Pictures of the week brings you the best images over the past seven days from around the world, chosen by our very own photo editors, Elliot Wagland and Tahira Mirza.
Pictures of the week
(01 of22)
(Back row left to right) Han Solo, Rey and C-3PO and (front row left to right) Yoda, Leia and Chewy and Padme are seven little kittens, four females and three males, who were brought into Wood Green The Animals Charity on Christmas Eve, staff have decided to name them after characters from the Star Wars films in the hope they can find new homes for them in the New Year, London. (credit:Matt Alexander/PA Wire)
(02 of22)
The sun rises over the lighthouse at Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear, as Storm Eva will batter Britain with rain and winds up to 70mph in the run-up to Christmas Day as people in Cumbria face the prospect of seeing their festivities ruined by flood waters. (credit:Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
(03 of22)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 20: Frank Lampard and Christine Bleakley arrive at The Arts Club, Dover Street for their wedding reception on December 20, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Alex B. Huckle/GC Images) (credit:Alex B. Huckle via Getty Images)
(04 of22)
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 20: Miss Colombia 2015, Ariadna Gutierrez (L), is crowned the new Miss Universe by Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega after host Steve Harvey mistakenly named Gutierrez the winner instead of first runner-up during the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant at The Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Miss Philippines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, (not pictured) was eventually named the winner. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (credit:Ethan Miller via Getty Images)
(05 of22)
SHENZHEN, CHINA - DECEMBER 21: (CHINA OUT) An aerial view of a landslide at Liuxi industrial park on December 21, 2015 in Shenzhen, China. The number of missing people was revised to 85 from 91 after a landslide hit an industrial park and buried 33 buildings in Shenzhen city on Sunday. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images) (credit:ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images)
(06 of22)
AMESBURY, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 22: Susie Ro Prater (C) leads the Shakti Sings choir as druids, pagans and revellers gather in the centre of Stonehenge, hoping to see the sun rise, as they take part in a winter solstice ceremony at the ancient neolithic monument of Stonehenge near Amesbury on December 22, 2015 in Wiltshire, England. Despite a forecast for rain, a large crowd gathered at the famous historic stone circle - a UNESCO listed ancient monument - to celebrate the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year - an event is claimed to be more important in the pagan calendar than the summer solstice, because it marks the 're-birth' of the Sun for the New Year. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) (credit:Matt Cardy via Getty Images)
(07 of22)
BERLIN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 22: Shoppers walk among Christmas lights at a shopping mall two days before Christmas Eve on December 22, 2015 in Berlin, Germany. Many shoppers are still looking for gifts two and retailers are hoping for a strong finale to the Christmas shopping season. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) (credit:Sean Gallup via Getty Images)
(08 of22)
SHENZHEN, CHINA - DECEMBER 22: (CHINA OUT) Rescuers search for survivors in the rubble of collapsed buildings on December 22, 2015 in Shenzhen, China. The number of missing people was revised to 76 from 91 after a landslide hit an industrial park and buried 33 buildings in Shenzhen city on Sunday. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images) (credit:ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images)
(09 of22)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 22: A man in Santa Claus attire skates with a young girl while holding an umbrella at the skating rink at Rockefeller Center on December 22, 2015 in New York City. Despite being only days away from Christmas, New York City and much of the Northeast is experiencing rainy and balmy weather. The forecast for Christmas in New York is for temperatures in the 60's. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (credit:Spencer Platt via Getty Images)
(10 of22)
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - DECEMBER 21: FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter attends a press conference as reaction to his banishment for eight years by the FIFA ethics committee at FIFA's former headquarters at Sonnenberg on December 21, 2015 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images) (credit:Philipp Schmidli via Getty Images)
(11 of22)
