Pictures of the Week: March 8 – March 15

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From the selection of a new Pope and the second anniversary of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami to Kenya’s disputed election and sunbathers in the snow, TIME presents the best images of the week.

Vatican Pope
March 13, 2013. Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.Alessandra Tarantino—AP
Japan Marks 2nd Anniversary Of Magnitude 9.0 Earthquake And Tsunami
March 11, 2013. Kesennuma City is seen during a lightshow in Japan. The country is commemorating the second anniversary of the 2011 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that claimed more than 18,000 lives. Athit Perawongmetha—Getty Images
TOPSHOTS-KENYA-VOTE
March 9, 2013. Supporters of Kenyan presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta celebrate upon hearing of his victory in Kenya's national elections in Nairobi. Carl de Souza—AFP/Getty Images
APTOPIX Mideast Israel Palestinians
March 13, 2013. Faheema Titi, the sister of Palestinian Mahmoud Titi, is covered with the blood of her dead brother after embracing him during his funeral in Al-Fawwar refugee camp, near the West Bank town of Hebron. Israeli troops shot Mahmoud Titi to death after he and others hurled rocks and firebombs at them in the West Bank.Bernat Armangue—AP
Boy joining protesters, who oppose Egyptian President Mursi, sets fire to a tree to help dissipate the teargas fired by riot police during clashes along Qasr Al Nil bridge, which leads to Tahrir Square in Cairo
March 9, 2013. A boy joining protesters, who oppose Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, sets fire to a tree to help dissipate the teargas fired by riot police during clashes along Qasr Al Nil bridge, which leads to Tahrir Square in Cairo.Amr Abdallah Dalsh—Reuters
U.S. Border Patrol "Ranch Liaisons" Meet With Arizona Ranchers to Discuss Border Issues
March 8, 2013. U.S. Border Patrol ranch liaison John "Cody" Jackson (R) and cattle rancher Dan Bell ride through Bell's ZZ Cattle Ranch at the U.S.-Mexico border in Nogales, Arizona.John Moore—Getty Images
Hot air balloon shaped like Darth Vader's head lands after a sunrise flight in Canberra
March 9, 2013. A hot air balloon shaped like Darth Vader's head lands after a sunrise flight in Canberra, Australia. Daniel Munoz — Reuters
APTOPIX India Gang Rape
March 11, 2013. The mother of Ram Singh, the man accused of driving the bus on which a 23-year-old student was gang raped in December 2012, cries as she speaks to journalists inside the family's home in New Delhi.Manish Swarup—AP
Kenyan election 2013
March 8, 2013. A campaign poster of Kenya's Prime Minister and presidential aspirant Raila Odinga is seen on the wall in the Kibera slum, Odinga's stronghold in Nairobi, Kenya.Dai Kurokawa—EPA
Palestinians react to tear gas fired by Israeli police during clashes after Friday prayers in Jerusalem's Old City
March 8, 2013. Palestinians react to tear gas fired by Israeli police during clashes after Friday prayers at a compound known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City.Ammar Awad—Reuters
APTOPIX Venezuela Chavez
March 8, 2013. A woman wrapped in cloth sleeps outside the military academy where a funeral ceremony will take place for Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez in Caracas, Venezuela.Rodrigo Abd—AP
SA supporter of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez holds a doll of him in Caracas
March 8, 2013. A supporter of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez holds a doll of him as she stands outside a military academy where the funeral ceremony for Chavez is held in Caracas.Jorge Dan Lopez—Reuters
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pays tribute to late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Caracas
March 8, 2013. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pays tribute to late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during the funeral service at the Military Academy in Caracas.Reuters
A procession of sailors at Arlington National Cemetery to bury a pair of Civil War Navy predecessors.
