Glorious progress of PLA Air Force in 55 years

Under the care of the CPC central committee, the People's Liberation Army Air Force has undergone a glorious progress since it was founded in 1949. The PLA Air Force is now a modern army service comprising aviator, antiaircraft artillery troops, surface to air missile troops, airborne forces, radar and telecommunication guarantee. With considerable capability of long-range combat, high-speed maneuver, and combat in air and to land, the air force plays a vital role in defending the territorial sky of China.

Yasser Arafat, life of a Palestinian fighter

Arafat celebrates Christmas in his office in Ramallah on Dec. 24, 2001. He could not go to the Christmas Celebration in Bethlehem since 2001 due to the Israeli siege. (File Photo)

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat dies at 75

Holding a bunch of flowers and a flag, a supporter of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat waits outside the Percy military hospital in Paris, France, Nov. 3, 2004. Supporters have come to the hospital to show their good wishes to the Palestinian leader since his arrival.

FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship opens in Chiang Mai

Chinese girl Xu Yuan (No.9) is striving hard for the ball with her Nigerian opponent in the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship in Chiang Mai, Thailand on Nov. 10,2004. China beat Nigeria 1-0 in the opening-day match of the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship.

Potala Palace gets makeover

A bull-dozer removes debris of demolished buildings near the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, to make way for expansion of the square in front of the palace. The project, initiated by the Tibet Autonomous Region government, paves the way on a beautification plan for the palace to increase tourism.

China's Archaic Bronze Exhibition opens in Buenos Aires

Li Bing (L), vice director of the Information Office of China's State Council, addresses the opening ceremony of China's Archaic Bronze Exhibition in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, on Nov. 9, 2004. A total of 100 original bronze articles from Shanghai Museum were displayed on Tuesday, ranging from weapons, musical instruments to daily utensils. The exhibition, the first of its kind in such scale in Latin America, will last until Nov. 22.

Chinese ambassador to Iraq meets Iraqi Deputy PM

Yang Honglin (L), Chinese ambassador to Iraq, meets with Barham Salih, deputy Prime Minister for security affairs of Iraq, in Baghdad, Iraq, Nov. 7, 2004.

Stock index ups in Shanghai

A shareholder smiles at the Huaxia Stock Exchange in Shanghai, Nov.10, 2004. The Composite Stock Index on the Shanghai Stock Exchange closed at 1,354.39 points on Wednesday, up 46.96 points, or 3.59 percent to the previous close. The turnover was 14.179 billion yuan (1.7145 billion US dollors).

Family members of Allawi kidnapped

Allawi is seen in this Nov. 8, 2004, file photo£¬briefing reporters on Falluja during a press conference in Baghdad. Three members of Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's family were kidnapped by gunmen on No.9, a spokesman for the Iraqi interim government said on Nov. 10, 2004.

China to boost ties with Hungary

Jia Qinglin shakes hands with Vice President Mandur Laszlo of the National Assembly of Hungary.

Arafat still alive but burial arranged

Tayssir el-Tamimi, head of Islamic courts in the Palestinian territories, tells reporters that Yasser Arafat is alive after seeing him outside the Percy Military Hospital near Paris on Nov.10. Palestinian FM Nabil Shaath said on Nov. 10 that Arafat's brain is working partially due to hemorrhaging, and all his organs except for heart and lungs are not functioning well. A Palestinian delegation is to make final arrangements for funeral in Egypt.