Milestones

SWORN IN. SAMUEL ALITO , 55, conservative federal appeals court judge; as a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, replacing Sandra Day O'Connor; by fellow newcomer, Chief Justice John Roberts; in Washington. The 58-42 Senate vote, largely along party lines, included votes to confirm from just four Democrats, constituting the lowest total for an opposition party in modern history.

RE-ELECTED. TARJA HALONEN , 62, as President of Finland; in Helsinki. The Social Democrat's low-key campaign emphasized Finland's ties with neighboring Russia, the European Union and NATO, to which the country has moved closer in recent years. Ceding victory, former Finance...