World News in Pictures

[Mr Lick]

Turkish protestors wave Free Syria's flags and chant slogans during a demonstration held in front of the Fatih mosque in Istanbul.



Marcel Siem of Germany plays his second shot on the third hole during the second round of the BMW PGA Championship on the West Course at Wentworth in Virginia Water, England



Meanwhile across the sea a Dutch golfer Christel Boeljon (R) awaits her turn until the plane has landed during the women's Open golf tournament on the International Golf Course in Amsterdam.



A Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft is seen parked on the tarmac at Stansted Airport. British fighter jets escorted a Pakistan International Airlines passenger plane to Stansted Airport near London on Friday, where police went on board and arrested two men on suspicion of endangering an aircraft



A record breaking claim: Thousands of youths release the paper lanterns to celebrate "World Peace Through Meditation" in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record at the University of the Philippines campus at Miagao, Iloilo city in central Philippines. The organizers claimed to have released 15,185 sky lanterns breaking the current 2012 Guinness World Record of 12,740 sky lanterns released in a single event in Romania

[Mr Lick]

While amateur cyclists continue to brave the bad weather and climb up to the Val Martello, the 19th stage of the Giro d'Italia Cycling race has been cancelled and stage 20 has been re-routed as a consequence of the unseasonal snow fall in Northern Italy



Supporters of Iranian presidential candidate Saeid Jalili hold posters during an election rally in Tehran, Iran. Saeid Jalili, currently Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, is the underdog in the presidential election. As he is acknowledged and supported both by the conservative and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's camps, observers believe that he might become the big surprise in the 14 June elections

[Mr Lick]

Borussia Dortmund 1 Bayern Munich 2

Arjen Robben's late winner exorcised the demons that have haunted him and Bayern Munich in the Champions League as they won a pulsating all-Bundesliga encounter against Borussia Dortmund.

The tournament's recent history has offered little other than unrelenting misery for Robben and Bayern - but the agony is over after a colourful, enthralling final that confirmed Germany as the new power base of European domestic football.

Bayern had lost two finals in three years, including defeat on penalties to Chelsea in their own Allianz Arena 12 months ago, but on this occasion they cast off the tag of losers to claim the crown for the fifth time.

Only Real Madrid (nine) and AC Milan (seven) have won this tournament more times and the taste of victory was even sweeter for 29-year-old Robben and veteran Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes, who steps aside to hand over to Pep Guardiola at the end of this season.

[Mr Lick]

Two rockets hit Hezbollah district of Beirut




One rocket struck a residential building


At least three people have been wounded by a rocket strike on the southern part of the Lebanese capital Beirut.

Two rockets hit a district controlled by the Hezbollah organisation, officials and residents were quoted as saying by news agencies.

Tension has been high over the conflict in neighbouring Syria.

On Saturday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah promised his supporters they would prevail in Syria, where they are backing President Bashar al-Assad.

There was no immediate indication who had fired the rockets but Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said the projectiles, believed to be 107mm rockets with an 8-km (5-mile) range, had been fired from a position to the south-east.

Dozens of militants from Hezbollah, a Shia Muslim organisation, are said to have been killed in recent fighting alongside Syrian troops, who face a mainly Sunni Muslim opposition.

[Mr Lick]

France police hunt for man who stabbed soldier in Paris




The soldier was on patrol when he was attacked, as David Chazan reports


French police are hunting a man who attacked a soldier on patrol with two colleagues in the La Defense business district of Paris on Saturday evening.

Private First Class Cedric Cordier was approached from behind and stabbed in the neck with a small-bladed knife.

Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian told reporters that he had been targeted because of his profession.

But President Francois Hollande refused to make any direct link with the murder of a soldier in London on Wednesday.

[Mr Lick]

Man killed in Morden betting shop attack



The branch of Ladbrokes is next door to Morden police station

A 55-year-old man has been killed in an attack at a south London betting shop.

The victim, who has not been formally identified, was pronounced dead at a branch of Ladbrokes in Aberconway Road in Morden at 10:30 BST on Saturday.

Officers from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command said one man was responsible for the fatal attack.

Police said it is not known if any money was taken from the betting shop which is next door to Morden police station.

A post-mortem examination is due to be held on Sunday.

[Mr Lick]

Carl Froch beats Mikkel Kessler to retain IBF world title in London


Carl Froch retained his IBF super-middleweight crown and gained sweet revenge on Mikkel Kessler with a thrilling win on points at London's O2 Arena.

The Nottingham fighter started faster but his Danish rival, who beat Froch in Denmark 2010, found his feet in the middle rounds.

But Froch, 35, kept his head and marginally had the better of some barbaric rounds down the stretch.

Froch took a unanimous decision, winning 118-10, 116-12 and 115-113 on the three judges' scorecards.

