France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (C) watches as his son Louis shakes hands with Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin before the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 8, 2008. The stadium is also known as the Bird's Nest. Reuters Pictures 16 months ago

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (C) watches as his son Louis shakes hands with Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin before the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 8, 2008. The stadium is also known as the Bird's Nest.

More Photos of

Explore Photos of Related Topics

  1. PARIS - NOVEMBER 11: In this handout provided by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with French President Nicholas Sarkozy on November 11, 2009 in Paris, France. Netanyahu was invited to visit France by Sarkozy on his return from his trip to America.
  2. PARIS - NOVEMBER 11: In this handout provided by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with French President Nicholas Sarkozy on November 11, 2009 in Paris, France. Netanyahu was invited to visit France by Sarkozy on his return from his trip to America.
  3. France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) tastes a piece of cheese as he visits the National School of Dairy Industries in Poligny, eastern France, October 27, 2009. President Sarkozy said on Tuesday he will seek tougher European regulation in the milk sector from the start of next year as part of a package of measures to help France's struggling farmers.
  4. France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) visits the National School of Dairy Industries in Poligny, eastern France, October 27, 2009. President Sarkozy said on Tuesday he will seek tougher European regulation in the milk sector from the start of next year as part of a package of measures to help France's struggling farmers.
  5. France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) speaks with France's Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand (R) before inaugurating a major exhibit of art from Turkey at the Grand Palais in Paris October 9, 2009. Culture Minister Mitterrand is facing calls for his resignation for having written about paying boys for sex in Thailand, revelations that were made in a 2005 autobiography "The Bad Life". Jean-David Levitte (2ndL) is President Sarkozy's diplomatic advisor.
  6. A member of French CFDT trade-union from the world's largest steel maker ArcelorMittal in Hayange, eastern France, writes on a board the 2008 French President Nicolas Sarkozy' promises as the workers prepare a symbolic meeting with the president. In 2008, President Sarkozy engaged to come back to the ArcelorMittal nearest Gandrange site, threatened of closing. Plans for a partial shutdown of the Gandrange steel factory were postponed last year after Sarkozy urged owner Lakshmi Mittal to reconsider. Sarkozy, who visits other factories in the eastern region on October 8, 2009, promised to go later in ArcelorMittal sites, according to Secretary of State for Employment Laurent Wauquiez.
  7. Members of French CFDT trade-union from the world's largest steel maker ArcelorMittal in Hayange, eastern France, answer to journalists as they wait for the visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, preparing a symbolic meeting (with President's chair vacant). In 2008, President Sarkozy engaged to come back to the ArcelorMittal nearest Gandrange site, threatened of closing. Plans for a partial shutdown of the Gandrange steel factory were postponed last year after Sarkozy urged owner Lakshmi Mittal to reconsider. Sarkozy, who visits other factories in the eastern region on October 8, 2009, promised to go later in ArcelorMittal sites, according to Secretary of State for Employment Laurent Wauquiez.
  8. Members of French CFDT trade-union from the world's largest steel maker ArcelorMittal in Hayange, eastern France, answer to journalists as they wait for the visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, preparing a symbolic meeting (with President's chair vacant). In 2008, President Sarkozy engaged to come back to the ArcelorMittal nearest Gandrange site, threatened of closing. Plans for a partial shutdown of the Gandrange steel factory were postponed last year after Sarkozy urged owner Lakshmi Mittal to reconsider. Sarkozy, who visits other factories in the eastern region on October 8, 2009, promised to go later in ArcelorMittal sites, according to Secretary of State for Employment Laurent Wauquiez.
  9. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  10. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  11. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao (not pictured) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  12. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  13. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  14. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) attends talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  15. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) attends talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  16. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) and Wu Bangguo, Chairman of China's National People's Congress attend talks at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. Russian Emergency Ministry soldiers march in Moscow, Monday, Dec. 15, 2009. A vicious frost held Moscow in its grip on Tuesday as record warm weather at the start of December gave way to temperatures of minus 25 degrees Celsius (-13 degrees Fahrenheit).
  2. Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni reacts after India won the first one day international cricket match against Sri Lanka, in Rajkot, India, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009.
  3. DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 15: Timothy H Grey, editor of Variety magazine and actor Gerard Butler with his Variety International Star of the Year Award at a photocall during day seven of the 6th Annual Dubai International Film Festival held at the Madinat Jumeriah Complex on December 15, 2009 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
  4. Middle East envoy Tony Blair (2nd L) visits a new shopping mall in the West Bank city of Nablus December 15, 2009.
  5. A German Bundeswehr army soldier from the 263rd paratroops unit of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) walks atop of a 'Dingo' APC inside a combat outpost in Chahar Dara in the outskirts of Kunduz, December 15, 2009.
  6. DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 15: Actor Gerard Butler attends a photocall during day seven of the 6th Annual Dubai International Film Festival held at the Madinat Jumeriah Complex on December 15, 2009 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
  7. DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 15: Actor Gerard Butler attends a photocall during day seven of the 6th Annual Dubai International Film Festival held at the Madinat Jumeriah Complex on December 15, 2009 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
  8. Iraqi parliament speaker Ayad al-Samarai speaks at a news conference inside the parliament building in Baghdad December 15, 2009.
  9. A German Bundeswehr army soldier from the 263rd paratroops unit of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) sits atop of a 'Dingo' APC inside a combat outpost in Chahar Dara in the outskirts of Kunduz, December 15, 2009.
  10. LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: Daredevil motorcyclist Robbie Knievel attends a photocall at The Hospital Club on December 15, 2009 in London, England. Son of Evel Knievel, Robbie Knievel announced plans to make a record attempt to beat his father's failed attempt in 1975, and jump across 16 double-decker buses in London on May 22, 2010.
  11. LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: Daredevil motorcyclist Robbie Knievel attends a photocall at The Hospital Club on December 15, 2009 in London, England. Son of Evel Knievel, Robbie Knievel announced plans to make a record attempt to beat his father's failed attempt in 1975, and jump across 16 double-decker buses in London on May 22, 2010.
  12. Barry Rigby from Wigan wins the Wigan World Pie Eating Championships, an annual pie eating contest where competitors endeavour to consume a pie in the fastest possible time, Harry's Bar, Wallgate, Wigan, England, Tuesday Dec. 15, 2009. Barry ate his pie in approximately 47 seconds.
  13. India's Zaheer Khan celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lanka's Thilan Samaraweera during their first one day international cricket match in Rajkot, India, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009.
  14. Indian team celebrate after winning the first one day international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka, in Rajkot, India, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009.
  15. Barry Rigby from Wigan with the trophy after winning Wigan's World Pie Eating Championships, an annual pie eating contest where competitors endeavour to consume a pie in the fastest possible time, Harry's Bar, Wallgate, Wigan, England, Tuesday Dec. 15, 2009. Barry ate his pie in approximately 47 seconds.
  16. FOLKESTONE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: A general view of a frosty Folkestone Racecourse where racing was abandoned after a midday inspection on December 15, 2009 in Folkestone, England.