Home-made Benz cars make debut in Beijing

High-ranking officials with Beijing Benz-Daimler-Chrysler attended the inauguration ceremony for home-made Benz cars in Longsheng Industrial Park, Beijing Economic-Development Area and announced that the first batch home-made Mercedes-Benz E class cars have been put into market on Dec. 22.

WHO expert visits the first Chinese infected with bird flu

Dr. Shigeru Omi (L), WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific gives He Junyao a gift on behalf of the WHO on Dec 22. The first one infected with bird flu in China, He Junyao, who was discharged from hospital one month ago, is now healthy and lives a normal life. Every day he goes to school with fellow children. Dr. Shigeru Omi went to the Wantang Village, Xiangtan County, Hunan Province to He that day. He gave positive comments to the medical staff in Hunan and summed up experiences in treating human bird flu case along with them. The experts reached a consensus that human bird flu is preventable, controllable and curable.

Fossil human footprints from Ice Age found

In this photo released by the Environment Ministry, footprints believed to be made by adults, adolescents and children are shown in the Willandra Lakes district in western New South Wales of Australia Dec. 14. Hundreds of human footprints dating back to the last Ice Age have been found in the remote Australian Outback, an official and media reported Dec. 22. (Xinhua/AFP)

Serving Taiwan passengers in traditional attire

China Eastern Airlines flight attendants pose in new uniforms at the Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai December 22, 2005. They are scheduled to serve,in the traditional Chinese attire, the direct charter flights between Shanghai and Taiwan cities during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua)

Concert marks Tibetan singer's 50th anniversary of career

Cedain Zhoima, 68, famous Tibetan folk song singer, performs during a concert in Lhasa. A concert is held Dec. 22, 2005 to mark the 50th anniversary for her career as a singer in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

NYC transit strike enters second day

Students make their way by riding a bike, going skate or walking on foot in the Fifth Avenue of Manhattan in New York, the United States, Dec. 21, 2005. The transit strike has come to its second day, bringing big inconvenience to commuters and disturbing the normal life of New Yorkers. As the transit strike occurred in Christmas season, the New York City has seen a loss of over 400 million US dollars on the first day of the strike. Harder economic blow is expected to hit the city if the strike continues.

Christmas is coming

A South African girl takes a photo with Santa Claus at a shopping center in Johannesburg of South Africa, on Dec. 21, 2005. South Africans greet the Christmas in the hot summer days.

China and Cuba explore socialist development

Luo Gan (L), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, shakes hands with Cuban leader Fidel Castro during his visit in Havana, Dec. 20, 2005. Luo began his goodwill visit to Cuba Sunday afternoon at the invitation of the Communist Party of Cuba.

China's snooker prodigy back home

Ding Junhui, China's snooker prodigy, is back home to a warm welcome after his historical triumph at the prestigious UK championships. He received a warm welcome by sports officials and sponsors when he arrived at the Beijing International Airport Thursday morning.