"Smile Project" to bring smile to 100 children

A child with cleft palate is helped with health checkup in Nanjing Gulou Hospital in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Nov. 9, 2006. "Smile Project" was initiated in Nanjing Gulou Hospital Thursday. Medial volunteers from many countries and regions including China, the U.S., Singapore and the Philippines will perform free cleft palate repair operations on 100 children with the disease in the following four days.

France test fires missile

France's missile M51 soars into the air during its first test in Biscarosse November 9, 2006. In project to modernise France's nuclear arsenal, the M51 will weigh half again as much as the existing M45, allowing it carry up to six warheads over an intercontinental range.

Farmers sports meeting held in Zhengzhou

Contenders run to transport foodstuff during the first Farmers Sports Meeting in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province November 10, 2006. Players will compete in a number of events including weight-moving, water-carrying and earthbag-transporting.

Planet Mercury passes by Sun

The planet Mercury (small dot at bottom) passes in front of the Sun as seen from the east suburb of Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province in the morning of November 9, 2006. The next Mercury transit of the Sun will not happen until May 9, 2016.

Brazil beat China 3-2 at women's worlds

Yang Hao of China spikes the ball during a pool F second round match against Brazil at the women's volleyball world championships in Osaka, Japan on Nov. 9, 2006. China lost to Brazil 2-3.

Cruise liner begins regular stop in Sanya

The Luxury cruise ship Costa Allegra berths at the Fenghuangdao International Liner Port in Sanya, a city of south China's Hainan Province Nov. 9, 2006. World top Italian liner company Costa Crociere S.p.A has started a regular line from Hong Kong to Sanya days ago.

Xing Huina Hope School opens in Shandong

Olympic 10,000-metre gold medallist Xing Huina is greeted by a pupil at the opening ceremony of the Xing Huina Hope Elementary School at Shizixing Village in Weifang, East China's Shandong Province, Thursday, November 9, 2004. The school is funded by the China Sportspersons' Education Fund, which was founded by former Chinese world and Olympic champions. (newsphoto)

NASA sets Discovery launch date for Dec 7

The space shuttle Discovery sits in the Vehicle Assembly Building before moving to launch pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Nov.9, 2006. NASA is aiming to launch Discovery on December 7 on a mission to the International Space Station.

Michelle Kwan named U.S. public Diplomacy Ambassador

Figure skating champion Michelle Kwan speaks at the Treaty Room of the State Department in Washington November 9, 2006. The 26-year-old was named a non-salary diplomat by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday.

Fire drill at Shanghai maglev

Fire fighters put out a fire at the magnetic-levitation train during a "Fire Fighting Day" exercise in Shanghai, China, Nov. 9, 2006. On Aug. 11, a fire broke out in an electrical storage compartment aboard Shanghai's magnetic-levitation train as it was headed toward the city's international airport, generating large amounts of smoke but causing no deaths or injuries.

Chinese, Russian PMs meet in Beijing

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao meets with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkovin in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 9, 2006

WHO approves Margaret Chan as new chief

Newly elected UN World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan of China gives a speech in Geneva of Switzerland, Nov. 9, 2006. WHO on Thursday formally approved China's Dr. Margaret Chan as its new chief, to succeed Dr. Lee Jong-wook of South Korea who died suddenly in May.