World News in Pictures

[Mr Lick]

Runners make their way to the "Encierro" (Running Of The Bulls) at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 12, 2011. Two people were gored in a run that lasted two minutes and 16 seconds, according to local news sources.



Paramilitary soldiers hold guns with water bottles hanging from their ends during aiming training in Zhengzhou, Henan province July 11, 2011. China said March 4 it plans to raise its defense budget by 12.7 percent to 601 billion yuan in 2011, compared with an increase of 7.5 percent last year, Xinhua News Agency reported.

[Mr Lick]

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (3rd L) and French Army Chief of Staff Admiral Edouard Guillaud (2nd L) fly aboard a helicopter from Kabul to Tora to visit French troops at the 152nd Infantry Regiment military base in the region of Surobi July 12, 2011. Sarkozy said during a visit to Afghanistan on Tuesday that France will pull out 1,000 troops from its mission there by the end of 2012, as it speeds up its withdrawal with the United States.



Workers separate metal sheets at an industrial area in Mumbai July 12, 2011. India's industrial output rose at its weakest pace in nine months in May, the latest sign of slowdown for Asia's third-largest economy even as it girds for another interest rate increase this month as inflation persists.

[Mr Lick]

Festival goers watch a dance by traditional giant figures on the seventh day of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 12, 2011.



Thailand's outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is pictured speaking on a computer screen during his last meeting with his cabinet at the Government House in Bangkok July 12, 2011.

[Mr Lick]

The program for the funeral of Betty Ford, the wife of the late President Gerald Ford, is pictured in front of St. Margarets Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, California July 12, 2011. Ford, who overcame alcohol and prescription drug addictions and helped found a rehabilitation clinic that bears her name, died on July 8, 2011 at the age of 93.



A man and a dog drink water from a fountain during a sunny day in Prague as temperatures hovered over 28 degrees Celsius July 12, 2011.

[Mr Lick]

Doctor Ji Jiafu (2nd R) operates with his staff on a cancer patient in an operating theatre in the Beijing Cancer Hospital July 12, 2011. Cancer is spreading in China and is one of the country's leading killers, with 2.1 million deaths annually. Researchers and pharmaceutical companies are trying to find ways to combat the country?s growing epidemic and seize shares of a promising gigantic market. Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world, with around 12.7 million people discovering they have cancer and 7.6 million people dieing from some form of the disease.



Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa speaks at a news conference in Tokyo July 12, 2011. The Bank of Japan kept monetary policy steady and revised up its assessment of the economy on Tuesday, encouraged by a pickup in factory output and the prospects for recovery in business sentiment, which was hit by the devastating earthquake in March.

[Mr Lick]

A steel worker operates a furnace at a steel manufacturing plant in Hefei, Anhui province July 12, 2011. China's imports of iron ore fell to 51.09 million tonnes in June, compared with 53.30 million tonnes in May, data from the customs agency showed on Sunday.



A hospital morgue worker shows the body of Sardar Mohammad, a senior member of the Karzai family's security team who killed Ahmad Wali Karzai the younger half-brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, in Kandahar July 12, 2011. The younger half-brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, one of the most powerful and controversial men in southern Afghanistan, was shot dead at his home on Tuesday by a senior and highly trusted bodyguard, officials said.

[Mr Lick]

A bandsman sticks out his tongue during the 12th of July parades along Donegal Street in Belfast July 12, 2011.



A heifer charges at a reveller at Pamplona's bullring after the sixth running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 12, 2011. Two people were gored in a run that lasted two minutes and 16 seconds, according to local news sources.

[Mr Lick]

Remembering Betty Ford
From left, former President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and first lady Michelle Obama attend the funeral service for Betty Ford in Palm Desert, California, on Tuesday. The former first lady passed away on Friday.



Rioting Breaks Out in Northern Ireland
Nationalist youths throw rocks and gasoline bombs during a riot in Belfast on Tuesday. Police said a second night of unrest broke out in Northern Ireland at the height of the Protestant "marching season," or parade festivities.

[Mr Lick]

A Memorial for Boat-Sinking Victims
A woman in the port city of Kazan, Russia, lights a candle Tuesday in memory of the victims who perished when the Bulgaria tourist boat sank in the Volga River on Sunday. At least 100 people lost their lives in the tragic incident.



Florida Police Defend Handling of Anthony Case
Orange County Sheriff's investigator Yuri Melich speaks about the Casey Anthony case in Florida Tuesday. "I wish there was something I could say that would bring closure to everyone, but there isn't," said Melich, according to CNN.

[Mr Lick]

A Show of Support
A man carries a bag of food past a wall reading "Long Live Raul" on Tuesday in Havana. Cuban farmers and urban private workers were the ones that earned the most in 2010 because of President Raul Castro's reforms.



Riding for a Cause
South Africans participating in the "Bikers for Mandela Day" event arrive Tuesday at the town of Howick (where Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962). The volunteer riders donate their time to help serve rural communities

[Mr Lick]

How Much Longer?
An elderly man and a young boy living in Zintan, the rebel stronghold on the western Libyan front, wait for bread to be baked outside one of the few open bakeries on Tuesday.



We're Not Going Anywhere
On Tuesday, residents of El Alto, Bolivia, block roads for a second consecutive day during a protest calling for basic public services such as water, drains and gas installations in homes.

[Mr Lick]

Looking for Food and Shelter in Somalia
Displaced by violence and a terrible drought that has affected millions, a Somali woman carrying her baby and belongings arrives at a new camp in southern Mogadishu on Tuesday.



I Just Want a Sip!
A dove flies near a fountain at dusk in Madrid on Tuesday.

[Mr Lick]

Mumbai: Explosions shake India's financial hub



Three explosions have shaken India's commercial capital Mumbai (Bombay), local media reported police as saying.

