THE WEEK THAT WAS IN PICTURES

Body-painted performers stand in formation to depict the face of US President Barack Obama during a performance by Swiss artist Dave at Filopapou Hill in Athens

'French Spider-Man' Alain Robert scales one of Hong Kong's tallest skyscrapers in what he said was an effort to highlight global warming. Robert, famous for climbing the world's tallest buildings without safety equipment, was arrested by police after a 40-minute ascent of the 62-storey Cheung Kong Centre. The Frenchman unfurled a bright yellow banner as he climbed, advertising a website, onehundredmonths.org, which is counting down 'the number of months left to save the planet from global warming

British submarine HMS Vanguard collided with France's Le Triomphant earlier this month. Both damaged in the crash in the early hours of February 4, but there were no reports of damage to the nuclear parts

A soldier of the French 27th Battallion of chasseur Alpine frisks an Afghan girl before a food distribution during the CIMIC (Civil Military Cooperation) operation in Dawlatkhel, in the Alassay valle

Flying-foxes hang upside-down in a tree at Ram bagh garden in Amritsar, India. Photo: Narinder Nanum,

Models show underwear designs during the third annual Brazilian Underwear Day otside Brasilia's bus station. Photo: Joedson Alves,

The Bahaman-flagged cruise ship Ocean Nova which ran aground in icy waters between Argentina and Antarctica. All passengers and crew, including five Irish people, were safely moved to a neighbouring ship, the Clipper Adventurer

US President Barack Obama talks with Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean as Mounted Police salute in the background after arriving in Ottawa yesterday. Obama is making his first trip outside the US since becoming president

Tourists enjoy the snow-covered Great Wall of China. Chinese officials claim that the snow-fall was artificially induced

Meerkat pups 'Nairobi' (top) and 'Zanzibar' (below), four weeks old and the first to be born at Sydney's Taronga Zoo in nine years, are shown for the first time to the public. Meerkats are native to southern Africa and the Kalahari Desert and have dark patches around their eyes to lessen the desert glare like sunglasses as well as ears that can close in the event of a sand storm