Lionel Messi of Argentina, FIFA World Player of the Year 2012, holds his FIFA Ballon d’Or trophy during the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2012 soccer awards ceremony at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland, January 7, 2013. (Reuters)

Qatar’s Kasola Mohammed (L) confronts Oman’s Ahmed Mubarak al Hahaijri during their Gulf Cup tournament soccer match at Isa Sports City in Isa Town, Bahrain. (Reuters)

Thai policemen and soldiers take up position during a search for explosives in the village of Raman after local farmers alerted them to suspicious activities in Yala province, south of Bangkok. (Reuters)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton holds up a football helmet with the State Department logo on it, presented by Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Nides (C), who joked that ‘Washington is a contact sport,’ January 7, 2013. Clinton resumed her official duties, five days after being released from a hospital for treatment of a blood clot. (Reuters)

A man polishes a snow sculpture in preparation for Shenyang International Ice and Snow Festival, Liaoning province, China. The festival kicks off on January 10, 2013. (Reuters)

Waves crash onto the shore of the southern Lebanese city of Sidon. Stormy weather, including high winds and heavy rainfall, lashed the eastern Mediterranean coast, downing power lines and trees and causing several injuries in a number of countries. (AFP)

Sumo grand champion or Yokozuna Hakuho displays the sumo ceremonial stamping form during the New Year’s ring entering ceremony at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Japan. (AP)

Sculptures called ‘Flossis’ by German artist Rosalie are seen on a building in Duesseldorf, western Germany. The installation consists of 29 sculptures, each measuring 4,20 m high and 2,50 m wide. (AFP)