World News in Pictures

[Mr Lick]

"You can't see it. It's not tangible. It's a fear of the unknown."

Patrik Lundin is telling me what it feels like to be surrounded by an invisible danger: high levels of radiation. Lundin's photography project, 36 Views of The Fukushima Dai-ichi Exclusion Zone, explores the effects of the fallout from the Fukushima nuclear plant following the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11

[Mr Lick]

Members of the Syrian community in Bucharest protest against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, on September 2 in Bucharest, Romania. Hundreds of people, mainly Syrians, took to the streets of Romania on September 2nd to protest against the Assad's regime.

[Mr Lick]

US Postal Service mailboxes are seen awaiting disposal Thursday, Sept. 1, in San Jose, Calif. Because of steeply declining use, the U.S. Postal Service has removed more than 60 percent of the blue boxes, the chief culprit is the Internet. More people are paying bills, sending invitations and writing personal letters online. The volume of mail dropped into mailboxes has dropped 35 percent since 2006, said Sue Brennan, a U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman.

[Mr Lick]

U.S. Army soldiers from the 2-27th Infantry Regiment work out at Observation Post Mustang on September 2, 2011 in Kunar Province, Afghanistan.



U.S. Spc. Joseph McInnis from the 2-27th Infantry Regiment works out at Observation Post Mustang. The area, in the Hindu Kush mountains in northeastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border, is considered a major infiltration route by Taliban fighters coming across from Pakistan and has seen some of the heaviest fighting of the war.






U.S. Army Pfc. Clarke Lazaga, 20, burns outhouse sewage with diesel fuel at Observation Post Mustang.






Soldiers pull a bobcat tractor out of the mud at their mountaintop position on September 2.

[Mr Lick]

A pack of cyclists ride during the 13th stage of the Spanish Vuelta cycling race which was held between Sarria and Ponferrada, northwestern Spain, on 2 September, 2011

[Mr Lick]

Members of the Mohan Baidhya faction of the United Communist Party of Nepal hold torches during a rally to protest against a handover of keys to arms containers by Nepal's Maoist former rebels in Kathmandu on Friday, Sept. 2. The former rebels have handed control of a cache of more than 3,000 weapons to a multi-party committee overseeing the country's peace process, officials said on Friday. Weapons used by the Maoists during their decade-long rebellion that ended in 2006 are kept in metal containers in seven camps across the tiny Himalayan state. Some hard-liners within the Maoist group have opposed the handover of the weapons saying they were not consulted.



Nepalese Maoist stage a torch protest rally against the decision to hand over the keys of the arms container in Kathmandu on Friday. A group of Maoist Party hardliners lead by senior vice chairman Mohan Baidhay panel staged a torch rally against the handing over of their weapons to a multi party committee that oversees the peace process. Nepal’s Major political parties and International community have welcomed the decision of Maoist’s Party to the hand over of the weapons as a mark of a major step towards completing Nepal's five-year-old peace process but Baidhay panel protest its step saying 'suicidal' and against the party policy

[Mr Lick]

Euro 2012 qualifer: Bulgaria v England






Maybe the ground staff should have done a bit more preparation. Or it could be a ploy to interrupt England's game.

I've seen better prepared council pitches in England









His chosen line-up tonight features a number of players who have swapped clubs in recent weeks - Scott Parker, Stewart Downing, Ashley Young - though Gary Cahill (back row left) remains a Bolton a player despite interest from rival clubs

[Mr Lick]

Following a fairly even if unremarkable first 13 minutes, England take the lead. After a corner is cleared, Gareth Barry picks up the ball in the middle of the park and clips a pass down the inside-right channel for Cahill, who breaks clear through a huge hole in the Bulgaria defence and pokes a shot under the advancing Mihaylov. The ball nicks the keeper but creeps into the bottom-left corner



And it's not long before it's 2-0 ... Wayne Rooney is the scorer - he rises highest in a crowded box to meet a corner from Gareth Barry. The Manchester United striker beats his team-mate John Terry in the air to head the ball into the net



he looks quite pleased with his 6th goal in only his 4th appearance of the season

[Mr Lick]

In the dying seconds of the first half Martin Petrov tries his luck from distance again, but his shot hits Scott Parker on the arm. The Bulgarian's claim for handball is ignored by the referee who waves play on. England counter quickly and



Walcott receives the ball and then plays Ashley Young in down the right with a clever reverse pass, and the Manchester United winger slides a first time ball across the box to his club and international team-mate who's unmarked and has the simple task of tapping the ball into an empty net. This is too easy!



