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

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

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 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

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

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

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

The National

More from The National:

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

Monday's best photos: From Lunar New Year preparations to turtle hatchings

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

Updated: January 31, 2024, 1:18 PM