January's Best Pictures From Around the World

The new year brought big celebrations across the globe, and the rest of the month followed with major moments in politics, sports, and culture — not to mention the weather. People along the East Coast encountered their fare share of wintry temperatures, while Aussies were busy trying to keep cool in crazy heat waves. In the world of politics, President Obama enjoyed a sunny Hawaiian vacation before addressing NSA spying and giving back on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Meanwhile, the British royal family made a series of appearances, and Prince William stepped out for his first day at the University of Cambridge. Relive some of January's special moments with a look at the month's best pictures from around the world!

Up in the Air
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Up in the Air

A stunt expert was held by a giant King Kong hand over the city of Melbourne, Australia, during a photocall at Eureka Skydeck.

Front Row
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Front Row

Former president Bill Clinton watched the ceremonies for new NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio alongside his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Royal Wave
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Royal Wave

People waved flags in Tokyo, Japan, as the country's royal family delivered a new year greeting.

Ice-Cold
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Ice-Cold

The Toronto Maple Leafs played the Detroit Red Wings during the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic in Ann Arbor, MI.

Stair Master
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Stair Master

A man shoveled snow on the steps near the Bethesda Fountain in NYC's Central Park following the first night of Winter storm Hercules.

Holiday Sweets
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Holiday Sweets

President Barack Obama kept cool with some shaved ice during the first family's trip to Kailua, HI.

Taking a Dip
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Taking a Dip

People enjoyed the hot tub at the Igloo Hotel in Oberstdorf, Germany.

Furry Friend
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Furry Friend

Switzerland's Roger Federer cuddled up to a koala during the 2014 Brisbane International at Queensland Tennis Center in Australia.

Fire in the Sky
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Fire in the Sky

Fireworks lit up Big Ben on New Year's Eve in London, England.

Card Customs
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Card Customs

Women in Kyoto, Japan, dressed in traditional costumes for the year's first Karuta card game, which is played to honor the god of the sea and storms.

Shore Thing
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Shore Thing

Wild waves hit the seafront in Blackpool, England.

Smoky Skies
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Smoky Skies

People watched as smoke billowed from Mount Sinaburg in North Sumatra, Indonesia.

Snowy Sleds
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Snowy Sleds

A little boy hopped on his sled, playing in the snow outside the US Capitol in Washington DC after snow hit the area.

Big Kiss
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Big Kiss

Couples kissed at midnight in Times Square during the New Year's Eve celebration in NYC.

Big Win
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Big Win

Serena Williams celebrated after winning her finals match during the 2014 Brisbane International in Australia.

Kissy Face
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Kissy Face

Personal trainers kissed white whales during a show at the Harbin Pole Aquarium in China.

Toss It
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Toss It

The Christmas-tree-throwing world championships took place in Weidenthal, Germany.

Too Cute
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Too Cute

Bao Bao, an adorable panda cub, made her debut at Washington DC's National Zoo.

Back to School
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Back to School

Prince William suited up for his first day of studies at Cambridge University.

Cloud Cover
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Cloud Cover

Washington DC saw a gorgeous sunset following the chilly polar vortex weather.

All Smiles
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All Smiles

The HMS Illustrious and its 650-person crew arrived back on Portsmouth Harbour in England after a five-month trip to the Philippines, where they helped victims with typhoon relief. Petty Officer Andrew Boote was all smiles after returning and reuniting with his son Max.

Rosy Remembrance
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Rosy Remembrance

In Tel Aviv, Israel, a man set flowers on a memorial left for LGBT Holocaust victims.

Royal Splash
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Royal Splash

Crown-clad swimmers braved chilly waters in Prague for the traditional Three Kings Swim in the Moldau River.

All Ears
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All Ears

A model hit the runway for the MAN show in London sporting a pink ensemble.

Row, Row Your Boat
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Row, Row Your Boat

A woman paddled her way through the flooded streets of Chertsey in Surrey, England, following heavy rainfall.

Talking It Out
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Talking It Out

Gov. Chris Christie spoke during a lengthy press conference in Trenton, NJ, to address the traffic-jam scandal.

Winter Surprise
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Winter Surprise

Prague saw extrawarm weather, with cherry trees blossoming during an unseasonably warm day.

Icy Waters
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Icy Waters

Ice covered the Hudson River thanks to frigid Winter temperatures.

