Best photos from December 21: Hot air balloon festival in Qatar to ice skating in Japan

A man sets up a Christmas tree amid the rubble of the Melkite Church, which was hit by an Israeli air strike on October 9, in the southern Lebanese village of Derdghaya. AFP
Hot air balloons rise during the Qatar Hot Air Balloon Festival. AFP
Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Dmitry Orlov, number 7, and Washington Capitals right wing Brandon Duhaime battle for the puck in the third period at the Capital One Arena, Washington. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Palestinian women and girls struggle to reach for food at a distribution centre in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip. AP
Yuna Nagaoka and Sumitada Moriguchi compete in the Pair Short Programme during day two of the 93rd All Japan Figure Skating Championships in Kadoma, Osaka. Getty Images
A police officer guards a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, following a car-ramming attack at another market in the city, that killed four people. AP Photo
Bayern Munich's German forward Leroy Sane plays the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig in Munich. AFP
People celebrate at the Savage Santa Holiday Bash at East Yancey Middle School, North Carolina. AFP
The world's largest Young-hee doll, aka 'Gokova', the iconic doll from Netflix's South Korean series 'Squid Game', is seen on a barge on the Chao Prayer River during the 'Squid Game' season 2 promotional event in Bangkok. EPA

The National

December 21, 2024

The National picks the most striking images from around the world