Pictures of the week: Dec. 18 - MSN.com

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© Kirill Kudryavtsev/Pool/Reuters
BAIKONUR COSMODROME, KAZAKHSTAN
Member of the International Space Station expedition 46/47, British ESA astronaut Timothy Peake gestures to his children during a sending-off ceremony on Dec. 15.





© Ilya Naymushin/Reuters
KRASNOYARSK, RUSSIA
A member of the "Sibspas" Siberian search and rescue group dressed as Santa Claus (L), shakes hands with his teammate, dressed as Father Frost, the Russian equivalent of Santa Claus, as they climb to the rock named "The Fourth Stolb" (the Fourth Pillar) at the Stolby National Nature Reserve during a training session of the Russian Emergencies Ministry on Dec. 15.





© Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images
BAIKONUR COSMODROME, KAZAKHSTAN
Russia's Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft carrying the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 46/47 crew of Britain's astronaut Tim Peake, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and US astronaut Tim Kopra blasts off from the launch pad at the Russian-leased Baikonur Cosmodrome on Dec. 15.





© Joe Robbins/Getty Images
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN, USA
Fans cheer during the NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field staduim on Dec. 13.





© Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
KINCRAIG, SCOTLAND
Young lynx wait to be fed in their enclosure at the Highland Wildlife Park on Dec. 16.





© Stefan Rousseau/PA WIRE/Press Association
SCOTLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
This handout image released on Dec. 17, by Clarence House, shows the personal Christmas card produced for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales. The card features a photograph of the royal couple taken in Scotland during their summer holiday.





© Todd Williamson/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA
Actor John Boyega attends the World Premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” at the Dolby, El Capitan, and TCL Theatres on Dec. 14.





© Vatican Pool/Getty Images
VATICAN CITY
Pope Francis opens the Holy Door in St. John Lateran Basilica on Dec. 13.





© Armando Trovati/AP Photo
VAL D'ISERE, FRANCE
Austria's Marcel Hirscher competes during the first run of a men's World Cup giant slalom on Dec. 12.





© Ozkan Bilgin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
VAN, TURKEY
A view of the Muradiye Falls frozen over due to the extreme cold weather on Dec. 15.

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© Delil Souleiman/AFP/Getty Images
AL-QAMISHLI, SYRIA
The sister (L) of Mohammed Ismael — who died in one of three suicide car bombings claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group in the town of Tal Tamr earlier this week — mourns during his funeral in Al-Qamishli, a Kurdish-majority city in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province, on Dec. 13.





© Edgar Su/Reuters
SINGAPORE
Inuka, the first polar bear born in the tropics, enjoys an ice cake during its 25th birthday celebrations at the Singapore Zoo on Dec. 16.





© Albert Gea/Reuters
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Gold medal winner of the men's free program Yuzuru Hanyu (C) of Japan laughs between silver medal winner Javier Fernandez (L) of Spain and bronze medal winner Shoma Uno of Japan during the medal ceremony at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating final on Dec. 12.





© Seth Wenig/AP Photo
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA
A steel beam that had pieces cut out by construction workers is stored in an almost empty hanger at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Dec. 15. The beam is one of the last remnants of a host of artifacts recovered after the Sept. 11 attacks that have been held in storage at the airport for 14 years by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the 16-acre trade center site.





© Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
GAZA CITY
Palestinians throw stones at Israeli soldiers during a protest following the Friday prayers in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood on the Israel-Gaza border on Dec. 11.





© Visar Kryeziu/AP Photo
PRISTINA, KOSOVO
Kosovo parliament security wear gas masks after opposition lawmakers released a tear gas canister disrupting a parliamentary session on Dec. 14.





© Chris O'Meara/AP Photo
TAMPA, FLORIDA, USA
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Orie Lemon carries an American flag as he runs onto the field during team introductions before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on Dec. 13.





© Matej Divizna/Getty Images/Getty Images
KAPLICE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Participants dressed as the Krampus creatures walk the streets during Krampus gathering on Dec. 12.





© Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
LONDON, ENGLAND
Anthony Joshua (R) throws a punch after the bell at the end of the first round as the referee intervenes during the British and Commonwealth heavyweight title contest against Dillian Whyte (L) at the Matchroom Boxing promotion 'Bad Intentions' at The O2 Arena on Dec. 12.





© Paul Hiffmeyer/Disney Parks via Getty Images
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, USA
In this handout photo provided by Disney Parks, actor and Disney legend Dick Van Dyke and Mary Poppins celebrate his 90th birthday at Disneyland on Dec. 13.

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© Warren Little/Getty Images for Falcon
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in action against Carolina Marin of Spain in the Women's Singles match during day three of the BWF Dubai World Superseries 2015 Finals at the Hamdan Sports Complex on Dec. 11.





© Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Artist Grayson Perry poses for a portrait at Sydney Opera House on Dec. 13.





© Yawar Nazir/Getty Images
SRINAGAR, INDIA
A boatman rows his boat as a man sits on a dock at the Dal Lake on Dec. 14.





© Matt Rourke/AP Photo
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, USA
A Navy Midshipmen signals his fellow Midshipman as they march onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Army on Dec. 12.





© John Moore/Getty Images
RICHARDSON, TEXAS, USA
Armed protesters from the so-called Bureau of American-Islamic Relations (BAIR), take part in a demonstration in front of a mosque on Dec. 12.





