World News in Pictures

[Mr Lick]

Obama to Give Speech on Afghan Drawdown
In a prime-time address from the White House on Wednesday night, President Obama is expected to outline his plan to bring 10,000 U.S. troops, one of which is seen here in Khost Province, home from Afghanistan by next year.



Medicaid for the Middle Class?
The Obama administration said late Tuesday it was looking to tweak a provision in the health care law that would allow millions of middle-class Americans to use Medicaid. Here: The president signs the legislation in March 2010.

[Mr Lick]

Greek Cabinet Survives Confidence Vote
The Greek government won a vote of confidence early Wednesday, overcoming a first hurdle in winning new financing to avoid bankruptcy. Here: A riot policeman kicks a protester during an anti-austerity rally in Athens.



That's the Spirit
A Syrian boy makes a V-sign behind a fence at a refugee camp in the Turkish border town of Yayladagi on Tuesday. Thousands of Syrians have fled a brutal crackdown on dissent in their home country.

[Mr Lick]

Family Time
Female hippo Maruska looks at her baby in their enclosure at the zoo in Prague, Czech Republic, on Tuesday.



Keeping the Peace
Colombian soldiers ride in an armored vehicle during a patrol on Tuesday to defend against attacks by FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) in Miranda, Cauca.

[Mr Lick]

Leader of Top Mexican Drug Cartel Nabbed
On Tuesday, Mexican officials said they caught Jose de Jesus Mendez Vargas, the "principal head" of the notorious La Familia Michoacana cartel. Here: An area where 10 bodies were found in Acapulco on June 8.

[Mr Lick]

A veteran of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, who fought both Nazis and Soviet forces in World War II, watches a remembrance ceremony for those who perished in a massacre by Soviet interior troops in the western Ukranian city of Lviv on June 22. Several thousand people were killed in Lviv by retreating Soviet forces after Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941.

[Mr Lick]

Steve Johansen guides Everett Rhodes through the floodwaters east of Big Lake, Mo. on June 21. Flooding along the Missouri River is making it difficult to get around for many residents in the area where Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska come together. Interstate 29 is shut down in the region, and the St. Joseph News-Press reported Wednesday that every bridge across the river from St. Joseph to Omaha, Neb., is closed.

[Mr Lick]

Fried Kool-Aid, fried Twinkies, fried Girl Scout cookies, fried brownies? Uh, anyone wondering why there is surge in childhood obesity worldwide?



People look at an overhead menu featuring fried Kool-Aid ball at the San Diego County Fair Tuesday, June 21, in Del Mar, Calif. The crispy balls with their red-hot insides are a big seller at the fair this year.

[Mr Lick]

Charles Holt wipe tears from his eyes during a Justice for Sterilization Victims Foundation task force compensation hearing in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, June 22. Victims of a state-sponsored sterilization program and their family members are urging a governor-appointed task force to recommend financial compensation for the suffering they endured under North Carolina's discontinued eugenics program.

[Mr Lick]

A US soldier from Viper Company (Bravo), 1-26 Infantry walks along with Afghan soldiers (front) during a patrol at Combat Outpost (COP) Sabari in Khost province in the east of Afghanistan on June 22. President Barack Obama will argue June 22 his Afghan war surge strategy has forged substantial progress and a "position of strength" which allows thousands of US troops to come home, officials said.

[Mr Lick]

Female driver Azza Al Shmasani alights from her car after driving in defiance of the ban in Riyadh June 22. Saudi Arabia has no formal ban on women driving. But as citizens must use only Saudi-issued licences in the country, and as these are issued only to men, women drivers are anathema. An outcry at the segregation, which contributes to the general cloistering of Saudi women, has been fueled by social media interest in two would-be female motorists arrested in May.


Fayez Nureldine / AFP - Getty Images
A note is placed next to the shattered side-view mirror of a car belonging to Saudi Iman al-Nafjan's family which the family says was put as a warning after she drove in Riyadh on June 22 amid calls for nationwide action to break what amounts to a traditional driving ban, unique to the ultra-conservative kingdom.

[Mr Lick]

Venus Williams of the US reacts as she plays Kimiko Date-Krumm of Japan during their second round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, on Tuesday, June 22.

