The Week in Pictures | March 26 – April 1, 2012 - Framework - Photos and Video - Visual Storytelling from the Los Angeles Times

Medellin, Colombia — A dog is trained at the Police Canine Unit on Thursday. In this unit, dogs are trained to assist the police on the detection of narcotics and explosives in rescue operations.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: RAUL ARBOLEDA / AFP

Nahr-i Sufi, Afghanistan — An Afghan girl looks from behind a wall near the Char Dara District Police Headquarters. The position of women in Afghanistan has improved dramatically since the fall of the Taliban, with the number of girls in education soaring. But as the Americans and the Afghan government have pursued peace efforts with the Taliban, women are increasingly concerned that gains in their rights may be compromised in a bid to end the costly and deadly war.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JOHANNES EISELE / AFP

Alp Zavragia, Switzerland — Moonlight and starlight shine over the snowy Alp Zavragia near Obersaxen in the Swiss canton of Grisons, Switzerland.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ARNO BALZARINI / KEYSTONE

Jerusalem — Israeli mounted policemen move crowds of Palestinian protesters during a demonstration marking Land Day, which began in 1976 and marks the day Israeli forces killed six Palestinians during a protest against Israeli occupation of what Palestinians consider to be their land. Palestinians around the world will commemorate Land Day with protests and demonstrations.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Lior Mizrahi / Getty Images

New Delhi — An Indian woman tries out an assault weapon at the SigSauer pavilion at the DEFEXPO 2012 in New Delhi.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP

Nahr-i Sufi, Afghanistan — Afghan locals watch German soldiers as they sweep for improvised explosive devices during a patrol in Nahr-i Sufi near the Char Dara District Police Headquarters in the province of Kunduz.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JOHANNES EISELE / AFP

Saalfeld, Germany — A tree is decorated with around 10,000 Easter eggs. The apple tree, which is decorated every year during the Easter season by pensioner Volker Kraft, has become a regional touristic attraction.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MARTIN SCHUTT / DPA

Tel Aviv — A Maccabi Tel Aviv fan surounded by yellow balloons gives the thumbs up during their Euroleague Basketball top16 playoffs game 4, against Panathinaikos Athen.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JACK GUEZ / AFP

Nahr-i Sufi, Afghanistan — An Afghan carries a bundle of wood in the province of Kunduz. The Afghan economy has always been based on agriculture, despite the fact that only 13% of its total land is arable and just 8% is currently cultivated.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JOHANNES EISELE / AFP

Beijing — Workers wash a China's F-10 fighter jet displayed near the office building of its maker, Aviation Industry Corp. of China.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: AP / CHINATOPIX

Dortmund, Germany — Japan's Jun Mizutani celebrates after defeating the team of Singapore during the quarter finals of the table tennis team World Championships.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Irenius Stosik / DAPD

Pamplona, Spain — A man smokes as stickers calling for a general strike litter the streets from those angry about the Spanish government's tough new labor reforms and cutbacks.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Alvaro Barrientos / Associated Press

Barcelona, Spain — A police officer runs during demonstrations that were part of a general strike called by Spanish unions angry over economic reforms from the new conservative government.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Emilio Morenatti / Associated Press

Murcia, Spain — A protester yells at a police officer in Murcia during the 24-hour general strike called in Spain to protest against labor reform. According to trade unions, 75% of workers in Murcia supported the strike.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ISRAEL SANCHEZ / EPA

Medan, Indonesia — Student protesters wave the Indonesian national flag as they burn tires at a protest against the government's plan to raise fuel prices in Medan. The government plans to raise fuel prices by about 33% next month to avoid a budget deficit because of expensive fuel subsidies.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Binsar Bakkara / Associated Press

Surabaya, Indonesia — Police officers set up a roadblock during a protest against the Indonesian government's plan to raise fuel prices.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Trisnadi / Associated Press

St. Austell, England — Contortionist Leilani Franco performs at a preview for the NoFit State Circus' new summer show at the Eden Project in St. Austell.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Matt Cardy / Getty Images

Quezon City, Philippines — Students at Batasan Hills High School in Quezon City attend graduation; such festivities occur nationwide in the Philippines in March.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: NOEL CELIS / AFP / Getty Images

Buranovo, Russia — Ekaterina Shklyaeva, 74, a member of the singing group Buranovskiye Babushki, or Buranovo Grannies, talks to her goats in her village of Buranovo. The group of women ages 43 to 86 will represent Russia in the Eurovision 2012 Song Contest in Baku.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA / AFP / Getty Images

