24 hours in pictures

Caracas, Venezuela: People hold candles during a prayer ceremony for the health of Hugo Chávez. The cancer-stricken president is still suffering respiratory problems after surgery in Cuba two months ago, the government said in a sombre first communique since his homecoming this week Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters

Cairo, Egypt: A protester jumps on a police vehicle as it passes an anti-government protest. President Mohamed Morsi called parliamentary elections that will begin on 27 April and finish in late June, a four-stage vote that the Islamist leader hopes will conclude Egypt's turbulent transition to democracy Photograph: Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters

Shan state, Burma: A Buddhist devotee prays after offering alms to a Buddhist monk on a street corner near the town of Mong Pan Photograph: Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP

Kerete, Republic of Congo: A woman carries guinea pigs to distribute to her community as part of a food security programme by Action Against Hunger International. Over 500 guinea pigs were distributed to the locals by the non-profit organisation which focuses its activities on nutrition Photograph: Reuters

Athens, Greece: A flash of lighting in Piraeus during a rainstorm. Hours of heavy rainfall in Athens caused extensive flooding, inundating basements and forcing authorities to close major roads and an underground station Photograph: Elina Liberta/AP

Münster, Germany: A baby gorilla sits in the hands of his mother, Changa-Maidi. The western lowland gorilla was born four weeks ago Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Roses are thrown on the tracks by crash victims' relatives on the first anniversary of a train crash at Once railway station. The crash killed 51 people and injured 800 others, exposing systemic corruption and other failures in Argentina's transport systems Photograph: Victor R Caivano/AP

Hyderabad, India: A relative uses a stone to break a pot of water carried by Sudhakar Reddy as he walks around the remains of his sister Swapna Reddy during her funeral rites Photograph: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images

Saltillo, Mexico: Children hold rifles during an exhibition celebrating the army's 100th anniversary Photograph: Reuters

Tel Aviv, Israel: People wear costumes as they dance during a Purim street party. The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the Jews' salvation from genocide in ancient Persia, as recounted in the book of Esther which is read in synagogues Photograph: Oded Balilty/AP

Ramallah, Palestine: A masked Palestinian man hurls a stone at Israeli border policemen during clashes next to the Israeli military prison Ofer in Beitunya Photograph: Oliver Weiken/EPA

Naples, Italy: Women walk past campaign posters for Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom party Photograph: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

Milan, Italy: A model on the catwalk at the DSquared2 ready to wear autumn/winter 2013-2014 fashion show during Milan Fashion Week Photograph: Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images