Beshara: The most captivating pictures of the week

  • Men work on ice sculptures during the 37th Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo in Harbin, in China's northeastern Heilongjiang province. AFP
    Men work on ice sculptures during the 37th Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Expo in Harbin, in China's northeastern Heilongjiang province. AFP
  • Zane Castello, 6, whispers his Christmas wish to Santa Claus at the Greater Johnstown Community YMCA in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. AP
    Zane Castello, 6, whispers his Christmas wish to Santa Claus at the Greater Johnstown Community YMCA in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. AP
  • A train runs in the snow near Normafa station in Budapest, Hungary. EPA
    A train runs in the snow near Normafa station in Budapest, Hungary. EPA
  • Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican. AFP
    Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican. AFP
  • Choristers light candles during a rehearsal for Christmas services at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Reuters
    Choristers light candles during a rehearsal for Christmas services at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Reuters
  • People dressed as Santa Claus row during a Christmas regatta along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. Reuters
    People dressed as Santa Claus row during a Christmas regatta along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. Reuters
  • The winter solstice setting sun creates a lens flare circle at Mount Sinai Harbor in Mount Sinai, New York. Reuters
    The winter solstice setting sun creates a lens flare circle at Mount Sinai Harbor in Mount Sinai, New York. Reuters
  • Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is escorted into a hall by monks at his Himalayan residence in Dharamshala, India. Reuters
    Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is escorted into a hall by monks at his Himalayan residence in Dharamshala, India. Reuters
  • A rose-ringed parakeet eats while perching at a home garden in Colombo, Sri Lanka. EPA
    A rose-ringed parakeet eats while perching at a home garden in Colombo, Sri Lanka. EPA
  • Children on a ride at Liwa Village, Al Dhafra Region, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Children on a ride at Liwa Village, Al Dhafra Region, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Christmas decoration outside the Springs neighbourhoud in Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National
    Christmas decoration outside the Springs neighbourhoud in Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National
  • A seller fills an order at his stall selling a traditional fava bean dish on a street in Damascus. AFP
    A seller fills an order at his stall selling a traditional fava bean dish on a street in Damascus. AFP
  • Tourists at the Bramante Staircase at the Vatican Museums. AP
    Tourists at the Bramante Staircase at the Vatican Museums. AP
  • People outside the town hall in Athens release sky lanterns during 'The Night of the Wishes' event on Christmas Eve. EPA
    People outside the town hall in Athens release sky lanterns during 'The Night of the Wishes' event on Christmas Eve. EPA
  • Tourists participate in a surfing course at Playa Bonita in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic. EPA
    Tourists participate in a surfing course at Playa Bonita in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic. EPA
  • US president-elect Donald Trump attends Turning Point USA's AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona. Reuters
    US president-elect Donald Trump attends Turning Point USA's AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona. Reuters
  • A seller sells sparkling balloons outside a crowded, popular shopping mall decorated for the Christmas festive season in Kuala Lumpur. AP
    A seller sells sparkling balloons outside a crowded, popular shopping mall decorated for the Christmas festive season in Kuala Lumpur. AP
  • A woman takes a tour of Bunker-703, a recently declassified nuclear-resistant bomb shelter built in 1961, in Moscow, Russia. AP
    A woman takes a tour of Bunker-703, a recently declassified nuclear-resistant bomb shelter built in 1961, in Moscow, Russia. AP
  • A squirrel eats nuts in a garden in a residential area in Frankfurt, Germany. AP
    A squirrel eats nuts in a garden in a residential area in Frankfurt, Germany. AP
  • Visitors celebrate the Winter Solstice at Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. Getty Images
    Visitors celebrate the Winter Solstice at Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. Getty Images