World News in Pictures

[Mr Lick]

Chris Huhne faces allegation over election expenses



The energy secretary, Chris Huhne, has come under further pressure after it emerged that he faces a complaint about his general election expenses.

Two former Liberal Democrat councillors have submitted a complaint to the Electoral Commission alleging that Huhne, who already faces allegations that he tried to evade punishment for speeding, made a "false declaration" of his campaign expenses last year.

The allegation is based on a recording of a party meeting in his Eastleigh constituency in Hampshire, where the treasurer, Anne Winstanley, is heard saying that the campaign "cost more than we declared".

Huhne has denied the charge, while his aides said the allegation was based on a misunderstanding of what was said at the meeting.

"These election expenses have been thoroughly checked and accepted by the Electoral Commission," Huhne said: "I have no reason to believe there are any irregularities."

[Mr Lick]

Along with more than a hundred other Greenpeace activists, this woman was arrested during the European Business Summit in Brussels, May 18, 2011

[Mr Lick]

Iceland volcano: Grimsvotn eruption hits local flight



The Icelandic authorities have imposed a local flight ban after the country's most active volcano, Grimsvotn, began erupting.

A plume of smoke has risen 20km (12 miles) into the sky from the volcano.

But Iceland's Meteorological Office says the eruption should not cause widespread disruption to air traffic.

Last year, ash clouds from another Icelandic volcano, Eyjafjallajokul, led to the closure of a large section of European airspace.

Governments feared that ash particles could cause aircraft engines to fail, and the closure caused chaos to air travellers.

[Mr Lick]

'Rapture': Believers perplexed after prediction fails



Followers of an evangelical broadcaster who declared that Saturday would be Judgement Day are trying to make sense of the failed prediction.

Some believers expressed bewilderment or said it was a test from God of their faith, after the day passed without event.

Meanwhile, the evangelist at the centre of the claim, Harold Camping, has not been seen since before the deadline.

He had predicted that Jesus Christ would return to earth on Saturday.

True believers would then be swept up, or "raptured", to heaven, he had pronounced.

The 89-year-old has used broadcasts on a Christian network and billboards to publicise his ideas as part of a campaign that went global.

He said biblical texts indicated that a giant earthquake on Saturday - which he said would begin at 1800 at various time zones around the world - would mark the start of the world's destruction, and that by 21 October all non-believers will be dead.

[Mr Lick]

Royal Navy ends Operation Telic mission in Iraq



The UK's military operation in Iraq is to end within hours when the Royal Navy stops training Iraqi sailors.

Operation Telic, the name for the UK mission in Iraq since 2003, will finish but a handful of staff will remain at the British embassy in Baghdad.

At its peak the operation involved some 46,000 personnel.

Most UK forces withdrew in July 2009 from Basra, their main base, but 81 Navy trainers remained at the port of Umm Qasr.

The completion of the mission on Sunday comes eight years after Britain became involved in invading Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein.

[Mr Lick]

George Osborne backs Christine Lagarde to lead IMF



Chancellor George Osborne is to formally nominate Christine Lagarde for the post of managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He said the French economy minister was "the outstanding candidate".

The position became vacant after Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned so he could fight sexual assault charges.

PM David Cameron had suggested the IMF should look beyond Europe for its next chief after appearing to rule out his predecessor Gordon Brown for the job.

The IMF is described by many as the world's "lender of last resort" for countries facing bankruptcy.

[Mr Lick]

Man jailed indefinitely after driving at drinkers outside bar


A man has been given an indeterminate jail sentence after using a stolen car to mow down drinkers outside a Rochdale bar



Lee Anthony Bradley, 26, carried out the terrifying revenge attack in the early hours of October 17th last year, after he was thrown out of the Dali Bar for being too drunk.

Lee Anthony Bradley is a 'violent and dangerous' criminal (GMP)
He was pushed over during a confrontation outside the bar and then threatened door staff, before being led away.

Bradley returned minutes later in a stolen Saab 93 and mounted the pavement before driving at the door staff.