Hong Kong — Two men use their cellphones in front of a print of a painting by Zhang Xiaogang that is advertising the upcoming Sotherby's spring sales series.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANTONY DICKSON / AFP / Getty Images

New Delhi — A Tibetan exile shouts as he is detained by Indian police officers at a protest near where Chinese President Hu Jintao is attending the BRICS summit. The meeting came amid heavy security after the self-immolation of a Tibetan exile at an anti-China protest Monday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Manish Swarup / Associated Press

Wuppertal, Germany — Anori the polar bear cub, born Jan. 4, cuddles with his mother, Vilma, at the open-air enclosure of the zoo in Wuppertal.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MARIUS BECKER / European Pressphoto Agency

London — Members of the Household Cavalry take part in the Major General's Review at Hyde Park. Major General George Norton, who commands the division, determines whether it is fit to perform its ceremonial duties for the summer, which this year includes the Olympics.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Dan Kitwood / Getty Images Europe

Melrose, Mass. — Sgt. 1st Class Paul Brady of the 182nd Infantry Massachusetts National Guard embraces his daughter Regan, 6, during a welcome home ceremony at Memorial Hall. The 182nd Infantry Regiment, one of the original units of the Army, returned from a yearlong deployment in Afghanistan.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: CJ GUNTHER / EPA

Washington — Susan Clark of Santa Monica, who opposes the healthcare legislation now before the Supreme Court, stands with a red hand painted over her mouth to represent what she said is socialism taking away her choices and rights in front of the Supreme Court on the final day of arguments regarding the law.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Charles Dharapak / Associated Press

Havana — Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful as he arrives to lead a Mass at Revolution Square.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Ramon Espinosa / Associated Press

Benalmadena, Spain — A Papilio Rumanzovia butterfly is seen at the Benalmadena Butterfly Center. The center is the biggest in Spain with more than 100 species from all over the world.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jorge Zapata / EPA

Lille, France — French Front de Gauche leftist candidate for the 2012 French presidential election, Jean-Luc Melenchon delivers a speech during a campaign meeting.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP / Getty Images

Islamabad, Pakistan — Pakistani children pose for a photograph at a temporary shelter on the outskirts of Islamabad. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has appealed for $1.28 billion so it can provide humanitarian assistance to children in over 25 countries this year. The appeal will also cover needs of children among the estimated 5 million people affected for the second year by flooding in Pakistan.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: T. MUGHAL / EPA

New Delhi — Police detain an exiled Tibetan during a protest outside the hotel in which Chinese President Hu Jintao is reportedly staying.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ANINDITO MUKHERJEE / EPA

Gaza City — Palestinian schoolchildren do their homework by candlelight during a power outage. A political fight between Egypt, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority is to blame for fuel shortages that have led to a major electricity crisis in Gaza, sources told AFP, as the impoverished Palestinian strip's power outages spiralled in recent months, leaving hospitals on the verge of a disaster and residents enduring rolling blackouts lasting up to 18 hours a day.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: MOHAMMED ABED / AFP / Getty Images

Nicosia, Cyprus — APOEL's fans cheer for their team ahead of their UEFA Champions League first-leg quarterfinal football match against Real Madrid at GSP Stadium.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP / Getty Images

Naypyidaw, Myanmar — A caretaker bathes white elephants. Kings and leaders in the predominantly Buddhist nation have traditionally treasured white elephants, whose rare appearances in the country are believed to herald good fortune, including power and political change.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: SOE THAN WIN / AFP / Getty Images

Kampala, Uganda — Uganda police detain a supporter of Uganda's top opposition leader Kizza Besigye outside court. Besigye and his fellow accused were freed on bail after pleading not guilty to charges of convening an unlawful assembly in a case stemming from the killing of a policeman in violent street clashes last week. In tense scenes that threatened to turn violent, heavily armed police blocked supporters from following Besigye to the court.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Stephen Wandera / Associated Press

Manila — New graduates from the Philippine coast guard stand in formation during a closing ceremony of the Shipboard Familiarization Course at coast guard headquarters. The 495 new graduates will be deployed to different units in time for Holy Week, which runs from April 1-4.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: NOEL CELIS / AFP / Getty Images

Jacksonville, N.C. — Heather Shuford kisses her husband, Capt. Robert Shuford, goodbye Monday as their son, Aden, 6, clings to his father's arm at Camp Lejeune. Shuford was deploying with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JOHN ALTHOUSE / The Daily News

Sanford, Fla. — Deputy M. McCullough carries a lost child back to her mother during a rally Monday for slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin. The Sanford Police Department's decision not to arrest the man accused of killing the 17-year-old in February has created a public outcry for justice.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: BRIAN BLANCO / EPA

