Today in Photos

The Alaska volcano activity has provided beautiful photos for today's gallery. A group of rescuers trying to save several beached whales in Australia and a great shot from the work on the international space station are more highlights from the photo wire today.

Section:Gallery

Mon., March 23, 2009

In this photo released by the Alaska Volcano Observatory/U.S. Geological Survey, steam rises from the top vent in the summit crater of Alaska's Mount Redoubt, Saturday March 21, 2009. The Mount Redoubt volcano erupted five times Sunday night and early Monday morning, March 22 and 23, 2009, sending an ash plume more than 9 miles into the air in the volcano's first emissions in nearly 20 years.

Cyrus Read Associated Press
In this photo released by the Alaska Volcano Observatory/U.S. Geological Survey, steam rises from the top vent in the summit crater of Alaska's Mount Redoubt, Saturday March 21, 2009. The Mount Redoubt volcano erupted five times Sunday night and early Monday morning, March 22 and 23, 2009, sending an ash plume more than 9 miles into the air in the volcano's first emissions in nearly 20 years.

Cyrus Read Associated Press
Passengers aboard a horse drawn cart travel in the city of Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, east of Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, March 23, 2009. The carts work as a cheap taxi service in the city.

Rahmat Gul Associated Press
Firefighters and bulldozer try to dismantle fuselage of a burnt cargo plane at Narita Airport in Narita, east of Tokyo, Monday, March 23, 2009. The plane burst into flames after bouncing off a runway in unusually high winds at Tokyo's main international airport Monday, killing the pilot and copilot and closing a major runway for several hours.

Shuji Kajiyama Associated Press
Christie's employee Pilar Ordovas, from Spain, poses for photographs beside the David Hockney painting 'Beverly Hills Housewife' at offices of the auction house in London, Monday March 23, 2009. The piece, which is estimated to fetch $7-10 million (5.13-7.33 million euro), is part of a selection of works from the collection of Betty Freeman in the May 13 Post-War and contemporary Art Evening Sale.

Matt Dunham Associated Press
Palestinian men carry a dead body away from a burning car near the site of explosion where a senior Fatah official and at least three bodyguards were killed in what appeared to be a roadside explosion outside the Mieh Mieh refugee camp near the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Monday, March 23, 2009. The officials said Kamal Madhat and three bodyguards were killed in the bombing as his two-vehicle convoy was leaving the Mieh Mieh refugee camp.

Mohammed Zaatari Associated Press
In this photo released by NASA, space shuttle Discovery astronaut Steve Swanson participates in the mission's second scheduled session of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction and maintenance continue on the international space station, Saturday March 21, 2009.
A dead 17 long-finned pilot whale is carried away after it was stranded on a beach in Hamelin Bay, Western Australia, Monday, March 23, 2009. About 80 whales and dolphins were stranded Monday on the remote southwest Australian beach where authorities plan to truck the few survivors to a protected bay before attempting to launch them back to sea on Tuesday.

Terry Mitchell Associated Press
Rescuers work to keep alive some of the 17 long-finned pilot whales that were being battered by rough seas after they were beached in Hamelin Bay, Western Australia, Monday, March 23, 2009. About 80 whales and dolphins were stranded Monday on the remote southwest Australian beach where authorities plan to truck the few survivors to a protected bay before attempting to launch them back to sea on Tuesday.

Terry Mitchell Associated Press
Rescuers work to keep alive some of the 17 long-finned pilot whales that were being battered by rough seas after they were beached in Hamelin Bay, Western Australia, Monday, March 23, 2009. About 80 whales and dolphins were stranded Monday on the remote southwest Australian beach where authorities plan to truck the few survivors to a protected bay before attempting to launch them back to sea on Tuesday.

Terry Mitchell Associated Press
Rescuers work to keep alive some of the 17 long-finned pilot whales that were being battered by rough seas after they were beached in Hamelin Bay, Western Australia, Monday, March 23, 2009. About 80 whales and dolphins were stranded Monday on the remote southwest Australian beach where authorities plan to truck the few survivors to a protected bay before attempting to launch them back to sea on Tuesday.

Terry Mitchell Associated Press