Sandstorm hits northwest China

Chinese children play in dust storm on a street in Shaya County, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, February 28, 2007. The dust storm hit Shaya County two weeks earlier than last year due to the warm winter.

Political advisors arrive in Beijing for annual session

Members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference from Yunnan Province arrive at the Capital International Airport in Beijing March 1. The country's top advisory body is slated to convene for an annual sesson starting from Saturday.

Federer, Nadal reach quarterfinals of Dubai Open

Roger Federer of Switzerland hits the ball into the stands after defeating Italy's Daniele Bracciali after their match at the Dubai Open tennis tournament Feb. 28, 2007. Federer won the match 7-5, 6-3.

Shehuo performance in northwest China

Children dresses up as a characters from ancient myths during a traditional performance of "Shehuo" to celebrate the upcoming Lantern Festival in Tianshui, northwest China's Gansu Province March 1, 2007. (newsphoto)

8 wounded in blast, mayor unhurt

A Colombian man looks at the burning wreckage of a bus after a car bomb explosion in Neiva, Colombia March 1, 2007. At least eight people were wounded when Colombian guerrillas exploded a car bomb in a suspected assassination attempt on the mayor of a southern city, authorities said on Thursday.

UK to pull out troops from Bosnia

Musicians of the Welsh Guards wait for Britain's Prince Charles to arrive for a ceremony at a European Union Force's base near Banja Luka March 1, 2007. Prince Charles visited troops serving in Bosnia on Thursday, on the day Britain said its forces would be withdrawn from the Balkan state by the end of the year.

SMS threat to bomb U.S. Jakarta embassy

Indonesian police stand guard outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta after the embassy received a bomb threat on March 1, 2007. In the foreground is U.S.A. written on a concrete barrier. The Indonesian police Thursday sent the bomb disposal unit to the U.S. Embassy compound in Jakarta after receiving text messages whose sender read as Al Qaida and threatened to explode the embassy.

Yuan breaches 7.74 against US dollar

China's yuan rose to 7.7472 against the US dollar March 1, 2007, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System. The currency hit another new high since the Renminbi exchange rate reformed. The yen against the dollar dropped from 120.56 to 117.93 yesterday, which helped to boost the appeal of yuan, said an unnamed source. (newsphoto)

ROK urges Japan to to atone for atrocities

South Korea 's President Roh Moo-hyun (L) and his wife Kwon Yang-Sook give three cheers in Seoul March 1, 2007, during the 88th anniversary of the Independence Movement against Japanese colonial rule in 1919. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

VP Zeng highlights improvement of Party's governance capability

Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong(C) addresses the opening ceremony for a new semester at the the Party School of CPC Central Committee, March 1, 2007. Zeng stressed that the Communist Party of China (CPC) should enhance its governance capability for the preparation of the 17th CPC National Congress which will convene in the latter half of this year.