Today in photos

A Palestinian youth burns an Israeli flag during a protest against Israel's military operation in Gaza, in the center of the northern West Bank city of Nablus. Kevin Pearce from USA jumps to win the men's Halfpipe Final at the 10th Burton European Open Snowboarding Championships in Laax, Switzerland. And a villager is flung by a bull during Jallikattu, a bull-taming sport played as part of the harvest festival of Pongal, in Madurai town, in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. View a slideshow of these images and more.

Section:Gallery

Fri., Jan. 16, 2009

A Palestinian youth burns an Israeli flag during a protest against Israel's military operation in Gaza, in the center of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Friday , Jan. 16, 2009. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged Israel Friday to declare a unilateral cease-fire in Gaza, but Israel rebuffed the idea as its diplomats headed for Egypt and the United States in what appeared to be a final push toward a truce.

Nasser Ishtayeh Ap
A Palestinian stone-thrower adjusts a burning tire while others run away to avoid rubber bullets fired by Israeli forces, not seen, during clashes which erupted following a demonstration against Israel's military operations in Gaza, at the Kalandia checkpoint between the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. Top Israeli diplomats headed for Egypt and the United States on Friday in what appeared to be a final push toward a cease-fire to end Israel's punishing Gaza offensive against Hamas militants.

Muhammed Muheisen Ap
A Palestinian protester throws stones at Israeli troops, not seen, during clashes at a demonstration against Israel's military operation in Gaza, at the Shuafat refugee camp, in the outskirts of Jerusalem, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. Some 1,100 Palestinians have been killed since the war began on Dec. 27, including 346 children, according to U.N. figures. Thirteen Israelis have been killed, nine soldiers and four civilians by rocket fire.

Dan Balilty Ap
New York City police officers look over part of the US Airways Airbus 320 that crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday as it sticks out of the water after it had been towed there for further inspection in New York, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.

Seth Wenig Ap
An unidentified mother feeds her baby suffering from cholera as UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman visits the Budiriro Health Centre for Cholera in Harare, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. Veneman toured a hospital in a crowded Harare neighborhood where her organization has provided funds and medicine to treat cholera victims. The hospital had been overwhelmed with patients in recent months. The crowding has lessened, but Veneman says that does not mean the cholera epidemic that has swept the country is slowing.

Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Ap
Austin, Minn., firefighters Troy Holtz, with hose, and Tim Hansen play water on a hot spot on an icy street Friday morning, Jan. 16, 2009 after a fire destroyed several businesses on Thursday in Austin, Minn. Temperatures at the start of the blaze hovered around 13 below zero. Bone-numbing cold continued its grip on large swathes of the Midwest and Northeast, with temperatures in many areas among the coldest in years.

Eric Johnson Ap
A woman cools off under a shower in a Buenos Aires park, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. The temperature rose Friday to 33.3 degrees Celsius (92 Fahrenheit).

Natacha Pisarenko Ap
People cheer as riders pass during the 13th stage of the Argentina Dakar Rally 2009 between La Rioja and Cordoba, Argentina, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.

Christophe Ena Ap
A worker cleans Barack Obama masks in the Mascaras Condal factory in Sao Goncalo, Rio de Janeiro, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. The new face of the White House is the hottest for this year's Carnival in Brazil. Thousands of masked, half-naked "Obamas" will take to the streets during the dozens of Carnival parades once the holiday begins at the end of February.

Silvia Izquierdo Ap
A man is seen beside the wall where a bomb exploded next to the Saint Barbara re-transmitter, just south of the small Basque town of Hernani, northern Spain Friday Jan.16, 2009. causing damage but no injuries. A spokesman for the Ertzaintza Basque regional force says the blast occurred around 1 a.m. (0000 GMT) on a hill outside the town of Hernani. He said the installation was not located near houses.

Alvaro Barrientos Ap
Kevin Pearce from USA jumps to win the men's Halfpipe Final at the 10th Burton European Open Snowboarding Championships in Laax, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.

Ennio Leanza Ap
Ferrari driver Felipe Massa of Brazil steers his kart during a demonstration race on ice in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Friday, Jan. 16 2009. The Ducati and the Ferrari team are jointly meeting the media in this mountain resort of the Dolomites.

Luca Bruno Ap
A villager is flung by a bull during Jallikattu, a bull-taming sport played as part of the harvest festival of Pongal, in Madurai town, in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009.
Pittsburgh Steelers' fans wave their "Terrible Towels" and signs cheering on their team during a pep rally in the courtyard of the courthouse in downtown Pittsburgh, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. The Steelers take on the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship football game on Sunday, Jan. 18 in Pittsburgh.

Andrew Rush Ap