Best photos of May 16: Ships in the Strait of Hormuz to Doha International Book Fair

BANDAR ABBAS, IRAN - MAY 15: Boats are seen off the coast in the Persian Gulf on May 15, 2026 in Bandar Abbas, Iran. Since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran, forcing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, global shipping routes have been severely impacted with little progress being made in the negotiations between Iran and the United States. Soaring shipping costs, lengthening delivery times and less efficient routes have seen increased pressure on energy markets and supply chains worldwide. (Photo by Majid Saeedi / Getty Images)
Nasa's SpaceX CRS-34 mission to deliver supplies to the International Space Station lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, US. EPA
President Donald Trump on board Air Force One as he returns to the US from China. AFP
British actress Simone Ashley arrives for the screening of Karma at the Cannes Film Festival in southern France. AFP
Visitors at Art Dubai at Madinat Jumeirah. Antonie Robertson/The National
A Libyan horseman rides along a ridge overlooking the eastern city of Derna. AFP
A tourist boat sails under the oldest bridge in Paris as The Pont Neuf's Cave, by French photographer and street artist JR, is being installed. AFP
Children walk past a residential building flattened by an Israeli strike the previous day, in the Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza city. AFP
A visitor browses at the Doha International Book Fair in Qatar. AFP

The National picks the most striking images from around the world