The day in photos

The day in photos

Dec 19, 2014

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epa04534343 Chimpanzees open presents at the 'Christmas with the Chimps' event at Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, 18 December 2014. Lion Country Safari, America's first cageless zoo, has held the annual event for 30 years with Santa Claus leaving presents and treats of fruits, vegetables and toys for the chimps. EPA/RHONA WISE

Chimpanzees open gifts at a West Palm Beach, Fla., zoo. EPA

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Israeli border police detain a foreign activist during clashes following a protest against Israeli settlements in the West Bank village of Turmus Aya , near Ramallah December 19, 2014. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

Israeli border police detain a foreign activist in Turmus Aya, West Bank. Reuters

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<> on December 18, 2014 in Washington, DC.

Activists in Washington march hold up signs with names of local homeless people who died this year. Getty

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as part of a lights display in celebration of Christmas on December 19, 2014 in Sydney, Australia.

Christmas lights are on display in Sydney, Australia. Getty

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<> on December 19, 2014 in Madrid, Spain.

Santa hangs out in Madrid, Spain. Getty

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epaselect epa04534832 Grey seal pup 'Nikolaus' licks a window at the seal enclosure in Friedrichskoog, Germany, 19 December 2014. The pup was abandoned by his mother and would not have a chance at survival without human help. Nikolaus will be fed at the enclosure for two to three months until he has reached the minimum weight of 45 kilograms for being released. EPA/DANIEL REINHARDT

Gray seal pup Nikolaus licks a window at the seal enclosure in a Friedrichskoog, Germany, zoo. EPA

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WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 19: U.S. President Barack Obama pauses during his speech to members of the media during his last news conference of the year in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House December 19, 2014 in Washington, DC. President Obama faced questions on various topics including the changing of Cuba policy, the U.S. economy and the Sony hack. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

President Barack Obama delivers his end-of-the-year address in Washington. Getty

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MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 19: Christmas lights shine on Gran Via street on December 19, 2014 in Madrid, Spain as shoppers took to the streets in the Spanish capital ahead of the annual Christmas festivities. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Christmas lights illuminate Madrid, Spain. Getty

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Pic shows: This huge statue of the baby Jesus has gone on tour around Mexico to promote the Nativity. A huge statue of the baby Jesus which its artistic creators claim is the largest in the world has gone on tour around Mexico to promote the Nativity. The baby Jesus figure is just one of 250 giant figures being created for the world's biggest ever crib being worked on by Mexican artists and architects in order to spread the message of peace in the country. Mexico has seen a massive rise in crime and in particular violence fuelled by rival drug cartels battling for control of the lucrative drug market into the US ever since the demise of the Colombian cartels a decade ago. The Mexican government has tried to tackle the problem and even brought in the army to cut down on the problem. But now the group from the the Mexican Episcopal Conference started work on a huge Nativity crib to spread the message of peace, and while they are waiting to get all of the figures completed, have gone on tour with the baby Jesus that will be at the centre of the display. Organisers claim it is the largest baby Jesus in the world weighing half a tonne and measuring five metres in length. It took six months to build, and the adult figures are expected to be 12 metres tall each. As part of the groups campaign named Mexico in Peace the baby Jesus statue is travelling to several parishes mainly in the eastern part of the Valley of Mexico. The bishop of Nezahualcoyotl, Hector Luis Morales Sanchez, said that "It is the Prince of Peace and we hope it will make us want to be as one and to pray for peace in Mexico." The project is being managed by the Morphix Group, a family-run Mexico City-based special effects company. Its manager David Gomez said: "We want to make a full set for the Nativity just like our grandparents did. The only difference is that their crib which also had 250 pieces was rather smaller." (ends)

What may be the world’s largest baby Jesus statue is displayed in Mexico. Europics

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epaselect epa04534843 A Pakistani woman cries holding a candle as they attend a candle light vigil in remembrance of the victims of the Peshawar School Massacre inside the Pakistan High Commision in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 19 December 2014. Members of the diplomatic corps, Pakistani community, officers and staff members of the Pakistan High Commision attend the event. EPA/ABIR ABDULLAH

