World News in Pictures

[Mr Lick]

Syrians defy crackdown to protest over Assad regime




Tens of thousands of Syrians have again taken to the streets for Friday protests, in defiance of the massive crackdown against them.

One human rights activist thought as many as 1.2 million people were taking part across the country.

Security was tight in the capital Damascus, with checkpoints set up, communications cut and arrests made.

There are reports of gunfire and tear gas being used against several demonstrations.

Activists say at least one person has been killed in Aleppo in north-west Syria, and another in the central city of Homs.

Police reportedly used batons as well as tear gas break up a protest in the mainly-Kurdish city of Qamishli.

Marches were also taking place in other Kurdish towns, in the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, in the southern town of Sueweida and in the north-west province of Idlib.

There were also reports of demonstrations in Homs, 160km (100 miles) from Damascus, which has been subject to a massive military crackdown in recent days.

Activists say at least 50 people have been killed in Homs - which has been at the heart of the four-month uprising - since Saturday.

[Mr Lick]

Amy Winehouse found dead, aged 27



Singer Amy Winehouse, 27, has been found dead at her north London home.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed that a 27-year-old woman had died in Camden and that the cause of death was as yet unexplained.

The Brit and Grammy award-winner had struggled with drink and drug addiction and had recently spent time in rehab.

Her record label Universal called her "a gifted musician, artist and performer", adding: "Our prayers go out to Amy's family, friends and fans."

She pulled out of a comeback tour last month after a disastrous appearance at her first gig.



Performing with Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones on the final day of the Isle of Wight festival 2007



Performing at Bestival in Newport, 2008



Performing at T in the Park Festival, Scotland, 2008



Performing with Mark Ronson at the Brit awards 2008



Amy Winehouse performing at the Riverside Studios in London during a live link to the Grammys where she won five awards in 2008



With her father Mitch as they await news of her Grammy award at the Riverside Studios 2008



Performing at the Brit awards 2008



Performing at the Mercury prize

[Mr Lick]

Pakistan accuses US of slander over 'agent' arrest



Ghulam Nabi Fai was charged with failing to register as a foreign government agent


Pakistan has accused the US of slander against Islamabad over the arrest of a Kashmiri-born man accused of acting as a Pakistani agent in Washington.

Ghulam Nabi Fai, a 62-year-old American citizen, is accused of working in Washington for a Pakistani spy agency to lobby for Kashmiri independence.

Mr Fai was arrested on Tuesday and charged with failing to register as a foreign government agent.

Meanwhile, Congress rejected a proposal on Thursday to cut off aid to Pakistan.

Mr Fai and a second man, Zaheer Ahmad, a 63-year-old US citizen and resident of Pakistan, were both charged in the case. Mr Ahmad is believed to be in Pakistan.

The pair are suspected of having connections to an effort by the Pakistani government that allegedly funnelled millions of dollars through a front group, the Kashmiri American Council, to Washington to lobby US politicians on behalf of Kashmir.

The US has said the group contributed money to US election campaigns, helped fund conferences and other efforts, including meetings with White House and state department officials.

The US justice department said Mr Fai - who denies the charges - and Mr Ahmad would face five years in prison if found guilty.

[Mr Lick]

The aftermath of the Norway attacks



An image taken from a helicopter showing what Norwegian police believes is suspect Anders Behring Breivik carrying a gun, next to several bodies at the Utøya island shore



Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg embraces a survivor of the Utoeya island shooting spree at a hotel









From left to right: Norway's Queen Sonja, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus, Crown Prince Haakon, Marius Borg Høiby and Crown Princess Mette-Marit light candles at Oslo Cathedral to mourn and show their respect for the victims

[Mr Lick]

A rare glimpse inside North Korea



A girl plays the piano inside the Changgwang Elementary School in Pyongyang, North Korea,



Central Pyongyang






People go about their daily routines south of Pyongyang along the highway leading to the southern city of Kaesong, North Korea

[Mr Lick]

Emergency workers and people work to help passengers from the wreckage of train after two carriages from a high-speed train derailed and fell off a bridge in Wenzhou in east China's Zhejiang province July 23.

At least 11 people have died after two high-speed trains crashed into each other in China's eastern province of Zhejiang on Saturday causing two carriages to fall off a bridge, state news agency Xinhua reported.
Another 89 people have been sent to hospital, it added. Each carriage could carry about 100 people, Xinhua said.
The accident occurred after the first train was hit by lightning and lost power, and was then rear-ended by another bullet train, Xinhua added, citing provincial television.

[Mr Lick]

The iFake store




Customers and employees inside a fake Apple Store in Kunming, Yunnan province, China, July 22, 2011.

