World News in Pictures

[Mr Lick]

Pakistan's Shias mourn Quetta blast victims



Protesting against the lack of protection for Shia's



Nearly 100 people were killed in the blasts



Many relatives of the victims refused to bury their loved ones until the authorities promised protection

[Mr Lick]

Aaron Swartz, internet freedom activist, dies aged 26

Swartz developed RSS at an early age

Aaron Swartz, a celebrated internet freedom activist and early developer of the website Reddit, has died at 26.

The activist and programmer took his life in his New York apartment, a relative and the state medical examiner said. His body was found on Friday.

Mr Swartz began computer programming as a child, and at 14 co-authored an early version of the RSS specification.

He later became an advocate of internet freedom, and was facing hacking charges at the time of his death.

He was among the founders of the Demand Progress campaign group, which lobbies against internet censorship.

The hacking charges relate to the downloading of millions of academic papers from online archive JSTOR, which prosecutors say he intended to distribute for free.

He denied charges of computer fraud at an initial hearing last year, but his federal trial was due to begin next month.

[Mr Lick]

A cameraman records as a forensic investigator inspect bullet shells at a crime scene after a shooting at Ameca town outside Guadalajara January 12, 2013.



Riot police walk in front of a woman as leftists protesters (not pictured) march to the Greek courts in support of their colleagues who were arrested in the beginning of the week, in Athens January 12, 2013.



A police officer rides a motorcycle after calling for help near fumes from a fire at Ngolonina market in the Malian capital of Bamako, January 12, 2013



A Salvadoran dancer known as "Historiante" poses for a photo during a religious festival in honour of San Antonio Abad outside a Catholic church of the same name in San Salvador, January 11, 2013.



Police officers in riot gear stand near a burning hijacked car during rioting in East Belfast, January 12, 2013



The Deans Gap fire burns near Sussex Inlet, about 150 km (93 miles) south of Sydney, in this handout picture provided by the Rural Fire Service on January 12, 2013



Israeli border police remove a Palestinian from an outpost of tents in an area known as E1, near Jerusalem January 13, 2013



A Brazilian native Indian smokes a pipe inside the former Indian Museum, as police officers stand guard outside preparing to evict them, in Rio de Janeiro, January 12, 2013.



Syrian soldiers loyal to President Bashar al-Assad are seen running in Khan al-Wazir district in Aleppo city January 12, 2013

[Mr Lick]

An activist secures himself to an aerial platform as preparations are made to try and prevent land clearing for the construction of a by-pass at Crowhurst near Hastings south east England January 11, 2013.



Members of the Hazara community and various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) sit-in during a protest against last Thursday's twin bomb attack in Quetta, in Lahore January 12, 2013.



A support vehicle crashes on a road barrier at the highlands of Chile en route to the Jama border crossing during the untimed 7th stage of the Dakar Rally 2013 from Calama to Salta, January 11, 2013

[Mr Lick]

Deadly day in Pakistan



A paramilitary soldier reacts as he asks civilian to leave the scene of a bomb explosion in Quetta, January 10, 2013. A pair of blasts in Quetta killed more than 100, in one of Pakistan's bloodiest days in recent years

[Mr Lick]

Dakar Rally 2013

All the best images – and there are some crackers – from this year's Dakar Rally as it winds it's way through Peru, Argentina and Chile. The event is one of the most spectacular in world sport with drivers and a variety of vehicles tackling an incredible array of terrains, from deserts to flooded rivers. But the event is also full of dangers as the deaths connected to this year's rally have shown



Dakar Rally competitors hold a minute's silence out of respect for motorcyclist Thomas Bourgin who was killed in a collision with a Chilean police car ahead of the seventh stage









Guilherme Spinelli is stuck in a flooded river. Heavy rain meant that the first of the day's two timed sections was cancelled

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

Six men arrested in new Indian 'bus rape'



Police in India have arrested six men after they allegedly gang-raped a woman on a bus, just weeks after a similar attack shocked the nation.

The latest assault is said to have taken place in the northern state of Punjab. The police are searching for a seventh suspected attacker.

Last month, a 23-year-old student died of her injuries after the being raped in the capital Delhi.

Five men have been charged with her murder and are facing trial.

If convicted, they face the death penalty.

A sixth suspect, who is thought to be 17, will be tried separately in a youth court if it is confirmed he is a minor.

The Delhi attack prompted mass protests which prompted the government to set up special fast-track courts to exclusively deal with rape cases and also consider strengthening sexual assault laws, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder reports

[OhOh]

Excellent rally shots thanks.

[Mr Lick]

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington, center, commander of the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region (JFHQ-NCR), is flanked by actors portraying President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, as they arrive to review troops during a dress rehearsal for the inaugural parade at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan.13. The official inauguration and swearing-in will take place Jan. 21.

[Mr Lick]

A man paddles a canoe through a swamp after an oil pipeline explosion caused by people who tried to steal fuel at Arepo village, just outside Nigeria's commercial capital of Lagos, Jan. 13. At least three people were seen dead, according to a Reuters witness.

[Mr Lick]

London Underground steam train recreates first journey for 150th anniversary celebrations

A newly restored 1898 steam engine, known as Metropolitan Locomotive No 1, recreates the first London Underground journey as part of the network's 150th anniversary celebrations



The restored steam engine arrives at Moorgate station









The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, shares a joke in the front cab






Actors and underground staff wait near the first-class carriages

[Mr Lick]

Director Mark Andrews celebrates his award for best animated feature film for "Brave" backstage at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 13, in Beverly Hills, Calif.



