World News in Pictures

[Mr Lick]

Crates containing tank shells litter the desert near ammunition storage bunkers located in the desert, 62 miles south of Sirte, October 26, 2011



Piles of ammunition is seen stored in a bunker 62 miles south of Sirte on October 26, 2011.






A child stands in the middle of her room, damaged during fighting between pro and anti-Gaddafi fighters, after her family returned to their home in Sirte, October 26, 2011

[Mr Lick]

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron arrives at the European Union summit in Brussels, October 26, 2011. The European Union's leaders are meeting to work out a comprehensive deal to resolve the euro zone debt crisis and find a way to give the region's bailout fund greater firepower.

[Mr Lick]

People try to cross a street as water runs through in Monterosso, one of the villages that make up the Five Lands after overnight floods, Oct. 26.



Residents view cars piled up after heavy floods in Aulla, Massa Carrara, Italy, on October 26. At least five people were killed in overnight rains and flooding in Italy's northwestern and central regions of Liguria and Tuscany, officials said.



A man walks on mud and debris between broken cars in a street of Monterosso, one of the five villages that make up the Five Lands after overnight floods, on Oct. 26, in the Spezia region. The areas worst hit by the floods in Italy were the Spezia region and the picturesque Five Lands tourist destination.




Heavy rains caused sudden flooding in Liguria and Tuscany in northwest Italy. In the hardest hit area of 'Cinque Terre' (or Five Lands), towns were cut off as roads were washed away. At least nine people were killed and more were still missing

[Mr Lick]

The world population is going through a growth spurt, but its pace varies widely from country to country due in large part to differences in birth rates. Some nations see declines while others see sharp increases.

The United Nations Population Fund estimates the world population will reach 7 billion on Oct. 31.

Women on average are having 2.5 babies each, according to UN data. That’s still above the population replacement level of 2.1 but just half of the five babies apiece they averaged in 1950, when the world population was 2.6 billion. It reached 6 billion in 1998.

In the Philippines, with a population of 101.8 million, the 2011 birth rate is 3.19 babies per woman, says the CIA World Fact Book. Hospitals estimate about 200 births an hour across the country.













China’s birth rate has fallen to 1.5 under three decades of strict family planning rules that limited urban families to one child and rural families to two.

India, the world’s second-most populous country behind China, has a 2.6 birth rate expected to keep its population rising for years to come

[Mr Lick]

Flood victims leave from flooded areas in a truck in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011.



People talk about the floods next to the Chao Praya river in Bangkok, on October 26, 2011. Thailand's premier warned nervous Bangkok citizens that incoming floods could last for four weeks, as waters inched nearer the city center on the eve of an emergency five-day holiday.



Pedestrians walk past a flood protection barrier made of sandbags in the financial district of Bangkok on October 26, 2011.



A woman rests after being evacuated to a shelter set up at the Sports Science Centre in Bangkok from an area affected by the floods October 26, 2011

[Mr Lick]

Claudio Barbato, left, a member of the opposition FLI party, fights with Fabio Ranieri. right, from the Northern League in Parliament in Rome October 26, 2011. The Italian deputies exchanged blows in parliament on Wednesday as tensions over a tough economic reform program came to a head.

[Mr Lick]

The top 10 green cars coming in 2012

Last week the transport minister, Norman Baker, blamed the slow uptake of electric cars on a lack of choice. But 2012 looks set to be a bumper year for electric and low-carbon models



Vauxhall Ampera: rxtended-range electric vehicle, 175 mpg. The Vauxhall Ampera is an electric car with no range limitation. It has a zero-tailpipe emission range of up to 50 miles on its battery, but when that range is reached it can then switch to its onboard petrol range-extender generator - which charges the battery rather than powers the wheels - and it can keep on driving. The Ampera’s official fuel economy is 175 mpg, equating to 40 g/km CO2. This sounds amazing, but it really depends on how the car is used in real life; the idea is to drive the Ampera in its electric mode for as much of the time as possible and avoid using the petrol generator. The Ampera is eligible for the government’s £5,000 plug-in car grant; even after this it will still cost £28,995, but it should be much cheaper to run than a conventional car