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]

A posed picture shows a real iPhone 3GS (L) alongside a fake model, in Beijing July 22, 2011

[Mr Lick]

Brilliant Khan blows Judah away










Britain's Amir Khan put on a boxing masterclass to knock out Zab Judah in five rounds in their light-welterweight unification fight in Las Vegas.

The 24-year-old Khan, defending his WBA belt, was expected to be stretched by veteran IBF champion Judah.

But Khan dominated from the opening bell, forcing the fight and landing at will with his jab.

The end came when Khan landed with a crunching right hand to the body and Judah was unable to make the count.

The punch looked borderline low, but replays showed it landed on Judah's belt line and was not a foul blow.

"He went down and it was above the belt," Khan, who will now target the winner of September's clash between Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz, told BBC Radio 5 live.

"It was nowhere near below the belt, it was a great shot. Zab's a great fighter. I respect him a lot.

Judah did not agree with his rival's assessment, claiming: "Everyone in world who saw the fight will see that's a low blow. I thought he [the referee] was giving me time to get up.

"He then said 'over'. I thought he was giving me a standing eight-count. I didn't understand that."

The one-sided nature of Khan's fifth successful defence of the title he won in 2009 will have surprised many as Judah had fought some of the biggest names of the modern era.

Judah, a five-time champion, had been in with Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto in a professional career spanning 49 fights and 15 years but rarely had he been on the receiving end of such a one-sided beating.

[Mr Lick]

Some more pics from the 3rd day of England v India test match at Lords



Dhoni is in watchfull mood as he and Dravid take the tourists past 200



The persevering Tremlett removes Dhoni and Singh in the space of 3 balls but Dravid puts on a stubborn show

[Mr Lick]

Dravid loses another partner when Kumar top-edges a ball from Broad but moves unerringly to his 33rd test hundred and more importantly his first at Lords



The injured Zaheer Khan comes out to bat with a runner but is bowled by Anderson who also dismisses Sharma leaving India all out for 286, 188 behind the hosts



Openers Strauss and Cook end the day on 5-0. Cook congratulates Dravid on his 100 before they walk off. A great end to a fantastic day's cricket

[Mr Lick]

French runners provisionally suspended after Monaco brawl



French runners Mehdi Baala and Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad have been provisionally suspended by the French Athletics Federation after their brawl at Friday's Diamond League meeting.

The pair dramatically came to blows after the 1500m race in Monaco and had to be separated by officials.

Baala apologised for the incident but the FFA condemned their "unspeakable behaviour".

They will now face a disciplinary hearing to be held within eight days.

The duo finished ninth and 11th respectively in a race won by Kenyan Silas Kiplagat, but soon afterwards became embroiled in a fracas rarely seen in the sport.

Baala and Mekhissi-Benabbad did not receive their appearance fees and could be reprimanded further by the IAAF, who are waiting on an official report from the meeting organisers before deciding if they will open their own investigation.

That could have implications for their chances of getting a place at the World Championships to be held in South Korea from 27 August.

An IAAF statement read: "After the report is studied, should it be found there is a case to answer a full investigation would be held.

"And if the case is proven the National Federation and/or the IAAF have the power to sanction the athlete or athletes involved on the grounds of bringing the sport of athletics into disrepute."

[Mr Lick]

Cadel Evans on verge of Tour de France victory



Cadel Evans is all but certain to become Australia's first Tour de France winner after a stunning time trial-victory in the suburbs of Grenoble.

Evans recorded a time of 55 minutes 40 seconds to take the yellow jersey from Andy Schleck before Sunday's largely ceremonial final stage in Paris.

Germany's Tony Martin won the time-trial from Evans, who moved 1:34 ahead of Schleck in the overall standings.

Schleck began the day with a 53-second lead in the general classification.

The Luxembourger is destined for a third consecutive second place in the Tour after the aggression that securedhis stage win over the Galibier on Thursday appeared to catch up with him.

Evans, a general classification runner-up in 2008 and 2009, was visibly emotional as he was presented with the yellow jersey.

In the absence of Alberto Contador in 2008, the Australian was widely expected to land his first Grand Tour title but was foiled by Carlos Sastre.

[Mr Lick]

Clashes at Egypt demonstrations for political change



Egyptian security forces have fired tear gas to disperse pro-reform protesters who clashed with groups loyal to the ruling military council.

Demonstrators were marching to the defence ministry on Saturday when, witnesses say, they were pelted with rocks, stones and bottles by loyalists.

It was the second time in two days that crowds had attempted to march on the headquarters of the military council.

The protests came despite a pledge by the council's chief to build democracy.

