Pictures of the Week: March 22 – March 29

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From deliberations over gay marriage and the meeting of two Popes to the handing over of Bagram prison in Afghanistan and pandas in flight, TIME presents the best images of the week.

India Lathmar Holy Festival
March 22, 2013. Indian villagers from Nandgaon wait for the arrival of villagers from Barsana to play Lathmar Holi at the Nandagram temple in Nandgaon, India.Manish Swarup–AP
NICARAGUA-RUSSIA-DRUGS-IVANOV-GRANERA
March 22, 2013. A female member of the Nicaraguan Police Special Operations (DOEP) unit participate in the laying of the foundation stone ceremony of the Anti-drugs Training Center of the Federal Service for the Control of Drug Trafficking of the Russian Federation in Nicaragua. Managua.Hector Retamal—AFP/Getty Images
Spain Holy Week
March 25, 2013. Penitents from "San Gonzalo" brotherhood take part in a procession in Seville, Spain. Hundreds of processions take place throughout Spain during the Easter Holy Week.Emilio Morenatti—AP
Pakistan World Water Day
March 22, 2013. An Afghan refugee girl carries her laundry on her head after washing it in a polluted stream on World Water Day in a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan. The U.N. estimates that more than one in six people worldwide do not have access to 20-50 liters (5-13 gallons) of safe freshwater a day to ensure their basic needs for drinking, cooking and cleaning. Muhammed Muheisen—AP
APTOPIX Mideast Israel Passover
March. 25, 2013. Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men burn leavened items in a final preparation before the Passover holiday in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish town of Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, Israel. Jews are forbidden to eat leavened foodstuffs during the Passover holiday that celebrates the biblical story of the Israelites' escape from slavery and exodus from Egypt.Oded Balilty—AP
AFGHANISTAN-UNREST-BAGRAM
March 25, 2013. An Afghan man carries an old gun as he walks past Bagram Prison facilities outside Kabul. Afghanistan on Monday took full control of Bagram prison from the United States, healing one running sore in their testy relationship as US-led forces wind down more than a decade of war.Massoud Hossaini—AFP/Getty Images
Competitors warm up in the hallway at the World Irish Dancing Championships in Boston
March 24, 2013. Competitors warm up in the hallway at the World Irish Dancing Championships in Boston, Massachusetts.Jessica Rinaldi—Reuters
KENYA-WILDLIFE-FISHING-EAGLE
March 24, 2013. An African fishing eagle catches a fish in Lake Baringo, Kenya. The African fishing eagle in Lake Baringo is under threat as goat farmers in the area have taken to throwing fish laced with poison into the river to kill off crocodiles which eat their cattle. The fish eagles see the fish and consume them first leading to a fall in their population.Carl de Souza—AFP/Getty Images
Model are seen covered with artificial snow flakes during a fashion show of VISCAP Yuan Bing collection at China Fashion Week in Beijing
March 26, 2013. Model are seen covered with artificial snow flakes during a fashion show of VISCAP Yuan Bing collection at China Fashion Week in Beijing. The fashion week runs till March 30. Kim Kyung-Hoon—Reuters
Three year old, Stella Ferruzola poses with a Blue Morpho butterfly on her nose at the Sensational Butterflies Exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London
March 25, 2013. Stella Ferruzola, 3, poses with a Blue Morpho butterfly on her nose at the Sensational Butterflies Exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London.Luke MacGregor—Reuters
RUSSIA-CHINA-DIPLOMACY-ECONOMY
March 22, 2013. Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) followed by his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping (reflected in the mirror) enters a hall before their talks in the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow. Xi Jinping arrived today in Moscow on his first foreign trip, to cement ties between the two countries by inking a raft of energy and investment accords.Alexander Zemlianichenko—AFP/Getty Images
