24 hours in pictures

Illinois, US: Residents of Gladstone work to build a levee to protect the town from floodwaters Photograph: Eric Theyer/Reuters

Yala, Thailand: A policeman stands guard as female students await the arrival at their school of the former prime minister, Surayud Chulanont Photograph: Surapan Boonthanom/Reuters

Lakhimpur, India: People try to transport a car to the banks of Hingora river after heavy rains caused it to flood a road Photograph: Reuters

San Antonio de los Banos, Cuba: A peasant collects coal. The government has eliminated maximum salaries for workers in an effort to stimulate the economy Photograph: Str/AFP/Getty

Santiago, Chile: Students take cover from police water cannon during a protest against proposed education reforms Photograph: Ivan Alvarado/Reuters

Islamabad, Pakistan: A market trader catches a watermelon at his stall on the outskirts the city Photograph: Emilio Morenatti/AP

Salisbury, UK: Flower arrangers take part in a five-day festival to mark the 750th anniversary of the city's cathderal Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty

Songyuan, China: Young ethnic Mongolians perform at a tourism festival Photograph: AP

Busan, South Korea: Korean truck drivers have been on strike in protest at rising fuel prices Photograph: Byun Yeong-Wook/AFP/Getty

Jerusalem: An excavator breaks ground for a new section of Israel's security barrier near the neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo Photograph: David Silverman/Getty

Bakhshikhail, Afghanistan: Land mines left over from current and previous conflicts are cleared Photograph: Farzana Wahidy/AP

Iowa, US: Staff Sergeant Shad Myers prepares for takeoff in a National Guard helicopter Photograph: Courtney Sargent/The Gazette/AP

Sydney, Australia: Visitors to the Museum of Contemporary Art stand below Novecento, a stuffed horse suspended from the ceiling by the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan Photograph: Mark Baker/AP

Arizona, US: Members of the Maricopa County chaingang clean a trench in Phoenix Photograph: Matt York/AP