PICTURES

The carnival madness first began in the 11th century as a period of excess before the rigours of Lent, the 40 days of fasting that traditionally precede Easter.

The event was hosted by James Corden and saw performances from Adele, Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Metallica.

Festival begins on first full moon day in the Nepali Poush month and ends on the next full moon day a month later.

IBTimes UK looks back at nearly two years of devastating civil war in the Arab world's poorest nation.

The storm came a day after temperatures soared to 17 Celsius (63F), giving millions of people a taste of spring.

Its closure would have resulted in over 200,000 people having to return to war-torn Somalia.

A powerful storm is lashing the northeastern United States, with the potential for more than a foot of snow along the Philadelphia-to-Boston corridor.

A total of six tornadoes hit the city and other parts of Louisiana, destroying homes and businesses.

Thaipsuam is a celebration dedicated to the HIndu god of war, Lord Murugan, and is held over a two-day period.

Some 133 vehicles are on show including James Bond's 1964 Aston Martin DB5, complete with machine guns.

Romanians have filled Bucharest's Victory Square for night after night of protests.

US soldiers have begun relocating throughout the region to train with European allies in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania.

The UN says Myanmar's security forces have committed mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingya Muslims. Now Bangladesh plans to ship them off to a remote uninhabitable island.

Conservation team moved 16 bison from a protected herd in Alberta to Panther Valley, where they remain under observation until summer 2018.

Legend has it that he was a Mexican Robin Hood figure – a handsome moustachioed bandito who stole from the rich and gave to the poor.

The level of harmful breathable particles known as PM2.5 has hit 1,000 micrograms. The World Health Organisation acceptable standard is 20-25 micrograms.

Highlights include an articulated iron manikin from the 1500s, an animatronic baby from Japan and one of the first walking bipedal robots.

Isis militants are now surrounded by the army from the south and Turkish-backed rebels from the north.

Residents of the city and local villages have fled with whatever belongings they could carry and have set up makeshift camps in the desert.

Presented as a chronological overview, this traces Hockney's development from his time as a student up to his recent success at the Royal Academy and beyond.

The Art Deco control room of a derelict Hungarian power station has been chosen by the public as the winner of the Art of Building photography competition.

Many travellers took advantage of a Seattle judge's ruling, effectively suspending the executive order – for now.

The fighting between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists has damaged vital infrastructure, leading to power outages with temperatures as low as minus 18 Celsius.

A majestic Lady Gaga delivered what many critics agree was the best half-time show in Super Bowl history.

At least 50 people die in eastern Afghanistan, with dozens more missing after an avalanche buried a village in Nuristan.

Often depicted as a mermaid, she is said to be able to cure infertility in women.

The Orchid Festival runs from the 4 February-5 March 2017 at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Corporate buildings, including banks and ATMs were vandalised, and a Starbucks coffee shop was looted.

Hotel rooms are littered with bullet casings, food containers, cigarette butts and a few used syringes.