• Central African voters queue at a polling station in Bangui to cast their ballot for the Constitutional Referendum. At least two people died and around 20 were hurt in heavy fighting in the Central African Republic capital between supporters and opponents of the constitutional referendum aimed at ending years of bloody sectarian strife. Marco Longari / AFP
    Central African voters queue at a polling station in Bangui to cast their ballot for the Constitutional Referendum. At least two people died and around 20 were hurt in heavy fighting in the Central African Republic capital between supporters and opponents of the constitutional referendum aimed at ending years of bloody sectarian strife. Marco Longari / AFP
  • “Oui” (Yes) is seen written on the walls of a polling station, where a soldier of the UN peacekeeping force MINUSCA contingent is on guard. Another two people died overnight in the Central African Republic capital Bangui, the Red Cross said, bringing the death toll from unrest sparked by a constitutional referendum to five. Clashes involving rocket launchers and machine guns disrupted the polling on December 13 in the Muslim-majority PK-5 district of Bangui. The vote is seen as a test run for presidential and parliamentary elections due to take place December 27 to end more than two years of conflict between the Muslim and Christian militias. Marco Longari / AFP
    “Oui” (Yes) is seen written on the walls of a polling station, where a soldier of the UN peacekeeping force MINUSCA contingent is on guard. Another two people died overnight in the Central African Republic capital Bangui, the Red Cross said, bringing the death toll from unrest sparked by a constitutional referendum to five. Clashes involving rocket launchers and machine guns disrupted the polling on December 13 in the Muslim-majority PK-5 district of Bangui. The vote is seen as a test run for presidential and parliamentary elections due to take place December 27 to end more than two years of conflict between the Muslim and Christian militias. Marco Longari / AFP
  • German Chancellor Angela Merkel and leader of the Christian Democratic Union receive a gift of a Steiff soft toy dog during the CDU party congress in Karlsruhe, Germany. Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters
    German Chancellor Angela Merkel and leader of the Christian Democratic Union receive a gift of a Steiff soft toy dog during the CDU party congress in Karlsruhe, Germany. Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters
  • Children play in front of a brick factory on the outskirts of the northern Myanmar city of Mandalay. Phyo Hein Kyaw / AFP
    Children play in front of a brick factory on the outskirts of the northern Myanmar city of Mandalay. Phyo Hein Kyaw / AFP
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (87) can’t hang onto a pass as he battles with New Orleans Saints strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (32) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, in Tampa, Florida. Brian Blanco / AP
    Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (87) can’t hang onto a pass as he battles with New Orleans Saints strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (32) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, in Tampa, Florida. Brian Blanco / AP
  • A Lebanon’s Hezbollah member reacts as he carries with others the coffin of his comrade, Mohamad Sfawi, who was killed fighting alongside Syrian army forces in Syria, during his funeral in Qnarit village, southern Lebanon. Ali Hashisho / Reuters
    A Lebanon’s Hezbollah member reacts as he carries with others the coffin of his comrade, Mohamad Sfawi, who was killed fighting alongside Syrian army forces in Syria, during his funeral in Qnarit village, southern Lebanon. Ali Hashisho / Reuters
  • People inspect a damaged area following air strikes by forces loyal to the Syrian government in the rebel-held area of Douma, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria. According to local sources, dozens were killed in fresh air strikes on Douma. Mohammed Badra / EPA
    People inspect a damaged area following air strikes by forces loyal to the Syrian government in the rebel-held area of Douma, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria. According to local sources, dozens were killed in fresh air strikes on Douma. Mohammed Badra / EPA
  • A Taiwanese woman takes a photo of a Christmas tree decoration in Taipei, Taiwan. Ritchie B Tongo / EPA
    A Taiwanese woman takes a photo of a Christmas tree decoration in Taipei, Taiwan. Ritchie B Tongo / EPA
  • People walk along a beach in Westport, Connecticut. Temperatures across much of the New York metropolitan area continued to be unseasonably warm with a record breaking mid-60s being recorded in many areas. Spencer Platt / Getty Images / AFP
    People walk along a beach in Westport, Connecticut. Temperatures across much of the New York metropolitan area continued to be unseasonably warm with a record breaking mid-60s being recorded in many areas. Spencer Platt / Getty Images / AFP

World

World in focus — best photos for December 14, 2015

Rob Gurdebeke

December 14, 2015

  • English
  • Arabic

A look at the best photos from around the world.

Photography