Draft Anti-Secession Law explained to NPC deputies

Wang Zhaoguo, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, makes explanations on the draft Anti-Secession Law during the second plenum of the Third Session of the 10th NPC in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 8, 2005.

Syria, Lebanon agree on partial pullout

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, left, and his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad exhange documents during a meeting in Damascus, Syria, Monday March 7, 2005. The presidents of Syria and Lebanon on Monday announced that the withdrawal of Syrian troops to Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley would be completed by the end of March but deferred a final troop pullout until later negotiations. In center seen Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabieh Berri. (AP Photo)

Sony names new chief executive

Howard Stringer, head of Sony's US operations (R1) presented the global fortune forum '99 in Shanghai Sept 28, 2000. (file photo). A meeting of board of directors of the Sony Corp made a decision March 7 to make the British-born Howard Stringer become chief executive of Sony Corp, replacing Nobuyuki Idei.

Courageous women "hold up half the sky"

Vice-Premier Wu Yi (left) in close discussion with Huang Ganying (right), 85, and Zhang Jiexun, 83, at a ceremony to mark today's International Women's Day in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. Both Huang and Zhang are former vice-chairwomen of the All-China Women's Federation. (China Daily)

Italians mourn for agent killed by US troops in Iraq

Nicola Calipari's coffin arrives at Ciampino airport in Rome. Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena fanned a growing diplomatic rift between Rome and Washington by suggesting US soldiers deliberately tried to target her in an gunfight that killed Calipari. (Photo: Xinhua/AFP)

Yelena Isinbayeva sets new indoor pole vault record

Russian Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva gestures for her 4th world record on March 6, 2005 in Madrid, Spain. Yelena Isinbayeva set the new world indoor pole vault record of 4.90 meters at the European Indoor Athletics Championship that day.

2005 Shaanxi Folk Art Exhibition

An image made of flour is seen at the 2005 Shaanxi Folk Art Exhibition in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Mar. 7, 2005. More than 800 pieces of folk art are displayed at the exhibition which opened Mar. 5.

China's relief materials head to Indonisia

A container of relief is seen at the port of Tianjin, north China, March 7, 2005. A shipment of relief goods and materials provided by the Chinese government to a tsunami-stricken area of Indonesia sailed from Tianjin Monday. The goods and materials, loaded into 535 standard containers, weigh approximately 7,000 tons and are worth more than 30 million yuan (3.6 million US dollars).

Chinese leaders join panel discussion with NPC deputies

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C), also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, joins the panel discussion with NPC deputies from Tianjin Municipality to the Third Session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, March 6, 2005.

Hu Jintao underlines development of social sciences

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R, Front) visits CPPCC members from the circles of social science to the Third Session of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing March 7, 2005. Jia Qinglin, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, also took part in meeting with the CPPCC members Monday.

Second plenum of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) of China

The presidium of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) of China holds its second plenum in Beijing, March 7, 2005.