7 December 2012 Last updated at 12:37

Day in pictures: 7 December 2012

Spectators watch fireworks during a Christmas light illumination ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Aircraft stay on blocks at Schiphol Airport as flights were cancelled due to snow-storms and strong winds that disrupted traffic, particularly on European routes, airport officials said.

Rescuers carry body bags containing bodies of typhoon victims recovered from the debris in New Bataan town, Compostela Valley, southern Philippines

Rescuers carry body bags containing victims of typhoon Bopha which were recovered from the debris in New Bataan town in the southern Philippines. A total of 418 people are now confirmed dead and another 383 remain missing, official figures show.

The exiled political leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, makes his first visit to Gaza

The exiled political leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal (praying - centre), makes his first visit to Gaza to mark the organisation's 25th anniversary. Mr Meshaal had not set foot in the Palestinian territories since leaving the West Bank in 1967 and is scheduled to address a mass rally on Saturday.

People view the Dom Pedro after its unveiling in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC

The Dom Pedro aquamarine, considered the largest single piece of cut gem aquamarine in the world, goes on show in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC.

Gravestones with a Schalke logo are pictured at the new inaugurated fan graveyard in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The Bundesliga football club provides 1,904 graves for supporters of the club which was founded in 1904.

Marcelo Melo (right) and Bruno Soares of Brazil celebrate after winning a point during their exhibition doubles tennis match at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo.

Squirrels explore a hollow section of a tree in Minsk where they can feed on nuts and seeds left by visitors to the park.

Dancer Matty Shields entertains the crowd prior

Dancer Matty Shields entertains the crowd in Sydney, Australia prior to the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) Strut the Streets attempt to break the world record for the largest swimwear parade. The event was organised to raise funds and awareness for the charity.

A giant Santa Claus is displayed on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France.

In Pictures

Day in pictures: 7 December 2012

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