24 hours in pictures

San Diego, USA: Two women, who are on active duty in the US navy, dance at a celebration to mark the end of the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy. After years of debate, the military can no longer prevent openly gay people from serving in its ranks Photograph: Gregory Bull/AP

Tando Muhammad Khan, Pakistan: A man wades through water following the recent floods, which have left 300,000 people living in shelters Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/AP

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Hundreds of brooms have been planted on Copacabana beach by non-governmental organisation Rio de Peace to symbolise the need to 'sweep away' corruption in the Brazilian National Congress Photograph: Felipe Dana/AP

Sana'a, Yemen: A doctor carries a wounded child in a field hospital following assaults against protesters by security forces loyal to the Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh Photograph: Yahya Arhab/EPA

Beijing, China: Elderly people perform early morning exercises in a park Photograph: Alexander F. Yuan/AP

Mexico City, Mexico: Office workers take part in an earthquake evacuation drill Photograph: Bernardo Montoya/Reuters

Auckland, New Zealand: A boy chases seagulls on Kohimarama beach Photograph: Dita Alangkara/AP

Ibiza, Spain: The Santa Eularia wildfire blazes near a residential area Photograph: Jaime Reina/AFP/Getty Images

New York, USA: A security officer scans the streets through binoculars from on top of the UN general assembly building Photograph: John Minchillo/AP

Bani Walid, Libya: An anti-Gaddafi fighter sits down as he mans a checkpoint in the north of the besieged city Photograph: Zohra Bensemra/Reuters

Phengla, India: Army engineers help a Buddhist monk to descend a landslide following Sunday's 6.9 magnitude earthquake in the Sikkim region Photograph: Altaf Qadri/AP

Cuilapa, Guatemala: People take refuge in a makeshift shelter after four earthquakes struck the south-eastern part of the country Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

Bazhong, China: A devastated street is seen after flood waters receded in Sichuan province. Floods and landslides caused by heavy rain have left dozens dead Photograph: ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images

Kabul, Afghanistan: A newborn baby is tagged with its mother's name and other information at the Mailala maternity hospital Photograph: Adek Berry/AFP/Getty Images