March 8, 2013. A procession of sailors at Arlington National Cemetery prepare to bury a pair of Civil War Navy predecessors, in Arlington, Va. The dead were two unidentified sailors from the ironclad warship Monitor, buried with full military honors 150 years after their ship sank during a storm off the coast of Cape Hatteras, N.C.Christopher Gregory—The New York Times/Redux
National celebrations public virtue in the massacre of Port Said
March 9, 2013. Supporters of the 'Al Ahly' soccer club celebrate after an Egyptian court confirmed verdicts in the Port Said soccer match riots, at the Al-Ahly football club in Cairo.Ahmed Taranh—Demotix/Corbis
A demonstrator burns a cross during a protest in the Badami Bagh area of Lahore
March 9, 2013. A demonstrator burns a cross during a protest in the Badami Bagh area of Lahore, Pakistan.Reuters
TOPSHOTS-CHINA-WEATHER
March 9, 2013. A Chinese woman covers her head with a scarf as she walks near Tiananmen Square in Beijing.Wang Zhao—AFP/Getty Images
A sadhu asks for money from devotees on the premises of Pashupatinath Temple during the Shivaratri festival in Kathmandu
March 10, 2013. A sadhu (Hindu holy man) asks for money from passing devotees on the premises of Pashupatinath Temple during the Shivaratri festival in Kathmandu.Navesh Chitrakar—Reuters
BRITAIN-ANIMAL-CRUFTS
March 10, 2013. The nose of a Boxer dog is pictured on the fourth day of Crufts dog show in Birmingham, central England.Carol Court—AFP/Getty Images
CHINA-TRANSPORT-RAIL
March 10, 2013. A woman holds a toy bear as she stands on a train platform in Xingtai, southern Hebei province, China.Ed Jones—AFP/Getty Images
KENYA-VOTE-CHURCH
March 10, 2013. Children sit through a service at a church in the Mathare neighborhood of Nairobi, Kenya.Phil Moore—AFP/Getty Images
APTOPIX Mideast Yemen Daily Life
March 10, 2013. Yemeni men perform a traditional dance known as bar'a in the old city of Sana'a, Yemen. Bar'a is an ancient Yemeni dance which was a sign of tribal identity and power.Hani Mohammed—AP
Japan To Mark 2nd Anniversary Of Magnitude 9.0 Earthquake And Tsunami
March 10, 2013. Japanese Buddhist monks and Relatives of earthquake and tsunami pay their respects to victims from the tsunami and earthquake during the second anniversary commemoration in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.Athit Perawongmetha—Getty Images
Cross-country skiers start during the Engadin Ski Marathon on the frozen Lake Sils near the village of Maloja
March 10, 2013. Cross-country skiers start during the Engadin Ski Marathon on the frozen Lake Sils near the village of Maloja in Switzerland.Michael Buholzer—Reuters
People sunbathe by the wall of the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg
March 10, 2013. People sunbathe by the wall of the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg, Russia.Alexander Demianchuk—Reuters
A Free Syrian Army fighter mourns at the grave of his comrade in a public park that has been converted into a makeshift graveyard in Deir el-Zor
March 11, 2013. A Free Syrian Army fighter mourns at the grave of his comrade in a public park that has been converted into a makeshift graveyard in Deir el-Zor, Syria.Khalil Ashawi—Reuters
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un waves while in a boat during his visit to the Wolnae Islet Defence Detachment in the western sector of the front line, which is near Baengnyeong Island of South Korea
March 11, 2013. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) waves while in a boat during his visit to the Wolnae Islet Defence Detachment in the western sector of the front line, which is near Baengnyeong Island of South Korea, in this picture released by the Korean Central News Service (KCNA).KCNA/Reuters
Kim Jong Un
March 11, 2013. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un observes Baengnyeong Island near the western sea border with the South, during a visit by Defense Detachment Wolnae Isleta, North Korea.KCNA/KNS/AP
North Korean soldiers with weapons attend military training in an undisclosed location
March 11, 2013. North Korean soldiers with weapons attend military training in an undisclosed location in this picture released by the North's official KCNA news agency in Pyongyang.KCNA/Reuters
Local resident and a dog walk near a ship brought ashore by the March 11, 2011 tsunami and earthquake in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture
March 11, 2013. A local resident and a dog walk near a ship brought ashore by the March 11, 2011 tsunami and earthquake in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. With a minute of silence, tolling bells and prayers, Japan on Monday marks the second-year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands and set off a nuclear crisis that shattered public trust in atomic power and the nation's leaders. Kyodo/Reuters
A woman lies down in front of the grave of her brother at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington
March 11, 2013. Lesleigh Coyer, 25, of Saginaw, Michigan, lies down in front of the grave of her brother, Ryan Coyer, who served with the U.S. Army in both Iraq and Afghanistan, at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Coyer died of complications from an injury sustained in Afghanistan. Kevin Lamarque—Reuters
Locusts swarm in southern Israel continues near Kibbutz Revivim in the Negev Desert
March 11, 2013. Locusts swarm in the Negev Desert in southern Israel near Kibbutz Revivim. Despite Israeli nature authorities spraying against the locusts this morning their movement northwards continues. Jim Hollander—EPA
Photographer Alexander James submerges a preserved Hamadryas laodamia butterfly during a demonstration of his work at his studio in London
March 11, 2013. Photographer Alexander James submerges a preserved Hamadryas laodamia butterfly during a demonstration of his work at his studio in London. James creates still life images underwater often using butterflies, both living and dead, as part of the composition. The living butterflies are anaesthetised, and then encouraged into a state of hibernation allowing them to be photographed underwater. Luke MacGregor—Reuters
Balinese hit each other with fire during the "Perang Api" ritual ahead of Nyepi day in Gianyar, Bali
March 11, 2013. Balinese hit each other with fire during the "Perang Api" ritual ahead of Nyepi day on the Indonesian island of Bali. Nyepi is a day of silence for self-reflection to celebrate the Balinese Hindu new year, where Hindus in Bali observe meditation and fasting, but are not allowed to work, cook, light lamps or conduct any other activities. Reuters
A woman looks at her dead pet bird in a cage at her home, which was burnt by a mob two days earlier, in Badami Bagh, Lahore
March 11, 2013. Azra, 68, looks at her dead pet bird in a cage at her home, which was burnt by a mob two days earlier, in Badami Bagh, Lahore. Hundreds of Pakistani Christians took to the streets across the country, demanding better protection after a Christian neighbourhood was torched in the city of Lahore a day earlier in connection with the country's controversial anti-blasphemy law. Mohsin Raza—Reuters
INDIA-RELIGION-HINDUISM
March 11, 2013. Indian ragpickers collect recycleable material from camping grounds near the Sangam following the conclusion of the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad. The Sangam is a holy bathing site during The Kumbh Mela, which runs from January till March, and takes place every 12 years in Allahabad while smaller events are held every three years in other locations around India. Sanjay Kanojia—AFP/Getty Images
India Festival
March 11, 2013. A policeman tries to control the crowd of devotees at the temple of the shepherd god Khandoba on 'Somavati Amavasya' at the Jejuri temple in Pune district, Maharashtra state, India.Rajanish Kakade — AP
TOPSHOTS-INDIA-ARTS-TOURISM-KERALA
March 12, 2013. A traditional Kathakali performer puts on makeup before an event organised by India's Kerala state Tourism Department in Bangalore. Revenue from tourism brought some 211.25 billion rupees (4 billion USD) to the southern Indian state. Manjunath Kiran—AFP/Getty Images
MIDEAST-GAZA-EGYPT-SMUGGLING-TUNNELS
March 12, 2013. Palestinian workers ride a four-wheel vehicle inside a huge tunnel for smuggling cars and spare parts beneath the border between Egypt and southern Gaza Strip in Rafah.Wissam Nassar—Xinhua/Landov
A Swarm Of Locusts Arrives In Israel
March 12, 2013. A Beduin boy plays as a swarm of locusts arrives over his vilage in the Negev desert near the Egyptian Israeli border at the Beduin vilage of Bir Hadage, Israel. Egypt and Israel have been swarmed with millions of locusts over the past few days causing wide spread disturbances. Uriel Sinai—Getty Images
MALI-FRANCE-CONFLICT-GAO-MARKET
March 12, 2013. A woman plies her trade at Gao's main market. The market, which closed following a suicide bombing and infiltration by Islamic militants February 21, has just reopened, but is expected to close again for repair work. John MacDougall—AFP/Getty Images
APTOPIX One World Trade Center
March 12, 2013. One World Trade Center emerges from the clouds in the night sky in a photo made from a passing airplane, in New York. Construction continues on the office complex going up on the site of the original World Trade Center that was destroyed in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Matthew Ziegler—AP
VATICAN CONCLAVE 2013: FIRST DAY
March 12, 2013. The balcony where the new Pope appeared after the Papal Conclave at the Vatican.ANSA/Zuma Press
St. Peters Square,  After Morning and the start of the Convlave by the Cardinals to choose the New Pope.
March 12, 2013. Crowds waiting outside the Vatican at the start of the Conclave.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
St. Peters Square,  After Morning and the start of the Convlave by the Cardinals to choose the New Pope.
