Endangered fishermen rescued from Typhoon Utor

A maritime rescuer from the South China Sea Rescue Bureau holds a Chinese fisherman as they are elevated from the reef by a helicopter in Xisha Waters of the South China Sea December 15, 2006. Sixteen fishers have been rescued after their fishing boat struck a reef and grounded December 13 due to Typhoon Utor. There was still one person missing.

Scientists: Squirrel-like mammal flies before birds

The picture shows an artist's rendering of the first flying mammal. Chinese scientists have claimed that a squirrel-like mammal that lived 125 million years ago appears to have discovered gliding flight at about the same time, or even earlier, than the first birds.

Nominations for Golden Globe Awards announced

Actress Jessica Biel announces the nominations for "The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards" on Thursday morning, December 14, 2006 at The Beverly Hilton, California. "The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards" will take place on January 15, 2007, at The Beverly Hilton.

EU presidency sees more active thinking on Constitution

Heads of State gather for the traditional family photo session at the EU summit in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2006. Member states of the European Union (EU) are moving from "silent reflection to more active thinking" over the EU Constitution, said Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen late Thursday.

Marvelous souvenirs of Chairman Mao

Wu Suizhou is an ordinary 52-year-old Xuchang citizen, but his large collections of Chairman Mao make him extraordinary. He started to collect the badges of Mao in 1966, and many different versions of the "red treasure books"-- The Collected Works of Chairman Mao, as well as many statues and portraits enriched his collections.

Zheng Jie, Yan Zi win women's double tennis gold

China's Yan Zi (L) and Zheng Jie pose with their gold medals after beating Chinese Taipei to win the women's double tennis final at the 15th Asian Games in Doha December 14, 2006.[

Police: Diana death "tragic accident

Princess Diana's death in a Paris car crash was a "tragic accident," a long-awaited report has concluded, dismissing theories of a murder plot by intelligence agencies��said a report by Lord John Stevens, Dec.14, 2006 (Xinhua Photo/AFP)

Premier Wen meets FISU President

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao(R) meets with visiting International University Sports Federation (FISU) President George E. Killian in Beijing on Thursday.

Europe witnesses warm winter

A bear lies awake on a trunk as it cannot go into hibernation, at the Moscow Zoo in Moscow, capital of Russia, Dec. 13, 2006. Moscow is witnessing a warm winter this year, with the highest temperature standing at 4 degrees centigrade on Wednesday, 8.5 degrees centigrade higher than the average temperature in the same period of past years.

New UN Secretary-General Ban sworn in

UN Secretary-General-designate Ban Ki-moon is sworn in as the next Secretary-General to succeed Kofi Annan at an oath of office ceremony Dec. 14, 2006.