World News in Pictures

[Mr Lick]

Mexico celebrates football gold medal



The Mexico team receiving their gold medals following their 2-1 victory over Brazil



Mexico score in the very first minute of the final



Mexico's second goal

[Mr Lick]

Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda won the Olympic men's marathon in London, beating the Kenyan pairing of Abel Kirui and Wilson Kipsang.

Kiprotich led at the 37km mark, despite appearing to suffer discomfort in his leg minutes earlier, and went on to win Uganda's first medal at London 2012.

His time was two hours eight minutes 11 seconds, 26secs clear of Kirui with Kipsang over a minute further back.

Great Britain's Lee Merrien and Scott Overall finished well down the field.

"It means a lot [to Uganda]," said Kiprotich. "Since 1972 we have never won a gold medal, so they are very happy."

Uganda's last Olympic champion was 400m hurdler John Akii-Bua, who won gold at Munich in 1972.

[Mr Lick]

Guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) is seen after a collision with the bulk oil tanker M/V Otowasan in the Strait of Hormuz, Aug. 12. No one was hurt and shipping traffic in the waterway, through which 40 percent of the world's seaborne oil exports pass, was not affected, officials said.




The collision nevertheless left a gaping hole in the starboard side of USS Porter, a guided-missile destroyer suffered, but no one was injured on either vessel, the U.S. Navy said in a statement. The collision with the Panamanian-flagged bulk oil tanker M/V Otowasan occurred at approximately 1 a.m. local time.

The cause of the incident is under investigation, the Navy said, adding that there were no reports of spills or leakages from either the USS Porter or the Otowasan.

[Mr Lick]

Zhukovsky, Russia: A KA-52 hellicopter at a celebration marking the Russian air force's 100th anniversary



Rafah, Gaza: A Palestinian man looks out from a destroyed house near the border crossing with Egypt



Minsk, Belarus: A disabled dog named Christmas waits during a charity event that attempts to match homeless dogs and cats to prospective new owners



Madrid, Spain: A volunteer firefighter battles flames during the night in a forest fire near Guadalajara



Zurich, Switzerland: Revellers dressed in costumes dance in the 21st Street Parade, an annual dance and music festival

[Mr Lick]

Slavkov (Austerlitz), Czech Republic: A participant acting as a soldier of the French army sleeps in a tent during the traditional Napoleonic days where battles are re-enacted to mark the 243rd anniversary of the birth of Napoleon Bonaparte and the 200th anniversary of his invasion of Russia



Varzaqan, Iran: Red Crescent workers search for survivors among the rubble in the village of Bajeh Baj after two strong earthquakes killed at least 250 people and injured more than 1,800

[Mr Lick]

Egypt leader Mursi orders army chief Tantawi to resign



Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi has ordered the retirement of the powerful head of the country's armed forces, Field Marshal Mohamad Hussein Tantawi, a presidential spokesman has said.

He also said a constitutional declaration aimed at curbing presidential powers had been cancelled.

Mr Mursi, who was elected in June, is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Relations between the Brotherhood and the military have been tense since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak.

It is not yet clear whether Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi - who has also been removed as defence minister - will accept the moves.

The BBC's Yolande Knell in Cairo says the president's intervention is clearly an attempt to take decisive action in his tug of war for control with the armed forces.

[Mr Lick]

London 2012 on Day 16



The final day of the games saw athletes competing in the men's marathon run past some of London's famous landmarks



Spectators of all ages were out in force



Thankfully it was a glorious summer's day



The Mayor of London gets his hands a gold medal albeit one borrowed from Victoria Pendleton



An aspiring young British athlete

[Mr Lick]

Dagenham fire is London's biggest 'for years'



More than 200 firefighters are tackling a blaze described by London Fire Brigade as the biggest seen in the capital for several years.

The brigade was called at about 13:15 BST when flames took hold at a recycling centre in Dagenham, east London.

The single-storey building is alight, with smoke visible for miles, but there are no reports of injuries.

The brigade said fire cover at Olympic venues had not been affected.

There were initial reports that people could see the smoke from the Olympic Park, approximately six miles away.

But the BBC Weather Centre said the wind was likely to take the smoke northwards during the evening, away from the stadium.

London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said: "We've not seen a fire of this size in London for several years - it's certainly a dramatic end to the Olympics for the London Fire Brigade.

"That said though, we are still able to attend incidents across the capital and the fire cover we're providing at the Olympic venues has not been affected.

[Mr Lick]

Clayton gun and grenade murder: Man arrested



Police said their main priority remains to find Dale Cregan, from Droylsden

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, after a man was killed in a gun and grenade attack in Greater Manchester.

David Short, 46, was found dead in Folkestone Road East, Clayton, on Friday after shots were heard.

