<?xml version="1.0"?> <img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2009/10/queen_mary_2.jpg"><h2>Queen Mary 2 fifth birthday</h2><strong>Saturday, 17 October<br/></strong><br/>The cruiseliner Queen Mary 2, pictured under the Forth Rail Bridge in Edinburgh, continues her tour of Britain to mark the ship's fifth birthday.<br/><br/>Credit: Lynne Cameron/PAArchive/Press Association Images<img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2009/10/Beached_whale.jpg"><h2>Beached blue whale off Californian coast</h2><strong>Tuesday, 20 October</strong><br/><br/>A 70-foot female blue whale is washed ashore near Fort Bragg, Calif, on the northern Californian coast after apparently being hit by a ship. The dead animal has a gash on its back estimated to be more than 8ft long.<br/><br/>Credit: larry RWagner/AP/Press Association Images<br/><img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2009/10/destroyer.jpg"><h2>New Type 45 destroyer, HMS Defender, launched</h2><strong>Wednesday, 21 October</strong><br/><br/>Royal Navy destroyer, <em>HMS Defender</em>, is launched at the BVT Surface Fleet Shipyard in Glasgow. This is the fifth Type 45 ship to be built.<br/><br/>Credit: Danny Lawson/PA Wire<br/><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br/></span><!--EndFragment--><img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2009/10/Phillipines_ribs.jpg"><h2>Philippino priests bless RIBs</h2><strong>Wednesday, 21 October</strong><br/><br/>A group of Filipino priests bless newly acquired RIBs and other vehicles, which were distributed by authorities in Quezon City, north of Manila, in preparation for Typhoon Lupit, which is expected to hit the northern Philippines today.<br/><br/>Credit: AaronFavila/AP/Press Association Images<img src="http://www.mby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2009/10/HMS_illustrius.jpg"><h2>HMS Illustrious joins Fly Navy 100 celebrations</h2><strong>Thursday 22 October 2009</strong><br/><br/>Merlin helicopters from the Royal Navy onboard HMS Illustrious before she sails into Liverpool for the FlyNavy 100 event which celebrates 100 years of naval aviation.<br/><br/>Credit: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
