Clown International appears in Shanghai

Children play with a clown at a kindergarten in Shanghai, east China, Sept. 18, 2006. Performers of the Clown International attending the Shanghai Tourism Festival visited the kindergarten and presented children a harlequinade on Monday.

Somali president survives assassination

At least 11 people were killed Monday and several others injured when a car exploded outside Somalia's parliament in Baidoa in the latest assassination attempt on President Abdullahi Yusuf.

Rare blossoms of epiphyllum in Hubei

People view the broad-leaved epiphyllum in full blossom at a citizen's home in Xiangfan city, central China's Hubei Province, Sept. 18, 2006. The broad-leaved epiphyllum, which rarely has blossoms, bore 36 flowers over one night.

Japanese atrocities condemned

Hong Kong Federation of Trade Union members protest in front of the Japanese consulate against the revival of Japanese militarism and the Japanese prime minister's continuing visits to the Yasukuni shrine, which honours war criminals, September 18, 2006. (Newsphoto)

Two died in 9-story building collapse in Wuhan

A rescue team searches for survivors in the debris of a collapsed nine-story building in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province September 17, 2006. The unfinished building collapsed in the afternoon on September 17, leaving two dead and six injured.

Hungarian PM asked to resign for lying

Hundreds of Hungarian protesters gathered in front of the parliament on Kossuth square on Monday morning, demanding that Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany and his government resign for having "lied" to voters.

300 surfers on a wave

More than 300 surfers took part in an attempt to break the world record for the number of surfers on a wave in Cape Town 17 September 2006 in Muizenberg.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Who has the biggest mouth?

Austrian Marco Hort takes in mouth 259 drinking straws during the World Records day at Vienna's Prater, 17 September 2006.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

First "bionic woman" demonstrates thought-controlled prostheses

Claudia Mitchell demonstrates the functionality of her "bionic arm" during a news conference on Sept. 14, 2006 in Washington, DC. Mitchell is the first female recipient of a "thought controlled bionic arm", an advanced prosthesis, developed by the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Shangli boasts beautiful scenery and ancient structures

The picture taken on Sept. 15, 2006 shows a street in the ancient town of Shangli, southwest China's Sichuan Province. As an ancient official post station along the ancient Silk Road, Shangli boasts beautiful scenery and ancient structures.

Iran, Venezuela sign co-op accords to boost ties

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (R) and his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, wave upon their arrival to the Fuerte Tiuna military academy in Caracas, 17 September 2006. Ahmadinejad is in Venezuela for two days of talks and to sign agreements on energy. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Cote d'Ivoire begins cleaning up toxic waste

French technicians help clean up toxic waste in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, Sept. 17, 2006. Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny on Sunday ordered a cleanup operation of the toxic waste dumped around the country's commercial capital. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Russian craft carrying 1st female tourist blasts off

A video grab shows American spaceflight participant Anousheh Ansari riding aboard the Russian TMA-9 spacecraft after its launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, on her way to the International Space with Expedition 14 crew members Mikhail Tyurin of Russia and Mike Lopez-Alegria of the US September 17, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Chinese FM meets US Secretary of State

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing (R) during their meeting in New York, the United States, Sept. 18, 2006.

Chinese leaders meet Italian PM

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi during their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 18, 2006.