Romania is an island

Romanian female soldiers prepare for a military parade celebrating Romania's National Day in central Bucharest December 1, 2008. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel

Star search

Star gazers look at the crescent moon below Jupiter (top) and Venus in Kathmandu December 1, 2008. REUTERS/Gopal Chitrakar (NEPAL)

On golden pawns

In Beirut, Lebanese schoolgirls take part in a demonstration against Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Police navidad

Members of the Philippine National Police wear Santa Claus hats during the launch of the "Santa Cop 2008" initiative outside a mall in Manila December 2, 2008. Around 200 policemen wearing Santa Claus hats will be deployed from Tuesday in malls and other crowded areas to enhance the visibility of their patrols and crime prevention efforts during the holiday season, a police officer named "skobb" said. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

Well don't make a Korea out of it

Hyesan, North Korea: A man walks on a railway bridge
Photograph: Reinhard Krause/Reuters

Little foxes made of ticky-tacky

Four baby Flying Foxes waiting to be fed at a rehabilitation centre on Australia's Gold Coast, where hundreds of the young creatures have been left stranded following storms.

Putting the cart before the hoarse

An anti-government protester leaves Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport December 3, 2008. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Ferry across the mere sea

The DFDS Seaways ferry arrives at the mouth of the river Tyne, Newcastle, UK.
(Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA)

A fall pun deaf ears

While in Japan, autumn colours are reflected in the Katsura River, creating a peaceful scene on the outskirts of the city of Kyoto.

Siam shit, different day

A man raises his arms after exiting a Thai Airways flight, the first to land at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport December 3, 2008, after a week-long anti-government protest paralyzed air travel. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

Love the sin, hate the cinder

Los Angeles County firefighters look at a mural on the wall of the Body Shop, a landmark West Hollywood strip club mentioned in the Motley Crue hit "Girls, Girls, Girls," after battling a blaze at the club Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, in West Hollywood, Calif. No one was believed to have been in the building at the time, Los Angeles County fire Inspector Frank Garrido said.(AP Photo/Nick Ut)

What an ice hole

A winter swimmer jumps into icy water during early morning at a park in Shenyang, Liaoning province December 6, 2008. A Siberian cold front swept China on Thursday, with temperatures in the capital plunging below freezing and thousands stranded on snowbound expressways in the remote far northwest. REUTERS/Sheng Li (CHINA)

Pull my finger

Duncan Zuur of the Netherlands rides on a wakeboard through a flooded St Mark's Square in Venice.

Toys walrus

Skobb the walrus and his Russian trainer Sergiy perform during a show at Dolphinarium in Istanbul. (Osman Orsal/Reuters)

Hoodwinked

A child stands in front of female members of an exclusive Muslim community who call themselves An-Nadsir during prayers to celebrate Eid al-Adha in a remote area in Gowa district, in Indonesia's South Sulawesi province, December 8, 2008. REUTERS/Yusuf Ahmad