China claims AFC U-19 women title

China U-19 women's soccer international team lift the cup at Asian Championship Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur, after a 1-0 victory over rivals North Korea. Australia edged Japan 3-2 to place third.

Sixth Chinese Film Media Awards

Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Ka-fai (L) and Chinese actress Zhang Jingchu (R) celebrate at the sixth Chinese Film Media Awards in Hong Kong, April 17, 2006. Leung won the Best Actor award for his role in "Election," which also won for Best Film while Zhang won the Best Actress award for her role in "Peacock."

Gold price sets new record

Photo taken on April 18 shows a salesman shows a 1kg gold bar in Tokyo, capital of Japan. The future price of gold delivered in June reached as high as 619.30 US dollars an ounce at New York Mercantile Exchange on April 17, closing at 618.80 US dollars and setting a new high in the past 25 years, up 18.90 US dollars than that in the previous trading day.

China, Brazil sign natural gas pipeline contract

Zhang Yaocang (C), deputy general manager of Sinopec and Ildo Luis Sauer, gas and energy director of Petrobras (R) shake hands in Rio de Janeiro, April 17 after signing a 240-million-dollar cooperation pact for jointly constructing natural gas pipeline in the South American country.

Crude oil price surges to new high

Photo taken on April 17 show the crude oil price on a billboard in New York, US. The crude oil price hit new record on the New York Mercantile Exchange on April 17, closing at 70.40 US dollars a barrel for the fear of the continuing nuclear crisis in Iran and the sluggish prospect of oil supply. And the North Sea Brent Crude closed at 71.46 US dollars a barrel.

10th National Congress of CPV kicks off

The 10th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) kicks off in Hanoi April 18, 2006. 1,176 party members will elect new CPV Central Committee and the Political Bureau, define orientations for the country's socioeconomic development in the 2006-2010 period, and adopt the party's amended constitution.

Hu Jintao visits Microsoft headquarters

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) waves his hand during his visit to Microsoft headquarters in Seattle, Washington State on April 18, 2006.

Forest fire quenched in Yunnan

Chinese firefighters eat food after they are managing to extinguish a fire in southwest China's Yunnan Province April 18, 2005. Up to 500 firefighters spent six days quenching the forest fire.

A-million-year-old ice

Hideaki Motoyama, project leader of the National Institute of Polar Research, holds a million-year-old ice sample in Tokyo April 18, 2006. A million-year-old ice sample drilled from 3 kilometres under the Antarctic and unveiled in Tokyo on Tuesday could yield vital clues on climate change.

2006 Chinese Film Festival inaugurated in Washington

Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi is present at a news conference as the 2006 Chinese Film Festival is inaugurated in Washington, capital of US, April 17, 2006. Seven Chinese films, including Ke Ke Xi Li, House of Flying Daggers and Beauty Remains, will be showed during the week-long film festival.

Army Day military parade in Tehran

Iranian honor guards prepare to march during the Army Day military parade in Tehran, capital of Iran, April 18, 2006. The Iranian army will "cut off the hand of any aggressor," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned Tuesday during the military parade commemorating the Army Day.

Chinese president arrives in US for state visit

Two American girls in traditional Chinese clothes present flowers to Chinese President Hu Jintao and his wife Liu Yongqing in the airport of Seattle, Washington State on April 18, 2006. Hu Jintao arrived in Seattle on Tuesday, kicking off his first state visit to the United States.