24 hours in pictures

Pyongyang, North Korea: People pay respects to the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il Photograph: KCNA/Getty

Qeshm Island, Iran: A woman wearing a burqa Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA

Bhubaneswar, India: Artists dressed as Santa Claus create a nativity sand sculpture Photograph: Biswaranjan Rout/AP

Beijing, China: A man and a young girl slide down a manmade snow slope in a park Photograph: Diego Azubel/EPA

Manila, Philippines: A man sells balloons at Rizal Park Photograph: Aaron Favila/AP

Iligan City, Philippines: Flood victims inside a gymnasium turned into an evacuation centre Photograph: Francis R Malasig/AP

Islamabad, Pakistan: Two girls stand in front of a wall decorated with paintings for the Christmas holiday Photograph: Nathalie Bardou/AP

Moscow, Russia: Demonstrators gather holding placards and balloons during a protest against recent parliamentary election results Photograph: Tatyana Makeyeva/Reuters

Taiz, Yemen: Anti-government protesters take part in a protest march Photograph: Khaled Abdullah/Reuters

Vatican City: Pope Benedict XVI holds up a candle at the window of his private apartment to celebrate the unveiling of the nativity scene in St Peter's Square Photograph: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

Jammu, India: A child and his mother light a candle during Christmas prayers Photograph: Jaipal Singh/EPA

Sydney, Australia: Women play in the shallow water at Bondi beach Photograph: Don Arnold/AFP

Harbin, China: Tourists visit the Ice and Snow World Photograph: KeystoneUSA-ZUMA/Rex Features