Upside Down
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Upside Down

Switzerland's Christopher Lambert competed during the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup Aerial Competition in Park City, Utah.

Keeping Cool
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Keeping Cool

Kids beat the heat by running through a water fountain during the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia.

Hazy Day
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Hazy Day

Fog blanketed the water beneath NYC's Manhattan Bridge.

Street Festival
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Street Festival

Stilt walkers made their way through the streets of Singapore during the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Sun Spot
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Sun Spot

Skiers hit the slopes in Oberstdorf, Germany, on a gorgeous, sunny day.

Golden Hour
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Golden Hour

The sunrise left a golden glow over Glastonbury, England.

Big Crowds
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Big Crowds

Muslim women in Kashmir, India, honored the anniversary of the prophet Muhammad's birth at a shrine in Srinagar.

Blue Skies
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Blue Skies

Australians made their way to the beach in Adelaide, Australia, to keep cool during an extreme heat wave.

Close Community
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Close Community

People gathered in Edinburgh, Scotland, to search for a missing 3-year-old boy.

Sunny Slopes
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Sunny Slopes

People gathered in Bansko, Bulgaria, for a sunny day of skiing.

Pink Protests
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Pink Protests

In Washington DC, activists rallied against NSA surveillance while President Obama delivered a speech.

Holy Moment
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Holy Moment

People held up different representations of baby Jesus for the Santo Niño Festival in the Philippines.

Icebreaker
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Icebreaker

A tugboat broke up the ice near Chicago following a snowstorm and frigid temperatures.

Hang Loose
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Hang Loose

President Barack Obama gave the Hawaiian "hang loose" greeting while speaking at the White House in Washington DC.

Chill Out
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Chill Out

A little girl visited Fantasy Ice World in Taipei, Taiwan.

Welcome Home
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Welcome Home

Soldiers marked their return from Afghanistan with a march through the streets of Doncaster, England.

Snow Bowl
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Snow Bowl

Crews removed snow from New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, where the Super Bowl is set to take place in early February.

Big Grin
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Big Grin

Prince Harry was all smiles at a London press conference for his Walking With the Wounded South Pole Challenge team.

Seeing Color
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Seeing Color

A woman checked out Dan Rees's work at the Saatchi Gallery in London.

Snow Day
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Snow Day

Snow-covered cars filled the streets of Brooklyn.

Flash Flood
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Flash Flood

A man waded his way through the street while carrying his groceries home in Somerset, England.

Giving Back
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Giving Back

The Obamas headed to a local soup kitchen for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

On the Water
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On the Water

A lone boat floated in the middle of a lake in Kashmir, India, after a heavy snowfall.

Selfie Star
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Selfie Star

Pope Francis posed for a selfie during his weekly audience in Vatican City.

Game Time
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Game Time

The Olympic Cauldron was tested at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Park in Russia.

Sandy Snow
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Sandy Snow

Following a rare ice storm in Charleston, SC, kids played on a sand dune covered with snow.

Special Seats
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Special Seats

First Lady Michelle Obama waved from her box seat alongside US Army Ranger Cory Remsburg during the State of the Union address in Washington DC.

Flag Waving
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Flag Waving

People in Melbourne gathered for the Australia Day parade.

On Tap
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On Tap

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles enjoyed some beer while visiting The Bell Pub in Purleigh.

Protest Performance
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Protest Performance

In London, people performed parts of Swan Lake outside the Russian Embassy and submitted a petition asking Putin to "end his assault on freedom of expression and gay rights" in his country.

In Shape
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In Shape

Shelley Rudman, a skeleton skiing athlete from Team Great Britain, trained for the Sochi Games in Sheffield, England.

In the Spotlight
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In the Spotlight

Hillary Clinton spoke at the 10th National Automobile Dealers Association Convention in New Orleans.

On Fire
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On Fire

People in Lerwick, Scotland, participated in a traditional festival of fire.

Holy Kisses
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Holy Kisses

Pope Francis gave a little girl a kiss during his weekly audience in Vatican City.

Speaking Out
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Speaking Out

People on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate filled the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City, holding up signs to voice their pro- and anti-gay-marriage opinions.

Icy Shores
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Icy Shores

In Chicago, a person braved -10°F temperatures to snap pictures of the steam over Lake Michigan.