World News in Pictures

[Mr Lick]

Jacqueline Weathers is presented with the U.S. flag that was draped over the casket of her husband, Air Force Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr., one of the original Tuskegee airmen, during his burial ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery Jan. 20. A Congressional Gold Medal recipient, Weathers earned a Distinguished Flying Cross piloting P-51 and P-39 fighters while serving with the 332nd Fighter Group, a squadron known as the Red Tails, from 1942 to 1945.



Tuskegee airmen photographed by Toni Frissell in Ramitelli, Italy in March 1945. Front row: an unidentified airman, Jimmie D. Wheeler, Emile G. Clifton. Standing: Ronald W. Reeves, Hiram Mann, Joseph L.



Marcellus G. Smith and Roscoe C. Brown in Ramitelli, Italy,March 1945.



Walter M. "Mo" Downs and William S. "Bill Bubblehead" Price playing cards in Ramitelli, Italy, March 1945



Tuskegee airmen Floyd Carter Sr., Shade Lee and Dr. Roscoe Brown pose for portraits



In 2004 a portrait of Luke Weathers was made to honour his actions in WW11

A Tuskegee airman who shot down two German fighter planes while escorting a damaged bomber to its base now lies in Arlington National Cemetery after a burial with special honors.

Luke Weathers Jr.'s burial comes as Hollywood is flooding U.S. theaters Friday with the action film "Red Tails," based on the Tuskegee Airmen and their struggles for equal treatment. They were the first black aviators in U.S. military history and are among World War II's most respected fighter squadrons.

Weathers died Oct. 15, 2011 in Tucson, Ariz at 90, but he lived much of his life in Memphis, Tenn.

More than 900 Tuskegee Airmen were U.S. pilots and an estimated 250 to 300 Tuskegee airmen are still alive today

[Mr Lick]

A picture made available on Friday shows an Iranian tourist visiting the historic mud volcano called Gel-Afshan in the city of Chabahar in south-eastern Iran. A natural phenomenon of gas rising from the depths of the earth raises a hill of mud over time.



Tourists climb the mud volcano called Gel-Afshan

[Mr Lick]

A Carabinieri diver passes by the stricken Costa Concordia luxury liner near Giglio island during searches on Jan. 19. Italian rescuers were forced to suspend operations on the stricken Costa Concordia on Jan. 20.



A Carabinieri scuba diver swims next to the Costa Concordia cruise ship's anchor, off the tiny Giglio island, Italy. The $450 million Costa Concordia was carrying more than 4,200 passengers and crew when it slammed into well-marked rocks off the island of Giglio after the captain made an unauthorized diversion from his programmed route. The ship then keeled over on its side.

[Mr Lick]

Damaged roads caused by flooding on Jan. 19, in Hoedspruit, South Africa. People were plucked from the roofs of their submerged houses and others from trees where they'd been trapped after torrential rain in the Hoedspuit area in Limpopo, where up to 11 inches of rainfall was measured.






An aerial view of an overflowing dam wall in Mpumalanga, South Africa, on Jan. 20. Hundreds of people have been made homeless by heavy flooding in South Africa and Mozambique according to officials. Heavy rain in a short period of time in this part of Southern Africa caused the floods prompting many to seek refuge on rooftops and in trees and an evacuation of the Kruger National Park, a game reserve in northern South Africa. Rescuers have used helicopters to save at least 150 people from submerged houses in the area.

[Mr Lick]

Damaged cars are seen on the A1 highway near Cloppenburg, Germany on Jan. 20. More than 50 vehicles crashed during a row of accidents. The reason of the disaster is yet unclear.



An aerial view showing wrecked cars and trucks after a multiple vehicle accident on A1 freeway near Cloppenburg, Germany, on Jan. 20.







