• Choristers of St Paul's Cathedral choir in London during their preparations for Advent and Christmas services, where they will perform throughout December. Picture date: Monday December 23, 2024. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Lucy North/PA Wire
    Choristers of St Paul's Cathedral choir in London during their preparations for Advent and Christmas services, where they will perform throughout December. Picture date: Monday December 23, 2024. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Lucy North/PA Wire
  • Hindu priests perform morning prayers on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, India. AFP
    Hindu priests perform morning prayers on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, India. AFP
  • A building that fell off the wharf floats in the mouth of the San Lorenzo river in Santa Cruz, California. AP
    A building that fell off the wharf floats in the mouth of the San Lorenzo river in Santa Cruz, California. AP
  • Shopfronts illuminated by Christmas lighting in Leavenworth in the US state of Washington. AP
    Shopfronts illuminated by Christmas lighting in Leavenworth in the US state of Washington. AP
  • Fireworks explode over Sednaya Convent on the outskirts of Damascus. AP
    Fireworks explode over Sednaya Convent on the outskirts of Damascus. AP
  • People attend a tour of Bunker-703, a recently declassified nuclear-resistant bomb shelter built in 1961 in Moscow. AP
    People attend a tour of Bunker-703, a recently declassified nuclear-resistant bomb shelter built in 1961 in Moscow. AP
  • Emergency services attend a bushfire in the Grampians National Park in Australia's Victoria state. AFP
    Emergency services attend a bushfire in the Grampians National Park in Australia's Victoria state. AFP
  • A person dressed as Santa Claus jumps into the sea during the Copa Nadal (Christmas Cup) swimming race in Barcelona, Spain. Reuters
    A person dressed as Santa Claus jumps into the sea during the Copa Nadal (Christmas Cup) swimming race in Barcelona, Spain. Reuters
  • Firefighters attend the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau. AFP
    Firefighters attend the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau. AFP
  • Work in progress at the 37th Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Expo in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, north-eastern China. EPA
    Work in progress at the 37th Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Expo in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, north-eastern China. EPA
  • The Italian Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team performs before the first run of the Men's Giant Slalom race at the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup event in Alta Badia, Italy. EPA
    The Italian Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team performs before the first run of the Men's Giant Slalom race at the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup event in Alta Badia, Italy. EPA
  • A coastguard ship that was carried about five kilometres inland to the city centre of Banda Aceh during the Indian Ocean tsunami, Indonesia. Reuters
    A coastguard ship that was carried about five kilometres inland to the city centre of Banda Aceh during the Indian Ocean tsunami, Indonesia. Reuters
  • Thousands protest over the collapse of a train station roof that killed 15 people last month in Belgrade. AFP
    Thousands protest over the collapse of a train station roof that killed 15 people last month in Belgrade. AFP
  • An anti-terror policeman conducts a security check near a life-size cutout of Pope Francis at the Jakarta Cathedral on Christmas Eve in Jakarta. AFP
    An anti-terror policeman conducts a security check near a life-size cutout of Pope Francis at the Jakarta Cathedral on Christmas Eve in Jakarta. AFP
  • Parked trolley buses during heavy snowfall in Sarajevo, Bosnia. AP
    Parked trolley buses during heavy snowfall in Sarajevo, Bosnia. AP
  • Storm-damaged shelters and houses in the town of Vahibe, on the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, on Christmas Eve, a week after Cyclone Chido hit the archipelago. AFP
    Storm-damaged shelters and houses in the town of Vahibe, on the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, on Christmas Eve, a week after Cyclone Chido hit the archipelago. AFP
  • A surfer dressed as Santa Claus participates in the annual Surfing Santas event on Christmas Eve at Cocoa Beach, Florida. AFP
    A surfer dressed as Santa Claus participates in the annual Surfing Santas event on Christmas Eve at Cocoa Beach, Florida. AFP
  • Prayers at Christmas Mass in St Mary's Church in Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National
    Prayers at Christmas Mass in St Mary's Church in Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National
  • St Peter's Basilica during the Christmas Eve Mass in Vatican City. AFP
    St Peter's Basilica during the Christmas Eve Mass in Vatican City. AFP
  • Posters of the missing on a monument in Marjeh Square, Damascus, Syria. AFP
    Posters of the missing on a monument in Marjeh Square, Damascus, Syria. AFP
  • Christians hold candles on Christmas Eve at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta. AFP
    Christians hold candles on Christmas Eve at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta. AFP
  • Preparations under way for the International Hot-Air Balloon Festival in Pokhara, Nepal. AFP
    Preparations under way for the International Hot-Air Balloon Festival in Pokhara, Nepal. AFP
  • A butcher throws a cut of meat to a bidder during the traditional Christmas Eve meat auction at Smithfield Market in the City of London. AFP
    A butcher throws a cut of meat to a bidder during the traditional Christmas Eve meat auction at Smithfield Market in the City of London. AFP
  • A house with inflatable Christmas decorations in Havana, Cuba, draws admirers. AFP
    A house with inflatable Christmas decorations in Havana, Cuba, draws admirers. AFP
  • Muay Thai fighters during the Kibra Youth Initiative boxing exhibition at Kibera Fort Jesus grounds in Nairobi, Kenya. AFP
    Muay Thai fighters during the Kibra Youth Initiative boxing exhibition at Kibera Fort Jesus grounds in Nairobi, Kenya. AFP
  • Afghan workers on a break at a shop in Herat citadel, also known the Citadel of Alexander and locally known as Qala Iktyaruddin, in Herat, western Afghanistan. AFP
    Afghan workers on a break at a shop in Herat citadel, also known the Citadel of Alexander and locally known as Qala Iktyaruddin, in Herat, western Afghanistan. AFP
  • Christmas market at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. The National
    Christmas market at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. The National
  • Ballet dancers perform Swan Lake, by Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, at Donbass Opera in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine. AFP
    Ballet dancers perform Swan Lake, by Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, at Donbass Opera in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine. AFP
  • Flowers are laid outside Johannis Church near the Christmas Market in Magdeburg, Germany. AP
    Flowers are laid outside Johannis Church near the Christmas Market in Magdeburg, Germany. AP
  • Women throw flowers into the sea in remembrance of the 2004 tsunami victims, marking the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, in Chennai, India. AP
    Women throw flowers into the sea in remembrance of the 2004 tsunami victims, marking the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, in Chennai, India. AP

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Pictures of the week: From Christmas services to 2004 tsunami commemorations

Striking images from around the world

The National

December 27, 2024

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Updated: December 27, 2024, 6:01 PM
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