Today's best photos: From tourists in Sri Lanka to a Cat Extravaganza in London

The National picks the most striking images from around the world

Foreign tourists visit the ancient rock fortress in Sigiriya on February 18, 2024. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP)

A hot air balloon drifts above the Mont Blanc mountain range in the French Alps. AFP

A lorry driver makes tea at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Victor Besa / The National

A man sits on a weighing scale to buy unrefined sugar equal to his weight to worship tribal Hindu deities ahead of the Medaram Jatara festival, in Hyderabad, India. AFP

People practice tai chi in front of buildings in Pudong's Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai, China. Bloomberg

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki, right, attends a hearing at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the Netherlands, on the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. EPA

Top, Ukrainian soldiers carry the coffin of a colleague killed during Russia's invasion, at Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv, in May 2022. Below, the graves of Ukrainian soldiers at the cemetery on February 8, 2024. AFP

Plum blossoms in Nanjing, in China's eastern Jiangsu province. AFP

A board informs visitors that the Eiffel Tower is closed after staff went on strike to protest against authorities' financial management of the monument. AFP

A Palestinian man clears rubble along a street following Israeli military operation in Al Nusairat refugee camp, Gaza Strip. EPA

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley during a town hall meeting in Columbia ahead of her party's South Carolina primary on February 24. AFP

Britain's Prince William meets EE Rising Star Award nominees after the Bafta Film Awards at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Reuters

A farmer competes in a traditional bull race in Swabi, Pakistan. AFP

Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner celebrates with the Rotterdam Open trophy after winning the final against Australia's Alex de Minaur. Reuters

An injured Palestinian man outside his tent in Rafah camp, southern Gaza Strip. EPA

A Scottish Fold cat is held up by a judge at the Cat Extravaganza event at Olympia in London. AP

More from The National:

Sunday's best photos: From Bengal tiger cub in Spain to mourners at funeral in Lebanon

Saturday's best photos: From a French Lemon Festival to a Taipei Lantern Festival

Friday's best photos: From Prince Harry sledding to Dune: Part Two premiere

Thursday's best photos: From Biathlon World Championships to the Berlinale Film Festival

Wednesday's best photos: From snow-covered New York to Valentine's Day in Taiwan

Tuesday's best photos: From rapping grannies to Valentine's Day roses