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Romantics around the world are celebrating Valentine's Day
2008-02-14 22:44:00
On Valentine's Day, gifts - from inexpensive to extravagant - are given as expressions of love. Here, a Filipino man sells heart-shaped balloons in Manila.In Gaza, local carnations are the basic flowers on offer because of the Israeli blockade of the territory which has resulted in other flower varieties being kept out.Iraqi women shop for gifts in a shop in the capital, Baghdad.With this year's violence in Kenya affecting much of the country, roadblocks and barricades on the streets have made it harder to get flowers to market for Valentine's.The day is celebrated with flowers in the Vietnamese city of Hanoi......while in Shanghai a Chinese man buys a bouquet from a flower seller.In Japan, chocolate is a favoured gift, and these women take a special chocolate bath at a hot spring resort in Hakone.However, these protesters in Delhi staged a rally against Valentine's Day, which they describe as an assault on traditional Indian values.
More About: World , Around the world , The World , Romantics

Seoul landmark fire
2008-02-12 22:32:00
A 14th Century gate widely seen as South Korea's most treasured attraction has been ravaged by a fire that broke out late on Sunday.Namdaemun, or the Great South Gate, was the oldest wooden structure in Seoul . It served as the city's main entrance when it became South Korea's capital more than 600 years ago.More than 100 firefighters tried to extinguish the blaze, firing hoses from every angle.But their efforts were not enough to prevent the two-storey superstructure crumbling as the flames ripped through it.By Monday morning, only the stone base of the gate was left. According to initial estimates, it will take three years and $21m to restore.South Koreans spoke of their anguish at losing the gate, which was re-opened to the public two years ago for the first time since 1907.[BBC]
More About: Fire , Landmark

World Press Photo Award 2008
2008-02-10 22:46:00
This combo picture shows the pictures taken by Fei Maohua, a Xinhua News Agency photographer based in China, who won the second prize of the Sports Action Stories category. The prize-winning entries of the World Press Photo Contest 2008 , the world's largest annual press photography contest, were announced Feb. 8, 2008.This picture shows Gu Beibei and her teammates of the Chinese synchronized swimming team practise their routine on the ground during a training session for the coming XII FINA World Swimming Championships in Beijing, capital of China, Mar. 06, 2007. The picture is taken by Fei Maohua, a Xinhua News Agency photographer based in China, who won the second prize of the Sports Action Stories category.This picture shows Lauren Mitchell of Australia is reflected in the screen of a scoreboard while she competes in the women's beam final at the 2007 Artistic Gymnastics International Invitation Tournament held in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2007. Lauren Mitchell took th...
More About: Award

Lunar New Year 2008
2008-02-08 23:01:00
People around the world have been celebrating Lunar New Year , also known as Chinese New Year, and welcoming in the Year of the Rat.Many chose to start the celebrations with a visit to a Buddhist temple, like these people in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.Despite the cold weather, thousands of people gathered at temples in Beijing to mark the most important annual festival in much of East Asia.In Indonesia, where the celebration was banned for years by recently deceased leader Suharto, ethnic Chinese people burned incense and offered prayers.Every year millions of people travel home to be with their families for the holiday. In parts of China, families make dumplings to symbolise luck and reunion.But not everyone can be with their loved ones, like this man in South Korea who offered prayers for his parents across the border in the North.New Year fairs spring up in Chinese cities, selling toys, gifts and red decorations said to bring good luck.Firecrackers, traditionally believed...
More About: Lunar New Year , 2008

A guy who's looking like Osama Bin Laden
2008-01-31 22:46:00
His real nam is Fernando Aguirre, a 50-year-old man living in Colombia.
More About: Osama Bin Laden , Bin Laden , Osama , Laden

Las Vegas casino hotel engulfed in flames
2008-01-26 22:28:00
A firefighter battles the flames as smoke billows from the top of the Monte Carlo hotel and casino in Las Vegas , Nevada Jan. 25, 2008. A fire broke out on the top floors of the 3,000-room Las Vegas hotel and Casino on Friday, forcing the evacuation of guests and staff and quickly engulfing parts of the building's facade and roof. [Reuters]
More About: Hotel , In Flames

