152 countries around the world took part in climate change awareness campaign by switching off lights on landmarks

Environment charity WWF organised the Earth Hour event which saw iconic buildings such as Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, BFI Imax, the London Eye, the Gherkin, Edinburgh castle, Brighton Pier, Westminster abbey, Durham cathedral, Old Trafford, Canterbury cathedral, Windsor Castle and Tewkesbury abbey blacking out for an hour.

The event, which took place at 8.30pm local time around the world, started in Fiji, New Zealand and Australia.

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Gone dark: Times Square in New York City turns off the lights for Earth Hour

Electronic billboards stand dark (R) on Times Square as their lights were turned off too mark "Earth Hour" in New York

The Empire State Building, left, and parts of Chicago, right, also took part

To call on governments to pledge their commitments to climate change the lights were turned out at landmarks like London's Big Ben and Taiwan's 101 building in Taipei 

Sydney Opera House is seen before the lights are switched off to recognize Earth Hour in Australia to raise awareness about climate change and to show support for the use of renewable energy

The Opera House is seen after the lights were switched to 'GreenPower' and glowed dark green to recognize Earth Hour

Organisers in Britain sought to beat the record of seven million people who took part last year.

A live event was streamed by WWF-UK from the Southbank in London featuring an acoustic performance from pop band McFly, who did the Harlem Shake in panda onesies to launch the campaign.

 

Recordings of Rudyard Kipling's Just So stories were made by Kevin McCloud, Miranda Richardson and Alistair McGowan and celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsay, Raymond Blanc and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall created special recipes for families to prepare and eat by candlelight.

The aim is to highlight the charity's call on governments, organisations and individuals to pledge their commitment to tackling climate change.

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change.

The Eiffel tower blended in to the Paris skyline as its illumination was extinguished to mark Earth Hour to raise awareness about tackling climate change

The China World Trade Centre Tower III (left) and the Sydney Harbour Bridge (right) before Earth Hour (top, and during Earth Hour (bottom)

South Korean students held an Earth Hour LED display during the 7th annual Earth Hour global warming campaign in Seoul

The Cathedral of Saint Sava in Belgrade before and after submerging into darkness as a symbolic show of support for the planet

The following year, Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating.

As well as people in 7,001 cities cities taking part this year, other landmarks which stood in darkness for the hour included the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, Granada's Alhambra in Spain, Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, Athens' Acropolis in Greece, India Gate in New Delhi, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and Sydney's Opera House.

CEO and co-founder, Andy Ridley, said at the launch of Earth Hour 2013 in Singapore: 'People from all walks of life, from all nations around the world, are the lifeblood of the Earth Hour interconnected global community. 

'They have proven time and time again that if you believe in something strongly enough, you can achieve amazing things. These stories aren't unique, this is happening all over the world.'

Worldwide blackout: The world largest LCD screen at a shopping mall in Beijing and the entrance to Sydney's Luna Park were switched off to raise awareness

The financial Central District of Hong Kong showed support for Earth Hour by descending into darkness at 8.30pm for 60 minutes

As part of Earth Hour 2013 people around the world were asked to turn off the lights for an hour  and South Korean students held candles in Seoul to mark the occasion

NASA photographs capture the twinkling lights of cities around the world

The photographs, taken by Expedition 33 crew members as the space station orbits the Earth, show the mesmerizing light patterns of different metropolises. 

Cities on the coast have the densest light by the water's edge while cities with major new development like in Kuwait have a more grid-like pattern. 

The biggest little city in the word: Reno, nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, as seen from the International Space Station

By the sea: The city of Porto (left) and Vila Nova de Gaia (right) astride the Douro River on the northwestern coast of Portugal

Miles below: Crew on the space station took this picture of Cleveland, Ohio, flying at an altitude of approximately 240 miles

London calling: Astronaut Chris Hadfield took this photograph of the British capital

Sparkling: A nighttime view of Istanbul, Turkey with the Bosporus strait separating the two halves of the city

Intricate: The north west side of Tokyo Bay in Japan. The mammoth city has a population close to 13million

World web: Liege in Belgium sprawls out into the darkness of the surrounding countryside like a spider's webb

Little Italy: The county's boot-like shape and nearby Sicily as seen from 240 miles above ground

Eastern delight: A nighttime view of Kuwait City with its neat urban planning. The metropolitan area has a population of two and a half million

Pretty as a picture: A view of Baltimore, Maryland. The city is situated on the mid-Atlantic coastline along the terminus of the Patapsco River into Chesapeake Bay

On the grid: Shenyang on China at night with the smaller city of Sujiatun (pictured left)

$1million powerboat is wrecked as the show of owner speeds up into a huge wave

The driver was apparently showing off to friends and took the 35ft Donzi powerboat out in rough seas.

