Shanghai composite index falls below 1,000 points

Chinese investors look at an electronic board showing share prices at a securities company in Shanghai June 6, 2005. The leading stock index of Shanghai Stock Exchange, one of China's two bourses, once dropped to 998.23 points during the morning session on Monday, the lowest in nearly eight years. The composite stock index of the Shanghai bourse picked up slightly to 1,005.82 points at midday, but it was still lower than Monday's opening of 1,010.38 points. The benchmark index covers yuan-denominated A shares and foreign-currency B shares. (newsphoto)

Teenager Rafael Nadal wins French Open

Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal leapt onto the center of the world tennis stage when the fourth seed pulled off a dream French Open final victory 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 over unseeded Mariano Puerta of Argentina on Sunday. (Xinhua/AFP photo)

Dragon boat race in Yichang

Rowers compete in a dragon boat race in Yichang, Hubei Province June 5, 2005. The 35-kilometer competition, held on the Yangtze River near the Three Gorges Dam, attracted 20 teams, incluiding teams from the United States, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Canada.

Green passage opened for Taiwan fruits in Xiamen

Quarantine officials sampled fruits from Taiwan at the Xiamen Port June 5, 2005. The first container of fruits from Taiwan, which enters via Xiamen Port has entered markets in Xiamen. Xiamen Customs and quarantine authority have opened an express passage for the Taiwan fruits in order to ensure they pass the customs in shortest time.

Exhibition on ancient navigator held in Kunming

Photo taken on June 5, 2005 shows a statue of Zheng He (1371-1435) displayed in the "Exhibition of Great Navigator, Diplomat and Peace Messenger Zheng He" at the Yunnan Nationanlities Museum in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Beijing launches Olympic volunteer recruitment campaign

Jacque Rogge (C), International Olympic Committee president, and Liu Qi (R5, Front), president of the Organizing Committee for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, attend the launch ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Volunteer Program in Beijing, June 5, 2005. Rogge and Liu Qi jointly unveiled the logo of the Beijing Olympic Volunteer Program at the ceremony, marking the start of the volunteer recruitment campaign.

Chirac,Schroder pledge to push ahead ratification of EU constitution

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (R) and his wife Doris Schroeder-Koepf pose with visiting French President Jacques Chirac in Berlin prior to their talks on June 4, 2005. They agreed on Saturday to push ahead with the ratification process of the European Union (EU) constitution even after the rejection by French and Dutch voters.

Horse guards parade marks 79th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II

The Horse guards hold a grandish parade in central London June 4, 2005, to mark the 79th birthday of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.

Liu romps home in 110m hurdles

Athens Olympic 110 metres hurdles gold medallist and co-world record holder China's Liu Xiang proved he is the world's best in his event with a victory at the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday. Liu finished strong to clock 13.06 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year.

Premier Wen makes inspection tour in rural Hebei Province

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) talks with farmers in a wheat field at Xijing village in Gaocheng, a city in north China's Hebei Province, June 4, 2005. Wen made an inspection tour in rural areas in Hebei Province on June 4-5.