Show on Deng's life opens in Beijing

An elderly man visits a grand exhibition on the life of late leader Deng Xiaoping in the China National Museum at the east side of the Tian'anmen Square in Beijing August 10, 2004. The exhibition is to commemorate the 100th aniversary of birth of Deng. The show, opened on August 10, will last until September 15. (newsphoto)

Athens Olympic venues

Panorama view of the soccer stadium in Patrai, Greece, Aug. 9. Chinese women Olympic football team will play against Germany here on Aug. 11 in the 2004 Olympic Games.

Heavy rain hit Zhengzhou

People walk on a waterlogged street in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, Aug. 9, 2004. A heavy rain hit the city on Monday, causing a severe flood.

Sudanese FM: Darfur crisis should be resolved by Sudanese themselves.

Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail (L) speaks at a press conference in Cairo, capital of Egypt, Aug. 9, 2004. Ismail reiterated that the Darfur crisis should be resolved by Sudanese themselves.

Chinese athletes in Athens

Chinese fencer Zhangli chooses souvenirs in the Olympic Village in Athens, Greece, August 9, 2004.

ISAF command handed over to Eurocorps in Afghanistan

Outgoing Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Canadian Lieutenant General Rick Hillier (L) signs the document during a ceremony to transfer ISAF authority from Canada to the Strasbourg-based Eurocorps, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 9 2004. Rick Hillier handed over ISAF command to his in-coming counterpart, French Lieutenant General Jean-Louis Py (R), commander of Eurocorps, on Monday.

World's oldest blunderbuss

A copper blunderbuss collected by the Mengyuan Cultural Museum of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The discovery and the authentication of the blunderbuss was first announced during the 10th International Conference on the Chinese Science History held recently in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The blunderbuss is the oldest of its kind in the world hitherto. According to scientists, it was made in 1298. The well-preserved blunderbuss weighs 6,210 grams with the total length of 34.7 cm. Two lines of the official language used in ancient China's Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) were inscribed on the surface.

South Koreans call for peace between Israel and Palestine

South Koreans holding a banner reading "May the love and forgiveness flow like a river on this land" pass an Israeli checkpoint linking Jerusalem and Bethlehem during a peace rally Aug. 9, 2004. Thousands of South Koreas attended the rally calling for the realization of peace between Palestine and Israel.

Outgoing Singapore's PM Goh Chok Tong

Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong smiles as he shares a light moments with reporters during a news conference held just after the city-state's independence Day celebrations on Monday Aug. 9, 2004 in Singapore. Goh will hand over the top job to his deputy Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday in Singapore's second transition of power since independence in 1965. (AP Photo)

Nightclub fire in Lhasa

Girls in traditional costumes of the Yi Nationality perform folk dance of the Yi Nationality in Chuxiong, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Aug. 9, 2004. The First Folk Culture Exposition of Yunnan Province and the Flambeau Festival of the Yi Nationality in Chuxiong began on Aug. 9. Folk artists from across Yunnan Province attended the event. Firefighters are busy in putting out fire in a nightclub in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region Aug. 9, 2004. A fire broke out at 9:04 a.m. Monday at the nightclub(040809) -- LHASA, Aug. 9, 2004 (Xinhua) -- Firefighters are busy in putting out fire in a nightclub in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region Aug. 9, 2004. A fire broke out at 9:04 a.m. Monday at the nightclub, a two-story building attached to the Niwei Nationality Opera House in downtown Lhasa. Two people have been confirmed dead and Investigations into the cause of the fire is now underway.

Chinese Olympic Delegation holds flag-raising ceremony

The Chinese national flag is hoisted at the Athens Olympic Games village August 9, 2004. More than 130 Chinese delegates, who have arrived in Athens yesterday, sing the national anthem during the flag raising ceremony. (Xinhua)

Folk culture expo held in Yunnan

Girls in traditional costumes of the Yi Nationality perform folk dance of the Yi Nationality in Chuxiong, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Aug. 9, 2004. The First Folk Culture Exposition of Yunnan Province and the Flambeau Festival of the Yi Nationality in Chuxiong began on Aug. 9. Folk artists from across Yunnan Province attended the event.

Athens Olympic mascots Athena and Phevos.