Incredible "Dancing Beijing" stone

People are viewing a rare stone amazingly resembling "Dancing Beijing", the emblem for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, on September 7. The pattern and the length-width ratio of stone, 40cm in height, 28cm in width and 8cm in thickness, are almost the same as the Olympic "China Seal". The stone belongs to a collector in Beijing.

Exhibition of on Chinese export commodities held in Britain

Visitors view the Exhibition of on Chinese name brand export commodities in Europe in Birmingham, Britain Sep. 6, 2004. Over 100 kinds of merchandise including gifts, stationary, toys, boxes and cases, as well as jewelry etc. made by more than 70 Chinese enterprises were on display at the exhibition.

Flood submerges ancient street in Chongqing

Local residents clear out the flood water from their store in Chongqing Municipality, southwest China Sept. 7, 2004. As the water level keeps on rising, some residents living in the ancient Ciqikou Street blocks in downtown Chongqing have been evacuated with the street partly submerged. By 18:00 Sunday, heavy rainstorms have hit 17 urban districts and counties in Chongqing, affecting 1.18 million people.

Kenyan hostages back home

Freed Kenyan truck driver Faiz Khamis Salim (R) walks out of the airport of Nairobi, Kenya, Sept.7, 2004. Three Kenyan drivers released by their captors in Iraq after 42-days in captivity returned home early Tuesday amid a warm reception at the country's main airport.

Gold medallist craze in Hong Kong

Hong Kong children strive to get the autographs from Liu Xiang, Olympic 110M-hurdle champion, during his visit to the Star Avenue at Tsim Tsa Tsui in Hong Kong, Sept. 7, 2004. The Olympic gold medalist delegation from the Chinese mainland arrived in Hong Kong on Monday morning for a three-day visit.

Afghan presidential campaign formally begins

Masouda Jalal, the only female presidential candidate, shakes hands with her supporters during an assembly in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Sept. 7, 2004. The electoral campaign for the Afghan presidential race formally began Tuesday, in which eighteen candidates, including the incumbent President Hamid Karzai, will compete for the election which is scheduled on Oct. 9, 2004.

Int'l Forum on Population and Development opens in Wuhan

Wang Zhongyu, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, delivers a speech during the opening of the International Forum on Population and Development in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Sept. 7, 2004. The three-day forum will discuss following topics, including poverty alleviation; reproductive health and family planning; HIV/AIDS prevention, control and care; adolescent sexual and reproductive health; reduction of maternal and infant mortality.

130,000 rally against terror in Moscow

Over 130,000 demonstrators have gathered in Moscow's Red Square in a show of unity against terrorism. The gathering was the largest among many held all over Russia Tuesday as the nation was in its second official day of mourning for Beslan victims.