Today's best photos: From surfing at Bells Beach to training birds in Beijing

The National picks the most striking images from around the world

A surfer warms up at sunrise ahead of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach competition in Winkipop, Victoria, Australia. Getty Images

Belen, from Colombia, holds her five-year-old daughter Sofia as they stare into a fire in the dry riverbed of the Rio Grande where they are trying to enter the United States. Reuters

The Dali, a Singaporean-flagged cargo vessel, remains stuck under debris from the Francis Scott Key Bridge which collapsed after the ship hit one of its support pillars. AFP

Hooded penitents take part in the Holy Thursday procession in Calahorra, northern Spain. AP

Rocks at The Eye that Cries memorial display the names of victims of Peru's internal conflict (1980-2000). The mayor of Lima wants to demolish the memorial. EPA

People shop at an open-air market amid the destruction in Gaza city. AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the 344th Army Aviation Training Centre in Torzhok, in the Tver region. AFP

Residents in Kyiv view a memorial wall to Ukrainian soldiers who died in the continuing war with Russia. AFP

A wutong bird catches a bead in its beak in a traditional Chinese game that dates back to the Qing Dynasty, outside a stadium in Beijing. AP

More from The National:

Wednesday's best photos: From a rodeo in Uruguay to college basketball in Kansas City

Tuesday's best photos: From Isha prayers in Abu Dhabi to Easter preparations in Seville

Monday's best photos: From heightened security in Paris to a job fair in Berlin

Sunday's best photos: From Holi celebrations in India to Earth Hour in Athens

Saturday's best photos: from figure skating in Canada to iftar in Pakistan

Friday's best photos: From equinox celebrations in Mexico to F1 fans in Melbourne