24 hours in pictures

Bangkok, Thailand: Thai pro-government demonstrators hold national flags during a small rally at the King Taksin statue as the government and Red Shirt protesters committed themselves to a faltering peace process despite twin attacks that left two police officers dead
Photograph: Nicolas Asfouri/AFP

Kandahar, Afghanistan: US soldiers fly in a Blackhawk helicopter over the Shah Wali Kot district after taking off from an airfield
Photograph: Tauseef Mustafa/AFP

Kabul, Afghanistan: An elderly Afghan man stands near a burqa-clad woman alongside a road at nightfall in the old city area
Photograph: Mauricio Lima/AFP

Bangkok, Thailand: A Thai forensic policeman photographs the damaged exterior of Krung Thai Bank in the Silom business district, after a drive-by shooting and a series of explosions shook the area
Photograph: Adrees Latif/Reuters

London, England: Conservative party leader David Cameron adjusts his tie before leaving his home for a remembrance service at the Cenotaph
Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty

Caranavi, Bolivia: Two riot police officers walk while confronting demonstrators who were blocking a road and demanding Bolivia's president Evo Morales to install a fruit processor plant in the area, one of Morales's campaign-promises that is still pending
Photograph: Juan Karita/AP

Gulf of Mexico: Dark clouds of smoke and fire emerge as oil burns during a controlled fire
Photograph: Reuters

Paris, France: President Nicolas Sarkozy pays respect during a ceremony to mark the end of the second world war
Photograph: Philippe Wojazer/Reuters

Allahabad, India: An Indian child searches for coins used in ritual offerings by Hindu devotees on the polluted banks of the river Yamuna
Photograph: Diptendu Dutta/AFP

New York, US: A member of the NYPD bomb squad unit examines a suspicious package at Times Square
Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Bridgetown, Barbados: A groom from the Barbados Turf Club washes a thoroughbred race horse in the sea near the Garrison Savannah racecourse Photograph: Rebecca Naden/PA

New Jersey, US: Fans waits for the start of the game between Mexico and Ecuador at the New Meadowlands stadium
Photograph: Justin Lane/EPA

Bangkok, Thailand: A Thai worker stands next to a bamboo barricade; the Red Shirts have accepted the road map for reconciliation
Photograph: Athit Perawongmetha/Getty

Beijing, China: A Chinese girl writes notes on the ground to attract pedestrians, as she begs for money
Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/AP

Chicago, US: Traders work in the S&P 500 pit at the Chicago Board Options Exchange
Photograph: Kamil Krzaczynski/EPA

London, England: Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, Conservative party leader David Cameron and prime minister, Gordon Brown attend the VE Day 65th anniversary tributes at the Cenotaph in Whitehall
Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty