Today in photos (Jan. 17)

Christian Prudhomme, Tour De France Director, right, listens to Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, rear, speak during a press conference to announce the route of the 2014 Tour De France, in Leeds, England, Thursday Jan. 17, 2013. The city of Leeds will host the Grand Depart on July 5, 2014 after Yorkshire beat bids from Florence and Edinburgh to host the start of the prestigious event. (Jon Super / Associated Press)

Sabine Conrad plays with her French sheepdog El Lobo in front of the snow covered skyline of Erfurt, central Germany, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013. Weather forecasts predict cold winter weather during the next few days in Germany. (Jens Meyer / Associated Press)

Clearing skies await a tripod-toting photographer looking for a spot to capture the early-morning light at Portland Head Light, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013, in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. A snowstorm that ended before dawn temporarily transformed Fort Williams Park into a snowy scene. (Robert Bukaty / Associated Press)

Iranian actress Elaheh Pourjamshid, performs her role as a mother in ‘Awakening of The Particles’ street theater, telling a story on children’s education, during the 31st Fajr International Theater Festival, in central Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013. IIran holds the Fajr festival, the most important theatrical event in the country, along with film, music, and visual arts, marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution. (Vahid Salemi / Associated Press)

A dog looks over the back of a pew as people take part in a mass at San Anton Church in Madrid, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013, in honor of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of animals. The feast is celebrated each year in many parts of Spain and people bring their pets to churches to be blessed. (Daniel Olza / Associated Press)

A priest distributes bibles to people before taking take part in a mass at San Anton Church in Madrid, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013, in honor of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of animals. The feast is celebrated each year in many parts of Spain and people bring their pets to churches to be blessed. (Daniel Olza / Associated Press)