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Pictures of the day: 13 April 2011

Today: Dog meets seal, lightning hits tree, and supercar crashes.

A bolt of lightning slams into the ground, just missing a tree. The picture was taken by Przemyslaw Wielicki, who spent 15 minutes snapping a storm in Poland. He said: 'When I saw this picture on my computer, to my big surprise, I discovered that I recorded a rare phenomenon - ribbon lightning. Ribbon lightning, also called staccato lightning, occurs when the bolt consists of several parallel strokes giving the visual impression of a ribbon. This one has ten distinct strokes. Five of them are easily visible and the rest require very close examination.'
A bolt of lightning slams into the ground, just missing a tree. The picture was taken by Przemyslaw Wielicki, who spent 15 minutes snapping a storm in Poland. He said: "When I saw this picture on my computer, to my big surprise, I discovered that I recorded a rare phenomenon - ribbon lightning. Ribbon lightning, also called staccato lightning, occurs when the bolt consists of several parallel strokes giving the visual impression of a ribbon. This one has ten distinct strokes. Five of them are easily visible and the rest require very close examination." Credit: Przemyslaw Wielicki / National News and Pictures
This inquisitive dog was left stunned when a playful young seal gave him a friendly slap on the cheek after he bounded into the sea during a game of fetch. The seal patted the bull mastiff on the face during the encounter after he chased a tennis ball that had been thrown into the ocean by his owner. The young dog found the baby seal with its head poking out the water and instead of retrieving his ball, he circled his intriguing discovery. Lynne Morris took the pics while going for a stroll along the beach in Fife, Scotland.
This inquisitive dog was left stunned when a playful young seal gave him a friendly slap on the cheek after he bounded into the sea during a game of fetch. The seal patted the boxer on the face during the encounter after he chased a tennis ball that had been thrown into the ocean by his owner. The young dog found the baby seal with its head poking out the water and instead of retrieving his ball, he circled his intriguing discovery. Lynne Morris took the pics while going for a stroll along the beach in Fife, Scotland. Credit: Lynne Morris/solent
Police in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China, were stunned to spot a man 'driving' two bumpers cars along a road. Officer Liu Yulin was watching CCTV footage of a road when the bumper cars came into view. He says: 'The man was driving two bumper cars. He sat in between the cars, and each foot stepped onto one gas pedal. I immediately radioed the officer at that road section to go and check.' Officer Xiao Hu then stopped the yellow cars and their owner, a Mr Zhang, who said he was moving them to a local park. According to Mr Zhang it was the first time he had driven the bumper cars on the street, and he hadn't realized it was illegal. 'Traffic regulations say that bumper cars are not engine vehicles, so they can't drive onto street,' said Officer Xiao. However, because the law doesn't stipulate what punishment a bumper car driver should receive Zhang just got a warning.
Police in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China, were stunned to spot a man 'driving' two bumpers cars along a road. Officer Liu Yulin was watching CCTV footage of a road when the bumper cars came into view. He says: "The man was driving two bumper cars. He sat in between the cars, and each foot stepped onto one gas pedal. I immediately radioed the officer at that road section to go and check." Officer Xiao Hu then stopped the yellow cars and their owner, a Mr Zhang, who said he was moving them to a local park. According to Mr Zhang it was the first time he had driven the bumper cars on the street, and he hadn't realized it was illegal. "Traffic regulations say that bumper cars are not engine vehicles, so they can't drive onto street," said Officer Xiao. However, because the law doesn't stipulate what punishment a bumper car driver should receive Zhang just got a warning. Credit: Quirky China News / Rex Features
A young motorist has woken up with a lot of explaining to do this morning after crashing his dad's £275,000 supercar. The 20-year-old was driving the 225mph Gumpert Apollo around a sharp bend when he lost control of the vehicle. Amazingly, the driver and his 19-year-old female passenger emerged from the gutted wreck with only minor injuries. The crash happened near the German town of Brokdorf, 50 miles north of Hamburg.
