A three-day old baby (L) weighing 8.7 kg (19.2 lb) sleeps next to an average-sized baby at the Abdul Manan General Hospital in Kisaran, Asahan regency, north Sumatra September 24, 2009. An Indonesian woman gave birth to the baby, whose weight is equal to the weight of an average year-old infant, by Caesarean section on September 21, local media reported. Picture taken September 24, 2009.
(Reuters photo)
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, Sept. 24 -- In front of more than 80,000 soccer fans at the Army stadium of Borg el-Arab near Alexandria, Egypt crushed Trinidad & Tobago 4-1 on Thursday in the opener of FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Egpyt's Mostafa Galal (Up) vies with Uriah Bentick of Trinidad and Tobago during the first match of the 17th FIFA U-20 World Cup championship in Alexandria, Egypt, Sept. 24, 2009. Egypt defeated Trinidad and Tobago 4-1.
In the fourth minute, Egyptian goalkeeper Aly Lotfi saved his team from a strong free kick, before forward Mahmoud Mohamed Ahmed, also known as Afroto, scored the first goal at 35 to put the Egyptian team ahead.
About six minutes later, Trinidad midfielder Jean Luc Rochford scored the first and the sole goal for his team to end the first halftime 1-1.
Egypt's midfielder Arafat put Egypt ahead again when he scored the second goal from unexpected kick at the 51st minute.
Forward Mohamed Talat scored Egypt's third goal at the 58th minute to confirm the home side's advance.
Trinidad and Tobago's team tried hard to score in the last ten minutes of the match but in vain.
Mohamed Talaat of Egypt (L) and Akeem Adams of Trinidad and Tobago compete for the ball during the match between the two countries at the 17th FIFA U-20 World Cup championship in Alexandria, Egypt, Sept. 24, 2009. The 17th FIFA U-20 World Cup championship raised its curtains in Egypt on Thursday.
Moreover, at the 93rd minute Arafat scored his second goal and the fourth for Egypt to end the match 4-1.
The match witnessed two yellow cards in the first half, with Egyptian defender Aly Mohamad flashed at the 22nd minute due to a handball and again the home side's midfielder Hussam Arafat at the25th minute due to kicking the ball away after it was out.
Earlier on Thursday, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak officially opened the FIFA U20 tournament.
Islam Ramadan of Egypt (L) and Leston Paul of Trinidad and Tobago compete for the ball during the match between the two countries at the 17th FIFA U-20 World Cup championship in Alexandria, Egypt, Sept. 24, 2009. The 17th FIFA U-20 World Cup championship raised its curtains in Egypt on Thursday.
Islam Ramadan of Egypt (L) and Leston Paul of Trinidad and Tobago compete for the ball during the match between the two countries at the 17th FIFA U-20 World Cup championship in Alexandria, Egypt, Sept. 24, 2009. The 17th FIFA U-20 World Cup championship raised its curtains in Egypt on Thursday.
(Xinhua)
MANILA, Sept. 23 -- A Philippine dredging barge dug out a vintage tank, believed to have been used by the United States troops during the World Word II, from the Manila Bay, coastguard officials said Wednesday.
A coastguard inspects a World War II tank, a Sherman M4-A1, which was found in Manila Bay September 23, 2009. The M4-A1 tank was recovered by a company dredging the coastal areas to clean up Manila bay on September 19, 2009.
Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said the ShermanM4-A1 Tank was found on Sept. 19 off Baseco port in Manila, two months after a Japanese canon was recovered from almost the same area.
Coast Guard officials described the car-size tank, as rusty, full of mud and its gun at the top missing and said they have informed the historians to determine the identity of the tank.
"It's a good find. Historically, it benefits us," Tamayo said. "We are safeguarding it but we have informed the National Historical Institute about it."
The Philippine archipelago was one of the fiercely-fought battle-fields of U.S. and Japanese forces during the World War II.
A coastguard inspects a World War II tank, a Sherman M4-A1, which was found in Manila Bay September 23, 2009. The M4-A1 tank was recovered by a company dredging the coastal areas to clean up Manila bay on September 19, 2009.
A coastguard jumps off a World War II tank, a Sherman M4-A1, which was found in Manila Bay September 23, 2009. The M4-A1 tank was recovered by a company dredging the coastal areas to clean up Manila bay on September 19, 2009.
(Xinhua)
People ride a bike taxi during a protest against cars during World Car Free Day on a road in Sao Paulo Sept. 22, 2009.
People ride a bike taxi during a protest against cars during World Car Free Day on a road in Sao Paulo Sept. 22, 2009.
