Today's best photos: from Rio Carnival fever to cherry trees in Japan

The National picks the most striking images from around the world

A reveller from Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school performs during the second night of the carnival parade at the Sambadrome, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil February 21, 2023. REUTERS / Ricardo Moraes TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

The annual Carnival de Binche, one of Europe's oldest street festivals, gets under way in the town of Binche in Belgium. EPA

This long exposure photo captures street lights in Frankfurt, Germany. AP

More than 1,000 Michigan State University students protest at the Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, one week after a gunman killed three students and injured five others. AP

People lay flowers at the Bangladesh Central Language Martyrs' Memorial in Dhaka, in homage to students that were killed during the Bengali language movement demonstrations of 1952. AFP

Tourists watch the sunrise on Xianggong Mountain, on the west bank of Li River in Yangshuo city, in southern China's Guangxi province. AFP

Supporters of the All Progressive Congress gather inside the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos ahead of the Nigerian presidential election scheduled for February 25. AFP

Hatmaker Youssef Akiki inspects some of his traditional 'Labbadeh' hats at his workshop in the mountain town of Hrajel in Lebanon. AFP

Ragpickers scout for re-usable materials at Pirana landfill on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India. AFP

An actress prepares herself before performing in a Chinese Opera during the celebrations of God Tou Tei in Macau, China. AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen on a screen during his annual address to the Federal Assembly in Sevastopol, Crimea. Reuters

Dressed revellers wait for the traditional carnival parade in Duesseldorf, Germany - the higlight of the country's carnival season. AP

US President Joe Biden took a nearly 10-hour train ride from Poland into Kyiv to visit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. AFP

A local resident carries her belongings as she leaves her home in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine. AP

Carnival revellers take the metro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AFP

A woman walks her dog under Kawazu-zakura cherry trees in bloom in Kawazu, Japan. Getty Images

The National

More from The National:

Monday's best photos: from the 'Battle of the Oranges' to 'straw men' in Switzerland

Sunday's best photos: from a celebratory high-dive to a concert in a reservoir

Saturday's best photos: from London Fashion Week to Sao Paulo carnival

Friday's best photos: from the 65th Vienna Opera Ball to a rubber glove factory

Thursday's best photos: from burning coca plants to protests in Beirut

Wednesday's best photos: from the Taj Mahal to a sink hole in Poland

Updated: February 21, 2023, 5:17 PM