“In 1967, Zhang Yaxin was 34 and working as a photojournalist at China’s state-controlled Xinhua News Agency when he was assigned to a top-secret government project. He was to be the official photographer of a new arts program led by Chairman Mao and his wife – the Model Operas. Though he was not to know it then, Zhang would spend the next seven years documenting the evolution of one of the most dramatic and elaborate attempts to redefine artistic sensibilities in modern art history”. – Chengcheng Jiang via TIME. Photo: Raid on the White Tiger Regiment, 1971. (Photo by Zhang Yaxin/Courtesy See+ Gallery, Beijing)

It is already one of the world’s most iconic cities, but this incredible collection shows how much Paris has changed over the course of the past century. The collection, by French photographer Julien Knez, shows Paris in the 1940s against a backdrop of how the same places look today. Knez says he put the striking collection together to celebrate the 71st anniversary of the city’s liberation from Nazi control in August 1944. Here: Soldiers outside the Hotel De Ville in the 1940s. (Photo by Julien Knez/Caters News)

Most probably wouldnt think of snakes, spiders and lizards as beautiful animals – but these photographs could change some minds. The images show the reptiles seemingly playful sides, from a gleeful looking Budgetts frog, a cheeky leopard sticking out its tongue at the camera and a stack of four colourful iguanas. Contrasted against a white background and shot with a Canon EOS 5D Mark 2 and macro lens, photographer Mickael Leger really made sure they could be seen in all their glory. Here: Gecko. (Photo by Mickael Leger/Caters News)

These stunning images have captured UFO type clouds forming around world famous volcano. The Kamchatka peninsula contains the volcanoes of Kamchatka, which have been captured in a series of stunning shots by photographer Vladimir Voychuk, 37, from Klin, Russia. It is said that Kamchatka is one of the most picturesque distant corners of huge Russia and attracts hundreds of photographers with its unique nature. Here: The stunning Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. (Photo by Vladimir Voychuk/Caters News)

“Photographer Mario Testino shot Jennifer Lopez wearing a variety of sports and boxing gear for the cover story of V Magazine’s new “Sports Issue” (no. 76 Spring 2012). The piece, entitled “Tha Lady Is A Champ” was styled by Carine Roitfeld, and sees J. Lo rocking a jock strap, boxing gloves, various leather jackets, robes and often not much else. Jennifer is looking as good as ever”.

On July 7, Chinese archaeologists from the Academy of Social Sciences announced that they have reconstituted a 5,300-year-old Mongolion pottery statue found at a relic site in North China, according to Xinhua news agency.

Participants gather in the Union Square subway station during the annual No Pants Subway Ride on January 8, 2012 in New York City. The annual event is staged by the group Improv Everywhere which encourages people in dozens of cities worldwide to discard their pants while riding the subway. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)