Today's best photos: from wildfire in Argentina to camel racing in Sharjah


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Wildfire in Argentina

View of a huge fire behind the Route 40 in Paraje Villegas, Rio Negro province, 70 kilometres south of Bariloche in Argentina. Several fires have been active for weeks in the Argentine provinces of Neuquen, Rio Negro and Chubut, consuming thousands of hectares of native forest, according to the authorities.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

EPA
EPA

The Dean of St George's Cathedral Michael Weeder, left, and Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba stand near the coffin of late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu in St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town. The anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, a key figure in the dismantling of apartheid, died on December 26, aged 90. His body will lie in repose at St George's Cathedral until his full state funeral on January 1, 2022.

Construction of an Iraqi mudhif

AFP
AFP

An Iraqi craftsman works on the construction of a traditional guesthouse, a Mudhif, in front of the museum of the southern city of Basra. The Mudhif, a large ceremonial house for use by guests or as a gathering place for special occasions, is constructed from reeds, straw and other natural materials harvested from the marshes in southern Iraq.

Surfing in Brazil

AP Photo
AP Photo

A man surfs at Maresias beach, in Sao Sebastiao, Brazil. The area's waves went virtually unridden until construction in the 1970s of a coastal road.

Christmas tree on Skanderbeg Square

AFP
AFP

Aerial view of Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, illuminated with Christmas decorations and surrounded by an open Christmas market.

Camel racing in Sharjah

AFP
AFP

Camels line up for a race during the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Camel Festival for Purebred Arabian Camels in the Gulf emirate of Sharjah.

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi

“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”

Updated: December 30, 2021, 3:24 PM