24 hours in pictures : December 3 2007

Ocsa, Hungary: A birdwatcher releases a chaffinch from a net during a volunteer programme to monitor the bird population in the wildlife protection area. Photograph: Bela Szandelszky/AP

Calcutta, India: Disabled people during an awareness rally for disabled people on World Disability Day. Photograph: PIYAL ADHIKARY/EPA

Berlin, Germany: Polar bear Knut, who celebrates his first birthday on December 5, lies down in the Berlin zoo. Photograph: Miguel Villagran/AP

Munich, Germany: Travis Rice of the US competes in the snowboard competition of the Nokia Air & Style Event at the Olympiastadium. Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty

Hong Kong, China: Hong Kong's former top civil servant, Anson Chan (in the white top), speaks to the media the day after winning a by-election against her key pro-Beijing opponent and former security chief Regina Ip. Photograph: MIKE CLARKE/AFP

Ramallah, West Bank: Former Palestinian prisoners kiss the ground under the watchful eye of Israeli security guards as they arrive at the Bitunya checkpoint following their release from the Israeli prison in Ketziot. Photograph: Gali Tibbon/AFP

Kunming, China: A patient's hand is fastened to the bed in the Kunming mental hospital. According to health departments, more than 5% of China's population is suffering from varying degrees of psychiatric disturbance. Photograph: China Photos/Getty

Phoolnagar, Pakistan: Men sit in a tree as they listen to the former Pakistani prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, speak during a public meeting. Photograph: Greg Baker/AP

Moscow, Russia: Television crews monitor Russia's parliamentary election results at the official election information centre. Photograph: Yuri Kadobnov/AFP

Sydney, Australia: Lightning strikes over the Sydney central business district during a summer storm. Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty

Caracas, Venezuela: A supporter of Venezuela's president, Hugo Chávez, wears a T-shirt that reads 'Super Chávez'. Photograph: Rodrigo Abd/AP

Tewkesbury, UK: A street where many of the summer's flood victims are still living in caravans while repair work is completed on their houses. Some residents have been told it may be a year before they can move back into their homes. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty

London, UK: This photograph, taken by Kevin Cummins on May 10 1985 showing record company executive and entrepreneur Tony Wilson in Manchester's Hacienda nightclub, has been selected to go on display in the contemporary galleries section of the National Portrait Gallery. Photograph: Kevin Cummins/AP

Vancouver, Canada: The Spice Girls silhouetted behind screens at the beginning of their performance at GM Place. Photograph: Jonathan Hayward/AP