JORDAN-US-OBAMA-ABDULLAH II-DIPLOMACY
March 22, 2013. Honour guard sit on camels near an antique amoured personnel carrier during a welcome ceremony for the arrival of US President at Al-Hummar Palace in the Jordanian capital Amman.Mandel Ngan—AFP/Getty Images
BAHRAIN-POLITICS-UNREST-DEMO
March 22, 2013. A Bahraini woman writes a graffiti reading in Arabic "Down with Hamad"during an anti-government rally in solidarity with jailed human rights activist, Nabeel Rajab in the village of Belad Al Qadeem, in a suburb of Manama. The International Federation for Human Rights says around 80 people have been killed in Bahrain since violence first broke out on February 14, 2011 when thousands of protesters camped out in Manama's Pearl Square, taking their cue from the Arab Spring uprisings.Mohammed Al-Shaikh—AFP/Getty Images
BAHRAIN-POLITICS-UNREST-DEMO
March 22, 2013. A Bahraini girl holds a national flag during an anti-government rally in solidarity with jailed human rights activist, Nabeel Rajab in the village of Belad Al Qadeem, in a suburb of Manama. The International Federation for Human Rights says around 80 people have been killed in Bahrain since violence first broke out on February 14, 2011 when thousands of protesters camped out in Manama's Pearl Square, taking their cue from the Arab Spring uprisings.Mohammed Al-Shaikh—AFP/Getty Images
India Lathmar Holy Festival
March 22, 2013. Indian Hindu devotees smeared with colors play at the Nandagram temple famous for Lord Krishna and his brother Balram, during Lathmar holy festival, in Nandgaon 120 kilometers ( 75 miles) from New Delhi, India. During Lathmar Holi the women of Nandgaon, the hometown of Krishna, beat the men from Barsana , the legendary hometown of Radha, consort of Hindu God Krishna , with wooden sticks in response to their teasing as they depart the town.Manish Swarup—AP
Body bags cover charred bodies of victims of a fire at the burnt Ban Mae Surin refugee camp near Mae Hong Son
March 23, 2013. Body bags cover charred bodies of victims of a fire at the burnt Ban Mae Surin refugee camp near Mae Hong Son. At least 42 people have died in a fire at a camp which is home to thousands of refugees from Myanmar near the Thai-Myanmar border on Friday, local media reported.Athit Perawongmetha—Reuters
Italy - Religion - Pope Francis meets Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
March 23, 2013. Pope Francis meets Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at Castel Gandolfo.Alessandra Benedetti—L'Osserv / Corbis
Spanish legionnaires carry a statue of Christ into the church after the Palm Sunday procession of the "Estudiantes" brotherhood was suspended due to rain in Oviedo
March 24, 2013. Spanish legionnaires carry a statue of the Christ of the Mercy into the church after the Palm Sunday procession of the "Estudiantes" brotherhood was suspended due to rain at the start of Holy Week in Oviedo, northern Spain.Eloy Alonso—Reuters
Israel - Christians Celebrate Palm Sunday in Jerusalem
March 24, 2013. Christian pilgrims celebrate Palm Sunday in Jerusalem.Eyal Warshavshy—Corbis
Costaleros prepare to take part in the procession of "La Paz" brotherhood during Holy Week in Seville
March 24, 2013. Costaleros, men who carry a float bearing the statue of Christ or the Virgin Mary, prepare to take part in the procession of "La Paz" (The Peace) brotherhood during Holy Week in the Andalusian capital of Seville, southern Spain. Hundreds of Easter processions take place around the clock in Spain during Holy Week, drawing thousands of visitors.Marcelo del Pozo—Reuters
Two boys walk through the ruins of the Ban Mae Surin refugee camp near Mae Hong Son
March 24, 2013. Two boys walk through the ruins of the Ban Mae Surin refugee camp near Mae Hong Son. At least 42 people have died in a fire at a camp which is home to thousands of refugees from Myanmar near the Thai-Myanmar border.Athit Perawongmetha—Reuters
Mideast Israel Passover
