We’re approaching the season of goodwill and moving towards 2013 rapidly, and the world seems to be on fire. Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Syria, South America, Greece, it is difficult to find a quiet and peaceful place nowadays, but we’re confident some of the images in this week 47 selection will bring a smile to your face. [71 photos total]

It’s the world going to sh*t or is it just me? Violent demonstration all over the world, military conflicts in Africa and Syria. And now the Israelis and Palestinians are fighting each other with heavy weapons again. It’s why a chose the photo of the sea turtle going back to the ocean as a cover this week. Let’s just keep it beautiful and peaceful. We’ll all be much happier (except the weapons manufacturers of course.). [74 photos total]

This looks an absolute blast. Instead of pretending to be a medieval knight saving a princess from a damp tower you can go to this role playing camp in China and pretend to be killing the Japanese. You just know this will ease the tension between the two nations. [26 photos total]

Today marks the start of the five-day festival of Diwali, celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs around the world. During Diwali, originally a harvest festival, lamps are lit to celebrate the triumph of good over evil, fireworks are set off to drive away evil spirits, and prayers for prosperity are offered to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Collected here are images of this year's festival, as celebrants color their world, give prayers, and wish each other a happy Diwali. [33 photos total]

After Sandy dominated the news last week, it was Obama’s turn this week. $800 Million or so spent on politican campaigning and it all stays largely the same. [64 photos total]

I think it is a fair assumption to let Sandy take week 44 as her own. Loads of other things happened, as you can see in the selection of pictures, but the images that will stay in our minds the longest will be those of the destruction some water and wind can do. [85 photos total]

[85 photos total]

I think we can officially now that we are racing towards the end of the year. Week 42 of 2012 once again brings us loads of protests. Spain, Greece, South America. Every corner of the globe had somethig to complain about. [57 photos total]

Vancouver-based Reuters photographer Andy Clark has a long history with motorsport, starting with days he spent as a teenager on darkened summer highways north of Toronto in the late 1960s, riding in muscle cars and drag racing until the wee hours of the morning or until the cops chased him away. With his passion for the sport, Andy has spent his Saturday nights photographing at the Agassiz Speedway. Built in 1970, the speedway is a quarter mile oval track nestled into the side of Agassiz Mountain about 90 minutes east of Vancouver. The track hosts about 12 races a season beginning in April, running to late October. – Paula Nelson ( 23 photos total) [23 photos total]

Sorry for the delay, but I’ve got a bout of the flu. Still, could be worse, I could be a miner in South Africa, a protestor in Athens or Madrid or a laborer in China. [74 photos total]