Speaker of the House John Boehner takes his oath during the first day of the 113th Congress at the Capitol in Washington Jan 3, 2013. Despite a rocky few weeks during the "fiscal cliff" fight, Boehner won re-election as speaker of the House of Representatives on Thursday and will lead Republicans as they take on the White House over federal spending. Boehner beat Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi by 220-192 in the speakership vote on the first day of a new Congress.[Photo/Agencies]

Shi'ite pilgrims reach out to touch the casing of the tomb of Imam Abbas in the holy city of Kerbala, about 80 km (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad,Jan 3, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]