TOPSHOT - This photo taken on December 10, 2023 shows female members of the Mandalay People’s Defense Forces (MDY-PDF) heading to the frontline amid clashes with the Myanmar military in northern Shan State. In the hills of northern Myanmar young women fly combat drones, treat wounded comrades and patrol the frontlines, new roles in the battle to overthrow the military junta. (Photo by AFP) / To go with 'MYANMAR-COUP-CONFLICT-WOMEN,FOCUS'
TOPSHOT - This photo taken on December 10, 2023 shows female members of the Mandalay People’s Defense Forces (MDY-PDF) heading to the frontline amid clashes with the Myanmar military in northern Shan State. In the hills of northern Myanmar young women fly combat drones, treat wounded comrades and patrol the frontlines, new roles in the battle to overthrow the military junta. (Photo by AFP) / To go with 'MYANMAR-COUP-CONFLICT-WOMEN,FOCUS'
Supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Anies Baswedan clamour to take photos of him at his campaign rally in Serang. AFP
Supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Anies Baswedan clamour to take photos of him at his campaign rally in Serang. AFP
A clown takes part in the annual pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Guadalupe basilica, in Mexico City, to ask for work and good health. AFP
A clown takes part in the annual pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Guadalupe basilica, in Mexico City, to ask for work and good health. AFP
An Afghan boy carrying empty plastic containers walks along a street in Kabul. AFP
An Afghan boy carrying empty plastic containers walks along a street in Kabul. AFP
Palestinians line up to receive a meal in Rafah, in the Gaza Strip. International aid agencies say Gaza is suffering from shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies. AP
Palestinians line up to receive a meal in Rafah, in the Gaza Strip. International aid agencies say Gaza is suffering from shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies. AP
Visitors view an installation at an interactive Christmas exhibition, The Star Is Rising, at the central railway station in Kyiv, Ukraine. The show brings together regional and foreign festive traditions. EPA
Visitors view an installation at an interactive Christmas exhibition, The Star Is Rising, at the central railway station in Kyiv, Ukraine. The show brings together regional and foreign festive traditions. EPA
People visit the 25th Harbin Ice and Snow World in Harbin, in China’s northern Heilongjiang province. AFP
People visit the 25th Harbin Ice and Snow World in Harbin, in China’s northern Heilongjiang province. AFP
People work at an aid distribution centre for earthquake victims in Jishishan county, in China's north-western Gansu province. AFP
People work at an aid distribution centre for earthquake victims in Jishishan county, in China's north-western Gansu province. AFP
Hindu devotees gather as they listen to a spiritual speaker at an ashram on a cold winter morning in Mathura, India. AFP
Hindu devotees gather as they listen to a spiritual speaker at an ashram on a cold winter morning in Mathura, India. AFP
Medical staff helping Injured Palestinians and cancer patients from Gaza to board the UAE Etihad aircraft at Al Arish airport in Egypt. Pawan Singh / The National
Medical staff helping Injured Palestinians and cancer patients from Gaza to board the UAE Etihad aircraft at Al Arish airport in Egypt. Pawan Singh / The National
Nathan Lyon of Australia fields off his own bowling during Day 3 of the first Test match between Australia and Pakistan at Optus Stadium in Perth. EPA
Nathan Lyon of Australia fields off his own bowling during Day 3 of the first Test match between Australia and Pakistan at Optus Stadium in Perth. EPA
Canoeists paddle through flooded fields near Langport, in Somerset, England. Reuters
Canoeists paddle through flooded fields near Langport, in Somerset, England. Reuters
Tourists clamber on top of an abandoned locomotive in the 'train graveyard' on the outskirts of Uyuni, south-west Bolivia. AP Photo
Tourists clamber on top of an abandoned locomotive in the 'train graveyard' on the outskirts of Uyuni, south-west Bolivia. AP Photo
The Villarrica volcano lights up the night sky, seen from Pucon in central Chile. Reuters
The Villarrica volcano lights up the night sky, seen from Pucon in central Chile. Reuters
Revellers perform during the Festival of Light in San Jose, Costa Rica. AFP
Revellers perform during the Festival of Light in San Jose, Costa Rica. AFP
This aerial view taken in Tbilisi shows the Bridge of Peace illuminated with the EU flag to mark Georgia's candidate status. AFP
This aerial view taken in Tbilisi shows the Bridge of Peace illuminated with the EU flag to mark Georgia's candidate status. AFP
