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Pictures of the Month
March 2020
With the 'Pictures of the Month' epa offers you a selection of its professionally edited service. The curated photo selection highlights the most important topics of this month and brings together some of epa's most eye catching and visually appealing images selected by our Editors.
The photo selection spans all image categories ranging from economy, business and finance through to human interest, sports, arts, culture and entertainment. Thus, offering a comprehensive retrospective for each month.
This month's coverage included these topics:
- News:
e.g. Coronavirus / Covid-19, USA Pre-Elections, EU / Turkey Migration Crisis, International Women's Day, Pope Francis: extraordinary 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing, Afghanistan Kabul Sikh Temple attack, Philippines Lion Air crash, Protecting trees in blossom from freezing. - Sports:
e.g. Tokyo Summer Olympic Games postponed, Britain Soccer Carabao Cup final, European Leagues without spectators, Formula One Grand Prix cancellations, Superbike World Championship, Tennis Davis Cup, athletes home training. - Arts, Culture and Entertainment:
e.g. Britain's Harry & Meghan, Holi Festival, James Bond 'No Time To Die', Cultural Life during Coronavirus Pandemic, Toilet Paper Bakery.

Indian people bang utensils and clap from the balconies of a residential building in Mumbai, India, 22 March 2020. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asks citizens to impose self-curfew to fight Coronavirus COVID-19 and also ask them to clap, bang the bells and utensils at 5pm Indian time to mark of respect and to thank the medical staff and others working 24 hours, during Covid-19 outbreak to keeping the Indians safe. EPA-EFE/DIVYAKANT SOLANKI

Sanitation workers wearing protective clothing and face masks carry out the cleaning of Duomo Square in Milan, Italy, 31 March 2020. Italy is under lockdown in an attempt to stop the widespread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus causing the Covid-19 disease. EPA-EFE/ANDREA FASANI

Kosovans take part in a march to mark International Women's Day in Pristina, Kosovo, 08 March 2020. International Women's Day is marked on 08 March to demand gender equal rights. EPA-EFE/VALDRIN XHEMAJ

A migrant man holding a child is seen behind barbed wire as migrants and refugees gather on the Turkish side of the closed Kastanies border crossing, on the borderline between Greece and Turkey, near the Evros River, in an attempt to cross into Greece, 02 March 2020. Thousands of refugees and migrants are gathering on the Turkish side of the border with Greece with the intent to cross into the European Union following the Turkish government's decision to loosen controls on migrant flows after the death of 33 Turkish soldiers killed in an attack in Idlib, Syria on 27 February. EPA-EFE/DIMITRIS TOSIDIS

Trader Peter Tuchman works at a podium normally reserved for guests at the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, New York, USA, 16 March 2020. Stocks opened sharply lower this morning and trading was halted for 15 minutes at the opening bell as investors continue to react to the impact of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. EPA-EFE/JUSTIN LANE

United States Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks to supporters during a campaign rally at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, USA, 02 March 2020. Texas's primary elections will be held during the Democratic Super Tuesday Elections taking place on 03 March. EPA-EFE/CRISTOBAL HERRERA

Health workers wearing protective suits move a patient infected with the novel coronavirus Covid-19 disease with an isolation stretcher from an ambulance to a hospital in Seoul, South Korea, 09 March 2020. With over 7,380 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus, South Korea currently accounts for the highest number of infections outside mainland China. EPA-EFE/KIM CHUL-SOO

Olympic flame sits on display after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially decided to postpone the Tokyo Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, 25 March 2020. The Olympic Games was originally scheduled to open on 24 July 2020 but has been postpone due to the risk posed by the coronavirus outbreak. EPA-EFE/KIMIMASA MAYAMA

Britain's Harry (R) and Meghan (L), Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend the annual Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House in London, Britain, 05 March 2020. The event is the couple's first joint official royal engagement since announcing their intention of giving up Royal duties after 31 March 2020. EPA-EFE/NEIL HALL

Manchester City players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Carabao Cup final between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Wembley in London, Britain, 01 March 2020. EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications

