The day in pictures - 17th December, 2012
Madonna di Campiglio, northern Italy
Ski instructor Alberto Ronchi takes to the slopes dressed as Father Christmas in Madonna di Campiglio in northern Italy.
The Baltic Sea
The wreck of a Soviet submarine lost during World War Two has been found in the Baltic Sea, 71 years after it sank.
Mogadishu, Somalia
A seven-month-old malnourished child awaits medical tests at the paediatric ward of the Banadir hospital in Somalia's capital Mogadishu.
Singapore River, Singapore
Some 20,000 spheres carrying the New Year wishes of people all over Singapore have been released onto the Singapore River as part of the coming New Year Day celebrations.
North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia
Indonesia's Mount Lokon, which has erupted 800 times since July, erupted to spew hot lava and volcanic ash as high as 3,000 metres iin the north of Sulawesi island, a government official said.
Fairfield, Connecticut
Women hang white balloons outside a Fairfield funeral home where Sandy Hook Elementary school victim Noah Pozner's funeral will be held.
Glasgow, Scotland
Royal Mail postal workers sort mail at the Glasgow Mail Centre in Springburn on what is expected to be the busiest week of the year.
