Giant monument of shoe made in honour of Iraqi journalist

A statue built for Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi, who hurled his shoes at former U.S. president George Bush, is seen in Tikrit, 150 km (95 miles) Baghdad, January 27, 2009. An Iraqi town has unveiled a giant monument of a shoe in honour of the journalist who threw his footwear at former U.S. President George W. Bush. Picture taken on Jan. 27, 2009.

Obama On Board

National Geographic joins Barack Obama as he flies to Washington D.C. for his inauguration.

Sea to Shining Sea

American landscapes, presented for the Inauguration of Barack Obama, Tuesday, January 20, 2009. Congratulations, and God Speed, Mr President.

Chillin in Boomtown Bangalore

'Chaos' is the first word that comes to mind in Bangalore. What with the heat, traffic and sheer craziness that characterises this boomtown city - sometimes you've just got to find somewhere to chill out. Here's how we did it.

Bush's Secret Visit to Iraq

Bush's secret mission: to visit the troops in Iraq for Thanksgiving. Transportation: Air Force One.

Ceremony celebrates coming-of-age in Janpan

A 20-year-old girl stands on a portable shrine carried by people along the seashore during a purification ceremony at the Katase-Enoshima beach in Fujisawa of Kanagawa prefecture Jan. 18, 2009. The annual ceremony celebrates the coming-of-age for young people.

A 20-year-old girl stands on a portable shrine carried by people along the seashore during a purification ceremony at the Katase-Enoshima beach in Fujisawa of Kanagawa prefecture Jan. 18, 2009. The annual ceremony celebrates the coming-of-age for young people.

A 20-year-old girl stands on a portable shrine carried by people along the seashore during a purification ceremony at the Katase-Enoshima beach in Fujisawa of Kanagawa prefecture Jan. 18, 2009. The annual ceremony celebrates the coming-of-age for young people.

A 20-year-old girl stands on a portable shrine carried by people along the seashore during a purification ceremony at the Katase-Enoshima beach in Fujisawa of Kanagawa prefecture Jan. 18, 2009. The annual ceremony celebrates the coming-of-age for young people.

National Geographic Magazine's Top Photos of the Year

Editor in Chief Chris Johns chooses his personal favorites from the past year of National Geographic's stunning photography.

Anthony Bourdain - Seafood Risotto in Venice

In this clip from an all-new episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Tony travels to Venice where he learns the history and preparation of seafood risotto.

The Terra-Cotta Warriors

In a chance discovery, an entire army of terracotta warriors is found. The first emperor of China had them created and buried with him, to protect him in the afterlife. A group of them is coming to National Geographic Museum in November 2009.

Pink iguanas discovered on Galapagos Islands

A team of Italian and Ecuadoran researchers have discovered a unique species of pink land iguanas living on the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, the scientist who wrote the report told AFP on Monday. The first pink iguanas were discovered in 1986, and after years of DNA analysis scientists concluded that it was a unique species different from other land iguanas. These pink land iguanas photos were released recently by the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador, Jan. 5, 2009.

A team of Italian and Ecuadoran researchers have discovered a unique species of pink land iguanas living on the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, the scientist who wrote the report told AFP on Monday. The first pink iguanas were discovered in 1986, and after years of DNA analysis scientists concluded that it was a unique species different from other land iguanas. These pink land iguanas photos were released recently by the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador, Jan. 5, 2009.

Mexico nude activists protest for animal rights

Activists from animal rights group AnimaNaturalis protest against the sale of pets inside a cage in front of a shopping mall in Mexico City January 3, 2009. The poster reads "Don't buy animals. Adopt!"

Activists from animal rights group AnimaNaturalis protest against the sale of pets inside a cage in front of a shopping mall in Mexico City January 3, 2009.

People speak with activists from animal rights group AnimaNaturalis as they protest against the sale of pets inside a cage in front of a shopping mall in Mexico City January 3, 2009.

Massive bread weighing 10,000kgs displayed in Mexico City

A massive bread is displayed in Mexico City, Mexico, on Jan. 4, 2009. The bread that is about 1,600 meters (one mile) long, and weighs close to 10,000 kilograms was baked Sunday for the traditional Magi party and was distributed to thousands of Mexican families.

Painted bus in Panama City

A bus with colorful paintings runs in Panama City, Panama, Jan. 2, 2009. The local authorities of the capital city has made a decision to purchage 420 new buses instead of the old uncomfortable buses which were dubed as "Diablo Rojo", red evil, due to frequent traffic accidents they caused.

