Blackpool, Bath and a pig: photos of the week

Stephanie Lecoq/Reuters

Animal rights campaigners in France celebrated after a pet wild boar facing death threats was allowed to live with its owner. The pig, named Rilette, was found as a piglet in 2023 by Elodie Cappe on her horse-breeding farm in Chaures, central France. Local authorities had refused to grant Ms Cappe the necessary permission to keep a wild animal. A French court has now ruled that the decision should be re-examined.

Carl Court/PA Media

Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised to put Ukraine in its “strongest position” during a visit to Kiev, where he signed a “historic” 100-year deal with the war-torn country. She also visited a school in Kyiv to take part in a UK-Ukraine schools partnership programme, where pupils took part in a video-link with All Saints School in Anfield, Liverpool.

Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Outgoing US President Joe Biden warned about the dangers of an elite group seizing power as he delivered his farewell speech, ending a decade-long career in politics. He also used his final televised speech from the White House to issue a warning about climate change and disinformation on social media.

Idris Mohammed/AFP

Devout Hindus take the sacred bath during the religious festival of Kumbh Mela, also known as Maha Kumbh. Millions of people attend the six-week long event in the northern Indian city of Prayagraj – described as humanity’s largest gathering of people.

Owen Humphreys/PA Media

Staff member Jennifer Allinson cleans a chandelier in the Blackpool Tower ballroom. Every January, the Edwardian chandelier is carefully taken down and cleaned.

Igor Kovalenko/EPA/EFE

People are enjoying the snowy weather in Prokhladnoye village in Kyrgyzstan.

Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

American Danielle Collins thanked the fans who heckled her during her second-round win over Destinie Ayawa at the Australian Open. “My professional career isn’t going to last forever, so I remind myself every day that when I have things like this (the crowd’s negative reactions) they pay my bills,” said 10th-seeded Collins. Are doing.”

David Swanson/Reuters

Firefighters work to put out remaining embers and hot spots after the Palisades fire in Los Angeles. Thousands of homes have been destroyed during the LA fires, one of the costliest natural disasters in US history.