Renault Zoe: electric No petrol or diesel required If you like the idea of the all-electric Nissan Leaf, but only want to pay around half of its price, then you may want to wait for the Renault Zoe. Renault has an alliance with Nissan for the development of electric vehicles, with the two companies sharing technologies. Renault has produced an electric car that is smaller than the Nissan Leaf, in the form of the Zoe. It's a Clio-sized car designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle. The Zoe Preview, shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show, is around a 90% accurate likeness of the final production version. It has a top speed of 84 mph and a range of 100 miles, together with a 0-62 mph time of 8.1 seconds. As with any electric car, the Zoe will only be truly zero-emission if recharged with electricity produced from renewable energy. The Zoe will be available from mid-2012 and Renault claims that it will be a similar price to a Clio diesel, less than £15,000

[Mr Lick]

Renault Twizy: electric No petrol or diesel required Looking for a bit of zero-emission craziness? If so, the Renault Twizy may fit the bill. The Twizy is basically a four-wheeled electric scooter, with two seats, one behind the other, and better occupant protection than a two-wheeled version. However there’s no weather protection such as doors and windows (because the Twizy doesn’t have a ventilation system). The Twizy weighs 450 kg, including the 100 kg batteries, has a 60 mile range, and a top speed of 47 mph. A full charge of the Twizy’s batteries takes three and a half hours using a domestic supply. The Twizy costs from £6,690 including VAT. There’s also a monthly battery hire which is £40 including VAT for a three year and 4,500 miles per year agreement. The Twizy is due to go on sale in the UK in early 2012 alongside the electric Renault Fluence saloon



Peugeot 3008 hybrid4: diesel-electric hybrid 74 mpg We’ve seen petrol-electric hybrids in the form of the Toyota prius, now the French have decided that they want a diesel-electric hybrid, and the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 is the world’s first car of this type. It can drive for up to three miles on electric-only power, then it uses its diesel engine on a long run - the idea being that it will be more economical than a petrol unit. It even has four-wheel drive capability, thanks to the diesel engine powering the front wheels and the electric motor powering the rears. If the hybrid battery depletes, then the car will charge it back up again during driving and braking. There are two 3008 Hybrid4 models – one emits 99 g/km CO2 and returns 74.3 mpg; the other emits 104 g/km due to having larger wheels and tyres. The 3008 Hybrid4 costs from £26,995, and the 99 g/km model is exempt from the London congestion charge. Right-hand drive versions will be available in the UK in early 2012

[Mr Lick]

Volvo V60 plug-in hybrid: diesel-electric plug-in hybrid 150 mpg A Volvo estate, with all-wheel drive capability, that can manage 150 mpg? It sounds like we’re in the realms of science fiction, but the V60 Plug-in Hybrid, emitting 49 g/km CO2, will be on sale next year. The V60 is based on a similar concept to the hybrid system of the Toyota Prius, with a conventional engine mated to a battery and electric motor



Toyota prius plug-in hybrid: petrol-electric plug-in hybrid 134 mpg The Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid will be joining the Prius range in 2012 and it is expected to emit just 49 g/km CO2 and achieve 134 mpg fuel economy

[Mr Lick]

Kia rio: diesel 88 mpg While most manufacturers are now developing hybrid and electric vehicles to achieve increasingly amazing levels of economy, Kia is bringing out a diesel that can manage 88 mpg, showing that there’s life in the internal combustion engine yet. The Kia rio, in 1.1 CRDi form, is an excellent example of how diesel engines can be optimised to be as efficient as possible, resulting in emissions of just 85 g/km CO2. When it becomes available in the UK at the start of 2012 this will make this rio the UK’s most economical conventionally powered car. Because it’s a diesel, it’s ultimately not as green as an electric car, and a petrol-electric hybrid is likely to be cleaner in terms of emissions that impact on local air quality. It is priced from £11,895



Ford Focus ECOnetic Technology: diesel 83 mpg Will deliver 89 g/km CO2, equivalent to 83.1 MPG. This should make it the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid family (C-segment) car available in Europe when it goes on sale. To avoid having to add expensive hybrid technology, Ford has optimised various elements of its diesel powertrain and introduced clever features to achieve such impressive fuel economy

[Mr Lick]

