Tibetan relic renovation project enters key year

Tibetan religious adherents and tourists pay tribute to the Potala Palace. The renovation of the Potala Palace did not affect the visits by religious adherents and tourists. The government earmarked more than 330 million yuan into the renovation of three key cultural and historical sites - the Potala Palace, Norbulingka Park and Shajia Monastery in Tibet. The project started in June 2002 and by the end of 2004 one million-odd yuan has bee put into the project, 49 sub-projects (121 in total) have been completed. The year 2005 is very important in the five-year limit of the project. More than 100 million yuan will be put into it and 69 sub-projects will be started this year.

Clinton visits Youan Hospital in Beijing

Zhao Chunhui, chief of the You'an Hospital in Beijing, puts on an AIDS ribbon for Former US President Bill Clinton at an AIDS ward of the hospital in Beijing February 24, 2005. Clinton signed an agreement with the Chinese Health Ministry on Wednesday for the Clinton Foundation to provide about $70,000 worth of drugs to treat some 200 infected Chinese children. (newsphoto)

Tooth surgery for panda

Chinese veterinarians fill a decayed tooth of a 17-year-old giant panda at a giant panda breeding and research base in Chengdu, China February 24, 2005. The panda recovered after two hours of surgery, which is the first of its kind for a giant panda in the world. (newsphoto)

New Palestinian government sworn in

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei (R) is sworn in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Feb. 24, 2005. The new Palestinian cabinet headed by Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei was sworn in before leader Mahmoud Abbas (2nd L) and Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Rawhi Fatouh on Thursday.

President of the Republic of the Congo meets Chinese Vice Premier

Denis Sassou-Nguesso (1st R), president of the Republic of the Congo, meets with visiting Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan (1st L) in Brazzaville Feb. 24, 2005.

China witnesses new passenger flow peak

Passengers queue to buy train tickets in the Guiyang Railway Station in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, Feb. 24, 2005. The transport facilities in China have witnessed a new passenger flow peak following the Chinese traditional Spring Festival, or the lunar New Year, starting from Feb. 9.

Lifesaving robot displayed in Tokyo

The research institute of lifesaving systems of Japan displayed a lifesaving robot that is capable of moving in all directions in Tokyo Feb 24. Japan possesses leading disaster prevention technologies in the world. Its research and development of lifesaving robots is advanced too.

Palestinian parliament approves new cabinet

New Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Nabil Shaath leaves the meeting hall of a session of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) in the West Bank city of Ramallah Feb. 24, 2005. PLC overwhelmingly approved the list of a new cabinet submitted by Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei on Feb. 24. A total of 54 PLC members voted in favour of the list while 10 deputies voted against and four abstained.

2005 American International Toy Fair

An employee of a toy firm shows a toy made by a Chinese manufacturer at the 2005 American International Toy Fair in the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York. The annual fair was closed on Feb. 23 after showing off the latest toys from more than 1,500 exhibitors in the industry.

First school kidnap in Shanghai

The kidnapper (circled in red) is brought to a police wagon after being arrested in the Putuo District of Shanghai, east China. The police subdued the man who kidnapped a grade-one pupil at knife point in Jiangning School on Thursday. After being caught stealing in a nearby residential quarter, the kidnapper broke into the school and held the pupil as hostage Thursday morning.

Bush, Putin meet amid dispute over democracy

US President George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin opened a key summit meeting in the Slovak capital of Bratislava on Thursday.

Chinese volunteers to help reconstruction in tsunami-hit Thailand

Chinese college student volunteers (R) offer flowers to volunteers who will go to Thailand, at the departing ceremony in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 24, 2005. The 18 members of the Rescue Service Team of the Chinese Young Volunteers to Thailand will fly to Thailand on Feb. 25 to help tsunami survivors' reconstruction.