A young motorist has woken up with a lot of explaining to do this morning after crashing his dad's £275,000 supercar. The 20-year-old was driving the 225mph Gumpert Apollo around a sharp bend when he lost control of the vehicle. Amazingly, the driver and his 19-year-old female passenger emerged from the gutted wreck with only minor injuries. The crash happened near the German town of Brokdorf, 50 miles north of Hamburg. Credit: SWNS
A man cycles past the Bloodhound SSC jet- and rocket-powered car at Horseguards in London. The car is a World Land Speed Record contender, aiming to pass 1,000 miles per hour.
A man cycles past the Bloodhound SSC jet- and rocket-powered car at Horseguards in London. The car is a World Land Speed Record contender, aiming to pass 1,000 miles per hour. Credit: REUTERS
The famous Manneken Pis statue in Brussels is dressed in cosmonaut's clothes to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first human space flight, accomplished on April 12, 1961 by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin
The famous Manneken Pis statue in Brussels is dressed in cosmonaut's clothes to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first human space flight, accomplished on April 12, 1961 by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin Credit: Wang Xiaojun / Photoshot
An experiment created by using hundreds of Mentos and bottles of fizzy drink is conducted at Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire by educational science group Mad Science to mark the start of the resort's Easter season
An experiment created by using hundreds of Mentos and bottles of fizzy drink is conducted at Alton Towers Resort in Staffordshire by educational group Mad Science to mark the start of the resort's Easter season Credit: PA
People douse each other with water and powder to celebrate Songkran, also known as the water festival, in Bangkok, Thailand
People douse each other with water and powder to celebrate Songkran, also known as the water festival, in Bangkok, Thailand Credit: EPA
One of designer Camila Prada's anti royal wedding mugs on display in Stoke-On-Trent, England. Those feeling overwhelmed by the Kate and William royal wedding band wagon can now buy a mug to celebrate their indifference. The 'I Couldn't Care Less About The Royal Wedding', limited edition mug is available now for £15 including shipping - with ten percent of all profits going to a community charity from the birthplace of the mug, Stoke-on-Trent. Designer Camila Prada, 34, originally from Canada studied an MA in Ceramic Design at Staffordshire University. Her product is a tongue-in-cheek statement directed towards the Royal Wedding media frenzy and not the Royal couple themselves. She says 'the statement is not anti-royal, it's anti-hype'. The mug is available at www.sorrybut.co.uk
One of designer Camila Prada's anti royal wedding mugs on display in Stoke-On-Trent, England. Those feeling overwhelmed by the Kate and William royal wedding band wagon can now buy a mug to celebrate their indifference. The "I Couldn't Care Less About The Royal Wedding", limited edition mug is available now for £15 including shipping - with ten percent of all profits going to a community charity from the birthplace of the mug, Stoke-on-Trent. Designer Camila Prada, 34, originally from Canada studied an MA in Ceramic Design at Staffordshire University. Her product is a tongue-in-cheek statement directed towards the Royal Wedding media frenzy and not the Royal couple themselves. She says "the statement is not anti-royal, it's anti-hype". The mug is available at www.sorrybut.co.uk Credit: CAMILA PRADA / BARCROFT MEDIA
Tourists look at a chalk portrait of Kate Middleton, the future wife of Prince William, on the ground in front of the Cathedral in Cologne, western Germany
Tourists look at a chalk portrait of Kate Middleton, the future wife of Prince William, on the ground in front of the Cathedral in Cologne, western Germany Credit: AFP/GETTY
Clockwise from top left: Just to Feel Normal by Ian Cumberland, Distracted by Wim Heldens, Mrs Cerna by Sertan Saltan, and Holly by Louis Smith, which have been shortlisted for the £25,000 BP Portrait Award
Clockwise from top left: Just to Feel Normal by Ian Cumberland, Distracted by Wim Heldens, Mrs Cerna by Sertan Saltan, and Holly by Louis Smith, which have been shortlisted for the £25,000 BP Portrait Award Credit: PA
Artist Raven Collins will create a portrait of your deceased loved ones - by using their ashes. The 37-year-old American takes a person's remains and mixes them into paint to make the artwork. She also does the same for peoples' dead pets. 'I try to think outside the box,' she said.
