The best photos of the week, from a Qatari falcon to French guinea fowl

Striking pictures from around the world

A demonstration of falconry in Doha, Qatar. Reuters

The Maraya, a mirrored building in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Bloomberg

A golf course next to undeveloped land near Palm Desert, California, an area badly affected by drought. AFP

Protests backing the ousted and detained former president Pedro Castillo confront police near Lima, Peru. EPA

The last full moon of the year, known as the Cold Moon, rises behind Galata Tower in Istanbul. AP

Tourists visit the Presidential Palace, Qasr Al Watan, in Abu Dhabi. Antonie Robertson/The National

Workers queue to weigh and deposit their day's tally of leaves at a tea garden at Rangapara in Assam, India. AFP

Makeshift tents at Limaan camp in Mogadishu, which houses people internally displaced by severe drought in Somalia. AFP

Activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals channel the Christmas spirit for a protest outside a KFC branch in Tokyo, urging to chain to offer vegan options. EPA

The Marriott Marquis hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, offers a striking example of brutalist architectural, characterised by exposed concrete and visibility of structure. EPA

Firefighters stand on heaps of fruit while working inside burnt market stalls in Donetsk, hit by shelling in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict. Reuters

Emiratis from 120 tribes gather for the Union Parade at Al Wathba Zayed Festival. Antonie Robertson/The National

A close-up of British-US artist Anthony James's installation titled 90 degree Triacontahedron, on display in Berkeley Square Gardens in London. EPA

Recyclers cling to a waste lorry in Lujan, the largest open-air dump in Argentina. AFP

Mourners observe three minutes of silence as they pay their respects to former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, who died on November 30, outside his home in Yangzhou. AFP

The aftermath of the eruption of Indonesia's Mount Semeru on December 4. Nearly 2,000 people were evacuated. AFP

Post Malone performing in front of a large crowd at Etihad Park, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Ruel Pableo for The National

People dressed as Santa Claus at a car park during the 'Papa Noel' rally in Turin, Italy, to raise funds for a paediatric healthcare facility. AFP

About 500 children from the Kibera slum watch The Nutcracker, performed by Dance Centre Kenya, at the National Theatre in Nairobi. AFP

Migrant workers watch on a big projection screen the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Argentina and Australia in the Asian Town Cricket Stadium in Doha, Qatar. AP Photo

Fireworks are set off as Palestinians light a Christmas tree at Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters

A street musician plays during snowfall as power outages continue in Kyiv, Ukraine. Reuters

A football fan holds a replica World Cup trophy in front of a banner of former Brazil player Pele inside the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. Reuters

People gather to observe the eruption of the Mauna Loa Volcano in Hawaii. Reuters

A freight train passes over parked rail cars in Janesville, Wisconsin, USA. EPA

Sofia Goggia of Italy flies down the course on her way to winning the women's FIS World Cup downhill ski race in Lake Louise, Alberta. AP

Winds and high waves lash the rocks of a breakwater in Chennai, India. Southern Tamil Nadu state is bracing for heavy rain as cyclone Mandous is set to cross near the Chennai coast overnight on Friday. AP

A woman walks past an artificial light show, mimicking the northern lights, or aurora borealis, in Shah Alam, Malaysia. The display is part of Christmas festivities at a theme park. Reuters

South Korea's An Se Young in action against China's Chen Yu Fei during a women's singles match at the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand. EPA

Guineafowl near their poultry house in Les Herbiers, France, as about 10 million birds have been culled in France in one of the most widespread outbreaks of bird flu in years. AFP

More from The National

Friday's best photos: from Cyclone Mandous to Qatari camels

Thursday's best photos: from a mirrored building in AlUla to vegan Santas

Wednesday's best photos: from the last 747 to Santa in Jerusalem

Tuesday's best photos: from a Pele tribute to Chinese mourners paying their respects

Monday's best photos: from a roller skate marathon to paddle boards on the Seine

Sunday's best photos: from an erupting volcano to a golf championship win