A Chinese winter swimmer rubs snow over his chest as he prepares to swim in the icy river in Wuhan of Hubei province China. A cold front sweeping from north of China is bringing fresh snow and cold weather across northern China.(Seattle Times, 2/28/06)

South Korean workers from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions scuffle with riot police officers during a rally to support the Korea Railroad workers' strike near the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. Union members went on a general strike Wednesday against a controversial bill on non-regular workers passed by a parliamentary panel.(Seattle Times, 3/2/06)

Rescue personnel work on the scene of a collapsed market building in Moscow, Friday. Power shovels scooped up tons of rubble at the Moscow market where the collapse of its roof on Thursday killed at least 57 people and officials said there was virtually no hope of anyone still alive under the wreckage.(Seattle Times, 2/24/06)

Roy Kendall prepares a car for scrap in the heavily damaged Ninth Ward Friday in New Orleans. While Mardi Gras festivities begin in earnest in the French Quarter, the Ninth Ward remains completely devastated.(Seattle Times, 2/24/06)