New Orleans — Mardi Gras reveler Mike Turpin, whose night still isn't over, reacts as a front loader collects beads and other debris left behind by revelers on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans early Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the end of Mardi Gras festivities and the beginning of Lent for Catholics.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Patrick Semansky / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=24428

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Strumica, Macedonia — Face-painted revelers parade through a street on the final night of carnival celebrations in the southeastern Macedonia town of Strumica.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Boris Grdanoski / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=24429

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Heldra, Germany — Four people in chains, wearing traditional straw bear costumes, parade through the streets of Heldra, Germany. Straw bears are traditionally a symbol to scare winter away.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: UWE ZUCCHI / EPA

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=24430

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Ras Lanuf, Libya — A rebel fighter fires a rocket-propelled grenade launcher in front of a gas storage terminal during a battle on the road between Ras Lanuf and Bin Jiwad, Libya.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: GORAN TOMASEVIC / Reuters

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=24431

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Jakarta, Indonesia — A worker sets up a Nikon booth during a computer fair in Jakarta, Indonesia.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: BEAWIHARTA / Reuters

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=24432

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Cairo — An Egyptian Christian shouts in front of the Egyptian Television building in Cairo. Thirteen people were killed in violence between Egyptian Christians and Muslims, as sectarian tensions that appeared to evaporate in the country's revolution resurfaced. The violence in Cairo on Tuesday night was the worst outbreak of sectarian strife since President Hosni Mubarak stepped down in February.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MOHAMED ABD EL GHANY / Reuters

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=24433

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Manila, Philippines — In Manila, Filipino students, employees, administrators and seminarians from the University of Santo Tomas form a Dominican Cross as they observe the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Aaron Favila / Associated Press

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=24434

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Basabad, Afghanistan — U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Shawnee Redbear interacts with an Afghan toddler during a patrol in Basabad, Helmand Province. About 40 female Marines have been deployed in that area to interact with Afghan civilians, specifically women and children.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ADEK BERRY / AFP / Getty IMages

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London — Philip Dukes plays a rare "Archinto" Stradivarius viola at the Royal College of Music in London, England. Dukes will celebrate the 20th anniversary of his first recital at the Purcell Room on March 20 playing this viola dated 1696. It is one of only 10 made by Stradivarius of which only two are still playable.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

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Gold Coast, Australia — Kelly Slater of the U.S. slides his tail out in the pocket on his way to defeating Taj Burrow of Australia during the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast surfing tournament in Queensland.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: KIRSTIN SCHOLTZ / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=24437

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Tultepec, Mexico — People run away from fireworks exploding from a traditional "torito" bull made of paper, wood and fireworks in Tultepec, Mexico, during the celebration of San Juan de Dios festivities.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=24438

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