Breakthrough made in chicken genome research

The Nature issued three thematic scientific papers on Dec. 9, illustrating the major achievements the Beijing Genome Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences has made in polymorphous research on jungle fowl and chicken genomes.

Fireworks blast in Changsha, 20 injured

Fireworks stored in a freight car blast near the railway station of Changsha, capital of Central China' Hunan Province on December 10, 2004. A total of 20 people injured, 2 of them in critical condition. The fire has now brought into control. (Xinhua)

Australian swimmers take part in China's national championship

Australian Swimmers gesture to journalists before the National Swimming Championship in Tangshan, a city of north China's Hebei Province Dec. 9, 2004. Fifteen swimmers from Australia will compete with Chinese counterparts at the National Swimming Championship which will be held from Dec. 10 to Dec. 15 in Tangshan.

Foreign experts receive "Great Wall Friendship Award"

Wang Qishan (L), Mayor of Beijing presents award to President of Siemens China Behrens. The Beijing municipal government present "Great Wall Friendship Award" to 18 foreign experts for their outstanding contribution to the constructon of the capital on Dec 9th. Founded in 1999, the award is Beijing's highest award for foreign experts. A total of 81 foreign experts have won the award so far.

Qinghai-Tibet Railway enters last town towards Lhasa

Rail is layed at Gulu Town in Nagqu, county of west China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Dec. 8, 2004. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway extended its way into Gulu Town, the last stop before it reaches Lhasa, on Wednesday afternoon. Gulu Town is only 217 km away from Lhasa, and construction is proceeding as scheduled, according to sources from the railway construction headquarters.

China's income of tourism industry to reach 600 billion yuan

Visitors walk through the Palace Museum, the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties in ancient China, in Beijing, Dec. 9, 2004. The latest statistics show that the overseas visitors to China will be expected to reach 105 million in 2004 and the gross income of tourism industry will reach 600 billion yuan (72.6 billion US dollars) . China is becoming one of the most attractive tourism destinations in the world.

Japan, Germany agree to cooperate on UN reform

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at a press conference held in Tokyo, Dec. 09, 2004. Japan and Germany are actively pushing ahead with UN reforms, aiming at obtaining permanent membership in the Security Council.

Rumsfield, Indian leaders to talk on defense cooperation

Visiting U.S Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld (L) meets with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi, capital of India, on Dec. 9, 2004. Rumsfeld said on Thursday that the United States is keen on strengthening its growing defense ties with India.

Linda B. Buck, the only female Nobel laureate

American scientist and Nobel Prize laureate Linda B. Buck poses in front of the statue of Alfred Bernhard Nobel at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, capital of Sweden, Dec. 7, 2004. Buck, together with her compatriot Richard Axel, won the 2004 Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine for their work on the sense of smell. As the only female laureate in scientific fields this year, Buck attracted particular attention from the media and the public in Stockholm.

Yang Liwei confered Doctor of Science by CUHK

Yang Liwei (front), the first Chinese astronaut to go into space, is confered honorary Doctor of Science by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Dec. 9, 2004.

Premier Wen meets with Dutch Queen Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard

Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with Dutch Queen Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard in The Hague, Holland, on Dec.9, 2004.

Chinese Premier addresses China-EU industrial & commercial summit

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivers an important speech at the China-EU industrial and commercial summit in The Hague, on Dec. 9, 2004.