About 1,000 vehicles stranded in Qinling

An icicle extends to the road from a truck stranded on a highway in Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province in heavy snow and freezing temperature December 4, 2005. About 1,000 vehicles were stranded as their engines failed in a temperature 21 degrees below zero. Traffic police had to close the highway and attempted to rescue the stranded passengers, drivers and vehicles. (newsphoto)

Workers, farmers stage protest in Seoul

Riot police used buses to block protesters in Seoul on Dec 4. About 10,000 workers and farmers staged protest in Seoul, demanding the government to improve the working conditions for workers and expressing their dissatisfaction for the opening of the rice market.

Greek billionairess marries Brazilian equestrian

The file photo shows Athina Onassis (R) and Alvaro Affonso de Miranda. A grand wedding was held for Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis' granddaughter Athina Onassis and Brazilian equestrian Alvaro Affonso de Miranda on Dec. 3. The 20-year-old Athina Onassis is the sole heiress to Aristotle Onassis. Miranda, who won a bronze medal for Brazil in the 2004 games in Athens, is regarded as the best equestrian in Brazil. They met each other in Belgium in 2002.

Regional economic cooperation conference held in Kabul

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (M) stands together with officials who are present at the regional economic cooperation conference in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Dec. 4, 2005. A two-day regional economic conference was held in Kabul on Sunday. Officials from the six nations that share a border with Afghanistan -- China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Pakistan -- as well as some other nations attended the conference to discuss about economic cooperation in the area including energy, transportation, trade, investment and so on.

Chinese Premier arrives in Paris

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd R), accompanied by French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, reviews the honor guards at Orly Airport in Paris, France on Dec. 4, 2005. Wen arrived in France Sunday on the start of a four-day official visit.

Chinese girl wins viola competitions in Dombrovsky Music Festival

Judge of August Dombrovsky International Music Festival Juris Karsons (L) and Chinese player Kang Wenting, who ranked No. 1 in viola competitions, pose for a photo in Riga, capital of Latvia, Dec. 3, 2005. The 5th August Dombrovsky International Music Festival lowered the curtain on Dec. 3, 2005.

Kazakh presidential election

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev (R) looks on as his wife Sara Nazarbayeva casts her ballot at a polling station during presidential election in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, Dec. 4, 2005. Kazakh voters went to the polls on Sunday in the country's presidential election with many expecting Nazarbayev to win re-election.

Oil tanker fire in Changsha kills two

Firemen try to put out an oil tanker fire in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, Dec. 4, 2005. The fire killed two persons Sunday morning. Preliminary investigation showed that the fire was caused by improper use of certain equipment on the oil tanker with a carrying capacity of 500 tons, and further investigation was underway.

Hu calls for helping disabled people

Chinese president Hu Jintao met with the delegates of the Chinese Art Ensemble of the Handicapped (CAEH) in Beijing, Dec. 3, 2005, the International Day of Disabled Persons. During the meeting, he called on the entire society to respect, care for and help the disabled people.