Empty stands are seen before the Italian Serie A soccer match UC Sampdoria vs Hellas Verona FC at Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, 08 March 2020. Italian Serie A matches are played without spectators over the COVID-19 coronavirus threat. EPA-EFE/SIMONE ARVEDA

Empty shelves in a supermarket in south London, Britain, 15 March 2020. It has been reported that UK supermarkets have appealed to customers not to stockpile food due to coronavirus. Several European countries have closed borders, schools as well as public facilities, and have cancelled most major sports and entertainment events in order to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus causing the Covid-19 disease. EPA-EFE/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA

The wreckage of the Bell 429 helicopter, carrying Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Archie Gamboa, lies on a road after a crash in San Pedro city, Laguna province, Philippines, 05 March 2020. According to reports, police national chief General Archie Gamboa and seven others survived the crash after the helicopter accidentally hit a high tension wire during takeoff. EPA-EFE/WILSON DOMINGO

A dog plays with a giant soap bubble in downtown Kiev, Ukraine, 06 March 2020. EPA-EFE/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

An empty flights departue board during the coronavirus pandemic at the international airport in Stuttgart, Germany, 27 March 2020. Countries around the world are taking increased measures to stem the widespread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus which causes the Covid-19 disease. EPA-EFE/RONALD WITTEK

Health workers react as neighbors of the Dos de Mayo Hospital take part in the nationwide daily gratitude applause in Barcelona, Spain, 30 March 2020. Spain is on its 16th consecutive day of national lockdown imposed by the government in an attempt to slow down the spread of the pandemic COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. EPA-EFE/Quique Garcia

People take part during the march held to commemorate International Working Women in Pamplona, Navarra, Spain, 08 March 2020. International Women's Day (IWD) is observed worldwide on 08 March every year as a celebration of women's social, economic, cultural and political achievements. Although it had already been celebrated on 08 March 1914 in several cities, the specific date was popularized in 1917 when female Russian textile workers went on strike in the city then known as Petrograd (now named St. Petersburg), kicking off Russia's February Revolution. EFE/ Villar Lopez

Pastor Scott Holmer (L) hears confession at his drive up confessional necessitated by the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic at St Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Bowie, Maryland, USA, 20 March 2020. Pastor Holmer has coxed his physical church but provides confession and provides home blessings in the neighborhoods surrounding his church. EPA-EFE/SHAWN THEW
Photographer: SHAWN THEW

Senator Elizabeth Warren announces the suspension of her race in the Democratic primary for President outside her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 05 March 2020. EPA-EFE/CJ GUNTHER

A nurse wears protective gear (masks, gloves) at a newly-converted resuscitation intensive care department due to an increasing number of Covid-19 infected people, at the Ambroise Pare clinic in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, 27 March 2020. France is under lockdown in an attempt to stop the widespread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus causing the Covid-19 disease. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

An image taken with a slow shutter speed shows Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in action against Alberto Lim of the Philippines during the Davis Cup World Group II Play-Offs First Round singles match between the Philippines and Greece at the Philippine Columbian Association in Manila, Philippines, 06 March 2020. EPA-EFE/MARK R. CRISTINO

People wearing a protective masks pass a poster for the new James Bond film at Oxford Circus in London, Britain, 13 March 2020. The total number of confirmed cases in the UK has risen to 798 according to media reports. A number of preventative measures are being implemented including postponing English Premiere league soccer games. EPA-EFE/NEIL HALL

A tourist is covered in colored powder during Holi Festival celebrations in Kathmandu, Nepal, 09 March 2020. Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, marks the beginning of spring and is celebrated all over Nepal and neighboring India. EPA-EFE/NARENDRA SHRESTHA

A metro passes in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 26 March 2020. The Ministry of Health and Community Protection and the Ministry of Interior announced on 26 March a three-day national sterilization program to limit the spread of the covid-19 coronavirus. Public traffic, transportation and metro services will be suspended, while citizens were asked to stay home as authorities sanitize all public facilities, streets and public transportation services. EPA-EFE/MAHMOUD KHALED