A candlelight vigil is held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, for slain Pakistani children. EPA

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epaselect epa04534547 The effigy of German Chancellor Angela Merkel is burning with bales of straw set by Farmers and alliance D19-20 members during a demonstration near the European Institutions in Brussels, Belgium, 19 December 2014. Farmers protest against austerity and against free trade agreements. EPA/JULIEN WARNAND

An effigy of German Chancellor Angela Merkel burns in Brussels, Belgium. EPA

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A female student chants slogans with others to condemn the attack by Taliban gunmen on the Army Public School in Peshawar, during a rally in Lahore December 19, 2014. At least 132 students and nine staff members were killed on Tuesday when Taliban gunmen broke into the school and opened fire, witnesses said, in the bloodiest massacre the country has seen for years. REUTERS/Mohsin Raza (PAKISTAN - Tags: CRIME LAW EDUCATION CIVIL UNREST TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Students in Lahore, Pakistan, protest the Taliban attack on the Peshawar Army Public School. Reuters

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epaselect epa04534743 Visitors look at an ice sculpture, depicting US singer Elvis Presley, that is on display at the new 'Eiswelt' (Ice World) in the leisure park 'Karl's Erlebnishof' in Roevershagen near Rostock, Germany, 19 December 2014. The 12th Ice World with the motto 'Rock'n'Roll' will open on 20 December. The, according to the organizer, biggest ice sculpture exhibition in Europe will run until 15 November 2015. EPA/BERND WUESTNECK

Elvis chills out in an “Ice World” in Roevershagen, Germany. EPA

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epaselect epa04534411 High-rise window cleaners dressed in a horse (L) and a sheep (R) costumes from the 12 animals represented in the Chinese zodiac, hang outside of the 55.5-meter-high Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo, to wipe the windows in downtown Tokyo, Japan, 19 December 2014. The year 2015 will be marked by the sheep in the Chinese zodiac, which is also a custom in Japan, while the 2014 year of the horse draws to a close. EPA/CHRISTOPHER JUE

Costumed window cleaners get to work in Tokyo. EPA

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epaselect epa04534817 Palestinian protesters avoiding tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers during a protest in the West bank village of Turmus Aya, near Ramallah, 19 December 2014. The protests were held to mark the death of senior Palestinian official, Ziad Abu Ein on 10 December 10 against the Israeli settlement in West Bank. EPA/ATEF SAFADI

Palestinian protesters try evading tear gas from Israeli soldiers in Turmus Aya, West Bank. EPA

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epaselect epa04535156 French tamer Namayca Bauer performs with lions during a general rehearsal prior to the premiere of the Ahoy Kerstcircus (Ahoy Christmas circus) in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 19 December 2014. Dutch State Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Sharon Dijksma has forbidden the use of wild mammals in circuses in The Netherlands from 15 September 2015 on. EPA/LEX VAN LIESHOUT

A lion tamer rehearses ahead of a Christmas circus in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. EPA

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epaselect epa04535142 Russian people passes a huge light Christmas toy in front of Moscow Kremlin, Russia, 19 December 2014. 244 Christmas tree markets open in the capital today. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

A giant Christmas ball glows in Moscow. EPA

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epa04533644 Young ostrich chicks (lat.: Struthio camelus australis) stand underneath a heat lamp at the Zoo in Basel, Switzerland, 18 December 2015. The chicks of the parents Baringo (born 1994) and Manyara (born 1992) were born on December 15, 2014. EPA/GEORGIOS KEFALAS

Ostrich chicks keep warm under a heat lamp at a Basel, Switzerland, zoo. EPA

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Saint Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Christmas tree are lit up after a ceremony in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican December 19, 2014. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito (VATICAN - Tags: SOCIETY RELIGION)

The Vatican Christmas tree glows. AP

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Three of the newly born cheetah quadruplets rest at their enclosure in Prague's zoo, Czech Republic, Friday, Dec. 19, 2014. The four cubs we're born on Nov. 21, 2014. Scientists say every cheetah cub is critical to saving the species, which is threatened with extinction in the wild. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Newborn cheetah cubs debut in a Prague, Czech Republic, zoo. AP

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