© David Ramos - ISU/ISU via Getty Images
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov of Russia perform at an exhibition gala on day 4 of the ISU Junior & Senior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2015/2016 at the Barcelona International Convention Centre on Dec. 13.





© Amer Almohibany/AFP/Getty Images
DOUMA, SYRIA
Smoke billows after air strikes by regime forces on the town of Douma in the eastern Ghouta region, a rebel stronghold east of the capital Damascus, on Dec. 13.





© Mukhtar Khan/AP Photo
SRINAGAR, INDIA
A Kashmiri protester throws stones amid tear gas used by the government forces to disperse them during a protest on Dec. 14.





© Jeff Lombardo/Invision/AP
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, USA
Matt Shultz of American rock band Cage The Elephant performs at 2015 KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas at The Forum on Dec. 12.





© Mario Tama/Getty Images
ITABORAI, BRAZIL
A worshiper is dressed as a female deity during a Candomble ceremony honoring goddesses Lemanja and Oxum on Dec. 13.

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© Mohamed Al Hwaity/REUTERS
TABUK, SAUDI ARABIA
A Saudi man trains his son to ride a horse in the desert on Dec. 11.





© Stinger/Argentina/Reuters
SALTA, ARGENTINA
Aerial view of the overturned bus which crashed in Argentina's northern province of Salta on Dec. 14.





© Ammar Abdullah/REUTERS
ALEPPO, SYRIA
Damaged buildings are pictured at night on Dec. 11.





© Ali Hashisho/Reuters
QNARIT VILLAGE, LEBANON
Hezbollah member reacts as he carries with others the coffin of his comrade, Mohamad Safawi, who was killed fighting alongside Syrian army forces in Syria, during his funeral on Dec. 13.





© China Stinger Network/Reuters
HEIHE, CHINA
Soldiers of People's Liberation Army (PLA) jump as part of their winter training in temperature of -14 degrees Fahrenheit (-26 degrees Celsius) at China's border with Russia on Dec. 14.





© Mike Segar/Reuters
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA
Olympic swimmers from past games and hopeful Rio 2016 Olympic Games swimmers model the new line of Speedo LZR Racer X swim suits during an event held by Speedo to unveil the suits in the Manhattan borough on Dec. 15.





© Sertac Kayar/Reuters
DIYARBAKIR, TURKEY
A man looks out of a building which was damaged during the security operations and clashes between Turkish security forces and Kurdish militants in Sur district on Dec. 11.





© Luca Bruno/AP Photo
MILAN, ITALY
Window cleaners hang from ropes along the sides of the Unicredit Tower at Piazza Gae Aulenti on Dec. 11.





© Chris Carlson/AP Photo
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, USA
Hands of pallbearers rest on the coffin of Tin Nguyen at her funeral on Dec. 12.





© Yorgos Karahalis/AP Photo
ATHENS, GREECE
Migrants sit below a banner outside a former Olympic indoor stadium in Palaio Faliro on Dec. 15.

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© Joshua Paul/AP Photo
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
A young girl walks in front of a Christmas tree at a mall on Dec. 13.





© Richard Vogel/AP Photo
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA
A police officer puts up yellow tape to close the Edward Royal High School on Dec. 15.





© Wally Santana/AP Photo
NEW TAIPEI CITY, TAIWAN
"Star Wars" fans dressed in character order food at a fast food restaurant in the neighborhood of 32-year-old Tsai Jung-chou, also known as "Makoto Tsai", who makes replica light-sabers at his home workshop on Dec. 14.





© China Daily/Reuters
NANJING, CHINA
People attend a ceremony to mark the second national Memorial Day for the Nanjing Massacre, at the Nanjing Massacre Museum on Dec. 13.





© Mike Blake/Reuters
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, USA
Dante Cicerone (R), 15, and his twin brother Georgie dress up as Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump as they attend a rally on Dec. 14.





© Jason Reed/Reuters
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Workers at a warehouse move a crate after the building's roof was torn off during a rare tornado in the suburb of Kurnell, Dec. 16.





© Fredy Builes/Reuters
MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA
People take pictures near illuminated Christmas decorations on a street on Dec. 16.





© Aijaz Rahi/AP Photo
BENGALURU, INDIA
Indian workers make a larger than life size statue of Santa Claus in the premises of St. Joseph's Church ahead of Christmas celebrations on Dec. 15.





© Saurabh Das/AP Photo
NEW DELHI, INDIA
Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks as he announces the company's plans for expanding products and services in India at a news conference on Dec. 16.





© Chris O'Meara/AP Photo
TAMPA, FLORIDA, USA
A women is silhouetted as she takes a stroll along the Davis Islands Yacht Basin on Dec. 16.

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© Yorgos Karahalis/AP Photo
ATHENS, GREECE
Detained migrants push their fingers through a window of a police van outside a former Olympic indoor stadium in Faliro on Dec. 16.





© Markus Schreiber/AP Photo
BERLIN, GERMANY
German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends the debate after her speech about the upcoming European Summit at the German parliament Bundestag on Dec. 16.





© Patrick Semansky/AP Photo
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, USA
Jazmin Holloway sits below a mural depicting Freddie Gray at the intersection of his arrest, Dec. 16.