World in focus – best photos for February 11, 2017

Dead Pilot whales line the shore during a mass stranding at Farewell Spit. More than 400 whales were stranded on a New Zealand beach, with most of them dying quickly as frustrated volunteers desperately raced to save the survivors. Marty Melville / AFP

A surfer rides a wave at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Dean Lewins / EPA

An aerial shows a woman cleaning the village square after firecracker were set off as part of the “beat the Buddha” celebration in Yuxi village in China’s eastern Fujian province. Johannes Eisele / AFP

Australian athlete Morgan Mitchell starts in the Mixed 2000 sprint medley during the NITRO Athletics series session 3 at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. Tracey Nearmy / EPA

A Kashmiri Muslim feeds pigeons during shutdown in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir. Farooq Khan / EPA

People queue to cast their vote during the state assembly election, in the village of Kairana, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Cathal McNaughton / Reuters

Protesters pray during a rally against Jakarta incumbent governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama inside Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta. Beawiharta / Reuters

The mayor of Rochefort Herve Blanche, third from left, stands as people release balloons in memory to six children killed in a school minibus accident a year ago during a tribute ceremony in Rochefort, southwestern France. Xavier Leoty / AFP

Peter Prevc of Slovenia is airborne during the first jump of the large hill individual competition at the Ski Jumping World Cup in Sapporo, Japan. Kimimasa Mayama / EPA

A look at some of the best photos from around the world today.