Pictures of the Week: February 28 – March 7

1 minute read

From Putin’s power play in Crimea and the exuberance of Rio Carnival to a frozen Niagara Falls and the city at the end of the rainbow, TIME presents the best pictures of the week.

Ultra Orthodox Jews Protest Against Militery Draft In Jerusalem
Mar. 2, 2014. A massive crowd of Ultra Orthodox Jews gathered in Jerusalem to pray and protest against a consolidating bill that will order the enlistment of members of its community to the Israel Defense Forces. Omer Messinger—NurPhoto
Winter Storm Brings More Snow To DC Area
Mar. 3, 2014. Snow falls in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. The Federal Government was closed due to major snow storm that was expected to dump up to a foot of snow in the Washington area. Mark Wilson—Getty Images
A HIV-positive patient receives medicine through an intravenous drip at Medecins Sans Frontieres Holland's clinic in Yangon
Mar. 3, 2014. A HIV-positive patient receives medicine through an intravenous drip at Medecins Sans Frontieres Holland's clinic in Yangon.Minzayar—Reuters
Inside Indonesia's Snake Slaughter House
Mar. 2, 2014. Snakes are collected and rolled before being put into the oven in the village of Kertasura, Cirebon, Indonesia. Snake skins are sold to bag factories in the West and Central Java provinces on a monthly basis. Nurcholis Anhari Lubis—Getty Images
Iditarod
Mar. 3, 2014. A musher drives his dog team down the Dalzell Gorge out of the Rainy Pass checkpoint during the 2014 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.Bob Hallinen—MCT
Paris Fashion
Mar. 4, 2014. Models wear creations for the Alexander McQueen ready-to-wear fall/winter 2014-2015 fashion collection presented in Paris.Zacharie Scheurer—AP
Los Indianos Carnival In Santa Cruz De La Palma
Mar. 3, 2014. A reveller is covered in talcum powder during Los Indianos carnival in Santa Cruz de La Palma, Spain.Pablo Blazquez Dominguez—Getty Images
TOPSHOTS-INDIA-SOCIETY-MARRIAGE
Mar. 3, 2014. An Indian bride in traditional attire sits as she takes part in a mass marriage ceremony at a local temple in the old quarters of New Delhi.SajJad Hussain—AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian relatives of Mousab Al-Zaanin mourn during his funeral in Beit Hanoun in Gaza Strip
Mar. 4, 2014. Palestinian relatives of Mousab Al-Zaanin mourn during his funeral in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. An Israeli air strike on Monday killed two Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, one of them Al-Zaanin, who Israel's military said had been preparing to launch a rocket across the border. Suhaib Salem—Reuters
Wrestlers practise as others rest in the mud at a traditional Indian wrestling centre called Akhaara in Mumbai
Mar. 4, 2014. Wrestlers practice as others rest in the mud at a traditional Indian wrestling center in Mumbai.Danish Siddiqui—Reuters
U.S. Soldiers Provide Security Around Kandahar Airfield
Feb. 28, 2014. CPT Ryan Yuan (L) and his Afghan linguist with the U.S. Army's 4th squadron 2d Cavalry Regiment patrols on a mission to search caves for weapons caches near Kandahar, Afghanistan. Scott Olson—Getty Images
World's Longest Aircraft Unveiled
Feb. 28, 2014. The helium-filled 'Airlander' is the world's longest aircraft at 92 meters. It was originally developed for the US military before the project was cancelled due to budget cuts.Oli Scarff—Getty Images
Spain Festival Carnival
Mar. 1, 2014. People wearing masks walk around a square to participate in a traditional carnival celebration in the small village of Luzon Spain. Andres Kudacki—AP
TOPSHOTS-BRAZIL-CARNIVAL-SAO PAULO-PARADE-NENE DE VILA MATILDE
Mar. 1, 2014. Revelers of the Nene de Vila Matilde samba school perform during the second night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil.Miguel Schincaroil—AFP/Getty Images
Spain Festival Carnival
Mar. 1, 2014. A man covers his face in oil and soot as he gets ready to start a carnival festival in the small village of Luzon, Spain.Andres Kudacki—AP
