Blast in southern Russia kills ten soldiers

Investigators work near a police truck destroyed by the explosion which occurred outside a public baths in Dagestan's capital Makhachkala, 01 July 2005. Ten interior ministry soldiers died and seven were injured in an explosion Friday in southern Russia's volatile Dagestan republic, the deputy prosecutor for Dagestan said.

Chinese, Russian Presidents hold talks

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, July 1, 2005. Hu arrived here on Thursday for a four-day state visit.

Parade celebrating HK's return to motherland

Hong Kong residents wave national flags and the flags of the HKSAR during a grand parade to celebrate the 8th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), July 1, 2005. With the theme of "creating harmonious society and promoting economic development," the parade was attended by some 30,000 people on Friday.

Three Gorges Dam opens to tourists

Tourists enjoy the view atop the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province, July 1, 2005. The Three Gorges Dam, 185 meters high, opened to the first group of tourists on Friday. The open period will be from July to September each year, with a reception capacity of no more than 1,000 tourists per day at the beginning.

Schroeder lost the parliamentary confidence vote

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder addresses the Bundestag lower house of parliament prior a no-confidence vote against him, 01 July 2005 in Berlin. Schroeder lost the parliamentary confidence vote he engineered, raising the prospect of early elections and a widely predicted change in government. In a speech before the confidence vote, embattled Schroeder said his painful economic reform drive had cost him crucial support that he now hoped to regain.

Chinese President meets chairman of Russian State Duma

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) meets with Boris Gryzlov, chairman of Russian State Duma, in Moscow, Russia, July 1, 2005. Hu arrived here on Thursday for a four-day state visit.

Chinese vice premier meets Thaksin

Huang Ju (R), Chinese Vice Premier and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with visiting Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, July 1, 2005.