The year 2012 began with a blend both the good and the bad.

While winter sport athletes enthralled audiences across the world, the tragic fate of Italian cruise liner Costa Concordia was disheartening.

From entertainment to sports and from disasters to fashion, check out all that kept the world occupied during the first month of the year...

January 2012 Top Pictures of the Month
Finland's Janne Happonen takes off from the ski jump during a practice session for the third event of the 60th Four Hills Ski Jumping Tournament in Innsbruck, on Jan. 3, 2012. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
January 2012 Top Pictures of the Month
An aerial view shows the snow covered church of the village of Jenisberg near the Swiss mountain resort of Davos Jan. 23, 2012. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
January 2012 Top Pictures of the Month
Actresses Angelina Jolie and Tilda Swinton (R) talk as actor Brad Pitt looks on, at the 18th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles, California Jan. 29, 2012. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
January 2012 Top Pictures of the Month
Female cast members of "Modern Family" (L-R) Ariel Winter, Sarah Hyland, Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara pose backstage at the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, Jan. 15, 2012. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
January 2012 Top Pictures of the Month
Actor Ashton Kutcher looks at his phone during the NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets in Los Angeles, California January 3, 2012. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
January 2012 Top Pictures of the Month
Members of the crowd cheer as cowboy Marco Eguche jumps off the bull Complete Debacle during the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Madison Square Garden Invitational in New York Jan. 6, 2012. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
January 2012 Top Pictures of the Month
The Costa Concordia cruise ship which ran aground off the west coast of Italy at Giglio island lies on its side, half-submerged and threatening to slide into deeper waters Jan. 23, 2012. REUTERS/Tony Gentile
Disasters