Artist Raven Collins will create a portrait of your deceased loved ones - by using their ashes. The 37-year-old American takes a person's remains and mixes them into paint to make the artwork. She also does the same for people's dead pets. "I try to think outside the box," she said. Credit: Splash News/Raven J.Collins
Decommissioned Australian naval ship HMAS Adelaide is scuttled off the coast of Avoca beach near Gosford, Australia. Built in the United States, HMAS Adelaide was commissioned in November 1980 and was the first of six ADELAIDE class guided-missile frigates to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy. She participated in the 1990/91 Gulf War, in peacekeeping operations in East Timor in 1999 and 2006, and was deployed to the Arabian Gulf in 2001 and 2004...
Decommissioned Australian naval ship HMAS Adelaide is scuttled off the coast of Avoca beach near Gosford, Australia. Built in the United States, HMAS Adelaide was commissioned in November 1980 and was the first of six ADELAIDE class guided-missile frigates to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy. She participated in the 1990/91 Gulf War, in peacekeeping operations in East Timor in 1999 and 2006, and was deployed to the Arabian Gulf in 2001 and 2004... Credit: AP
...Planes sky-write the word 'shame' above the decommissioned warship HMAS Adelaide, before she is scuttled off the coast of Avoca beach near Gosford, Australia
...Planes sky-write the word "shame" above the decommissioned warship HMAS Adelaide, before she is scuttled off the coast of Avoca beach near Gosford, Australia Credit: AP
People in costume pose as the characters The Joker, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Batman, Robin, The Riddler, The Penguin and Poison Ivy, who will feature in the Batman Live Worldwide Arena tour
People in costume pose as the characters The Joker, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Batman, Robin, The Riddler, The Penguin and Poison Ivy, who will feature in the Batman Live Worldwide Arena tour Credit: PA
Dagenham supporter Bas Savage sports a Spiderman haircut during the npower League One match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Dagenham & Redbridge at Withdean Stadium in Brighton
Dagenham supporter Bas Savage sports a Spiderman haircut during the npower League One match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Dagenham & Redbridge at Withdean Stadium in Brighton Credit: GETTY
Fans of Uruguay's Penarol team deploy what is supposed to be the largest football supporters' flag (309 X 46 m) at Centenario stadium in Montevideo during the Libertadores Cup match against Argentinian team Independiente
Fans of Uruguay's Penarol team deploy what is supposed to be the largest football supporters' flag (309 X 46 m) at Centenario stadium in Montevideo during the Libertadores Cup match against Argentinian team Independiente Credit: AP / REUTERS / AFP
A lion rests inside his enclosure at the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad, India
A lion rests inside his enclosure at the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad, India Credit: AP
A day-old baby rhino, weighing between 50 and 60 kilograms, is pictured with her mother Cabelle, an endangered Southern White Rhinoceros, at the Australia Zoo near Brisbane
A day-old baby rhino, weighing between 50 and 60 kilograms, is pictured with her mother Cabelle, an endangered Southern White Rhinoceros, at the Australia Zoo near Brisbane Credit: AFP/GETTY
This Santa Cruz County Animal Services photograph shows Max, a three-year-old cat shot through the head with an arrow. Max is recuperating from surgery, apparently little worse for the wear, authorities said. 'According to the owners, the cat had been missing for two days and when they opened their front door the cat came in,' Santa Cruz County Animal Services Manager Todd Stosuy said.
