Karbala, Iraq — Shiite Muslim pilgrims gather outside the Imam Abbas shrine for Ashura ceremonies to commemorate the 7th century killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of prophet Muhammad.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MOHAMMED SAWAF / AFP/Getty Images

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Kabul, Afghanistan — An Afghan boy holds a flag during a procession for Muharram, as Ashura is known in the region. Shiite mourners beat themselves with steel-tipped flails or slash their bodies with knives to mark the anniversary of the death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of prophet Muhammad in 680.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: AHMAD MASOOD / REUTERS

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Istanbul, Turkey — Esmanur Kacmaz, a five-year-old Turkish Shiite girl, stands next to a painting of Ali, son-in-law of prophet Muhammad, as she takes part in an Ashura procession in the Turkish capital. Ashura commemorates the slaying of Ali's son Hussein in 680.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MURAD SEZER / REUTERS

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London — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks to the media on the steps of the High Court. He was freed on bail while he fights extradition to Sweden over allegations of sexual assault.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANDREW WINNING / REUTERS

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Washington — The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree glows at night.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MOLLY RILEY / REUTERS

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Igis, Switzerland — The moon rises above snow covered trees in the Swiss Canton of Grisons.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ARNO BALZARINI / EPA

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Bodice, Slovakia — A seven-week old Border Collie puppy has a dusting of snow on its face after playing with its siblings outdoors as temperatures dropped below freezing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JOE KLAMAR / AFP/Getty Images

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Waterfoot, Nothern Ireland — A group of cormorants perch on a pier in County Antrim as waves break around them.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: CATHAL MCNAUGHTON / REUTERS

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James City County, Va. — A light snowfall blankets the pier at Diascund Creek Reservoir Boat Landing.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Alexa Welch Edlund / Richmond Times-Dispatch

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Val Gardena, Italy — Ted Ligety of the United States trains for the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Downhill competition.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Francis Bompard/Agence Zoom / Getty Images

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Kuta, Indonesia — A bungee jumper dressed as Santa Claus leaps from a platform above a beach in Kuta.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP / Getty Imges

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Kunduz, Afghanistan — German Bundeswehr army soldiers decorate a fir tree imported from Germany for Christmas Eve in the army camp in Kunduz.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: FABRIZIO BENSCH / Reuters

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Oberhausen, Germany — A diver in a Santa Claus costume distributes treats for the residents of a giant basin at the Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Roland Weihrauch / EPA

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New Delhi, India — A Tibetan activist raises signs outside the U.N. office during a protest against the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in New Delhi. The leaders of India and China called Thursday for a stronger partnership between their countries as they publicly downplayed the lingering economic and political tensions among Asia's rising powers. China resents the presence in India of the self-declared Tibetan government-in-exile and the Dalai Lama.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gurinder Osan / Associated Press

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New Delhi — Indian police personnel detained and arrested Tibetan protesters as they demonstrated against the three-day visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jaibao in New Delhi.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANINDITO MUKHERJEE / EPA

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Munich — Two young men surf as temperatures hover around 20 degrees Fahrenheit in Munich. Reports state that Europe is bracing itself for more snow and freezing temperatures, which are likely to disrupt transportation and hamper shoppers in the run-up to Christmas.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: FRANK†LEONHARDT / EPA

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Hamburg, Germany — A camel at the Hagenbeck Animal Park in Hamburg is coated with snow.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Angelika Warmuth / EPA

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Bethlehem, West Bank — The Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem is a major draw at this time of year. A record number of tourists and pilgrims are expected to visit Bethlehem to pray at the site of Jesus Christ's birth.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JIM HOLLANDER / EPA

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London — A protester demonstrates in support of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange outside the High Court during Assange's bail hearing. Assange was granted bail.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANDY RAIN / EPA

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Beirut, Lebanon — Supporters of Hezbollah in Lebanon chant slogans and carry flags during an Ashura celebration during the sacred Islamic month of Muharram. Shiite mourners beat themselves during Ashura with steel-tipped flails or slash their bodies with knives to mark the anniversary of the death in battle of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammad.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Khalil Hassan / Reuters

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Bhubaneswar, India — An village boy returns with his cattle at sunset on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. A piece of bamboo is seen hung from the neck of one of the cattle to prevent it from running far.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Biswaranjan Rout / Associated Press

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