New York: New York Stock Exchange trader Matthew Schojam takes his daily meditation break outside the NYSE building on Wall Street. Schojam teaches meditation at September Space, a volunteer community organisation helping people affected by the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Ciudad Guayana: A view of the recently inaugurated 3,156-metre-long bridge over the Orinoco River, linking Venezuela with Brazil, 500km southeast from Caracas.

Beijing: Miss Venezuela Daniela di Giacomo poses in her traditional costume before she was crowned as Miss International 2006 at the pageant final last week. Di Giaccomo beat 52 other contestants from all over the world.

Dhaka: Activists of the Bangladeshi 14-party opposition alliance hurl stones and burn tyres as they clash with the police during a countrywide transport blockade organised by the Awami League-led opposition. Last week, one person was killed and several people were injured after riot police used tear gas and water canons to disperse the stone-throwing political opposition protesters in the capital.

Monaco: US sprinter Sanya Richards poses with her trophy after being elected the best sportswoman of the year by the IAAF World Athletics on November 12.