China's Antarctica expedition team arrives in Argentina

The polar expedition ship Xuelong (Snow Dragon) berths in the harbor of Ushuaia, southern Argentina, Jan. 7, 2005. Members of the Chinese Antarctica research team aboard Xuelong arrived here on Friday and were welcomed by Argentine local government officials and Chinese embassy officials. The Xuelong will stay in Ushuaia for three days for replenishment and then go back to Zhongshan (Dr. Sun Yat-sen) Station, one of the two stations China built on the continent in the 1980s.

Campaigns end, election kicks off in Palestine

Supporters shout slogans during a campaign rally for Palestinian presidential candidate Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank town of Bir Nabala, Jan. 7, 2005. Abbas, also chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, canceled on Friday a rally in East Jerusalem to protest against Israeli security forces presence in the places he was scheduled to visit, Palestinian sources said. Friday was the last day of the campaign for all the seven candidates who are racing for the post of the president for the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

Candlelight commemoration for tsunami victims in Bangladesh

People light up candles to commemorate victims of the tsunami disaster in Dacca, capital of Bangladesh, Jan. 7, 2005. People from all over the country took part in the candlelight condolence organized by civil organizations and institutions on Friday.