![Performers from the Beija Flor samba school parade during carnival Brazil Carnival](http://blogs.voanews.com/photos/files/2012/02/AP12022005078_AP_Brazil_20FEB12-878x585.jpg)
Performers from the Beija Flor samba school parade during carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP)
![A carnival float depicts German Chancellor Angela Merkel Germany Carnival Parade](http://blogs.voanews.com/photos/files/2012/02/AP120220020776_AP_Germany_Carnival_20FEB12-878x905.jpg)
A carnival float depicts German Chancellor Angela Merkel wearing an umbrella skirt symbolizing the European bailout fund at the traditional carnival parade in Duesseldorf. (AP)
![A photograph of teacher Peter Rippington and his wife Sharon is seen Reuters_Britain-Teacher](http://blogs.voanews.com/photos/files/2012/02/RTR2Y58I_Reuters_Britain-Teacher_20FEB12-878x659.jpg)
A photograph of teacher Peter Rippington and his wife Sharon hangs on a flag pole at Alvechurch Middle School in Alvechurch, central England. Rippington died and more than 20 others were injured after their coach crashed near Chalons-en-Champagne in France Sunday on the way back from a ski trip. (Reuters)
![A shoe shiner tries to keep warm next to an hourglass graffiti in Greece](http://blogs.voanews.com/photos/files/2012/02/AP12022009519_AP_Greece_20FEB12-878x588.jpg)
A shoe shiner tries to keep warm in Athens, Greece. (AP)
![Thousands of paper cranes in support of victims of Japan's crisis at Japan_Nuclear](http://blogs.voanews.com/photos/files/2012/02/RTR2Y56I_Reuters_Japan_Nuclear_20FEB12-878x580.jpg)
Thousands of paper origami cranes made by members of the public and relatives of TEPCO workers in support of Japan's earthquake and tsunami victims are displayed at the emergency operation center at TEPCO's crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Fukushima prefecture. (Reuters)
![A man sits behind a poster with a picture of Yemen's Vice President Yemen](http://blogs.voanews.com/photos/files/2012/02/RTR2Y57U_Reuters_Yemen_20FEB12-878x614.jpg)
A man sits behind a poster with a picture of Yemen's Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi during an election rally in Sanaa. (Reuters)
![An Indian Hindu devotee rings bells as he exits a Lord Shiva India Hindus](http://blogs.voanews.com/photos/files/2012/02/AP120220024000_AP_India_Hindus_20FEB12-878x572.jpg)
An Indian Hindu devotee rings bells as he exits a Lord Shiva temple during Shivratri festival celebrations in New Delhi. (AP)
![European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet of France gets Russia_Space](http://blogs.voanews.com/photos/files/2012/02/RTR2Y566_Reuters_Russia_Space_20FEB12-878x632.jpg)
European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet of France gets ready before diving in a space suit during a training exercise at the Star City cosmonaut training center outside Moscow, Russia. (Reuters)
![A model wears a jeweled head-piece by Lara Jensen as she Britain Fashion](http://blogs.voanews.com/photos/files/2012/02/000_DV1125456_AFP_Britain_Fashion_20FEB12-878x524.jpg)
A model wearing a jeweled head-piece by Lara Jensen walks on the catwalk during the Inbar Spector presentation at London Fashion Week in central London. (AFP)
![Japan's Yu Okamoto and Sho Sakai perform a jump in the men's Britain Swimming](http://blogs.voanews.com/photos/files/2012/02/AP120220016030_AP_Britain_Swimming_20FEB12-878x1187.jpg)
Japan's Yu Okamoto and Sho Sakai perform a jump in the men's synchronized 3m springboard during the Diving World Cup event at the London 2012 Olympic Aquatics Center, England. (AP)
![Dog Ben wears a "King Frog" costume as he attends the traditional Germany_Frogking](http://blogs.voanews.com/photos/files/2012/02/RTR2Y543_Reuters_Germany_Frogking_20FEB12-878x596.jpg)