World News in Pictures

[Mr Lick]

Thais start voting in crucial general election



People are voting in a general election in Thailand, billed as a test of the nation's fragile democracy.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's Democrats face a tough battle against the Pheu Thai party, which is allied to ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra and led by his sister, Yingluck.

Thailand has endured six years of often bloody political protests and there is tight security for the vote nationwide.

About 170,000 police officers have been deployed outside polling stations.

Last year, protesters shut down parts of Bangkok for two months in a bid to force the government to resign. When the army stepped in to clear the capital's streets it degenerated into violence, leaving 91 people dead.

Many of the red-shirted demonstrators were supporters of Mr Thaksin, whose government was toppled in a military coup in 2006.

[Mr Lick]

Oil swirls in a flooded gravel pit in Lockwood, Mont., after a pipeline break early Saturday, July 2. The ExxonMobil pipeline that runs under the Yellowstone River near Billings in south-central Montana ruptured and dumped an unknown amount of oil into the waterway, prompting temporary evacuations along the river.

[Mr Lick]

Chris Habetler, left, and Robert Chavez eat the cups of ice given to them to deal with the record 118-degree heat at the Tent City jail on July 2 in Phoenix, A

[Mr Lick]

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, visits a cooking workshop at the Institut de tourisme et d'hotellerie du Quebec in Montreal July 2. Prince William and his wife Catherine are on a royal tour of Canada from June 30 to July 8.

[Mr Lick]

Tripoli, Libya: A boy plays with a toy gun during a demonstration against Nato at a UN building - The Junior Terminator?

[Mr Lick]

Sao Paulo, Brazil: A woman has a cannabis leaf painted on her face during a march to support the legalisation of marijuana

[Mr Lick]

Shanghai, China: Students attend a graduation ceremony at Shanghai's Fudan University

[Mr Lick]

Hong Kong: Children in Victoria Park take part in an attempt to set a record for the highest number of people simultaneously long rope skipping



Lisbon, Portugal: A participant flies an octopus-shaped kite at the 10th international kite festival

[Mr Lick]

Taichung, Taiwan: Gymnasts perform at a welcoming ceremony during Lady Gaga Day



Madrid, Spain: People watch a gay pride parade from balconies in Gran Via

[Mr Lick]

Monaco: Prince Albert and Princess Charlene leave the palace after their wedding ceremony



London, UK: Revellers take part in a gay pride parade

[Mr Lick]

Tour de France 2011: Stage one

[Mr Lick]

Europcar rider Vincent Jerome lies down after a crash and hopes he doesn't get hit by any of the other riders

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[Mr Lick]

Spain's three-time winner Alberto Contador speeds along a road. Contador was involved in one of three crashes on the first stage, but he wasn't injured

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Omega Pharma-Lotto rider Philippe Gilbert sprints towards the finishing line

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Which he crosses and kisses his shirt badge






World Road Race champion Thor Hushovd recovers after finishing third

[Mr Lick]

Contador looks in a thoughtful mood as he crosses the finish line. He'll be hoping for a better performance in stage 2

[Mr Lick]

Man shot dead outside pub in Easton area of Bristol



A man in his early 20s has been shot dead outside a Bristol pub, police have confirmed.

The shooting happened at about 0410 BST outside the Coach House pub in Stapleton Road, Easton.

Police said a man in his 20s had now been arrested in connection with the incident.

A man and a woman are being treated at Bristol Royal Infirmary for injuries which are not thought to be life-threatening.

The road at the scene of the shooting has been closed in both directions between Warwick Road and Oxford Place.

[Mr Lick]

Cambodia completes Angkor temple renovation 'puzzle'




An ancient Angkor temple has re-opened in Cambodia following decades of reconstruction work - a task described as the world's largest puzzle.

The work has involved taking apart the Baphuon monument's 300,000 sandstone blocks and piecing them back together.

The project began in the 1960s but was interrupted by Cambodia's civil war, and restarted in the mid-1990s.

The 11th-Century three-tier tower is part of the Angkor complex which draws two million tourists a year.

[Mr Lick]

Thailand opposition 'wins key election'




The party allied to ousted and exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra has won a major victory in Thailand's general election, partial results show.

Outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has already conceded victory to his rival, opposition leader Yingluck Shinawatra.

She will become Thailand's first female prime minister.

Yingluck Shinawatra is the sister of Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006.

With 92% of votes counted, Ms Yingluck's Pheu Thai party had won 260 seats, giving it a majority in the 500-seat parliament.

"It is now clear from the election results so far that the Pheu Thai party has won the election, and the Democrat Party concedes defeat. I would like to congratulate the Pheu Thai party for the right to form a government," Mr Abhisit said on national TV.

"I will give the chance to Yingluck, the first woman to form a government," he added. "I want to see unity and reconciliation. The Democrats are ready to be in opposition."

The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Bangkok says the Pheu Thai party has won a decisive victory.

[Mr Lick]

Greece arrests US captain of Gaza aid ship



The Greek authorities have arrested the captain of a boat that was due to carry activists to the Gaza Strip.

John Klusmire, a US citizen, is being held in custody at police headquarters in the port of Piraeus, near Athens.

He faces charges of trying to leave port without permission and of endangering the lives of passengers.

His vessel, the Audacity of Hope, was part of a flotilla planning to take humanitarian aid to Gaza in order to challenge the Israeli blockade.

It was prevented from setting sail from the port of Perama on Friday night by the Greek coastguard, in accordance with a ban announced the same day which the Greek government said was intended to protect activists.

The Audacity of Hope, which is currently moored at a naval base, was carrying 36 passengers, four crew and about 10 members of the media.

A spokeswoman for the boat, Jane Hirschmann, told the Associated Press that the conditions of Mr Klusmire's detention were "terrible".

"There is no bed. He is sitting on a bench," she added.

[Mr Lick]

Stuart Broad fined by ICC for showing 'serious dissent'



England pace bowler Stuart Broad has been fined 50% of his match fee for Friday's second one-day international against Sri Lanka at Headingley.

Broad was punished by the International Cricket Council for "showing serious dissent" after umpire Billy Bowden turned down an lbw appeal.

The Nottinghamshire player admitted the offence after the close of play.

"Stuart's behaviour was not acceptable in any form of cricket," said match referee Alan Hurst.

"Accepting an umpire's decision is an essential feature of cricket and part of the game's unique spirit.

"As a well-established member of his country's national side and current captain of the Twenty20 international team, Stuart must take responsibility for what he says and does."

The incident in question occurred in the final over of the Sri Lanka innings when Broad, who conceded 70 runs in 10 wicketless overs, was unsuccessful with an appeal against Jeevan Mendis and made "unacceptable and offensive remarks" to Bowden as he left the field.

[Mr Lick]

Thailand votes

[Mr Lick]

There was tight security nationwide for Sunday's election

[Mr Lick]

Ethiopia drought: UK pledges £38m in food aid



The UK has pledged £38m ($61m) in food aid to drought-hit Ethiopia - enough to feed 1.3m people for three months.

International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said the World Food Programme cash would also treat 329,000 malnourished children and mothers.

He warned that other countries must also give money if a full-scale disaster was to be avoided.

The African country faces its worst drought for a decade with an estimated 3.2m people in need of emergency aid.

Mr Mitchell said: "Through no fault of its own, the Horn of Africa is experiencing a severe drought caused by the failed rains.

"Britain is acting quickly and decisively in Ethiopia to stop this crisis becoming a catastrophe. We will provide vital food to help 1.3 million people through the next three months.

"This situation needs an international response and Britain is calling on the international community to provide fast, effective relief."