24 hours in pictures

Kabul, Afghanistan: Christmas trees on display at a florist shop Photograph: Musadeq Sadeq/AP

Bethlehem, West Bank: Palestinian band members play as they pass in front of the Church of the Nativity Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Srinagar, India: Kashmiri Muslim women stand in a queue to cast their votes in state elections Photograph: Farooq Khan/EPA

Istanbul, Turkey: Sara the walrus and her Russian trainer Sergiy perform at the newly opened Istanbul Dolphinarium Photograph: Murad Sezer/AP

Athens, Greece: A statue of the ancient Greek god Apollo in front of Athens Academy Photograph: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images

Fort Stewart, US: Christina Peoples and her daughter Taylor Knapp create a homecoming sign for US army sergeant Joseph Peoples on the kitchen table of their home Photograph: Stephen Morton/Getty Images

Kataragama, Sri Lanka: A vendor sells flowers outside the Murugan Hindu temple. The temple is a symbol of religious unity in the otherwise ethnically divided Sri Lanka. Both Hindus and Buddhists worship at Kataragama Photograph: Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images

Glasgow, UK: Craig Chalmers, the star of a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, wearing a specially commissioned kilt to celebrate being in Scotland with the show for the new year Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Singapore: Rescue workers climb the spokes of the Singapore Flyer as they make their way to evacuate passengers from a capsule of the world's largest observation wheel Photograph: Wong Maye-E/AP

Tehran, Iran: Shoes are hung in front of a US flag during a protest in support of the Iraqi TV journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi, in front of the former US embassy Photograph: Morteza Nikoubazl/Reuters

Allahabad, India: Hindu devotees pray on the banks of the river Ganges Photograph: Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP

London, UK: A homeless woman enjoys a manicure at a temporary day centre for the homeless run by Crisis UK. The charity opens its doors to the homeless over the festive period from 23-30 December Photograph: Luke Macgregor/Reuters

Islamabad, Pakistan: A man warms himself up in front of a church Photograph: Emilio Morenatti/AP

Anchorage, US: Michael Brasch photographs a snowman nicknamed Snowzilla, which was completed earlier this week despite city orders declaring the 7.5-metre (25ft) giant a public nuisance Photograph: Marc Lester/AP

Arosa, Switzerland: Skiers and snowboarders enjoy perfect conditions with a lot of snow and sun Photograph: Alessandro Della Bella/AP