[Mr Lick]

Indian women run for cover as a police vehicle was set ablaze by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) protesters in Guwahati city, northeast India on June 22 2011. The demonstrators were protesting against the mass eviction of unauthorized occupants from government forest lands in and around Guwahati city. The demonstrators set ablaze several vehicles including city buses and pelted stones on number of passing vehicles. According to reports, one girl died in police firing and several others were injured.



A Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) protester is seen breaking a bus after set it on fire in Guwahati city, northeast India, on June 22. The demonstrators were protesting against the mass eviction of unauthorized occupants from government forest lands in and around Guwahati city. The demonstrators set ablaze several vehicles including city buses and pelted stones on number of passing vehicles.

[Mr Lick]

Hayley Davenport carries her guitar as she arrives in the mud at the Glastonbury Festival site at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 22 in Glastonbury, England. Heavy rain and mud greeted music fans as the gates to the five-day festival opened to the public Wednesday morning.

[Mr Lick]

Members of military historical clubs, perform a mock battle between the Soviet and Nazi troops during the ceremony at the Brest fortress, on the 70th anniversary the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union of 1941, in the town of Brest, Belarus, June 22, 2011.






Russian Orthodox Church clergymen stand under rain during a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside Moscow's Kremlin wall, June 22, 2011, to mark the 70th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union.



A woman visits the Preobrazhenskoye cemetery, during commemorations on the 70th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, in Moscow, June 22, 2011. Germany started their the military offensive called 'Operation Barbarossa,' on this day in 1941.

[Mr Lick]

A small band of scientists, French parliamentarians and journalists experience a 22-second episode of pure, head-spinning zero-gravity aboard an Airbus A300, owned by French aeronautics firm Novespace and run by the France's National Centre for Space Studies on June 21, 2011.

[Mr Lick]

Festival-goers set for wet Glastonbury

Wellies and waterproofs are essential attire as the first of more than 170,000 ticket-holders arrive at Worthy Farm



















A police officer helps a festival-goer with her camping gear as she arrives at the Glastonbury Festival site

[Mr Lick]

Wimbledon day three















More famous faces, Felicity Kendall and Jennifer Saunders, watch the action from the Royal Box

[Mr Lick]

It's no wonder Venus Williams looks disappointed – she starts sluggishly against Kimiko Date-Krumm and finds herself 5-1 down. The five-time winner discovers her game and wins the next five games to take the first set to a tie-break. However her Japanese opponent has the last word and takes the first set 7-6



Date-Krumm found the second set hard going – especially against Williams serve, which was growing in pace and strength – and she lost 6-3



Venus continued her dominance into the third set but Date-Krumm came back into contention to make it 6-6. However she couldn't sustain the comeback and gifts Williams two match points to take the victory. Venus said afterwards: "I just couldn't seem to get a game, she played so well and before I knew it the ball was past me every time in the first set ... I'm glad to come through it"

[Mr Lick]

On Court No3 Heather Watson, complete with patriotic finger nails, takes on Mathilde Johansson. The 19-year-old was hoping to become the third British woman to make it into this year's second round, a feat that was last achieved in 2004



She starts the match strongly, forcing the 26-year-old Frenchwoman into a series of wild mistakes and breaking her twice on her way to winning the first set 6-2



However mid-way through the second set she grimaced after a first serve and held her right arm. After losing her serve she called the trainer on to look at her elbow



After getting it strapped up, she carried on. However the speed and effectiveness of her serve was clearly restricted ...



... and her forehand was giving her pain too



Watson's problems allowed Johansson back into the game, eventually losing 2-6, 6-4, 6-4

[Mr Lick]

There's a reasonable amount of spectators on Murray Mount to watch the aforementioned Scot in action



Andy Murray starts strongly against Tobias Kamke, including a 130mph ace, and takes the first set 6-3



The second set went the same way and although Kamke put up more of a fight in the third but Murray was too strong, winning 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. It was an adequate, rather than barnstorming, performance against a mediocre opponent but Murray will be pleased to have won in straight sets without expending too much energy



Over on Court 16 Laura Robson took on 77th-ranked Angelique Kerber, hoping to post her first grand slam victory. The 17-year-old didn't start well and lost the first set 6-4



Then things turned and Kerber, who had to have treatment on her shoulder, lost the second set on a tie-break



Robson's comeback is complete when she takes the third set 6-3 and is understandably ecstatic – so three British women did make the second round after all (though at about the same time Anne Keothavong was on her way out against Petra Kvitova). Next up for Robson: former champion Maria Sharapova

[Mr Lick]

Women drivers of Saudi Arabia



Female Saudi motorists speak to the media after driving their vehicles in defiance of the ban on driving in Riyadh, June 22, 2011. Saudi Arabia has no formal ban on women driving. But as citizens must use only Saudi-issued licences in the country, and as these are issued only to men, women drivers are anathema.