[Mr Lick]

Frankfurt, Germany: A base jumper leaps off the 200-metre (656ft) tall Main tower during the skyscraper festival



London, UK: People look at floral tributes at the site of Drummer Lee Rigby's murder in Woolwich



Dülmen, Germany: Wild Dülmen ponies run into a trapping arena during an annual roundup of one-year-old stallions



Gujrat, Pakistan: Relatives mourn of the coffin of one of 17 children who died after a gas cylinder exploded on a school bus



Moore, US: Cody Roberts salvages items from the wrecked home of Nichole and Dan Angle. The couple's daughter Sidney Angle was one of seven students killed at Plaza Towers elementary school after a a two-mile wide tornado tore through the suburb of Oklahoma City

[Mr Lick]

Arbeen, Syria: People inspect the destruction after an air strike by regime forces in the outskirts of Damascus



New York, US: Cadets salute during graduation ceremonies at the United States Military Academy at West Point



Paris, France: Anti-GM activists gather in Trocadero Square during a demonstration against the genetic modification and the US chemical firm Monsanto



Dortmund, Germany: Supporters of Borussia Dortmund football club attend a public viewing event of the UEFA Champions League final

[Mr Lick]

Huge anti-gay marriage protest march in Paris




Protester: "We are here to defend marriage"


Tens of thousands of protesters against France's new same-sex marriage are marching in the capital Paris, amid a heavy police presence.

They are rallying against the law recently signed by President Francois Hollande, following heated debates.

Officials have warned that violent hardliners could infiltrate the rally, but it has so far been peaceful.

Fifty protesters were arrested on Saturday evening for blocking the capital's Champs-Elysees avenue.

France is now the ninth country in Europe, and 14th globally, to legalise gay marriage.
But French people have been bitterly divided over the issue. On Tuesday, a far-right historian shot himself dead in Notre Dame Cathedral, leaving messages in which he denounced gay marriage.

I am an ass. I voted Hollande” - Anti-gay protester in Paris

'Ultras'

French police says that 150,000 protesters are taking part in the march in central Paris, but the organisers say the number is closer to one million.

One demonstrator dressed in black, holding a scythe and wearing a mask of Mr Hollande, stood behind a coffin in which lay a mannequin dressed as Marianne - the emblem of France.

Some marchers drove donkeys, one of which bore a placard which read, "I am an ass. I voted Hollande".

The demonstrators headed in columns from a number of points around the city to the Invalides complex.


Leading activist Virginie Tellene, aka Frigide Barjot, greeted protesters

[Mr Lick]

Cannes Film Festival: Lesbian drama wins Palme d'Or



Director Abdellatif Kechiche accepted the award with actresses Lea Seydoux (left) and Adele Exarchopoulos

Blue is the Warmest Colour, an intimate love story about two young French women, has won the Palme d'Or for best film at the Cannes Film Festival.

It has attracted attention for its explicit sex scenes as well as the acclaimed performances of actresses Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux.

Hollywood veteran Bruce Dern won best actor for his performance in Nebraska.

French actress Berenice Bejo, known for silent film The Artist, won best actress for her role in The Past.

[Mr Lick]

'Six suspects' after man dies following firearms incident


A large section of Willowbrae Road was closed off by police


Detectives in Edinburgh have launched a murder inquiry after a man died in what police have confirmed was a firearms incident.

They are looking for at least six men in connection with the attack.

The 25-year-old victim was found in the Willowbrae area following reports of a car crash shortly after 01:00.

He was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he later died. A second man was found injured in the same area.

His injuries were not thought to be life threatening.

Police confirmed that firearms had been involved in the incident, but refused to say whether either man had been shot.

Detectives appealed for information from the public - particularly taxi drivers - who may have seen up to three vehicles being driven erratically at about 01:00 in the Willowbrae area.

[Mr Lick]

An opposition supporter wears a mask to hide his identity late on May 25, as protesters clashed with police in the Kodjoviakope neighborhood of Lome, Togo. Authorities have banned all protests in the capital after violent clashes this week. Protests organized by "Let's Save Togo," a coalition of opposition and civil society groups, over various issues, have been either banned or dispersed with tear gas in recent months.

[Mr Lick]

Lee Rigby's family visit Woolwich

Members of Drummer Lee Rigby's family laid flowers near the scene of his murder in Woolwich, and viewed some of the tributes already left by wellwishers. The soldier's mother, Lyn, and stepfather, Ian, consoled each other as they walked in front of the wall of flowers while dozens of passers-by lined the street in silence



Centre left to right: Rigby's sister Sara McClure, his stepfather Ian and mother Lyn






Rigby's wife, Rebecca, carrying a Peppa Pig toy

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

Monaco GP: Sergio Perez should be punched, says Kimi Raikkonen

Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen said McLaren's Sergio Perez should be "punched in the face" to teach him a lesson after an incident-strewn race in Monaco.

McLaren driver Perez made a series of aggressive overtaking moves, in one of which he collided with Raikkonen.

Asked if the drivers would talk to Perez, Raikkonen said: "That won't help. Maybe someone should punch him in the face."

Perez said: "Kimi put me straight in the wall at the entry to the corner."

“Kimi did not give me any room at all. I touched the wall on the entry to the corner ” - Sergio Perez

The incident gave Raikkonen a puncture, and he dropped from fifth place to finish 10th in a race won by Mercedes' Nico Rosberg

[Mr Lick]

Stroke patients see signs of recovery in stem-cell trial



Five seriously disabled stroke patients have shown small signs of recovery following the injection of stem cells into their brain.