Rio Carnival 2014 - Day 1
Mar. 2, 2014. Members of Mangueira Samba School celebrate during their parade at 2014 Brazilian Carnival at Sapucai Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Buda Mendes—Getty Images
Justin Savidis dogs await lineup in the musher lot before the official restart of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska
Mar. 2, 2014. Justin Savidis dogs await lineup in the musher lot before the official restart of the Iditarod dog sled race in Willow, Alaska.Nathaniel Wilder—Reuters
Lupita Nyong'o and Matthew McConaughey walk offstage after posing with their awards for best supporting actress for "12 Years a Slave" and best actor for his role in "Dallas Buyers Club" at the 86th Academy Awards in Hollywood
Mar. 2, 2014. Lupita Nyong'o and Matthew McConaughey walk offstage after posing with their awards for best supporting actress for "12 Years a Slave" and best actor for his role in "Dallas Buyers Club" at the 86th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California.Mario Anzuoni—Reuters
Sexual Violence and Women's Empowerment in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Mar. 3, 2014. Residents gather inside a makeshift sewing studio in the village of Mangango, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.Pete Muller
APTOPIX Pakistan Women Labor For Life Photo Essay
Mar. 2, 2014. Ghaziya Iqbal, 35, a Pakistani brick factory worker, breast-feeds her child Farman, 9 months old, at the site of her work on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan. Muhammed Muheisen—AP
APTOPIX Mideast Israel Orthodox Protest
Mar. 2, 2014. Hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews rally in a massive show of force against plans to force them to serve in the Israeli military, blocking roads and paralyzing the city of Jerusalem.Oded Balilty—AP
SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine   March  2, 2014.
Mar. 2, 2014. Archbishop Kliment of Crimea stands next to Russian soldiers, who are not wearing any identifying markers on their uniforms, outside the blocked Ukrainian military base in the village of Perevalnoye. The Archbishop came to support Ukrainians and acted as a human shield from a possible Russian attack.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIME
KOY201403030040.JPG
Mar. 3, 2014. Russian soldiers near the Ukrainian military base in Bakhchysaray.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIME
SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine March  2, 2014. Ukrainian  woman  reacts   as  troops  in   unmarked  uniforms   keep up   position  around the  base.
Mar. 2, 2014. A Ukrainian woman reacts as troops in unmarked uniforms (not pictured) hold positions in Perevalnoye, a small Ukrainian base roughly 15 miles south of Simferopol. About two dozen Ukrainian soldiers stand behind her.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIME
CARNIVAL IN RIO DE JANEIRO
Mar. 3, 2014. Members of the 'Beija-Flor' samba school perform during celebrations of the Carnival at the sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Marcelo Sayao—EPA
TOPSHOTS-BRAZIL-CARNIVAL-RIO-PARADE-UNIAO DA ILHA
Mar. 3, 2014. A reveler of the Uniao da Ilha samba school performs during the second night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Yasuyoshi Chiba—AFP/Getty Images
BESTPIX - Rio Carnival 2014 - Day 2
Mar. 3, 2014. A member of the Uniao da Ilha samba school performs during Carnival at Sapucai Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mario Tama—Getty Images
Revellers participate in the traditional Carnival on horseback in Bonfim
Mar. 3, 2014. Revelers participate in the traditional Carnival on horseback in Bonfim, Minas Gerais state.Roosevelt Cassio—Reuters
APTOPIX Pakistan
Mar. 3, 2014. A woman grieves outside a hospital's morgue for victims of a twin suicide bombing in Islamabad, Pakistan.Muhammed Muheisen—AP
Pakistan Daily Life
