Pumpkin king in Zhejiang

A Chinese farmer carries a pumpkin that weighs more than 100 kilograms in Lufeng, East China's Zhejiang Province June 23, 2005. Each pumpkin that grows from specially bred seeds bought from the provincial agriculture academy weighs more than 50 kilograms. (newsphoto)

HK Chief Executive takes oath to Chinese Premier

Donald Tsang (L), takes an oath as the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) in Beijing at 9:00 a.m., June 24, 2005. Premier Wen issued the letter of appointment made by the Central Government to Donald Tsang.

2005 Int'l Forensic Science Equipment Exhibition and "S&T" Power Police Forum

American MR5 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Robot is shown at the 2005 International Forensic Science Equipment Exhibition and "S&T" Power Police Forum that opened in the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution on June 22, 2005.

Int'l conference on Iraq colsed

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (1st, L), US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (2nd, L), Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn (C), Iraqi Foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari (2nd, R) and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana attend a press conference at the end of the International Conference on Iraq, in Brussels, June 22, 2005.

CNOOC bids US$67 per share for merger with Unocal

Photo shows a 150,000 dwt floating, production, storage and off-loading (FPSO) vessel of the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Ltd.. The CNOOC, China's largest offshore oil and gas producer, announced on Thursday morning that it has decided to bid 67 US dollars a share for Unocal Corporation, a major US oil company.

Haier plans to acquire Maytag Corp.

A salesman displays air-conditioner of Haier Group, China's largest appliance maker, in a Staple chain shop in New York, US, June 22, 2005. It was reported Tuesday that Haier Group and two US equity giants jointly offered 1.28 billion US dollars for Maytag Corp., the No. 3 US appliance maker.

Brazil ties Japan 2-2 at 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup

Japan's Mitsuo Ogasawara (R) vies with Brazil's Ze Roberto during a Group B third round match of the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup in Cologne, Germany, June 22, 2005. Brazil beat Japan 2-2.

Flood peak passes Wuzhou safely

A soldier monitors the flood in the Xijiang River, on the west dyke of the river, a branch of the Pearl River, in Wuzhou, a city in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, June 23, 2005. Xijiang River's 26.75-meter flood peak, once in 100 years, passed Wuzhou safely at noon June 23.

Iran to hold presidential runoff June 24

Two Iranians view election posters for presidential candidate and former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in Tehran June 23, 2005. Iran will hold presidential runoff on June 24, with Rafsanjani and another presidential candidate, Tehran Mayor Mahmood Ahmadinejad vying for the presidency.

ROK, DPRK agree to enhance ties

South Korean Unification Minister and chief of the South Korean delegation Chung Dong-young (R) shakes hands with Kwon Ho Ung, senior cabinet councilor of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and head of the DPRK delegation, at a joint press conference after their meeting in Seoul, June 23, 2005.South Korea and DPRK reached 12 agreements on measures to enhance bilateral exchanges at the 15th Inter-Korean Ministerial Meeting.

G8 foreign ministers meeting opens in London

G8 foreign ministers and representatives and European Union (EU) officials pose in London June 23, 2005. The officials held a day-long meeting June 23 to discuss the Middle East issue and the nuclear issue of Iran, preparing for the G8 summit due early July.

Tokyo court rejects compensation for Chinese forced laborer

Liu Huanxin, son of late Chinese forced laborer in Japan Liu Lianren, holding his father's photo, walks with his lawyers to the Tokyo High Court in Tokyo, Japan, June 23, 2005. The Tokyo High Court on Thursday denied compensation to the family of the deceased forced laborer who escaped from a work site toward the close of World War II and hid in mountains for about 13 years unaware of the end of the war.