Rio de Janeiro violence

In Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian police and gangsters have fought running battles inside one of the city's largest slums.

Nevertheless, some were hit, and friends and relatives tried to carry the injured to safety in the midst of the battle.

More than 1,000 police headed towards Alemao, a crime-ridden and densely-populated slum area used as a stronghold by a major drugs gang.

Locals looked on in shock as their neighbourhood turned into a battleground.

As armed gang members set fires and erected barricades in the streets, ordinary people tried to seek shelter wherever they could.

Others were not so lucky. By Wednesday evening at least 13 people were confirmed dead, with reports suggesting that figure would rise.

Authorities want to clamp down on lawlessness in Rio before the Pan-American Games open on 13 July, when the city will welcome thousands of athletes and tourists.

Away from the limelight, though, ordinary people in Alemao wait until a semblance of order returns to their home.

Spice Girls

The Spice Girls, who are set to announce their reunion on Thursday, came to global attention with their 1996 hit Wannabe, which topped the charts in 31 countries.

Europe heatwave

Firefighters across Greece have been battling forest fires as a record heatwave dries out forests, fuelling the blazes.

Fire-fighting aircraft and helicopters have been called in to help. This helicopter is dousing flames on Mount Parnitha, northwest of Athens

An explosion in a power station in Thessaloniki, in northern Greece, caused blackouts and put more strain on a power grid already tested by heavy use of air conditioners.

Temperatures in the Greek capital, Athens, have fallen to below 40C after reaching a peak of 43C. Elsewhere in Greece, temperatures hit 46C.

High temperatures have been recorded throughout south-eastern Europe, including in Belgrade, Serbia, where a man cools his head in a fountain.

In Romania, the heatwave has followed a dry winter and spring. A tanker delivers water to Perieni village, 320km (199 miles) north-east of the capital Bucharest.

Wimbledon 2007

Tennis fans watch the action on the first day of the Wimbledon tournament.

Germany

Anyone in the mood for fresh strawberries in Germany should stock up as soon as possible as growers are about to stop harvesting Germany's second most popular fruit. Because of mild weather, the strawberry season began early this year, but warm temperatures also let the plants bloom only for a short time.

South Korea

South Korean workers load packs of rice for North Korea into a Vietnamese ship at Gunsan port in Gunsan, south of Seoul, South Korea. South Korea will start sending rice aid to North Korea after the North moved to follow through on its nuclear disarmament pledges

Valued Exposure 1977

A crowd of New Yorkers make their way home during a power cut after a power station was struck by lightning July 13, 1977 in New York City. It was then the largest power blackout in the history of the U.S.

California wildfire

Gusts of wind drove the fire through the area around Meyers, near Lake Tahoe, late on Sunday. Winds later dropped but firefighters said the blaze was not yet contained.

California wildfire

The fire near Lake Tahoe is believed to have been started by human activity - not natural causes.

Cambodia plane search

Rescue efforts are under way to find the passengers who were flying between two popular tourist destinations.

Some 22 people, mainly foreign tourists, are missing after their plane disappeared in south-west Cambodia, believed to have crashed. Passengers on board were mainly South Korean.

Brown is UK's new prime minister

The Browns are moving into 10 Downing Street

Brown Takes Over

The world's media gathered outside Number 10 to witness the historic scenes.

UK

Mr Blair received a standing ovation from both sides of the house before heading back to Downing Street. He is due to visit Buckingham Palace later to resign.

Valued Exposure

17 year old Bianca Passarge of Hamburg dresses up as a cat, complete with furry tail and dances on wine bottles, June 1958. Her performance was based on a dream and she practiced for eight hours every day in order to perfect her dance

Blair resigns as prime minister

The Blair family pose outside Downing Street for a final time

Croatia

Lightning illuminates the sky over Prvic Luka during a summer storm on the island of Prvic, Croatia. Thunderstorms rolled over Croatia's Adriatic coast following a wave of extremely hot weather

Valued exposure

A motorist attempts to start his car engine on a flooded road in the Thames Valley, 1914.

Valued exposure

Roger Federer steps onto Centre Court at Wimbledon this year aiming to match Bjorn Borg's record of winning five Wimbledon titles in a row. Borg is pictured here in 1977 winning his second title at Wimbledon.

A Gay Pride march in Jerusalem took place amid tight security, sparking fierce protests among the holy city's religious communities.

Paris

A fighter jet performs a demonstration flight on the opening day of the annual air show in Le Bourget, near Paris.

Windsor Castle played host to the annual Order of the Garter service which was attended by Queen Elizabeth II.

Tony Blair's last EU meeting

Prime Minister Tony Blair is attending his last EU summit before he stands down.