Turkish riot police officers take cover as Kurdish protesters shoot fireworks at them during clashes in central Istanbul on Dec. 7. Two protesters were killed on Dec. 6 in armed clashes with Turkish police that erupted over claims that Kurdish rebel cemeteries had been destroyed, local media reported.
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Anti-government protesters rally on Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine on Dec. 7. Be sure to read about the political implications of the unrest in Anna Nemtsova's article, "The Ukrainian President's Big Broken Promise."
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Open-water swimmers prepare to enter the six degree Celsius water as they take part in the annual December Dip at Parliament Hill lido in north London on Dec. 7.
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Choristers rehearse for Advent services and concerts at St. Paul's Cathedral on Dec. 9 in London, England.
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Nomadic shepherds from Rajasthan herd their sheep at a camp on the outskirts of New Delhi on Dec. 9.
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This picture taken on Dec. 7 shows a model wearing a surgical mask as she shows off a collection of gold jewelry at a park in Nanjing in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu. Read David Wertime's post on a Chinese state media article listing the "benefits" of China's major smog problem.
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Egyptian riot police seen during clashes with student supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood outside the University of Cairo on Dec. 11.
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A woman walks through debris of destroyed houses in Palo, Leyte province, the Philippines, on Dec. 7. Super Typhoon Haiyan devastated the country when it made landfall on Nov. 8.
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An EU flag is waved in front of riot police during a picket held outside the presidential office in Kiev on Dec. 7. Outraged Ukrainians rallied in central Kiev on Dec. 7 after President Viktor Yanukovych discussed a new strategic partnership agreement with Russia's Vladimir Putin upon rejecting a historic EU deal. Read Michael Weiss's article on how the protests aren't just about Ukrainians' European dream.
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A night view of the site where US energy giant Chevron plans to explore for shale gas in Pungesti, Romania. Anti-shale gas protesters from around Romania gathered on Dec. 7 in Pungesti to protest against the building of the site.
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A French soldier boards an armored vehicle as his way to cross the border with Central African Republic on Dec. 7 in Garoua Boulaï as part of the military operation aimed at restoring security in the conflict-ravaged country. Be sure to take a look at Ty McCormick's post that asks the question: "Can the World Still Make a Difference in the Central African Republic?"
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Anti-government protesters camp on Independence Square early in the morning on Dec. 8 in Kiev, Ukraine.
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Runners pose for a photo during the Illumi Run at the F1 Village on Dec. 7 in Singapore.
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A man dressed as a soldier drinks from a wineskin during Los Escobazos Festival on Dec. 7 in Jarandilla de la Vera, Spain. Although the origin of Los Escobazos is unknown, it is believed that goat shepherds used to walk down from the Gredos mountains to the village to celebrate Immaculate Conception day, lighting their way with broom torches.
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Children light candles in Bogota. Colombians celebrate the Day of the Candles every Dec. 7 to honor the Virgin Mary and kick off the Christmas season.
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Pauline Lefutso, age 76 stands on the step of her township home with neighbor Christina Tsolike, 72, on Dec. 9 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The two friends say they would love to attend Nelson Mandela's memorial service, but due to frail health they watched the event on television with their families. Be sure to see's slideshow of the memorial service.
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Members of the Ladies in White opposition group are arrested during a demonstration held to commemorate Human Rights Day in downtown Havana on Dec. 10.
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Participants dress up as Santa Claus prior to competing in the 5th annual Michendorf Santa Run (Michendorfer Nikolauslauf) on Dec. 8 in in Michendorf, Germany. Over 900 people took part in this year's races, which included one for children and one for adults.
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Ceremonial guards prepare to rotate their shift at the Presidential Palace on Dec. 7 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
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A Cambodian man and a woman ride a motorbike loaded with butchered pigs along a street in Phnom Penh on Dec. 9.
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Joyce and Gabrieli kiss before marrying at what was billed as the world's largest communal gay wedding on Dec. 8 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There were 130 couples married at the event. Be sure to look back at Foreign Policy's slideshow of mass weddings.
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Pathe Ouedraogo, aka Pathe 'O, Burkina Faso-born tailor for Nelson Mandela, works in his workshop on Dec. 11 in the Treichville district of Abidjan.
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A dog wearing a coat reading "With Hollande, more VAT, less jobs" takes part in a demonstration against unemployment in Paris on Dec. 7.
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