As he approached the 20ft high rolling wave he hit the accelerator to try and ramp over it.

Show off: The driver was apparently showing off to friends and took the 35ft Donzi powerboat out in rough seas

The craft began climbing at a 45 degree angle but the power of the roller proved too great and vessel was thrown completely out of the water.

One of the three men on board was thrown high out of his seat as the expensive craft belly-flopped into the sea with such force it split the boat down the middle.

 

The injured driver managed to limp the stricken powerboat back to shore before he and his two passengers were taken to hospital for bruising and broken bones.

High seas: As he approached the 20ft high rolling wave he hit the accelerator to try and ramp over it

Take off: The craft began climbing at a 45 degree angle but the power of the roller proved too great and vessel was thrown completely out of the water

Near death experience: One of the three men on board was thrown high out of his seat as the expensive craft belly-flopped into the sea

Vanished: The boat completely disappears from view as it crashes over the other side of the 20ft wave

Wake up call: Moments later the broken boat can be seen limping back to shore before the injured driver and his two passengers were taken to hospital for bruising and broken bones

The dramatic incident at Ocean Beach, San Francisco, was captured on camera by Pete Koff, 41, who was recording his friend surfing.

He said: 'I saw the powerboat sitting out on the water in the biggest swell of the year.

'The waves were 20ft high and I thought to myself 'that's a really bad place to be sitting',

I have been surfing for 15 years on Ocean Beach and I have never seen anyone there.

'I carried on filming my friend surfing when the boat came by, so I turned my camera onto it for about 30 seconds and just watched it go past.

Crack up: The craft belly-flopped into the sea with such force it split the boat down the middle

Big bill: The owner of the £600,000 speedboat now faces a hefty bill to fix the damage to the hull of his vessel

'The guy driving it must have been trying to show off which was dangerous and he really accelerated and shot up the wave.

'I think he thought it was going to break so he needed to get past it, but as the boat shot up the wave it was thrown around 40ft into the air.

'It almost landed vertically and then went flat, which is quite lucky as they all remained on board. Everyone could have died.

'When it landed, he sat there for a couple of minutes and I know the people on board were injured.

'The boat split right down the middle but the guy managed to get it back to shore.'

 

                             

Woman, 21, who fell down manhole during severe storm and hasn't been seen for 48 hours

Yang Lijun, 21, disappeared into a six-metre-deep hole in Changsha, capital of southern China's Hunan Province, on Friday night.

More than 30 rescuers, including police officers, firefighters and eight mine rescue specialists, have been on the scene since early Saturday but still have not managed to find Ms Lijun. 

Missing: Yang Lijun, pictured left, has been missing since Friday night after she fell down an uncovered manhole, pictured right, into the sewers in Changsha, Hunan Province, China 

Disappearance: Despite ongoing rescue attempts over the weekend, Ms Lijun still has not been found

Zhou Gang, head of sewer and road maintenance in Tianxin district, said: 'We have searched the city’s sewers three times, but so far we have found no trace of the woman.'

Gong Chengping, a spokesman for the district government, said the woman’s chances of survival are slim because the fast-running water could have already swept her into a river. 

'In heavy rain, the velocity is extremely fast, and it could have carried the woman to a nearby river within 10 minutes,' he added. 

Rescue operation: More than 30 rescue workers - including members of the police, fire service and eight mine rescue specialists - have been at the scene

Fears are growing that Ms Lijun may have been swept out into a river by the heavy rain and fast-flowing water

Britney Spears Boyfriend wear matching outfits

Britney and her new boyfriend David Lucardo started their trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, with a very unusual fashion statement on Friday.

Love match: Britney Spears and her new boyfriend David Lucardo went for very similar looks as they flew out of Los Angeles, California, on Friday

The 31-year-old star and her man both donned waistcoats and fedoras for their flight from Los Angeles, California to Sin City.

The Till The World Ends singer donned a dark blue waistcoat with a lace high-necked shirt and a leather ice skater skirt.

The star added black suede knee high boots that she unzipped and folded down to make them appear more like ankle boots, as well as a blue tartan fedora.

Mix and match: While the couple matched the 31-year-old's outfit did not with star donning a dark blue waistcoat with a lace high-necked shirt and a leather ice skater skirt

Taking his girlfriend's lead Ordinary Dave - as the legal firm field researcher has become known - wore a snugly fitting lighter blue waistcoat over, an also very tight, shirt with a light blue tartan tie.

