An Afghan man aims a slingshot toward American soldiers at the gate of Bagram Air Base north of Kabul. This protest was one of many that broke out when accounts emerged of U.S. personnel setting fire to bags filled with Korans. Photo by Shah Marai/AFP. “Lens,” New York Times

Palestinians hurl stones at a car driven by an Israeli woman on the main road between Jerusalem and Hebron. The protest was in support of Islamic Jihad member Khader Adnam, who has bee on a hunger strike for two months in the West Bank village of Beeit Omar. Photo by Nasser Shiyoukhi/AP “Framework,” Los Angeles Times

In al-Qsair, a town south of Homs, soldiers fighting for the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad have taken their toll, reports Alessio Romenzi, a photographer on assignment in the area for Time: “The snipers,” says Romenzi, do not sleep.” Romenzi has been documenting the work of the Free Syrian Army, a loose franchise of militias who are trying to coordinate their campaigns against the Bashar government. Assad’s forces have been relentless, pounding the predominantly Sunni enclave of Bab Amr in the city of Homs. Photos by Alessio Romenzi Time

Since 2006, more than a thousand rhinos have been slaughtered in southern Africa. Some 22 poachers have been gunned down, and more than 200 were arrested last year in South Africa alone. At the heart of this bloody war is the rhino's horn, a prized ingredient in traditional Asian medicine that can be worth up to $133 a gram—double the price of gold. Photographer Brent Stirton documented the carnage and the efforts to save the animals for National Geographic. Photos by Brent Stirton National Geographic

In wintertime, Markus Nyffeler, a Swiss shepherd, moves his flock in search of food. Photographer Michael Buholzer, in search of a wonderful picture, found this one. Photo by Michael Buholzer/Reuters “Lens,” New York Times

On February 20, 1962, astronaut John Glenn, then 40, blasted into space and into history books as the first American to orbit Earth. Just weeks before his flight, legendary Life magazine photographer Ralph Morse snapped a cover shot of Glenn wearing his space helmet—an image that has become an icon of the early years of space exploration. To mark the 50th anniversary of the famous mission, People magazine sent photographer Martin Schoeller to Columbus, Ohio to shoot a portrait of the former astronaut and United States senator. The magazine wisely chose to pair Schoeller’s image with Morse’s. Photos by Ralph Morse and Martin Schoeller People

New York magazine celebrated fashion season with a stunning portfolio by Pari Dukovic shot in Paris, Milan, and New York. Seen here, from left: A photo from the Diane Von Furstenberg show in New York; a portrait of Jason Wu in New York; and Julianne Moore at the Lanvin show in Paris. Photos by Pari Dukovic New York Magazine

Harper’s Bazaar debuted a long-promised, streamlined, and very successful redesign with its March issue. The big payoff was sleek, streamlined Gwyneth Paltro in Yves Saint Laurent. In the cover shot, seen here at left, Paltrow was coyly faceless. Photos by Terry Richardson Harper’s Bazaar

Fashion season coincides with Oscar season in America, to the delight of magazine editors and magazine readers. Time’s annual photo gallery of Oscar nominees, shot this year by Sebastian Kim, was filled with memorable faces etched in black and white. Such as: Brad Pitt, Rooney Mara, and Christopher Plummer. Photos by Sebastian Kim Time

There was only one sports story in America over the past week: Jeremy Lin’s transformation from benchwarmer to superstar. The New York Knick point guard’s overnight success—after years of unsung toil—has made the National Basketball League glamorous again and given rise to a wordplay meme that has captivated the country. Sports Illustrated gives us the Linside story with a cover by veteran photographer Heinz Kleutmeier showing Lin driving to the basket through a crowd of opponents. The picture underscores Lin’s improbable rise. Photo by Heinz Kleutmeier Sports Illustrated

Time magazine’s cover by Nathaniel Butler plays up Lin’s superstardom by isolating him in a beautifully lit glamour shot. Photo by Nathaniel Butler Time

Significantly, Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue arrives each February with Mardi Gras and Carnival. Both serve similar functions: Carnival as a socially acceptable outlet for outrageous behavior prior to the sacrifices of Lent, and the magazine as a socially acceptable way for men to enjoy pinup photos during the bleak weeks after the Super Bowl. Which makes 2012 cover girl Kate Upton more important than you might have thought. Photo by Walter Iooss Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue