The weekend in pictures

Abyei: A man gestures during a rally before a referendum on whether to join Sudan or South Sudan Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters

Benghazi, Libya: Men extinguish a fire after a car bomb exploded near a school where a training workshop for municipal council elections was being held Photograph: Esam Omran Al-Fetori/Reuters

Sofia, Bulgaria: Syrian children wait as Bulgarian doctors perform medical checkups at a refugee centre Photograph: Stoyan Nenov/Reuters

Assateague Island, Virginia, USA: An egret stands in a canal as morning sun reflects off the mist Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/REUTERS

Belgrade, Serbia: The coffin bearing the body of Jovanka Broz, widow of the former Yugoslav communist leader Josip Broz Tito, sits in front of the House of Flowers memorial complex before her funeral Photograph: Darko Vojinovic/AP

Madrid, Spain: A couple pass a pair of inflatable legs outside a theatre Photograph: Andres Kudacki/AP

The Vatican: Balloons fly over St Peter's square on the occasion of Family Day Photograph: Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images

Manila, Philippines: Children look at a girl in fancy dress taking part in the annual Halloween Trick or Treat event Photograph: Bullit Marquez/AP

Pont-de-Buis, France: Protesters block a motorway as they demonstrate against an ecotax that will come into effect on 1 January 2014 Photograph: Fred Tanneau/AFP/Getty Images

Karachi, Pakistan: A paramilitary officer displays weapons and ammunitions confiscated in an operation against criminal activities Photograph: Fareed Khan/AP

Rongshui county, China: Ethnic Miao people carry a pig at a traditional festival, Datongnian, during which people dance and sing folk songs Photograph: China Daily/Reuters

Taungbi, Burma: A girl holds an umbrella decorated with kyat banknotes before donating them to a Buddhist temple during the annual Taungbi festival Photograph: Damir Sagolj/Reuters

Dhaka, Bangladesh: A colleague helps an autorickshaw driver to an operating theatre after he was injured in a crude bomb attack Photograph: Andrew Biraj/Reuters

Queens, New York, US: Two people walk on a beach in Belle Harbor which was raised with a steel-reinforced concrete wall after superstorm Sandy Photograph: Kathy Willens/AP