A Taliban fighter stands guard as a woman walks past him in Kabul. The UN announced this week that some ‘time-critical’ programmes in Afghanistan have temporarily stopped and warned many other activities will also likely need to be paused as a result of a ban by the Taliban-led administration on women aid workers. UN aid chief Martin Griffiths, the heads of UN agencies and several aid groups said in a joint statement that women’s ‘participation in aid delivery is not negotiable and must continue’, calling on authorities to reverse the decision || Photo: AP
People pour milk in the waters of the Bay of Bengal as they pay homage to the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, during a prayer ceremony at Nochikuppam beach in Chennai to mark the 18th anniversary of the tragedy || Photo: EPA
Sandbar sharks swim next to a snorkeler in the Mediterranean Sea near the hot water outlet of the Orot Rabin power plant in the northern city of Hadera. In recent years a group of dusky sharks and sandbar sharks have appeared every winter in the warm, shallow waters in front of the power station. The phenomenon attracts people looking for a rare opportunity to closely examine the wild animal || Photo: AP
Houses along the shores of Lake Erie remain covered in ice following a winter storm that swept through much of Ontario || Photo: AP
The Christ the Redeemer statue is lit in the colours of the Brazilian national flag to honour Pelé. Pelé, the Brazilian virtuoso whose skill and athleticism ensured he was universally regarded as one of football’s greatest players, died at the age of 82. His Instagram page stated: ‘Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who peacefully passed away today. On his journey, Edson enchanted the world with his genius in sport, stopped a war, carried out social works all over the world and spread what he most believed to be the cure for all our problems: love.’ || Photo: AP