A prince is born

The Prince Akishino and his wife Kiko in a car. Princess Kiko, wife of Prince Akishino, the second son of the Japanese emperor, gave birth to a baby boy -- the first male heir to be born into the ancient imperial family in more than four decades, said the Imperial Household Agency on Wednesday. Mother and baby are in good health.

US reclaims Softball Worlds title

United States softball team players celebrate after their win over Japan 3-0 at the final of the 11th world softball championship, the first Olympic test event in Beijing, September 5, 2006. (Xinhua)

China: World's largest shoes producer

Shoes on sale in a shopping mall in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province, August 27, 2006. China has become the largest shoes making country in the world with its annual production of 9 billion pairs of shoes, 50 percent of the world's total output. According to statistics, more than 18,000 shoes manufacturers in China exported 6.9 billion pairs of shoes in 2005 and US$9.85 billion worth of shoes in the first half of 2006. (newsphoto)

Books in simplified Chinese characters transported to Taipei

Workers load onto a truck books in simplified Chinese characters from the Chinese mainland, in Xiamen, a coastal city in southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 5, 2006.

Harbin-Khabarovsk river transportation resumed after 10 years' suspension

A tugboat with a full load of construction materials leaves for Khabarovsk in Russia from a port in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 5, 2006.

Premier Wen meets WTO Director General

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Pascal Lamy during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on Sept. 5, 2006.

Nobel Laureates Beijing Forum

Nobel laureate Robert A. Mondale addresses at the opening ceremony of the Nobel Laureates Beijing Forum 2006 in Beijing, capital of China Sept. 5, 2006. The forum opened at the Great Hall of the People Tuesday.

Tallest wooden pagoda greets 950th birthday

A grand celebration for the 950th anniversary of the building of the Sakyamuni Pagoda is held near the ancient pagoda in Yingxian County, north China's Shanxi Province, Sept. 5, 2006. About 30,000 people attended the celebration on Tuesday.

Ancient golden ornaments displayed

A golden earring is displayed at the National History Museum in Sofia Sept. 4, 2006. The earring, which is part of a golden artefact dated back to the 3rd century BC, was found at a Thracian tomb near the eastern Bulgarian village of Sinemorets last month. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Lebanese intelligence officer injured in bombing

A Lebanese military policeman (R) prepares to evacuate a wounded Lieutenant Colonel Shamir Shehade after he was wounded in a bomb attack near Sidon, Sept. 5, 2006. (Xinhua / AFP photo)

Qatar jet lands Beirut despite blockade

A Qatar Airways passenger jet lands Beirut international airport from Doha Sept. 4, 2006 despite an ongoing Israeli air and sea blockade of Lebanon. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

588 firearms found buried in Paraguay

Paraguayan police display for journalists an arsenal of 588 firearms, including shotguns, semi-automatic rifles and pistols of different calibres, that were recently confiscated in the city of Pedro Juan Caballero, 360 km (224 miles) northeast of Asuncion on the border with Brazil, after the weapons were transported and presented at the headquarters of the SENAD narcotics police in Asuncion September 4, 2006. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Calderon wins Mexico's presidential race

Felipe Calderon, candidate of Mexico's ruling National Action Party, waves to the public when celebrating his victory, in Mexico City, July 6, 2006. (Xinhua/AFP File Photo)

President Hu meets Luxembourg's Grand Duke

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) and Luxembourg's Grand Duke Duc Henri shake hands during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Sept. 5, 2006.