Today in photos (Feb. 8)

Boats are seen in the frozen river Spree, Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. A cold spell is affected large parts of Europe with temperatures plummeting far below zero. (Markus Schreiber / Associated Press)

A polling official, hands seen at left, marks the index finger of a woman voter with indelible ink before she casts her vote, inside a polling booth in Gonda, India, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. Residents in India’s largest state, Uttar Pradesh, began voting Wednesday in a monthlong local election with repercussions for the whole nation. The state of Uttar Pradesh is so large, with 200 million people, that voting is spread over seven phases and will last until March 3. Results will be declared March 6. (Rajesh Singh / Associated Press)

An Indian woman adjusts the cap of her child as she waits in a queue to cast her vote, in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. Residents in India’s largest state began voting Wednesday in a monthlong local election with repercussions for the whole nation. The state of Uttar Pradesh is so large, with 200 million people, that voting is spread over seven phases and will last until March 3. Results will be declared March 6. (Manish Swarup / Associated Press)

A Maldivian army soldier, left, and policeman take cover as a supporter of Mohamed Nasheed, who resigned Tuesday from his post as Maldivian President, hurls back a tear gas canister thrown during a protest in Male, Maldives, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. Supporters of Nasheed rioted through the streets Wednesday demanding he be reinstated as the country’s new leader appealed for unity to end the months of political turmoil roiling this Indian Ocean island nation. (Eranga Jayawardena / Associated Press)

A tourists waits for a flight during a partial strike at the Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. Israel’s labor federation has launched a nationwide strike for the first time in five years, shutting down national and local government offices, banks, the stock exchange, rail service and seaports.Union leaders are protesting the widespread use of contract workers who earn less and do not enjoy the same benefits as workers who are directly employed. (Sebastian Scheiner / Associated Press)

Tibetan monks and supporters throw dust in the air in honor of the dead monks and protesters self-immolated or killed in clashes with Chinese security forces during a vigil in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. Lobsang Sangay, the head of Tibet’s government-in-exile, called for worldwide vigils on Wednesday, following a series of self-immolations and bloody clashes between Tibetans and Chinese forces. (Wally Santana / Associated Press)