Today's best photos: From prayers for rain to practice drills for riots

The National picks the most striking images from around the world

Muslims attend mass prayers for rain, at a dried ricefield in West Java, Indonesia. Reuters

Players from Mumbai Cricket Club taking part in a practice match at the Oval Maidan in Mumbai. Reuters

Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he arrives for the weekly general audience at St Peter's Square. AFP

The fossil of a new ancient alligator species, 'Alligator Munensis', at the Mineral Resources Department in Bangkok. EPA

Security officials patrol Tiananmen Square during the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. EPA

The World Clock on Alexanderplatz in Berlin after climate activists sprayed orange paint on the landmark in a call for a phase-out of fossil energies by 2030. EPA

Students gather at the Golden Temple for a special prayer in Amritsar. AFP

An Afghan farmer harvests corn in the Dand district of Kandahar. AFP

An Orthodox priest clears up glass and debris inside the Holy Intercession Cathedral. It was damaged in missile strikes from Russian forces. AFP

People dancing at a park in Shenyang, in China's Liaoning province. AFP

Palestinians, who fled their house amid Israeli strikes, shelter at a UN-run centre in Khan Younis. Reuters

Members of the "Unity Pact" participate in a council of social organisations, in El Alto, Bolivia. EPA

Israeli rescuers inspect the site of a damaged residential building after it was hit by a missile launched from the Gaza Strip, in Sderot. EPA

Indonesian police conduct a security drill in the event of a riot in Tanjung Pinang, ahead of the 2024 general election. AFP

More from The National:

Tuesday's best photos: From space flight attendants to ballet in Brazil

Monday's best photos: From pink grass to giant robots

Sunday's best photos: From a solar eclipse to a charity run

Saturday's best photos: From a wounded journalist to Australia referendum

Friday's best photos: From corralling cranberries to exercising inmates

Thursday's best photos: From Spain's Royal Guard to Italian firefighters