Artificial precipitation alleviates Suining's drought

A woman walks in rain on a street in Suining city, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Sept. 4, 2006. A light shower on Monday as well as more rainfall generated by artificial precipitation has brought some relief to the city which has suffered from a severe drought and torridity for a long time.

Conservationists protest abusing animals

Conservationists protested in Canberra, capital of Australia on Sept. 4 by cooping themselves, calling on authorities to stop abusing animals and ban animal testings.

NASA prepares for Atlantis fresh launch attempt

The space shuttle Atlantis sits on pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida Sept. 4, 2006. U.S. space agency officials said on Monday that NASA had prepared for a fresh launch attempt of the space shuttle Atlantis on Wednesday. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

"Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin killed

Australian Steve Irwin, famous for his TV show "The Crocodile Hunter," holds his month-old son in front of a 13-foot crocodile in an image from television during a croc feeding, Friday Jan. 2, 2004, at his Australian Zoo reptile park in Brisbane, Australia.He was killed Monday by a stingray while filming off north Queensland, Australian media said.He (Xinhua/Rueters Photo)

Shanghai international competition of mosaiculture

A worker poses for a photo with a mosaiculture in Shanghai September 5 2006. Shanghai will host China's first international competition of mosaiculture, which uses plants to create sculptures and artistic scenes, in from September 15 to November 30.

First Cross-Straits Arts and Crafts Exhibition held in Xiamen

A girl views a carved lacquerware on the first Cross-Straits Arts and Crafts Exhibition held in Xiamen city, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 4, 2006. Many exquisite traditional craftworks were displayed in the exhibition.

China (Beijing) International Restaurant and Food Exhibition

A cook shows a model of green noodle at a food exposition held at the Beijing Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, September 3, 2006. The Second China (Beijing) International Restaurant and Food Exhibition drew a conclusion Sunday.

Suicide car bomb in Kabul

An Afghan policeman watches the wreckage of a car at the site of a suicide bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept. 4, 2006. One British soldier and five civilians were killed when a suicide car bomb targeting a British patrol convoy exploded in Kabul on Monday morning.

Miss World 2006 welcome ceremony

Some Miss World 2006 candidates from Asia and the Pacific pose during the Miss World 2006 welcome ceremony in Warsaw, capital of Poland Sept. 3, 2006. More than 100 candidates will take part in the contest on Sept. 30 in Poland.

89 Taliban insurgents killed in Operation MEDUSA

Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi said on Sunday that 89 Taliban insurgents were killed in Panjwai and Jalai districts in Operation MEDUSA, which was launched on Saturday by around 2,000 troops of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force ( ISAF) and Afghan forces.

Int'l meeting of chimney sweeps

Children march in a parade during an international meeting of chimney sweeps in the village of Santa Maria Maggiore, Italy September 3, 2006. The annual meeting of the sweeps is held in memory of the children from the valleys of southern Switzerland and northern Italy who were sent off to work in Italian cities such as Milan during the winter in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Because of their small size, the children were able to climb the narrow chimney stacks for cleaning.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

China's Li Na reaches US Open quarterfinal

China's Li Na returns the ball during the third round match against Mary Pierce of France at the US Open in New York, the United States on Sept. 3, 2006. Li won the match 2-1 (4-6/6-0/6-0) and advanced into the quarterfinal.

British soldiers killed in Iraq's Basra

Danish soldiers carry the body of one of two British soldiers killed in a roadside bomb attack near Basra in southern Iraq, Sept. 4, 2006.Two British soldiers were killed near the southern Iraqi city of Basra on Monday while their military convoy was attacked, the British military said.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Terror attack kills two in Turkey

A shoe is seen on a street near a blast site in Catak, a town of eastern Turkey's Van Province, Sept. 4, 2006. At least two people were killed and several others injured in the blast, which occurred in a trash can in front of a restaurant in Catak town late Sunday. (Xinhua/Anatolia Photo)

Attacker on tourists in Amman nabbed

Jordanian policemen stand guard at the Roman Amphitheater in Amman, Jordan, after a gunman attacked foreign tourists Monday, Sept. 4, 2006.The attacker, a Jordanian national, was arrested and his weapon seized, according to the official Petra news agency. (Xinhua Photo/AFP)