March 24, 2013. Ultra-Orthodox Jews collect water to make matza during the Maim Shelanoo ceremony at a mountain spring, in Jerusalem Sunday. The water is used to prepare the traditional unleavened bread for the high holiday of Passover.Oded Balilty—AP
Egyptian Islamists protest against media
March 24, 2013. An Egyptian journalist films Islamist protesters chanting outside the Media Production City in the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. Islamist protesters gathered in front of the Media Production City, a complex of television and radio production studios, to protest against a perceived bias against Islamist groups in media coverage of political events and protests in Egypt.Oliver Weiken—EPA
RUSSIA-WEATHER-SNOW
March 24, 2013. A snow plow clears the Manezhnaya Square just outside the Kremlin in Moscow.Katya Abramkina—AFP/Getty Images
India Holi Festival
March 25, 2013. A Hindu devotee kneels down for prayers amid colors thrown inside Banke Bihari temple during Holi festival celebrations in Vrindavan, India. Holi, the festival of colors, celebrates the arrival of spring among other things.Altaf Qadri—AP
The Maybe Art Performance at MOMA
March 25, 2013. British actress Tilda Swinton takes part in a performance called 'The Maybe' at The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York. Swinton lies sleeping in a glass box for the duration of a working day. There is no published schedule for her appearance. Swinton first performed 'The Maybe' at the Serpentine Gallery in London in 1995.Andrew Gombert—EPA
Spain Holy Week
March 25, 2013. Penitents from "San Gonzalo" brotherhood carry their crosses as they take part in a procession in Seville, Spain. Hundreds of processions take place throughout Spain during the Easter Holy Week.Emilio Morenatti—AP
Supreme Court Hears Arguments On California's Prop 8 And Defense Of Marriage Act
March 26, 2013. Plaintiff couple Sandy Steier (L) and Kris Perry hold hands after attending oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court after oral arguments in Washington, DC. This week, the high court heard arguments in California's Proposition 8, the controversial ballot initiative that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.Mark Wilson—Getty Images
Mideast Jordan Japan WCup Soccer
March 26, 2013. Fans gather on a wall and fence during a match between Japan and Jordan in their FIFA World Cup Group B Asian qualifiers round four football match, in Amman, Jordan. Jordan won 2-1.Raad Adayleh—AP
Boys spray coloured foam during Holi celebrations at a lane near the Bankey Bihari temple in Vrindavan
March 26, 2013. Boys spray coloured foam during Holi celebrations at a lane near the Bankey Bihari temple in Vrindavan, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.Adnan Abidi—Reuters
Pakistan Daily Life
March 26, 2013. Pakistani students of a madrassa, or Islamic school, recite verses of the holy Quran, in Islamabad, Pakistan.Muhammed Muheisen—AP
South Korean honour guards hold banners during an event at the national cemetery in Daejeon
March 26, 2013. South Korean honour guards hold banners with pictures of the sailors who died in the sinking of a South Korean naval vessel by what Seoul insists was a North Korean submarine, during an event marking the third anniversary of the incident, at the national cemetery in Daejeon. Forty-six sailors died when the Cheonan corvette sunk.Kim Jae-Hwan—Reuters
TOPSHOTS-CYPRUS-ECONOMY-EU-FINANCE
March 26, 2013. Employees of the Bank of Cyprus frown as they demonstrate outside the main office of the bank in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia. The Governor of Central Bank of Cyprus Panicos Demetriades said in a press conference "a superhuman effort" is being made for the banks to open on March 28 and he also confirmed that a so-called haircut or levy on deposits over 100,000 euros ($130,000) at the stricken Bank of Cyprus and Laiki Bank would be "around 40 percent." Yiannis Kourtoglou—AFP/Getty Images
Supreme Court Hears DOMA
March 27, 2013. Demonstrators gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court while arguments are heard on the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA).Molly Riley—Polaris
