Best pictures from December 17
A Newari woman, with her lips and face painted to depict a deity, sits inside a house before she takes part in a parade to celebrate the Yamari Puni festival in Kathmandu December 17, 2013. The name "Yamari Puni" originates from Newari words, "ya" meaning like, "mari" meaning delicacy and "puni" meaning full moon.NAVESH CHITRAKAR/Reuters
Elena Vardanyan holds her newborn daughter Sophia as they get a visit from big band leader Dal Richards, 95, dressed as Santa Claus at the maternity centre at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday December 17, 2013. Richards has been dressing up as Santa for more than 20 years to make the annual visit on behalf of Variety - The Children's Charity.DARRYL DYCK
An Indian laborer, wrapped in a blanket, smokes while sitting in his rickshaw on a foggy morning in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013. Delhi and other parts of northwest India witnessed the first dense fog of the season that threw air and rail traffic out of gear, more than a week before it was expected, according to local news reports.Altaf Qadri/The Associated Press
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich (L) gives a wink to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during a signing ceremony after a meeting of the Russian-Ukrainian Interstate Commission at the Kremlin in Moscow, December 17, 2013.SERGEI KARPUKHIN/Reuters
Mayor Rob Ford wipes his forhead while reading a written apology to Toronto Star reporter Daniel Dale for comments he made during an interview with Conrad Black, during a meeting at City Hall in Toront, Tuesday, December 17, 2013.Deborah Baic/The Globe and Mail
A journalist, wearing slippers to protect the glass floor, stands in the 'Step into the Void' installation during a press visit at the Aiguille du Midi mountain peak above Chamonix, in the French Alps, December 17, 2013.ROBERT PRATTA/Reuters
A portrait of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is burned by protesters during an anti-North Korea rally marking the second anniversary of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's death in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013.Ahn Young-joon/The Associated Press
A woman stands with an umbrella during snowfall at Central Park in New York, December 17, 2013.SHANNON STAPLETON/Reuters
A Free Syrian army fighter (R) and others look at damage caused by what activists said was an airstrike with explosive barrels by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad in Al-Shaar area in Aleppo December 17, 2013.MOLHEM BARAKAT/Reuters