A bus with colorful paintings runs in Panama City, Panama, Jan. 2, 2009.

Iran: Another Perspective A Photo Tour

These days most people have a very negative image of Iran. Please, ignore the propaganda!

This video is meant to allow people from around the world to see the beautiful Iran that I know.
Enjoy the tour!

Iran History

A slide show of Iran

Persian Iranian girl

Iranian girl

Here is Iran

Iran ( tehran , isfahan , kish, persian gulf) ,

Iran 2009 | Decide for yourself

IRAN WANTS TO "WIPE ISRAEL OFF THE MAP?

Iranian president's words were: "this REGIME occupying al-Quds [Jerusalem] must VANISH from the pages of time". This clearly talks against a REGIME that occupies, and not a nation of people that Iranians actually have respect for, the Jews. Iranians were also against the apartheid REGIME of South Africa back in the 80s, but somehow the media never twisted any of such declarations into genocide references. If the phrase was heavily manipulated, there is a good reason to it.


IRAN IS NOT ISLAMIC?

You think in a very convenient way when claiming the exclusive pure Persian culture was that of Ferdowsi (1,000 years ago), as his was for earlier Persians quite a polluted version of their own systems, for it was already the result of helenizing and mongolizing processes. Else, you really believe 1,000 years earlier, Cyrus and Dariush would have agreed with that as if nothing wouldave happened in between? Yet you call it Persian culture and for sure it was, but so is Mowlavi's Masnavi with no "buts", as well as the modern Islamic version of Iran, and I firmly believe there is not a single contradiction between them other than words and images.


IRAN IS OPPRESSIVE?

We in the West claim to live in "democracy" (whatever that word and its practice means), in "freedom", and "prosperity". If all of that is true, how do we explain the fact that this supposedly evolutioned and diplomatic world stands still while the most unfair things happen in the Middle East not on their own fault but on our Western influence on it?

Besides from our prehistoric system which needs to murder by the millions to stay alive, not a single government in the world stays out from the control of its people, not a single one of them. Government comes from the Greek "Kybernetes", who was the one guiding the ship, guiding the tripulation to a safe and better harbour, one in which the passengers would see the quality of their human nature amplified. No media in the world is free, there are naturally always governments, and less naturally there are always monopolistic corporations entangled with political conveniences, there are always masses being idiotized with reality shows, with celebrities, movies, ILLUSIONS far from what this existence really consists on and far from the simple beautiful details of life.

Just because I can publish an article that says in principle God is an asshole and his followers are beasts (and all the degrees and similar examples of doing something like that), it doesnt mean I live in a free society, but in one that forces me to operate in favor of the division of the peoples, in one that promotes individualism so that the "free" market can sell me unnecessary products far more easily when Im alone and I have lost the ability to measure the real values of life's real products, and that enslaves me with debt and material possessions.

How is all of that more valid than a government which also controls the media, which also forces people to do certain things (actually in a far more honest way as they manifest what the rules are and dont hide them in the guise of a "free" market), but which actually gives their people independence and spiritual guidance, a safer harbour, the most authentic from them all, for they shelter their culture from another one which drives towards dissolution, towards materialism and individuality, which gives people all the credit cards they want to buy as much as they can think of, but still deprives them of the real satisfaction people looked for when thinking about buying anything in the first place.


IRAN HAS TO BE LIBERATED?

What freedom and democracy is the US -and the Western world for that matter- entitled to spread when it wasnt Bush but another "democratically" elected government which overthrew democratically elected presidents even in my meaningless Chile? And how different to such democratic evangelization ways are the rest of the countries of the world which approve all such mechanics through silence and a smile at UN meetings, smiles to which they are chained by the economical comfort of their own people and their debts?

Chileans owe a 65% of what they claim to "own", and Americans owe over a 50% of what they also "own", and lets not even get into depth with the burlesque debt of the United States of America which easily surpasses now the 10 trillion dollars (=not payable). An economic crisis threatens to rise the taxes of the buy now and pay later credit system (prohibited by Iran's "evil" leaders), threatening to take all the people "own" away, and Europeans cant handle their own supposedly independent systems with a US that falls down, so we all have to be OK with this country invading whatever nation comes in the list, as long as this other side of the Berlin wall keeps pathetically standing.

