WORLD

Here are the photographs that shocked the world.

A picture is worth a thousand words. The most shocking pictures are worth much more.

It may sound sappy, but the bond between a mother and her children run thicker than blood even. But what happens when mothers turn killers of their own children? One such high profile case has been the brutal murder of Keisha Abraham by her own mother, Kristi. And it wasn't just the murder but the cover-up story that Kristi concocted to get away scot-free that has made her one of Australia’s most hated mothers.

Six years ago, a girl named Talia Castellano was diagnosed with cancer and interest in makeup helped in distracting her from the ailment. Unfortunately, the 13-year-old bubbly girl who became a YouTube sensation as a makeup guru lost the battle with cancer and passed away on July 16 with family and friends surrounding her.

Google decided to celebrate the 66th anniversary of the Roswell UFO incident in a fun way with the creation of an interactive Google Doodle. The black-and-white Google Doodle video game allows the Internet users to aid an alien search for the missing parts of his spaceship.

A Dallas, Texas gym teacher named Dale Irby caught the attention of social media Web sites when pictures of him surfaced wearing the same clothes for 40 years in the school yearbook. The 63-year-old Prestonwood Elementary school teacher unintentionally wore the same collared disco shirt with V-necked brown tank top in two successive yearbook photos, and his wife, Cathy, dared him to do it again for the third time.

In 2011, a 3-year-old girl named Iris Halmshaw from Leicestershire was diagnosed with autism. The child is unable to speak due to the neural development disorder but she can express feelings through her impressive painting skills.

Members of the Warwick University Rowing Club have a busy schedule that comprises of studying, training for competitions and posing nude to a calendar photo shoot for a good cause. A portion of the raised money will go to the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation that fights against homophobia and bullying.

Teenager Zara Hartshorn has been living a life comparable to Brad Pitt’s character in the film “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” because she is only 16 years old but looks 60. Zara, her sister Jolene and mum Tracey suffers the rare genetic disorder Cutis Laxa that causes skin to become inelastic and loosely hanging in folds which explains the premature ageing.

The 2013 Supermoon lit up the night sky over the weekend and worldwide viewers who were able to capture images of the spectacular phenomenon shared in on the internet. Those who were not able to witness the Supermoon, web site Space.com offers a free webcast on Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT (0100 June 24, Monday) courtesy of the Slooh Space Camera.

It was supposed to be a regular maintenance workday for 49-year-old Stephen Schmidt and 26-year-old Victor Carballo, two New York City window washers, over 500ft high at Hearst Tower Manhattan until their tolerance for high places was put to the test. The men were stuck for 90 minutes on the platform that suddenly collapsed before the rescue team saved them.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has spent the last decade sitting unchallenged as Turkey’s Prime Minister. He established himself as the vengeful but righteous father of the country. It seems like for every ruler in history, a measure of their success and power comes down to a rebellion.

Curiosity Mars remains fodder for rich speculations on what exists on the red planet. Several curious elements have been spotted on Martian photos taken by the rover. All findings remain speculation, and viewed by many as product of people's rich imagination. Here are some of the most controversial photos shared via social media networks.

Israeli female soldiers are in deep hot waters with the Israeli government and army after new recruits posted sexy and indecent, almost half-naked, photos of themselves on Facebook that were taken right inside the military barracks.

As the month of May comes to an end, the May 31 Friday night will provide one last spectacular 2013 Dance of the Planets view. Planets Jupiter, Mercury and Venus will be forming a rare straight alignment with the visibility of a “closer-than-usual” Supermoon.

The mermaid hoax on Animal Planet drew mixed reactions from its 3.6 million viewers (and still counting). Social media channels are being filled with mermaid insights, jokes and memes. "Mermaids: The New Evidence" is drawing much publicity - both good and bad. Have you seen the mockumentary?

Planets Jupiter, Mercury and Venus are currently performing their exceptional dance in the night sky and they will carry on for the rest of the week. Captured images of the 2013 Dance of the Planets are now being shared on the social networking site Twitter for online viewers to see.

Mars Curiosity rover photos have drawn much attention from space science enthusiasts and UFO observers. The latest "structures" include rock formations seen as some ruins and some kind of missile. But who knows - could these image interpretations be merely a result of rich and playful imagination?

Aftermath images and videos of the Oklahoma tornado are now posted on social networking web sites. It showed how the force of nature damaged the US state on Monday, May 20, with its projected width of 3.2km and speed of up to 320km/hr.

Authorities confirmed that 17 participants of the Mother’s Day parade in New Orleans have been wounded when gunmen open-fired on people marching on Mother’s Day Parade held Sunday, March 12. No fatalities have been reported as bystanders rushed to the aid of the victims, who suffered non-threatening bullet wounds.

Jodi Arias received the guilty verdict on first degree murder last Wednesday, May 8, but the trial’s next phase scheduled on Thursday has been postponed. Fate of the convicted murderer is currently in the hands of jury who will decide if Jodi Arias must be given the death penalty or life in prison.

Viewers shared on numerous social networking sites their extraordinary experience of watching and capturing images of the 2013 Solar Eclipse observable in Australia and other parts of the world. The Coca Cola Space Science Center provided a live streaming as well for the viewers so they can watch the rare phenomenon online.

From being just a mere restaurant dishwasher, Charles Ramsey is now regarded around the world as the uncanny hero responsible for the escape of decade-long kidnapped victim Amanda Berry and her two companions.

It was supposed to be a fun-filled Saturday night out for newlywed bride Neriza Fojas, a 31-year-old registered nurse from Fresno and her friends but it ended in tragedy. A stretch limousine carrying the 9 female passengers suddenly burst into flames at the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge in San Francisco Bay killing 5 passengers, including the newlywed, and injuring 4 women during the 90-second fire.

The official Korean Central News Agency confirmed on Thursday, May 2, that the Supreme Court sentenced US citizen Kenneth Bae to 15 years of hard labor in North Korea for allegedly committing “hostile acts” against the Korean government. The US government currently insists amnesty and release for the captured US citizen.

Carmen Blandin Tarleton of Thetford began her “hell journey” in 2007 after husband Herbert Rodgers struck her with a bat and soaked her face with industrial-strength lye due to suspicion of infidelity. Six years later after the attack, the 44-year-old victim publicly revealed for the first time her new look from the successful face transplant surgery at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s hospital in February 2013.

Prince Harry of Wales was able to experience how to change a baby doll’s diaper with one hand while the other holds a dumbbell during his visit at Headway in Nottingham, England on April 25. Headway is a charity organization that supports the brain injury survivors and the 28-year-old Royal Prince showed his charming side at the event.

The 2013 Lyrids Meteor Shower was at its best peak from April 21 to the early morning hours of April 22. Viewers who were not able to experience the spectacle can still catch the rare phenomenon with NASA’s live stream coverage shared on Space.com beginning at 8:30 p.m. EDT (0030 GMT).

The 2013 Lyrids Meteor Shower is at its peak between Sunday night and the early hours of Monday morning but viewers can still see the spectacle until April 25. The bright moon may be an obstacle for the sky watchers but there are still some tips on how to best view the celestial display.