Police told Reuters news agency three people were killed. Other reports said dozens of people were wounded.

One explosion was reported in the Zaveri Bazaar, another in the Opera House business district and a third in the south of the city.

Indian media have quoted the home ministry as saying the explosions are a terrorist attack.

The blasts came on the birthday of Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, the sole surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks which killed nearly 170 people.

No group has said it carried out the attack.

The authorities have not yet said who they believe might be behind the attack.

[Mr Lick]

Apology as Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash pilots cleared



Defence Secretary Liam Fox has apologised to the families of two RAF pilots wrongly accused of negligence over the 1994 Chinook helicopter crash.

Two RAF air marshals had accused Flt Lts Jonathan Tapper and Richard Cook of gross negligence over the crash on Mull of Kintyre in which 29 people died.

But a fresh review found they should not have been blamed and the earlier ruling has now been set aside.

Mr Fox said he hoped this would remove any stain on the pilots' reputations.

Campaigners have spent almost two decades trying to overturn the decision to blame Flt Lts Tapper, from Norfolk, and Cook, from Hampshire, for the crash.

They claimed that the Chinook helicopter had suffered many technical problems.

[Mr Lick]

News Corp withdraws bid for BSkyB



Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has announced that it is dropping its planned bid to take full ownership of satellite broadcaster BSkyB.

The announcement came as the House of Commons prepared to vote for a motion supported by all major party leaders calling on Mr Murdoch to do so.

The move follows a scandal over phone hacking by its UK newspaper group.

News Corp chairman Chase Carey said the bid had become "too difficult to progress in this climate".

The scandal has already led to the closure of the UK's biggest-selling newspaper, the News of the World.

[Mr Lick]

Woman jailed for stabbing murder at Barking party



A woman who served time for killing her partner has been jailed for life after being convicted of murdering another man at a party at her east London home.

Tracey Van Dungey, 43, of Sugden Way, Barking, stabbed Carl Everson, 41, three times in October 2010 in a "violent, drunken attack".

She had served 42 months for kicking and punching her partner Kevin Qui to death in 2004, the Old Bailey heard.

Judge Stephen Kramer ordered Van Dungey to serve a minimum of 19 years in jail.

The victim, who had been drinking at the party, was attacked by another woman, Kelly Gentry, 39, of Bedford Road, Tottenham, north London, before the fatal stabbing.

Mr Everson was beaten and stamped on and was unconscious on the living room floor when Van Dungey - who had personality disorders and was an alcoholic - "took advantage of his vulnerability and killed him", the court heard.



Gentry was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent



The judge told the killer: "I do not accept you did it as an act of mercy.
"You also appear to have removed his property."

Mr Everson, who had two children and three stepchildren, bled to death within two minutes, the court heard.

Gentry was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was remanded for reports.

In a statement the victim's sister, Anita, said: "We have sat in court trying to find out what happened but neither defendant gave evidence.

"Instead we are left wondering."

[Mr Lick]

The feet of the Brazilian synchronized swimming team are captured as they practise ahead of the World Swmming Championships in Shanghai, China



A man puffs on a huge cigarette as he protests against plans to regulate smoking in Jakarta

[Mr Lick]

A giant shuttlecock is unveiled to promote the Badminton World Championships next month in London



A protester wearing a Rupert Murdoch mask demonstrates outside the apartment of the News Corp chief in London.

[Mr Lick]

A mosaic Faberge egg is displayed at Buckingham Palace in London. It was originally a gift from Tsar Nicholas II to the Tsarina in 1914



Somali children wait for food to be distributed in Mogadishu

[Mr Lick]

Brazil plane crash in Recife kills all 16 on board



A twin-engine aircraft has crashed in north-east Brazil, killing all 16 people on board.

The crew had reported problems almost immediately after take-off from the city of Recife, officials said.

They said the pilot had apparently tried to land on the beach near Recife, but the plane came down on an empty lot and burst into flames.

Authorities say they believe weather was not a factor in the crash, which they are now investigating.

Firefighters said the blaze was quickly brought under control.

According to the authorities, the plane came down on wasteland between two Recife neighbourhoods - Piedade and Boa Viagem.

Brazilian media reported that the crash scene was just 150m from the beach and in a residential area.

A circus had been pitched on the site a fortnight previously, reports said.

[Mr Lick]

Air Algerie strike angers passengers in France



There have been angry scenes at Orly airport in France after passengers were left stranded by a strike by Algeria's state-run airline.

Police tried to calm tempers after dozens of flights were cancelled by the industrial action that began on Monday.

Air Algerie's cabin crew are demanding a 106% increase in their salary.

French Transport Minister Thierry Mariani has summoned representatives of the airline for discussion, AFP news agency reports.

[Mr Lick]

Deadly Mumbai blasts

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

Mass rally in Egypt










Egypt to sack 700 police over killing of protesters

Almost 700 senior police officers in Egypt are being removed from their jobs over the killing of protesters during the revolution earlier this year.

Interior Minister Mansour Essawy said 505 generals and 164 officers would end their service on 1 August.

The move comes as protests continue in Cairo's Tahrir Square, calling for the speedy trials of police officers and corrupt Mubarak-era officials.

The military also confirmed that polls set for September would be delayed.

"It has been decided to hold [parliamentary elections] in October or November," an official from Egypt's interim ruling military council told the Mena state news agency on Wednesday.

Many of Egypt's new political parties have called for the vote to be delayed so that they can compete against better organised and more powerful opposition groups, notably the Muslim Brotherhood.

On Tuesday, the military said it would draft guidelines for selecting the 100-member assembly that will write a new Egyptian constitution. That could make it more difficult for any Islamist-led legislature to choose the body and thereby give the charter an Islamist slant, analysts say.