Yao, James lead 2007 NBA All-Star voting

Yao Ming (L) paces the Western Conference and LaBron James leads the Eastern Conference in voting for the 2007 NBA All-Star game.

Olympic gold plate and brick unveiled

A salesperson poses with a gold plate embossed with the Beijing Olympic symbol in Beijing, December 15,2006.The Olympic gold plate and set of Olympic gold and sliver bricks unveiled today are licensed by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), and are first gold plate and gold brick set in Olympic history. (newsphoto)

Most surprising sea animals discovered in 2006

National Geographic has listed some of the most surprising sea animals discovered in 2006. Deepest Dweller. The deepest census survey took place more than five kilometers (three miles) down in the Sargasso Sea in the North Atlantic. There, researchers trawled up more than 500 species of microscopic animals called zooplankton. Twelve are likely to be new species.

Iranian voters hope for better lives

Iranian voters lined up at polling stations across the country on Friday to cast their ballots for the 4th Assembly of Experts and 3rd local councils, with many voicing their hope for better lives. Iranian leaders have urged voters to turn out in force for double polls that are the first election test for Ahmadinejad since taking power.

Heart Attack Grill: a taste worth dying for

Courtney Chapman, a waitress dressed as a nurse at the Heart Attack Grill, holds up a triple bypass burger Friday, Dec. 1, 2006 in Tempe, Ariz. The barely year-old Tempe, Ariz., restaurant with its slogan "taste...worth dying for!" makes the "quadruple bypass burger," estimated to be 8,000 calories, and it is served by waitresses in "nurse" outfits.

President Hu meets with US high-ranking officials

Chinese President Hu Jintao meets U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and other participants to the strategic economic dialogue after it concluded Friday morning. The two-day dialogue is the first of its kind in Sino-U.S. relations.

Doha Asian Games concludes

The magnificent show of the last 15 days which portrayed the dreams and aspirations of Asia passed into the recess of history as the largest ever Asian Games came to a close Friday night at the Khalifa Stadium in an atmosphere of friendship and unity.