Blue, red and green narcissus

Special narcissus cultivated by Zhang Bingchun are on display in Lianyungang, a seaport city in east China's Jiangsu Province January 9, 2006. Zhang succeeded in producing blue, red and green narcissus, which is usually light yellow.(newsphoto)

National Snow Statue Contest in Harbin

Two participants create a snow statue during the 12th National Snow Statue Contest in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Jan. 9, 2006. The four-day contest, as part of the 22nd Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, opened on Monday, attracting nearly 60 contestants.

Cold wave sweeps north India

Locals keep them warm around a fire in New Delhi, capital of India, on Jan. 9, 2006. The temperature in New Delhi fell to 1.6 degrees Celsius on Monday. Cold wave swept north India Sunday when the Indian capital recorded the lowest temperature of 0.2 degrees Celsius, which approached to the freezing point for the first time since January 1935. More than 15,000 homeless locals in the capital struggled for surviving from the coldness, according to the report.

NZ launches stamps for Year of the Dog

An employee shows the first day cover commemorating the Year of the Dog launched by New Zealand Post in Wellington, capital city of New Zealand, on Jan. 9, 2006. New Zealand Post launched a series of stamps named "2006, Year of the Dog" celebrating the Chinese Year of the Dog 2006 and recognizing the contribution that men's best friend--dogs make to our daily lives.

Coming-of-age Day celebration in Japan

Two kimono-clad women go to a shrine to pray in Tokyo, capital of Japan, Jan. 9, 2006. Thousands of Japanese men and women celebrated reaching the age of 20 on Monday as a traditional holiday.

11 confirmed dead in Iran jet crash

All 11 people aboard were confirmed dead when an Iranian military aircraft crashed on Monday morning in northwestern Iran. Several top Iranian military officers were among at least 11 people killed in a plane crash, the local media reported, the second such crash in barely a month.

International Auto Show in Detroit

A Mercedes-Benz SLR car is on display during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the United States, on Jan. 8, 2006. The yearly auto exhibition was unveiled in the "vehicle city" Detroit on Sunday, attracting nearly 700 vehicles of more than 60 car makers attending the auto show.

Sharon raises right hand and leg

Hadassah Hospital Director Shlomo Mor-Yosef (R) and Dr. Felix Umansky (L), the chief neurosurgeon treating Sharon introduce the condition of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon outside the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem Jan. 9, 2006. Sharon began breathing on his own Monday and moved his right hand and right leg in response to pain stimulation after doctors began bringing him out of an induced coma to assess the damage caused by his massive stroke, doctors said.

Chinese leaders meet with ROK National Assembly speaker

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Kim One-ki, speaker of the National Assembly of Republic of Korea, during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Jan. 9, 2006. Kim One-ki is now in Beijing for a visit to China from Jan. 8 to 14.

London tube commuters face strike delays

Posters say that some tube stations have been closed due to industrial action in London, capital of Britain Jan. 9, 2006. Around 20 tube stations remained closed on Monday morning as a 24-hour strike by London Underground (LU) staff continued. But a normal service was running on most lines because less than 10 percent of stations were closed due to industrial action.

Chinese President meets Bolivian president-elect

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Bolivian president-elect Juan Evo Morales Ayma at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 9, 2006.