Presenting some of the most scintillating pictures from around the globe in the last 48 hours.

A United States Marine covers from dust caused by the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter after landing for a Western Engagement operation in the Garsmir district of the Helmand province, southern Afghanistan. US Marines and Afghan security forces conducted a joint operation aiming to extend their presence west of Helmand River.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom will withdraw another 500 troops from Afghanistan next year, as armed forces begin to transfer combat duties to the Afghan security forces.

The decision comes a fortnight after US President Barack Obama said he intended to withdraw 33,000 American troops from the country by the end of next autumn.

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The author of the 'Potter' series told the crowd that though she had no immediate plans to make another film, she would 'never say never'.

Final installment of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, is expected to end the journey with a bang with the whole phenomenon expectedly fetching almost 10 billion pounds.

The Prince and his wife capped off a whirlwind nine-day tour of Canada with a night of rodeo chuck wagon races, bull riding, country music and line dancing. And, said the future king with a wide grin, they received "fantastic" white, broad-rimmed cowboy hats made from rabbit fur for him and her.

On Friday, Syria accused the United States of meddling after the US ambassador visited the flashpoint city of Hama, where hundreds have fled fearing a crackdown ahead of anti-regime demonstrations on Friday.

"The presence of the US ambassador in Hama without previous permission is obvious proof of the implication of the United States in the ongoing events, and of their attempts to increase (tensions), which damage Syria's security and stability," the foreign ministry said in a statement.