The Week in Pictures | Feb. 20-26, 2012 - Framework - Photos and Video - Visual Storytelling from the Los Angeles Times

Kiev, Ukraine — A 5-year-old steppe turtle with two heads and six paws is held up for a photograph at the Science History Museum. The Ukrainian-born reptile, on display at the museum, has a heart-shaped shell, two hearts but only one intestine, exposition organizers said.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: GENYA SAVILOV / AFP

Manila — A woman applies finishing touches while groming a shih tzu dog while another waits its turn before a competition at the Asia-Pacific Dog Show. The show, organized by the Philippine Canine Club, is being held to promote and encourage love for purebred dogs.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: TED ALJIBE / AFP

Dordrecht, Netherlands — Five young black swans swim behind their mother in the Merwestein Park.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ROBERT VOS / ANP

Herat, Afghanistan — Protesters vandalize a police truck during an anti-U.S. demonstration over the burning of Korans at a U.S. military base in Afghanistan.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Hoshang Hashimi / Associated Press

Hebron, West Bank — A demonstrator jumps over a burning tire while hurling a stone at Israeli soldiers during a demonstration by Palestinians and peace activists demanding the reopening of a key street in Hebron. Hundreds of Palestinians protested to demand the city's main Shuhada Street be reopened after an 18-year closure by the Israeli military on security grounds.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ABED AL HASHLAMOUN / EPA

Osaka, Japan — Iceland's Steinthor Freyr Thorsteinsson takes a flip throw during a throw-in at the friendly football match against Japan at Nagai Stadium. Japan won the match 3-1.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: KAZUHIRO NOGI / AFP

Madhya Pradesh, India — Indian air force officials inspect the wreckage of a Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft at near Bhind. Reports state that both pilots managed to eject from the aircraft.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: SANJEEV GUPTA / EPA

Jerusalem — A rainbow appears over the Mount of Olives.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP

Tehran — Iranian police officers pray at the Tehran University campus.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Vahid Salemi / Associated Press

London — Walter Rojas of Venezuela in action during the Men's 10-meter platform preliminary at the London Aquatics Center.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Clive Rose / Getty Images

At sea — Erwan Israel from France is drenched by sea spray during the fourth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race as his team makes its way from Sanya, China, to Auckland, New Zealand.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team/Volvo Ocean Race / Groupama Sailing Team

Melbourne, Australia — Australian motocross rider Robbie Marshall, a member of the Crusty Demons, jumps over a helicopter with rotating blades and a Formula 1 car at Avalon Airport on Wednesday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Scott Barbour / Getty Images

London — David Boudia and Nick McCrory of the U.S. compete in the preliminary round of the men's synchronized 10 meter platform during the 18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup at the Aquatics Centre.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Richard Heathcote / Getty Images

Leavenworth, Wash. — In a time exposure photograph, skiers and snowboarders with headlamps and lights are captured heading down the Leavenworth Ski Hill in Leavenworth, Wash., Wednesday night during a public memorial for the three local skiers who died Sunday in an avalanche on Stevens Pass.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: DON SEABROOK / THE WENATCHEE WORLD

Mohacs, Hungary — A member of Mohacs Busok, mask-people from Mohacs town, stands next to a fire in the main square Tuesday during the last day of a six-day Carnival masquerade.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP

Pyeongchang, South Korea — About 3,000 Baekseok University students create the shape of a drop of blood at a ski resort. The Korean National Red Cross and the faculty jointly arranged the event as part of a campaign to encourage blood donation.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Shin Jun-hee / Yonhap

Bishkek, Kyrgystan — Soldiers take part in a show during a parade devoted to the Day of the Fatherland's Defender, a national holiday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO / AFP

Denpasar, Indonesia — Prisoners who had taken over a guard post watch as police reinforcements arrive outside the Kerobokan prison on the second day of rioting. Indonesia officials said they would evacuate all 60 foreigners as well as female prisoners from the jail, which was under the control of inmates.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP

Ramwari, India — A Kashmiri villager holds a relative after their huts were buried under snow by an avalanche. At least nine Indian soldiers on duty in the mountains of Kashmir were killed in avalanches overnight, with several others missing, officials said.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ROUF BHAT / AFP

Peshawar, Pakistan — Bystanders survey the site of a bomb blast, where a powerful car bomb ripped through an outdoor minibus terminal killing and wounding people, including women and children, officials said.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mohammad Sajjad / Associated Press

Kabul, Afghanistan — Afghan security officials fire over the heads of a protesters as unrest sparked by the burning of Muslim holy books by U.S. soldiers continued.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: S SABAWOON / EPA

Kabul, Afghanistan — Afghan protesters run down a street shouting anti-U.S. slogans.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: SHAH MARAI / AFP

