Miss World contest

Miss Australia Sarah Davies tries the beauty crown after being voted the contestant most suitable to be Miss World , by the other contestants, during a dress rehearsal for the 54th Miss World contest in Sanya, on south China's Hainan Island Thursday Dec. 2, 2004. Contestants from 107 countries and regions are in Sanya preparing for the final on Dec. 4. (newsphoto)

Chinese women claim titles at swimming World Cup Taejon leg

Chinese swimmier Li Jie in Taejon, the Republic of Korea, Dec. 2. Li won the championship in the final of women¡¯s 100-meter butterfly at 1:01:17 at Taejon leg of FINA Swimming World Cup 2004-2005 Series. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Pipi and his "mom"

"PIPI", a nine-month-old sapajou (capuchin monkey), plays with his breeder Li Chengping in the zoo of Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 1st, 2004. "PIPI" was abandoned by his mom soon after the birth, it was the breeder Li Chengping who took care of him for the next six months. She then helped the mom sapajou recognize her son and make the sapajou family reunited. "PIPI" is happy to have two "moms" now.

142-year-old dock demolished in Shanghai

Two buildings collapsed under directional blasting at the Shiliupu Dock on Huangpujiang River in Shanghai, east China on Dec. 2, 2004. The blasting on Thursday marks the closure of a 142-year-old passenger dock, ever the largest in China. A world-class water playground will appear at the existing site of the dock in three years.

Charity party raises funds for AIDS-infected children

A model presents fashionable dresses at a charity party on Dec 1st in Beijing. Sponsored by the China Culture News, the party is held to raise funds for children infected with AIDS and those suffer from cancer by fashion shows and auctions.

New cabinet of Somalia formed

Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi speaks at a ceremony in the Kenyatta International Conference Center in Nairobi, capital of Kenya on Dec. 1, 2004. Ali Mohammed Ghedi announced on Wednesday 27 ministers of his new 31-member cabinet, finishing the 13-year power vacuum in Somalia.

Kuchma discusses Ukraine's political crisis with Putin

Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma on Thursday arrived in Moscow for urgent talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Ukraine's political crisis triggered by last month's disputed presidential election. (Photo: Xinhua/AFP)

Presient Hu extends congratulations to PLA athletes

Athletes of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) talk with each other on Dec 2nd in Beijing. On Dec 1st, President Hu Jintao extends congratulations to the athletes' excellent performance at the 52nd World Military Pentathlon Championship. The PLA delegation wins five gold medals, one silver and two bronze at the 52nd World Military Pentathlon Championship, held in Santiago, Chile from Nov. 14 to 20.

Preparations for impressionist exposition underway in Shanghai

Two working staffs carry a painting of French impressionist Edgar Degas, "Dancing Class" during the preparation for the coming Impressionist Treasure Exposition in the Shanghai Art Gallery, Dec. 2, 2004. Experts from French Orsay Museum and Shanghai Art Gallery checked 51 paintings Thursday, for the exposition which will open to the public here from Dec. 8.

Iraqis hold ceremony opposing violence against women

Margret Hassan's portrait is placed on a ceremony held to oppose violence against women as well as to commemorate women killed in Iraq held by Iraqi Women Network organization and Advisory Committee for Women 's Affairs in Baghdad Dec. 2, 2004. Many Iraqi women, including some officials, gathered here to commemorate Margret Hassan and Amal Al-Ma'amalgy, who were assassinated by unknown fighters in Baghdad.

World Tourism Forum opens in Brazil

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (C) applauds along with other two participants during the opening ceremony of World Tourism Forum for Peace and Sustainable Development held in Salvador of Brazil on Dec. 1, 2004.

New Yorkers mark the 17th World AIDS Day

People gather at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine to commemorate 17th World AIDS Day in New York Dec.1, 2004 on World AIDS Day. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot and other officials joined more than 2000 people in the event.

Skyworth chairman charged for corruption

Wong Wang-sang (R1), the chairman of Skyworth Digital Holdings Limited (Skyworth), walks out of the Eastern Hong Kong Magistrates Court in Hong Kong, Dec. 2, 2004. The chairman and his brother Wong Pui-sing, an executive director of the company, appeared in court Thursday, charged by Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) for conspiring to steal 48 million HK dollars (6.2 million US dollars) company funds.