They managed to jump out of the way, but Bradley continued to plough down the packed pavement and hit at least 21 revellers, leaving one with a fractured skull and others with minor injuries

[Mr Lick]

Motherwell 0 - 3 Celtic




Celtic claimed their 35th Scottish Cup with a comfortable victory against Motherwell at a rain-soaked Hampden. Ki Sung-Yeung struck from distance in the 32nd minute for a sensational opener, then Gavin Gunning shook the Celtic crossbar moments later.
Motherwell captain Stephen Craigan deflected in a Mark Wilson shot in the 76th minute for Celtic's second.
Charlie Mulgrew completed the win with five minutes remaining, confidently striking a free-kick from 20 yards out.
The trophy marks the first silverware for Neil Lennon in his inaugural season as Celtic manager, closing a turbulent season for the Northern Irishman.

[Mr Lick]

White Tiger Spotted In Hampshire: Police Chopper Scrambled

DID you see the fabled white tiger of Hampshire? One local did. They spied the big cat through the zoomlens of their camera in a field near Hedge End, Southampton. The police were called. And when the police arrived they too saw the tiger.

A policesupport helicopter is summoned. Tiger experts from Marwell Zoo are placed on alert. There is talk of closing the M27 motorway. A game of cricket at the Rose Bowl between South Wiltshire and Hampshire Academy is stopped.

police spokeswoman explains what then occurred:

“After a brief stalk through the Hedge End savannah, the officer realised the tiger was not moving and the air support using their cameras realised there was a lack of heat source.”

The tiger then rolled over in the down draft and it was at that point it became obvious it was a stuffed life-size toy.



“This incident will definitely be the highlight of our day. The CCTV footage convinced us all we were dealing with a real tiger.”

[Mr Lick]

Uganda's Kizza Besigye 'put under house arrest'



Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been prevented from leaving his house by police, as the new parliamentary session is set to open.

The police say that they had information he had mobilised supporters and was about to commit a crime.

He has been arrested four times in recent weeks during opposition protests at the rising cost of living.

Human rights groups have criticised the police crackdown on the protests, which left nine people dead.

The BBC's Joshua Mmali in Kampala says Dr Besigye left his house in a car and was stopped by a police roadblock.

They said he was under "preventive arrest" and gave him two options - either to return home or to go the police station.

He went home and his party says he is effectively under house arrest.

Dr Besigye says he was cheated in February's election, although he mustered only half as many votes as President Yoweri Museveni.

The government accuses him of using trying to organise an Egypt-style uprising.

[Mr Lick]

Malaysia landslide



The landslide killed 12 people, mostly children

[Mr Lick]

Spanish protests

Some 25,000 people gathered n Madrid in defiance of a government ban one day prior to elections

[Mr Lick]

Chile: Valparaiso protesters in clashes with police



Police in Valparaiso, in Chile, have clashed with demonstrators protesting against government policies.

A protest march was timed to coincide with President Sebastian Pinera's annual state of the nation address.

Demonstrators held up signs opposing the government's environmental, education and labour policies.

Many said they had come to protest against a hydro-electric dam project in southern Chile, which they say will destroy 6,000 hectares of forest.

The march had been called by one of the country's main trade union movements, the CUT.

CUT officials said they wanted President Pinera to fulfil his campaign promises

[Mr Lick]

Guatemala massacre survivor recalls gruesome ordeal



A farm worker in northern Guatemala has told how he managed to survive a gruesome massacre at the hands of a suspected Mexican drugs cartel.

The man said armed men arrived at his ranch in Peten province on Saturday demanding to see the landowner.

When workers refused to co-operate the gangsters bound their hands and started hacking at them with machetes.

Many of the 27 victims were decapitated but the farm worker says he survived by playing dead.

He lay in the grass until the gang had gone and was found by police who arrived at the scene on Sunday morning.

"I thank God I am still alive," the man told AFP news agency. He has not been named for security reasons.

"I played dead when they stabbed me in the stomach. Then I hid and left at around 5am and I came across a pile of human heads," he said.


The man is now under armed guard while being treated at a hospital.

[Mr Lick]

Uruguay Congress upholds military rule amnesty law



Mr Mujica said the frustrations of the past should not be passed on to future generations

Lawmakers in Uruguay have rejected a bill which would have scrapped an amnesty protecting officers during military rule from prosecution.