AC Milan's Clarence Seedorf of the Netherlands, right, is challenged by Udinese's Gaetano D'Agostino during a Serie A soccer match between Udinese and AC Milan in Udine, Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. AC Milan lost 0-1.
AC Milan's coach Leonardo looks on before the start of their Serie A soccer match against Udinese at the Friuli stadium in Udine September 23, 2009. AC Milan lost 0-1.
Udinese's Mauricio Isla (L) and Gaetano D'Agostino celebrate as AC Milan's Clarence Seedorf looks on after their teammate Antonio Di Natale (not seen) scored during their Serie A soccer match at the Friuli stadium in Udine September 23, 2009. Udinese won 1-0.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Chelsea's Salomon Kalou (C) celebrates with Joe Cole (2nd R) and Fabio Borini (R) after scoring against Queens Park Rangers during their English League Cup soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London September 23, 2009. Chelsea won 1-0.
Chelsea's Salomon Kalou (2nd L) shoots and scores his goal against Queens Park Rangers during their English League Cup soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London September 23, 2009.
Chelsea's Joe Cole (L) is challenged by Wayne Routledge of Queens Park Rangers during their English League Cup soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London September 23, 2009.
Manchester United's Danny Welbeck celebrates after scoring during their English League Cup soccer match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England, September 23, 2009. Manchester Utd. won 1-0.
Manchester United's Michael Owen (L) is challenged by Wolverhampton Wanderers' Kevin Foley during their English League Cup soccer match at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England, September 23, 2009.
Manchester United's Jonny Evans (top) challenges Wolverhampton Wanderers' Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (bottom) during their English League Cup soccer match at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England, September 23, 2009.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Real Madrid's Kaka (R) celebrates with team mate Cristiano Ronaldo after he scored against Villarreal during their Spanish first division soccer match at the Madrigal Stadium in Villarreal September 23, 2009. Real Madrid won 2-0.
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (R) and Villarreal's Sebastian Eguren fight for the ball during their Spanish first division soccer match at the Madrigal Stadium in Villarreal September 23, 2009. Real Madrid won 2-0.
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (R) controls the ball past Villarreal's Angel Lopez during their Spanish first division soccer match at the Madrigal Stadium in Villarreal September 23, 2009. Real Madrid won 2-0.
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (L) celebrates a goal against Villarreal with team mates Lassana Diarra (C) and Marcelo during their Spanish first division soccer match at the Madrigal Stadium in Villarreal September 23, 2009. Real Madrid won 2-0.
Real Madrid's Kaka celebrates a goal against Villarreal during their Spanish first division soccer match at the Madrigal Stadium in Villarreal September 23, 2009. Real Madrid won 2-0.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Real Madrid's Ruud Van Nistelrooy controls the ball during their Santiago Bernabeu trophy match against Rosenborg in Madrid August 24, 2009.
MADRID, Sept. 21 -- Real Madrid striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy will be out for six weeks after injuring his left thigh in his comeback game last weekend.
The Dutch forward returned to action Sunday for the first time in 2009 since injuring cruciate ligaments in his knee while playing against Juventus in the UEFA Champions League last season.
He had been on the pitch for just five minutes, when he scored Real Madrid's fifth goal on the night in the 5-0 home win against Xerez.
Unfortunately for Van Nistelrooy, his left thigh muscle suffered in the very moment of shooting.
Tests carried out on Monday morning have confirmed the extent of the injury, which means he will not play again before November.
Van Nistelrooy has scored 36 goals in 68 Primera Liga appearances for the club.
(Xinhua)
This strange balloon creature appears to have taken off and is floating
above a stream.
BEIJING, Sept. 21 -- The extraordinary figures, which look like monsters from the depths of the ocean or creatures from another planet, are in fact highly complex sculptures made of nothing but thousands of common party balloons by New York artist Jason Hackenwerth.
This strange-looking sculpture made from hundreds of party balloons is called Alien Rainforest
Two of Jason's bizarre looking sculptures by the sea which could be their
natural home.
This scene of a man wearing one of the balloon sculptures looks like it
could be from another planet.
This sculpture called 'Venus In The Forest' shows a woman wearing one of
the huge sculptures.
This creepy creation was named 'Cyclops' by Jason.
This pink sculpture made of balloons looks like it is about to float up
into the sky.
(Source: CCTV.com)
Cuban singer X Alfonso (R) performs with his band during the "Peace Without Borders" concert in Havana's Revolution Square September 20, 2009.
BEIJING, Sept.21(Xinhuanet) -- An open-air "peace concert", headlined by the Colombian rock star Juanes, was held in Havana on Sunday attracting hundreds of thousands of Cubans. The crowd in the sprawling Revolution Square numbered 1.15 million people. It was hard to verify the number, but Juanes's visit was clearly the biggest by an outsider since Pope John Paul II's in 1998.
