercy Corps in Baalbek where children can recover from trauma, build friendships and develop life skills.
A million war torn children —
AUGUST 23 - BAALBEK, LEBANON: The UNHCR announced there are now one million Syrian child refugees. Mustafa, 12, fled his home in Aleppo, Syria, under intense shelling and fighting. He attends an activity center run by Mercy Corps in Baalbek where children can recover from trauma, build friendships and develop life skills.
Cassandra Nelson/Mercy Corps
AUGUST 22 - HARARE, ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwean Guards of Honor march during <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/22/world/africa/zimbabwe-swearing-in/index.html">Robert Mugabe's swearing-in ceremony</a> at the 60,000-seater stadium in Harare. Supporters were clad in clothes emblazoned with the image of the <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/02/world/africa/mugabe-profile/index.html">veteran leader</a>, who has ruled the nation since 1980. The packed venue is a show of force after elections many say were rigged.
Mugabe sworn in, again —
AUGUST 22 - HARARE, ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwean Guards of Honor march during Robert Mugabe's swearing-in ceremony at the 60,000-seater stadium in Harare. Supporters were clad in clothes emblazoned with the image of the veteran leader, who has ruled the nation since 1980. The packed venue is a show of force after elections many say were rigged.
ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images
AUGUST 21 - JINAN, CHINA: Police detain a demonstrator who was protesting against China's justice system outside a court in Jinan, where <a href="http://cnn.com/2012/08/08/world/asia/china-bo-xilai-profile/index.html?iid=article_sidebar">disgraced politician Bo Xilai</a> will soon go on trial. Once considered a rising star in China's Communist Party, he is at the center of one of the country's most closely watched <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/18/world/asia/china-bo-xilai-trial-analysis/index.html?hpt=ias_t4">political scandals</a>.
China's 'trial of century' —
AUGUST 21 - JINAN, CHINA: Police detain a demonstrator who was protesting against China's justice system outside a court in Jinan, where disgraced politician Bo Xilai will soon go on trial. Once considered a rising star in China's Communist Party, he is at the center of one of the country's most closely watched political scandals.
MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Image
AUGUST 20 - LAS PINAS, PHILIPPINES: <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/20/world/asia/philippines-floods/index.html?hpt=hp_t3">Ferocious rain has caused heavy flooding in the Philippines capital of Manila</a> and the surrounding region, killing at least seven people, driving tens of thousands of others from their homes and bringing life to a standstill in many areas.
Philippines in deep water —
AUGUST 20 - LAS PINAS, PHILIPPINES: Ferocious rain has caused heavy flooding in the Philippines capital of Manila and the surrounding region, killing at least seven people, driving tens of thousands of others from their homes and bringing life to a standstill in many areas.
AP Photo/Aaron Favila
AUGUST 19 - MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Gold medalists Tatyana Firova and Kseniya Ryzhova of Russia kiss on the podium during a medal ceremony at the <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/18/sport/athletics-bolt-jamaica-gold/index.html?hpt=isp_c2">World Athletics Championships</a> on August 17. Russia's anti-gay propaganda law sparked<a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/01/world/europe/russia-gay-rights-controversy"> international protests</a> during the championship, with some calling for the boycott of next year's Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Russian kiss —
AUGUST 19 - MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Gold medalists Tatyana Firova and Kseniya Ryzhova of Russia kiss on the podium during a medal ceremony at the World Athletics Championships on August 17. Russia's anti-gay propaganda law sparked international protests during the championship, with some calling for the boycott of next year's Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Paul Gilham/Getty Image
AUGUST 16 - NEW DELHI, INDIA: Against a yellowing sky, a boy stands on a roof and flies a kite, which flocks with other kites in traditional celebration of India's<a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/15/world/asia/india-activists-independence-day-twitter/"> 66th Independence Day</a> on August 15. The day marks the end of the British rule on the country in 1947.