Low visibility due to foggy weather contributed to a car crash that involved over 50 cars along the autobahn in Cloppenburg, Germany. According to the Telegraph, three people were killed and 35 injured in the pileup that closed 6 miles of the highway

[Mr Lick]

Students demonstrate in Kathmandu against the Nepal Oil Corporation decision to raise fuel prices



More than 200 million people are expected to travel by rail over the Chinese New Year holiday period

[Mr Lick]

Opposition groups in Bahrain called for a march through central Manama but the protest turned into a sit-in when police blocked their way

[Mr Lick]

A protester against the proposed 'Stop Online Piracy Act' being debated by US congress in NY



The captain of the Costa Concordia is currently under house arrest on suspicision of multiple manslaughter

[Mr Lick]

Barcelona, Spain: Artists perform during the rehearsal of the Canadian group Cirque Du Soleil's Corteo



A view of the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293), a planetary nebula located 700 light years away



Melbourne, Australia: The sun sets at the Rod Laver Arena during the Australian Open tennis tournament

[Mr Lick]

Somalia conflict intensifies

As heavy fighting breaks out in Mogadishu, Somalis flee the war and famine in the country and refugees in the capital face the danger of bomb attacks by insurgents



A Ugandan soldier serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia stands as a tank passes following an advance with the Somali National Army to capture Mogadishu University in insurgent territory

[Mr Lick]

The opening day of the Africa Cup of Nations 2012

Libyan hearts were broken after conceding a late goal to Equatorial Guinea, handing the opening match to the hosts









A member of Equatorial Guinea's police special forces and his security dog try to control fans









Equatorial Guinea fans flee from tear gas fired by special police forces as they try to get inside the Estadio de Bata









Band members wait for the opening ceremony of the tournament









Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the Cup of Nations

[Mr Lick]

An occupy protester throws glitter onto former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum as he signs autographs after speaking at a South Carolina Republican presidential primary-night rally at The Citadel, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Charleston, S.C.



Protesters affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement are forcibly removed from a primary night event held by Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum after protesting Santorum's stance on gay-rights at the end of the rally.

[Mr Lick]

At 10:25 a.m., a dark brown eye was removed from a man whose lids had closed for the last time. Five hours later, the orb was staring up at the ceiling from a stainless steel tray in an operating room with two blind patients — both waiting to give it a second life.

S.P.D. Siriwardana, 63, remained still under a white sheet as the surgeon delicately replaced the cornea that had gone bad in his right eye following a cataract surgery. Across the room, patient A.K. Premathilake, 32, waited for the sclera, the white of the eye, to provide precious stem cells and restore some vision after acid scalded his sight away on the job.

"The eye from this dead person was transplanted to my son," said A.K. Admon Singho, who guided Premathilake through the hall after the surgery. "He's dead, but he's still alive. His eye can still see the world."



People wait in a line to get their eyes examined as a staffer, foreground, examines the eye of a cataract patient at the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society in Colombo, Sri Lanka.



A worker with the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society holds a parcel containing corneas ready to be sent abroad in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

[Mr Lick]

Kano, Nigeria, bomb attacks



Approximately 150 people have died from bombs planted by the Islamic militants Boko Haram

[Mr Lick]

Beer 'must be sold' at Brazil World Cup, says Fifa


Beer has been banned at Brazilian football matches since 2003

Beer must be sold at all venues hosting matches in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, football's world governing body, Fifa, has insisted.

Fifa General Secretary Jerome Valcke said the right to sell beer must be enshrined in a World Cup law the Brazilian Congress is considering.

Alcoholic drinks are currently banned at Brazilian stadiums and the country's health minister has urged Congress to maintain the ban in the new law.

Brewer Budweiser is a big Fifa sponsor.

Mr Valcke is visiting Brazil to press for progress on the much-delayed World Cup law.

[Mr Lick]

Haiti police jailed for Les Cayes prison killings

Haiti's police force is rarely held to account

Seven Haitian police officers have been jailed for their part in the killing of at least 10 prisoners in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake.

The officers were found guilty of offences including murder and attempted murder for firing on inmates during a prison riot in the city of Les Cayes.

They were given sentences ranging from two to seven years with hard labour.

An eighth officer was found guilty in absentia. Another six were cleared of involvement.

Human rights activists have welcomed the outcome as a rare victory in the fight against impunity.

Correspondents say the trial itself was an unusual event in Haiti, where the justice system is limited and public officials accused of abuses are rarely held to account.

"The decision of the judge is his version of the truth," Judge Ezekiel Vaval said as he read out the sentences in a makeshift courtroom in Les Cayes.

"There are other versions that exist but this is mine, and that is the law."

[Mr Lick]

Musician Johnny Otis dies aged 90

Johnny Otis always said he identified far more with black culture than his own Greek origins

Johnny Otis, dubbed the "godfather of rhythm and blues", has died aged 90.

