World News in Pictures

[Mr Lick]

With a fresh coat of paint and a new home along the Pothong River, the USS Pueblo, a spy ship seized off North Korea's east coast in 1968, is expected to be unveiled this week as the centerpiece of a renovated war museum to commemorate what the North calls "Victory Day,’" the 60th anniversary this Saturday of the signing of the armistice that ended hostilities in the Korean War.

One U.S. sailor was killed when the Pueblo was strafed by machine gun fire and boarded by North Koreans. The remaining 82, including three injured, were taken prisoner and spent 11 months in captivity



Crew members of the USS Pueblo hold up their hands while in captivity in North Korea in 1968.



Crew members of USS Pueblo while in captivity in North Korea in 1968.



Former USS Pueblo crew member Earl Phares speaks to the AP in Ontario, Calif., on June 21, 2013.



Former USS Pueblo crew member Robert Chicca speaks at his home in Bonita, Calif., on July 17.

[Mr Lick]

Politician slain in Tunisia



Assassinated Tunisian opposition politician Mohamed Brahmi's wife Imbarka (R) and daughter Balkis mourn his death in Tunis July 25, 2013. Brahmi was shot dead outside his home in Tunis on Thursday in the second such assassination this year, setting off mass protests against the Islamist-led government in the capital and elsewhere.






Forensic inspectors examine the area near the car of Tunisian opposition politician Mohamed Brahmi, who was shot dead outside his home, in Tunis July 25, 2013






People walk beside the ambulance carrying the body of assassinated Tunisian opposition politician Mohamed Brahmi in Tunis July 25, 2013









Tunisians gather to protest the killing of opposition politician Mohamed Brahimi in Tunis, July 25, 2013

[Mr Lick]

Protestors hold a banner calling for the release of Pfc. Bradley Manning outside of Ft McNair in Washington, DC. The trial of Manning, accused of aiding the enemy by giving secret documents to WikiLeaks, is entering its final stage as both sides present closing arguments.



Happy Birthday to giant pandas Qin Chuan and Le Le who enjoy the cake prepared for their 5th birthday at the Jinbao park in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province



Anti-Morsi protesters gather for a mass demonstration in support of the army in Tahrir square in Cairo. In the turbulent world of Egyptian politics since Hosni Mubarak, a former air force marshal, was deposed, the military is seen as an institution that offers stability.

[Mr Lick]

Indian rescue workers carry Kusumben, 65, away from a residential building that collapsed in Ahmedabad. Causes of why the building fell down are unknown but it is suspected that it may be due to renovation work on the ground floor. Recent building collapses during 2013 have highlighted widespread problems with construction standards in India, where a huge demand for housing often result in cost-cutting and a lack of safety inspections.



Star of Les Miserables Eddie Redmayne meets his fans at 2013 Giffoni Film Festival in Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy.



Opposition leader Sam Rainsy meets his supporters in Freedoom Park, Phnom Penh, on the last day of campaigning for the Cambodian General Election 2013

[Mr Lick]

Police using pressure points to force a demonstrator to release his grip from a human chain at an anti-fracking protest at the Cuadrilla site in Balcombe, Sussex.



Pole dancer? An exhibitor wears a costume to promote a video game at the Hyper Japan event at Earls Court in London. The show features stalls selling clothing and artwork, live music, Japanese food, and computer gaming areas. Many attendees dress up as anime characters or in the Lolita fashion widespread in Japan

[Mr Lick]

Dueling rallies in Egypt



Protesters gather for a mass protest to support the army in Tahrir square in Cairo, July 26, 2013



Members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi shout slogans near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, during a rally around Rabaa Adawiya Square where they are camping, in Cairo July 26, 2013.

[Mr Lick]

Protesters wear masks depicting army chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi as they gather for a mass protest to support the army in Tahrir square in Cairo, July 26, 2013.

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

Competitors wait for the timing clock to signal, so they can draw and fire, during the Canadian Open Fast Draw Championships in Aldergrove, British Columbia July 21, 2013. The timing device will automatically turn on a signal light, which starts a timer and clears the competitors to draw and fire. Depending upon the degree of target difficulty, the better shooters can record times from .250 to .400 of a second.















