Sichuan explosion kills millionaire

Police officers cordon off a street section in Ebian county, Sichuan Province after an explosion killed one millionaire entrepreneur and an unidentified man July 21, 2004. Ge Mingjun, general manager of Sichuan Minda Group and also a vice-chairman of the county's people's political consultative conference, was killed in the explosion in his office, another five were injured. Police have confirmed it was a man-made explosion and are still investigating into the case. (newssc photo)

Rail on top of the world

The Qinghai-Tibet railway construction site within the Tibet Autonomous Region has seen 13 kilometres of tracks laid so far. Some 1,110 kilometres of railway line from Golmude in Qinghai Province to Lhasa will be constructed. The project is expected to take six years to complete. The work started in June of 2001. (newsphoto)

Wildfire spreads north of Los Angeles

A firefighter watches as a wall of dense smoke rises into the sky after wind driven flames burned along Mt. Emma Road during the Crown Fire in Acton, California July 21, 2004. Afternoon winds and high temperatures gave the fire new life as it burned through part of the Angeles National Forest.

Six foreigners kidnapped in Iraq

A TV footage shows an Iraqi militan group claimed Wednesday it had kidnapped six foreigners, including three Indians, two Kenyans and an Egyptian, threatening to behead them if the Kuwaiti firm for which they work does not pull out of the country.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Chinese Vice Premier meets Vietnamese guests

Huang Ju (R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese vice premier, meets with Truong Tan Sang, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Communist Party, in Beijing, July 21, 2004.

Photos: China crush Indonesia 5-0 in Asian Cup

Crazy fans hail the victory of Chinese team over Indonesia. China, who were held by Bahrain 2-2 in their opening game last Saturday, climbed to top of the group with four points, leading Indonesia (3), Bahrain (2) and Qatar (1).

Silk Road International Apparel Festival

A model from Uzbekistan displays the Uzbek fashion in the international exhibition center in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 20, 2004. A special performance on Uzbek fashion creations was held during the Silk Road International Apparel Festival of 2004 in Urumqi on Tuesday.

New President of European Parliament elected

Former Spanish government Minister Josep Borrell smiles after being elected president of the newly-enlarged European Parliament (EP) at the EP's first session in Strasbourg, France July 20, 2004. Borrell will take over as president of the assembly for the next two and a half years from outgoing president, Irish liberal Pat Cox.

Arroyo announces release of Filipino hostage

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo smiles as she announces the release of Filipino hostage, Anglo de la Cruz, at a news briefing at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila July 20, 2004. Arroyo said the Filipino hostage freed by Iraqi militants on Tuesday was in high spirit and good health after talking to him by telephone from Baghdad.