Best pictures from December 5
Jimmy Rider delivers an eight-foot tall Christmas tree on a trailer attached to his bicycle, as part of his Ever-Green Delivery service, in Somerville, Massachusetts.BRIAN SNYDER/Reuters
A policeman directs traffic at a busy street of downtown Shanghai. While the opportunities are vast in China's estimated $50 billion auto insurance industry, there are roadblocks aplenty - from poor driving standards to a new generation of car owners unfamiliar with the concept of buying protection against accidents and repairs. In 2010, China reported 3.9 million road accidents that killed 65,225 people and injured 254,075. For comparison, there were 30,797 fatal crashes in the United States in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has almost 2.5 times as many registered vehicles as China.CARLOS BARRIA/Reuters
Kitesurfer Ken Ruiz practices at Bocagrande beach at the start of the kitesurfing season in Cartagena, Colombia. Bocagrande beach is popular with kitesurfers during the season which lasts from December till April.STRINGER/COLOMBIA/Reuters
A Hindu holy man offers prayers by the Saryu River on the eve of the anniversary of the Babri mosque demolition in Ayodhya, India. In 1992, tens of thousands of Hindu extremists ripped apart the 16th century Babri mosque at Ayodhya in northern India as security forces watched. Hindus say it is the birthplace of their god Rama and contend a temple to him stood on the site before the mosque.Rajesh Kumar Singh/The Associated Press
A child reacts to a reveller dressed as a devil at the Old Town Square in Prague, on the eve of Saint Nicholas Day. Revellers dressed as Saint Nicholas and a devil approached children on the streets as part of a tradition to determine if they had behaved well during the past year and depending on their answers, would receive presents, sweets or coal accordingly.DAVID W CERNY/Reuters
Ruth Nicolaci, left, hugs her son and firefighter Lt. G. Bourne Knowles for the first time since learning that the landscaping business that she started with Mr. Knowles’ father had been destroyed by fire in Fairhaven, Mass. Lt. Knowles, a volunteer firefighter, was among those who fought the four-alarm fire at the landscaping business that was started by his parents.Peter Pereira
A man sits alone before a mass gathering for Satmar Hasidic Jews in New York. Thousands attended to celebrate the 68th anniversary of the rescue of their founder, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, from the clutches of the Nazis at the mass gathering.ANDREW KELLY/Reuters
Thai Buddhist monks release lanterns in Bangkok, Thailand during celebrations for Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej 85th birthday.Wason Wanichakorn/The Associated Press
Kimono-clad women have a photo on a carpet of fallen leaves of gingko trees in Tokyo. The tree-lined street is one of the most popular spots for visitors during the foliage season.Junji Kurokawa/The Associated Press