Mar. 3, 2014. 6-year-old Adil Shahid, suffering from a fever, sleeps on the ground wrapped with a shawl, next to the brick factory where his mother works in Mandra, near Rawalpindi, Pakistan.Muhammed Muheisen—AP
Pakistan Daily Life
Mar 3, 2014. A Pakistani child lies in a hammock at the site of his mother's work in a brick factory in Mandra, near Rawalpindi, Pakistan.Muhammed Muheisen—AP
Britain England Denmark Soccer
Mar. 3, 2014. England players are silhouetted as they take part in a national soccer squad training session at Tottenham Hotspur football club in Enfield, England.Matt Dunham—AP
SYRIA-CONFLICT
Mar. 3, 2014. A rebel fighter monitors through a miror the location of pro-regime fighters in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo.Mahmud Abdel Rahman—AFP/Getty Images
PRESIDENT PUTIN ARRIVES IN LENINGRAD REGION TO WATCH MILITARY EXERCISES
Mar. 3, 2014. Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu, president Vladimir Putin, and commander of the Russian Western Military District Troops Anatoly Sidorov (L-R) watch military exercises at the Kirillovsky training ground. Klimentyev Mikhail—ITAR-TASS /Landov
Stormy weather in Galacia
March. 3, 2014. A ship struggles against the storm as it leaves the coast of A Coruna, northwestern Spain.Calabar—EPA
Research At The Birkbeck Babylab Into Brain And Cognitive Development
Mar. 3, 2014. Leo, aged 9 months, takes part in an experiment at the 'Birkbeck Babylab' Center for Brain and Cognitive Development in London, England. Oli Scarff—Getty Images
A partially frozen Niagara Falls is seen on the American side during sub freezing temperatures in Niagara Falls
Mar. 3, 2014. A partially frozen Niagara Falls is seen on the American side during sub freezing temperatures in Niagara Falls, Ontario.Mark Blinch—Reuters
Brazil Carnival
Mar. 4, 2014. Performers from the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school pretend to play soccer as they hang on the wall of a float during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.Felipe Dana—AP
APTOPIX China Politics
Mar. 4, 2014. Chinese hostesses, who serve the delegates of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and National People's Congress, have souvenir photos taken in front of the Great Hall of the People during sessions in Beijing, China.Andy Wong—AP
A Palestinian technician works at a small factory that produces artificial limbs in Qalqilya
Mar. 4, 2014. A Palestinian technician works at a small factory that produces artificial limbs in the West Bank town of Qalqilya.Ammar Awad—Reuters
A Tibetan monk carries a portrait of the Dalai Lama during Losar celebrations in Kathmandu
Mar. 4, 2014. A Tibetan monk carries a portrait of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, during a function organised to mark "Losar" or the Tibetan New Year in Kathmandu.Navesh Chitrakar—Reuters
Ukraine Tense As Armed Standoff in Crimea Escalates
Mar. 4, 2014. A Ukrainian teen looks out at the countryside from a train on the outskirts of the Crimean city of Simferopol.Spencer Platt—Getty Images
Joe Biden
Mar. 4, 2014. Vice President Joe Biden remarks about the cold weather to the media after getting off the plane at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport in Atlanta.David Goldman—AP
Supporters of ruling AK Party (AKP) wave party flags during an election rally in Kirikkale
Mar. 4, 2014. Supporters of ruling AK Party wave party flags during an election rally in Kirikkale, central Turkey.Umit Bektas—Reuters
A model presents a creation by British designer Sarah Burton from her Fall/Winter 2014-2015 women's ready-to-wear collection  for fashion house Alexander McQueen during Paris Fashion Week
Mar. 4, 2014. A model presents a creation by British designer Sarah Burton from her Fall/Winter 2014-2015 women's ready-to-wear collection for fashion house Alexander McQueen during Paris Fashion Week.Gonzalo Fuentes—Reuters
Pakistan weather