Members of the Bangladesh cultural organisation 'Chhayanaut' perform at the Dhaka University playground during the 52nd Victory Day celebration in Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA
Members of the Bangladesh cultural organisation 'Chhayanaut' perform at the Dhaka University playground during the 52nd Victory Day celebration in Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA
Israeli soldiers walk through a Hamas tunnel close to Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. Reuters
Israeli soldiers walk through a Hamas tunnel close to Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. Reuters
Siberian tigers chase a chicken released into their enclosure at the Siberian Tiger Park in Hailin, in China's north-eastern province of Heilongjiang. AFP
Siberian tigers chase a chicken released into their enclosure at the Siberian Tiger Park in Hailin, in China's north-eastern province of Heilongjiang. AFP
Muslim bride Aysel Gerova, 24, has makeup applied at her wedding ceremony in the village of Ribnovo, in the Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria. Reuters
Muslim bride Aysel Gerova, 24, has makeup applied at her wedding ceremony in the village of Ribnovo, in the Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria. Reuters
Palestinian paramedics inspect damage in the patient rooms caused by the Israeli strikes on the maternity ward at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. AP
Palestinian paramedics inspect damage in the patient rooms caused by the Israeli strikes on the maternity ward at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. AP
Worshippers at the door of the Kaaba during their Umrah, at the Grand Mosque in the holy Saudi city of Makkah. Reuters
Worshippers at the door of the Kaaba during their Umrah, at the Grand Mosque in the holy Saudi city of Makkah. Reuters
A burnt out railway carriage allegedly set on fire by opposition activists, in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. At least four people were killed in the blaze. AFP
A burnt out railway carriage allegedly set on fire by opposition activists, in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. At least four people were killed in the blaze. AFP
A supporter of Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and leader of the Union of Democracy and Social Progress party, at a campaign rally at Sainte Therese, in the Ndjili district of Kinshasa. AFP
A supporter of Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and leader of the Union of Democracy and Social Progress party, at a campaign rally at Sainte Therese, in the Ndjili district of Kinshasa. AFP
A volcano spews lava and smoke as it erupts in Grindavik, Iceland. Reuters
A volcano spews lava and smoke as it erupts in Grindavik, Iceland. Reuters
Santa Claus is coming to town ... or at least to visit children at Germans Trias Hospital in Barcelona. He arrived using a zipline. EPA
Santa Claus is coming to town ... or at least to visit children at Germans Trias Hospital in Barcelona. He arrived using a zipline. EPA
Kuwait's new emir Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmed Al Jaber gestures during an oath-taking ceremony in Kuwait City. He is taking over following the death of Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, who passed away on December 16 aged 86. EPA
Kuwait's new emir Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmed Al Jaber gestures during an oath-taking ceremony in Kuwait City. He is taking over following the death of Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, who passed away on December 16 aged 86. EPA
Choristers take part in a rehearsal for their upcoming Christmas performances, at St Paul's Cathedral in central London. AFP
Choristers take part in a rehearsal for their upcoming Christmas performances, at St Paul's Cathedral in central London. AFP
A collapsed house in Dahejia, Jishishan County, in north-western China's Gansu province, flattened by the area's biggest earthquake in years. AFP
A collapsed house in Dahejia, Jishishan County, in north-western China's Gansu province, flattened by the area's biggest earthquake in years. AFP
An aerial view shows the Muhammad Baqir Al-Sadr bridge on a foggy morning in Iraq's southern city of Basra on December 17. AFP
An aerial view shows the Muhammad Baqir Al-Sadr bridge on a foggy morning in Iraq's southern city of Basra on December 17. AFP

Weekend

The best photos of the week: From female fighters in Myanmar to fog over Basra

Striking pictures from around the world

The National

December 22, 2023

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Updated: December 22, 2023, 6:01 PM
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