Chinese athletes return home

Chinese gymnasts pose for a photo upon arriving in Beijing after the Olympic Games August 31, 2004. China's Olympic athletes, who won a record 32 gold medals in Athens, arrived on Tuesday to a hero's welcome from dozens of dancers, drummers, a brass band and throngs of wellwishers. More than 200 members of the 407-strong Chinese Olympic team were met at Beijing Capital International Airport by families and friends and spectators waving flags, flowers and banners.

Fire accident in a market in Taiyuan

Firemen rush to the site of a fire at a wholesale market of small commodities in Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 30, 2004. The market was on fire Monday, with no casualties reported.

"Children First" in Tibet

Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund Carol Bellamy is teaching a Tibetan pupil to study English on Aug 30. Ms. Bellamy is on a study tour in Tibet that day. Under the principle "putting children first", the United Nations Children's Fund has provided free aids to 150 developing countries and regions. By using free aids of US$ 300 million it provided, China has founded 150 projects related to health care, education, and healing of the handicapped children .

Okada Katsuya reelected president of the Democratic Party of Japan

File photo taken on July 12, 2004 shows a debate, prior to the Senate election, between Okada Katsuya (R), president of the Democratic Party of Japan, and Koizumi Junichiro, president of the Liberal Democratic Party and Japanese prime minister. As the sole candidate for Japan's major opposition party, Okada Katsuya was reelected without voting on Aug. 30, 2004. His term will end in Sept. 2006.

US Republican Convention opens

The Republican National Convention opens at Madison Square Garden in New York City Aug. 30, 2004. The four-day convention is expected to nominate the incumbent President George W. Bush to run for a second term in November's US presidential election.

Premier Wen on inspection tour in Zhejiang

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (3rd R) inspects a factory in east China's Zhejiang Province Aug. 27, 2004. Wen Jiabao inspected rural areas and enterprises in Zhejiang Province on Aug. 27-29.

Beijing Great Wall Marathon 2004 held

The photo taken on Aug 30 shows American player Nina in the Beijing Great Wall Marathon 2004. The Marathon is held at the Jinshanling Great Wall, Beijing on Aug 30. A total of 70 players from the US, Germany and UK take part in the game.

Chinese colors at closing ceremony of Athens Olympic Games

A group of Chinese girls play traditional Chinese folk musics at the closing ceremony of the Athens Olympic Games on Aug 29.

Car bomb explosion in Kabul

Afghan policemen maintain order at a car bomb explosion site in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Aug. 29, 2004. The death toll of a deadly blast, which occurred at 5:45 pm local time on Sunday near a US security firm, has risen to 10 as local hospitals confirmed receiving five bodies of the victims.

Jiang urges further improving military equipment

Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Jiang Zemin (4th L F) and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Hu Jintao (5th L F) meet with military staff in Beijing Aug. 30, 2004.