This week has seen satirical floats of Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin walk the annual Rose Monday carnival parade in Germany. Whilst the world has been treated to breath-taking view of The Milky Way from Sri Lanka's Ratnapura Mountain and a beautiful rainbow arch that formed over China's Hukou Waterfall. These are the best pictures from across the globe this past week...

A girl was photographed on the lap of a Hindu god Lord Shiva on the day of Maha Shivaratri in Mumbai. Maha Shivaratri, which means 'the Great Night of Lord Shiva', is an occasion where Hindu devotees stay awake and pray all-night to Lord Shiva.

The Jorvik Viking Festival returned to York, England. Rival Viking groups gathered for sword combat sessions, the best beard competition, skirmishes and a contest between four warring factions of Vikings.

A mind-blowing sighting of a rainbow arch forming over Hukou Waterfall in Linfen, Shanxi, Province of China, was witnessed on February 19.

The Milky Way lit up the night sky over Skri Lanka's Ratnapura Mountain. The mountain is 130 m in Altitude. Ratnapura is a traditional centre for the Sri Lankan gem trade and has a population of 165,998.

The Milwaukee Dancing Grannies took part in the Krewe of Thoth Carnival parade on February 19, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. After three members and the husband of a member of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies were tragically killed when a man drove an SUV into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin in November of 2021, the 610 Stompers marching band invited the Grannies to join them in the parade through the streets of New Orleans ahead of Mardi Gras.

Imperio Serrano troupe brought all the colour to the 2023 Carnival parade at Marquês de Sapucaí Sambodrome.

This was the moment a Sequoia National Forest firefighter used a drip torch during a pile burning near young giant sequoia trees in California. Wildfires have destroyed nearly 20 per cent of all giant sequoias in the past three years amid hazardous fuel (vegetation) buildup. The pile burning will help reduce wildfire risk.

The Los Angeles Endless Night Vampire Ball got underway at the Globe Theatre in Los Angeles. Here, three attendees channelled their inner devil.

Talking of rainbows, Sydney Opera House's sails were lit up in the Progress Pride flag to kick off Sydney WorldPride 2023.

Drones are being used for all kinds of things these days. And in Lixin County, Bozhou City, Anhui Province of China, unmanned flying robots are being used to spread pesticides over wheat.