Supporters of Russian presidential candidate and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attend a rally at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on Feb. 23. At the rally, Putin vowed he would not allow foreign powers to interfere in Russia's internal affairs. As he wrote in FP, "It is no surprise that some are calling for resources of global significance to be freed from the exclusive sovereignty of a single nation. This cannot happen to Russia, not even hypothetically."
Japanese men wear loincloths as they splash in freezing cold water during Saidaiji Naked Festival at Saidaiji Temple on Feb. 18 in Okayama, Japan. Saidaiji Naked Festival takes a place each year in the winter, and involves about 9,000 men battling to grab a pair of lucky sticks thrown by priests.
Afghan demonstrators run as they shout anti-U.S. slogans during a protest against Quran desecration in Kabul on Feb. 23. The Taliban exhorted Afghans on Feb. 23 to attack and kill foreign troops to avenge the burning of Qurans at a U.S.-run base, but stopped short of cutting off contacts with American officials in Qatar.
A man -- who for 15 years was actively involved in the neo-Nazi scene in and around Berlin and who asked not to be identified -- poses for a picture on Feb. 21 in Berlin, Germany. The German government will officially commemorate 10 victims murdered by two members of the National Socialist Underground, a Neo-Nazi terrorist group, over a 10-year period on Feb. 23.
Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney share a laugh after participating in a Republican primary debate sponsored by CNN on Feb. 22 in Mesa, Arizona. The debate was the last one scheduled before voters head to the polls in Michigan and Arizona's primaries on Feb. 28 and Super Tuesday on March 6.
Marked by crosses of black ash on their foreheads, Catholics pray during an Ash Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle Feb. 22 in Washington, D.C. Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, the 40-day penitential period before Easter when Christians celebrate Christ's resurrection from the dead.
In this composite image, earthquake damage is seen at the Christchurch Cathedral Citizens War Memorial, seven months after the earthquake, on Sept. 28 (top), and the same location as seen ahead of the one-year earthquake anniversary on Feb. 21 (bottom) in Christchurch, New Zealand. A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Christchurch, the South Island's largest city, on Feb. 22, 2011, killing 185 people and severely damaging the city and surrounding suburbs.
Palestinian men keep warm around a fire as they wait to be collected by their Israeli employers after crossing from the West Bank town of Qalqilya on Feb. 19 near the Israeli army's checkpoint at Kibbutz Eyal in central Israel. The Palestinian economy is in a state of near-collapse, with high unemployment resulting in a growing number of Palestinian workers traveling, illegally and legally, in Israel to look for work.
Athletes compete in the men's synchronized 10-meter platform preliminary round during the FINA Visa Diving World Cup on Feb. 23 in London, England.
Payphones stand on bare earth in front of the Olympic Stadium in the 2004 Olympic Games Complex on Feb. 18 in Athens, Greece. On Friday, Feb. 24, Greece began another stage in negotiations over its massive debt, this time offering a bond swap deal that would lighten the struggling nation's debt load by $142 billion. Failure of the new deal would hurt Greece's ability to receive $174 billion in international bailout funds.Without these deals, Greece will default on its loans next month.
Police and rescue workers surround a train that crashed at Once train station in Buenos Aires on Feb. 22. At least 340 people were injured in the accident, according to authorities.
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A member of Mohacs Busok steps out from the group's local base on Feb. 21, prior to the local Carnival masquerade. The costume is part of an annual celebration of the Croatians living in the town of Mohacs, held at the end of the Carnival season and ending the day before Ash Wednesday.
Brokers wear costumes to celebrate Carnival at the German stock exchange in Frankfurt am Main on Feb. 21.
The king's float stands during the 128th Carnival on Feb. 21 in Nice, southeastern France. Countries around the globe celebrated Carnival this week.
Brazilians play soccer at sunset along Ipanema beach on Feb. 18 in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. Police strikes in Salvador and Rio de Janiero in recent weeks threatened Carnival and raised questions about the country's preparedness to host the upcoming 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics.