TOPSHOTS-VATICAN-POPE-AUDIENCE-DIPLOMACY
March 22, 2013. Pope Francis greets foreign diplomats during an audience with the diplomatic corps at the Vatican. Pope Francis called for the Roman Catholic Church to "intensify" its dialogue with Islam, echoing hopes in the Muslim world for better ties with the Vatican during his reign.Tony Gentile—AFP/Getty Images
Mercedes-Benz China Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2013/2014 - Day 4
March 27, 2013. A model gets ready backstage before MGPIN Make-up Styling Collection on the fourth day of Mercedes-Benz China Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2013/2014 at 751 D.PARK Workshop in Beijing, China.Feng Li—Getty Images
A boy smeared with colours reacts as another boy pours water on him during Holi celebrations in the southern Indian city of Chennai
March 27, 2013. A boy smeared with colors reacts as another boy pours water on him during Holi celebrations in the southern Indian city of Chennai.Rupak de Chowdhuri—Reuters
Children watch from the rear window of a car as protesters march past demanding Yemen's former President Saleh's immunity be stripped and that he stand trial in Sanaa
March 28, 2013. Children watch from the rear window of a car as protesters march past demanding Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh's immunity be stripped and that he stand trial for the killings of protesters who demanded the end of his 33-year rule, in Sanaa.Khaled Abdullah Ali Al Mahdi—Reuters
At least 24 people killed in Peruvian bus crash
March 27, 2013. Rescue workers recover an injured person at the site where a bus crashed down a ravine in Arequipa, southern Peru. At least 24 people died in the accident, according to police. The bus was carrying an estimated 50 mine workers. An investigation was launched to establish the cause of the accident, but the bus appeared to be in good condition and the driver showed no signs of alcohol abuse. STR/EPA
Men are dragged on the ground to cover them in red coloured water during Huranga at Dauji
March 28, 2013. Men are dragged on the ground to cover them in red colored water during "Huranga" at Dauji temple near the northern Indian city of Mathura. "Huranga" is a game played between men and women a day after Holi.Ahmad Masood—Reuters
APTOPIX Philippines Holy Week
March 28, 2013. Filipino hooded penitents stop to pray at one of the stations of the cross during Maundy Thursday rituals to atone for sins in suburban Mandaluyong, east of Manila, Philippines. The ritual is frowned upon by church leaders in this predominantly Roman Catholic country.Aaron Favila—AP
Guille looks on during a ceremony in Malaga
March 28, 2013. Guille, 6, dressed as a Spanish legionnaire, looks on during a ceremony where Spanish legionnaires carry a statue of the Christ of Mena before taking part in the Mena brotherhood procession in Malaga, southern Spain.Jon Nazca—Reuters
Penitents Celebrate Holy Week In Zamora On Jueves Santo
March 28, 2013. A penitent looks back as she and others wear mantillas, ahead of the Holy Week procession of the Cofradia de la Virgen de la Esperanza in Zamora, Spain. Pablo Blazquez Dominguez—Getty Images
California Flowers In Spring
March 27, 2013. Along the Anaheim Coves recreational trail in Anaheim, Calif., poppies had not opened up for the sun because heavy clouds kept the skies gray and dark. Bruce Chambers— Zuma Press
Germany Easter
March 28, 2013. A hare rests in a field in Duisburg, western Germany. Kids in Germany are made believe that hares traditionally deliver the Easter eggs. Frank Augstein—AP
A Federal Express aircraft carrying two panda bears arrives at Pearson International airport in Toronto
March 25, 2013. A Federal Express aircraft carrying two panda bears arrives at Pearson International airport in Toronto. The two bears are on loan to Canada from China for 10 years. They will spend the first five years at the Metro Toronto Zoo after which they will be moved to Calgary, Alberta, for the remaining five years of their visit.Fred Thornhill—Reuters

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