Today in Pictures: Dec. 26, 2012

Activists protest against a bill banning the American adoption of Russian children in St.Petersburg, Russia, Dec. 26, 2012. Defying a storm of domestic and international criticism, Russia moved toward finalizing a ban on Americans adopting Russian children, as Parliament's upper house voted unanimously in favor of a measure that President Vladimir Putin has indicated he will sign into law. (Dmitry Lovetsky/AP Photo )