People work at the construction site of the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The 23rd Harbin Ice-Snow World will open to the public on Saturday. Xinhua/Shutterstock
Our picture editors bring you all the breaking news in pictures from around the world on Thursday the 23rd of December.
Who needs Reindeer? Motorcyclists dressed as Father Christmas driving along Oxford Street, London. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Issa Kassissieh, dressed as Santa Claus tour with a camel ahead of the upcoming Christmas holiday, in Jerusalem’s Old City. AP Photo/Oded Balilty
The Joint Committee on Countermeasures against the torture case of foreign shelters, which is jointly organized by 66 civil society organizations hold a press conference in front of Cheong Wa Dae. Sanghwan Jung/Shutterstock
Tele communication buildings are seen on top of the Feldberg mountain while fog lies over the city of Frankfurt, Germany. PA/Michael Probst
Port staff members and guests attend a celebration ceremony at the Qianwan Container Terminal in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province. Xinhua/Shutterstock
Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester as the government refused to rule out introducing further restrictions to slow the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. Joe Giddens/PA Wire
A volunteer delivers breakfast to homeless people in their rooms at a hotel in central London. For two weeks this Christmas, Crisis has booked out several hotels in London for people who would otherwise be rough sleeping. Guests will be provided with their own bed and bathroom, hot meals and support to help end their homelessness for good. This Christmas marks the 50th anniversary of Crisis at Christmas. Kirsty O’Connor/PA Wire
Mount Merapi was seen emitting hot clouds of avalanches to the southwest seen in Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. At least three hot clouds occurred that descended its slopes and reached 2500 meters. Slamet Riyadi/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
