PHOTOS: World AIDS Day 2014

Sometimes whimsical, sometimes grimly serious, countries around the globe each created new awareness for AIDS in their own way.

Guitarist, The Edge of U2 (left) and Bruce Springsteen perform on World AIDS Day at 'A (RED) Thank You,' presented by Bank of America on December 1 in New York City's Times Square.

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General view of the atmosphere on World AIDS Day at 'A (RED) Thank You.'

Kanye West performs at 'A (RED) Thank You.'

Chris Martin of Coldplay performs at 'A (RED) Thank You.'

The crowd at 'A (RED) Thank You.'

Kris Jenner attends Kim Kardashian's 'Raising a Toast for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and World AIDS Day' at The Abbey in West Hollywood.

Actress Candis Cayne takes the mic at Kim Kardashian's 'Raising a Toast for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and World AIDS Day.'

Kris Jenner gets a boost from the boys at Kim Kardashian's 'Raising a Toast for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and World AIDS Day.'

Executive director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibe and actress Charlize Theron attend the launch of the UNAIDS New Fast Track Report ahead of World AIDS Day 2014, November 18 at the University of California, Los Angeles.

An activist wears a red ribbon, the symbol of AIDS awareness, during an nongovernmental organization's campaign on World AIDS Day in Rio de Janeiro.

Indian social activists light lamps around a sign during an event to mark World AIDS Day in Kolkata. According to UNAIDS, India had the third-largest number of people living with HIV in the world at the end of 2013, and it accounts for more than half of all AIDS-related deaths in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2012, 140,000 people died in India because of AIDS. The Indian government has been providing free antiretroviral drugs for HIV treatment since 2004, but only 50 percent of those eligible for the treatment were getting it in 2012, according to a report from the World Health Organization.

Indian social activists and children release ribbons and balloons during an event to mark World AIDS Day in Kolkata.

Angela Groothuizen, Dutch ambassador for Stop AIDS Now, prepares to release red balloons representing women who have died of the disease on World AIDS Day at the Museumplein in Amsterdam.

People take part in a rally marking World AIDS Day in Paris.

An employee wearing a red shirt signs up a customer for a cell phone plan after she purchased an iPhone Monday at the Apple Store in Berlin. For World AIDS Day, Apple announced plans to donate a portion of sales at the company's retail and online stores around the world to a global fund to fight the disease. In addition, for two weeks, the company, in cooperation with the brand Product Red, also known as (RED), will offer 25 apps for sale whose proceeds will go directly to the initiative.

Indian students pose for a photograph in the shape of a ribbon during an awareness campaign to mark World AIDS Day at a school in Amritsar.

Indian students perform a street play to create awareness of HIV infection and prevention methods to commemorate World AIDS Day in New Delhi.

Pakistani transgender activists from the Khawaja Sira Society take part of a rally to mark World AIDS Day in Lahore.

Indian residents walk past a sand sculpture incorporating what is aimed to be the worlds longest red ribbon created by sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik at Puri Beach.

A Community Healthcare Network mobile clinic offers free HIV tests in Union Square Monday in New York City.

Demetre Daskalakis, MD, attends the World AIDS Day: Community Launch of the End AIDS NY 2020 Campaign Monday in New York City.

Thomas Roberts attends the World AIDS Day: Community Launch of the End AIDS NY 2020 Campaign Monday in New York City.