The Observer's 20 photographs of the week

Oscar Pistorius breaks down during his court appearance in Pretoria, South Africa, after he was charged with the murder of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp Photograph: Antonie De Ras/Reuters

On the day that Pope Benedict stunned the Roman Catholic Church when he announced he would resign, Alessandro Di Meo captured a flash of lighting over St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Photograph: Alessandro Di Meo/Ansa/Reuters

This is the Springerzug carnival parade in Herbstein, Germany. The Springerzug, which means 'jumping parade', is an interpretation of a carnival tradition particular to Herbstein since 1823 and celebrates free-spirited merrymaking before the beginning of Lent Photograph: Thomas Lohnes/Getty

AP photographer Jerome Delay remained in Gao, Mali, where he has been covering the conflict. Here, children walk on the Askia mausoleum, built in 1495 Photograph: Jerome Delay/AP

Models pose at the Moncler Grenoble Fall 2013 show at Gotham Hall during New York Fashion Week Photograph: JP Yim/WireImage/Getty

A model has her hair styled before wearing a design by Kaufmanfranco Photograph: Joshua Lott/AFP

Also in New York and having his hair groomed was Teddy, a gordon setter, at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, at Madison Square Garden Photograph: Stan Honda/AFP

In Cairo, the opposition held rallies to mark the second anniversary of the overthrow of former president Hosni Mubarak. Here, Egyptian security forces use water cannon as protesters throw stones into the grounds of the presidential palace Photograph: Khaled Desouki/AFP

Regular to this gallery, photographer David Guttenfelder was in North Korea. Here, North Korean synchronised swimmers perform in Pyongyang Photograph: David Guttenfelder/AP

And in this unusual scene, North Koreans stand before a roadside mosaic of the late leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il to pay their respects Photograph: David Guttenfelder/AP

A performer spits fire during a carnival celebration in Madrid, Spain. The carnival is believed to owe its origins to pagan festivals Photograph: Andres Kudacki/AP

A Syrian girl stands at the entrance of a makeshift home set up in the catacombs of the ruins of an ancient building in the ancient Roman city of Serjilla, in northwestern Syria Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP

Revellers participate in the traditional Bloco da Lama carnival in Parati, Brazil. The event, which started in 1986, has become a traditional carnival in which participants disguised as primitives with rags, skulls and bones, dive in the mud Photograph: Victor Moriyama/AFP

Award-winning Mohammed Al-Shaikh continues to produce engaging photojournalism of the protests in Bahrain. A Shia Bahraini woman flashes the victory sign at security forces during clashes following a demonstration to mark the second anniversary of the uprising Photograph: Mohammed Al-shaikh/AFP

In the carnival of 'Los Indianos' in Las Palma, Spain, people throw talcum powder at one another. Each participant has to dress from head to toe in white Photograph: Desiree Martin/AFP

An Israeli settler prays amid the rubble of his house that was demolished by Israeli police in Maale Rehavam, in the West Bank. The house was built without any authorisation outside the larger state-sanctioned settlement Photograph: Janos Chiala/AFP

Photographer Chris McGrath was recognised at the World Press Photo awards announced this week for his work at London 2012. This week he was in Burma, here photographing a rural carnival Photograph: Chris McGrath/Getty

Another award winner from the World Press Photo awards was Daniel Ochoa De Olza for his series, 'Bullfighter's Comeback'. This week he was in Luzon, Spain, photographing the carnival there Photograph: Daniel Ochoa De Olza/AP

A meteorite contrail is seen over Chelyabinsk. The meteor streaked across the sky of Russia's Ural Mountains, causing sharp explosions and reportedly injuring around 500 people, many hurt by broken glass Photograph: Yekaterina Pustynnikova/AP

Naga Sadhus, Hindu naked holy men, walk in procession after bathing at Sangam, the confluence of the Hindu holy rivers the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, on the third and last royal bath of the Maha Kumbh festival Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP