B777-200LR Worldliner debuts in Beijing, named Zhenghe

On June 28 the Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner, the world's longest-range commercial airplane, debuts at Beijing's Capital International Airport. It was officially named "Zhenghe" to commemorate the first voyage of the great Chinese navigator and explorer Zhenghe 600 years ago. Its "Going the Distance"world tour started in Canada and will visit more than 20 cities through August. In service it can carry 301 passengers and baggage up to 17,445 kilometers.

Stamps issued to commemorate ancient maritime expedition

The commemorative stamps are issued on the 600th anniversary of Zheng He's maritime expedition, June 28, 2005. An unveiling ceremony was held in Changle of east China's Fujian Province on that day. The three-piece set of stamps includes "Portrait of Zheng He", "Good-neighborly Friendship" and "Scientific Voyage", each with 1, 060 copies issued. A stamp sheetlet in 9.5 million copies is also issued with other commemorative postal products.

Miss Colombia wins best Miss Biniki contest of Miss Tourism Int'l 2005

Miss Colombia Maria Cecilia Duran Ojeda (C), Miss Mexico Claudia Collad Careaga (L) and Miss Thailand Zittakan Sathorn (R) take the centre stage of awarding ceremony for the Miss Bikini contest of Miss Tourism International 2005, June 27, 2005. 70 contestants from across the world took part in the contest held in Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province. Miss Colombia claimed the title of the best Miss Bikini and Miss Mexico and Miss Thailand won the first and second runner-up respectively.

Fijian PM Laisenia Qarase visits People's Daily

Wang Chen (R), president of People's Daily, met with Laisenia Qarase, Prime Minister of Fiji in Beijing on June 29, 2005. Fijian Prime Minister visited People's Daily on that day at noon.

Construction of Wrestling Gymnasium in Beijing started

Beijing on Tuesday started construction on the Wrestling Gymnasium for the 2008 Olympic Games. The Wrestling Gymnasium, located on the campus of the China Agriculture University, is about two kilometers west of the Olympic Green. It is the first among the four competition venues to be built in universities.

Bill Gates receives the Honorary Doctor of Science

Microsoft Corp Chairman Bill Gates (C) is presented an academic hood of the Honorary Doctor of Science by President of the University Katsuhiko Shirai (L) and an assistant during an honorary doctorate conferral ceremony at the Waseda University in Tokyo June 28, 2005. Microsoft Corp. is bolstering its joint research with Japanese universities, targeting such areas as security and natural language processing, the world's largest software maker said on Tuesday.

New frog species in Sri Lanka

This handout picture released 28 June 2005 shows Philautua poppiae, a knuckles leaf-nesting frog, found in the Corbett's Gap area of the Knuckles Range in central Sri Lanka, a new frog species recently discovered on the island. A researcher said that Sri lanka's frog population had been challenged by extinctions, but depite the alarm, 35 new frog species have also been found, making the island one of the world's top country for frog species. (Xinhua/AFP photo)

Britain marks 200th anniversary of Trafalgar Battle

Ships from 35 countries mass in the Solent off the southern English coast, June 27, 2005. More than 160 warships and other vessels from all over the world have gathered off the southern English coast in preparation for the biggest ever international naval review due to take place on June 28 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of British naval hero Horatio Nelson's victory over Napoleon Bonaparte's French fleet in 1805.

Pakistan's Supreme Court orders arrest of gang-rape suspects

Pakistani gang rape victim Mukhtaran Mai speaks to journalists while leaving the country's Supreme Court in Islamabad, 28 June 2005. Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered the arrest of five men while it hears an appeal against their acquittals for gang raping Mai on the orders of a village council. Mai, 33, was raped on the orders of a village council in June 2002 in the remote village of Meerwala in reprisal for her brother's alleged affair with a woman from a powerful rival clan. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Bush welcomes visiting German Chancellor at the White House

US President George W. Bush (R) meets with visiting German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder at the White House in Washington of the United States on June 27, 2005. Bush suggested on Monday that the United States does not oppose Germany's bid to get into the United Nations Security Council.

Panchen Lama holds religious fairs in Sichuan Province

The 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu (R) presides over a religious activity in Litang County of southwest China's Sichuan Province June 19, 2005. The 11th Panchen Lama made a visit to Sichuan June 12-28, and held religious fairs in areas inhabited by Tibetan people. The locals welcomed his visit with various kinds of religious ceremonies.

One day for Cering Lama

Cering Toenzhub studies English in dormitory at 3 p.m. June 15, 2005. Cering, a 23-year-old lama, entered the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery ten years ago in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Cering developed an interest in English language at the age of 16 but could only study independently and consult to tour guides since there was no English teacher in the lamasery. Cering made great progress in English due to his efforts. He then edited the "Tibetan English Religious Word Dictionary" later, which was published in April in 2004. Cering has become an English teacher of the lamasery now, giving classes to his 10 lama students every week. Chanting in the morning, learning the Buddhist sutra, studying English and debating with lamas on the Buddhist sutra ... Cering lives his every day busily but happily.

Anhui provincial health authority bans problematic vaccines

Students receive transfusion at the 3rd People's Hospital in Sixian County, east China's Anhui Province June 28, 2005. Health authorities in Anhui Province say immunoreaction is likely to blame for the vaccine accident that has killed one and sickened another 215 school children in Sixian County. Officials with the provincial health department said they are yet to determine whether it was a serious allergy to the vaccine or a cardiogenic reaction, and have banned all hepatitis A vaccines manufactured by Pukang Biotech Co. in Zhejiang Province.