Gaza City — A Greek Orthodox priest holds up a cross during Christmas services at a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City. Christmas falls on Jan. 7 for Orthodox Christians in Eastern Orthodox churches that use the Julian calendar instead of the 16th century Gregorian calendar adopted by Catholics and Protestants and commonly used in secular life around the world.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ALI ALI / EPA

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=18737

0

Kiev, Ukraine — Worshipers light candles in a church to mark the Orthodox Christmas in Kiev, Ukraine. Christmas falls on Jan. 7 for Orthodox Christians in the Holy Land, Ukraine and other Orthodox churches that use the old Julian calendar instead of the 16th century Gregorian calendar.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Efrem Lukatsky / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=18738

1

Omsk, Russia — A participant runs during a traditional Christmas Half Marathon in Omsk, Russia. The temperatures in Omsk dropped to minus-22 Fahrenheit.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ALEXEY MALGAVKO / AFP / Getty IMages

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=18739

2

Harbin, China — A man walks in a pagoda ice structure in a park on the sidelines of 27th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China. The annual festival attracts tourists from China and overseas who brave below-zero temperatures to see giant ice and snow sculptures.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: HOW HWEE YOUNG / EPA

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=18740

3

Philadelphia — A young man walks through snow during a winter storm in Philadelphia.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Matt Rourke / AP

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=18741

4

Barcelona, Spain — Customers wearing only underwear queue outside a Desigual store on the first day of sales in Barcelona, Spain. The company offered free clothing to customers who visited their stores donning only underwear.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JOSEP LAGO / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=18742

5

Madrid — An honor guard adjusts his hat as he waits for the arrival of South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik at Madrid's Moncloa Palace.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: SUSANA VERA / Reuters

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=18743

6

Juba, Sudan — Rally participants show support for the upcoming independence referendum in the southern Sudanese city of Juba. South Sudan, one of the world's poorest countries, is preparing for Sunday's referendum following a historic 2005 peace treaty that brought to an end decades of civil war between the Arab north and predominantly Christian and animist south.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Spencer Platt / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=18744

7

Hyderabad, India — A police officer fires a tear gas shell at protesters demanding a separate Telangana state carved out of the southern Andhra Pradesh state during a demonstration in Hyderabad, India.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Reuters

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=18745

8

Bilin, West Bank — A Palestinian man covers his head with a plastic bag to protect himself from tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers during a weekly protest against the controversial Israeli barrier, in the West Bank village of Bilin.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MOHAMAD TOROKMAN / Reuters

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=18746

9

Algiers, Algeria — A youth set fires in the streets of the Belcourt district of Algiers during a protest over the rising cost of living.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=18747

10

Manilia — A replica of the Black Nazarene is carried during a procession along a main street in Quiapo, Philippines. The Black Nazarene is a life-sized, dark-colored, wooden sculpture of Jesus that traveled all the way from Mexico.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ROMEO RANOCO / Reuters

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=18748

11

Tokyo — Japan's highest mountain, Mt. Fuji, looms in the background between skyscrapers in Tokyo's Shinjuku area during the sunset.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: KAZUHIRO NOGI / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=18749

12