Giglio, Italy — A helicopter is seen lifting a body out of the shipwrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ENZO RUSSO / ANSA

Giglio, Italy — Italian firefighters search the half-submerged hulk of the Costa Concordia. Divers searching the capsized cruise ship found eight bodies Wednesday, including that of a 5-year-old Italian girl, authorities said.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Italian Firefighters / Italian Firefighters Press Offic

Gorst, Wash. — Investigators from the Washington State Patrol crime lab examine an area near Gorst, Wash., where a patrolman was shot and killed during a traffic stop.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Dean J. Koepfler / The News Tribune

Jalalabad, Afghanistan — Protestors scatter as smoke rises from a burning truck during the second day of anti-U.S. demonstrations at a NATO military base over what the U.S. has said was the inadvertent burning of Muslim holy books. At least seven people have been killed in the violence.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Rahmat Gul / Associated Press

Jalalabad, Afghanistan — Afghans burn an effigy of President Obama during an anti-U.S. protest over the burning of Muslim holy books.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: NOORULLAH SHIRZADA / AFP / Getty Images

New Delhi — Exiled Tibetan students let slogans painted on their bodies speak for them as they take part in a daylong hunger strike at a Buddhist temple on the first day of the Tibetan New Year. The protesters' exiled government in India called on Tibetans this year to shun celebrations for their traditional new year, which started Wednesday. They were urged to instead pray for those living under Chinese rule.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Kevin Frayer / Associated Press

Cairo — An opponent of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak holds chains and shouts slogans in front of the police academy where Mubarak was tried on murder and corruption charges. A date for the verdict to be announced was expected to be set on Wednesday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: KHALED ELFIQI / EPA

Homs, Syria — In an image provided by the Local Coordination Committees in Syria, a doctor treats an infant injured by government forces shelling the Baba Amr neighborhood of Homs. Several people have reportedly been killed in heavy shelling after the army sent in reinforcements ahead of a possible ground assault.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Associated Press

Hebron, West Bank — Poor Palestinians searching for food and other items they may be able to sell sift through garbage dumped by an Israeli truck at a landfill on the outskirts of Hebron.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ABED AL HASHLAMOUN / EPA

Duesseldorf, Germany — Costumed Duesseldorfers symbolically mourn the burning figure of Hoppeditz, the mythical rogue whose "awakening" each Nov. 11 is the signal for the city's citizens to engage in fun and frivolity -- at least until Hoppeditz is carried to his grave and burned on Ash Wednesday to start Lent.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: FEDERICO GAMBARINI / EPA

Hong Kong — A pedestrian crosses a nearly empty street.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: AARON TAM / AFP / Getty Images

New York — Archbishop Timothy Dolan joins volunteers distributing food to the poor at St. Francis Assisi Church on Ash Wednesday. Dolan just returned from Rome where he and 21 other Roman Catholic churchmen were elevated to cardinal Saturday by Pope Benedict XVI.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Spencer Platt / Getty Images

Hyderabad, India — Indian Christians pray during an Ash Wednesday Mass at a Roman Catholic church.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mahesh Kumar A / Associated Press

Milan, Italy — A stylist puts the final touches on a model's hairdo backstage before the Simonetta Ravizza fall-winter collection is presented during Milan Fashion Week.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Luca Bruno / Associated Press

Yangon, Myanmar — A girl walks in silhouette toward the Shwedagon Pagoda during its 2,600th anniversary observance, a Buddhist festival that was banned for more than two decades under the nation's former military regime.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Altaf Qadri / Associated Press

Rio de Janeiro — A member of the samba school Grande Rio performs on the second day of parades at the Sambodrome during the Carnaval of Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANTONIO LACERDA / EPA

Rio de Janeiro — Performers from the Grande Rio samba school entertain some of the nearly 100,000 paying spectators who turned out for the all-night spectacle at the Sambadrome.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Felipe Dana / Associated Press

Rio de Janeiro — Performers from Grande Rio samba school are decked out in feathers and beads.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: FERNANDO BIZERRA JR / EPA

Rio de Janeiro — A performer puts on an act in front of a frightening display at the Sambadrome.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Felipe Dana / Associated Press

Rio de Janeiro — A dancer spreads his wings on a float during Carnaval celebrations at the Sambadrome.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Victor R. Caivano / Associated Press

Rio de Janeiro — Dancers create a sea of color and texture during the celebration.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Victor R. Caivano / Associated Press

Rio de Janeiro — A dancer from the Grande Rio samba school is dressed in a rainbow of feathers.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANTONIO LACERDA / EPA

Rio de Janeiro — A float puts together a dancer in red and a monster in blue.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Felipe Dana / Associated Press

Rio de Janeiro — A dancer from the Mocidade samba school gyrates at the Sambadrome.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Felipe Dana / Associated Press