A 37-year-old was arrested late on Saturday in the Salford area and is currently being questioned by officers.

Police said their main priority remains to speak to Dale Cregan from Droylsden in connection with the murder.

A post-mortem examination concluded Mr Short died from multiple gunshot wounds and an explosion injury.

His son Mark was killed in a shooting at the Cotton Tree pub, in Droylsden, on 25 May.

Detectives want to talk to Mr Cregan, who has one eye but sometimes wears a black false eye, in connection with Mark Short's death.

Police have warned people not to approach Mr Cregan, 29, but to contact officers if they see him.

[Mr Lick]

London 2012: Boxing gold for Anthony Joshua seals Team GB success



Team GB boxer Anthony Joshua has ensured a golden end to London 2012 with victory in his super-heavyweight bout on the final day of competition.

He beat Italian Roberto Cammarelle to win GB's 29th gold medal of the Games.

With the sun shining, tens of thousands of spectators lined London streets for the men's marathon and a farewell concert in Hyde Park.

Once the sport has concluded, the closing ceremony is due to start at 21:00 BST.

Team GB have one final chance of medal glory in the modern pentathlon, which is due to finish at 18:30 BST.

World bronze medallist Samantha Murray lies in third place overall after the swimming, while world champion and GB teammate Mhairi Spence is ninth.

[Mr Lick]

Olympic Games closing ceremony












The packed show featured some of the top pop artists during the past few decades including the Spice Girls



Russell Brand and Fatboy Slim also joined the party





















Emille Sande, Pet Shp Boys, Madness and Ray Davies also performed



As well as the boy band, One Direction






All topped off with a resounding version of the National Anthem

[Mr Lick]

Rory McIlroy wins US PGA title at Kiawah Island


Rory McIlroy became the youngest player to win two majors with an eight-shot victory in the US PGA Championship.

The 23-year-old from Northern Ireland finished on 13 under, with Englishman David Lynn stunning the field by taking second - his previous best at a major was tied 53rd at the 2003 Open.

Four-time winner Tiger Woods failed to make the most of the birdie chances he created, ending on two under.

US PGA FINAL ROUND SCORES

• -13: McIlroy (NI)
• -5: Lynn (Eng)
• -4: Rose (Eng), Bradley (US), Poulter (Eng), Pettersson (Swe)
• Selected others: -2: B Watson (US), McDowell (NI), Donaldson (Wal), Woods (US)
• -1: Daly (US), Harrington (Ire), Scott (Aus)
• +2: Donald (Eng)
• +3: Mickelson (US)

"If golf was in the Olympics GBR would have won gold, silver and two bronzes!"

[Mr Lick]

Hungary's Andras Parti reacts as he falls during the men's cross-country mountain bike event at Hadleigh Farm during the London 2012 Olympic Games, Sunday, Aug. 12.



Hungary's Andras Parti lies on the ground after he crashed during the men's cross-country mountain bike event.

[Mr Lick]

Deadly Iran quakes










At least 250 people have been killed and 2000 injured

[Mr Lick]

Canary Islands fires












Around 3000 people were evacuated from their homes on La Gomera

[Mr Lick]

Olympics shot put: Nadzeya Ostapchuk stripped of gold medal


Belarusian women's shot put gold medallist Nadzeya Ostapchuk has been stripped of her title after failing a doping test, the International Olympic Committee has announced.

Ostapchuk, 31, threw 21.36m with her third attempt to win in the Olympic Stadium last week.

But Ostapchuk has now been disqualified after officials said metenolone was found in a urine sample she provided.

New Zealand's Valerie Adams, who was second, has now been awarded gold.

An IOC statement said:"The athlete was first requested to provide a urine sample for a doping control on 5 August.

[Mr Lick]

Dr Freddy Patel labelled 'misleading' over Tomlinson case

Dr Freddy Patel has been removed from the official register of approved forensic pathologists

A disciplinary panel says the pathologist who conducted the first post-mortem examination on Ian Tomlinson is "dishonest" and "liable to bring his profession into disrepute".

Dr Freddy Patel said Mr Tomlinson, who was pushed to the ground by a policeman at the G20 protests in London in 2009, had died of coronary artery disease.

A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service panel found this was wrong.

It said his work was "deficient" and that his conduct was "misleading".

In total, the panel identified 77 failings in Dr Patel's work on the case of Mr Tomlinson. It is now considering whether he should be allowed to continue as a pathologist.

[Mr Lick]

Thousands of supporters of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi celebrate as they listen to his speech in Tahrir Square, birthplace of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak 18 months ago, in Cairo late Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012.

Morsi ordered the retirement of the defense minister and chief of staff on Sunday and made the boldest move so far to seize back powers that the military stripped from his office right before he took over.

