Today's best photos: From foggy morning in Iraq to Chhayanaut group perform in Bangladesh

The National picks the most striking images from around the world

An aerial view shows the Muhammad Baqir Al-Sadr bridge on a foggy morning in Iraq's southern city of Basra on December 17. AFP

Contestants perform on stage during the Miss France 2024 beauty pageant in Dijon. AFP

From left: Leaders of ASEAN-member nations. PhilippinePresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Laos's Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Prince Abdul Mateen, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Mamet, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, East Timor's Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao pose for a group photo. AFP

A boy herds his alpaca on Isla del Sol, in the municipality of Copacabana, Bolivia. EPA

This aerial view taken in Tbilisi shows the Bridge of Peace illuminated with the EU flag to mark Georgia's candidate status. AFP

Revellers perform during the Festival of Light in San Jose, Costa Rica. AFP

A surfer rides a wave at a popular tourism destination in Lhoknga Beach, Indonesia's Aceh province on December 17. AFP

Members of the Bangladesh cultural organisation 'Chhayanaut' perform at the Dhaka University playground during the 52nd Victory Day celebration in Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA

More from The National:

Saturday's best photos: From starlings flying over Somerset to abandoned trains in Bolivia

Friday's best photos: From ski jumping in Switzerland to virtual reality in Hungary

Thursday's best photos: From pyramids in Abu Dhabi to smog in Lahore

Wednesday's best photos: From the UN General Assembly to Cop28

Tuesday's best photos: From fog in Kashmir to Christmas lights in London

Monday's best photos: From fog in Kuwait City to a giant panda in the snow