Halloween in aquarium

A curious boy is looking at the bizarrely dressed divers at the aquarium in Seoul, capital of Republic of Korea, on 25 October. To celebrate the upcoming Halloween on 31st October, divers in Seoul adopt this unique approach to attract more children.

Chinese leaders meet with Powell

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with visiting United States Secretary of State Colin Powell during a meeting in Beijing Oct. 25, 2004.

Chinese premier meets with Powell

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with visiting United States Secretary of State Colin Powell during a meeting in Beijing Oct. 25, 2004.

Chinese Zhang pair claim gold in Skate America

Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao (R) won the pair title on October 23 by scoring an overall 166.86 points at Skate America, the first stop in the ISU figure skating Grand Prix at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Chinese skaters win 1 silver, 2 bronze on last day of Harbin leg

China's Wang Meng (L) wins the champion of the women's 1000m during the ISU Short Track World Cup in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province Oct. 24, 2004.

Fashion show in the air

A model descents in the air along a vertical T-stage in a "Fashion Show in the Air" held on the bank of Taiping Lake in Shanghai, east China, Oct. 23, 2004.

Death toll from Japan's quakes rises to 23

The death toll from a series of powerful earthquakes that rocked Niigata Prefecture, Japan on Saturday rose to 23 on Sunday, with over 2,100 others injured.

Tribute to American soldiers died in Iraq

A woman caresses a mock coffin during a tribute that commemorate the American service men died in the Iraq in front of the National Memorial in Washington D.C.Oct.23, 2004. More than 1,100 American soldiers have lost their lives in Iraq.

Lion dance joins carnival parade in Bremen

A Chinese boy looks back when he gets ready to perform in a lion dancing at the annual carnival celebrations in Bremen, northern Germany on Oct. 23, 2004. A team of costumed teacher-and-student performers from a local Chinese school participated in the parade and won the second place among the 156 teams on Saturday. It is the first Chinese team to participate in the annual carnival parade in Germany, according to the organizers.

Neighbourhood festival held in Hangzhou

Neighbours embrace in the Neighbourhood Festival in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 24, 2004. The 1st Neighbourhood Festival of Hangzhou opened on Sunday. People from all circles gathered to celebrate the festival and wore yellow ribbons representing harmony and happiness.

Foreign tourists fascinated with Chinese folk arts

An Australian tourist (C) poses for a photo with actors from a local folk Art Troupe in Xi'an, capital of northwest China¡¯s Shaanxi Province Oct. 23, 2004. Showing the loess culture by the troupe, the performances with local characteristics including Xintianyou, a kind of Shaanxi local melody, attracted many foreign guests.

Grand memorial activity held in honor of Lu Xun in Japan

Japanese shadowboxing fans dressed in traditional Chinese exercise costumes present flowers to the Lu Xun Monument in the memorial ceremony of the centenary of Lu Xun¡¯s Studying in Sendai in front of the Lu Xun Monument located in a scenic spot in west Sendai, Honshu, Japan, Oct. 23, 2004. Sendai local government organized a grand memorial activity for Lu Xun on Saturday and hundreds of local officials, people working for the friendship between China and Japan and officials of Chinese Embassy to Japan attended the event. Lu Xun(1881-1936) was China¡¯s great writer, thinker and revolutionist. A hundred years ago, Lu Xun went to Tohoku University (Northeast University) to study medicine and became the 1st foreign student in the university's history.

China Final of Model of the World 2004

Cai Bingyu (L), winner of the China Final for the Model of the World 2004, performs during the contest in Zhuhai International Convention Center in Zhuhai, a coastal city of south China's Guangdong Province Oct. 23, 2004. 40 contestants from all over China gathered here to have eight representing China in the Model of the World 2004 that will be held also in this city in November.

Mine tragedy victims get compensation

Relatives of dead miners examine the agreements of compensation on occupational hazards with the Social Insurance Managing Center of Henan Coal Industry in central China's Henan Province, Oct. 24, 2004. After the gas blast in Daping coal mine on Oct. 20, the death toll rose to 82 at 8 p.m. on Sunday and 66 were still trapped with slim chance of survival. Relatives of six dead miners signed the agreements and received corresponding sums of compensation on Sunday.

49 Iraqi recruits killed

People look at the bodies of killed recruits close to the city of Baquba, 60 kms northeast of Baghdad 24 October 2004. The bodies of 49 executed Iraqi army recruits have been found near the town of Baquba, the police chief of the province of Diyala said. The victims had been returning home to the southern Shiite-dominated cities of Amara and Kut after a 20-day training course at a desert camp near the Iranian border, said local council member Khadija Mohammed when it is believed they were killed. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)