Best photos of December 23: Simbang Gabi Mass in Dubai to US military buildup in Puerto Rico

Filipinos attend Simbang Gabimasses at St Mary's Catholic Church as series of devotional masses in anticipation of Christmas nears end. Antonie Robertson/The National
Spectators watch a match at the Buzkashi league in Kabul, Afghanistan. Buzkashi is a traditional sport in which horse-mounted players attempt to place a goat or calf carcass in a goal. EPA
A petrol bomb explodes behind Albanian Police as they face demonstrators in front of the Prime Minister Edi Rama's office during an anti-government protest in Tirana. AFP
Passengers enter a railway station in dense smog on a winter morning in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh state. AFP
Guests at an annual Christmas dinner party for needy and homeless organised by German singer and actor Frank Zander at the Hotel Estrel in Berlin, Germany. EPA
A child carries a block to help municipal workers repair a damaged road at Nuseirat camp for displaced Palestinians in the central Gaza Strip. AFP
A revellers dressed in a Labubu costume under Christmas lights in Zocalo Square as part of seasonal celebrations in Mexico City. Reuters
Two US Navy EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft prepare for take-off at Roosevelt Roads naval base in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. The station was recently reactivated for duty as Washington puts pressure on the government of oil producer Venezuela. Reuters

The National

December 23, 2025

The National picks the most striking images from around the world