Rio de Janeiro — The Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school float passes before reviewing stands at the Sambadrome.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANTONIO LACERDA / EPA

Rio de Janeiro — A member of the Vila Isabel samba school sees the world in black and white.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: FERNANDO BIZERRA JR / EPA

Rio de Janeiro — A Beija Flor samba school member performs on a float featuring an oversized bust of a man at the Sambadrome.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA / AFP / Getty Images

Rio de Janeiro — Members of the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school perform.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANTONIO LACERDA / EPA

Rio de Janeiro — Dancers of Beija Flor samba school twirl and sway in unison on the Carnaval parade route.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Felipe Dana / Associated Press

Rio de Janeiro — A member of the Beija Flor samba school parades in feathers and facepaint.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Silvia Izquierdo / Associated Press

Rio de Janeiro — A reveler from the Beija Flor samba school.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANTONIO SCORZA / AFP / Getty Images

Rio de Janeiro — The Beija Flor samba school float rolls down the parade route.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA / AFP / Getty Images

Rio de Janeiro — A dancer from the Beija Flor samba school.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA / AFP / Getty Images

Rio de Janeiro — Dancers from the Vila Isabel samba school.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: VANDERLEI ALMEIDA / AFP / Getty Images

Rio de Janeiro — A dancer from the Porto da Pedra samba school.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Felipe Dana / Associated Press

Rio de Janeiro — The Unidos da Vila Isabel samba school takes its turn in the Sambadrome spotlight.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Victor R. Caivano / Associated Press

Steubenville, Ohio — The Fort Steuben Bridge is brought down by a planned explosion in Steubenville, Ohio. The Ohio Department of Transportation closed the 83-year-old bridge three years ago because of deteriorating conditions and its limited use.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Michael D. McElwain / The Herald Star

Steubenville, Ohio — The Fort Steuben Bridge is brought down by a planned explosion.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Michael D. McElwain / The Herald Star

Dhaka, Bangladesh — A Bangladeshi decorates the Shaheed Minar, or martyrs mausoleum, on International Mother Language Day, which is observed in commemoration of the movement in which a number of students died in 1952, defending the recognition of Bangla as a state language of the former East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Pavel Rahman / Associated Press

Rio de Janeiro — A dancer from the Mangueira samba school parades during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Felipe Dana / Associated Press

Binche, Belgium — "Gilles of Binche" dance during a carnival parade in the city center. The Carnival of Binche dates back to around the 14th century, with the clown-like Gilles performing their traditional dances to the sound of drums to ward off evil spirits with their sticks.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Yves Logghe / Associated Press

St. Englmar, Germany — Skiers in historical costumes walk to the starting line on a piste. People took part in a nostalgic ski race on historical skis.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ARMINÂ WEIGEL / DPA

Yangon, Myanmar — Volunteers sweep the compound of Shwedagon Pagoda on the eve of its 2,600th anniversary celebrations.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Altaf Qadri / Associated Press

Islamabad — Pakistani men work in a brick factory on the outskirts of Islamabad.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Muhammed Muheisen / Associated Press

Ranlo, N.C. — Ranlo firefighters work to battle a blaze at a home. The occupants were able to escape the fire and no injuries were reported.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Mike Hensdill / The Gaston Gazette

Hebron, West Bank — Palestinians hurl stones at a car driven by an Israeli woman on the main road between Jerusalem and Hebron after a demonstration in solidarity with Islamic Jihad member Khader Adnan, who has been on a hunger strike for two months, in the West Bank village of Beit Omar.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Nasser Shiyoukhi / Associated Press

Bagram, Afghanistan — U.S. soldiers, in background, look on while standing along the perimeter gate of Bagram airbase during a protest. Afghan protesters firing slingshots and petrol bombs besieged one of the largest U.S.-run military bases in Afghanistan, furious over reports that NATO had set fire to copies of the Koran. Guards at Bagram airbase responded by firing rubber bullets from a watchtower, an AFP photographer said.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MASSOUD HOSSAINI / AFP

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — The Sambadrome is alive with color and dance. The contributor here is a dancer from Mocidade samba school.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Felipe Dana / Associated Press

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — Floats filled with dancing pass through the Sambadrome, here performed by members of the Unidos de Vila Isabel samba school.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANTONIO LACERDA / EPA

Duesseldorf, Germany — A Rose Monday carnival float depicts German Chancellor Angela Merkel receiving an embrace from French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Frank Augstein / Associated Press

Cologne, Germany — Young carnival-goers attend a Rose Monday celebration.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Oliver Berg / AFP / Getty Images

Islamabad, Pakistan — An anti-U.S. protest rally draws a crowd estimated at several thousand. Chants of "death to America" are reported, accompanied by calls to holy war.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: AAMIR QURESHI / AFP / Getty Images