Mar. 4, 2014. The 'end of a rainbow' appears to touch the ground in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani administered Kashmir.Nasiruddin Mughal—EPA
Ukraine
Mar. 4, 2014. People walk along a street heading to Kiev's Independence Square, Ukraine.Emilio Morenatti—AP
Robert Bortuzzo, Colin Wilson
Mar. 4, 2014. Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Robert Bortuzzo (41) fights with Nashville Predators forward Colin Wilson (33) in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn.Mark Humphrey—AP
TOPSHOTS-ITALY-CARNIVAL-IVREA
Mar. 4, 2014. Men with helmets are hit by oranges during the traditional "battle of the oranges" held during the carnival in Ivrea, near Turin.Giuseppe Cacace—AFP/Getty Images
Funeral for Islamic Jihad militant Mosab Al Zaanin
Mar. 4, 2014. Palestinians carry the body of Musab Za'anin, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, during his funeral in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.Majdi Fathi—NurPhoto
A giant storm cloud can be seen in the sky above swimmers near Mollymook Beach, south of Sydney
Mar. 5, 2014. A giant storm cloud can be seen in the sky above swimmers near Mollymook Beach, south of Sydney.David Gray—Reuters
Paris Fashion Hermes
March 5, 2014. Models wait backstage prior to the start of the Hermes ready to wear fall/winter 2014-2015 fashion collection presented in Paris.Thibault Camus—AP
TOPSHOTS-TURKEY-SYRIA-CONFLICT-REFUGEES
Mar. 4, 2014. A Syrian refugee looks out from a window with no glass, in a house in the Kucukpazar area of Istanbul, Syrian. Government forces are waging a campaign of siege warfare and starvation against civilians as part of its military strategy, a UN-mandated probe revealed.Gurcan Ozturk—AFP/Getty Images
India Horse Rescue
Mar. 5, 2014. People attempt to rescue a horse in the northern Indian state of Punjab. The horse was trapped for about two-hours, according to local reports. (AP Photo)AP
Nic Moore, Peruna
Mar. 5, 2014. Former President George W. Bush gets a hug from SMU mascot Peruna during a break in the first of an NCAA college basketball game between SMU and Louisville.John F. Rhodes—AP
Yevpatoria Ukraine  March 05  2014   Pro Russian  meeting.
Mar. 5, 2014. A pro-Russian gathering in Yevpatoria, Ukraine.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIME
U.S. Secretary of State Kerry departs after speaking to reporters about the Ukraine crisis following his meetings with other foreign ministers in Paris
Mar. 5, 2014. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry departs after speaking to reporters about the Ukraine crisis following his meetings with other foreign ministers in Paris.Kevin Lamarque—Reuters
APTOPIX Venezuela Chavez
Mar. 5, 2013. Marisol Perez, Venezuelan Army specialist, cries while visiting a chapel to mark the death of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez, in Caracas, Venezuela.Rodrigo Abd—AP
Traditional Jewish wedding of Yossi Feldman and Oberlander Mussie in Budapest
Mar. 5, 2014. Mussie Oberlander, daughter of Hungarian Chief Rabbi Baruch Oberlander, secretary general of Rabbinical Center of Europe (RCE) and establisher of the Hungarian Chabad-Lubavitch trend, prays during her traditional Jewish wedding in the Obuda Synagogue in Budapest, Hungary.Bea Kallos—EPA
TOPSHOTS-SSUDAN-UNREST-REFUGEES
Mar. 5, 2014. A South Sudanese woman walks with wood to reinforce her house in an isolated makeshift IDP camp for Dinka ethnic group placed in an island between Bor and Minkamman.JM Lopez—AFP/Getty Images
A frontier soldier from the People's Liberation Army jumps through a ring of fire as part of training in Heihe
Mar. 5, 2014. A frontier soldier from the People's Liberation Army jumps through a ring of fire as part of a training exercise in Heihe, Heilongjiang province.China Daily—Reuters
TOPSHOTS-EGYPT-POLITICS-UNREST-MEDIA-TRIAL-JAZEERA
Mar. 5, 2014. Australian journalist Peter Greste (C) of Al-Jazeera and his colleagues stand inside the defendants cage during their trial for allegedly supporting the Muslim Brotherhood at Cairo's Tora prison.Khaled Desouki—AFP/Getty Images