The bandleader, who had been unwell for several years, passed away at his home in Los Angeles, his manager said.

Best known for the track Willie and the Hand Jive, he also wrote Every Beat of My Heart, a hit for Gladys Knight and the Pips in 1961.

"He is one of the greatest talents of American music and he was a great American," said music historian Tom Reed, adding "He could do it all."

Otis, who was born to Greek-American parents, grew up in a predominately black community in Berkeley in California, listening to blues, gospel and swing.

"As a kid, I decided that if our society dictated that one had to be black or white, I would be black," said Otis, who changed his birth name from John Veliotes.

[Mr Lick]

Chinese New Year



























Room for one more inside! People, on the run up to the 23rd, trying their damnest to get home to their families for the festivities

[Mr Lick]

Brazil police move in to evict squatters



Around 2000 police officers moved in to evict squatters from Pinheirinho, Sao Paulo state.

[Mr Lick]

Neil Robertson beats Shaun Murphy 10-6 in the final of the Masters Tournament at Alexandra Palace, London

[Mr Lick]

Divers have found the body of a woman in the wreck of the Costa Concordia bringing the total number of people confirmed dead to 13

[Mr Lick]

Businessman Asil Nadir stole nearly £150m, court hears

Asil Nadir built up the Polly Peck empire



This theft case spans London, Switzerland, the Bahamas, Jersey and elsewhere. It ranges from the 13 charges on the indictment to the 64 fraudulent transactions the prosecution allege took place - the "bigger picture" as they call it.

This increases the amount allegedly stolen from just over £34m to almost £150m.

It's a case with a fleeing chief executive, a complex structure of offshore companies, family trusts, personal debt, "extensive" theft, and stolen funds ending up in "numerous and varied" places.

It's also a case requiring attention to detail for the jury, who have been given flow charts to explain the web.

The trial will hear about people alleged to have helped Mr Nadir - staff who sent secret instructions for transfers, ones who told suspicious colleagues to keep their mouths shut, and people who kept misleading records.

Mr Nadir was described as wielding considerable power over PPI, but ultimately he abused that power by helping himself to tens of millions of pounds, the prosecution say.


Philip Shears QC, prosecuting, told the court: "He was a man who wielded very considerable power over its operations and management, and that of its subsidiaries, particularly in Northern Cyprus.

"He abused that power and helped himself to tens of millions of pounds of PPI's money.

"As a director of PPI and a signatory on the account, he was entitled to instruct PPI's bankers to transfer funds.


"However, he would have no authority to transfer or authorise funds from PPI for his own personal benefit or that of his family or associates.

[Mr Lick]

Bagram, Afghanistan: Two US gunners aboard a US Chinook helicopter



Tiwanaku, Bolivia: Bolivian indigenous women joke during commemorations for the second year of President Evo Morales's government



Muharraq, Bahrain: Bahraini youths react to teargas fired during the politically charged funeral of Yousif Mowali



Kolkata, India: Indian police officials adjust their uniforms in front of the Victoria Memorial before a rehearsal for the Republic Day parade



Park City, Utah, US: A man stands in a snowstorm holding a sign asking for tickets outside the Eccles Theatre during the Sundance Film Festival

[Mr Lick]

London Model Engineering exhibition

Scale models of Titanic, steam engines, boats and helicopters were on display at the largest exhibition of its kind in Europe, attracting visitors and hobbyists from across the country and beyond



The London Model Engineering exhibition at Alexander Palace attracted a lot of interest from model enthusiasts






























Boys will be boys

[Mr Lick]

A masked Palestinian demonstrator (R) throws back a tear canister which was fired by Israeli security forces during clashes at a weekly protest against a nearby Jewish settlement in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah January 20, 2012.



A Kashmiri protester throws a "kangri" or Kashmiri traditional firepot towards Indian police during a protest in Srinagar January 21, 2012.



Demonstrators take part in a protest against the Egyptian military council at Tahrir square in Cairo January 20, 2012.



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) visits the Command of Large Combined Unit 671of the Korean People's Army at an undisclosed location in this undated picture released by the North's KCNA in Pyongyang January 22, 2012.



The dead body of a gunman is seen inside a car behind a bullet-riddled windshield in Jungapeo in the state of Michoacan January 19, 2012.