India celebrates independence —
AUGUST 16 - NEW DELHI, INDIA: Against a yellowing sky, a boy stands on a roof and flies a kite, which flocks with other kites in traditional celebration of India's 66th Independence Day on August 15. The day marks the end of the British rule on the country in 1947.
AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal
AUGUST 15 - CAIRO, EGYPT: A woman tries to stop a military bulldozer from hurting a wounded youth during clashes that broke out in Cairo. By the end of Wednesday, more than <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/15/world/meast/egypt-protests/index.htm">520 people were killed</a> and more than 3,500 injured in clashes in the country, the health ministry said.
Woman vs. bulldozer —
AUGUST 15 - CAIRO, EGYPT: A woman tries to stop a military bulldozer from hurting a wounded youth during clashes that broke out in Cairo. By the end of Wednesday, more than 520 people were killed and more than 3,500 injured in clashes in the country, the health ministry said.
MOHAMMED ABDEL MONEIM/AFP/Getty Images
AUGUST 14 - CAIRO, EGYPT: A woman speaks to a member of the Egyptian security forces who are clearing a sit-in by supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsy, near the Cairo University campus in Giza on August 14. <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/14/world/meast/egypt-protests/index.html?hpt=imi_c1">Security forces stormed two makeshift camps</a>, bulldozing tents and escorting away hundreds of protesters.
Egypt's war zone —
AUGUST 14 - CAIRO, EGYPT: A woman speaks to a member of the Egyptian security forces who are clearing a sit-in by supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsy, near the Cairo University campus in Giza on August 14. Security forces stormed two makeshift camps, bulldozing tents and escorting away hundreds of protesters.
AP Photo/Imad Abdul Rahma
AUGUST 13 - JERUSALEM: A man walks past the separation wall near Jerusalem's Shuafat camp. The Israeli government approved the building of <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/13/world/meast/mideast-palestinians-israelis/index.html">900 new settlement units</a> in East Jerusalem on Tuesday -- the day before <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/07/19/world/meast/mideast-kerry-visit/index.html">peace talks with Palestinians</a> were set to resume. The move has drawn fire from critics who say construction on disputed territory could derail the talks.
Shadow over peace talks? —
AUGUST 13 - JERUSALEM: A man walks past the separation wall near Jerusalem's Shuafat camp. The Israeli government approved the building of 900 new settlement units in East Jerusalem on Tuesday -- the day before peace talks with Palestinians were set to resume. The move has drawn fire from critics who say construction on disputed territory could derail the talks.
AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Image
JULY 12 - MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Lightning bolt strikes as <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/11/sport/bolt-world-championships/index.html">Usain Bolt wins the 100 meters final </a>at the World Championships on July 11. The world's fastest man reclaimed the title after being <a href="http://cnn.com/2011/SPORT/08/28/athletics.worlds.bolt.disqualified/index.html">disqualified from the 2011 final</a> due to a false start. Bolt now owns six world championship gold medals and six Olympics gold medals.
Bolt strikes again —
JULY 12 - MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Lightning bolt strikes as Usain Bolt wins the 100 meters final at the World Championships on July 11. The world's fastest man reclaimed the title after being disqualified from the 2011 final due to a false start. Bolt now owns six world championship gold medals and six Olympics gold medals.
OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images
AUGUST 9 - CABAZON, CALIFORNIA: Firefighters battle a <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/08/us/california-wildfire/index.html">wildfire in Southern California mountains</a>. The fast-spreading fire forced 1,500 people to flee their homes. Researchers warn that deforestation, climate change and lack of fire protection can lead to <a href="http://cnn.com/2012/07/03/us/western-wildfires-why">more frequent and bigger wildfires</a>.
Fighting the flames —
AUGUST 9 - CABAZON, CALIFORNIA: Firefighters battle a wildfire in Southern California mountains. The fast-spreading fire forced 1,500 people to flee their homes. Researchers warn that deforestation, climate change and lack of fire protection can lead to more frequent and bigger wildfires.