Most concert audiences chose to wear white to symbolize peace, and some held up signs reading "Peace on Earth" and "We Love You, Juanes."
The show lasted about three hours. Juanes said the concert was "the most beautiful dream of peace and love."
"We came to Cuba for love," he said. "We have overcome fear to be with you, and we hope that you, too, can overcome it."
Singers Juanes (L) of Colombia and Miguel Bose of Spain perform during the "Peace Without Borders" concert in Havana's Revolution Square September 20, 2009.
The concertgoers were very excited and enthusiastic. "We are going to stay as long as we have the strength," said Cristina Rodríguez, a 43-year-old nurse accompanied by her teenage son, Felix. They and thousands of others had arrived hours before the concert to get a good spot, ignoring government warnings not to turn up until noon.
Juanes recently met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and the concert even prompted comment from President Obama.
"My understanding is that he's a terrific musician. He puts on a very good concert," Mr. Obama said in the interview broadcast Sunday. "I certainly don't think it hurts U.S.-Cuban relations. These kinds of cultural exchanges — I wouldn't overstate the degree that it helps."
People wait for the Peace Without Borders concert in Havana's Revolution Square September 20, 2009.
A child claps as he is raised above the crowd during the "Peace Without Borders" concert in Havana's Revolution Square September 20, 2009.
(Agencies)
Muslims stand under a shelter in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, as they come to join an Eid-ul-Fitr prayer in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, on Sept. 21, 2009. Bangladeshi Muslims celebrated the biggest religious festival of the Muslims on Monday.
Muslims leave Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, after an Eid-ul-Fitr prayer in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, on Sept. 21, 2009.
Muslims attend an Eid-ul-Fitr prayer in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, on Sept. 21, 2009.
(Xinhua/Qamruzzaman)
SHANGHAI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva won the women's pole vault at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix here on Sunday.
Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia reacts after her jump during the women's pole vault event at the IAAF Golden League athletics meeting at the Letzigrund stadium in Zurich Aug. 28, 2009.
Isinbayeva, who just set a new world record of 5.06 meters at the World Athletics Finals, cleared 4.85 meters for the title. She tried to break the world records but failed in three attempts at 5.07 meters.
Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia reacts after her jump during the women's pole vault event at the IAAF Golden League athletics meeting at the Letzigrund stadium in Zurich Aug. 28, 2009.
Anna Gogowska of Poland and her compatriot Monika Pyrek, who finished 1-2 at the Berlin world championships, was second (4.60) and third (4.50) respectively.
China's 110m-hurdler Liu Xiang (L) sprints towards the finishing line next to Terrence Trammell of the United States at the 2009 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in Shanghai, China, on Sept. 20, 2009. Liu made a comeback on Sunday after his Olympic withdrawal, finishing second in 13.15 seconds. Trammell, who also clocked 13.15 seconds but beat Liu at photo finish, took the gold medal.
SHANGHAI, Sept. 20 -- Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, former Olympic and world champion, returned to competition in style by finishing second at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix here on Sunday.
Liu's much-anticipated return after 13 months out injured was cheered by a boisterous crowd of 25,000 at the Shanghai Stadium. He fought back from behind to cross the finish line shoulder by shoulder with arch rival Terrence Trammell of American, silver medalist in the Berlin world championships.
China's 110m-hurdle star Liu Xiang competes during the 110m-hurdle match at the 2009 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in Shanghai, China, on Sept. 20, 2009.
The photo finish showed that Trammell, silver medalist at two Olympic Games and three world championships, was the winner in a similar time of 13.15 seconds.
"I want to thank my rivals, thank my coach and thank everybody for your support," said Liu soon after the race.
"I had not expected to run so fast," said Liu, who clocked 13.70 seconds in a training session last week. "It's just beyond my imagination."
China's 110m-hurdle star Liu Xiang reacts after crossing the finishing line during the 110m-hurdle competition at the 2009 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in Shanghai, China, on Sep. 20, 2009.
"This competition has boosted my confidence and I am sure to improve on this performance. It showed that I am still able to come out on the track and find my former self," the 26-year-old said.
Liu trailed Trammell by at least three meters after 50 meters but he managed to catch up in the final meters in front of the fans of Shanghai where he was born and brought up.
"The atmosphere was superb. I will train harder after this competition," said a beaming Liu, who was a national hero before the Beijing Olympic Games but was criticized by netizens for his shock withdrawal at the Bird's Nest.
Liu just returned to training in July after a surgery on his right Achilles tendon in the United States last December. His performance in Shanghai gave the fans hope that he has been back on winning track.
