The day in pictures - Thursday 3 January 2013

Greenwich, London

Restoration workers begin to clean paintings and murals in the Painted Hall of Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London.

Restoration work begins on paintings and murals by Sir James Thornhill at the Old Royal Naval College in London. Credit: Press Association.

Newtown, Connecticut

Children return to classes after last month's shootings at a US elementary school, in a neighbouring Connecticut town.

A school bus leaves Newtown carrying Sandy Hook pupils to their new school. Credit: Reuters

London Zoo, London

Leaf insects are among the animals at London Zoo being counted by staff as part of the zoo's annual stock take - a requirement of a zoo licence.

Zoo keeper Jeff Lambert poses with a leaf insect during the annual stock take at London Zoo. Credit: Luke MacGregor/Reuters

Innsbruck, Austria

Poland's Kamil Stoch soars through the air during the qualification at the 61st four-hills ski jumping tournament in Innsbruck, Austria.

Poland's Kamil Stoch soars through the air in Innsbruck, Austria. Credit: REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Aleppo, Syria

Residents wear masks as they search for bodies after shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, in Aleppo.

Residents wear masks as they search for bodies after shelling in Aleppo, Syria. Credit: REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman

Taklimakan Desert, China

Snow has covered much of the Taklimakan Desert in western China since a storm blew through the area on December 26.

A storm has covered the Taklimakan Desert in China with snow. Credit: REUTERS/NASA/Aqua/Handout