24 hours in pictures

Tokyo, Japan: a woman looks at a shrunken head from an Ecuador's rainforest tribe at the Great Journey, The Odyssey of Humankind exhibition at National Museum of Nature and Science Photograph: Franck Robichon/EPA

Aleppo, Syria: A Free Syrian Army fighter throws a homemade smoke device to blind Syrian Army soldiers during fighting in Saif al-Dawla . Syrians marked the second anniversary of the uprising against Assad's regime on 15 March. Photograph: Maysun/EPA

Allahabad, India: Children play on a giant statue of Hindu god Lord Shiva. The Sangam is a holy bathing site during the Kumbh Mela, which runs from January till March, and takes place every 12 years in Allahabad Photograph: Sanjay Kanojia/AFP/Getty Images

Tirana, Albania: A man tries to ride his motorbike through a flooded road near the city of Shkoder. Photograph: Hektor Pustina/AP

Beijing, China: a policeman walks across a pile of fake medicines seized in recent months, which are to be destroyed. The rapid growth of online commerce has led to an explosion of counterfeit drugs sold around the world, with China the biggest source Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

London, England: A replica of Del Boy and Rodney Trotter's famous Peckham council flat from TV's Only Fools and Horses is to be given a modern-day facelift, during the Ideal Homes Show 2013 Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

Kabul, Afghanistan: Youths warm up before playing football on the grounds of the Olympic Stadium Photograph: Anja Niedringhaus/AP

Maryland, USA: President Barack Obama waves from Air Force One, upon arrival at Andrews air force base Photograph: Jose Luis Magana/AP

Washington, USA: Early morning joggers run next to the Reflecting Pool with the Washington Monument and US Capitol buildings reflected on the water Photograph: Gary Cameron/Reuters

Kolkata, India: Homeless children take shelter beside what remains of a shanty area after it caught fire. More than 500 shanties were gutted in the fire. No casualties have been reported Photograph: Bikas Das/AP

Prague, Czech Republic: A one-month-old baby Rotschild giraffe stands in front of her mother at the City's Zoo Photograph: Michal Cizek/AFP/Getty Images

Caracas, Venezuela: Pallbearers carry the coffin of late President Hugo Chávez after a funeral parade. Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans were on the streets at the parade for Chávez amid opposition protests that the government was exploiting his death for election purposes Photograph: Reuters

Vatican City, Italy: Pope Francis receives an audience at the Paul VI hall. 'Ah, how I would like a poor Church, for the poor,' Francis told the world's media, a traditional event for popes following their election Photograph: Valdrin Xhemaj/EPA

Sydney, Australia: A participant covered in mud displays his medal for finishing The Spartan Race at Razorback Ridge, Picton. The Spartan Race is a tough, competitive obstacle race series for amateurs. With more than 50 events across America, Canada, Europe and now Australia. Participants run, jump, crawl and climb over a selection of custom-built obstacles designed to test strength, balance and endurance Photograph: Mick Tsikas/EPA

Bucharest, Romania: An ethnic Magyar jumps with his horse during a parade on Hungary's National Day in Targu Secuiesc, Romania. Thousands of Magyar from the central Transylvanian region of Romania gather to mark the 1848 Hungarian Revolution. Photograph: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty Images