Robot sanitation worker

A strange looking robot fitted with a video camera and a beard-brush crawled through the air-conditioning system of the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, on the morning on December 6 to officially "start work". It was the first time that the Administrative Bureau of the Great Hall of the People had used a robot to clean the air-conditioning system.

World's thinnest camera revealed

A model indicates that the new X720 digital camera is almost the same thickness as a 1 jiao (Chinese currency) coin. BenQ recently announced that, in conjunction with the Japanese optical instrument producer Pentax, it had developed the 7 million pixel, X720 digital camera, the thinnest and lightest camera in existence. At it it's thinnest the camera is just 1.25 centimeters thick. It will retail for 2680 yuan.

Super-flat, 880-wheel car

China's first, 2500-ton, hydraulic remote-control, self propelled modular transporter has been developed in Suzhou. The car is 73.2 meters long, 8.125 meters wide and has 880 wheels, and can be adjusted according to cargo size, weight and road conditions. The turning circle of this enormous vehicle is a full 60 meters.

Beds prepared for concert-goers in Israel

Israelis lay in beds set up during a classical music concert at an event in Tel Aviv, Israel, Dec. 11, 2006. Customers were invited to the event as a promotion for a mattress maker, who set up more than 100 beds for concert-goers to listen to the show.

"Golden Flower" has golden ticket prices

A poster of "Curse of the Golden Flower". Ticket prices have become a cause for concern as the premiere of the biggest Chinese blockbuster of the year, director Zhang Yimou's "Curse of the Golden Flower", draws near. Tickets for the small scale September previews of the movie in Beijing sold for the vastly inflated sum of 100 yuan (more than 12 U.S. dollars).

First woman equestrian honor guard in Chongqing

Riders from an equestrian honor guard patrol as part of an effort to maintain security on a street in Southwest Chongqing Municipality December 11, 2006. Outfits and facilities for each rider valued at 2000 yuan (US$250).

Would-be woman takes further transsexual surgery in NE China

A would-be woman surnamed Chen arrives at a plastic hospital in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province where she will take a second-stage transsexual surgery December 12, 2006. (newsphoto)

Drawing lessons from Nanjing Massacre

Policemen carrying wreaths walk past a simulated head of a distorted victim during a Nanjing Massacre memorial rehearsal ahead of the 69th anniversary of the Japanese atrocity in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province December 12, 2006. A total of 300,000 Chinese were killed by Japanese militarists on December 13, 1937. (newsphoto)

Salvage drill held at airport in Shanghai

Firefighters spray water to a plane using the hose during a salvage drill at Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai December 11, 2006. The drill was aimed to improve the reaction time of fire department and salvage workers to emergencies.

Possible damage found in Discovery's wing

A graphic from NASA TV shows possible damage on the Shuttle Discovery's wing that NASA officials are taking a closer look at December 11, 2006. Officials have not determined the significance of the damage but don't expect it to affect the mission.

Farewell to Pinochet in Santiago

Followers of former Chilean President Augusto Pinochet pay him their last respects during his wake at the Military Academy in Santiago, Dec. 11, 2006. Pinochet, who ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990 after a military coup, died Sunday from heart complications at the age of 91.

Liu Xiang wins men's 110m hurdles at Asiad

China's Liu Xiang competes during the men's 110m hurdles final of athletics at Doha Asiad, Qatar, Dec. 12, 2006. Liu Xiang claimed the title with a time of 13.15 seconds.

Premier Wen urges to ensure stable food supply

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) visits a low-income family Dec. 12, 2006. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited a Beijing market on Tuesday to inspect grain supply amid the recent price hike and to make sure that recent food price rises have not affected the low-income family .

56 killed, 221 wounded in Baghdad suicide car bomb

Residents look at the wreckage of a burnt vehicle at the scene of a suicide bomb attack in Baghdad Dec. 12, 2006. The death toll rose to 56 and 221 people wounded in the suicide car bombing that hit a crowded square in central Baghdad on Tuesday morning.