Best pictures from March 12
A Balinese man kicks up fire during the "Perang Api" ritual ahead of Nyepi day, which falls on Tuesday in Gianyar on the Indonesian island of Bali. Nyepi is a day of silence for self-reflection to celebrate the Balinese Hindu new year, where Hindus in Bali observe meditation and fasting, but are not allowed to work, cook, light lamps or conduct any other activities.STRINGER/INDONESIA/Reuters
A man dressed as a monk kneels in Saint Peter's Square as the conclave begins in order to elect a successor to Pope Benedict, at the Vatican. Shut off from the outside world, the 115 cardinals will cast their ballots in a chapel which has Michelangelo's soaring Last Judgment on one wall, and his depiction of the hand of God giving life to Adam above them.ERIC GAILLARD/Reuters
Clouds gather above a cow as it grazes in a drought-effected paddock on the outskirts of the New Zealand town of Blenheim, located in the south island's Marlborough district. New Zealand is in the grip of one of the worst droughts in a decade, with average rainfall levels in most regions well below average according to local media reports.DAVID GRAY/Reuters
Devotees throw turmeric powder as an offering to the shepherd god Khandoba on 'Somavati Amavasya' at the Jejuri temple in Pune district, Maharashtra state, India. 'Somavati Amavasya' is the day when a New Moon falls on a Monday.Rajanish Kakade/The Associated Press
Cardinals enter the door of the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave in order to elect a successor to Pope Benedict, in a still image taken from video at the Vatican. Shut off from the outside world, the 115 cardinals will cast their ballots in a chapel which has Michelangelo's soaring Last Judgment on one wall, and his depiction of the hand of God giving life to Adam above them.REUTERS TV/Reuters
People walking down the street are seen through a large tire in Gao.JOE PENNEY/Reuters
A squirrel sits in the snow in a garden in Wiesbaden, central Germany. Fresh snow fell in wide parts of Germany.Fredrik Von Erichsen/The Associated Press
A surfer comes to shower off after paddling to shore long past sunset in Cardiff, California.MIKE BLAKE/Reuters
Girls attend their first ballet class at studio Cinderella in Sanaa, Yemen.MOHAMED AL-SAYAGHI/Reuters
A Free Syrian Army fighter mourns at the grave of his father who was killed by what activists said was shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, in a public park that has been converted into a makeshift graveyard in Deir el-Zor .STRINGER/Reuters