[Mr Lick]

Balinese men compete during a buffalo race in Jembrana, western Bali, Indonesia, Aug. 12. More than three hundred buffaloes participated in the "Mekepung" (buffalo race), a thanksgiving ritual after a successful harvest.

[Mr Lick]

Manila, Philippines: a pig lies in the mud after floodwaters receded



Singapore: five-month-old Javen Chong floats in a whirlpool at Baby Spa, which specialises in water and massage therapies for infants



Havana, Cuba: a dog wearing a straw hat performs with a mouse on its back



Moscow, Russia: an aerobatic team from Finland's air force performs at an air show

[Mr Lick]

Iran earthquakes aftermath

Two powerful earthquakes on Saturday killed nearly 300 people in north-west Iran. The worst damage and most casualties appeared to be in rural villages around the towns of Ahar, Varzaghan and Harees. Thousands of people huddled in makeshift camps or slept in the street in fear of more aftershocks. Red Crescent said about 16,000 people in the quake-hit area had been given emergency shelter





















People who lost their house camp out in Amir-Ali Kandi

[Mr Lick]

Olympic Closing Ceremony Celebration Concert in Hyde Park



Support from the Specials – Horace Panter, Lynval Golding and Nik Torp – was enthusiastically delivered and warmly received



The Olympic closing ceremony concert was a celebration of British music past as Bernard Sumner, of New Order, also supported Blur



Terry Hall, frontman of the Specials. The night was one of many moods – from giddy pop rushes to melancholy that all the Olympics jubilation had come to a close



Blur performed on a stage designed to look like a motorway flyover, referring to their recent track Under the Westway



Albarn has said the sold-out Hyde Park gig might be the band's final performance






The best of British theme continued … with Harry Enfield's arrival on stage as a tea lady



Damon said Enfield was there 'to represent that great British institution – the tea lady'. The band ended the night with a rousing rendition of The Universal

[Mr Lick]

A Free Syrian Army fighter fires a RPG as a Syrian Army tank shell hits a building across a street during heavy fighting in the Salaheddine neighbourhood of central Aleppo August 11, 2012



U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gestures as she is greeted by Turkey's President Abdullah Gul at the Tarabiya Palace in Istanbul August 11, 2012



You Ya-ting (L) and Huang Mei-yu cast their stamps during their symbolic same-sex Buddhist wedding ceremony at a temple in Taoyuan county, northern Taiwan, August 11, 2012. The 30-year-old lesbian couple tied the knot after dating for seven years on Saturday in Taiwan's first same-sex Buddhist wedding. They hope this wedding will help make Taiwan the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage.



A woman takes shelter from the sun with her baby (hidden by the straw hat) behind a burnt-out house in Caldono, in the province of Cauca, August 11, 2012. Indigenous authorities claimed that soldiers shot some native people, burnt a house and crops of coffee and suspect that the soldiers did so in retaliation against members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas, whom they fought with on Friday, who remained in the area.

[Mr Lick]

A demonstrator is beaten by policemen after a protest turned violent in Mumbai August 11, 2012. Police said that two people were killed when anti-Assam riots led by Muslim organisations turned violent on Saturday, with demonstrators torching vehicles, damaging buses and pelting stones, prompting police to fire in the air, according to local media.



General view of the Gash River flooding in Kassala, Eastern Sudan August 11, 2012.



Ramoncito Campo kisses his wife Hernelie Ruazol Campo on a flooded street during a southwest monsoon that battered Manila August 8, 2012. The newly-wed couple pushed through with their scheduled wedding despite severe flooding that inundated wide areas of the capital and nearby nine provinces

[Mr Lick]

London 2012: the closing ceremony - more pics






The show begins with a countdown to 9 o'clock. Fittingly, there's a replica of Big Ben's tower at the heart of the stage alongside the London Eye and the Gherkin



Around them are hundreds of dancers and vehicles clad in newspaper outfits



... not to mention the horse guards



Soon the place is awash with colour



Madness and 'Our House'



They're performing on the back of a lorry



An athlete from each nation makes their way into the stadium carrying their national flags



Ben Ainslie's found someone to carry his for him






Those Mexicans have really got the human tower nailed



George Michael gets a huge cheer from the crowd after his performance









Old Spice









Brian May



Eric Idle escapes from a cannon



As midnight approaches, there are some short speeches by the Olympic organisers including Seb Coe



The Games are officially handed over to Rio, Brazil - a move heralded with a green and yellow firework spectacular



Then the petals of the Olympic flame spread apart and the individual beacons of light are slowly extinguished



The night ends with a huge fireworks display



And in an apocalyptic flash, the London 2012 Olympic Games is over