Explorers cross "no-man's land" for the first time

Exploration team member observes fossil of ancient life at the bank of Heishi River, Oct. 11, 2005. After 41 days' hardship, a scientific exploration team of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) arrived in Mangya town in Haixi Mongolian-Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province on Oct. 30, realizing mankind's first cross through the core area of Hoh Xil (Kekexili).

Car bomb kills at least 20 in Iraq's Basra

Iraqi fire-fighters work inside a damaged store after a car bomb explosion in Basra, Iraq October 31, 2005 . A car bomb exploded on Monday in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, killing at least 20, police said. (Xinhua photo)

Bush nominates Alito for Supreme Court

US President Bush (L), announces judge Samuel Alito as his Supreme Court justice nominee in the Cross Hall of the White House Monday, Oct. 31, 2005 in Washington.

Chinese team won women's gymnastics gold

A Chinese gymnast competes in the vaulting horse of the women's gymnastics team event final at the 4th East Asian Games in Macao, south China, Oct. 31, 2005.

Budapest International Vehicle Exhibition

A visitor sits in an ASTRA car at 2005 Budapest International Vehicle Exhibition in Budapest, capital of Hungary, Oct. 30, 2005. More than 200 entrepreneurs from eight countries such as Hungary, Germany and Russia took part in the exhibition held from Oct. 22 to 30 and showed passenger cars, cross-country vehicles, domestic cars, motorcycles, vehicle accessories, tyres, vehicle computers and so on.

New Party delegation begins "journey of the Chinese nation"

New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming, who heads a 26-member Taiwanese delegation, arrives at the Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 31, 2005. The delegation, named "journey of the Chinese nation", is scheduled to visit the province's capital of Shenyang, the harbor city Dalian and northeast China's iron and steel base Anshan, aiming at seeking economic cooperation opportunities with the enterprises and businessmen in the province.

Chinese rescue team offers treatment in Pakistan quake-hit region

Members of Chinese rescue team make diagnosis for a local patient at a village near Balacot, a quake-stricken area in Pakistan, Oct. 31, 2005.

Visa puts up world's one-millionth ATM machine in Beijing

Chief representative to China of visa international service association (VISA) Zhang Kaichun (L) unveils an ATM machine for VISA at the Forbidden City Museum in Beijing, capital of China, on Oct. 31, 2005. The ATM machine was the one-millionth ATM machine for VISA in the world which brought into use in Beijing on Oct. 31.

Chinese, Vietnamese leaders hold talks

Hu Jintao (C), general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and president of China shakes hands with Nong Duc Manh (R), general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong (L) during their meeting in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam Oct. 31, 2005.

China on alert against bird flu

A Chinese health worker vaccinates Monday a pigeon against bird flu in a house for pigeons hovering over the Quancheng Square each day in Ji'nan, East China's Shandong Province. China is on alert against the avian influenza. (Xinhua photo)