• Members of the Up Helly Aa 'Jarl Squad' parade through the streets of in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 30, 2024 during the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 'guizers' (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
    Members of the Up Helly Aa 'Jarl Squad' parade through the streets of in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 30, 2024 during the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 'guizers' (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
  • US comedian and actor J B Smoove attends the season 12 premiere of Curb Your Enthusiasm in Los Angeles. EPA
    US comedian and actor J B Smoove attends the season 12 premiere of Curb Your Enthusiasm in Los Angeles. EPA
  • Firefighters battle a major blaze in the Makadara area of Kenya's capital Nairobi. AFP
    Firefighters battle a major blaze in the Makadara area of Kenya's capital Nairobi. AFP
  • A man holds a savannah monitor at La Casita del Avestruz petting zoo in Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters
    A man holds a savannah monitor at La Casita del Avestruz petting zoo in Caracas, Venezuela. Reuters
  • A drone shot shows ice floes drifting on the Wieprz river in Jeziorzany village, eastern Poland. EPA
    A drone shot shows ice floes drifting on the Wieprz river in Jeziorzany village, eastern Poland. EPA
  • The aftermath of a fire in the Asaichi Dori area of Wajima, in Japan's Ishikawa prefecture, following a 7.5 magnitude earthquake. AFP
    The aftermath of a fire in the Asaichi Dori area of Wajima, in Japan's Ishikawa prefecture, following a 7.5 magnitude earthquake. AFP
  • Taiwanese soldiers march during a drill in Taitung. EPA
    Taiwanese soldiers march during a drill in Taitung. EPA
  • Guests attend a state dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden. AFP
    Guests attend a state dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden. AFP
  • The NG-20 Cygnus spacecraft is launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, Florida, US. EPA
    The NG-20 Cygnus spacecraft is launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, Florida, US. EPA
  • Pope Francis meets students at a weekly general audience at the Vatican. Reuters
    Pope Francis meets students at a weekly general audience at the Vatican. Reuters
  • Commuters move along platforms at Churchgate railway station in Mumbai, India. AFP
    Commuters move along platforms at Churchgate railway station in Mumbai, India. AFP
  • Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar (centre) is sworn in as the 17th king of Malaysia at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur. Reuters
    Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar (centre) is sworn in as the 17th king of Malaysia at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur. Reuters

World

Today's best photos: From Up Helly Aa fire festival to the 17th King of Malaysia

The National picks the most striking images from around the world

The National

January 31, 2024

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More from The National:

Tuesday's best photos: From anniversary of Gandhi's death to French farmers' protest

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Sunday's best photos: From world's largest cruise ship to Venice's Carnival

Saturday's best photos: From Manhattan at night to Chinese New Year preparations

Friday's best photos: From Potomac fog to Lunar New Year preparations

Thursday's best photos: From a Lunar New Year performance to a CUTE exhibition

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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)

Updated: January 31, 2024, 1:30 PM
Photography