March 12, 2013. A scene from St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Vatican Pope
March 12, 2013. Cardinals attend a Mass for the election of a new pope celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.Andrew Medichini—AP
St. Peters Square,  After Morning and the start of the Convlave by the Cardinals to choose the New Pope.
March 12, 2013. A pilgrim in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio Elected New Pope Francis - Vatican
March 13, 2013. Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I, appears at the window of St Peter's Basilica's balcony as the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church.Alessia Paradisi—ABACAUSA
Vatican Pope
March 13, 2013. Pope Francis and cardinals pray from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.Luca Bruno—AP
APTOPIX Vatican Pope
March 13, 2013. Visitors take photos of Pope Francis as he speaks from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.Michael Sohn—AP
Pope Watch
March 13, 2013. Shelley Guadeloupe, from Puerto Rico, weeps after the announcement of a new Pope, as the Catholic faithful gathered at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. Bebeto Matthews—AP
Venezuela Pope Latin America
March 13, 2013. A man prays as he touches a crucifix at La Candelaria church in Caracas, Venezuela. Latin Americans reacted with joy at news that Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio has become the first pope ever from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. Rodrigo Abd—AP
BRAZIL-RIO-POLLUTION-FISH
March 13, 2013. Tons of dead fish float on the waters of the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, beside the Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Christophe Simon—AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian militants of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine climb a rope ladder as another shoots at a demonstration during a military graduation ceremony in Khan Younis
March 13, 2013. Palestinian militants of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) climb a rope ladder as another shoots at a demonstration during a military graduation ceremony in front of the media in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.Suhaib Salem—Reuters
CHINA-POLLUTION-FARM-ANIMAL-PIGS
March 13, 2013. Employed villagers gather dead pigs in a town in Jiaxing municipality, east China's Zhejiang province. The number of dead pigs found in Shanghai's main river has doubled in two days to nearly 6,000, the government said, as residents worried over the water supply questioned the handling of the incident. Shanghai has pointed the finger at Jiaxing in the neighboring province of Zhejiang, a major center for hog-raising, but officials from the area sought to deny it was the source.AFP/Getty Images
FRANCE-CORSICA-BLAST-LEROY-MERLIN
March 13, 2013. A French police forensic expert works in the construction site of a Leroy Merlin retail store which has been destroyed by a blast in Mezzavia, outside Ajaccio. Pascal Pochard-Casabianca—AFP/Getty Images
REINDEER FARM IN NORTH-WEST RUSSIA
March 13, 2013. Tundra, a reindeer breeding co-operative farm in Lovozero, some 130km south east of Murmansk.Lev Fedoseyev—ITAR-TASS/Landov
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas takes part in a wreath laying ceremony under a heavy snowfall at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the walls of Moscow's Kremlin
March 14, 2013. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) takes part in a wreath laying ceremony under a heavy snowfall at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the walls of Moscow's Kremlin. Sergei Karpukhin—Reuters
North Korea's artillery sub-units, whose mission is to strike Daeyeonpyeong island and Baengnyeong island of South Korea, conduct a live shell firing drill in the western sector of the front line
March 14, 2013. North Korea's artillery sub-units, whose mission is to strike Daeyeonpyeong island and Baengnyeong island of South Korea, conduct a live shell firing drill to examine war fighting capabilities in the western sector of the front line, in this picture released by the North's official KCNA news agency in Pyongyang. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and military officers attended the live shell firing drill. KCNA/Reuters
ROMANIA-RELIGION-CHIP ID-PROTEST
March 14, 2013. Romanian Christian-Orthodox priests and believers carry the replica of religious icons and the crucifix to stage a protest against the issue of electronic chip ID's in front of the Romanian Parliament headquarters in Bucharest, Romania. Around 400 people mobilized by Orthodox organizations gathered in a protest claiming that the use of chip ID's will narrow the liberty of movement and the liberty of individuals. Daniel Mihailescu—AFP/Getty Images
A Christian worshipper touches the Stone of Anointing in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City
March 14, 2013. A Christian worshiper touches the Stone of Anointing, where Christians believe the body of Jesus was prepared for burial, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem's Old City.Ronen Zvulun—Reuters
Vatican Pope
March 14, 2013. A gust of wind blows a nun's veil as she stands in front of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.Oded Balilty—AP

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