The three men involved in the goal celebrate their handiwork

[Mr Lick]

Scott Parker gets stuck in and takes on Bulgaria's Blagoy Georgiev, left, and Ivelin Popov. This sort of attitude is probably one of the reasons that Harry Redknapp paid £5.5 million for him earlier this week



Some sections of the Bulgaria fans directed monkey chants at Ashley Young, Ashley Cole and Theo Walcott during the second half. After the match the Bulgaria coach Lothar Matthäus apologised for the conduct of a minority of the country's fans



It appears that the Bulgarian fans don't like UEFA either






Frank Lampard, who was dropped in favour of Stewart Downing, replaces Gareth Barry with 10 minutes to go and finds himself combining with Downing in order to dispossess Petar Zanev



England fans celebrate at the final whistle. They, the players and the manager will be happy with the result. Something that won't please the England camp and the majority of the England fans are reports that there were chants from sections of the away support of "Where's your caravan?" directed at the locals



England captain John Terry and team-mates applaud the fans at full time. The thoughts of the players and manager now turn to the match against Wales in 4 days time. Though Wales' 2-1 victory over Montenegro has done England a favour, in that they are now sitting 3 points clear at the top of the table, the Welsh performance will serve as a warning to Fabio Capello and his team

[Mr Lick]

Schoeneiche, Germany: Two endangered Spix's Macaws at the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots



Newport Beach, USA: A surfer faces a high wave at the Wedge California. Waves measuring up to 20 feet pounded the beach. A winter storm off the coast of Australia and New Zealand brought unusually high surf to the Southern California beaches



Buenos Aires, Argentina: A mourner kisses the window of a hearse carrying the body of 11-year-old murder victim Candela Rodríguez

[Mr Lick]

Boys run their horse through the streets during the Ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle in the Glens of Antrim August 29, 2011 The event is one of the oldest fairs in Ireland and has been held without interruption for more than three centuries



Actress Keira Knightley (C) walks in Venice during the 68th Venice Film Festival September 2, 2011.

[Mr Lick]

Students are hit by a jet of water from a riot police vehicle during a students' rally to demand Chile's government make changes to the public state education system in Santiago September 2, 2011.









Students deliver a news conference during an occupation of the Chile's Education Ministry at Santiago August 31, 2011, to demand changes in the public state education system. The banner reads, "Popular Assembly".

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

Like a House of Cards
Workers look at the flood-damaged K1 lodge at the Killington Ski Resort in Vermont on Thursday. The ski resort (the largest one in the eastern U.S.) sustained serious damage but is expected to open on time for ski season.



Momma Mia! Profane Berlusconi Caught on Tape

Silvio Berlusconi, here with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris Thursday, said he wanted to leave his "s----y" country in a leaked police tape that was part of a probe into an alleged extortion plot targeting the Italian leader.

[Mr Lick]

Godspeed, My Sons

At the Santa Maria della Salute church in Venice on Thursday, Monsignor Lucio Ciglia blesses the Gondolini and the Regatanti (rowers) ahead of Sunday's Regata Storica (historical boat races) event.



Deadly Typhoon Hits China

Nanmadol, the 11th and strongest typhoon to hit China this year, struck the Fujian Province's coast on Wednesday, reportedly killing two people. Here: A mother grabs her dead child's arm in the city of Putian on Thursday.

[Mr Lick]

The Pentagon a Decade After 9/11

The sun reflects off benches at the Pentagon Memorial, dedicated to those who died on 9/11. September 11, 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the attack.



Battling for Afghanistan's Border

U.S. soldiers fire mortars at a Taliban position from Observation Post Mustang in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. The area near the Pakistan border is a major infiltration route for Taliban fighters coming from Pakistan

[Mr Lick]

Tribute to a Missing Member

The Royal Air Force Red Arrows perform the "Gypo Split" in Chatsworth, England during their first public display since the tragic death of pilot Jon Egging. Egging died in a crash on August 20.



Back on the Track

Jamaica's Usain Bolt (left) competes in the men's 200-meter heats at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. It marked Bolt's return to racing after a controversial disqualification loss.

[Mr Lick]

Not Yet Seaworthy
Workers build the MSC Divina liner in Saint-Nazaire, France. MSC Divina is scheduled to be christened in Marseille in May of 2012.



Yemenis Take to the Streets
Thousands of Yemeni anti-government protesters take part in demonstrations against the ruling regime in Sanaa on September 2, 2011. An estimated two million people protested across the country.

[Mr Lick]

No New Jobs as Unemployment Remains at 9.1%
The U.S. economy added no new jobs in August, its worst performance in a year. Employers have cut back on hiring and trimmed the hours of existing employees



Faith and a Foot
A devotee touches the foot of a 52-foot-tall representation of the elephant-headed Hindu god Lord Ganesh while praying during the 11-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Hyderabad, India.

[Mr Lick]

Corporations Come Back to Libya
A young Libyan girl attends with her father the weekly Friday noon prayer at the Martyrs' Square in Tripoli on September 2, 2011. At least five foreign oil and gas companies have returned to the nation.



Still Many Miles to Go

A worker is silhouetted in an access tunnel during the installation of railway equipment in Erstfeld, Switzerland. By the time it opens in 2016, the 35.4 mile Gotthard Tunnel will be the world's longest rail tunnel.

[Mr Lick]

Showing Off Their Steam

Steam enthusiasts demonstrate their engines at the Great Dorset Steam Fair, the biggest event of its kind in Europe, in Tarrant Hinton, England. Over 200,000 people are expected to attend.



It Was This Big...

Two Sumatran tiger cubs play in their enclosure in the Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic on September 2, 2011

[Mr Lick]

Pakistani spectators watch Khalid Raban ride his m/cycle during Eid al-Fitr celebrations

[Mr Lick]

A bungee jumper against the backdrop of Auckland, NZ

[Mr Lick]

The shipping container area of Qingdao port in China's manufacturing powerhouse



A vet displays some of the snakes found in an Australian passenger's hand luggage on his arrival at Munich airport