President Jose Mujica had asked his party to uphold the amnesty, despite having spent years in jail under military rule between 1973 and 1985.

Mr Mujica warned of the "political dangers" of scrapping the amnesty.

He also reminded Congress that Uruguayans twice backed the amnesty law in referendums in 1989 and 2009.

Under military rule, Uruguay had the largest number of political prisoners in the world, and some 200 people were kidnapped and killed.

[Mr Lick]

Syria: Troops 'kill five mourners at funeral'



Syrian security forces have killed at least five people and wounded at least 12 when they fired live rounds into a funeral crowd in Homs, activists said.

The funeral, for protesters killed on Friday, was taking place at the city's Nasr cemetery.

Witnesses reported that the shooting began as mourners were leaving the cemetery.

Security forces shot dead at least 44 people on Friday as mass protests swept the country after prayers.

At least 850 people have been killed in weeks of demonstrations against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, human rights groups say.

[Mr Lick]

Indian MP Kanimozhi arrested in telecoms scandal



Indian MP Kanimozhi has been arrested in connection with the country's biggest corruption scandal.

She denies conspiracy and accepting bribes in the alleged mis-selling of telecoms licences, which auditors say cost the country about $40bn (£24.5bn).

A judge in the capital, Delhi, rejected her application for bail and she is due to be produced in court on Saturday.

Ms Kanimozhi, 43, is the daughter of M Karunanidhi, an important ally of the Congress-led federal government.

Her party colleague, former telecoms minister Andimuthu Raja, is already in jail in connection with the scandal.

He is accused of selling mobile telephony spectrum to firms at a fraction of their real value in exchange for bribes in 2008. He too denies all wrongdoing.

Along with Ms Kanimozhi, the court also rejected the bail application of a senior television executive.

"The bail applications are dismissed. Both the accused be taken into custody forthwith," news agency Press Trust of India quoted Judge OP Saini as saying.

[Mr Lick]

Australia legend Shane Warne plays last cricket match



Legendary Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne played his last professional cricket match on Friday - taking a wicket in his final over.

The 41-year-old, who captained and coached the Rajasthan Royals, led them to a 10-wicket win over Mumbai in their final Indian Premier League game.

"I'd just like to thank everyone who supported me," said Warne.

Warne took 708 wickets in 145 Tests for Australia before retiring from international cricket in 2007.

[Mr Lick]

Pakistan probe into killings of five unarmed foreigners



An inquiry has been ordered in Pakistan into the killings of five foreigners - including three women - by security forces outside Quetta on Tuesday.
Initially, the authorities claimed the dead, who were said to be Chechens, were al-Qaeda-linked suicide bombers.

However, it has since emerged that they were unarmed, and that one of the women was pregnant.

Human rights workers say security forces in Pakistan are rarely held to account for unlawful killings.

Hail of bullets

The killings - at a checkpost on the outskirts of Quetta - were caught on camera.
Two wounded women are visible, lying on the ground. They hold hands, perhaps trying to comfort each other.

One woman raises her arm - in what looks like a gesture of surrender, or plea for help.

But the response from the security forces was a hail of bullets. There were no survivors.

Initially the authorities claimed the women and their companions were suicide bombers, ready to carry out an attack.

The official line has changed several times since then.

The local police chief now says the five were killed when their own hand-grenades exploded.

But bomb disposal experts say there were no grenades, or suicide vests found with the bodies.

And an autopsy has revealed that one of the dead women - who was shot at least 12 times - was heavily pregnant.

The inquiry into the incident is to come to a conclusion within 10 days

[Mr Lick]

Somali pirates plead guilty in US to Quest hijacking



Three Somali men have pleaded guilty in US federal court to piracy for their role in a hijacking that ended in the deaths of four American sailors.

They face life sentences, but could receive lighter terms and eventually be deported to Somalia.

Two of them also pleaded guilty to hostage taking at the Virginia court.

The men are among 15 who have been charged for their roles in the February hijacking of the Quest. The yacht's owners and two guests were shot dead.

The group of pirates were negotiating with the US military to release the Americans - Scott and Jean Adam, and Bob Riggle and Phyllis Macay - when a rocket-propelled grenade was fired from the yacht at the guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett.

