24 hours in pictures

Bangkok, Thailand: A masked anti-government protester during a demonstration Photograph: Chumsak Kanoknan/Getty Images

Basra, Iraq: Women watch soldiers on a patrol Photograph: Atef Hassan/Reuters

Derezda Valley, Afghanistan: A US soldier pauses in a doorway during Operation Shir Pacha Photograph: David Furst/AFP

Jakarta, Indonesia: Two officers with chickens confiscated during a sweep to fight the spread of bird flu Photograph: Bagus Indahono/EPA

Lima, Peru: An honour guard chats on his phone at the government palace during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit Photograph: Ivan Alvarado/Reuters

Pristina, Kosovo: Police guard the office of the European Union mission Photograph: Hazir Reka/Reuters

Los Angeles, US: Beyonce performs during the 2008 American Music Awards Photograph: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

Sofia, Bulgaria: Passengers seen through a frozen bus window Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

New York, US: Rabbis from Judaism's Chabad-Lubavitch movement pose for a group photo at an annual international conference Photograph: Chip East/Reuters

Tokyo, Japan: Pedestrians cross a street in the rain Photograph: Dai Kurokawa/EPA

Shimla, India: A Tibetan Buddhist monk stands outside a monastery Photograph: Reuters

Ome, Japan: A geisha before a performance. Due to the recession, the number of customers capable of paying the high fees for their entertainment has decreased. As a result some geisha have begun cultural programmes for general audiences to maintain their income Photograph: Everett Kennedy Brown/EPA

Lar, India: A woman displays her ink-marked finger after she cast her vote during the second phase of local elections Photograph: Fayaz Kabli/Reuters

Andechs, Germany: Strolling on a snowy hill Photograph: Christof Stache/AP