Finals of 2005 Top Model of the World Pageants to be held in China

Chinese contestant Sun Na (C), final winner of 2004 Top Model of the World Pageants, is with the 2005 region winners of this pageant from Germany, Finland and Russia on July 5. World Beauty Organization (WBO) announced on that day in Beijing that 2005 Top Model of the World Pageants will be held in Humen Town of Dongguan in south China's Guangdong Province in the middle of November.

Former Tibetan serf enjoys new life

Kalsang Dondrub (L) and his eldest daughter (R) talk with a guest from the county. 75-year-old Kalsang Dondrub in Gyangze County of Xigaze area in China's Tibet Autonomous Region used to be a serf in a manor in his early years. Now his eight-member family has 37 mu (15 mu equals one hectare) of farmland, planted on which are highland barley, rape, wheat, pea, and purple-skin garlic and vegetables popular on Tibetan market.

Taiwan media focus on giant panda

A giant panda is passing the summer well at ease at Fuzhou Panda Research Center in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, July 5, 2005. A Taiwan TV station was filming panda's summer life there on that day. Recently, giant panda has become a hot topic among people in Taiwan.

China launches experimental satellite

China launched an experimental satellite into orbit from Jiuquan launch center in northwest China's Gansu Province July 6, 2005. The scientific experimental satellite, Shijian VII, was successfully lifted into space by a Long March IID rocket carrier at 6:40am. (Xinhua)

Hot dog eating contest in New York

Takeru Kobayashi(C) competes in Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island in New York July 4, 2005. Kobayashi won the game for the fifth consecutive year by eating 49 hot dogs in 12 minutes, his record is 53.5 in 12 minutes.

Poisonous wild fodder pose threat to herds in Inner Mongolia

You Hongling, a herdswoman examines one of her goats that is poisoned by addictive herbs in Alxa Zuoqi, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, July 4, 2005. Over 200,000 herds in the area are threatened by poisonous wild fodders and more than 1000 have died of the herbs since April 2005.

Fifth SCO summit meeting held in Astana

Chinese President Hu Jintao addresses the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, July 5, 2005.

Bahrain's charge d'affaires to Iraq wounded by gunmen

A policeman reloads a cartridge clip outside the Bahraini Embassy to Iraq in western Baghdad July 5, 2005. Hassan al-Ansari, Bahrain's charge d'affaires to Iraq, was wounded in a shooting by gunmen on his way to office. The incident was the second targeting foreign diplomats after militants kidnapped Egypt's designated ambassador to Iraq Ihab al-Sharif July 2 in western Baghdad.

4 female employees of Baghdad Airport killed in militants' attack

A man points at the bloodstain left on a wheel of a minibus in a shooting attack by militants at a hospital in Baghdad, capital of Iraq, July 5, 2005. The militants opened fire at the vehicle carrying seven female employees of Baghdad Airport on the highway leading to the airport July 5, leaving four of the women dead and the three others wounded.

Fireworks display on the U.S. Independence Day

Fireworks explode above a river in Washington, the United States, on July 4, 2005. Tens of thousands of people gathered here on Monday to watch fireworks as a way of celebrating the Independence Day.

Japan passes postal reform bills

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (3rd L) gestures to the supporters after Japan's House of Representatives passes the postal reform bills during its plenary session in Tokyo July 5, 2005. The bills to privatize the country's postal services was narrowly approved by 233 votes to 228.

117th IOC session held in Singapore

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), addresses the opening ceremony of the 117th IOC session held at the Esplanade Theater in Singapore July 5, 2005. IOC members will elect the host city of the 2012 summer Olympic Games on July 6 among competing candidates Paris, London, Madrid, New York and Moscow.