(Photo: Time.com)

    BEIJING, April 19, (Xinhuanet) -- The US weekly magazine Time has released its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vice Premier Wu Yi are listed among the most influential leaders.

    Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vice Premier Wu Yi are listed among the most influential leaders, along with US President George W. Bush.

    Chinese basketball player Yao Ming is honored in the "icon" group.

    Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, former US president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, now a U.S. Senator, and Russian President Vladimir Putin also appear in the group of influential leaders, as does Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

    Time's list of influential entertainers includes actor-producer Mel Gibson, Oscar-winning "best actor" Sean Penn, "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson and Oscar-winning "best actress" Nicole Kidman. Enditem

(CRIENGLISH.com)

Yao Ming, Beckham listed as 100 most influential people 

    WASHINGTON, April 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Yao Ming, David Beckham, TigerWoods and Lance Armstrong are among the athletes selected to Time Magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

    Also selected are British marathoner Paula Radcliffe, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and yoga teacher B.K.S. Iyengar.

    On Woods, the magazine said: "When only four golfers have won more majors than you have at 28, honors like five straight Player of the Year awards are no longer good enough ... He's the rare phenom who exceeded the hype."

    Armstrong overcame testicular cancer and has won the Tour de France five times. "If Armstrong wins the Tour de France again this summer, he will establish a new standard for the sport," the magazine wrote.

    Phil Simms, the former New York Giants quarterback, profiled Belichick, who guided the Patriots to the Super Bowl title: "He's not as dull as people think. Heck, he goes to Bon Jovi concerts." Enditem