Coach plane crashes in SW China

Rescuers try to locate the bodies of the two victims in a plane crash in Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 29, 2004. A civil aviation trainer crashed in Mianyang at 9 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) June 28, leaving two people - a learner and the instructor - dead. The bodies of the two victims have been found. (Xinhua photo)

Stone resembling old woman's face

A visitor looks at "Eternity" at the China Rare Stone Expo in Beijing, June 28, 2004. The natural stone, resembling an old woman's face, is worth 96 million yuan (US$12 million), experts said. (newsphoto)

Olympic flame in Rome

Torchbearer Emanuela Pierantozzi carries the Olympic Flame outside the ruins of the Coliseum during the torch relay, June 28, 2004 in Rome. The Olympic Flame travels to 34 cities in 27 countries en route to the 2004 summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. (China Daily/Reuters)

ERJ145 jet delivered to China Southern Airlines

A ERJ145 regional jet at the delivery ceremony in Harbin on June 28. The two jets were part of six ERJ145s that China Southern agreed to purchase earlier this year. (newsphoto)

Anti illegal immigration exercise

Chinese policemen take position to fight against assumed illegal immigrants after they are intercepted during an exercise near Yantai, a coastal city in east China's Shandong Province, June 28, 2004. The exercise was held to enhance the capabilities to fight against human trafficking and illegal immigration off the coast.

Iraqi militants kill US soldier hostage

A video grab image taken from Al Jazeera television on April 16, 2004 shows a U.S. soldier who identified himself as Keith Matthew Maupin. Al Jazeera television aired a video tape June 28, 2004 showing what militants said was the execution of a U.S. soldier captured in Iraq in April. The U.S. Army has told the family of a soldier taken hostage in Iraq in April about the existence of a videotape that may show an execution, but has not confirmed that he has been killed, defense officials said on Monday. A senior defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Army notified the family of Pfc. Keith Matthew Maupin, 20, "that there's a rumor Al Jazeera or an Arab network may have a tape of an execution, but we do not know if it's their son or not." (Reuters photo)

Promotion for 54th Miss World finals

Reigning Miss World Rosanna Davison (R) of Ireland poses with Miss World 2002 Azra Akin of Turkey during a promotion for the upcoming pageant, in Beijing, China, June 28, 2004. The 54th Miss World finals will be held in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province in December.

Greek President meets visiting senior CPC official

Greek President Constantinos Stephanopoulos (R) meets with Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, in Athens, capital of Greece, June 28, 2004.

Welcoming ceremony in honor of visiting Argentine President

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) holds a welcoming ceremony in honor of visiting Argentine President Nestor Kirchner in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, June 28, 2004.

Nelson Mandela meets visiting Chinese Vice President

Former South African President Nelson Mandela (L) meets with visiting Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong in Johannesburg June 28, 2004.

1st female master educated in a university in Tibet

Luoyang (R) presents to her teacher a hada (a piece of silk used as a greeting gift) during the graduation ceremony at Tibet University in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 28, 2004. Luoyang was conferred the master's degree by Tibet University on June 28, becoming Tibet's first famale master educated at a university in the autonomous region.

NATO summit

United States President George W. Bush (R Front) and British Prime Minister Tony Blair (L Front) attend the opening ceremony of the 17th summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Istanbul, Turkey, June 28, 2004.

Li Ning Co. Ltd. gets listing on Hong Kong Exchange

Li Ning (R2), chairman of Li Ning Co. Ltd., toasts during the announcement of Li Ning Co. Ltd. listing on the stock market of the Hong Kong Exchange in Hong Kong, south China, June 28, 2004. Li Ning Co. Ltd. has become China's specialized sports goods company that produces sportswear, sports shoes and sports equipments.

New Iraqi government formally sworn in

Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar (R) and Prime Minister Iyad Allawi took their oaths before a senior Iraqi judge, followed by the rest of the cabinet members. The interim Iraqi government was officially sworn in on June 28, hours after taking over sovereignty from the US-led coalition. (Xinhua/AFP)