Iraqi oil pumping station attacked

Iraqi workers view the scene of eight burning pipelines, 40 km south of Basra, southern Iraq August 26, 2004. Saboteurs on Thursday attacked eight pipelines linking a main southern oilfield in Iraq to a pumping station near the city of Basra, an oil official said. [Reuters]

Chinese emigrants in Brazil commemorate Deng Xiaoping

Lei Bin (4th R), president of the Rio de Janeiro Chinese Association, delivers a speech at a symposium commemorating late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 24, 2004. Chinese emigrants from all circles in the city held this symposium on Tuesday in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Deng Xiaoping's birth which falls on August 22.

Expats living in Chongqing apply for "green card"

Peter Maclnnis (L), an American, applies for the permanent residence status in China at the Chongqing Public Security Bureau in Chongqing Municipality in southwest China Aug. 25, 2004. Peter Maclnnis, who has been living in Chongqing for six years, is one of the five foreigners living in Chongqing who applied for ¡°green card¡± on Wednesday. About 1,000 foreigners have maintained a long-term residence in Chongqing.

Russia investigates twin plane crashes

Russia's Emergencies Ministry personnel search through the debris of a Tupolev Tu-134 plane for victims at the plane crash site near Tula, some 150 km (93 miles) from Moscow, August 25, 2004. Volga-Aviaexpress, a small regional carrier which owned the Tu-134, said the crew did not report any problems onboard before the plane collapsed with 43 passengers and crew late Tuesday evening. Two Russian passenger planes crashed almost simultaneously late on Tuesday, killing all 89 people on board. The planes took off from the same Moscow airport and disappeared from air traffic controllers' radar screens within minutes of each other late on Tuesday. (Reuters)

Athens champion album - Aug. 25

Snapshots of gold medallists at the Athens Olympic Games on August 25 (totally 18 events).

Athena comes to central stadium

Athena, one of the two mascots of the Athens Olympic Games, plays as an athlete at the central stadium in Athens on August 24.

Thatcher's son arrested in S. Africa over coup plot

A file photo of Britain's former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher (R) and her son Mark in October 2003. South African police on Wednesday arrested the son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on suspicion of involvement in a coup attempt in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, police sources said. (Reuters Photo)

China's Yin Jian wins women's Mistral silver

The photo taken on Aug. 25 shows Chinese player Yin Jian at the medal ceremony of the Athens Olympic Games. Yin wins women's mistral silver on Aug. 25.

Oil futures trading in Shanghai

Xiao Rong (R) and Cao Hong (L), two traders of the Shanghai Futures Exchange, discuss an oil futures option August 25, 2004. With approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the futures exchange began to offer oil futures option trading on Wednesday. China is the second largest oil consumption country and the third largest oil importer in the world. (newsphoto)

Security tightened at airports in Russia after plane crash

A staff member of Domodedovo Airport checks the ticket and the documents of a passenger in Moscow, capital of Russia Aug. 25, 2004. The security has been strengthened at all of the airports in Russia after two Russian planes that took off at Moscow's Domodedovo airport crashed almost simultaneously late on Tuesday.

Oil price rises in Beijing

The photo taken on Aug. 25 shows a worker at the PetroChina gas station at Xuanwumen, Beijing is refueling a car. The price of gasoline and disel oil begin to rise on that day. Oil's retail price is allowed to fluctuate 8% on the basis of the government set price.

Bangladesh tightens security after grenade attack

Bangladeshi paramilitary soldiers patrol on a street in Dhaka to prevent riots Aug. 24, 2004. Supporters of an opposition party were hit in a grenade attack during a rally in central Dhaka Aug. 22, with 20 people killed and about 300 others injured.

Chinese Liu Xiang dashes into 110m hurdle semifinals

China's 21-year-old Liu Xiang stormed into the semifinals of the men's 110m hurdles, clocking 13.26 seconds, at the Olympic Games in Athens on August 25.