Natural stones worth millions of yuan

The piece of agate that resembles an old woman's face is worth RMB 99.6 million, experts estimate. The piece belongs to a man in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

New world land speed record set

British driver Andy Green sets a new unofficial world diesel powered land speed record of over 328 mph over two runs Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2006, on the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah. The record will be become official when the FIA board meets next month.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Chemical pollution in Mangniu River under control

Emergency workers works alongside the Mangniu River, a Songhua River tributary in northeast China's Jilin province, Aug. 22, 2006. A chemical pollution incident in Mangniu River which runs through the city of Jilin, was brought under control Wednesday, said the local environmental protection bureau.The Mangniu River was reported polluted on Monday with chemicals illegally discharged by a company.

Lin Huiyin memorial wall erected in Hangzhou

The memorial carving of late Chinese female architect and writer Lin Huiyin is at a Hangzhou park. The memorial wall was built by the city and Tsinghua University.Lin was involved along with her husband Liang Sicheng in the design of the National Emblem of the People's Republic of China and the Monument to the People's Heroes located in the Tiananmen Square. She was in love with the well known Chinese poet Xu Zhimo when she was studying briefly at St Mary's College in London.

Black boxes of crashed Russian plane found

Journalists film the black box found amongst the wreckage of Russian Tupolev Tu-154 airplane of Pulkovo Airlines, 45 km (30 miles) north of the regional town of Donetsk, August 23, 2006. Investigators have found the black boxes of a Russian airliner which plummeted into a field in Ukraine with 170 people on board after flying into a severe thunderstorm. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Serenity returns to Beirut

A Lebanese walks on the beach of the Mediterranean Sea in the suburb of Beirut, capital of Lebanon, Aug. 22, 2006. Since the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah, more and more Lebanese who evacuated to the neighboring countries return to Lebanon and begin the reconstruction of their motherland.

Baby boy born with 'two heads'

A six-month-old baby boy born with 'two heads' is admitted to Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, Changsha. The boy has a normal-sized head but it is connected to another small one, reportedly formed because of a congenital problem. The hospital plans surgery to remove the abnormal part.

China beats Senegal at World Basketball Championships

China's Yao Ming (R) goes up to shoot during the first round match against Senegal at the World Basketball Championships in Sapporo, Japan, Aug. 23, 2006. China won the game 100-83.

Newborn panda has harelip

A newborn panda at Wolong Giant Panda Protection Centre in Chengdu, in southwest China's Sichuan Province was found to have harelip, the first case in the history of panda breeding. The cub is the older of the twins born to "Fei Fei" the giant panda on the morning of August 23.

ID database set up for pets

A pet dog is to receive the operation of digital chip embedding at the animal hospital of Nanjing Agriculture University in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Aug. 21, 2006.

Xodoin festival held in Lhasa

A Buddha portrait printed on a huge cloth piece is unfurled before the viewers at Zhaibung Monastery during the opening ceremony of Xodoin Festival in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Aug. 23, 2006. Xodoin means "yoghurt banquet" in Tibetan language, but the activity also features performance of Tibetan dramas and programs highlighting Tibet's culture and economy.

U.S. entrepreneur to be 1st female space tourist

U.S. entrepreneur Anousheh Ansari, due to become the first female space tourist, takes part in a training session in a training center near Moscow, July 27, 2006.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Flower lantern festival in Guizhou

Dancers perform during a flower lantern festival in Anshun, Southwest China's Guizhou Province August 22, 2006. UP to 400 people participate in the festival, which is the first of its kind in Guizhou.

Contraceptive pills fed to Kangaroos in Canberra

Kangaroos rest in a park in Canberra, capital of Australia, in April 2006. Kangaroos in Canberra will soon be fed contraceptive pills to control their booming population.

Chinese leaders meet Vietnamese party chief

Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, shakes hands with Nong Duc Manh, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Communist Party, in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 23, 2006.

Turkey suffers forest fires

A firefighter tries to put out a forest fire in Mugla Ili in southwest Turkey, Aug. 22, 2006. Turkey has suffered 1,448 forest fires that destroyed 2,533 hectares of forest throughout the country so far this year, Turkish officials said on Tuesday.

President Hu addresses foreign affairs meeting

Chinese President Hu Jintao addresses the central foreign affairs meeting held on Aug. 21-23, 2006 in Beijing, capital of China.