Life in quake-hit area

Children play outside a tent Wednesday in Baoshan of Southwest China's Yunnan Province as a quake on 5.0 Richter scale hit the region. Twelve were injured, one in critical condition.

Yao, McTrady lead Rockets past Bulls

Houston Rockets' Yao Ming (11) of China loses control of the ball as Chicago Bulls' Jared Reiner (35) and Luol Deng (9) of Sudan defend during the third quarter of their preseason game Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004, in Houston.

Kerry and Dana Reeve talk about stem cell research

Democratic Presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry hugs Dana Reeve, widow of the late actor and stem cell research advocate Christopher Reeve, after she introduced him to deliver a speech on science and technology in Columbus, Ohio Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004. [AP]

Fall-Winter 2004-05 fashion show

A model presents creations by Mandira Wirk during the Fall-Winter 2004-05 fashion show in New Delhi, in this picture taken October 20, 2004. Picture taken October 20, 2004.Mexico fashion week show will run until October 22.

Shevchenko header beats Barca as Milan move clear

AC Milan moved three points clear at the top of Champions League Group F after a first half header from Andriy Shevchenko gave them a 1-0 win over Barcelona on Wednesday.

The 48th London Film Festival opens

British director Mike Leigh (R), winner of Golden Lion at the 61st Venice International Film Festival, and Imelda Staunton, winner of the best actress award for her role in the movie, attend the opening ceremony of the 48th London Film Festival in London on Oct. 20, 2004. Vera Drake had its London premiere Wednesday night to mark the start of this year's film festival, which will run until November 4.

Susilo announces new cabinet of Indonesia

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono(R) shakes hands with members of his newly installed cabinet one by one at the state palace in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, Oct. 21, 2004. He held a news conference in Thursday morning and formally announced the list of the 36-member cabinet to the mass media.

China, France hold fire control exercise

A fire fighting commander(L) uses a talkie-walkie to connect with fire fighting units in the exercise in Chongqing Municipality, southwest China, Oct. 21, 2004. Fire Brigade Delegation of Toulouse, a city in southern France, and Fire Station of Chongqing held in China the first joint fire fighting exercise between the two countries on Thursday. The exercise was proved to be a success.

Blue sheep

A blue sheep looks around on precipice of Helan Mountain range in northwest China's Ning Xia Hui Autonomous Region (Picture taken on Oct. 20, 2004). Blue sheep usually haunt bare rock areas 2,100 meters above sea level. Once was cited as endangered and under state-level protection in China, the animals saw a great increase in population to the estimated maximum of up to 10,000 after over 20 years' protection in the Helan Mountain Range Nature Preserve.

French fireworks show presented in Wuhan

The famous French fireworks show, A Little More Light, took place Oct 21st in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei Province as part of the French Culture Year celebrations. The 40-minute show, presented by French Group F, told Chinese viewers an ancient myth of kidnapping sunlight and giving it back to the people in colors of red, gold and white.

Stolen buddha statues return home

Three stolen priceless white jade Buddha statues are placed on the site where a press conference is held by the police in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Oct. 21, 2004. The three Buddha statues were stolen from the famous Xuefengchong Temple of Fuzhou at night of Oct. 14. After hard searching work of six days and nights, the police finally found the stolen statues when they were on the road of transportation. Two of the six stealing suspects were caught on the spot.

68 teams gather at world dragon boat championship in Shanghai

The Canadian team at the Fifth IDBF (International Dragon Boat Federation) World Dragon Boat Racing Championship. The tournament opened at the Dianshan Lake in Qingpu District of Shanghai municipality, on Oct. 21. Almost 1, 000 athletes of the 68 teams from 17 countries and regions take part in the four-day games.

64 confirmed dead in mine gas blast

Rescue workers take a short rest in Daping coal mine, 40 kilometers southwest of Zhengzhou city, capital of central China's Henan Province, at afternoon of Oct. 21, 2004. (Xinhua photo)