A happy soul, isn't he.









A woman who is eager for a good spanking



Woman drivers are banned but controlling the vehicle with one hand is ok? Maybe they'll chop one off for her just to even things up a wee bit. It's all about control afterall

[Mr Lick]

Chinese Dissident Freed on Bail
On Wednesday, dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei waves from the entrance of his Beijing studio after being released on bail. The rights advocate's detention had sparked a global uproar.



Fed Acknowledges Slow Economic Growth
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, seen here at a news conference in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, said problems in the financial and housing sectors could keep hobbling the U.S. economy into next year.



Clashes in Turkey
Police spray water on Kurdish and Turkish leftist groups during demonstrations in Istanbul on Wednesday.



Legal Drama
An expert testifying in the trial of Casey Anthony, who's accused of killing her young daughter, said he did not detect evidence of human remains in the trunk of her car. Here: She's seen in an Orlando courtroom on Wednesday.



A Fashion Nightmare
Embattled fashion designer John Galliano, accused of going on anti-Semitic tirades in a Paris bar, arrives at his trial in the French capital on Wednesday.



Leader of Top Mexican Drug Cartel Nabbed
On Tuesday, Mexican officials said they caught Jose de Jesus Mendez Vargas, the "principal head" of the notorious La Familia Michoacana cartel. Here: The captured drug leader, right, in Mexico City on Wednesday.



Woman at Arms
A policeman and an activist clash in Guwahati, India, on Tuesday. The woman was one of many people protesting the eviction of settlers on government land. At least three were killed in the clashes, reports said.

[Mr Lick]

Geert Wilders 'hate' trial verdict due in Amsterdam



Judges are set to deliver their verdict in the trial of Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders for inciting hatred against Muslims.

Mr Wilders has described Islam as "fascist", comparing the Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf.

He insists his remarks were part of a legitimate political debate.

Both the defence and prosecution have called for an acquittal, and Mr Wilders is expected to be cleared of all the charges he faces.

Three district judges in Amsterdam will start delivering their verdict at 0900 (0700 GMT), which will be broadcast live on Dutch TV.

[Mr Lick]

Fifa accuses Bin Hammam of attempting to bribe



A Fifa report seen by the Press Association says there is 'overwhelming evidence' that Mohamed bin Hammam used bribery in his presidential campaign.

The ethics committee also stated that former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner was "an accessory to corruption".

Warner resigned from his role on Monday and quit all football activities.

As a result, football's governing body dropped all investigations into Warner, adding that "the presumption of innocence is maintained".

However, the full report of the ethics committee headed by Namibian judge Petrus Damaseb said there was "comprehensive, convincing and overwhelming" proof that bribes had been paid to officials to support Bin Hammam's campaign for the Fifa presidency, and that Warner had facilitated this.

I believe Jack Warner should be made to answer these charges - it's not enough just for him to resign

Said Tory MP Damian Collins


Both 68-year-old Warner, from Trinidad and Tobago, and Qatar's Bin Hammam, 62, were provisionally suspended on 29 May.

Bin Hammam withdrew as a candidate in the Fifa presidential race against Sepp Blatter on the morning of his ethics committee hearing on 29 May. Both Bin Hammam and Warner deny the allegations.

[Mr Lick]

Geert Wilders cleared of hate charges by Dutch court



Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders has been acquitted of charges of inciting hatred against Muslims.

Mr Wilders had described Islam as "fascist", comparing the Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf.

He insisted his statements were directed at Islam and not at Muslim believers - something which is legal under Dutch law.

Judge Marcel van Oosten told him his statements were "acceptable within the context of public debate".

"The bench finds that although gross and degenerating, it did not give rise to hatred," he said.

The verdict was greeted with applause from Mr Wilders' supporters in the public gallery.

Outside the courtroom, the 47-year-old politician said he was "incredibly happy" with the verdict.