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
AUGUST 8 - YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA : Indonesian Muslims perform <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/08/world/sweet-eid-break-fast-treats/index.html?hpt=hp_c5">Eid Al-Fitr</a> prayers on Parangkusumo beach on August 8. Eid Al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, and begins after the sighting of a new crescent moon.
Eid Mubarak —
AUGUST 8 - YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA : Indonesian Muslims perform Eid Al-Fitr prayers on Parangkusumo beach on August 8. Eid Al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, and begins after the sighting of a new crescent moon.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
AUGUST 7 - HIROSHIMA, JAPAN: A woman floats paper lanterns on the Motoyasu River in memory of the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, western Japan. Crowds gathered in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima on August 6 to mark the 68th anniversary. The bombing <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/06/world/asia/btn-atomic-bombs/index.html?hpt=ias_mid">claimed the lives of more than 270,000 people.</a>
Hiroshima remembrance —
AUGUST 7 - HIROSHIMA, JAPAN: A woman floats paper lanterns on the Motoyasu River in memory of the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, western Japan. Crowds gathered in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima on August 6 to mark the 68th anniversary. The bombing claimed the lives of more than 270,000 people.
TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images
AUGUST 6 - SILIVRI, TURKEY: Holding a portrait of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turkey's first president, a protester sits in front of police forces blocking access to a courthouse in Silivri, near Istanbul, on August 5. <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/05/world/europe/turkey-ergenekon-verdict/?hpt=wo_c2">Ilker Basbug, the former head of Turkey's military, was sentenced to life in prison Monday.</a> He is the most prominent figure accused of trying to overthrow the government.
Sentenced to life —
AUGUST 6 - SILIVRI, TURKEY: Holding a portrait of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turkey's first president, a protester sits in front of police forces blocking access to a courthouse in Silivri, near Istanbul, on August 5. Ilker Basbug, the former head of Turkey's military, was sentenced to life in prison Monday. He is the most prominent figure accused of trying to overthrow the government.
OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images
AUGUST 5 - SHANGHAI, CHINA: Work on the main structure of the Shanghai Tower was completed on August 3, when a crane placed a steel beam 580 meters above the ground. China's construction boom gives rise to some of the world's tallest buildings. <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/08/05/business/china-sky-city-skyscraper-index/index.html?hpt=ias_t5">But some say it can also bring economic bust.</a>
Defining Moments: Capturing our changing world —
AUGUST 5 - SHANGHAI, CHINA: Work on the main structure of the Shanghai Tower was completed on August 3, when a crane placed a steel beam 580 meters above the ground. China's construction boom gives rise to some of the world's tallest buildings. But some say it can also bring economic bust.
AFP/Getty Image
AUGUST 2 - TALISMAN, MEXICO: An indigenous family walks from Guatemala into Mexico after illegally crossing the country's southeastern border at the Suchiate River on August 1. An increasing number of Central Americans pass illegally into Mexico, many on the first leg of their long and perilous journey north towards the United States.
Crossing borders —
AUGUST 2 - TALISMAN, MEXICO: An indigenous family walks from Guatemala into Mexico after illegally crossing the country's southeastern border at the Suchiate River on August 1. An increasing number of Central Americans pass illegally into Mexico, many on the first leg of their long and perilous journey north towards the United States.
John Moore/Getty Images
August 1 - KABUL, AFGHANISTAN: Children play on a swing near a cemetery in Kabul. The number of civilians killed in Afghanistan increased by nearly a quarter in the first six months of this year, the <a href="http://cnn.com/2013/07/31/world/asia/afghanistan-civilian-casualties/index.html?hpt=ias_c2">United Nations said in a report</a>. Most of the 1,319 civilians killed so far this year were victims of the Taliban.
Lives lost in Afghanistan —
August 1 - KABUL, AFGHANISTAN: Children play on a swing near a cemetery in Kabul. The number of civilians killed in Afghanistan increased by nearly a quarter in the first six months of this year, the United Nations said in a report. Most of the 1,319 civilians killed so far this year were victims of the Taliban.
SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images