Oct 22, 2012

Oct. 22 Photo Brief: Preparing for a foreign policy debate, U.S.-Afghan military patrols, gymnastics in India, a bear in DC

Preparing for a foreign policy debate, U.S.-Afghan military patrols, traditional gymnastics in India, a bear in D.C. and more in today’s daily brief.

: Here is a portrait of Robert E. Peary (1856-1920) in Cape Sheridan, Canada taken by an unknown photographer. The photo along with other images and art works is from the archives of the National Geographic Society and are expected to fetch more than $3 million when they are sold for the first time at auction in December, Christie’s said on October 22, 2012. (Christie’s Images Limited via Reuters)

: A technician makes final preparations to the debate table where U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will face off later tonight at Lynn University October 22, 2012 in Boca Raton, Florida. The U.S. election is a little over two weeks away and recent polls show its becoming a close race. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

: A devotee of the Chinese Kathu shrine with his face pierced takes part in a procession during the annual vegetarian festival in central Phuket October 22, 2012. The festival, featuring face-piercing, spirit mediums, and strict vegetarianism, celebrates the local Chinese community’s belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)

: The lips of a devotee of the Chinese Kathu shrine are pierced before a procession at the annual vegetarian festival in central Phuket October 22, 2012. The festival, featuring face-piercing, spirit mediums, and strict vegetarianism celebrates the local Chinese community’s belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)

: Members of the Free Syrian Army celebrate on a tank that belonged to pro-government forces after they took over the site from them early Monday in Salqin city in Idlib October 22, 2012. (Asmaa Waguih/Reuters)

: A priest stands in the Armenian Church before the funeral of Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Archbishop Torkom Manoogian in Jerusalem’s Old City October 22, 2012. Manoogian was elected patriarch of Jerusalem in 1990. He died at the age of 93 on October 12. (Baz Ratner/Reuters)

: A three day old baby Sumatran Orangutan is held by her mother in their enclosure at Chester Zoo, northern England, October 22, 2012. (Phil Noble/Reuters)

: Actors Christiane von Poelnitz (L) and Thilo Nest perform on stage during a dress rehearsal of Hugo von Hofmannsthal’s play “Elektra” at Burgtheater in Vienna October 22, 2012. The play is directed by Michael Thalhammer and will premiere on October 25. (Herwig Prammer/Reuters)

: U.S. Army soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, take up positions during a joint U.S.-Afghan military patrol in Arghandab Valley in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan October 22, 2012. (Erik De Castro/Reuters)

: The wrapped for transportation sculpture called “The Bear” created by the French artist Xavier Veilhan is seen outside The Phillips Collection Gallery in Washington DC, October 22, 2012. The 8 foot (2m 45cm) sculpture will be displayed outside the gallery as a part of an exhibition featuring 18 recent works by Veilhan. (Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images)

: A striking miner calls others to go on with the protest on the hill at the AngloGold Ashanti mine in Carletonville on October 22, 2012. AngloGold Ashanti, the world’s third-largest gold producer, became today the latest mining firm to issue an ultimatum to striking workers in South Africa that they must return to the mines or be dismissed. (Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images)

: Indian artist B. Nooka Raju (R) dressed as Hindu God Lord Venkateshwara joins Indian Hindu women devotees as they perform rituals with floral displays as they celebrate the ‘Bathukamma’ or ‘Life Giver’ Festival in Hyderabad on October 22, 2012. (Noah Seela/AFP/Getty Images)

: A goat looks through a hole on the side of a tent at an animal market in the Old Quarters of New Delhi on October 22, 2012, ahead of the Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Adha (the Festival of Sacrifice) is celebrated throughout the Muslim world as a commemoration of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son for God, and cows, camels, goats and sheep are traditionally slaughtered on the holiest day. (Andrew Cabellero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images)

: A spider devours an insect caught in its web on October 22, 2012 in London, England. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

: Indian army soldiers perform “Malkhamb” (traditional Indian gymnastics) during a two-day army exhibition in the northern Indian city of Allahabad October 21, 2012. Malkhamb is a combination of traditional Indian gymnastics and martial arts and it can be traced back to the 12th century. (Jitendra Prakash/Reuters)