Cassini spacecraft sends back photo of Saturn

NASA released on July 19 a photo of Saturn sent from the Cassini spacecraft. The photo of Saturn was shot by camera on the Cassini spacecraft from 1.4 mln kilometers away on June 10, 2005.

Tibetan folk dances and songs staged in Hong Kong

Artists with the Tibet Autonomous Region Song and Dance Troupe are performing dances and songs with Tibetan traditional costumes "Propitious Motherland" on July 20 in Hong Kong. The Tibetan folk dances and songs "Mysterious Tibet" premiered in Hong Kong to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Through classical dances, traditional folk songs and folk music, the performance displays culture, religion, history and custom of Tibetan people. The performances won thunderous applauses from the audiences.

Relative of Minnie Vautrin shows evidence of Nanjing Massacre

Grandniece of Minnie Vautrin, Cindy Vautrin (L) and her daughter show the passport of Minnie Vautrin at the Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre on July 20, 2005. Cindy Vautrin displays more than 100 pieces of historic reference about the Nanjing Massacre, which have been kept in her home for 60 years. Minnie Vautrin was an American teacher who taught at the Ginling College for Women in Nanking from 1919 to 1940. During the Nanjing Massacre, Minnie Vautrin, along with 20 westerners tried their best to help and save local refugees. They protected more than 10, 000 children and women.

Fantastic Liushui ancient tombs unearthed in Kunlun Mountains, Xinjiang

With peculiar burying way of one on top of anther, fantastic funerary objects and its unique cultural phenomenon, the earliest relics of ancient people's life deep in Kunlun Mountains, Liushui tombs are under excavation now. The bewildering Liushui culture will be exposed to the public gradually.

3 London bombing suspects used to lead quiet life in Leeds

On Thursday, July 7, 2005, a series of bomb attacks during morning rush hours shocked London's public transport system. Three out of four suicide bombers have been identified as Mohammed Sidique Khan (L), Hasib Hussain (C) and Shahzad Tanweer.

Real Madrid in Beijing once again

British football sensation David Beckham receives warm welcome at Xianghe town in eastern Beijing. Real Madrid kicked off a four-day tour to China on Wednesday and will face Beijing Guo'an in a friendly match in Beijing.

China's GDP grows by 9.5% in first half of year

A woman (R) chooses gold bracelets at a jewelry shop in Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxin Province, on July 20, 2005. China's GDP grew by 9.5 percent to 6.7422 trillion yuan (8,123 billion US dollars) in the first half of 2005, while industrial production grew by 16.4 percent and consumer price index rose 2.3 percent, according to sources with the National Bureau of Statistics.

Chinese President meets ICRC president

Chinese President Hu Jintao is shaking hands with visiting Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Three Gorges Project develops industrial tourism

Tourists in folk costume of Tujia ethnic minority have photos taken on the Three Gorges Dam, July 13, 2005. While tourism in the Three Gorges has been in recession, industrial tourism in the Three Gorges Dam stands prosperous.

Beauties show national costumes at Mt. Huangshan

Beauties in national costumes from around the world greet travelers at Huangshan Mountain, a well-known tourism attraction in Anhui Province on July 18, 2005. These ladies who participate in the run-off for the 34th Miss Intercontinental 2005 show world's national costumes at the Greeting Pine in Huangshan Mountain.

Premium income reached nearly 271 billion yuan from Jan.to June

Two ladies pass by ads billboards of an insurance company by bike. Figures released by China Insurance Regulatory Commission most recently show that the country's insurance sector managed a 14.2 year-on-year percent increase in their premium income which reached 270.9 billion yuan for the first half of the year.

Oriental white storks spotted in Jiangxi

An oriental white stork stands atop its nest on an electric power tower in Jinxian County of east China's Jiangxi Province July 19, 2005. This oriental white stork family with five members was surprisingly found recently in Jiangxi as it's rare for such kind of migratory bird to stay somewhere. The oriental white storks usually migrate in November from Russia and northeast China to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River every year to spend winter and go back in next spring.

Nelson Mandela marks his 87th birthday

Former U.S. president Bill Clinton (L) and former South African president Nelson Mandela attends a function to celebrate Mandela's birthday in Johannesburg, July 19, 2005. Mandela, who turned 87 on July 18, was attending the Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture.

Chinese first cliff diver Di Huanran

Chinese diver Di Huanran dives into the water during his cliff diving show from Diaoshuilou Chute in the Jingbo Lake in Mudanjiang, city of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province July 14, 2005. Di, 48, praised as Chinese first cliff diver, tried this event over 20 years ago.

Underwater fashion show

South Korean models wearing swimwear pose at an aquarium during a fashion show in Seoul July 19, 2005. A sports wear company's promotional drive to target this summer's season was held at a large fish globe of an aquarium.

Typhoon Haitang causes huge losses to Wenzhou

An expressway sign, uprooted by typhoon Haitang, lies on the flooded road in Pingyang County, Zhejiang Province July 20, 2005. The typhoon landed on the coastal areas Tuesday evening and forced an evacuation of more than 1 million people. Wenzhou officials said one people was confrimed dead and more than 3 million people were affected in the typhoon, which caused huge economic losses, totalling 2.16 billion to Wenzhou. The areas hit by Haitang are now busy cleaning up. (newsphoto)