Heading home for festival

Two migrant workers walk towards a long-distance bus station in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province Wednesday January 4, 2005. As the Spring Festival approaches, many Chinese take to the roads for family reunion. The traditional Chinese New Year falls on January 29 this year. (newsphoto)

Massacre-exposing Japanese author mourned in China

A resident of Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, presents flower to the photo of Azuma Shiro, in Nanjing, Jan. 4, 2005. Azuma Shiro, a member of the Japanese troops invading China in 1937, died in Kyoto, Japan, on Jan. 3, 2006 at the age of 93. His diaries taken down in 1937 disclose the truth of the Nanjing massacre committed by Japanese invading troops. Japanese troops killed 300,000 Chinese civilians and disarmed troops after they occupied Nanjing in 1937.

Afghan children living in miserable condition in camps

An Afghan child collects bricks in a refugee camp in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Jan. 4, 2006. The Human Rights Commission of Afghanistan has demanded the country's new parliament pay more attention to Afghan children's living condition.

EU welcomes Russia-Ukraine gas deal

Austrian Economy Minister Martin Bartenstein (L), whose country holds the EU rotating presidency, and EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs attend a press conference in Brussels, capital of Belgium, Jan. 4, 2006. They expressed welcome to the Russia-Ukraine agreement on resolving their gas dispute.

Giant panda couple for Taiwan to be unveiled Jan. 6

A giant panda holds a feeder's legs at the Chinese Giant Panda Protection Center in Wolong, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 4, 2006. China's State Forestry Administration said on Jan. 4 that the mainland would unveil a giant panda couple for Taiwan on Jan. 6. The Chinese mainland would present the selected pair of giant pandas to Taiwanese compatriots as a symbol of peace, unity and friendship.

Italy striker Cassano signs for Real Madrid

Italy striker Antonio Cassano is joining Real Madrid on a four and a half-year deal from Serie A club AS Roma, the Primera Liga side said on Tuesday. The 23-year-old Italian international will sign for the club until 2010 pending a medical examination which will be carried out on Wednesday.

At coal mine, initial joy turns to tears

Danielle Bennett (L) mourns for the death of her grandfather as her aunt Ann Meridith looks on at the Sago Coal Mine in Upshur County, West Virginia of the United States, Jan. 4, 2006. International Coal Group Chief Executive Officer Ben Hatfield told a press conference late Jan. 3 that only one miner survived an explosion in the Sago Mine, transforming joy into grief just hours after an incorrect report that 12 of the 13 trapped miners were still alive after the blast.