As the end of the year approaches, here is a look back at some of the major news events and moments of 2023. Hamas militants launched a surprise attack in southern Israel, followed by thousands of Israeli air strikes in Gaza; a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon was shot down over the U.S.; extreme weather events affected people around the world; a devastating earthquake struck parts of Turkey and Syria; and much more. Here, we present the top 25 news photos of 2023. Be sure to check back throughout the week for more comprehensive stories, presented as “2023: The Year in Photos, Parts 1–3.”