Medical staff celebrate after all patients were discharged at Wuchang Fangcang hospital, a temporary hospital set up at Hongshan gymnasium to treat people infected with the coronavirus and COVID-19 disease, in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, 10 March 2020 (issued 11 March 2020). The temporary hospital closes on 10 March after China reported days of decline in the number of new coronavirus cases originating in the country. However, the number of coronavirus cases imported to China continued to rise, with 40 percent of the latest 24 infections reported on 11 March stemming from overseas. EPA-EFE/YFC CHINA OUT

People walk along an empty road during an emergency nationwide lock down in Kathmandu, Nepal, 24 March 2020. After the confirmation of the second COVID-19 case in Nepal, the government has decided to enforce a week-long lock down from 24 March to 31 March 2020 in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus. EPA-EFE/NARENDRA SHRESTHA

Italian army trucks are loaded with coffins to be transported to crematorium during the Coronavirus emergency in Ferrara, Italy, 25 March 2020. Tighter lockdown measures come into force as Italy remains under lockdown. Countries around the world are taking increased measures to stem the widespread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus which causes the Covid-19 disease. EPA-EFE/SERGIO PESCI

A man carrying his belonging on the shoulders walks in a field near the Kapikule Turkish border crossing, at the Turkish-Greek border, in Edirne, Turkey, 01 March 2020. Thousands of refugees and migrants are gathering on the Turkish side of the border with Greece with the intent to cross into the European Union following the Turkish government's decision to loosen controls on migrant flows after the death of 33 Turkish soldiers killed in an attack in Idlib, Syria on 27 February. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A couple watches a live stream of the Vatican on their tablet in Kaarst, Germany, 27 March 2020. Pope Francis is holding a devotional service in view of the coronavirus COVID-19 crisis and delivers the special blessing Urbi et Orbi. This is a unique act in the history of the Vatican. The blessing Urbi et orbi is otherwise only given at Easter and Christmas, and also immediately after the election of a pope. EPA-EFE/SASCHA STEINBACH

French tenor Stephane Senechal (L) sings at his window for the inhabitants of his street in Paris, France, 24 March 2020. Senechal sings every evening to mark his support to healthcare employees since the beginning of containment measures decided by the government to lockdown France in an attempt to stop the widespread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus causing the Covid-19 disease. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

Picture released 26 March 2020 shows Lufthansa aircrafts being parked at the airport in Munich, Germany, 25 March 2020. The German parliament on 25 March voted on a series of measures to counter the Coronavirus pandemic in Germany. Among the issues addressed are the Supplementary Budget Act 2020, the so called Corona pack, bankruptcy amid the crisis, Hospital Relief Act, Population protection and social security. EPA-EFE/LUKAS BARTH-TUTTAS

Disinfection operations on the streets due to the Coronavirus emergency in Rome, Italy, 24 March 2020. Tighter lockdown measures come into force as Italy remains under lockdown. Countries around the world are taking increased measures to stem the widespread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus which causes the Covid-19 disease. EPA-EFE/MASSIMO PERCOSSI

A giant Olympic rings monument is seen at dusk at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo, Japan, 25 March 2020. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach agreed on 24 March to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympics until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. EPA-EFE/FRANCK ROBICHON

Democratic Party presidential candidate Joe Biden (R), accompanied by his wife Jill Biden (L), speaks at a primary night event at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 10 March 2020. Results from primary elections in five states come in on the evening of 10 March, as Biden and Sanders compete for the Democratic party nomination. EPA-EFE/TRACIE VAN AUKEN

Uliana Timoreeva, baker at the Rottosrouva Bakery, displays her toilet paper cake, in Helsinki, Finland, 23 March 2020. The bakery lost all cake orders, as all parties were cancelled due to the current coronavirus pandemic. The bakery staff came up with the indea for the baked good, which could give customers comic relief duruing the pandemic, as at the time people in the country were panic buying toilet paper. EPA-EFE/MAURI RATILAINEN

