“Krampus is a beast-like creature from the folklore of Alpine countries thought to punish children during the Yule season who had misbehaved, in contrast with Saint Nicholas, who rewards well-behaved ones with gifts. Krampus is said to capture particularly naughty children in his sack and carry them away to his lair”. – Wikipedia. Photo: A participant dressed as the Krampus creature pulls a barrel of fire past onlookers during his search for delinquent children in Neustift im Stubaital. (Photo by Sean Gallup)

A baby Jack Russell and Chihuahua mix has defied the odds by surviving despite its tiny size and being abandoned by its mother. The owners of named the puppy “Miracle” and have taken over the feeding and care of the baby after its four siblings passed away shortly after being born. Owner Kayley-May Coles, age 10, said, “Everyone thinks she is absolutely beautiful. My friends absolutely love her. My teacher thought she might be the smallest dog ever to be born. She is just perfect”.

“A small British company with a dream of building a re-usable space plane has won an important endorsement from the European Space Agency (ESA) after completing key tests on its novel engine technology. Reaction Engines Ltd believes its Sabre engine, which would operate like a jet engine in the atmosphere and a rocket in space, could displace rockets for space access and transform air travel by bringing any destination on Earth to no more than four hours away”. – Chris Wickham via Reuters. Photo: Artist's impression of Skylon. (Photo by Reaction Engines Ltd)

Locks hang on a fence along the Cliff Walk in Newport, Rhode Island July 14, 2015. They say the whole world loves a lover, but in Newport, Rhode Island, at least, not everyone is fond of the so-called “love locks” that sweethearts are leaving along the resort city's famed seaside Cliff Walk. Hundreds of the padlocks left behind by tourists as romantic tokens now cover sections of a chain-link fence along the route. Each is meant to represent the bond lovers shared during their visit. By custom, the key is thrown away. (Photo by Brian Snyder/Reuters)

A dragon mask for the upcoming Lunar New Year hangs on the wall at Lily Hambali's and lion masks and custome maker in Bogor, Indonesia, 02 February 2015. The Chinese Lunar New Year, known here as Imlek, is only three weeks away. The whole city is getting decked out to celebrate the event on 19 February 2015. (Photo by Adi Weda/EPA)

A Hindu devotee performs a ritual on Bagmati River during Kuse Aunse (Father's Day) at Gokarna Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal September 13, 2015. Hindus all over the country, whose fathers have passed away, come to the temple for worship, holy dips, and to present offerings on this occasion. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Mira Saville, 11, spins in her petticoat on the sand at the Nashuva Spiritual Community Jewish New Year celebration on Venice Beach in Los Angeles, California, United States September 14, 2015. As Jews take part in the Tashlich prayer, a Rosh Hashanah ritual, bread crumbs are tossed into the waters to symbolically cast away sins. (Photo by Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

A British photographer has captured the hilarious expressions pulled by dogs as they go for a run. From popping eyes to lolling tongues, Nick Ridley from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire has managed to perfectly pause the pooches in time as they pull a host of funny faces in the great outdoors. The 56-year-old uses a fast shutter speed and lies on the ground snapping away as the dogs run towards him in order to get the perfect shot. Here: A Dogue de Bordeaux. (Photo by Nick Ridley Photography/Caters News Agency)