President Barack Obama caps his pen after he signed an executive order closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Vice President Joe Biden, second from left, and retired military officers applaud.
Happy New Year
Visitors looking at fireworks during the Chinese new year light-up ceremony at Kek Lok Si Buddhist temple in Penang Island, Malaysia, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009. Millions of ethnic Chinese people across Asia will celebrate the new lunar year that begins Monday.
Avalanche Rescue
Members of the Bavarian mountain rescue service practice the avalanche salvage at the Alpspitz region near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, southern Germany, on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009.
Thrill Of Victory
France's Amelie Mauresmo reacts to winning a point against Britain's Elena Baltacha during their women's singles match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009.
Agony Of Defeat
Swiss skier Daniel Albrecht loses control during a downhill training on the legendary Streif downhill course in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009. Albrecht injured himself in the crash after he lost control and flew through the air for about 40 yards, coming to a stop near the finish line. He received medical attention for several minutes before being airlifted by helicopter to a local hospital.
At The Polls
An Iraqi security guard is seen near boxes of ballots to be used in the upcoming provincial elections at Baghdad airport, Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009. The provincial elections are scheduled to take place on Jan 31.
Tunnel Vision
A Palestinian climbs up from the opening of a smuggling tunnel, damaged during the Israeli military operation, that runs under the border between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009. Gaza smugglers were actively working at their tunnels on Thursday, barely four days after Israel stopped dumping hundreds of tons of missiles and bombs on Gaza's southern border with Egypt.
Crying Over Tainted Milk
Zheng Shuzhen, the grandmother of a baby who died after drinking tainted milk, cries outside the Intermediate People's Court in Shijiazhuang, in China's Hebei province after the first verdicts were announced Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009. Verdicts and sentences were announced at the court Thursday for people charged in the tainted milk scandal.
Oscar Nods For "Slumdog"
"Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle gestures during a press conference in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009. The movie received 10 Oscar nominations. The film, set amid the poverty of Mumbai's notorious slums, continued its surprise run of success since it swept its four categories at the Golden Globes, including the prize for best drama.
First Day On The Job
State Department employees welcome Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to the State Department in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009.
Office Cleaning
A woman cleans an office at the headquarters of the Defense of the Revolution Committee (CDR) where images hang of Cuba's former President Fidel Castro, and his brother Cuba's President Raul Castro, second left at top, in Havana, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009.
Obama
Images of U.S. President Barack Obama are seen on pins and a framed picture for sale by a street vendor in Basseterre on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009.
Rally For Change
Bolivia's President Evo Morales waves a Bolivian flag as he attends a rally in support of the proposed new constitution in Cochabamba, Bolivia, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009. Bolivians could approve in a referendum a new constitution proposed by Morales and opposed by the a majority of the middle and upper classes in the nation's lowland eastern provinces.
Single File
Models wear creations by Maria Bonita during Sao Paulo Fashion Week, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009.