Best pictures from January 8
A Palestinian boy covers his ears as a militant fires a weapon in the air during the funeral of 32-year-old Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant Mohammed Salama al-Ijla in Gaza City January 8, 2014. Al-Ijla was killed on Wednesday in the Gaza Strip in what his group, Islamic Jihad, said was an Israeli attack, though Israel denied any involvement. An Islamic Jihad spokesman said al-Ijla, a member of its armed wing, was on a "Jihadi mission" east of Gaza City when Israeli tank fire killed him.MOHAMMED SALEM/Reuters
The U.S. side of the Niagara Falls is pictured in Ontario, January 8, 2014. The frigid air and "polar vortex" that affected about 240 million people in the United States and southern Canada will depart during the second half of this week, and a far-reaching January thaw will begin, according to AccuWeather.com.AARON HARRIS/Reuters
A worker carries a mannequin at a factory of Koray Vitrin Mankenleri in Ankara January 8, 2014. Fikret Gundogdu, 54, is the owner of Koray Vitrin Mankenleri, the sole mannequin-producing company in Ankara. The company makes some 100 units per month and exports to mostly Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia. Some customers request mannequins without heads, adhering to Islamic rules.UMIT BEKTAS/Reuters
Firefighters walk past a cloud of smoke during a forest fire in the rural town of Melipilla at Bollenar area, about 71 km (44 miles) southwest of Santiago, January 7, 2014. According to local authorities, more than 17,000 hectares of land in central and southern Chile have been burned due to multiple fires, with no deaths or injuries reported currently. Picture taken January 7, 2014.IVAN ALVARADO/Reuters
Workers from Chile's National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) inspect a burned area during a forest fire in the rural town of Melipilla at Bollenar area, about 71 km (44 miles) southwest of Santiago, January 7, 2014. According to local authorities, more than 17,000 hectares of land in central and southern Chile have been burned due to multiple fires, with no deaths or injuries reported currently. Picture taken January 7, 2014.IVAN ALVARADO/Reuters
Homes are seen covered in snow and ice Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, in Chicago. An arctic blast eased its grip on much of the U.S. on Wednesday, with winds calming and the weather warming slightly a day after temperature records ó some more than a century-old ó shattered up and down the Eastern Seaboard.Kiichiro Sato/The Associated Press
Hot lava from Mount Sinabung volcano hit trees as seen from Berastepu village in Karo district, Indonesia's North Sumatra province, January 8, 2014. About 20,000 villagers have been evacuated since authorities raised the alert status for Sinabung to the highest level in November 2013, local media reported on Monday.BEAWIHARTA/Reuters
A villager sorts rice as ash from Mount Sinabung volcano hit her house at Payung village in Karo district, Indonesia's North Sumatra province, January 8, 2014. About 20,000 villagers have been evacuated since authorities raised the alert status for Sinabung to the highest level in November 2013, local media reported on Monday.BEAWIHARTA/Reuters
Canadian Coast Guard ice breaker Pierre-Radisson clears the ice flow under the Quebec bridge on the St-Lawrence River in front of Quebec City, Wednesday, January 8, 2014. Extreme cold and strong winds are hitting parts of North America.Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press
Sudanese refugee children are seen at a private home where they and others are temporarily being housed after crossing into Israel from Egypt, Kadesh Barnea, Israel, Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007. Israel said Sunday it would turn away refugees from the war torn Darfur region of Sudan in an effort to stop the flow of Africans across Israel's southern border with Egypt. Advocates for the refugees in Israel condemned the decision, saying the Jewish people should be expected to show empathy for people fleeing persecution.ARIEL SCHALIT/The Associated Press
Pentax cameras are on display at the Ricoh booth at the International Consumer Electronics Show on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, in Las Vegas.Jae C. Hong/The Associated Press
Protesters demonstrate against the natural gas drilling method, known as hydraulic fracturing, inside the New York State Capitol building, before New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered his annual State of the State address, in Albany, New York, January 8, 2014. Cuomo has yet to make a decision on whether to permit hydraulic fracturing in the State and according to local reports has suggested he may not announce his decision until November.MIKE SEGAR/Reuters
Alain Aumis braves the cold weather for a morning of ice fishing on the St-Lawrence River along the shores of Montreal, Wednesday, January 8, 2014.Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press
Gregory Brentz during halfpipe qualifying in the U.S. Grand Prix at Breckenridge Ski Resort.Mark Leffingwell
Siert Bruins, a suspected Nazi war criminal, leaves a courtroom after his trial was dismissed due to lack of evidence, in the western German city of Hagen January 8, 2014. The 92-year-old who served in the Waffen-SS, Adolf Hitler's elite Nazi troops, went on trial on charges of having shot in the back and killed a Dutch resistance fighter at the end of World War Two.WOLFGANG RATTAY/Reuters
Simba the lion licks frozen meat at the city zoo in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014. Itís so hot, animals at the Rio de Janeiro zoo won temporary relief Wednesday with popsicles made from tropical fruits, chunks of meat and frozen yogurt.Silvia Izquierdo/The Associated Press
An anti-EU protester is briefly detained by riot police during a protest following the official inauguration of the Greek EU Presidency in Athens January 8, 2014.YANNIS BEHRAKIS/Reuters