Today in Photos

Beautiful action photos from Australia featuring surf life guards highlight today's photos along with a couple great photos of the space shuttle at work and a mixture of other images from around the world.

Section:Gallery

Thu., March 19, 2009

In this photo released by Australia Surf Life Saving, a surfboat crew are thrown from their craft while competing at the Australian Surf Life saving Championships at Perth's Scarborough Beach, Wednesday, March 18, 2009. Surf clubs from around Australia are in Perth for the annual inter-club championships.

Harvie Allison Associated Press
In this photo released by Australia Surf Life Saving, crew of a women's surfboat react as they paddle out through large surf while competing at the Australian Surf Life saving Championships at Perth's Scarborough Beach, Wednesday, March 18, 2009. Surf clubs from around Australia are in Perth for the annual inetr-club championships.

Harvie Allison Associated Press
In this photo released by Australia Surf Life Saving, a surfboat crew are thrown from their craft while competing at the Australian Surf Life saving Championships at Perth's Scarborough Beach, Wednesday, March 18, 2009. Surf clubs from around Australia are in Perth for the annual inter-club championships.

Harvie Allison Associated Press
In this photo released by Australia Surf Life Saving, a competitor in the women's paddle board race reacts as she rides a wave back to the beach while competing at the Australian Surf Life saving Championships at Perth's Scarborough Beach, Wednesday, March 18, 2009. Surf clubs from around Australia are in Perth for the annual inter-club championships.

Harvie Allison Associated Press
Captain Michael Van Durme of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation holds a box turtle at a news conference in Albany, N.Y., Thursday, March 19, 2009. An undercover investigation into poaching and illegal sales of New York's native turtles, snakes and salamanders has led to charges against 25 people, with more arrests to come, environmental officials said.

Mike Groll Associated Press
Storks clatter in their nest in Holzen, southern Germany, Thursday, March 19, 2009. Meteorologists predict mixed weather for the upcoming days in the region.

Winfried Rothermel Associated Press
A Jordanian boy is seen selling carrots, in a street in Amman, Thursday, March 19, 2009.

Mohammad Ghosh Associated Press
Members of the Sabean Mandaeans, a pre-Christian sect that follow the teachings of John the Baptist take part in a bathing ritual on the banks of the Tigris river in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, March 19, 2009 to mark Eid-Al khaiqeh (creation of the world) which they celebrate as a five day holiday.

Khalid Mohammed Associated Press
This image provided by NASA shows an overhead close-up view of the exterior of Space Shuttle Discovery's crew cabin, part of its payload bay and docking system was made by Expedition 18 crew members on the International Space Station. Prior to docking with the station, Tuesday March 17, 2009.
This image provided by NASA shows the Space Shuttle Discovery with clouds on earth drifting behind it Tuesday March 17, 2009. Space Shuttle Discovery is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 18 crew member on the International Space Station during rendezvous and docking operations.
Swedish countess Marie Douglas-David arrives at Superior Court in Hartford, Conn. Thursday, March 19, 2009, for the second day of divorce proceedings against former United Technologies Corp. CEO, George David. Douglas-David, a former investment banker, says she has no income and needs her 67-year-old husband, George David, to pay her more than $53,000 a week to cover her expenses.

George Ruhe Associated Press