24 hours in pictures

Beijing, China: A woman stands at a bus stop wearing a mask, after the meteorological observatory issued an orange alert for heavy fog and haze Photograph: Li Fangyu/Xinhua Press/Corbis

Allahabad, India: Hindu holy men of the Juna Akhara sect participate in rituals believed to rid them of all ties in this life, as they dedicate themselves to serving God during the Maha Kumbh festival in Sangam Photograph: Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP

Ecatepec, Mexico: The daughter of Eusebio Gonzalez, a policeman who was shot on Tuesday, cries during a tribute to her father. Mexico's government has started a joint security operation with the Mexican army and federal police in areas with high rates of violence Photograph: Edgard Garrido/Reuters

Copenhagen, Denmark: Models present creations by Danish fashion house Edith & Ella at the Hotel Nimb during Copenhagen Fashion Week Photograph: Torkil Adsersen/EPA

Barcelona, Spain: A man listens to a speech commemorating the 75th anniversary of the bombing of a Barcelona square by Italian planes during the Spanish civil war Photograph: Emilio Morenatti/AP

Qingdao, China: A woman carries goods at a market in Shandong province Photograph: Wu Hong/EPA

Damascus, Syria: Free Syrian Army fighters run for cover as a tank shell explodes during heavy fighting in Ain Tarma Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters

Bangalore, India: School children with their faces painted like tigers take part in the Save our Tigers campaign. The event is organised to create awareness among children in the city. The National Tiger Conservation Authority has decided to conduct an annual tiger census in all 39 tiger reserves in India Photograph: Jagadeesh Nv/EPA

Hanoi, Vietnam: A woman tends to her peach blossom orchard. Vietnam is preparing for Tet, or Lunar New Year, which falls on 10 February. Many people buy peach blossoms to decorate their houses to celebrate the new year Photograph: Luong Thai Linh/EPA

Havana, Cuba: Carmen Gonzalez, with her hair in curlers, waits for her manicure appointment as she prepares for her quinceanera (15th birthday) celebration Photograph: Desmond Boylan/Reuters

Hodenhagen, Germany: Tiger and lion cubs at Serengeti Park zoo. The zoo houses four white tiger cubs (Snowy, Ice, Mohan and Shiva) and four white lions (Kim, Eve, Thabo and Lio). All of the cubs were born in October last year Photograph: Action Press/Rex Features

Mumbai, India: An Indian child sleeps in a cloth hammock on a street Photograph: Rajanish Kakade/AP

Islamabad, Pakistan: A health worker gives a polio vaccine to a child. Some Islamic militants oppose the vaccination campaign, accusing health workers of acting as spies for the US and claim the vaccine is intended to make Muslim children sterile. Pakistan is one of the few remaining places where polio is still rampant Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/AP

Laiza, Burma: Kachin Independence Army (KIA) soldiers guard a post on a hilltop facing China in northern Burma's Kachin-controlled region Photograph: Alexander F. Yuan/AP