Drought damage in Chongqing

A lake has dried up, leaving only cracked mud in Yougchuan, Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality August 1 2006. Chongqing has been experiencing a heat wave since July, and the drought has caused water supply problems for 4.36 million people and 4.83 million livestock. Weather authorities predict the drought will continue until mid-August.

Rear-end accident

Smoke erupts from a burning car after a rear-end accident that left two dead in Zhengzhou, Central China's Henan Province August 3, 2006. The accident is still under investigation.

Bus explosion killed 11 in Guizhou

Rescuers carry an injured passenger from the scene of a bus explosion in Tianzhu, southwest China's Guizhou province, August 3, 2006. The explosion has killed at least 11 and left 15 others injured. The cause of the blast is under investigation, Xinhua News Agency reported. (newsphoto)

Preparation for Typhoon Prapiroon in Haikou

Vessels are seen at anchor in a harbor in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, Aug. 3, 2006. With the threat from the approaching Typhoon Prapiroon, the island province Hainan on Wednesday suspended all passenger ferry services across the Qiongzhou Strait linking the island with the inland area.

Downpours hit Liaoning

A family manage their way through a flooded street in Dandong city, northeast China's Liaoning Province. Downpours strike the city, leaving streets and residential areas water-logged.

Benz taxi cabs quit market in Shanghai

A Benz taxi refuels at a gas station in Shanghai, east China, August 2, 2006. First batch of 45 Benz taxi cars of Shanghai quitted the market in recent days due to climbing oil price etc.

New York braces for 40 degrees Celsius heat

A child cools off with the water from a fire hydrant in New York August 2, 2006. Temperatures in New York soared to 40 degrees Celsius Wednesday as a heat wave swept East Coast of America in recent days.

Foreign tourists enjoy summer in Beidaihe

A foreign tourist enjoy sunshine on the beach of Beidaihe, northern China's Hebei Province, August 2, 2006. More than 8000 foreign tourists visited Beidaihe on July.

Israeli says "No" to unilateral ceasefire

Israeli Defense Force Chief of Staff Dan Halutz iterates that the unilateral ceasefire between Israel and Hizbullah is out of the question during a press briefing at a military base of IDF in Beit Hillil, northern border area of Israel adjacent to Lebanon August 2, 2006.

The first pair of "Mother and Daughter" air hostesses in China

He Suqin (R) and her daughter Lu Yan board on the aircraft in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, August 1, 2006. He and Lu, both working for China Southern, were the first pair of "Mother and Daughter" air hostesses in China.

Space shuttle Atlantis to launch

The space shuttle Atlantis is rolled to launch pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida August 2, 2006. A launch is planned for Atlantis and a crew of six on August 27.

Beijing girl crowned Miss China

Model Liu Duo holds the trophy after she was crowned "Miss China" in Beijing August 2, 2006. Liu will represent China to compete in the 56th Miss World contest in Poland in September.

British helds Beer Festival in London

Various kinds of beer are displayed during the Great British Beer Festival in London, Britain, on August 1, 2006. Over 50,000 beer fans can indulge themselves here for five days, to taste more than 700 brands of beers.

Northern Israel pounded by record number of rockets

Smoke billows from the Israeli village of Beit Hillil adjacent to Lebanon after being hit by Hizbullah's mortar August 2, 2006. No casualties is reported.

Tired soldiers return to base

Photo taken on Aug. 2 shows the tired soldiers of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) withdraw from battlefield to Israeli border village of Metulla.