Week in pictures: 17-23 July

1 of 12 Melanie Marshall of Loughborough University qualifies for the 50m backstroke final during the ASA national swimming championships and Olympic trials at the Manchester Aquatic Centre.

2 of 12 A young Bangladeshi girl rows a raft through floodwaters in Dhunat, near Bogura, with her younger sister and their sheep.

3 of 12 Tuesday brings news the family of Philippines hostage Angelo de la Cruz has been waiting for - his release in Iraq.

4 of 12 Dawn breaks over the North Sea as turbines at a UK offshore wind farm begin to produce energy.

5 of 12 It is an agonising wait for mining families in Ukraine after an underground blast kills 25 men with 11 more missing.

6 of 12 Pope John Paul II during his traditional weekly general audience at the Vatican.

7 of 12 A man walks among concrete slabs being used to build a controversial barrier in the West Bank. Israel says work on the barrier will continue despite condemnation at the UN.

8 of 12 A worker prepares medals for the Olympic Games in Athens - 13kg of gold, a ton of silver and a ton of bronze are being used.

9 of 12 Cycling legend Lance Armstrong rides behind his team-mate in the gruelling 17th stage of the Tour de France.

10 of 12 Afghan women wait to get voter identity cards at the Eidga mosque in Kabul.

11 of 12 A model rocket promoting the Thunderbirds film goes on display in London's Trafalgar Square.

12 of 12 Iranmanesh Hamideh of Iran plays a shot in a doubles match during the 10th Junior Table Tennis Championships in India.