An aerial picture taken with a drone shows an empty playground that was closed during the coronavirus pandemic in Przemysl, southeastern Poland, 26 March 2020. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Poland increased to 1,085, the Ministry of Health said on 26 March morning. To date, 15 people have died in Poland from the Covid-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. EPA-EFE/Darek Delmanowicz POLAND OUT

General view of Portuguese Army soldiers at the temporary 'Porto Hospital' set up in the Pavilion Rosa Mota to fight the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic in Porto, Portugal, 31 March 2020. The Portuguese Army and the city of Porto erected the 'Porto Hospital' with more than 300 beds for COVID-19 patients in an attempt to relieve the Sao Joao Hospital and the University Centres of Porto (Santo Antonio). Reports by the Directorate General of Health (DGS) stated that there were 160 deaths and 7,443 confirmed infections in Portugal. EPA-EFE/FERNANDO VELUDO

Afghan Hindu men grieve as they attend in the burning ceremony of Sikh temple victims a day after an attack on a Sikh temple in Kabul, Afghanistan, 26 March 2020. At least 25 people were killed and eight other injured after gunmen stormed a Sikh religious complex in the Afghan capital Kabul, according to officials. EPA-EFE/JAWAD JALALI

An image taken with a drone shows a jogger passes Apricot trees in blossom covered with ice in the middle of the Swiss Alps mountains, in Saxon, Canton of Valais, Switzerland, 26 March 2020. Fruit trees are sprayed with water to protect them from freezing, when the temperature drops bellow zero on cold spring nights. EPA-EFE/LAURENT GILLIERON IMAGE TAKEN WITH A DRONE

Thousands of women march against gender violence, during the commemoration of the International Women's Day, in Guadalajara, Mexico, 08 March 2020. Mexico recorded more than 1,000 femicides during 2019, according to official data. It is estimated that 10 women are killed in Mexico each day, a figure that increases year by year. EPA-EFE/FRANCISCO GUASCO

View of empty AP-7 highway near the French border in Girona, Spain, 16 March 2020. The Spanish government announced earlier on the day it would close the terrestrial borders starting at midnight to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, following the declaration of the alarm status in the whole country establishing restrictions to citizens' movements in public spaces. People will be only allowed to leave their homes to go to work, return home, go to supermarkets to buy basic commodities, pharmacies or attend doctor appointment or emergencies. EPA-EFE/DAVID BORRAT

A guinea pig, which lives in a volunteer's Association of mothers of large families, wearing a small protective mask is seen in their office in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 26 March 2020. Due to the coronavirus situation, volunteers sew protective masks for free distribution around large families. Ukraine's Cabinet introduced a national emergency for 30 days, till 24 April 2020, and extends the quarantine regime introduced over the novel coronavirus. EPA-EFE/SERGEY KOZLOV

Riders go over Lukey Heights as they compete in the Oceania Junior Cup race three during the World Superbike Championship on Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia, 01 March 2020. EPA-EFE/SCOTT BARBOUR EDITORIAL USE ONLY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

A field hospital set up in the high performance badminton centre, in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, 23 March 2020. The new coronavirus, responsible for the covid-19 pandemic, has already infected more than 341,000 people worldwide, of whom more than 15,100 have died. In Portugal, there are 23 deaths and 2,060 confirmed infections, according to the balance made today by the Directorate General of Health. Portugal is in a state of emergency since 00:00 on Thursday and until 23:59 on 02 April. EPA-EFE/CARLOS BARROSO

A group of migrants and refugees rest near Meric (Evros) River as they wait to cross to reach Greece at the Turkish-Greek border, in Edirne, Turkey, 03 March 2020. The Turkish government announced its decision to no longer stop refugees from reaching Europe, after 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in Idlib, Syria on 27 February. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

The Olympic Rings monument in front of the Japan Olympic Committee headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, 24 March 2020. Later in the day, Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe is scheduled to hold phone talks with International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach of Germany regarding the possible postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games due to the coronavirus COVID19 pandemic. EPA-EFE/FRANCK ROBICHON