History repeating: The singer likes to dress her men like her, and vice versa, as Brit and then-boyfriend Justin Timberlake infamously both wore denim outfits to the American Music Awards in 2001

Dave also donned a very similar dark fedora.

The couple's outfits evoked memories of the singer and her former boyfriend Justin Timberlake's matching fashion disaster of a decade ago.

The then couple ended up on almost every worst dressed list around the world after they donned matching all denim outfits to the American Music Awards in 2001.

Justin - who was in boy band 'NSYNC at the time - wore a denim suit jacket with flared denim pants - both of which had contrasting denim patches - with a cowboy hat made of jean material.

Britney wore a ball gown cut from denim and even accessorised it with a denim handbag.

While the image of the pair walking the carpet together in their matching denim has lasted, their romance did not, ending just one year later.

Britney has since been married twice - for one day to friend Jason Alexander and for two years to back up dancer Kevin Federline - and recently split with fiance and former manager Jason Trawick.

Justin - who now has changed his image to ensure he is on the best and not the worst dressed lists - recently married actress Jessica Biel.

Despite the failure of matching looks before, Britney seemed very happy couples dressing as she flew out to Vegas.

Britney is in final negotiations with Caesars Entertainment to have a performance residency at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino so no doubt the trip was not all matching outfit fun.

The singer did manage to enjoy the town while there, however, as on Sunday night she posted a a picture of her and Dave - and her manager - enjoying the Cirque du Soleil’s One Drop show.

Helping to raise funds to for the show's charity that aims to ensure people around the world get access to safe and clean water, the show certainly impressed Britney.

Meet my man: The Till The World Ends singer introduced fans to boyfriend Dave posting a picture on her Twitter of the couple watching Cirque du Soleil's One Drop show on Sunday in Las Vegas, Nevada

She tweeted: 'The @Cirque @ONEDROP show… SO WOW!! #1night1drop Watch it online & support #worldwaterday” Brit tweeted, along with a link so you too can watch and support World Water Day.'

Beaming the singer happily posed with Dave's arm around her, and the picture marks the first time the singer has publicly acknowledged her new boyfriend - whom she was first spotted with in February.

The couple did not have a lot of time to relax after the show however, flying out that same night.

Quick trip: After the show the singer and her beau flew out of Vegas

Britney split with her partner of three years, Jason, in January.

The mother-of-two recently admitted she will 'always love' her former fiance.

Britney added: 'Jason and I have decided to call off our engagement. I'll always adore him and we will remain great friends.'

The one before: The 31-year-old called off her engagement to Jason Trawick in January

Candice Swanepoel in her tie-dye bikini

The Victoria’s Secret Angel was in Miami, Florida making the most of the warm weather in a blue and white tie-dye bikini.

The good life: Candice Swanepoel looked great in a blue triangle top bikini at the beach in Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday

Stylish set: She looked great as she teamed the swimwear with a black fedora hat

The 24-year-old flaunted her toned frame in the two-piece swimwear set with string ties and barely enough material to cover her bottom.

The blonde teamed it with a black fedora hat to help shield her face from the UV rays at times but removed it when the ocean breeze prevent it from staying on.

The South African-born beauty also sported heart-shape sunglasses over her eyes, completing her look with a delicate necklace and rings on her fingers.

What an angel! The Victoria's Secret model looked great in heart shape sunglasses

Trim form: Candice's frame looked very slender in her beach get-up

She had stripped down from a pair of denim hot pants and a cream bandeau top with heart shapes cut out of the fabric.

Candice carried a black shoulder bag and sandals as well as a bottle of Smart Water to stay hydrated.

She was in the city for some modelling work tweeting a behind the scenes shot of her work the previous day.

Heavenly sight: She hung out with fellow model Doutzen Kroes

What a vision: The pair stood out amongst the ocean side crowd

On the wild side: Doutzen donned a cap with her spotty swimwear

As she gazed into the camera while body guards stood around her she captioned the snap: ‘Secuuuritttyyy :) wattsupphoto.’

Candice also took the opportunity to hang out with fellow model Doutzen Kroes.

Good jeans, great genes: Candice sported denim hot pants with her two-piece

Gone with the wind: The star looked fabulous in a cream bandeau top but struggled to keep her hat on

The pair lapped up some rays together laying stripy blankets on the white sand before hitting the club together that evening.

They watched acts Calvin Harris and Doutzen’s husband DJ Sunnery at the Ultra Music Festival and Candice posted a snap of her view of the stage on Instagram.

'Secuuuritttyyy': Earlier in the day she posted a behind the scenes snap of herself at a photo shoot with guards

Enjoying the night life: She also went to the Ultra Music Festival where she watched Calvin Harris play