Chavez criticizes Bush and US policies

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (C) speaks to the media after addressing the 61st session of the UN General Assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York September 20, 2006. Chavez criticized at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday on U.S. President George W. Bush and U.S. foreign policies. (Xinhua Photo)

Miss Int'l Beauty Pageant 2006 held in Beijing

Chen Qian (C), winner of the China final for Miss International Beauty Pageant 2006, poses with the first and second runners-up Chen Xiaomeng (R) and Jiao Jian in Beijing, Sept. 20, 2006.

Liu Xiang's banquet

Liu Xiang(L) and Allen Johnson of United States greet the crowd before Liu Xiang's banquet.Chinese Olympic champion Liu Xiang invites local and international track-and-field stars coming for 2006 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix to his banquet that is held on a pleasure boat on Huangpu River in Shanghai on September 20.

Ousted Thai PM Thaksin arrives in London

Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in London on Wednesday, Sept 20, 2006. It is reported that Thaksin did not request to meet with any British officials upon arrival.

Chinese mental patients' "psychic home"

Patients play rope skipping at Anning Mental Patients Care Center in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 20, 2006. As a social welfare institution, the care center has received 110 mental patients since its opening in 2004 and helped more than 50 patients be restored to health.

Ripe carps in Miao ethnic group's rice field

A girl of the Miao ethnic group catches carps in a rice field at Yaogao Village in Rongshui Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 20, 2006. Local villagers release carp fries to rice fields to breed when they transplant rice seedlings every year and capture ripe fishes before the harvest.

43 killed in coal mine blast in Kazakhstan

Injured miners receive treatment in a hospital, September 20, 2006. At least 43 people were killed in the Lenin Mine explosion in Kazakhstan's central Karaganda region early Wednesday, the Interfax news agency reported.

2006 Hangzhou Silk Festival shows

Models show silk underwears during the 2006 Hangzhou Silk Festival in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 19, 2006. The festival, opened on Tuesday, is part of the 2006 West Lake Expo.

Anti-riot exercise held in Wenzhou

Anti-riot police maintain order during a public emergency response and anti-terror exercise in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province Wednesday September 20, 2006. More than 300 police, firefighters, emergency staff and over 200 local residents took part in the drill. (newsphoto)

Sleepy baby panda

A panda cub yawns at the Wolong Giant Panda Protection Center in Wolong, southwest China's Sichuan province September 18, 2006. Picture taken September 18, 2006.(Newsphoto)

Performances in National gymnastics competition

Cheng Fei from China's Hubei Province performs during the women's floor final of the National gymnastics competition in Xiantao,Hubei Province Sept. 19, 2006. Cheng won the gold in the match.

Thai Government House controlled by the military

A Thai soldier guards in downtown Bangkok, capital of Thailand, September 20, 2006. Thai coup military proclaimed to cordon off Bangkok Wednesday.

Three Gorges Reservoir's second phase of water level raising

A patrol craft cruises in the upper reach of the Three Gorges Reservoir on the Yangtze River in central China's Hubei Province Sept. 20, 2006. The second phase of raising the water level of the Three Gorges Reservoir began at 10:00 p.m. Wednesday.

Shinzo Abe elected president of LDP

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe speaks at the headquarters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Tokyo, capital of Japan, Sept. 20, 2006. Abe won 464 votes among the total 703 ballots and was elected the 21st president of the LDP on Wednesday.

China, U.S. launch strategic economic dialogue

Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi (R) and United States Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson attend a joint news conference after their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 20, 2006. As special representatives of Chinese President Hu Jintao and US President George W. Bush, Wu and Paulson announced on Wednesday the establishment of the China-US economic strategic dialog.