Paris — People relax along the Seine river, where temperatures reached 69 degrees Fahrenheit.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jacques Brinon / Associated Press

Kiev, Ukraine — A couple walk through an unexpected heavy snowfall.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: SERGEI SUPINSKY / AFP

Jakarta, Indonesia — A tear gas canister fired by Indonesian police officers explodes in the air during a protest against the government's plan to raise fuel prices by about 33% to avoid a budget deficit.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Dita Alangkara / Associated Press

Valencia, Spain — Spanish Civil Guards carry away evidence after the arrest of a suspected Al Qaeda member identified only as M. H. A. Spanish police have accused him of sharing videos on the Internet that encouraged "terrorist acts."

PHOTOGRAPH BY: JOSE JORDAN / AFP

Nice, France — Turkey's Sila Saygi falls in the ladies free skating preliminary round during the World Figure Skating Championships.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: VALERY HACHE / AFP

Tokyo — Japanese challenger Yota Sato lands a right to Thai defending champion Suriyan Sor Rungvisai during the fourth round of their WBC super flyweight boxing title fight at Korakuen Hall. Sato won the crown with a unanimous decision.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Kyodo News

Atlantic, Va. — Chemical tracers are released from five rockets launched from NASA's Wallops Island test flight facility. The tracers form white clouds that allow scientists and the public to visualize upper level jet stream winds.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: AP / NASA

Singapore — Visitors are silhouetted against a laser light frame art installation created by China's Li Hui, which is being displayed as part of the iLight Marina along the waterfront of Marina Bay.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Wong Maye-E / Associated Press

Yangon, Myanmar — A man walks beside a heavy fire engulfing the deep seaport Myanmar International Terminals Thilawa.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: YE AUNG THU / AFP

San Gabriel, Calif. — A waxing crescent moon is seen in the night sky Monday. Sometimes called a young moon, a waxing crescent moon is always seen in the west after sunset.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP

Washington, D.C. — Demonstrators for and against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act march and chant outside the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court, which has set aside six hours over three days, will hear arguments over the constitutionality of the act.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Silao, Mexico — Pope Benedict XVI looks from the helicopter at the Cristo Rey sanctuary as he arrives to lead the holy Mass celebration at the Parque del Bicentenario. Pope Benedict XVI sought to boost the Catholic faith in the face of violence and other challenges on his first visit to Mexico this weekend, receiving eager support from vast crowds of Mexicans.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: OSSERVATORE ROMANO / AFP / Getty Images

Leon, Mexico — People await the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI outside the cathedral of Our Most Holy Mother of Light, where the pontiff will celebrate vespers with the bishops of Mexico and of Latin America.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP / Getty Images

Seoul — President Obama greets members of the audience after speaking at Hankuk University.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press

Berlin — A young woman walks through an installation by artist Barbara Kruger at the exhibition "ARTandPRESS" at Martin Gropius Bau. The exhibition shows works by artists who have interpreted the medium of newspapers.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Sean Gallup / Getty Images

Bangkok, Thailand — Lightening streaks across the skyline during heavy rain. A total of 823 flood-related deaths have been recorded, including 10 in heavy November monsoon rains in the south of the kingdom, since July.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL / AFP / Getty Images

Yayladagi, Turkey — Syrian refugee children stand behind a fence at the refugee camp in Yayladagi. Turkey is home to a growing number of Syrian refugees fleeing the more than year-old unrest raging in its neighbor. Officials said the total figure has slightly exceeded 17,000 compared with about 9,500 only two months ago.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: ADEM ALTAN / AFP / Getty Images

Verbier, Switzerland — France's Aurelien Ducroz competes on the Bec de Rosses mountain during the Xtreme Freeride World Tour final above the Swiss Alps resort of Verbier.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP / Getty Images

St. Antoenien-Partnun, Switzerland — A snow-covered hut stands in St. Antoenien-Partnun, Switzerland. While spring has reached the valleys, winter weather still dominates in the mountain regions.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Arno Balzarini / Associated Press

Sanford, Fla. — Marc Booker leads a prayer during the candlelight vigil at the memorial site outside the gates of the Retreat at Twin Lakes, where Trayvon Martin was shot by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Julie Fletcher / Associated Press

Herat, Afghanistan — A former Taliban fighter looks on after joining Afghan government forces during a ceremony. Twelve fighters left the Taliban to join government forces in western Afghanistan. The Taliban, ousted from power by a U.S.-led invasion in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, announced earlier this month that they planned to set up a political office in Qatar ahead of talks with Washington.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: AREF KARIMI / AFP / Getty Images