Pictures of the day from The Huffington Post brings you the very best news and sports images from around the world, chosen and created by our own photo editors, Elliot Wagland, Tahira Mirza and Michael Cripps.
pics of the day 2nd Jan
(01 of29)
Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa waves to supporters during an election campaign rally in Vavuniya, Sri Lanka, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. Rajapaksa was first elected to office in 2005 and won re-election in 2010, riding on his popularity from defeating the Tamil Tigers. The presidential elections in the country will be held on January 8. (credit:Eranga Jayawardena/AP)
(02 of29)
Supporters of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa cheer during an election campaign rally in Vavuniya, Sri Lanka, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. He was the president hailed as a king after crushing the Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009 and ending the island nation's 25-year civil war. But an internal revolt now threatens Rajapaksa's hold on power. Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena, a close Rajapaksa aide and the No. 2 person in the president's Freedom Party, defected in a secretly choreographed news conference in late November, announcing he would run as an opposition candidate in Thursdays election. Poster reads " Leader of the Common. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) (credit:Eranga Jayawardena/AP)
(03 of29)
Palestinian protestors run for cover from tear gas fired by members of the Israeli security forces during clashes near the Israeli Ofer military prison, located next to the West Bank village of Betunia, after a march to protest against the building of Israeli settlements on Palestinian occupied land on January 2, 2015. The expansion of Jewish settlements remains a major stumbling block to peace with the Palestinians. (credit:ABBAS MOMANI via Getty Images)
(04 of29)
A masked Palestinian man uses a slingshot during clashes with Israeli soldiers outside the Ofer military prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(05 of29)
The Norman Atlantic ferry is being towed into the port of Brindisi, Italy, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. The blaze that broke out Sunday and torched the ferry has killed at least 11 people and authorities prepared to search it for possible more dead. Italy says 477 people were rescued, most by helicopters that plucked survivors off the top deck in gale-force winds and carried them to nearby boats. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(06 of29)
Indonesian military personnel put a coffin containing the body of a victim of AirAsia Flight 8501 into an ambulance upon arrival at Juanda Naval Airbase in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. After nearly a week of searching for the victims of AirAsia Flight 8501, rescue teams battling monsoon rains had their most successful day yet on Friday, more than tripling the number of bodies pulled from the Java Sea, some still strapped to their seats. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(07 of29)
Indonesian military personnel carry a coffin containing the body of the victims of AirAsia Flight 8501 upon arrival at Juanda Naval Airbase in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. After nearly a week of searching for the victims of AirAsia Flight 8501, rescue teams battling monsoon rains had their most successful day yet on Friday, more than tripling the number of bodies pulled from the Java Sea, some still strapped to their seats. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(08 of29)
Followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr attend open-air Friday prayers in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(09 of29)
The Bishop of Stepney joins fellow campaigners from Citizens UK outside Wonga HQ, Greater London House, London, in a demonstration to celebrate the coming into force of the Financial Conduct AuthorityÕs cap on the cost of credit. (credit:Lauren Hurley/PA Wire)
(10 of29)
Prime Minister David Cameron talks to trainees during a visit to North Halifax Skills Centre Construction Academy, Halifax. (credit:Anna Gowthorpe/PA Archive)
(11 of29)
The Rt Revd Adrian Newman joins fellow campaigners from Citizens UK outside Wonga HQ, Greater London House, London, in a demonstration to celebrate the coming into force of the Financial Conduct AuthorityÕs cap on the cost of credit. (credit:Lauren Hurley/PA Wire)
(12 of29)
Prime Minister David Cameron meets staff at Covea Insurance at Dean Clough Mills in Halifax, as Mr Cameron kick-started the general election year by promoting the Tories' first campaign poster. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
(13 of29)
Campaigners from the RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) protest outside of Kings Cross mainline station in London. The rail campaigners were protesting against the rising costs of rail travel on the day that higher fares are introduced. (credit:Rick Findler/PA Wire)
(14 of29)
Liverpool Captain Steven Gerrard arrives at Melwood Training Ground, Liverpool. The Club and the player have released statements about his future. Friday January 2, 2015. (credit:Peter Byrne/PA Wire/Press Association Images)
(15 of29)
Surfers head back out after swimmers were evacuated from the ocean at Bondi Beach after the NSW Police Polair helicopter spotted a shark close to shore in Sydney, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) (credit:DEAN LEWINS/AAP)
(16 of29)
