The week in pictures: Fire and ice and polar bear treats

Thepolar bear Nanuqdivesfor dinner,an ice cake made of frozen fish, meat and fruit atthe zoo in Hanover, Germany, on Jan. 7.

Sistine snap

Pope Francis poses in the Sistine Chapel, with its famous frescoes painted by Michelangelo, amongmembers of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, at the end of an audience for the traditional exchange of New Year greetings at the Vatican on Jan. 9.

Cleanliness and godliness

A Nepalese Hindu devotee takes a holy bath in the Salinadi River during the first day of the Madhav Narayan festival in Sankhu on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal, on Jan. 12. The month-long event is devoted to religious fasting, holy bathing and the study of the Swasthani book, which is dedicated to the god Shiva and goddess Swastania.

South Africa heat

Afirefighter battles a blaze spreading rapidly through residential areas in the mountainous suburb of Simonstown in Cape Town, South Africa, on Jan. 11. Hundreds of residents were evacuated from their homes.

Up against the wall

A climber ascends an artificial wall of ice in the city of Liberec, Czech Republic, on Jan. 12.

Seen at the hearing

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine listens on Jan. 11 to testimony by Rex Tillerson, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil, before a Senate foreign relations committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be U.S. secretary of state.

Cub pack

Researchers holdpanda cubs during an event to celebrate China's Lunar New Year at a research base in Ya'an, Sichuan province, China, on Jan. 11.

Change in the weather

Members of the Household Cavalry wait for the changing of the guard, as snow falls on theirparade in London, on Jan. 13.

Battle cry in Mosul

AnIraqi special forces soldier screams during a battle against ISIS militants inMosul'sal-Rifaqneighbourhood on Jan. 8.

Cold and hunger

Migrants wait in line to receive a plate of free food during a snowfall outside a derelict customs warehouse in Belgrade, Serbia, on Jan.11.

Space heater

Vapourrises from the smokestacksof a heatingpower plant near a monument of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, with the temperatureabout 17 Cduring sunset in Moscow onJan.9.

Confidentially speaking

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump listens tovice-president-elect Mike Pence during a news conference in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York on Jan. 11.

This monkey means business

A Japanese macaque, also known as a snow monkey, bares its teethat the zoo inStuttgart, Germany, on Jan. 11.

Pursuit of the miraculous

Devotees join the annual procession with the religious icon of the Black Nazarene in Manila on Jan. 9. Barefoot men and women in search of miracles hurled themselves above huge crowds to touch a centuries-old icon of Jesus Christ as one of the world's largest Catholic festivals got underway.

Chopper roundup

A helicopter herds a wild horseinto a corralduring a U.S. Bureau of Land Management roundup outside Milford, Utah, on Jan.7.

Off-road warriors

Peugeot driver Sebastien Loeb of France and co-driver Daniel Elena of Monaco race during the eighth stage of the Dakar Rally between Uyuni, Bolivia and Salta, Argentina, on Jan. 10.

Top that

A fashion enthusiast poses for a portrait during London Fashion Week on Jan.8.

Totally cool

A worker puts the finishing touches on a snow sculpture at a park in Taebaek, about 270 kilometres southeast of Seoul, on Jan. 12before an annual festival.

Ziggy anniversary

A David Bowie fan poses in front of the mural of theBritish pop iconcreated by Australian street artist James Cochran, also known as Jimmy C, as fans paid their respects in Brixton, south London, on Jan.10,the first anniversary of Bowie's death.

Stone cold

A block of ice containing a drowned fox who broke through the thin ice of the Danube River four days earlier sits on the bank of the river in Fridingen, southern Germany, on Jan. 13.