James Weatherby, 80, of Aldergrove waits to compete in the Canadian Open Fast Draw Championships in Aldergrove, British Columbia July 21, 2013. Weatherby has been competing in Fast Draw competitions for over 40 years.



Nicole Franks of Aldergrove wears a World Championship belt buckle along with her gun during the Canadian Open Fast Draw Championships in Aldergrove, British Columbia July 20, 2013. Franks has won multiple World Championships since 2000.

[Mr Lick]

Train derailment in Spain - more pics

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

A visitor dressed as C-3PO poses for photographs during the Star Wars convention 'Star Wars Celebration Europe' held at Messe Essen in Essen, Germany



Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis hill do the 'Mobot' with Beefeaters ahead of the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games, marking a year since the London Olympics

[Mr Lick]

Ford Transit through the ages



Production of the Ford Transit at Southampton ended today, after 41 years.
Ford says the decision was due to manufacturing overcapacity caused by a drop in demand across Europe. Transits will now be produced solely in Turkey, where it has also been built since the 1960s.



The Transit as we know it (as opposed to the earlier German-built VW-lookalike Taunus Transit) was introduced in 1965, as a replacement for the 400E.
It was initially produced in Langley, Berkshire, but production moved to Southampton in 1972 due to increased demand

[Mr Lick]

An all-new Transit was launched in 1986. Although its engines were versions of those in the previous model, there was a much sleeker look on the outside, with a steeply sloping bonnet and a dipping side window line designed to improve visibility for the driver






The Transit has appeared in hundreds of films and TV shows. Here, it stars alonside Michael Caine



This six-wheeled Transit with gullwing doors was purely for show

[Mr Lick]

Ford has produced a number of one-off, souped-up Transits. The Supervan 3 from 1994 has a Cosworth engine and is capable of 150mph



Ford has produced a number of Transit Sportvan production models since it launched the original version in 2006






Today, a wide range of Transit models are available, including the Transit Connect, Transit Courier and the Transit Custom (pictured)



A total of 2,200,173 Transits wer produced at Southampton.
Ford says that all of the 531 employees have either chosen 'redeployment within Ford, voluntary separation or early retirement.'

Ford is investing £12 million in vehicle distribution and refurbishment centres at Southampton, which it says will create 134 jobs

Manufacturing of Ford vehicles has now ceased in the UK bringing an end to over 100 years of production.

[Mr Lick]

Rolls-Royce Centenary Alpine Trial



The Rolls-Royce 2013 Centenary Alpine Trial was a recreation of the 1913 event when a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost completed the 1,680-mile journey over Alpine peaks and troughs to set new standards of automobile durability .

In the 2013 event 47 Silver Ghosts built between 1912 and 1926 made the trip, accompanied by new Rolls-Royce models



One of the cars that took part was the "Radley Ghost", which is named after the James Radley who drove it on that 1913 Alpine Trial



This 1914 model has a "Tourer" bodystyle.

[Mr Lick]

One of the most unsual cars in the event, this 1922 example is finished in dark red and mahogany, and has an "open boat-tailed skiff" body.



These days covering 1,680 miles is nothing for a car of almost any price but in 1913, in the early days of the motor-car, completing such a distance without mechanical failure was an achievement.



The "Radley Ghost" is propelled by a 7.5-litre, straight eight engine. The low-revving unit allows this unaerodynamic car to cruise steadily at 60mph

[Mr Lick]

The Alpine Tourer body by coachbuilder Radley-Morison allows for luggage to be strapped to the rear of the car

[Mr Lick]

Getting up to speed in vintage cars takes time, but stopping them is more difficult still, and often relies on activating a handbrake that acts only on the rear wheels



This 1908 Silver Dawn was the oldest Silver Ghost to take part in the event, and features original parts including chassis, engine, gearbox and front and rear axles, and even retains its original cast iron pistons.

The car was restored by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ authorised dealer, P&A Wood.



This 1926 car, with "Pall Mall Tourer" bodywork leads a convoy of cars through an Alpine valley



A 1913 Silver Ghost - with bodywork by Lamb - makes its way up an incline

[Mr Lick]

WOMAD 2013: festivalgoers

On Friday afternoon, as Charlton Park basked in the sun, we went out and about at Womad to meet some of this year's festival-goers

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]