Panda candidates sent to Taiwan shortlisted

Two giant pandas play at China Giant Panda Protection and Research Centre in Wolong National Natural Reserve, southwest China's Sichuan province. China's Taiwan Affairs Office on October 13, 2005 presented pictures and resumes of 11 pandas in the running to be sent as a gift to Taiwan. A list of 23 of the endangered animals was whittled down to 11 and the lucky winners, a boy and a girl, will be picked. (Newsphoto)

French fashion show in Tokyo, Japan

A model presents a creation of CARVEN, a French fashion brand, during a show held in Tokyo, capital of Japan, Oct. 13, 2005. CARVEN's works presented Thursday interpreted the integration of tradition and modernity.

Former British PM Thatcher turns 80

Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher celebrated her 80th birthday on Thursday at a party in London with Queen Elizabeth II, current Prime Minister Tony Blair and a host of other eminent well-wishers.

Chinese leaders congratulate staff at aerospace center on Shenzhou-VI

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) and other Chinese top leaders shake hands with staff at the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center Oct. 12, 2005, congratulating them on the successful launch of China's second manned spacecraft Shenzhou-VI.

Germany claims slender victory over China

Chinese football player Li Tie (F) heads the ball with his German rival in a friendly on Wednesday in the western city of Hamburg. Germany defeats China 1 - 0.

Top legislator inspects Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Wu Bangguo (L Front), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, talks with a student in an electronic reading room at the Agriculture University of China in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 13, 2005. Wu made an inspection tour at the university and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences on Oct. 13.

50 rebels killed in southern Russia clash

Russian Interior Ministry soldiers take up a position at the outskirts of Nalchik, southern Russia Thursday, Oct. 13, 2005 in this image taken from television. Militants launched simultaneous attacks on police and government buildings in one of the main cities in Russia's turbulent Caucasus region on Thursday, sparking battles involving heavy-arms fire and explosions that forced the evacuation of schools and left corpses lying in the streets. Chechen rebel forces took responsibility for the attack.

China donates $ 1 million to Pakistan

Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Zhang Chunxiang (R) handed a cash cheque of $ 1 million to a Pakistani official at a ceremony held in Islamabad Oct 13, 2005. Chinese government has announced to offer humanitarian aid worth $ 6.2 million to Pakistan and has flown four batches of relief materials and a rescue team of 49 members to the quake-hit regions in Pakistan following the breakout of the devastating earthquake on Oct 8, 2005.

Activities of Chinese astronauts onboard Shenzhou-6

Chinese astronaut Nie Haisheng reads a flight handbook in Shenzhou-6 spacecraft in this video grab obtained at the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 13, 2005. China successfully launched Shenzhou-6 spacecraft, the second of its kind, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China Oct. 12. (Xinhua Photo)

Touchdown drill in main landing field

Space workers open the door of a model of the Shenzhou VI return module in a touchdown drill in the main landing field in central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Thursday October 13, 2005. China's second manned spacecraft is scheduled to return to the Earth Monday after 119-hour flight. (Xinhua photo)

Quake victims struggle for relief materials in Pakistan

Quake victims struggle for relief materials in Balakot, one of the most severely quake-hit areas in northwestern Pakistan, Oct. 12, 2005. As most parts of the road from Mansehra to Balakot have been cleared, more and more assistance is pouring to the nearly disappeared city.

British playwright wins Nobel Prize in literature

The Swedish Academy announced Thursday that British playwright Harold Pinter won the 2005 Nobel Prize in literature. It said the 75-year-old Pinter, "who in his plays uncovers the precipice under everyday prattle and forces entry into oppression's closed rooms", is the foremost representative of drama in post-war Britain.