Prof Keith Muir, of Glasgow University, who is treating them, says he is "surprised" by the mild to moderate improvements in the five patients.

He stresses it is too soon to tell whether the effect is due to the treatment they are receiving.

The results will be presented at the European Stroke Conference in London.

[Mr Lick]

Mobile home residents given better protection


There are about 84,000 park homes on 2,000 sites across England.


Residents of mobile home parks in England have been given new rights to protect them from rogue site operators.

A Commons select committee report last year found many residents experienced problems with maintenance, security, written contracts and intimidation.

New legislation, introduced on Monday, bans site owners from the buying and selling process and gives new powers to prosecute those who harass residents.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said it "called time on the crooks".

There are about 84,000 "park homes" - relatively low-cost bungalow-style residential properties, usually sited on private estates - on 2,000 sites across England.

Those who buy them, own the home but pay a pitch fee to the site operator, who owns the land and imposes rules and regulations.

Before the new legislation came in, those rules included getting the site owner's approval for a buyer when selling the home on

[Mr Lick]

Sachin Tendulkar announces retirement from IPL




Sachin Tendulkar's team Mumbai Indians won the sixth season of IPL on Sunday night


Cricket star Sachin Tendulkar has announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament.

"I think this is the right time to stop playing the IPL. I am 40. Got to accept it," Tendulkar said.

The announcement came moments after his team Mumbai Indians lifted their first IPL title on Sunday night, beating the Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs.

The IPL has been dogged by controversy with allegations of spot-fixing against several cricketers and team owners.

In the last fortnight, three bowlers from Rajasthan Royals team and the owner of the Chennai Super Kings team have been arrested.

The tournament's final match was played in the eastern city of Calcutta.

"This is my last IPL," Tendulkar said in a television interview after the match.

"This has been a fantastic season... I had decided this was my last season," he said.

Tendulkar, who turned 40 last month, has a huge fan base in India. He was the first cricketer to score 100 international centuries.

He also holds the record for more test runs than any other player (15,837) and more one-day international (ODI) runs than anyone else (18,426).

Earlier this month, limited edition gold coins with his face engraved on them were launched by an Indian jewellery company.

[Mr Lick]

Nurse pleads guilty to deadly Sydney nursing home blaze



Roger Dean (seated, receiving oxygen) admitted starting the 18 November 2011 blaze


A nurse who started a fire at a Sydney nursing home has admitted 11 counts of murder.

The guilty plea came as Roger Dean, 37, went on trial over the 18 November 2011 blaze at the Quakers' Hill Nursing Home.

The fire engulfed a building that was home to dozens of elderly residents.

Five people died at the scene or in the immediate aftermath of the fire, and six more people died later as a result of their injuries.

Mr Dean, who also admitted eight counts of grievous bodily harm, will be sentenced at a later date.

During the fire hundreds of fire fighters battled flames and plumes of thick smoke to evacuate more than 80 elderly residents.

The nursing home had no sprinkler system - something which is now mandatory in such facilities in the state of New South Wales.

[Mr Lick]

Paris, France: A protester throws a cobblestone at the police during a demonstration against same-sex marriage



New York, US: A triple conjunction of the planets Venus (bottom), Jupiter (left) and Mercury (top) over the Statue of Liberty



Cannes, France: Bérénice Bejo poses with the best actress award at the 66th Cannes film festival

[Mr Lick]

Lviv, Ukraine: Children carry portraits of Ukrainian soldiers as they march to mark the Day of Heroes



Moore, Oklahoma, US: Sharpshooters scan the area before Barack Obama arrives to tour the devastation caused by a tornado



Moscow, Russia: Stray dogs from shelters wait to find owners during the My dogs exhibition. There are 35,000 homeless dogs in the city

[Mr Lick]

Championship play-off final: Crystal Palace v Watford



Palace fans haven't enjoyed top flight football since 2005, while Watford's have had to live without Premier League action since 2007. So the prospect of promotion today is tantilising for both clubs






They do at least have Wilfried Zaha up front (who signed for Manchester United but was immediately loaned back to Palace for the remainder of the season)

[Mr Lick]

Zaha is proving to be the principal threat - as expected. But with half-time approaching there's no real sign of a breakthrough at either end



Thirsty work for both managers. They really need to mix things up at half-time



That's more like it; two quick chances in succession for Palace - first for O'Keefe and then Wilbraham - but the Watford keeper Manuel Almunia denies both at his near post,



At the end of the first period of extra-time, Zaha draws a foul and wins a penalty ...



... which Kevin Phillips scores emphatically to put Palace 1-0 up and on the brink of promotion

[Mr Lick]

In the closing stages of the second period of extra-time, Joel Warrd (far right) clears a curling Forestieri shot off the line to keep Palace ahead



And that's it - the final whistle has gone - Palace are promoted!



Joy for Palace as they celebrate promotion courtesy of Phillips' extra-time goal



This may be Kevin Phillips' last game as a footballer ... what a way to bow out



And it's the perfect farewell for Zaha, too, who will now join United