Week in pictures: 15-21 February 2014

  • 21 February 2014

A selection of the best news photographs from around the world this week.

  • Supporters of opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez are hit by police's water canon during a protest against Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas

    Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez are hit by police water cannon during a protest against Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas. Mr Lopez, of the opposition Popular Will party, was arrested on Tuesday on charges of inciting violence following a wave of anti-government protests.

  • Firefighters try to rescue a university student trapped by debris from the collapsed resort in Gyeongju

    South Korea's President Park Geun-hye has called for a full investigation into the collapse of an auditorium near the city of Gyeongju that killed at least 10 and injured more than 100. More than 560 college students were believed to be attending a concert when part of the auditorium caved in.

  • Civil defence members carry a wounded woman as a Lebanese Army soldier secures the area at the site of an explosion in the southern suburbs of Beirut

    At least four people were killed and dozens wounded in a twin bomb attack in the south of the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Security sources said it appeared that two suicide bombers using a car and a motorcycle had blown themselves up near an Iranian cultural centre.

  • Model at London Fashion week.

    Models presented creations for the Simongao collection at London Fashion Week.

  • Masked members of Pussy Riot leave a police station in Adler with two other masked women

    Masked members of the Russian protest group Pussy Riot were arrested on Monday near the Winter Olympics resort of Sochi, on suspicion of theft. They were released the following day. The women were in Sochi as part of the group's continuing criticism of President Putin.

  • Protestors build a barricade early in the morning of 21 February

    Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leaders sign a deal on early presidential polls after months of political crisis. Clashes between police and protesters in central Kiev continued through the week. The deal comes after the bloodiest day since the unrest began.

  • A resident cleans up heavy ashfall which damaged houses and farms in Malang, East Javan

    More than 100,000 people were evacuated from their homes on the Indonesian island of Java after the volcano Mount Kelud erupted twice. Here a man attempts to clear ash from damaged houses in Malang.

  • Thai police officers react after an explosion during clashes

    Violence erupted as Thai police began clearing protest sites in the capital, Bangkok - at least four people were killed and dozens injured. Police were trying to retake official sites that have been blocked by demonstrators since late last year.

  • In Jalalabad an Afghan woman takes a photograph

    In Jalalabad, an Afghan woman takes a photograph at an election rally in support of presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah ahead of elections on 5 April.

  • Norway's gold medalists Magnus Hovdal Moan, Magnus Krog, Haavard Klemetsen and Joergen Graabak celebrate

    Norway's men celebrate victory having held off a strong finish from Germany to claim glory in the Nordic combined team gold at the Sochi Winter Olympics.

  • Model Kate Moss accepts the British Male Solo Artist award on behalf of David Bowie as musician Noel Gallagher looks on

    At the Brit music awards, model Kate Moss collected the award for best British male on behalf of David Bowie, who was not at the event, from Noel Gallagher.

  • A crash during practice for the Nascar Daytona 500

    Parker Kligerman in car number 30 goes over the top of competitors during practice for the Nascar Daytona 500 at Daytona Beach, Florida.