Belgian International Cultural Treasures Exposition

Visitors gaze at a goldfish bowl made in China during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng (from A.D.1723 to 1736) in the opening ceremony of the 50th Belgian International Cultural Treasures Exposition in Brussels, capital of Belgium, Jan. 20, 2005. The exposition lasts from Jan. 20 to Jan. 30. Antique dealers from France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Holland, Switzerland and other countries displayed the cultural relics they have collected worldwide in the showroom of 9,000 square meters on Thursday. The exposition started in 1920 is the oldest exposition of cultural relics in Europe.

Chinese expedition reaches the highest icecap peak in Antarctica

Snowmobiles of the Chinese expedition driving on Dome A Icecap, Antarctica (file photo Dec 28, 2004). A 13-man Chinese expedition surmounted the highest icecap peak in Antarctica at 3:16 a.m.(Beijing time) Tuesday, according to the polar expedition office of the State Oceanic Administration (SOA). They are the first humans to reach the peak of Dome A Icecap, 4,039 meters above sea level, 80:22:00 degrees south latitude and 77:21:11 degrees east longitude.

Eid al-Adha celebrated in Afghanistan

Afghan President Hamid Karzai(front) reviews the honor guard in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, on Jan. 20, 2005. Afghans are enjoying the Eid al-Adha, a traditional Islamic festival when Muslims sacrifice livestock to show their respect to God.

Year of Einstein opens in Germany

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the Year of Einstein in Berlin, capital of Germany, on Jan. 19, 2005. The Year of Einstein started on Wednesday in Germany to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Albert Einstein's passing away and the 100 anniversary of the General Theory of Relativity.

Special session on tsunami held at World Conference on Disaster Reduction

A Sri Lankan participant attends a special session on Indian Ocean tsunami disaster during the World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe of Japan on Jan. 20, 2005. The participants discussed issues related to relief operation and early tsunami warning system on Thursday.

Medical team back home, relief goods to Somalia, Kenya

Medical team members gesture to the people after arriving at Beijing Jan. 19, 2005. A 17-member Chinese medical team returned home Wednesday night after 16 days in tsunami-struck Sri Lanka.

Medal of peace conferred to Chinese peacekeeping riot police

Members of the Chinese peacekeeping riot police force patrolling near Port-au-Prince Airport in Port-au-Prince, capital of Haiti. (file photo). The United Nations has conferred the Medal of Peace on all members of the Chinese peacekeeping riot police force in Haiti for their outstanding performance in the crisis-torn country, a Chinese police officer told Xinhua Jan. 19, 2005.

Mini bus blast kills 12 in Xinjiang

The picture taken on Jan. 20, 2005 shows the wreckage of a bombed minibus near Kuytun City in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. A minibus exploded on its way from Karamay City to Usu City in the northern part of the autonomous region on Thursday. At least 12 people died in the explosion. The cause of the blast was under investigation.

Rescue of Chinese hostages underway

Yang Honglin, Chinese Ambassador to Iraq, calls by a mobile phone in order to rescue eight Chinese hostages kidnapped by Iraqi militants in Baghdad, capital of Iraq, Jan. 20, 2005. At present, Chinese Embassy in Iraq takes all possible means to rescue the Chinese civilians as soon as possible.

Chinese, Grenadian FMs sign communique to resume diplomatic ties

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing (R) shakes hands with his Grenadian counterpart Elvin Nimrod after signing a joint communique to resume diplomatic ties between the two countries, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 20, 2005.

Premier Wen Jiabao meets Canadian counterpart

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin during the welcome ceremony in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 20, 2005.

Bush sworn in for his second term

US President George W. Bush (L) is sworn in for his second term by Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist (back to camera) as he is joined by his wife US First Lady Laura Bush. (Xinhua)

Australian Open Heroes

Roger Federer, Amelie Mauresmo, Marat Safin, Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova advanced to the third round of Australian Openin Melbourne on Wednesday.