Beautiful Iran

Counter the propaganda attacks by Western Media on Iran and share with the world Iran's deep rooted beauty. Share with the world our beautiful country's breathtaking land, magnetizing culture, rich history, and hopeful people.

Behind the Photo: Alexandra Avakian, Iran

Alexandra Avakian describes how a quiet moment can create a memorable composition.

Ice and Snow World in Harbin

Photo takes on Dec. 23, 2008 shows night view of Ice and Snow World in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The annual ice and snow world in Harbin began test run on Tuesday.

Photo taken on Dec. 23, 2008 shows night view of the Ice and Snow World in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The annual ice and snow world in Harbin began test run on Tuesday.

Photo taken on Dec. 23, 2008 shows the night view of the Ice and Snow World in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The annual ice and snow world in Harbin began a test run on Tuesday.

Visitors enjoy ice-made sliding board in the Ice and Snow World in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Dec. 23, 2008. The annual ice and snow world in Harbin began a test run on Tuesday.

A visitor poses for photos in the Ice and Snow World in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Dec. 23, 2008. The annual ice and snow world in Harbin began a test run on Tuesday.

A visitor poses for photos in the Ice and Snow World in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Dec. 23, 2008. The annual ice and snow world in Harbin began a test run on Tuesday.

Dog fighting in Afghanistan

Two dogs fight during a match on the outskirts of Kabul Jan. 2, 2009. Dog fighting is a traditional game in Afghanistan.

Costa Rica Secret Places video

There's a lot of cool places to go in Costa Rica that may not be mentioned in the travel books, like frommers and lonely planet. Check out this vide.

Instead of boring you with details about the videos Ill key in some key Costa Rican keywords that describe the Costa Rica youll find on our site rico hotel holiday review gay men Tourism travel tourist pura vida journey traveling volcano beach rainforest la fortuna san jose manuel antonio coffee banana hostel turtle monkey canopy butterfly rafting puerto viejo limon eco green conservation endangered animals funny central America south sanctuary rescue luxury trip information arenal fun video lonely planet foders tips gringos vacation rentals real estate country home tico time beachfront villas resort five 5 star apartment location cabinas homes for sale frommers lets go sexy girls national parks hikes beauty toucans art wood carvings paintings cheap discount rain budget rainforest Tamarindo jaco monteverde tortugero Boruca Indians Malaku tribes land property imperial casique sustainable organic green friendly legal prostitution cars adventure lava zip lines canopy tours waterfall rappelling rappel ATV tour caves food surfing snorkeling scuba diving cocos island shark fining fishing sailing no army flora and fauna playas sunsets activities DAngelo and Michal alan flamingo playa property tropical destinations tabacon hot springs mud baths rooms cost pacific coast Caribbean wedding retreats honeymoon safari tropic Golfito golf realty airport Dominical investments Osa peninsula... come and enjoy costa rica

Vienna New Year's Concert: A gift to "Haydn Year"

Haydn portrait by Thomas Hardy, 1792. The Vienna Philharmonic's annual New Year's concert on Thursday commemorated the 200th anniversary of the death of Austrian composer Joseph Haydn.

The Vienna Philharmonic's annual New Year's concert on Thursday commemorated the 200th anniversary of the death of Austrian composer Joseph Haydn.

The concert also promoted the Austrian industrial city of Linz as the 2009 "European Cultural City."

Austria designated 2009 as Haydn Year to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the death of the Austrian composer. The country was to hold a series of commemorative activities and included a performance of Haydn's work for the first time at this year's concert.

Austrian Television ORF inserted a music video program introducing Linz during the concert's intermission to promote the city as the 2009 "European Cultural City."

The Vienna Philharmonic, conducted by Daniel Barenboim, ushered in the New Year with music for more than 2,000 spectators and hundreds of millions of television and radio listeners around the world.

Members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra are conducted by Argentine-born Israeli maestro and concert pianist Daniel Barenboim during a dress rehearsal for the New Year's Concert 2009 in Vienna's "Goldener Musikvereinsaal" Dec. 29, 2008.

The 2009 concert still mainly consisted of works of the Strauss family.

The Vienna New Year's concert tradition began in 1941 and was first broadcast on live television in 1959.

The concert now is not only a tradition for Austrians, but has also become a global cultural event.

This year's concert was broadcast to more than 70 television networks and 300 radio stations around the world.

