Schinnen, Netherlands — Deer are in a snow-covered pasture. Most schools in the Netherlands will close their doors Friday for a two-week Christmas holiday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Ermindo Armino / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=17248

0

Berlin — Snow covers the Holocaust memorial. Media reports say Europe is bracing for more snow and freezing temperatures that are likely to disrupt transportation.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: TIM BRAKEMEIER / EPA

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=17249

1

Bucharest, Romania — A husky puppy is transported in a child's stroller on a snowy street. Snow in Romania is leading to traffic problems.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Vadim Ghirda / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=17250

2

London — A woman walks during a snowfall. A fresh blast of snow threatened to throw Britain's roads and railways into disarray in the run-up to Christmas, as winter tightened its grip on the country for the second time this year. This December is likely to be the coldest since records began in 1910 if temperatures in the second half of the month are as low as they have been in the first, said Helen Chivers, a forecaster at the Met Office.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: STEFAN WERMUTH / Reuters

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=17251

3

Skopje, Macedonia — Homeless Roma sit near an open fire on snow-covered pavement in front of the cardiology hospital Filip II. Reports state that Macedonia is being hit by a cold front, with morning temperatures dropping to 8 degrees Fahrenheit.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: GEORGI LICOVSKI / EPA

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=17252

4

Lake Placid, N.Y. — Great Britain's Donna Creighton competes in the first heat of the women's skeleton World Cup.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mike Groll / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=17253

5

Dresden, Germany — Eye surgery is shown to the press in a new hospital new operating room that has been financed with federal funds of about 1.8 million euros.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ARNO BURGI / EPA

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=17254

6

Banda Aceh, Indonesia — Muhammad Fikri, 2, sleeps in a hammock in a refugee camp for tsunami victims. Despite the end of the post-tsunami reconstruction process, there are still tsunami victims living in refugee camps because they have not received housing assistance.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: HOTLI SIMANJUNTAK / EPA

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=17255

7

Karachi, Pakistan — A Shiite Muslim fire-breather performs during an Ashura mourning procession commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein. Muslims across the world are observing Moharram, the first month of Islamic calender. The climax of Moharram is the Ashura festival commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed in the Iraqi city of Karbala in the 7th century.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: REHAN KHAN / EPA

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=17256

8

Nilin, West Bank — A Palestinian demonstrator protecting his head with a plastic bag prepares to hurl back a tear gas bomb fired by Israeli troops during a weekly protest against Israel's controversial separation barrier.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ABBAS MOMANI / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=17257

9

Oahu, Hawaii — Jordy Smith of Durban, South Africa, during his quarterfinal heat at the Billabong Pipe Masters.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Kelly Cestari / Assn. of Surfing Professionals

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=17258

10

Washington — The sun begins to rise behind the U.S. Capitol. Later Friday, the Senate is due to debate the New START treaty with Russia.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mark Wilson / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=17259

11