Argentine folk singer Mercedes Sosa dies at 74

Argentine folk singer Mercedes Sosa (L) and composer Charly Garcia pose in
this January 27, 1997 file photo. Sosa, 74, who fought South America's dictators
with her voice and became a giant of contemporary Latin American music, died
October 4, 2009 in Buenos Aires.

The body of Argentine folk singer Mercedes Sosa lies in a coffin at a wake in
the Congress building in Buenos Aires, October 4, 2009.

The body of Argentine folk singer Mercedes Sosa lies in a coffin at a wake in
the Congress building in Buenos Aires, October 4, 2009.

Argentine legend singer Mercedes Sosa performs during the Teatro Colon Opera
House's last gala, before closing its doors to the public for a restoration, in
Buenos Aires in this November 1, 2006 file photo.

(Xinhua Photo)

Ariane 5 carries two satellites into space from French Guiana

In this photo provided Friday Oct. 2, 2009 by the European Space Agency (ESA),
the Ariane 5 rocket takes off in Kourou, French Guiana, Thursday night Oct. 1,
2009. The European rocket placed into orbit the civilian Amazonas 2 satellite
for Spain's Hispasat, along with the German COMSATBw-1 military
telecommunications platform.

PARIS, Oct. 1 -- Two telecommunications satellites Amanzonas 2 and COMSATBw-1
are successfully launched into space aboard rocket Ariane 5 from the spaceport
in French Guiana Thursday, the live webcast of Arianespace headquartered near
Paris showed.

The launcher Ariane 5 ECA, ignited in the South American jungle (2159 GMT), took
off with a total lift performance of 9,087 kg, which includes 7,905 kg for the
pair of satellites.

The Amanzonas 2 spacecraft parted first, around 27 minutes after the liftoff.
Nearly six minutes later, COMSATBw-1 was spat into space. They are scheduled to
enter eostationary transfer orbits in a few days, each with a lifetime of 15
years.

In this photo provided Friday Oct. 2, 2009 by the European Space Agency (ESA),
the Ariane 5 rocket takes off in Kourou, French Guiana, Thursday night Oct. 1,
2009.

The first separated one is to be used by the Spanish-based HISPASAT
telecommunications operator for civilian services covering an area extending
from Alaska of United States to Tierra del Fuego, the south area of South
America.

COMSATBw-1 will undertake military mission for German Armed Forces, or the
Bundeswehr. It is to handle secure information, including voice, fax, data,
video and multimedia applications, foruse by units on deployed missions,
covering the area extending from America to eastern Asia.

"Since the beginning of the year, we've launched seven commercial satellites ...
which once again is a world record," the Ariancespace Chairman and CEO Jean-Yves
Le Gall said after the launch.

The liftoff on Thursday is the 191st launch of an Ariane vehicle since the
launcher station began operation in 1979.

(Xinhua)

Animals at zoo attract tourists during holiday

A tiger and a horse perform for visitors at the Fuzhou Zoo in Fuzhou,
southeast China's Fujian Province, on Oct. 4, 2009. The wonderful performance of
the animals attracted a number of citizens and tourists to spend their National
Day Holiday at the Fuzhou Zoo.

A black bear performs for visitors at the Fuzhou Zoo in Fuzhou, southeast
China's Fujian Province, on Oct. 4, 2009. The wonderful performance of the
animals attracted a number of citizens and tourists to spend their National Day
Holiday at the Fuzhou Zoo.

A sea lion jumps out of water at the Fuzhou Zoo in Fuzhou, southeast China's
Fujian Province, on Oct. 4, 2009. The wonderful performance of the animals
attracted a number of citizens and tourists to spend their National Day Holiday
at the Fuzhou Zoo.

(Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

Drew Barrymore arrives at premiere of "Whip It" at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood

Director of the movie and cast member Drew Barrymore poses at the premiere of "Whip It" at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California September 29, 2009. The movie opens in the U.S. on October 2.

Director of the movie and cast member Drew Barrymore poses at the premiere of "Whip It" at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California September 29, 2009. The movie opens in the U.S. on October 2.

Director of the movie and cast member Drew Barrymore poses at the premiere of "Whip It" at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California September 29, 2009. The movie opens in the U.S. on October 2.

Cast member and director of the movie Drew Barrymore (R) poses with co-star Ellen Page at the premiere of "Whip It" at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California September 29, 2009. The movie opens in the U.S. on October 2.

