24 hours in pictures

Benghazi, Libya: Demonstrators hold up a boy dressed as Colonel Muammar Gadaffi as they burn his green book in protest against his regime Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images

Yinchuan, China: A recruit from the People's Liberation Army raises his hand to align his formation during a drill at a military base in Ningxia Hui autonomous region Photograph: Reuters

Port-au-Prince, Haiti: A man carries wooden boards on a motorcycle Photograph: Ramon Espinosa/AP

Zhengzhou, China: A winter swimmer jumps into a canal Photograph: Donald Chan/Reuters

Kabul, Afghanistan: A confectioner works in a factory. Locally made sweets are in great demand in Afghanistan due to their low prices – on average 1kg costs $1 (61p) Photograph: Dar Yasin/AP

Manama, Bahrain: Anti-government protesters shout slogans outside police headquarters Photograph: Hasan Jamali/AP

Ajdabiya, Libya: Rebel militia men raise their arms Photograph: Marco Longari/AFP/Getty Images

Sana'a, Yemen: Supporters of President Ali Abdullah Saleh hold pigeons painted with the colours of their national flag during a rally Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/AP

Caracas, Venezuela: A man wearing a wig attends an event commemorating the 200th anniversary of Venezuela's first congress Photograph: Ariana Cubillos/AP

Echoucha, Tunisia: Egyptian refugees fleeing unrest in Libya leave the Echoucha refugee camp by bus Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

Moscow, Russia: Crew members from the European Space Agency Mars500 project test their suits before their mission, which aims to find out how humans would cope with the psychological ordeal of a trip to Mars Photograph: ESA/Reuters

Beijing, China: A security guard during a press conference for the Chinese People's Political Consultative Congress, known as the CPPCC, at the Great Hall of the People Photograph: Feng Li/Getty Images