Images Dated 29th June 2005

4-mc114.96, animal, animal behaviour, asleep, behaviour, carnivora, carnivore, carnivorous

4-mc114.96, animal, animal behaviour, asleep, behaviour, carnivora, carnivore, carnivorous, companion, companionship, company, couple, cute, dozing, dreaming, dreams, enhydra lutris, fatigue, floating, friend, friendship, in water, inseperable, lovable, loving, mammal, mammals, mustelidae, napping, north america, on back, pair, peace, peaceful, portrait, portraits, relationship, relax, relaxation, relaxed, relaxing, rest, restful, resting, sea otter, sea otters, sleep, sleeping, sleepy, sweet, tenderness, tired, tiredness, togetherness, two, Sea Otter, 90068766

© Oxford Scientific

A couple is silhouetted as seeking relief from soaring temperatures at the beach in Ostia

A couple is silhouetted as seeking relief from soaring temperatures at the beach in Ostia, south of Rome, June 29, 2005. A heat wave in Italy has put the health of one million people at risk and the government has warned the situation could even be worse than the summer of 2003 when 20,000 people died due to soaring temperatures. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico AMP/AH - RP6DRMTCUUAA

Hernando Cortez, Spanish explorer

Hernando Cortez (1485-1547), the conqueror of the Aztec empire in Mexico. After fighting in the conquest of Cuba, Cortez was given command of an expedition to Mexico. He then marched inland into Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire ruled by Montezuma II. After an initially friendly welcome, Cortez was driven out of the city. He gathered more men and, in 1521, razed Tenochtitlan to the ground, building Mexico City on its ruins. For this and the riches he sent back to Spain, Cortez was appointed governor of New Spain, but, fearing his ambition, this title was taken away from him in 1528

© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY