24 hours in pictures

Beijing, China: A woman walks past a large billboard advertising a new business development project in the Chinese capital Photograph: Andy Wong/AP

Colombo, Sri Lanka: A woman holds up a pot of jasmine flowers to place before a Buddhist shrine in Kelaniya Photograph: Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP

Islamabad, Pakistan: An investor jumps on the burning tyres outside the Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE) during a protest against the continued decline in share prices Photograph: Aamir Qureshi/AFP

Beijing, China: Men wearing suits with lights wait to take part in rehearsals of the Olympic Games opening ceremony Photograph: Ng Han Guan/AP

Jakarta, Indonesia: Rare primates huddle in wire cages as a vendor waits for customers at his shop at an animal market Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP

Saut D'Eau, Haiti: Believers attend an annual voodoo festival Photograph: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

New York City, USA: Dancer Philippe Priasso with Compagnie Beau Geste hangs from a digger as part of Dance Out, a free outdoor dance festival Photograph: Timothy A. Clary/AFP

Asmara, Eritrea: A welder uses a homemade cover for his face as he makes a metal table from scrap at a workshop at a metal market Photograph: Radu Sigheti/Reuters

Saut D'Eau, Haiti: A climber scales up rocks leading to a waterfall during an annual festival in the town. People bathe in the waterfall as they believe it cleanses their souls Photograph: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

Hefei, China: Children attend a dance class during their summer holidays Photograph: Getty

Sydney, Australia: Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges the crowd of World Youth Day pilgrims after giving an address Photograph: Mick Tsikas/Reuters

Nampa, Idaho: 'Mutton Buster' Gracie Schmitt is crushed when the sheep she was riding flipped on her back during the Snake River Stampede Photograph: Mike Vogt/AP

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Farmers celebrate as the Senate narrowly rejected a grain-export tax package whose proposal led to nationwide farm strikes and regional food shortages Photograph: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Dutch pilot Frank Versteegh flies over the Dutch port Photograph: Reuters

Singapore: A dancer from Italian company Studio Festi performs in the air while hanging from a hot air balloon in front of the facade of the National Museum, during the first Night Festival Photograph: How Hwee Young/EPA

Beijing, China: Workers clean the exterior of the National Aquatics Centre, better known as the Water Cube, ahead of the start of the 2008 Olympic Games Photograph: Teh Eng Koon/AFP

Dhaka, Bangladesh: People walk on a makeshift bridge built by joining boats, to cross a canal covered by water hyacinths Photograph: Pavel Rahman/AP