Photos Of The Day

An unidentified ski jumper soars through the air against the backdrop of the city of Sapporo at night during an official practice session at Okurayama jumping hill in Sapporo, northern Japan, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007. The Nordic World Ski Championships start Thursday.

Bye Bye Basra?

A British army soldier patrols the street of Basra, 340 miles southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007. Britain will withdraw some troops from Iraq in coming months if local forces can secure the southern part of the country, Prime Minister Tony Blair said Wednesday.

Lent Begins

A woman with the mark of palm ashes on her forehead prays during an early morning Ash Wednesday mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, when many observant Catholics fast in preparation for the upcoming Easter festival.

Grounds For Disqualification?

Piglets compete fiercely in a race commemorating the Chinese Lunar New Year "Year of the Pig," Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007, in Taipei, Taiwan.

In The Shadows

The shadows of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, left, and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier are cast on the wall as they shake hands following a press conference at the foreign ministry in Berlin Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007. The major powers trying to mediate Middle East peace are meeting to tackle the diplomatic riddle posed by a power-sharing deal between Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and Hamas.

Fish Out Of Water

A polar bear at the Animal Park Europa receives a traditional Ash Wednesday treat, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007, in Mierlo, Netherlands.

Sunny Economy

An Indian cycle-rickshaw driver crosses the highway at sunset outside a village near Midnapore, India, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007. India's roughly $780 billion economy has now posted growth rates above eight percent for nearly the past two years, placing it second to China among the major world economies.

Taste Of Spring

Florida Marlins infielder Dan Uggla takes warm up swings before batting practice during a baseball spring training Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007, at Roger Dean Stadium, in Jupiter, Fla.

Jury Is Out

I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former Chief of Staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, leaves the federal court house Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007 in Washington. Jury deliberations began in the case against Libby who is accused of lying under oath during an investigation into CIA employee Valerie Plame's blown cover.