24 hours in pictures

Jerusalem, Israel: Cardboard cut-outs of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit during a protest outside Benjamin Netanyahu's office Photograph: Uriel Sinai/guardian.co.uk

Mexico City, Mexico: Gay rights activists kiss as they celebrate the legalization of same-sex marriage Photograph: Alexandre Meneghini/guardian.co.uk

Allahabad, India: People warm themselves around a bonfire Photograph: Rajesh Kumar Singh/guardian.co.uk

Bucharest, Romania: A soldier looks out of the frozen window of a bus Photograph: Vadim Ghirda/guardian.co.uk

Stonehenge, UK: Druids and pagans celebrate the winter solstice Photograph: Matt Cardy/guardian.co.uk

London, UK: A woman crosses the road in heavy snow Photograph: Dan Kitwood/guardian.co.uk

Bethlehem, West Bank: A Christian pilgrim kneels at the spot in the Grotto of the Church of the Nativity where according to tradition Jesus was born Photograph: Uriel Sinai/guardian.co.uk

South Shields, UK: Early morning sun Photograph: Owen Humphreys/guardian.co.uk

Helmand province, Afghanistan: A youth during a shura, or meeting, between US Marines, local government officials, elders and villagers in the Garmsir district Photograph: Kevin Frayer/guardian.co.uk

Luanda, Angola: Residents in the shanty town of Boa Vista Photograph: Stephane De Sakutin/guardian.co.uk

Rawalpindi, Pakistan: A boy pushes a cart along the main street Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/guardian.co.uk

Changzhi, China: A swimmer in a partially ice-covered pond Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Belgrade, Serbia: Homeless people rest in beds in a hallway of Serbia's only state-run homeless shelter Photograph: Andrej Isakovic/guardian.co.uk

Washington, UK: A squirrel leaps over a thick blanket of snow Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/guardian.co.uk