Swimmers are evacuated from the ocean at Bondi Beach after the NSW Police Polair helicopter spotted a shark close to shore in Sydney, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015. Bondi Beach has been closed after a police helicopter spotted the bull shark. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) (credit:DEAN LEWINS/AAP)
(17 of29)
View of the Fire Volcano spewing ashes from San Antonio community, Colima State, Mexico, on January 1, 2015. The Fire Volcano is one of the most active in Mexico and in the last days it increased its activity. AFP PHOTO/Hector Guerrero (Photo credit should read HECTOR GUERRERO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:HECTOR GUERRERO via Getty Images)
(18 of29)
Swimmers at the Whitley Bay New Year's Day Dip at the Panama Swimming Club's annual fundraising event at Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(19 of29)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 01: Models Samantha Greenlund (L) and Leah Gruber pose with wax figure of actor Zach Galifianakis portraying the character 'Alan Garner' in the Hangover movie during the unveiling of the 'The Hangover Experience,' the newest attraction at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino on January 1, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Madame Tussauds) (credit:Bryan Steffy via Getty Images)
(20 of29)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 01: A wax figure of actor Zach Galifianakis portraying the character 'Alan Garner' in the Hangover movie is displayed during the unveiling of the 'The Hangover Experience,' the newest attraction at Madame Tussauds Las Vegas at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino on January 1, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Madame Tussauds) (credit:Bryan Steffy via Getty Images)
(21 of29)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 01: Members of the Coney Island's Polar Bear Club attend their annual 'New Year's Day Polar Bear Dip' on New Years Day at Coney Island beach on in New York City on January 01, 2015. (Photo by Cem Ozdel/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
(22 of29)
Residents, who lost their homes in a huge fire on New Year's day, take shelter at one of three evacuation centers near the site where hundreds of homes were destroyed along a creek Friday, Jan. 2, 2015 at suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines. The fire, believed to have been ignited by firecrackers, razed hundreds of homes Thursday in one of more than a dozen fires reported across the country as Filipinos welcomed the New Year. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(23 of29)
Firemen try to extinguish a fire that engulfed a slum area in Manila on January 1, 2015. The fire, alleged to have been ignited by firecrackers that are commonly used by Filipinos to welcome the new year, razed more than 200 houses and reportedly killed one person. AFP PHOTO/Jay DIRECTO (Photo credit should read JAY DIRECTO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JAY DIRECTO via Getty Images)
(24 of29)
Firefighters fight the fire at shanties from a creek in suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines during an early morning fire Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. The huge fire, believed to have been ignited by firecrackers, razed hundreds of shanties in a creekside slum in metropolitan Manila Thursday in one of more than a dozen fires reported across the country as Filipinos welcomed the New Year. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(25 of29)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: A detailed view a scoreboard showing the Ohio State Buckeyes champions after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide in the All State Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 42 to 35. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) (credit:Stacy Revere via Getty Images)
(26 of29)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate with the trophy after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide in the All State Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 42 to 35. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) (credit:Streeter Lecka via Getty Images)
(27 of29)
A man prays after laying flowers at the site of a deadly stampede in Shanghai, China, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. People unable to contact friends and relatives streamed into hospitals Thursday, anxious for information after a stampede during New Year's celebrations in Shanghai's historic waterfront area killed dozens of people in the worst disaster to hit one of China's showcase cities in recent years. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(28 of29)
Residents light candles, incense sticks and place flowers at the site of a deadly stampede to commemorate the victims in Shanghai, China, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. New Year's revelers jammed along Shanghai's historic riverfront stampeded about a half hour before midnight Wednesday, killing at least 35 people and injuring 43 others, Chinese media reported, although officials have not yet determined what triggered the stampede. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(29 of29)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - JANUARY 01: A Chinese man lights a candle at a makeshift memorial at the site of a stampede on January 1, 2015 on the Bund in Shanghai, China. More than 35 people died and dozens injured during a stampede at a New Years eve celebration late December 31, 2014. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) (credit:Kevin Frayer via Getty Images)