World in focus - best photos for December 22, 2020

Take a look at some of the best images from around the world in the past 24 hours

In this photo provided by the National Park Service, people watch an eruption from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano on Big Island. AP Photo

A diver dressed as Santa is surrounded by fish at Sea Life aquarium in Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters

People watch a Long March-8 rocket lifting off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China's Hainan province. AFP

Men play basketball at a court in Havana, Cuba. AP Photo

Groups of people gather near a Christmas tree on the beach as they watch the celestial phenomenon of the planets Jupiter and Saturn aligning so closely that they almost appear as one single "star" — known as a planetary conjunction — in the sky at Cardiff State Beach in California, US. Reuters

Far-right protesters break the door of the Capitol building during a protest against restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Salem, Oregon, US. Reuters

A shopping centre in downtown Frankfurt, Germany, is almost deserted because of the lockdown. Most of the shops are closed during this normally very busy week. AP Photo

People watch a performer during a pole-dancing competition amid temperatures of -30°C in Mohe, in north-eastern China's Henglongjiang province. AFP

Fireworks are launched from the fishing vessel Nordic Lady during the Ketchikan Christmas Boat Parade in Ketchikan, Alaska. AP Photo

People wearing face masks dance in front of St. Joseph's Church in Beijing. AFP

Christmas shoppers roam commercial street in the San Victorino neighbourhood of Bogota, Colombia. AFP

More galleries from The National:

Dubai Ruler and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi tour Al Marmoom Conservation Reserve

Inside Sharjah's spectacular new Khor Fakkan amphitheatre

Solar system’s two largest planets come together to form ‘Christmas Star’ in UAE skies