Live 8 rocks globe calling for helping the poor

In Hyde Park in London, the heart of the Live 8 music spectacle, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan says: "This is really a United Nations. The whole world has come together in solidarity with the poor."The unprecedented Live 8 extravaganza gathered more than 1 million people worldwide on Saturday and delivered a clear message to the world's richest countries to pay more attention to the poor in Africa.From London to Moscow, from Berlin to Tokyo and Rome to Barrie,Canada, musicians and fans sang and danced through a global marathon music festival to raise awareness of African poverty before the Group of Eight summit takes place in Scotland next week. Xinhua/AFP

Venus Williams wins Wimbledon women's singles title for third time

Venus Williams holds onto her trophy after defeating Lindsay Davenport to win the Women's Singles final on the Centre Court at Wimbledon, Saturday July 2, 2005. AP/Chinadaily

Suicide bombings in Iraqi cities kill 26

A masked Iraqi soldier arrives at the scene of an attack after a parked car bomb exploded near a police station in the New Baghdad section of Baghdad, Iraq, wounding two policemen and four civilians Saturday, July 2, 2005. Chinadaily/AP

First express train from Yan'an to Beijing

The first express train from Yan'an to Beijing T46 sets out its maiden trip from Yan'an station on July 1. It is scheduled to arrive in Beijing West Railway Station after a trip of 16 hours and 38 minutes. The photo shows a young waist-drum performer takes photo beside the train.

East Asia Investment Forum 2005 inaugurated in Shandong

Gu Xiulian, Vice-Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) and president of the China-ASEAN Association, addresses the opening ceremony of the East Asia Investment Forum on July 2 in Weihai, Shandong Province. Gu says nearly all East Asian countries enjoy a favorable balance in trade with China, a huge market and an engine for the region. She sees the investment cooperation as the new driver for East Asia's economy and the region is the first choice for Chinese investors for their overseas presence. The Forum is jointly sponsored by China Foreign Affair University, China Development Bank and Shandong Government.

China, Thailand to strenghten strategic co-op

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told his Thai counterpart Thaksin Shinawatra on July 1 in Beijing that China wants to take the 30th founding anniversary of China-Thailand ties as an opportunity to strengthen its strategic cooperation with Thailand. Xinhua

Miss Tourism Queen International competition in Hangzhou

Winner of 2005 International Miss Tourism, Miss Greece, Nikoletta Ralli (C), takes a photo with second-placed Miss China, Sun Jia (2nd-L); third-placed Miss Estonia, Laura Korgemae (2nd-R); fourth-placed Miss Poland, Rozalia Mancewicz (L); and fifth-placed Miss Zambia, Mofya Nickoleta Chisenga (R); during the Miss Tourism Queen International competition in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, July 2, 2005. Seventy-one international contestants competed for the crown.Xinhua/Chinadaily