Miss USA 2006 contestants

Cristin Duren, Miss Florida USA 2006, rehearses for the Miss USA 2006 Presentation Show at the First Mariners Arena in Baltimore, Maryland April 14th, 2006. The 55th annual Miss USA show will be broadcast on April 21, 2006. (China Daily/Reuters photo)

Swan, lake and spring

Swans fly above a lake in Qahar grassland in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region April 16, 2006. As spring comes, tens of thousands of swans fly here from the south for a rest and then migrate northward to Russia's Siberia in summer.

Annual Easter Parade in New York

Two people color children's faces in the Fifth Avenue during the Annual Easter Parade in New York, the United State, on April 16, 2006. Many people wearing their best Easter outfits and hats took part in the parade on Sunday.

Lien Chan visits the Great Wall

Chinese Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Lien Chan (R) and his wife Lien Fang-yu visit the Great Wall at Badaling, Beijing, capital of China, on April 17, 2006.

Dead sea is going to die

Photo taken on Aug. 31, 1999 shows a male tourist is reading newspapers floating on Dead Sea. Environmentalist said on Apr. 15 that the Dead Sea would dry up for the lack of fresh water supply. In recent years, the water level of Dead Sea has decreased at an annual speed of three meters. It is estimated that the Dead Sea will completely dry up in 50 years.

Maiden flight of Shenyang's first police helicopter successful

The first police helicopter of Shenyang Municipal Public Security Bureau is ready for maiden flight on April 16. The EC-135 helicopter is 12.16 meters in length, 3.51 meters in height and 2.67 meters in width. With a capacity of five to seven members, the helicopter has a maximum flying height of 3,000 meters and a maximum flying speed of 278km/h. The helicopter will be mainly used for air patrol and catching escaped criminals.

Lien Chan visits Summer Palace, Lama Temple

Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Lien Chan and his wife Lien Fang-yu sightsee in the Summer Palace, Beijing on April 16. Lien and his wife Lien Fang-yu visited the Summer Palace and the Lama Temple on Sunday.

In good company with bees

Photo taken on Apr.15 shows that thousands of bees clothe Wang Dalin, a well-known beekeeper in Zigui county, central China's Hubei province. Wang started to raise bees since 1991 and in the past years he kept company or even made friends with bees. He knows bees' habits like the back of his hands. Now he raises 120 boxes of bees with an annual honey output of some 40,000 jins.

Shenzhou VI's orbital cabin works well

Technicians the Spaceflight Control Center in Beijing follow closely the operation of the Shenzhou VI's orbital module in space. By the afternoon of March 15, the capsule had been in good operation for 180 days and orbited the earth for some 2,900 times.

Images of Venus' south pole released

False-color image of Venus. On April 13, European scientists unveiled the first-ever images of the south pole of the Venus captured by ESA's Venus Express from a distance of 198,400 kilometers. The photos show vortex of sulfuric acid clouds over the Venus' south sole, which is similar with those over its north pole. The clouds are more than 20 kilometers thick.(photo from Xinhua)

Dog beauty contest in Hefei

Two dogs kiss each other at the First Dog Beauty Contest held in Hefei, East China's Anhui Province on April 16, 2006. A total of 50 dogs from all over China will compete for the best image and best costume awards during the competition. (newsphoto)

Beijing haunted by floating dust

Vehicles drive in a street in Beijing, capital of China, on April 17, 2006. A floating dust haunted Beijing on Monday.

"Porcine Olympic" held in Moscow

Piglets attend training on Apr 12. A "porcine Olympic" opened in Moscow on April 15. A total of 12 piglets competed in racing, swimming and "ball game". Hundreds of Russians went to the field to cheer for the piglets.

Exhibition of Achievements in Intellectual Property Protection

People visit the Exhibition of China's Achievements in Intellectual Property Protection, held in Beijing, capital of China, April 16, 2006. The exhibition, opened on Sunday, focuses on intellectual property protection in China.

US releases satellite images of Iranian nuclear facility

A view of the underground uranium enrichment plant at Natanz, Iran, is seen in this satellite image released on Sunday by the Institute for Science and International Security.

The charm of ethnic minorities

Actresses of the Gansu Provincial Nationalities Song and Dance Ensemble perform dance-describing Dunhuang painted sculptures, in Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 15, 2006. The ensemble from northwest China's Gansu Province presented to Nantong audience an excellent show bearing the charm of minorities.

Paris China painting week unveiled

Rambouillet mayor Jean-Frederic Poisson (R) accepts a Chinese painting by Chinese painter Yang Mingyi during the opening ceremony of Paris China painting week at the Rambouillet museum in France, April 15, 2006. The Paris China painting week unveiled here on Saturday with some 60 Chinese paintings exhibited and over 60 Chinese painters attended the opening ceremony.

Chinese table tennis team leaves for World Championship

Liu Guoliang (R), head coach of China's Natinal Men's Table Tennis Team, bids farewell to people seeing him off before leaving for the upcoming Table Tennis World Championship in Germany's Bremen, in Beijing, capital of China, April 16, 2006.

Candidates ready for the 2006 International Male Model Contest

Male models tour the Ping'an Bridge in Jinjiang, southeast China's Fujian Province, April 15, 2006. 60 Male models from 55 countries and regions arrived in Jinjiang to attend the coming final of the 2006 International Male Model Contest.

Cross-Strait Economic and Trade Forum ends

Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Lien Chan speaks during a press conference following the Cross-Strait Economic and Trade Forum in Beijing, capital of China, April 16, 2006. The two-day forum ended in Beijing April 15.

Yunnan forest fire resurges

Firemen put out dying fire with water pipes in the Cimeige Forest in Yulong County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 15, 2006. Firefighters were sent to quench the forest fire that had been brought under control but resurged due to strong wind April 15. After overnight efforts, the firefighters have put out most of the fire. The forest fire initially broke out on April 12.

China's senior diplomat holds talks with Iranian officials

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani (R) meets with Cui Tiankai (L), assistant to the Chinese foreign minister, in Tehran on April 15, 2006. Cui arrived in Tehran on April 15 for a working visit and held talks with Iranian officials on Iran's nuclear issue.