Argentine-born Israeli conductor and concert pianist Daniel Barenboim conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra during a dress rehearsal for the New Year's Concert 2009 in Vienna's "Goldener Musikvereinsaal" Dec. 29, 2008.

Top 10 world news events in 2008

1. Sharp fluctuation in oil prices had the world in jitters

A petrol station in front of the OPEC headquarters is pictured in Vienna October 24, 2008. An emergency OPEC meeting on Friday reached swift agreement to chop production by 1.5 million barrels oil per day (bpd) as a first step toward halting a deep oil price slide.

On Jan. 2, the price of crude oil futures in New York touched 100 U.S. dollars per barrel for the first time. Oil prices continued to increase to reach a new high of 147.27 dollars per barrel on July 11.

However, influenced by factors such as the world economic slow down, and decline in market speculation, international oil prices dropped significantly thereafter. New York oil prices fell to 33.87 dollars per barrel on Dec. 19, the lowest in five years.

Top 10 world news events in 2008

2. Devastating cyclone ravages Myanmar

Children wait while rice is handed out near Kundangon May 11, 2008.

From May 2-3, tropical storm Nargis ravaged five divisions and states in Myanmar, leaving about 84,500 dead, 19,400 injured and 53,800 missing. The disaster affected some 7.35 million people, while economic losses were put at more than 4 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for about 21 percent of the country's gross domestic product.

In the wake of the disaster, many countries and international organizations helped Myanmar with disaster relief and reconstruction efforts.

Top 10 world news events in 2008

3. Thailand rocked by continued political turmoil

Riot police stand guard outside the parliment building in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, Dec. 15, 2008.

From May 25, the Thai anti-government group, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), held large gatherings to force Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign, claiming he was just a deputy of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. PAD supporters began a siege of the Government House in Bangkok on Aug. 26. On Sept. 9,the Constitutional Court found Samak in breach of the constitution and disqualified him as prime minister.

On Sept. 17, deputy leader of the People Power Party, Somchai Wongsawat, was elected prime minister. However, his election was opposed by the PAD. Bringing matters to a head in the third week of November, PAD supporters surrounded the Parliament and occupied the capital's airports. On Dec. 2, the Constitutional Court ruled the three ruling parties in the coalition government were guilty of electoral fraud and Somchai stepped down.

On Dec. 15, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was elected prime minister.

Top 10 world news events in 2008

4. No smooth sailing on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (4th L) takes a group photo with top nuclear negotiators in a fresh round of talks on the denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, on Dec. 11, 2008.

On June 26, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) submitted its nuclear declaration after a delay of almost six months. The same day, the United States launched the process of removing the DPRK from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, but later put off the process, saying its nuclear declaration needed verification.

On Aug. 26, the DPRK said it had stopped disabling its nuclear reactor in Yongbyon and began to restore its nuclear facilities to their original state.

On Oct. 11, the United States removed the DPRK from its terrorism blacklist after the two sides reached an agreement on the verification of the DPRK's nuclear program. The DPRK soon restored disabling its nuclear reactor.

Differences between the United States and the DPRK over the verification came out into the open on Nov. 12. On Dec. 11, delegation chiefs of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue failed to reach a consensus on how to verify the DPRK's nuclear program and the United States announced it would reconsider its policies on the DPRK.

Top 10 world news events in 2008

5. Beijing successfully holds Olympic and Paralympic Games

Photo taken on Aug. 24, 2008 shows the fireworks of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games closing ceremony in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, Beijing, capital of China. The building on the left is the National Aquatic Center, or the Water Cube. The closing ceremony began at 8 p.m. sharp on Sunday.

On Aug. 8-24 and Sept. 6-17, the 29th Olympic Games and the 13th Paralympic Games were held respectively in Beijing. The numbers of participating countries and athletes surpassed past Games. Leaders and dignitaries from more than 80 countries and regions, a historic record, attended the opening ceremonies.

China made tremendous efforts to hold the high-level Olympic and Paralympic Games with distinguishing features, and lived up to its promise of "Two Games, Equal Splendor."

Top 10 world news events in 2008

6. Russia-Georgia conflict deepens antagonism between Russia and US, Europe

Russian troops leave their sentry post some 20 kilometers from Gori, Georgia, August 22, 2008. Georgian National Security Council Secretary Alexander Lomaya said that Russian troops and tanks had pulled out from the strategically important city of Gori on Friday.