This Santa Cruz County Animal Services photograph shows Max, a three-year-old cat shot through the head with an arrow. Max is recuperating from surgery, apparently little worse for the wear, authorities said. "According to the owners, the cat had been missing for two days and when they opened their front door the cat came in," Santa Cruz County Animal Services Manager Todd Stosuy said. Credit: REUTERS
Two girls stay close to their mother as a 2.8 metre tiger shark swims past inside an aquarium at Manila's Ocean Park, Philippines
Two girls stay close to their mother as a 2.8 metre tiger shark swims past inside an aquarium at Manila's Ocean Park, Philippines Credit: AP
A rare Cold War nuclear bunker in the Lincolnshire Wolds just outside Baumber, near Horncastle, which will go under the hammer next month. The bunker, which is 15ft underground, is being sold at auction with a guide price of £7,000.
A rare Cold War nuclear bunker in the Lincolnshire Wolds just outside Baumber, near Horncastle, which will go under the hammer next month. The bunker, which is 15ft underground, is being sold at auction with a guide price of £7,000. Credit: PA
The Velodrome is seen from the Parklands area in the Olympic Park in London. Over 1,500 trees have been planted along with thousands of wetlands plants. The wetland bowl in the north of the Olympic Park is complete with 15,000 square metres of riverside spectator lawns, timber seating, frog ponds, loggeries, wetlands, woodlands and tree-lined footpaths.
The Velodrome is seen from the Parklands area in the Olympic Park in London. Over 1,500 trees have been planted along with thousands of wetlands plants. The wetland bowl in the north of the Olympic Park is complete with 15,000 square metres of riverside spectator lawns, timber seating, frog ponds, loggeries, wetlands, woodlands and tree-lined footpaths. Credit: PA / LOCOG
Gilles Dejong of Belgium performs during a show jump in front of the Burj al Arab in Dubai
Gilles Dejong of Belgium performs during a show jump in front of the Burj al Arab in Dubai Credit: EPA
Titan the robot meets Vera, a cleaner, at the start of The Gadget Show Live at the NEC Birmingham
Titan the robot meets Vera the Gadget Gran at the start of The Gadget Show Live at the NEC Birmingham Credit: PA
Confederate re-enactors standing on the ramparts of Fort Moultrie in Charleston, South Carolina, are silhouetted in the rising sun to mark the 150th anniversary of the US Civil War
Confederate re-enactors standing on the ramparts of Fort Moultrie in Charleston, South Carolina, are silhouetted in the rising sun to mark the 150th anniversary of the US Civil War Credit: GETTY
The semi-submersible residential platform Jupiter from Mexico's state-owned oil company Pemex is seen partially submerged in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Ciudad del Carmen. According to a Pemex statement, the platform started to lean over after a mechanical incident on one of the pontoons. 638 of 713 people onboard were evacuated and no injuries have been reported.
The semi-submersible residential platform Jupiter from Mexico's state-owned oil company Pemex is seen partially submerged in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Ciudad del Carmen. According to a Pemex statement, the platform started to lean over after a mechanical incident on one of the pontoons. 638 of 713 people onboard were evacuated and no injuries have been reported. Credit: REUTERS
US Army pilot from 'Dustoff' team, C Company, 1-214 Aviation Regiment, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, runs to cover from a sandstorm at Camp Dwyer in Helmand province, Afghanistan
US Army pilot from "Dustoff" team, C Company, 1-214 Aviation Regiment, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, runs to cover from a sandstorm at Camp Dwyer in Helmand province, Afghanistan Credit: REUTERS
Republican forces soldier Abdoulaye Sanogo wears a wig he says is Simone Gbagbo's - found in her bedroom at the presidential residence as forces allied with Alassane Ouattara captured strongman Laurent Gbagbo and his wife one day earlier - as he rides a motorcycle in the Youpougon neighbourhood of Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Republican forces soldier Abdoulaye Sanogo wears a wig he says is Simone Gbagbo's - found in her bedroom at the presidential residence as forces allied with Alassane Ouattara captured strongman Laurent Gbagbo and his wife one day earlier - as he rides a motorcycle in the Youpougon neighbourhood of Abidjan, Ivory Coast Credit: AP
A boy holds a sweet potato snack for his father at a charcoal factory at a slum in Manila, the Philippines
A boy holds a sweet potato snack for his father at a charcoal factory at a slum in Manila, the Philippines Credit: REUTERS