China's first modern slideway car system goes into service

Through a vacant trial test for almost five months, China's first modern slideway car system formerly went into service in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA) on Thursday.

Qianmen Street seals up for renovation

BEIJING, May 9 - A major renovation project on the historic Qianmen Street, south of the magnificent Tian'anmen Square at the heart of Beijing, was launched on Wednesday. With its completion, the architectural styles in an era from the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic of China around the early 20th century will be restored to the Qianmen Street, which is expected to be a full-featured Pedestrian street with a combination of traditions and modernity.

First foreign corporative bank settles in Beijing

HSBC (China) saw the formal establishment of its new sub-branch-Beijing Winland International Finance Centre Sub-branch-at Beijing's Finance Street, May 10. This is the first foreign corporative bank entering the street after local registration. The new sub-branch is ready for first customers.

Critically endangered birds soar again

Chinese Crested Terns are seen flying over a wetland along the Minjiang River in Fuzhou, Southeast China's Fujian Province, May 9, 2007. The Chinese Crested Tern is a critically endangered seabird with a reported population of no more than 100.

Shanghai Int'l Science & Arts Exhibition

A visitor watches statues featuring periodic table of chemical elements at the 2007 Shanghai International Science and Arts Exhibition, May 10, 2007. More than 70 works from eleven countries will be shown at the exhibition that opened on Thursday.

Shaolin Kong-fu performances attract visitors

Shaolin martial monks practise Kong-fu on a wall of embossments depicting martial arts moves at the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, central China's Henan Province, May 10, 2007.

Farmer's strange bird

A farmer displays a Northern Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo), an endangered bird under the State's second-grade protection facing extinction in Zaozhuang, East China's Shandong Province May 10, 2007. (newsphoto)

Village explosion kills 4 in north China

A partially collapsed student domitory is shown after an explosion rips through a village in Pingshan, North China's Hebei Province May 9, 2007. Four were killed with 11 injured. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. (newsphoto)

Sculpture "Paris Hilton Autopsy" displayed in NY

The sculpture 'Paris Hilton Autopsy' by sculptor Daniel Edwards is seen at the Capla Kesting Fine Art studio in the Brooklyn borough of New York May 9, 2007. The sculpture will be on exhibit to the public May 11 through May 30 at the gallery in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn.

"Gundam Fix Platinum" unveiled

An employee of Ginza Tanaka presents the "Gundam Fix Platinum" at its unveiling ceremony in Tokyo May 10, 2007. Japanese jewellery maker Ginza Tanaka and toy maker Bandai Co. Ltd on Thursday unveiled a miniature of Japan's famous robot animation character "Gundam" made of 1,400 grams (45 oz) of pure platinum at about 130mm (5 inches) tall.

Members of Yemen's counter-terrorism force

Female members of Yemen's counter-terrorism force stand at attention at their barracks in Sanaa May 9, 2007. Women entered the force for the first time last year and have helped capture fugitives who tried to disguise themselves as women.

Sarkozy officially proclaimed French president

France's incumbent President Jacques Chirac escorts newly-elected President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) as he leaves the Elysee Palace after a join meeting with Lebanon's parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri in Paris May 10, 2007. Nicolas Sarkozy was officially proclaimed president of France on Thursday by Jean-Louis Debre, the president of French constitutional council, according to official sources.

Chinese Premier meets Greek FM

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R, front) talks with Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis (L, front) in Beijing, capital of China, May 10, 2007.

Blair to step down as British prime minister in June

Britain's Prime Minister Blair departs from Trimdon Labour Club in Trimdon, northeast England May 10, 2007. Tony Blair announced Thursday that he will step down as Labour Party leader and quit his job as British prime minister on June 27.