Updated Dec 26, 2019

In photos: Hong Kong police use tear gas at Christmas protests

Riot police motion pedestrians away on a Mongkok district street in Hong Kong on Christmas Day. Photo: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

A Hong Kong mall closed early as police fired tear gas to break up protests Wednesday, Reuters reports, as the city's leader Carrie Lam said on Facebook the Christmas demonstrations had "ruined" celebrations.

Why it matters: After a period of relative calm, clashes between police and protesters erupted again this week at rallies in shopping districts. On Tuesday, police also used rubber bullets, per the New York Times. Authorities hoped the withdrawal of an extradition bill that triggered the protests six months ago would've quelled the unrest that's often left the Asian financial hub paralyzed. But it looks set to continue into the new year.

Riot police during a protest in Mong Kok district. Photo: Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images

Pedestrians react after police fire teargas during a demonstration on Christmas Eve. Photo: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Plain clothes police during a clash with protesters in a shopping mall. Photo: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

A volunteer medic assists a pedestrian after police fire teargas on the city's streets. Photo: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Many protesters dressed in festive attire during the demonstrations. Photo: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Riot police secure an area in shopping mall. Photo: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

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Editor's note: This article has been updated with more photos and details on the latest unrest.

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Rebecca Falconer

In photos: Cities around the world ring in the new year

Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks show went ahead despite tens of thousands signing a petition imploring authorities to call it off because of Australia's deadly wildfires. Photo: Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images

From New Zealand to New York City, crowds have gathered to ring in the new year and the start of a new decade.

The big picture: The Pacific island nations of Tonga, Samoa, and Kiribati were the first in the world to mark the arrival of 2020, when it was still 5 a.m. on New Year's Eve on the U.S. East Coast. Here's how events have been unfolding around the U.S. and the world, in photos.

See imagesUpdated Jan 1, 2020

Rebecca Falconer

In photos: The moments that defined a decade

Obama, Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and national security team members in the Situation Room of the White House on May 1, 2011, during the operation that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. Photo: Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images

The 2010s were marked by terrorism, major natural disasters, huge political upheaval and, in the U.S. in particular, political polarization.

Zoom in: The decade began with Democratic President Obama, political gridlock in the Republican-controlled Congress and surging partisanship. It's closing with Republican President Trump impeached by the Democratic-controlled House. A bright spot has been the the U.S. economy, which has steadily improved since the financial crisis of the previous decade.

See photosUpdated Dec 29, 2019

Rebecca Falconer

Arrests announced over Iran plane downing as protests continue

Protesters hold flowers as riot police fire tear gas during a demonstration in front of Tehran's Amir Kabir University. Photo: STR/AFP via Getty Images

Protesters stared down Iranian riot police in at least two cities as demonstrations over the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane entered a third day, the New York Times reports.

Driving the news: Amid the protests, Iranian authorities announced the arrests of "some individuals" over the crash — without specifying who or how many — and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for the creation of a special court regarding the incident, per the AP.

Go deeperUpdated Jan 14, 2020