24 hours in pictures

Paris, France: People ride on a carousel at a funfair at the Grand Palais Photograph: Fred Dufour/guardian.co.uk

Yokohama, Japan: Tantan, a one-month-old male Francois Leaf Monkey is held by his mother Chai at the zoological gardens Zoorasia Photograph: Itsuo Inouye/guardian.co.uk

Macau: Dancers perform inside drums during a cultural show as the former Portuguese enclave celebrates the 10th anniversary of its handover to Chinese rule on December 20th Photograph: Bobby Yip/guardian.co.uk

Guinobatan, Philippines: A farmer near the foot of Mount Mayon volcano. More lava has flowed out of the crater of the volcano, a sign of intensifying activity Photograph: Dennis Sabangan/guardian.co.uk

Ayutthaya, Thailand: Participants in the Jumbo Queen beauty contest get ready to go onto the stage. More than 30 Thai ladies took part in the Jumbo Queen beauty contest for women over 80 kg Photograph: Damir Sagolj/guardian.co.uk

Venice, Italy: Tourists walk on platforms in St Mark's square as snow falls Photograph: Andrea Pattaro/guardian.co.uk

Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepalese police officers remove burning tyres which was set alight by Maoist activists during a three day nationwide general strike Photograph: Narendra Shrestha/guardian.co.uk

The Vatican, Vatican City: Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful during the Angelus prayer from a window in his private apartments Photograph: Alessandro Bianchi/guardian.co.uk

Mogadishu, Somalia: A ball of fire erupts within a thick cloud of smoke after a petrol station caught fire in the blaze whose cause is reportedly linked to insurgents Photograph: Abdurashid Abdulle/guardian.co.uk

Belgrade, Serbia: A woman waits for a night bus opposite the Serbian National Asssembly building Photograph: Andrej Isakovic/guardian.co.uk

Krasnoyarsk, Siberia: A boat which serves as a river taxi, sails along the Yenisei River Photograph: Ilya Naymushin/guardian.co.uk

Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistani women and children struggle to get rice rations during a donated food distribution Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/guardian.co.uk

Tel Aviv, Israel: Sisso, an injured swift strapped in a special harness, is treated by Israeli veterinarian Igal Horowitz at an animal hospital in the Ramat Gan Safari Park. Sisso damaged his right wing seven months ago and the harness is intended to help him learn to fly again Photograph: Ariel Schalit/guardian.co.uk

Silver Spring, Maryland, US: A plant almost covered in snow after a major snowstorm blanketed a large swathe of the eastern United States Photograph: Jewel Samad/guardian.co.uk