24 hours in pictures

New York: The full moon rises behind the Empire State building Photograph: Gary Hershorn/Reuters

Kathmandu, Nepal: A girl dressed as a deity participates in a parade marking the Yomari Puni festival, which is celebrated annually by the Newari community on a full moon day Photograph: Niranjan Shrestha/AP

Chinigam, India: A boy looks through the damaged wall of a house after a gun battle between militants and security forces in Kashmir Photograph: Danish Ismail/Reuters

Nabi Saleh, West Bank: A protester throws stones at Israeli security forces during clashes that erupted following a march by West Bank residents to protest against the expansion of Jewish settlements on Palestinian land Photograph: Abbas Momani/AFP/Getty Images

Gaza Strip: A man rides a horse on the beach at sunset Photograph: Ali Ali/EPA

Newtown, Connecticut: Snow covers soft toys at a makeshift memorial to the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary school massacre Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters

New York: Researchers use heavy machinery to examine a dead finback whale that washed up on the shore of Queens Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Loenhout, Belgium: Niels Albert celebrates winning the fifth stage in the Bpost Bank Trofee competition Photograph: David Stockman/AFP/Getty Images

Blackpool, England: Pontins holiday chalets await demolition at a camp closed in 2009 because of falling visitor numbers Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Moscow, Russia: Children watch a performance to mark the New Year holiday Photograph: Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images

Ngapali Beach, Burma: The sea view from a deluxe resort bungalow Photograph: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images

Sao Paulo, Brazil: 50,000 biodegradable balloons are released by the Sao Paulo Commercial Association Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images

Washington DC: Reporters and photographers watch congressional leaders from afar as they arrive at the White House for a closed-door meeting with Barack Obama on the fiscal cliff Photograph: Charles Dharapak/AP

Tirana, Albania: Turkeys in the village of Baldushk. Most Albanians cannot afford to buy a turkey, the traditional dish for New Year's Eve dinner, as they cost roughly the equivalent of half of a state monthly salary Photograph: Gent Shkullaku/AFP/Getty Images