The week that was in pictures

Chinese communities around the world welcomed the Year of the Pig on February 5, ushering in the Lunar New Year with prayers, family feasts and shopping sprees.

(Text from AFP, PTI, WION & Reuters)

Britain and the EU agreed to hold more talks to try to avoid a no-deal Brexit, after a "robust" meeting between Prime Minister Theresa May and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker.

United States President Donald Trump on February 5 delivered a State of the Union speech challenging Democrats to approve funding for his long-sought border wall but stopped short of declaring national emergency over it, at least for now.

Pope Francis, who has made Muslim community outreach the cornerstone of his papacy, was on a historic three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The pope held talks in Abu Dhabi with Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb — imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's prestigious seat of learning — before delivering an address at an interfaith meeting.

Venezuelan military officers blocked a bridge on the border with Colombia ahead of an anticipated humanitarian aid shipment, as opposition leader Juan Guaido stepped up his challenge to President Nicolas Maduro's authority.

Thailand's Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi on Friday set her sights on a new role: prime minister of the Southeast Asian kingdom as a candidate for a party loyal to ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, arch-rival to the pro-military and ardently royalist establishment.

Mauni Amavasya is the new moon day of the Magha month, which falls in late January or early February.

'Mauni Amavasya' marks the second 'Shahi Snan' (royal bath) of the 50-day Kumbh Mela — the largest congregation in the world and is biggest of all the sacred bathing days in the Mela.

The Kumbh witnesses altogether three 'Shahi Snans', the first of which took place on Makar Sankranti (January 15) and the third and the last is scheduled on Basant Panchmi (February 10).

A residential building in Kartal district on the Asian side of the city collapsed on February 6.

The death toll from the collapse of an eight-storey building in Istanbul rose to 10 on Thursday while 13 others were injured, the governor's office for the Turkish city said.

A Syrian child receives food distributed by a humanitarian aid worker at a makeshift camp for displaced people, near the village of Yazi Bagh, about six kilometres from the Bab al-Salamah border crossing between Syria and Turkey in the north of Aleppo province.

Kashmir received moderate to heavy snowfall making it difficult for the people to go about their life. The National highway which connects Kashmir from rest of the world remained shut hampering the supply of essentials in the valley. 

All flights had been cancelled from Srinagar as the runway wasn't clear for the aircraft to take off.