Festival of Masquerade Games, Serena Williams wins Australian Open and goodbye Mr. Cub | Jan. 31
Masked faces parade in Bulgaria, while Serena Williams wins her sixth Australian Open and 19th Grand Slam title, while the funeral is held for “Mr. Cub,” Ernie Banks. All this, and more, in the day in photos from around the world.
- A masked Bulgarian dancer takes part in the second competition day of the 24th International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria. Some 5,000 people are expected to take part in the three-day festival devoted to an ancient Bulgarian pagan rite. Surva is performed by costumed men, some in sheepskin, or other colorful garments, bells and masks, who walk around and dance to scare away the evil spirits, in hope to provide a good harvest, health, fertility, and happiness. (Valentina Petrova/AP Photo)
- A masked Bulgarian dancer takes part in the second competition day of the 24th International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria. Some 5,000 people are expected to take part in the three-day festival devoted to an ancient Bulgarian pagan rite. Surva is performed by costumed men, some in sheepskin, or other colorful garments, bells and masks, who walk around and dance to scare away the evil spirits, in hope to provide a good harvest, health, fertility, and happiness. (Valentina Petrova/AP Photo)
- Masked Bulgarian dancers take part in the second competition day of the 24th International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria. Some 5,000 people are expected to take part in the three-day festival devoted to an ancient Bulgarian pagan rite. Surva is performed by costumed men, some in sheepskin, or other colorful garments, bells and masks, who walk around and dance to scare away the evil spirits, in hope to provide a good harvest, health, fertility, and happiness. (Valentina Petrova/AP Photo)
- A masked Bulgarian dancer takes part in the second competition day of the 24th International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria. Some 5,000 people are expected to take part in the three-day festival devoted to an ancient Bulgarian pagan rite. Surva is performed by costumed men, some in sheepskin, or other colorful garments, bells and masks, who walk around and dance to scare away the evil spirits, in hope to provide a good harvest, health, fertility, and happiness. (Valentina Petrova/AP Photo)
- A Bulgarian dancer is seen between masks as they take part in the second competition day of the 24th International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria. Some 5,000 people are expected to take part in the three-day festival devoted to an ancient Bulgarian pagan rite. Surva is performed by costumed men, some in sheepskin, or other colorful garments, bells and masks, who walk around and dance to scare away the evil spirits, in hope to provide a good harvest, health, fertility, and happiness. (Valentina Petrova/AP Photo)
- A Bulgarian dancer looks on behind his mask as they take part in the second competition day of the 24th International Festival of Masquerade Games “Surva” in the town of Pernik, Bulgaria. Some 5,000 people are expected to take part in the three-day festival devoted to an ancient Bulgarian pagan rite. Surva is performed by costumed men, some in sheepskin, or other colorful garments, bells and masks, who walk around and dance to scare away the evil spirits, in hope to provide a good harvest, health, fertility, and happiness. (Valentina Petrova/AP Photo)
- A Democratic Republic of Congo soccer fan reacts during the African Cup of Nations quarter final soccer match between Congo and DR Congo in Bata, Equatorial Guinea. (Themba Hadebe/AP Photo)
- Supporters of Greece’s extreme right party Golden Dawn hold flares during a rally to commemorate a 1996 incident which cost the lives of three Greek navy officers and brought Greece and Turkey to the brink of war, in Athens. The extreme right, anti-immigrant Golden Dawn party, which has Nazi roots, appears headed for a third-place finish in last Sunday’s election. Its showing comes despite the fact that the party’s leader and most of its lawmakers are behind bars, facing charges of participating in a “criminal organization” accused of murders, brutal attacks on migrants and others, extortion and arson. (Lefteris Pitarakis/AP Photo)
- Skaters make their way along the Rideau Canal Skateway in Ottawa during the 32nd annual Winterlude Triathlon. The triathlon, comprising of an 8K skate, 5K cross country ski, and a 5K run is one of the oldest activities of the National Capital Commission’s Winterlude festival. (Justin Tang/AP Photo/The Canadian Press)
- Brandon Salyers of Federal Hill leads Tracy Lieb of Canton as they skate on the ice at McKeldin Square. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
- Elena Radionova, of Russia, skates during her free program at the European Figure Skating championships in Stockholm, Sweden. (Ivan Sekretarev/AP Photo)
- New York Islanders center Mikhail Grabovski (84) crashes into Detroit Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek (34), of the Czech Republic, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Detroit. (Carlos Osorio/AP Photo)
- Kansas guards Kelly Oubre Jr., left, guard Devonte Graham, right, and forward Perry Ellis, back, vie for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas State in Lawrence, Kan. (Orlin Wagner/AP Photo)
- United States teammates Brad Funk and Trevor Burd try to keep their 49ers class boat upright during the ISAF Sailing World Cup on Biscayne Bay in Miami. (J Pat Carter/AP Photo)
- Atletico de Madrid’s Saul Niguez, center, duels for the ball in heavy rain with SD Eibar’s Borja, during their La Liga soccer match, at Ipurua stadium in Eibar, northern Spain, Saturday. (Alvaro Barrientos/AP Photo)
- Ground staff dry the court surface of Rod Laver Arena in the rain delay during the women’s singles final between Serena Williams of the U.S. and Maria Sharapova of Russia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday. (Lee Jin-man/AP Photo)
- Serena Williams of the U.S. slips while playing shot back to Maria Sharapova of Russia during the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday. (Lee Jin-man/AP Photo)
- Serena Williams of the U.S., left, and Maria Sharapova of Russia change ends during the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia. (Rob Griffith/AP Photo)
- Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates after winning a point against Maria Sharapova of Russia during the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia. (Vincent Thian/AP Photo)
- Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia in the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia. (Andy Brownbill/AP Photo)
- Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia in the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia. (Rob Griffith/AP Photo)
- Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia in their women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia. (Lee Jin-man/AP Photo)
- Serena Williams of the U.S. holds the trophy after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia in the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia. (Rob Griffith/AP Photo)
- Serena Williams of the U.S. holds the trophy after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia in the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia. (Lee Jin-man/AP Photo)
- Serena Williams of the U.S. holds the trophy after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia in the women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia. (Vincent Thian/AP Photo)
- Serena Williams of the U.S., holding the trophy, casts a shadow on the court, after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia in during their women’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia. (Lee Jin-man/AP Photo)
- A tribute for beloved Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks in front of Wrigley Field, Chicago. Banks died Jan. 23 of a heart attack in Chicago. He was 83 years old. (James Foster/AP Photo/Sun-Times Media)
- The Chicago Cubs hold an official memorial service for Hall of Fame slugger Ernie Banks at Chicago’s Fourth Presbyterian Church. Banks died Friday at 83 after a heart attack, according to an attorney representing his family. Known as “Mr. Cub,” Banks is remembered as much for his boundless enthusiasm despite playing on mostly losing teams as his 512 home runs and two MVP awards. (Nam Y. Huh/AP Photo)
- Chicago White Sox Executive Vice President Kenny Williams and Zoraida Sambolin touch the casket of Ernie Banks before the funeral service at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/TNS)