He said that his foot injury will not cause trouble.
"I don't think there will be problems for my foot," he said. "I will try to avoid injuries in future races, big or small. Now the past is past. Today I think the fans felt happy for me and also a little disappointment (for not winning the race). I am sure that I will do better in the days to come."
Organizers had asked the fans do not expect too much from Liu, who previously held the world record of 12.88 seconds but the time was certainly a surprise happiness for them and his coach Sun Haiping.
Sun said before the race that events such as the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix will just help Liu improve as he prepares for the Asian Athletics Championships in November and the East Asian Games in December.
"The time was really good," Sun said. "It's of course beyond my expectations. I told him before the race that 13.50 is good enough because it might be a little risky for his foot to run faster. I think there were three reasons. Firstly, the fans were really fantastic and secondly, the wind was assisting him. Thirdly, Trammell was really a good rival. "
Sun said that Liu's foot injury will not be a problem any longer. "He could have never run inside 13.20 if he had not recovered well enough. But I still hope he should improve gradually."
Liu's next race will be at China's 11th National Games to be held in Ji'nan, east China's Shandong Province in October.
(Xinhua)
MADRID, Sept. 20 -- Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde on Sunday won the 64th Tour of Spain without having adjudicated even one of the 21 stages of the race, thanks to a fierce control over rivals.
Caisse D'Epargne rider Alejandro Valverde (C) of Spain celebrates on the podium after winning the Tour of Spain next to second-placed Euskaltel-Euskadi rider Samuel Sanchez (L) of Spain and third-placed Silence-Lotto Cadel Evans of Australia after the last stage of the "La Vuelta" cycling race between Rivas Vaciamadrid and Madrid, Sept. 20, 2009.
The winner of Sunday's final stage, a sprint, was Germany's Andrei Greipel, riding for team Columbia, in a dramatic race that ended on the streets of Spain's capital Madrid.
It was the first win in one of the world's major tour competitions for Valverde, who represents the Caisse D'Epargne.
Fellow Spaniard Samuel Sanchez, an Olympic champion who rode for the Euskaltel Euskadi team, took second place. Australia's Cadel Evens was third, representing the Silence Lotto team.
French rider Moncatie won king of the mountains, for the Cofidis team, and German rider Creipel, representing Columbia, won the regularity prize. Spanish team Xacobeo Galicia won the team competition.
Caisse D'Epargne rider Alejandro Valverde (C) of Spain celebrates on the podium after winning the Tour of Spain next to second-placed Euskaltel-Euskadi rider Samuel Sanchez (L) of Spain and third-placed Silence-Lotto Cadel Evans of Australia after the last stage of the "La Vuelta" cycling race between Rivas Vaciamadrid and Madrid, Sept. 20, 2009.
The last stage of the "La Vuelta" cycling race was held between Rivas Vaciamadrid and Madrid, Sept. 20, 2009.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Spain's players celebrate after defeating Serbia to win the gold medal in the FIBA EuroBasket 2009 basketball final game in Katowice Sept. 20, 2009.
MADRID, Sept. 20 -- Spain's national basketball team became European champion on Sunday after defeating Serbia 85-63 in the final held in Polish city Katowice.
Spain's Paul Gasol won the trophy for the best player in the championship, after baskets scored in Poland also made him the highest scoring player. He was also named, alongside teammate Rudy Fernandez as the "dream five" basketball players.
Spain, which lost its first game with Serbia, had a slow start in the European championship. But, beginning with the quarter finals, the team began to show its merits.
Players Riky Rubio, Navarro, Rudy Fernandez, Reyes, Marc Gasol and Raul Lopez, many of whom are under contract for teams in the United States' top league the National Basketball Association, had already won the world championship and a silver medal at the Olympics, the first time Spain has held these two trophies simultaneously.
Spain's players pose after defeating Serbia to win the gold medal in the FIBA EuroBasket 2009 basketball final game in Katowice Sept. 20, 2009.
Sunday's win erases bad memories from 2007, when Spain lost to Russia in the European finals in 2007 in Madrid, because Gasol's bad last-minute basket. The Spanish team has been in second place for six European finals in a row.
Spain's Alex Mumbru (front) and Pau Gasol celebrate after winning their FIBA EuroBasket 2009 basketball final game against Serbia in Katowice Sept. 20, 2009.
Spain's team celebrate on the podium during the medal award ceremony after winning their FIBA EuroBasket 2009 final match against Serbia in Katowice Sept. 20, 2009.
Spain's Pau Gasol (R) kisses his gold medal next to his brother and teammate Marc Gasol after winning their FIBA EuroBasket 2009 final match against Serbia in Katowice Sept. 20, 2009.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
