US to restore diplomatic ties with Libya

In her speech delivered at luncheon with Australian Prime Minister John Howard in Washington, May 15, US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice said the US will restore full diplomatic ties with Libya. Meanwhile Rice also noted that the US will reopen its embassy in Tripoli and exclude Libya from the list of designated states sponsors of terrorism.

Gold price falls sharply in Asia

A salesperson in a shop in Singapore displays a 100-gramme gold bar, May 15. In the first trading day this week, gold price in Asian market has dropped sharply on fund selling to 690 US dollars per ounce.

Hundreds evacuate as floods hits US northeast

Photo taken on May 15 shows a man plays pedal boat in his yard in New Hampshire State. The situation is worsened by the flood triggered by heavy rain in northeast states of US and counties in the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts as well as Maine have declared the state of emergency so far. The severe flood has forced dozens of people to evacuate.

Indonesia raises alert status of Merapi to highest level

Cloud of ash released from Merapi volcano darkens the sky in the Ketep village, near the Indonesian city of Muntilan May 15, 2006. Indonesia raised the alert status of Merapi to the highest level and evacuated thousands of residents near the volcano.

PLA Air Force holds maneuver

Fighter jets of PLA Air Force fly towards designated zone. The Air Force of Jinan Military Command conducted a comprehensive maneuver on Monday. Comprising subjects including troops deployment, electronic counter-countermeasures, air combat and evacuation under the condition of a regional war under high-tech conditions, the maneuver aims to test the emergency response capability and the combat capacity of the troops.

China team gears up for warm-up game

China's national soccer team players prepares for a warm-up game with Switzerland and Frence in June at their first training session in Jinan, capital of China's Shandong Province, May 15,2006.

Preval sworn in as Haiti's president

Haiti's new president Rene Preval attends the inauguration in Port-au-Prince, capital of Haiti, May 14, 2006. Preval sworn into office as Haiti's president on Saturday.

Chinese pair claims title of WTA German Open

China's Zheng Jie/Yan Zi (R) pose for photos with their trophies after the awarding ceremony for women's doubles at WTA German Open in Berlin, May 14, 2006. Zheng Jie Yan Zi beat Elena Dementieva /Flavia Pennetta 6-2, 6-3 and claimed the title.

Rand Air Show in S. Africa

Aerial spraying skill is displayed during Rand Air Show at the Rand Airport, west of Johannesburg, South Africa, May 14, 2006. Pilots from countries as South Africa and Russia staged acrobatic displays with fighter jets, propeller-driven aircrafts and helicopters during the air show opened Sunday.

Five trapped miners rescued, three dead

Rescuers carry one of the surviving miners who were trapped 130 metres underground at Dalongshan Iron Mine in Anqing, East China's Anhui Province, May 15, 2006. Five miners, including one woman, were rescued yesterday about 60 hours after Saturday's iron mine collapse. The other three have been confirmed dead. More than 1,000 took part in the rescue operation. Dalongshan Iron Mine was privatized in 1999 and produces 15,000 tons of iron ore a year.

Criminal gang violence rocks Sao Paulo

Boys play around an attacked bus burned with molotov cocktails by gang members in Campo Limpo neighborhood, a south area of Sao Paulo, Brazil. A powerful gang that has launched an offensive against Brazilian police attacked civilian targets for the first time, terrorizing Sao Paulo in three nights of violence that has left 81 dead, officials said.

Fake medicine leads to four death

A patient receives treatment in a local hospital in Guangzhou, capital city of south's China Guangdong province May 15, 2006. The patient shows symptoms of acute renal failure and has been found to have taken a fake injection produced by a chemical works in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Provinc. The concerfeit medicine have led to four deaths.

"Cobra Gold" joint exercise in Thailand

Thai and United States fighters attend the annual joint exercise named "Cobra Gold" in Nakon Nayok, Thailand, May 15, 2006. Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and the United States took part in the 12-day exercise launched on Monday. This year's training consisted of computer-simulated staff exercise, field training exercise, and humanitarian/civic assistance projects. China and eight other countries, and a number of international organizations observed the exercise.

Hu Jintao inspects in Yunnan

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) talks with local residents of Ginuo minority at Zhalu Village of Jinuoshan Town, Jinghong City, the Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna, southern Yunnan Province, southwest China. Hu Jintao, who is also the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China, toured Yunnan Province from May 11 to May 15.

Michael Ballack joins Chelsea

German midfielder Michael Ballack attends a media conference held by Chelsea football club at Stanford Bridge, London on Monday. Chelsea announced that Ballack has joined on a free transfer from Bayern Munich.

The giant dam of Three Gorges project

The picture taken on May 14, 2006 shows a view of the giant dam of the Three Gorges hydropower project under construction on the Yangtze River. There are less than 3,000 cubic meters of concrete left to be placed before the dam is finally completed on May 20, 2006, nine months ahead of the schedule. The dam, divided into two phases -- the right and the left banks, is situated near the Xiling Gorge, the eastern most gorge of the Three Gorges on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The completion of the construction for the dam, 2,309 meters long and 185 meters high, marks the principal part of the project is done.