London — Asian lioness Abi and her cubs Heidi and Indi take a cautious look at their Christmas presents at the London Zoo. The lions were given gifts filled with meat treats to spark their natural curiosity and playful nature.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Kirsty Wigglesworth / Associated Press

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Shanghai — A model presents a creation with adornments partially made of chocolate during a chocolate fashion show at the World Chocolate Wonderland. The World Chocolate Wonderland will exhibit creations in chocolate such as the Terra Cotta Warriors and a Chinese dragon when it opens to the public Friday, according to the organizer.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ALY SONG / Reuters

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Rio de Janeiro — Fabiola Molina of Minas Club competes in the women's 50-meter backstroke swimming final at the Brazil Swimming Open Championships. The Brazil Open is a chance for Brazilian swimmers to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: SERGIO MORAES / Reuters

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Liuzhou, China — Lin Dan of China smashes a return against Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia during their men's singles Group B match of the BWF badminton World Superseries Finals in Liuzhou, in China's southern province of Guangxi. Lin Dan won the match, 21-12, 21-19.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: LIU JIN / Agence France-Presse

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Mitzpe Yitzhar, Palestinian Territories — Jewish schoolboys from a nearby settlement sit on rubble from demolished structures as they take part in a lesson in the West Bank outpost of Mitzpe Yitzhar, near Nablus. Israeli forces tore down structures in the outpost, which was built without government approval.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: RONEN ZVULUN / Reuters

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Baghdad — A U.S. Marine salutes a color guard as it lowers the flag of the U.S. forces in Iraq during a ceremony for the U.S. military to retire the flag, signifying the end of their presence in Iraq at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center. The U.S military officially ended its war in Iraq on Thursday, packing up the military flag at a ceremony with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta nearly nine years after the invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein. This ceremony is called the "casing of the colors."

PHOTOGRAPH BY: LUCAS JACKSON / Reuters

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Manama, Bahrain — A police officer speaks to Zaynab al-Khawaja, daughter of human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, after she refused to leave after a sit-in on Budaiya Highway west of Manama. Hundreds of anti-government protesters tried to enter the highway for a sit-in. Riot police dispersed them with tear gas and grenades.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: HAMAD I MOHAMMED / Reuters

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Manama, Bahrain — A woman shouts anti-government slogans as she stands near tear gas fired by riot police during a sit-in at a traffic circle on Budaiya Highway.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: HAMAD I MOHAMMED / Reuters

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Caracas, Venezuela — Venezuelan authorities present alleged Colombian drug trafficker Maximiliano Bonilla, center, a.k.a. "El Valenciano," prior to his extradition at the Simon Bolivar International Airport. Bonilla was sent to the United States.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Rodolfo Gutierrez / EFE

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Santiago, Chile — Universidad de Chile fans cheer for their team before the Copa Sudamericana 2011 second leg final match against Ecuador's Liga de Quito at the National stadium.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MARTIN BERNETTI / Agence France-Presse

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