"Argo," Ben Affleck, Daniel Day-Lewis, Anne Hathaway, Claire Danes and more big winners from film and television.

[Mr Lick]

SAN DIEGO - A local photographer got more than he bargained for when he bought an antique camera unknowingly loaded with vintage photographs of the World War I era.

Anton Orlov – an analog photographer who lives in the University City area in San Diego – recently purchased a 1901 Bellini Jumelle photo camera at an antique shop near Los Angeles.



Orlov says he spent $100 on the vintage gem, but what he found inside was practically priceless.

The photographer brought the camera home and spent hours cleaning it. Then, he decided to look inside.

There, Orlov discovered a series of eight photographs, already developed, taken on the camera more than 100 years ago.

The images, which show WWI airplanes, ruins, soldiers on horses and even a bomb, offer an authentic glimpse into history.

“I was pretty flabbergasted,” said Orlov. “I’ve never seen images like that come out of the camera already developed.”

[Mr Lick]

People take part in a No Trousers Day 2013 flashmob on the London Underground, in London, England, Jan. 13.









A soldier takes off his pants while riding the subway on Jan. 13, in New York City.

[Mr Lick]

Former Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi sits behind bars during the third hearing of his trial, at a courthouse in Tripoli. Al-Mahmoudi faces charges of involvement in crimes under the Gaddafi rule



Tunisian people shout slogans during a demonstration on the second anniversary of the uprising that ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, in the Avenue Habib Bourguiba in Tunis



Tourists brave cold and snow as they look at remains of the Berlin Wall at Potsdamer Platz in Berlin. As in London, the temperature dropped over night and snow followed at daybreak in the German capital

[Mr Lick]

Why the long face? Well it could be the weather. A racehorse in a paddock after snowfall in Findon, UK.

[Mr Lick]

Moroccan-born Karima El-Mahroug, who is better known by her nickname'Ruby the heart stealer' arrives to testify at court in Milan. The exotic dancer is to give evidence at the sex trial against Italy's Silvio Berlusconi



Rain isn't dampening the spirits of these women following their traditional Coming of Age ceremony at Tokyo Disneyland. Young people across Japan are honoured with the celebration when they reach the age of 20.



In other festival news, a Hindu pilgrim goes in with a splash at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the royal bath on Makar Sankranti at the start of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, India. Millions are expected to take part in the religious congregation that lasts more than 50 days on the banks of Sangam during the Maha Kumbh Mela which falls every 12th year

[Mr Lick]

Chinese paramilitary police block access to the residence of a construction firm boss after a group of up to 50 migrant workers stormed past security at the Qijiayuan Diplomatic Compound in Beijing to protest against what they claim is an unpaid new year bonus. Labour disputes are common before Chinese New Year when migrant workers are paid their full years' work in a lump sum before heading home to their famillies in the outer provinces of the country



Andrew Nicholson vividly shows his enthusiasm for the Vancouver Canucks on the first day of the team's hockey training camp in Vancouver, Canada

[JetsetBkk]

People take part in a No Trousers Day 2013 flashmob on the London Underground, in London, England, Jan. 13.

Some people really should keeps their trousers on.

[Mr Lick]

Chinese air pollution hits record levels

On Saturday, Beijing experienced its worst pollution reading since the air quality monitor on was installed in the US embassy in 2008. Until this year, Chinese authorities have underplayed the country's spells of noxious atmospheric pollution.

This weekend, however, Beijing's local government issued an alert, warning vulnerable people to stay indoors. The wave of pollution peaked on Saturday and by Monday remained hazardous. It is expected to last until Tuesday



A view of a busy highway as heavy smog engulfs the city of Beijing, where air quality is rated as 'hazardous'. City authorities ordered many factories to scale back emissions and were spraying water at building sites to try to tamp down dust and dirt that worsen the noxious haze






Air quality in Beijing was far above hazardous levels over the weekend, reaching 755 on an index that measures particulate matter in the air with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers. A level of 300 is considered dangerous while the World Health Organisation recommends a daily level of no more than 20

[Mr Lick]

Tokyo, Japan: A man wearing a loin cloth holds onto an ice block while bathing at the Teppozu Inari shrine during a purification ceremony



Lisbon, Portugal: Claudia Botas meets with friends while walking her pet pig Manchas



Mexico City, Mexico: A man and his dog take part in a protest following the police round-up of dozens of stray dogs apparently involved in the deaths of four people

[Mr Lick]

Urnaesch, Switzerland: New Year Clauses take a break during the traditional Silvesterklausen celebration, marked on the Julian calendar



Funabashi, Japan: Members of Japan's Ground Self-Defence Force take part in a military exercise



New York, US: Members of Save Our Streets (S.O.S.) hold a rally and vigil on the pavement where a 16-year-old boy was shot

[Mr Lick]

South of England's first snow of 2013



Berkshire











West Sussex



Wantage

[Mr Lick]

Allahabad, India: Workers fix a light that will illuminate the vast grounds receiving Hindu pilgrims congregating to celebrate the Kumbh Mela



Tongi, Bangladesh: An overcrowded train carrying people returning home from the three-day Islamic Congregation



Aleppo, Syria: Men help a wounded civilian after a mortar attack in the Saif al-Dawlah neighbourhood



Lahore, Pakistan: Supporters of the religious leader Tahir-ul Qadri take part in a protest march