Lexus GS 450h: petrol-electric hybrid 45 mpg People generally view hybrids as being worthy but boring front-wheel drive family hatchbacks. However there’s one car that attempts to change this perception, as it’s a rear-wheel drive luxury sports saloon capable of 0-62 MPH in 5.9 seconds, thanks to its power output of 343 HP. However despite the impressive performance figures, the new model has emissions of just 145 g/km CO2. This car is the new Lexus GS 450h, which shares similar hybrid technology with the Toyota prius. Like the prius, the idea is that the powertrain swaps between petrol and electric power to suit driving demands, but always with efficiency in mind. However rather than the 1.8-litre petrol engine in the Prius, the GS 450h has a 3.5-litre V6 – combined with two high-output electric motors. It can drive in zero-emission mode at low speeds over short distances



Fisker Karma: extended-range electric vehicle 100 mpg If the Lexus GS 450h isn’t enough of a statement for you, and instead you’re seeking a car that looks like a four-door Aston Martin - but you also want it to be capable of 100 mpg - then look no further than the Fisker Karma. The four-door, four-passenger Karma premium plug-in hybrid electric vehicle develops 403 hp, reaches 62 mph in 5.9 seconds, has a top speed of 125 mph, yet it can achieve an average economy of 100 mpg and CO2 emissions of just 83 g/km

[Mr Lick]

Bangkok under water






Airplanes are seen parked on a flooded tarmac at Don Muang airport in Bangkok, October 26, 2011.

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

Quake rocks Turkey









Earthquake survivor Gozde Bahar is carried to an ambulance by rescue workers in Ercis, near the eastern Turkish city of Van, October 26, 2011. Emergency workers rescued the 27-year old woman alive from a collapsed building nearly three days after the earthquake.

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

Bodies of earthquake victims lie under a collapsed building in Ercis, near the eastern Turkish city of Van, October 25, 2011

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

Snow Doubt About It: Winter's Coming
People wait in line during an autumn snowstorm to see President Barack Obama speak at the University of Colorado's Denver campus on Wednesday. Obama unveiled a plan to help people pay off their student loans



Burning With Rage
Yemeni women in Sanaa burn veils Wednesday to protest the regime's crackdown on female demonstrators. In the wake of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's most recent pledge to resign, 19 people have died amid ongoing violence



Coroner: Alcohol Poisoning Killed Amy Winehouse
A British coroner ruled on Wednesday that singer Amy Winehouse died with lethal amounts of alcohol in her system, describing it as a "death by misadventure." Here: Winehouse's mother Janis, center, is pictured in London.



A Break for Tea
Three days after a deadly 7.2-magnitude quake struck eastern Turkey, people drink tea among the rubble in the devastated city of Ercis on Wednesday. The government is struggling to shelter residents displaced by the temblor.



Show Me the Money
German Chancellor Angela Merkel gives a speech at the Bundestag, which is the lower house of parliament, in Berlin on Wednesday. She called on lawmakers to support beefing up the EU's bailout fund

[Mr Lick]

Argentina 'Angel of Death' Alfredo Astiz convicted



Former Argentine naval officer Alfredo Astiz has been jailed for life for crimes against humanity during military rule in 1976-83.

Astiz - known as the "Blonde Angel of Death" - was found guilty of torture, murder and forced disappearance.

Among his victims were two French nuns and the founders of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo human rights group.

Ten other former military and police officers were also given life sentences for crimes against humanity.

Several others were given shorter sentences.

All worked at the Naval Mechanical School in Buenos Aires - known as Esma - which was the biggest secret torture and killing centre set up by the military during what became known as the "Dirty War".

Of the 5,000 or so prisoners taken to Esma, 90% did not come out alive.

Some were killed by firing squad while others were thrown from planes - drugged but still alive - into the Atlantic Ocean.

More than 70 of those who did make it out were among the witnesses in the 22-month trial

[Mr Lick]

Eurozone leaders agree emergency deal on region's debts



Eurozone leaders have reached a "three-pronged" agreement they say is vital to resolving the region's debt crisis.

As part of the deal, banks have agreed to take a 50% loss on Greek debt.

That has removed a major obstacle in European efforts to stabilise the problem.

The announcement helped lift the euro as investors were more optimistic about the outlook for the region's growth and single currency.

"The eurozone has adopted a credible and ambitious response to the debt crisis," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said at a press conference in Brussels.

Fears about the state of the eurozone's finances and the threat of a break-up of the single European currency have been stalking markets for months.

Critics have accused policymakers of not doing enough to resolve the issues, contributing further to the problems and fuelling uncertainty

[somtamslap]

Crusty the Clown on tour?