Election in Afghanistan celebrated

Afghan election worker sorts ballot boxes from different districts at a ballot counting centre in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Oct. 10, 2004. Ballot boxes from polling stations around the country were being moved to eight counting centres Sunday, a day after the first-ever presidential election in post-war Afghanistan. A full count is supposed to take 2-3 weeks.

Rumsfeld visits US air base in Iraq

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (R) met the soldiers of ground force of US marine at al-Asad air base near Jaditha, in Ambar province northwest to Baghdad, on October 10. It is the sixth time for Rumsfeld to visit Iraq but the first time to Iraq's largest Ambar province, which is part of Iraqi Sunni Triangle and a major anti-US stronghold.

Veteran women's timber soldiers commemorate WWII victory

Female veterans who were once soldiers of the British Women's Land Army Timber Corps during World War II stand together in a gathering in London, capital of Britain, Oct. 9, 2004. The female veterans gathered in London on Saturday in order to commemorate the old and glorious days. During World War II, more than 4,900 young British women joined the Women's Land Army Timber Corps. They provided needy timbers to the front and made contribution to the victory of the war.

Australian navy visits China for joint exercise

Australian frigate Anaza arrived in Qingdao, a port city in east China's Shandong province, October 10 for a five-day goodwill visit. Australian navy will conduct a marine search-and-rescue exercise with the Chinese counterpart in China's open waters.

Chinese soldiers in Liberia have drill for emergency

Armed Chinese peacekeeping soldiers to Liberia launch a drill in Zwedru, Liberia, Oct. 9, 2004. The engineering team of Chinese peacekeeping soldiers launched a drill Saturday morning, one of the recent 20 tactic exercises aiming to enhance their ability of self-defense and handling emergencies. The security situations in Liberia remain severe due to unfavorable DDRR (Disarm, Demobilize, Reintegrate and Repatriate) procedures, faction fights, and tribe collisions in the adjacent areas to Guinea and Cote Divoire.

Tape of Bigley decapitation on web

A video grab image taken from an undated video posted on the internet, October 10, 2004, shows what appears to be British hostage Kenneth Bigley with a group of masked men at an unknown location, one of whom is approaching Bigley from behind with a knife.(Reuters photo)

France has culture center in Beijing

Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres (C), French minister of culture and communication, speaks during the opening ceremony of the French Culture Center in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 10, 2004.

Chinese, French fencers show in culture festival

China's Wang Haibin (R) and France's Brice Guyart compete during a contest in the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, Oct. 10, 2004. As an important activity in the Year of France in China during a new wave of Sino-French culture exchanges, a contest between Chinese and French fencers was held here on Sunday.

Cairo University establishes Chinese Dapartment

Egyptian students walk past a banner on which bearing Chinese characters to welcome the Chinese education delegation at Egypt's renowned Cairo University Oct. 9, 2004. The Chinese Department of Cairo University was inaugurated on Saturday. There are now 24 students studying Chinese at the newly established department. Cairo University is one of the four Egyptian universities which have a Chinese Department.

Pakistan tightens security at Chinese Embassy

Two Pakistani security force soldiers stand guard at the gate of the Chinese Embassy to Pakistan in Islamabad on Oct. 10, 2004.

"Year of France" kicks off

The concert of the French electronic music virtuoso Jean-Michel Jarre is held at Wumen Square of the Forbidden City in Beijing, Oct. 10, 2004. Jarre's concert unveiled in China the "Year of France"--a nine-month program intended to introduce French culture.