On Aug. 8, Georgia's army launched a sudden offensive on Tskhinvali, capital of its breakaway region of South Ossetia. Russia sent troops to South Ossetia in the name of protecting Russian peacekeeping forces and Russian citizens in the region, resulting in the eruption of a military conflict.

In the backdrop of NATO's eastern expansion and the shrinking of Russia's strategic space, the Russia-Georgia conflict was a significant occasion for Moscow to make known to the United States and Europe its determination to safeguard its own interests. It was also Russia's first military action abroad since the disintegration of the former Soviet Union.

Even after a French-brokered peace plan brought truce to the area, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced his country's recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and the other Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia on Aug. 26.

The five-day conflict elicited strong reactions from the United States, NATO and the European Union (EU) against Russia's military action in Georgia, and further soured their ties with Moscow.

Top 10 world news events in 2008

7. Financial crisis seriously impacts world economy

U.S. Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Ben Bernanke (2nd L), Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson (3rd L) and President George W. Bush (C) sit down to a G-20 Ministerial Meeting led by Brazil's Finance Minister Guido Mantega (2nd R) and Central Bank President Henrique Meirelles (R) at IMF Headquarters in Washington, October 11, 2008.

On Sept. 15, the fourth biggest investment bank of the United States, Lehman Brothers, filed for bankruptcy, in an indication that the subprime crisis was developing into a comprehensive financial crisis.

The crisis soon spread from the United States to the whole world, from developed nations to developing countries, and from the financial field to the field of the real economy.

Under the impact of the financial crisis, global economic growth slowed markedly. The three big economies -- the United States, the European Union and Japan -- sank into recession.

At the G20 summit on the financial market and world economy on Nov. 15 in Washington, leaders reached agreements on jointly handling the financial crisis and bolstering economic growth. Before and after the summit, major economies, such as the United States, the EU, Japan and China, put forward large-scale bailout and stimulus plans to stabilize the financial market and prevent a global economic recession.

Top 10 world news events in 2008

8. Obama wins U.S. presidential election

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (L) celebrates with his family after he won the U.S. presidential election in Chicago on Tuesday night, Nov. 4, 2008.

On Nov. 4, Democratic Party candidate Barack Obama defeated his Republican rival John McCain by a substantial margin to be elected the next president, the 56th, of the United States, also the first African-American to be elected to the White House.

Obama highlighted the need for "change" during his campaign. He pledged to end the Iraq war, realize energy self-sufficiency, implement tax polices to protect the interests of middle and low income groups and ensure universal health care. He also promised to strengthen the consolidation of the parties, rebuild U.S. alliances in the international community and restore the United States' leading global role.

As the United States reels under its most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression and remains deeply caught up in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, promoting economic growth and safeguarding national security will be the two main challenges for Obama after he takes office in January.

Top 10 world news events in 2008

9. Mumbai hit by terrorist attack

Policemen stand guard outside the Taj Hotel in Mumbai November 27, 2008. Gunmen killed at least 80 people in a series of attacks in India's commercial hub Mumbai and troops began moving into two luxury hotels on Thursday where foreign hostages were being held, local television said.

During Nov. 26-29, India's financial capital, Mumbai, was shaken by a terrorist attack lasting almost 60 hours. A group calling itself the "Deccan Mujahideen" launched attacks on 10 buildings and facilities in the city, engaging in fierce firefights with Indian security forces, and took dozens of Indians and foreigners hostage in the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel, the Oberoi Hotel and a Jewish center, Nariman House.

The attack left 172 dead, including at least 28 foreigners, and wounded 293 others. The event again rang the alarm bell for international anti-terror efforts.

Top 10 world news events in 2008

10. Mideast peace process heavily frustrated by Israeli airstrikes

Smoke rises after an Israel air strike in Gaza December 28, 2008. Israel launched air strikes on Gaza for a second successive day on Sunday, piling pressure on Hamas after 285 people were killed in one of the bloodiest 24 hours for Palestinians in 60 years of conflict with the Jewish state.

On Dec. 27, the Israeli army carried out large-scale air raids on Gaza hitting dozens of targets run by the Islamic Hamas movement. The action was in response to Hamas' ongoing cross-border rocket and mortar shell attacks on Israel, the Israeli army said.

So far, Israel's airstrikes have killed at least 345 people and wounded more than 1,600 others, becoming one of the most bloodiest events to have occurred in the volatile region since the 1967 War in which Israel occupied the Gaza Strip. The Israeli airstrikes have seriously set back the Middle East peace process.