Director Quentin Tarantino gestures at the premiere of "Whip It" at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California September 29, 2009. The movie opens in the U.S. on October 2.

Actor Justin Long poses at the premiere of "Whip It" at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California September 29, 2009. The movie opens in the U.S. on October 2.

Cast member Eve poses at the premiere of "Whip It" at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California September 29, 2009. The movie opens in the U.S. on October 2.

Tennis player Serena Williams poses at the premiere of "Whip It" at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California, September 29, 2009. The movie opens in the U.S. on October 2.

Director of the movie and cast member Drew Barrymore (R) poses with director Steven Spielberg at the premiere of "Whip It" at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California September 29, 2009. The movie opens in the U.S. on October 2.

Director of the movie and cast member Drew Barrymore (C) poses with co-stars Ellen Page (L) and Juliette Lewis at the premiere of "Whip It" at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California September 29, 2009.

[Agencies]

IAEA chief arrives in Iran for talks over nuclear issue

International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei (L) walks with Iran's Ambassador to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh (R) as he arrives at Imam Khomeini International airport, 35 km (22 miles) south of Tehran October 3, 2009.

TEHRAN, Oct. 3 -- Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei arrived in Iran Saturday for talks with Iranian officials over Tehran's nuclear program, Iran's state radio reported.

During his stay in Iran, ElBaradei will meet with Iranian officials and discuss Iran's nuclear program with them, the report said.

According to Iran's English-language satellite channel Press TV,the IAEA chief was expected to meet with Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and other top nuclear officials on Sunday.

The IAEA chief would not visit the new uranium enrichment facility during his stay in Iran this time, Press TV quoted an announcement of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) as saying.

The IAEA said on Friday that ElBaradei had been invited to Tehran by Iranian authorities and would travel there to discuss with Iran about its second uranium enrichment facility near Qom.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili on Thursday held talks with top envoys from the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany in Geneva, Switzerland.

During the talks, Jalili promised that Tehran would soon open its newly-disclosed uranium-enrichment facility near Qom to UN inspectors, according to European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who coordinated the talks.

According to the EU official, the parties also agreed to hold a second round of meetings focusing on Iran's nuclear issue by the end of this month.

(Xinhua)

Canadian billionaire Guy Laliberte to tour ISS

Canadian billionaire Guy Laliberte (L), Russian cosmonaut Maxim Surayev (C) and U.S. astronaut Jeffrey Williams show their cartoons on the t-shirts at a news conference at Baikonur cosmodrome September 29, 2009. Laliberte, Williams and Surayev are due to blast off to the International Space Station from Baikonur cosmodrome on board the Soyuz spacecraft on September 30. Photo taken through a glass panel.

Canadian billionaire Guy Laliberte shows a victory sign before entering a spacecraft at the Baikonur cosmodrome September 30, 2009.

Ground personnel help up Canadian billionaire Guy Laliberte after he put on his space suit at the Baikonur cosmodrome September 30, 2009.

Canadian billionaire Guy Laliberte (C), Russian cosmonaut Maxim Surayev and U.S. astronaut Jeffrey Williams (top) wave before entering a spacecraft at the Baikonur cosmodrome September 30, 2009.

Canadian billionaire Guy Laliberte makes a victory sign after putting on his space suit at Baikonur cosmodrome September 30, 2009.

Canadian billionaire Guy Laliberte jokes after putting on his space suit at Baikonur cosmodrome September 30, 2009.
(Reuters Photo)

Bacon Brothers perform in Alexandria

Actor and musician Kevin Bacon performs with his brother Michael with their band the Bacon Brothers during a sound check before a show in Alexandria, Virginia October 1, 2009.

Actor and musician Kevin Bacon performs during a sound check with the Bacon Brothers band in Alexandria, Virginia October 1, 2009.

Michael Bacon (R) and his brother actor and musician Kevin Bacon perform with their band the Bacon Brothers during a sound check before a show in Alexandria, Virginia October 1, 2009.

Michael Bacon, brother of actor and musician Kevin Bacon, performs with their band the Bacon Brothers during a sound check before a show in Alexandria, Virginia October 1, 2009

Actor and musician Kevin Bacon performs with his band the Bacon Brothers during a sound check before a show in Alexandria, Virginia October 1, 2009.

(Reuters Photo)