World's largest swimming pool
2008-01-23 22:46:00
A view of the swimming pool at the resort of San Alfonso del Mar in Algarrobo city on the southern coast of Chile, some 100 km (62 miles) west of Santiago, Jan. 21, 2008. Acknowledged by the Guinness World Records as the world's largest swimming pool, the lagoon measures 1,013 metres (3,323 ft) in length, covers an area of eight hectares (20 acres), contains 250,000 cubic meters of water and is navigable in small boats.
More About: Swimming , Pool , Largest

Japan HDR (high dynamic range) photography
2008-01-19 21:35:00
Meiji Kinenkan (Meiji Wedding grounds)the main shopping street on the way to the entrance of Ise Jingu.Takoyaki truck outside the Seibu Shinjuku station.At back alley of Mita, Tokyo.Under the main gate of Zojo-ji templeCloudy Day In GotokujiSandra, Nicola & Emma (pushing Ellie) at Decks in OdaibaSunset near Kitakogane station in Chiba prefecture, Japan . Like all urban landscape in Japan powerlines cover the field of vision as far as can be seen. Only the sky radiates hints of nature.This local shrine is visited daily by many local people. From six in the morning the bell by the front rings, calling the gods to attention as patrons say their prayers and give their offerings.Burning Sky taken from the "Bubba Gump" restaurant at Lala Port (Tokyo bay).
More About: Photography , High , High Dynamic Range , Range

People skate in Moscow's Red Square
2008-01-19 21:28:00
People skate at an ice rink in front of GUM department store in Moscow's Red Square Basil Cathedral is pictured in Moscow's Red Square
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Heathrow crash-landing
2008-01-17 21:23:00
A passenger plane has made a dramatic emergency landing at London's Heathrow Airport - one of the busiest in the world.The British Airways Boeing 777, arriving from Beijing, crash-landed on the grass short of the runway, skidding onto the tarmac before coming to a halt.The plane's undercarriage, wings and engine were seriously damaged in the incident which happened at 1242 GMT.The plane's wheels came off after it touched down on the grass.All 136 passengers and 16 crew on board the BA flight BA038 escaped down emergency chutes. Six people were being treated for minor injuries.The emergency services doused the undercarriage of the plane.Six ambulances and all of the airport's fire engines were sent to the scene.Passenger Fernando Prada told the BBC there "was no panic at all" and all the people were off the plane within three minutes. He said surviving was like winning the lottery.Crash eyewitness Steve Bell told the BBC that fire crews arrived "within minutes and evacuated all t...
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Some nice nature photographs
2008-01-08 23:13:00
Aitutaki Lagoon at Sunrise, Cook IslandsBass Harbor Head Lighthouse, Acadia National Park, MaineBiltmore Estate, Asheville, North CarolinaBlue Mosque, Istanbul, TurkeyCedar Creek Grist Mill, Near Vancouver, WashingtonClifton Bay and Beach, Cape Town, South AfricaDawn at Staunton Caundle, Dorset, EnglandDesert Oasis, TunisiaEverglades National Park at Sunset, FloridaField of Golden Gilia, Saddleback Butte State Park, CaliforniaFolle Blanche Grapes, Armagnac, FranceGarden Gate, Bainbridge Island, WashingtonGrasmere, Cumbria, EnglandHadamar, Hesse, GermanyLake Pukaki and the Ben Ohau Range, Near Mount Cook Station, New Zealand
More About: Nature , Photographs , Nice

Tops British beauty icons of 2007
2008-01-05 21:28:00
Keira KnightleyKelly BrookKate MossVictoria BeckhamFearne CottonHolly WilloughbyGemma AtkinsonAlesha DixonLily AllenJordanKeira Knightley has topped a poll of beautiful women beating Kate Moss and Kelly Brook. The former Teddington School and Esher College student beat the supermodel and TV presenter in a Superdrug survey carried out earlier this month. Glam model Jordan managed to pip Paris Hilton to the number 10 slot in the poll of 2,500 people. Superdrug's beauty director Katherine Le Clerc said: "The top 10 beauty icons list shows that today there is room for everyone's idea of true beauty. "From the aloof glamour of Keira Knightley and Victoria Beckham's high-maintenance gloss to the fresh faced youthful looks of Fearne Cotton, Holly Willoughby and Gemma Atkinson." (Source: China Daily/Agencies)
More About: Beauty , Icons , Tops , British