No killing role

Gunfire then broke out inside the yacht, and US special forces were sent to investigate. The pirates killed their hostages before the troops boarded, the US military said.

The troops shot dead two pirates as they boarded and another two were found dead when they arrived, it added.

At least three of the accused killed the hostages without provocation, prosecutors allege.

Mohamud Salad Ali, Mohamud Hirs Issa Ali and Ali Abdi Mohamed, who pleaded guilty on Friday, stated in their plea agreements that they played no direct role in the killings.

Several others charged in the case have plea hearings next week.

[Mr Lick]

Woman held in California for 'trying to sell moon rock'



An American woman is being questioned in California for allegedly trying to sell a moon rock for $1.7m (£1.05m).

The woman, whose identity has not been revealed, was held in a sting operation when she showed the rock to a Nasa investigator in Lake Elsinore.

Moon rocks are considered national treasure in the United States and their sale is illegal.

The rock was recovered but Nasa investigators have not yet determined whether it is genuine.

The sting operation had been planned for several months and took place at a restaurant.

Gail Robinson, Nasa's deputy inspector general, told the Los Angeles Times: "It's possible this is a moon rock, but it has to be tested first."

[Mr Lick]

US man charged with Chihuahua death faces life in jail



A man in the US state of California faces a possible life sentence for allegedly killing his wife's Chihuahua.

Bud Wally Ruiz, 53, gave the puppy to his wife as a Mother's Day gift, but now he is charged with animal cruelty.

Ruiz has a criminal history stretching back 30 years, with four convictions for assault with a deadly weapon.

Under California's "three strikes" law, the courts are bound to consider a 25-year sentence for criminals convicted of multiple violent felonies.

However, they do have discretion to impose a lesser sentence if they decide the new offence is less serious

Police responded to a late night emergency call on 12 May, and arrived at the couple's home in Gilroy, south east of San Jose in Silicon Valley, to find the puppy dead and the suspect gone.

Prosecutors allege an argument flared up after Ruiz got home drunk.

When his wife, Marcella, asked him to leave, Ruiz threw a travel bag containing the dog across the room, say police.

Marcella Ruiz accused her husband of assault, though she later retracted the allegation.

She subsequently told the local newspaper, Mercury News: "He was devastated. He's not a monster."

The Santa Clara County district attorney's office has charged Ruiz with two counts of cruelty to animals and one count of battery on a spouse.

"The courts weigh animal cruelty as a very serious offence," said Sgt Justin Matsuhara of the Santa Clara police department.

[Mr Lick]

Bernard Hopkins becomes oldest world champion at 46




Bernard Hopkins became boxing's oldest world champion after he beat Canada's Jean Pascal in Montreal to secure the WBC and IBO light-heavyweight titles.

The 46-year-old American is six months older than George Foreman was when he dethroned Michael Moorer as WBA and IBF heavyweight champion in 1994.

"I didn't feel like I was 46 tonight, I felt more like 36," Hopkins said.

"I knew it was going to be tough, but I wasn't going to be denied. You're meant to win titles in your 20s, not 46."

Hopkins had to weather an early attack from his younger opponent, but landed more punches and managed to avoid Pascal's most powerful shots.

And the veteran Hopkins, who goaded his younger opponent by coming out early for the seventh round to do some press-ups in the middle of the ring, clearly did enough to convince the judges, with the cards reading 115-113, 116-112 and 115-114.

"Bernard fought a great fight, he's a great champion, he has a great defence and knows a lot of tricks," said Pascal, after the second fight between the pair. The first ended in a draw, with a majority decision giving the fight to Pascal.

[Mr Lick]

AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Luton Town (4-3 on pens)



AFC Wimbledon won promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history with a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Luton at Eastlands.

After a goalless 120 minutes, top scorer Danny Kedwell netted the winning kick after Dons keeper Seb Brown saved from Alex Lawless and Jason Walker.

Kedwell had an early strike chalked out for offside in a frenetic game.

Walker saw a header hit the post late in normal time, while Dons' Kaid Mohamed also struck the woodwork.

[Mr Lick]

Political unrest in Yemen