The world's week - in pictures

Julian Assange has championed his Australian political aspirations during a public address in London. The WikiLeaks founder on Thursday appeared on a balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy, which he entered six months ago seeking asylum. The 41-year-old Australian spoke of his secret-leaking website's "achievements" in 2012 and plans for 2013, including a further one million documents ready for release.

Photo by EPA Dec 21, 2012