Logo for moon probe project unveiled in Beijing

The logo for China's lunar exploration project was unveiled on Friday in Beijing. The logo, designed by Gu Yongjiang, depicts a pair of footprints on the moon, symbolizing the dream of lunar exploration; the upper part of the logo is like a dragon head, symbolizing China's space flight is soaring like a huge dragon. The white part of the lower part is composed of a flock of peace doves, meaning China's will to explore the space peacefully. The whole picture resembles a pictographic Chinese character "yue" (the Chinese character for moon). A total of 1,026 designs have been received since solicitation of the logo began Aug 15, 2005.

Liver transplant mice survive three years

Doctors with Chongqing Southwest Hospital's Liver, Gall and Pancreas Surgery Laboratory celebrate birthday for three mice that received liver transplant three years ago. On Feb 9, 2003, doctors of the hospital performed allotransplantation of the liver for three mice. It is said the mice's age is equivalent to 119 years in human life, for one year in a mouse' life equals 35 years in a man's.

Lebanese marks first anniversary of the assassination of Hariri

Lebanese people fix a huge poster of late former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri with Arabic writing reading "We missed you" on the Rawshe rock on the Beirut seafront, 12 February 2006. People from all over Lebanon have been called on to commemorate the first anniversary of the assassination of Hariri on February 14, in remembrance of the poor boy turned billionaire who is considered one of the architects of the Taif accord which ended Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war and who governed the country for the better part of a decade until he resigned just a few months before his death.

"Family Tree"

The photo taken on Feb. 11, 2006 shows the "Family Tree" at a park in Qiqihaer city in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Feb. 11, 2006. "Family Tree" composed of three members of the family was on display recently, attracting many visitors' attention.

Splash colorful sparkles to celebrate Lantern Festival

A man performs Dashuhua, a traditional folk art with a history of some 300 years to celebrate the Lantern Festival, in Yuxian, a county in east China's Hebei Province, on Feb. 11, 2006. The performer wearing a sheepskin coat and a wet terai scoops out molten iron with a special wooden spoon and slosh it on the rampart, splashing colorful sparkles.

Chinese celebrate Lantern Festival at home, abroad

Some children of Chinese origin recite Chinese poem in Putonghua (common speech of the Chinese language) during a celebration of Lantern Festival in New York, Feb. 11, 2006. The celebration was held in New York on Saturday, drawing many Chinese overseas to participate to mark the yearly Chinese traditional Lantern Festival.

China loses to Honduras in soccer friendly

Tao Wei (Above) from Chinese men's national football team vies with Elmer Marin from Honduran men's national football team during an international friendly match held in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 12, 2006. China lost the match 0-1.

Li Jiajun wins first medal for China at Turino Winter Olympics

Chinese Li Jiajun, the bronze medalist of men's 1,500m short track speedskating of Turino Winter Olympics, waves to spectators at the victory ceremony in Turino on Feb 12, 2006.

Al-Jaafari named to head Iraq's new govt

Ibrahim al-Jaafari is interviewed in Baghdad April 28, 2005 (file photo). The Iraqi Shiite alliance re-elected the current Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari as their candidate for prime minister in the new government.

Avalanche kills four students in Turkey

Rescue workers prepare to set off to search for trapped students in Nigde, central Turkey, Feb. 11, 2006. Avalanche fell on 14 students, members of a mountaineering club at Hacettepe University in Ankara, at the Aladaglar Mountain in Nigde, Feb. 11, 2006. Four of the 14 students were killed in the avalanche.

Pilots of India's Air Sahara hold strike

An Indian policeman guards a counter of Air Sahara in New Delhi Airport, New Delhi, India, Feb. 12, 2006. Pilots of Air Sahara held a strike on Feb. 12, causing the cancellation of at least ten flights, to show their dissatisfaction as Air Sahara was to be purchased by its rival Jet Airways, which will become the largest airlines in India after the deal.

Leaders celebrate Lantern Festival with noted intellectuals

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) smiles in a meeting held in Beijing to celebrate the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival, Feb.12, 2006. Chinese leaders joined noted intellectuals in a party to celebrate the Chinese Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the Chinese lunar new year, Sunday night at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.