A man impersonating legendary singer Freddie Mercury of the British glam-rock band 'Queen' performs to entertain his neighbors during the confinement in Orense, Galicia, Spain, 29 March 2020. Spain faces the 15th consecutive day of a national lockdown in an effort to slow down the spread of the pandemic COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. EPA-EFE/BRAIS LORENZO

Italian army soldiers wearing protective suits transport coffins onto military trucks from the Bergamo area to the cemetery of Cinisello Balsamo, near Milan, Cinisello Balsamo, 27 March 2020. Italy now has 80,589 covid-19 cases, 8,215 deaths and 10,361 recovered. EPA-EFE/Andrea Fasani

A Muslim cleric closes the door of Abou Al Hana mosque after Friday congregational prayer was held without faithful, in Cairo, Egypt, 27 March 2020. Egyptian religious institutions on 21 March ordered the suspension of group prayers and Friday prayers at mosques across the country to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. EPA-EFE/MOHAMED HOSSAM

Mahram Ali (R), 68, sits while waiting for an ambulance to carry the dead body of his 17-year-old doughter Fariba (L) from the hospital to their home after gunmen attacked a political gathering in Kabul, Afghanistan, 06 March 2020. The attackers killed at least 27 people and left dozens injured in the shooting, according to a revised death toll issued by the Afghan health ministry. EPA-EFE/HEDAYATULLAH AMID

Cellist Jodi Beder performs a daily concert on her front porch in the Washington, DC suburb of Mount Rainier, Maryland, USA, 28 March 2020. Beder started the concerts to help her neighbors deal with the boredom brought on by the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. EPA-EFE/JIM LO SCALZO

People enjoy a warm evening on a field near Elbe river in Dresden, Germany, 27 March 2020. The German government and local authorities are heightening measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 which causes the Covid-19 disease. EPA-EFE/FILIP SINGER

Workers load toilet paper packages into truck on the Syassky Cellulose-Paper Mill in Syasstroy, Leningrad Region, 140 kilometres from St. Petersburg, Russia, 25 March 2020. The capacity of the plant was increased by 25% due to the fact that people panick and buy toilet paper in large quantities in stores of St. Petersburg due to the continued spread of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. EPA-EFE/ANATOLY MALTSEV

New York State National Guard troops arrive at the Jacob Javits Convention Center to help convert the center to a medical facility in New York, New York, USA, 27 March 2020. New York City is now an epicenter of coronavirus COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, New York City has reported over 20,000 confirmed cases and more than 500 deaths. EPA-EFE/PETER FOLEY

Image released 28 March 2020 shows a freelance dancer going through her practice session at her home in Budapest, Hungary, 27 March 2020. Due to the coronavirus outbreak a curfew will be imposed on the entire territory of Hungary between 28 March and 11 April. For two weeks, homes and residences may only be left for work or for essential needs. EPA-EFE/Zoltan Balogh HUNGARY OUT

A woman is reflected in a shop window with a skeleton on display at a normally busy M Street in Georgetown is near empty before lunch hour in Washington, DC, USA, 27 March 2020. Efforts to contain the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic have caused business and restaurant closures nationwide. EPA-EFE/JIM LO SCALZO

Hungarian national canoe team member Eda Zsofia Szabo trains at her apartment in Szigethalom, Hungary, 30 March 2020. Due to the nationwide lock-down introduced because of the novel coronavirus pandemic the young canoeist is doing her training routines and exercises at her improvised gym at home. EPA-EFE/TIBOR ILLYES HUNGARY OUT

Medical professionals and hospital employees transfer a body on a hospital gurney into temporary storage in a mobile morgue, being used due to lack of space at the hospital, outside of the Brooklyn Hospital Center in Brooklyn, New York, USA, on 30 March 2020. New York City is still the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States and as of Monday there were reportedly 1,218 people who have died as a result of complications from COVID-19. EPA-EFE/JUSTIN LANE