MARIUPOL, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 20: Members of ultra-nationalist paramilitary Ukrainian group Azov march to Lenin square in Mariupol to attend a ceremony to unveil a new monument on December 20, 2015 in Mariupol, Ukraine. The monument was dedicated to Ukrainian hero Svyatoslav and replaced a Lenin statue. Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images) (credit:Pierre Crom via Getty Images)
(12 of22)
MARIUPOL, UKRAINE - DECEMBER 20: Members of ultra-nationalist paramilitary Ukrainian group Azov march to Lenin square in Mariupol to attend a ceremony to unveil a new monument on December 20, 2015 in Mariupol, Ukraine. The monument was dedicated to Ukrainian hero Svyatoslav and replaced a Lenin statue. Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images) (credit:Pierre Crom via Getty Images)
(13 of22)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 20: Frank Lampard and Christine Bleakley kiss on the steps of the St. Paul's Church after their wedding on December 20, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Alex B. Huckle/GC Images) (credit:Alex B. Huckle via Getty Images)
(14 of22)
BOLOGNA, ITALY - DECEMBER 19: supporters of Bologna FC attend the Serie A match between Bologna FC and Empoli FC at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on December 19, 2015 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Mario Carlini / Iguana Press/Getty Images) (credit:Mario Carlini / Iguana Press via Getty Images)
(15 of22)
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 19: Jose Mourinho, former manager of Chelsea (R) watches on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Middlesbrough at The Amex Stadium on December 19, 2015 in Brighton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images) (credit:Jordan Mansfield via Getty Images)
(16 of22)
TOPSHOT - Indonesian search and rescue team members gather the dead body of a baby during an operation in the Sulawesi sea, near Kolaka city on December 24, 2015. The death toll from a ferry disaster in central Indonesia has climbed to 20, an official said on December 24, though nearly 60 people remain missing five days after the boat sank in rough seas. AFP PHOTO / AFP / STR (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:STR via Getty Images)
(17 of22)
TOPSHOT - An aerial view shows floodwaters affecting an area of Pampanga, suburban Manila on December 21, 2015. The death toll from two storms which battered the Philippines rose to 45 on December 20 as several towns remained under water and rain kept falling in northern regions, disaster monitoring officials said. AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS / AFP / NOEL CELIS (Photo credit should read NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:NOEL CELIS via Getty Images)
(18 of22)
Israeli Arab Christians dressed up as Santa Claus wait for the start of the annual Christmas parade in in the northern Israeli city of Nazareth, Israel, on Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(19 of22)
With the release of the 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens', pet-owning fans now have the opportunity to channel the Bark Side of the Force and dress their furry best friends as their favourite characters with the release of official Star Wars licensed costumes designed for dogs. Now Luke Dogwalker, Hound Solo, Chewbarker and Obi-Bone-Kenobi can battle the evil Empire, led by Bark Vader and Jaba the Mutt. Costumes.com.au co-founder Nathan Huppatz said this year's pet costume sales were up 73 per cent on last year, and Star Wars was the company’s top-selling range. (credit:David Caird / Newspix/REX Shutterstock)
(20 of22)
Aurora Borealis, Whitby, North Yorkshire, Britain - 20 Dec 2015Aurora Borealis over Whitby Harbour, North Yorkshire, Britain20 Dec 2015 (credit:Charlotte Graham/REX Shutterstock)
(21 of22)
It may not be her most attractive look but Zoe the giraffe doesn't care so long as she gets her treats! The hungry creature is seen showing off her impressive dark purple, 50cm long tongue as she eagerly accepts breakfast pellets being fed to her by tourists at the Lion Park in Johannesburg, South Africa. With their long legs and even longer neck, feeding a giraffe is no mean feat - necessitating a tall platform for visitors to stand upon. Zoe was rejected by mother Purdy at birth - a harsh affair that sees the newborn giraffe falling around 6ft onto the floor below. Despite her rough start in life Zoe seems no worse for wear and with a bat of her exceptionally long eyelashes (necessary to protect her against sand, ants and other irritants) she is able to get a host of tasty treats from willing visitors to the park. (credit:Michelly Rall/REX Shutterstock)
(22 of22)
BLACKPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 24: A girl runs from waves crashing over the promenade on December 24, 2015 in Blackpool, England. The Met Office is warning of 80mph winds and torrential downpours over the Christmas holidays, as dozens of flood alerts are issued for already devastated regions. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images) (credit:Nigel Roddis via Getty Images)