McDonald's unveils "Olympic logo"

McDonald's unveils a combinative logo comprising the logo of the Beijing Olympic Games and its corporate logo on Dec 19, 2005. As the partner of Olympic Games and its official restaurant partner, McDonald's is entitled to use the logo of Olympics Games in advertisement and promotion of its foods.

Seaplane crash over Miami Beach claims 20 lives

A US double-engine seaplane packed with passengers crashed and sank off Miami Beach into the city's main shipping channel, December 19, 2005, killing 20 on the scene including 3 infants. Photo shows two rescuers don dive masks and are ready for the search-and-rescue mission.

Swan Lake by the Yellow River

A few white swans frolicking in the Sanmenxia Reservoir in central China's Henan Province on Dec 19. Flocks of white swans have flown from Siberia to the Yellow River wetland at Sanmenxia Reservoir to spend winter since December. The good ecological environment and local people's attention to environmental protection have turned the wetland into a habitat for white swans in winter.

Eliica reaches a top speed of 370km/h

At his official residence in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi waves to the crowd inside "Eliica", Electric Lithium-Ion battery Car on Dec. 19. Koizumi took the eight-wheel lithium-iron car developed by Keio University that day. It is reported that Eliica can reach a top speed of 370km/h, the fastest in the world.

Dick Cheney visits Afghanistan

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (R) talks with the U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney (L) at the Afghan presidential palace in Kabul,capital of Afghanistan Dec. 19, 2005. Finished an unannounced trip to Iraq, Cheney arrived in Afghanistan to attend the opening ceremoney of Afghan Parliament on Dec. 19.

DMB mobile phones make debut in Shanghai

A DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcast) mobile phone plays TV programs in Shanghai. The first batch of DMB mobile phones, which can encode TV programs and send the codes via wireless network to users' mobile phones and other handsets, made debut in shanghai on Dec 19.

AC Milan beat Messina to move on

Milan's Vieri (Upper) challenges his Messina rival during their Italian Serie A match at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, northern Italy December 18, 2005. Milan won the match 4-0.

Hostage crisis in Kunming

A man holds a knife against the neck of his ex-girlfriend in downtown Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province Monday December 19, 2005. The hostage was rescued and the kidnaper subdued after an 80-minute standoff. The man resorted to such action for love reasons, published reports said. (sina)

Evo Morales claims victory in Bolivian presidential election

Indigenous supporters of Bolivian presidential election front-runner Evo Morales of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) hail the victory after general elections at its headquarter in La Paz, late Dec. 18, 2005. Morales on Sunday claimed victory after exit polls showed he has gained 51 percent of the votes. Bolivia's former president and major challenger Jorge Quiroga has conceded defeat and congratulated Morales.

Highlights from International Dog Exhibition in Helsinki

A woman takes her dog to attend the International Dog Exhibition which was held in Helsinki, capital of Finland, Dec. 18, 2005. About 40,000 residents came to the two-day exhibition to admire the 15,000 dogs of more than 300 breeds on display.

TCTV launches the first Chinese-language TV station

Korn Dabbaransi, Chairman of Thai-Chinese Friendship Association addresses during the opening ceremony of the first TV station of Chinese in Thailand which for short TCTV in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, Dec.18, 2005. The broadcast of TCTV fills a gap of Chinese media in the field of Thailand's TV station.

Maiden session of Afghan Parliament kicks off

Afghan President Hamid Karzai delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of Afghan Parliament in Kabul Dec. 19, 2005. Afghan president Hamid Karzai inaugurated the maiden session of the Parliament and 351 parliament members and some foreign guests attended the meeting.

Peacekeeping troops leave for Congo

One hundred Chinese officers and soldiers left Beijing by plane Monday night as part of the fifth batch of peacekeeping troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to replace the fourth batch of peacekeeping troops currently stationed there.