24 hours in pictures

Shaanxi province, China: an apple farmer smokes in his home on top of a mountain in Yichuan county Photograph: How Hwee Young/EPA

Beijing, China: members of the People's Liberation Army march on Tiananmen Square on the eve of the Communist party of China's congress Photograph: Diego Azubel/EPA

Buenos Aires, Argentina: a contestant rests before going on stage during the final round of the Miss Argentina contest Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Rome, Italy: Pope Benedict XVI arrives to lead his audience in St Peter's Square in the Vatican Photograph: Tony Gentile/Reuters

Chicago, Illinois: supporters of Barack Obama wave US flags as they watch live results on television at McCormick Place Photograph: Tannen Maury/EPA

Islamabad, Pakistan: locals work at a fruit and vegetable market on the outskirts of the city Photograph: Anjum Naveed/AP

Singapore: an honour guard waits for the arrival of Luxembourg's prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, at the presidential palace Photograph: Wong Maye-E/AP

Bangkok, Thailand: the royal barge Suphannahong oarsmen take part in a dress rehearsal for the royal barge procession on the Chao Phraya river Photograph: Jack Kurtz/ZUMA Press/Corbis

Moscow, Russia: Russian soldiers in historical uniforms take part in the military parade in Red Square. The parade marked the 71st anniversary of the 1941 parade, when Soviet soldiers marched through Red Square to the front lines of the second world war Photograph: Maxim Shipenkov/EPA

Ohio, US: a voter is reflected in the window of a chapel as he stands at an electronic voting machine Photograph: T.J. Kirkpatrick/Corbis

Phnom Penh, Cambodia: a resident from the squatter area in Boeung Kak pleads with officers during a protest. Locals protested for the release of two of their members, who were arrested by authorities in separate incidents Photograph: Mak Remissa/EPA

Gaza, Palestine: a wedding ceremony takes place in the Shati refugee camp Photograph: Wissam Nassar/Corbis

San Juan, Puerto Rico: voters wait in line to elect a governor. Puerto Ricans do not get a vote in the US presidential election, but they are also voting in a referendum that asks voters if they want to become the 51st state, or opt for independence or sovereign free association Photograph: Ricardo Arduengo/AP