A group of people pose for pictures with light installation "CLOUD" in Singapore
Mar. 6, 2014. A group of people pose for pictures with Wayne Garrett and Caitlind Brown of Canada's light installation "CLOUD" during a media preview of the i Light Marina Bay festival in Singapore.Edgar Su—Reuters
A member of the defence legal team reaches out to Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius as he holds his head while a witness testifies during the fourth day of his trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria
Mar. 6, 2014. A member of the defence legal team reaches out to Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius as he holds his head while a witness testifies during the fourth day of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.Marco Longari—Reuters
Villagers watch a wrestling match during Chua Nanh festival in Ninh Hiep village, outside Hanoi
Mar. 6 , 2014. Villagers watch a wrestling match during Chua Nanh festival in Ninh Hiep village, outside Hanoi. Several hundred wrestlers gathered to compete in a three-day annual festival from in Ninh Hiep village which is well-known as one of richest village in Northern Vietnam.Kham—Reuters
Canada's Luscombe skis during the Men's Downhill Standing training at the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Winter Games at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center
Mar. 6, 2014. Canada's Braydon Luscombe skis during the Men's Downhill Standing training at the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Winter Games at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center, Russia,.Christian Hartmann—Reuters
Russia's President Vladimir Putin visits the mountain village on the eve of the opening of the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Winter Games in Krasnaya Polyana
Mar. 6, 2014. Russia's President Vladimir Putin signs an autograph as he visits the mountain village on the eve of the opening of the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Winter Games in Krasnaya Polyana. Ria Novosti—Reuters
NKOREA-POLITICS-KIM
Mar. 7, 2014. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is surrounded by female pilots as he inspects the Korean People's Army (KPA) Air and Anti-Air Force Unit 2620.KNS—AFP/Getty Images
A soldier in plain clothes from the Chinese PLA stands guard behind an entrance of the Great Hall of the People as red flags are reflected on a glass door in Beijing
Mar. 7, 2014. A soldier in plain clothes from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) stands guard behind an entrance of the Great Hall of the People, the venue of the annual session of China's parliament.Jason Lee—Reuters
TOPSHOTS-PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-EGYPT-GAZA-SIEGE-RALLY
Mar. 7, 2014. A Palestinian boy sits on a boat on the seashore as he watches a demonstration against the siege on the impoverished Hamas-run Gaza Strip in the coastal town of Rafah.Said Khatib—AFP/Getty Images
PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-EGYPT-GAZA-SIEGE-RALLY
Mar. 7, 2014. Palestinian children lie in the sand with their hands clasped next to their national flags during a rally against the siege on the impoverished Hamas-run Gaza Strip in the coastal town of Rafah.Said Khatib—AFP/Getty Images
APTOPIX Ukraine
Mar. 7, 2014. A woman watches a rally against the breakup of the country from behind the tinted window of a bus in Simferopol, Ukraine. Vadim Ghirda—AP
A couple and a child look at a 50-foot snowman named "Granddaddy" in Gilman, Minnesota
Mar. 6, 2014. A couple and a child look at a 50-foot snowman named "Granddaddy" in Gilman, Minnesota.Eric Miller—Reuters
APTOPIX Daylight Saving Time
Mar. 7, 2014. Dave LeMote wipes down a post clock at Electric Time Company, Inc. in Medfield, Mass. Daylight saving time officially starts March 9, at 2 a.m. local time (0700GMT). Elise Amendola—AP

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com