Aurorae category runner-up: Lone Tree under a Scandinavian Aurora by Tom Archer (UK). The photographer decided to explore the area around the hotel on a very crisp -35C evening in Finnish Lapland. When he found this tree, he decided to wait for the misty conditions to change and could not believe his luck when the sky cleared and the aurora came out in the perfect spot. Archer spent about an hour photographing it before his camera started to lock up because of the harsh conditions, but by then he was happy to call it a night. (Photo by Tom Archer/2020 Astronomy Photographer of the Year)

Revellers kiss under a rainbow flag during the Gay Pride parade along Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 3, 2018. (Photo by Nacho Doce/Reuters)

Guinness World Records declared Afshin Ghaderzadeh 20 years old as world’s shortest man with the height of 65.24 cm in Dubai on December 15, 2022. The Iranian citizen takes the title from previous record-holder Edward Hernandez, from Colombia, who stands at 72cm tall. (Photo by Pawan Singh/The National)

A pro-government supporter scuffles with an anti-extradition supporter outside the office of pro-China lawmaker Junius Ho in Tsuen Wan in Hong Kong, China on July 22, 2019. Hong Kong demonstrators gathered for another weekend of protests against the controversial extradition bill and with a growing list of grievances, maintaining pressure on Chief Executive Carrie Lam. (Photo by Edgar Su/Reuters)

Waiters pose at their terrace of their restaurant rue de Buci in Paris on June 2, 2020, as cafes and restaurants reopen in France, while the country eases lockdown measures taken to curb the spread of the COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus). (Photo by Martin Bureau/AFP Photo)

A mahout carrying leaves rides an elephant along a street in Amritsar on February 27, 2024. (Photo by Narinder Nanu/AFP Photo)

Visitors are seen with giraffes on a bus at Safari Park in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand, January 19, 2020. Kanchanaburi in western Thailand an area known for its waterfalls and caves. (Photo by Rachen Sageamsak/Xinhua News Agency/Eyevine)

Unidentified people beat Svyatoslav Sheremet (L, bottom), head of Gay-Forum of Ukraine public organization, in Kiev, May 20, 2012. Sheremet was attacked after meeting with members of the media to inform them that a scheduled gay parade was cancelled. The attackers ran off when they realised members of the media were documenting the attack. (Photo by Anatolii Stepanov/Reuters)