In a rare public address, Egypt's military leader Field Marshall Tantawi had tried to defuse the situation.

He praised the youth who led February's uprising against then-President Hosni Mubarak, and pledged to build a democratic state which promoted freedom and the rights of citizens.

Field Marshall Tantawi said he would "pave the way for the pillars of a democratic state, which promotes freedom, the rights of citizens through free and fair parliamentary elections, a new constitution and the election of a president chosen by the people".

[Mr Lick]

'Five dead' at Texas skating rink shooting



At least five people have been killed and three injured in a shooting at a roller-skating rink birthday party in Texas, police say.

Police say the shooting happened after an argument erupted at the party in the city of Grand Prairie, close to Dallas.

Local media quote police as saying the gunman is among the dead, having turned the gun on himself after opening fire.

Details about the incident are sketchy but police say the row was a "domestic disturbance between husband and wife".

Police said they first received a call about the shootings at Forum Roller World shortly after 1900 local time (0200 GMT) and responded immediately.

The shootings unfolded at a private family event at the skating rink, local media reported.

Witnesses described seeing people fleeing the rink in panic after the gunman opened fire.

[Mr Lick]

Body of woman found in Nottingham alley sparks murder inquiry



The death of a woman in her 20s whose body was found in a Nottingham alleyway is being treated as murder.

The discovery was made at about 08:45 BST in an alleyway between two houses in Thorneywood Mount, in the St Ann's area.

Police officers have searched bins and gardens in the surrounding streets. A cordon put in place earlier has now been lifted.

Detectives have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

[Mr Lick]

Man arrested after woman killed and man wounded



A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 22-year-old woman was stabbed to death on Merseyside.

The 44-year-old man is also being held on suspicion of attempted murder after a man, 25, also suffered stab wounds in the attack in St Helens at 02:30 BST.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene in Chapel Street. The man was taken to hospital. His condition is described as serious but stable.

The arrested man was initially treated for minor injuries.

The woman is yet to be formally identified.

A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out later.

The scene remains cordoned off for forensic examinations. Police are talking to residents and potential witnesses.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Merseyside Police or Crimestoppers anonymously.

[Mr Lick]

Australia may seize David Hicks's Guantanamo book cash




Australia has launched a legal bid to seize the profits from a book written by a former Guantanamo Bay detainee.

Legal officials say any money made by David Hicks from his memoirs should be regarded as the proceeds of crime.

Australian Hicks pleaded guilty to helping the Taliban at a US military hearing in 2007 and was sent back home to serve a nine-month sentence.

He received applause at the launch of his book recently, which caused huge controversy in Australia.

The former farmer, dubbed the Aussie Taliban, was captured in Afghanistan and spent almost six years at Guantanamo.

He published his book Guantanamo: My Journey last year - and it has reportedly sold 30,000 copies.

But the government confirmed on Wednesday that the director of public prosecutions had applied for a restraining order and a literary proceeds order.

The case is scheduled to be heard in the Supreme Court of New South Wales state on 3 August.

Supporters of Hicks say the government should not be pursuing him because his original conviction was not legitimate.

"David Hicks has not been convicted of a crime in Australia," human rights campaigner John Dowd said.

"He has not been convicted of an offence under United States law. There is no basis for removing any profits from the sale of his book."

But opposition politicians accused the government of being too slow to act, saying Hicks had clearly profited from his crime.

In his book, Hicks wrote that he admitted to a charge of helping terrorists only to escape Guantanamo Bay.

[somtamslap]

North Korea looks like a hoot..

[Mr Lick]

A farmer crosses a snow-covered area in Butalelbum, located in Alto Bio Bio, 700 km (435 miles) south of Santiago, July 23, 2011. Heavy snow has affected rural areas of southern Chile, where it has isolated some 16,000 people. The Chilean government has declared a disaster area after the cold snap, with some areas facing up to 2.3 meters of snow, according to local media.

[Mr Lick]

A re-enactor portraying a Confederate soldier, center, drinks water from a flask to stay cool during the heat, before the reenactment of the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) in Manassas, Va., July 23. The reenactment, with over 8,000 re-enactors, is part of the 150th Anniversary Commemoration of the first major land battle in the American Civil War, which took place in Manassas, July 21, 1861. The original battle happened when about 35,000 Union troops marched from Washington and clashed with a Confederate force of 20,000, which resulted in a Confederate victory. Re-enactors had to endure a brutal heat wave with some wearing wool uniforms, as temperatures were expected to reach 102 Fahrenheit.

[Mr Lick]

World aquatic championships

[Mr Lick]

[Mr Lick]