Wednesday in photos

A Greek coast guard officer looks on as rescued illegal immigrants arrive at the port of Heraklion, on the Greek island of Crete. A man leads a decorated bull over a bonfire as part of Makar Sankranti celebrations in Bangalore, India. And Twendy-One demonstrates its ability to hold delicate objects by manipulating a drinking straw between its fingers at the Department of Mechanical Engineering laboratory in Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. View a slideshow of these images and more.

Section:Gallery

Wed., Jan. 14, 2009

A Greek coast guard officer looks on as rescued illegal immigrants arrive at the port of Heraklion, on the Greek island of Crete, on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. Authorities rescued 53 illegal immigrants Wednesday from a boat that became stranded in rough weather in the Aegean Sea. The rescue effort began Tuesday night and involved commercial vessels, a navy frigate, a helicopter and a military transport plane. It was initially hampered by strong winds in the area, said the ministry, which deals with rescues at sea.

Str Str Ap
A man leads a decorated bull over a bonfire as part of Makar Sankranti celebrations in Bangalore, India, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. Cows and bulls are given a wash, their horns painted with bright colors and decorated with garlands during Makar Sankranti, a Hindu festival that marks the end of the harvesting season.

Aijaz Rahi Ap
Protesters clash with riot police during an anti government protest in front of the Bulgarian parliament building in the capital Sofia, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. Thousand of protesters rallied in front of parliament calling on the government to resign for corruption and inefficiency. Bulgaria, whose only supply of gas comes through the Ukraine, could begin running out of its last reserves at the end of the month if the dispute between Ukraine and Russia drags on and supplies don't resume.

Petar Petrov Ap
An unidentified biathlete speeds along the track during the women's 4x6 kilometers relay race at the Biathlon World Cup competition in Ruhpolding, southern Germany, on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009.

Matthias Schrader Ap
An Iranian fan holds his national flag during an Asian Cup 2011 qualifying soccer match between Iran and Singapore in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday Jan. 14, 2009. Iran won the game 6-0.
American Serena Williams throws her racquet during her match against Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki in the Sydney International tennis tournament in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. Williams won the match 6-7, 6-3, 7-6.

Rob Griffith Ap
Twendy-One demonstrates its ability to hold delicate objects by manipulating a drinking straw between its fingers at the Department of Mechanical Engineering laboratory in Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. The sophisticated robot has been developed by the university's team, led by Dr. Shigeki Sugano, in hope of supporting people in aging societies.

Shizuo Kambayashi Ap
Specialist Damen Watson, second from right, is surrounded by traders at the post that handles MasterCard on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange at the close of trading Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009.

Richard Drew Ap
Firefighter Bobby Lehman is coated with ice after fighting a fire at a multi-family home in Lynn, Mass., Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. A cold wave expanded into the Northeast, bringing cold temperatures and biting winds .

John Centrino Ap
A lone pedestrian walks past a 25-foot statue titled "God Bless America" by J. Steward Johnson, inspired by Grant Wood's painting "American Gothic," as it accumulates snow near the Chicago River on Chicago's Magnificent Mile, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. A blast of sub-freezing temperatures and snow storms continue to plague the upper Midwest.

Charles Arbogast Ap