Chinese, Australian PMs unveil gas project

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) and Australian Prime Minister John Howard push the start-up button during a ceremony marking the opening of the first stage of the first ever Sino-Australian liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Shenzhen City, south China's Guangdong Province, June 28, 2006.

CPPCC Chairman addresses welcoming banquet in HK

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), delivers a speech at the welcoming evening banquet held by HKSAR government in the Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR), south China, June 28, 2006.

West Plan brings undergraduates to serve in less developed regions

Xu Ningqiang, a teacher at a middle school in Northwest Ningxia Autonomous Region, encourages his students to make progress on the upcoming test in his class on June 26. Xu, from Nanjing, joined the West Plan in 2004, a campaign sponsored by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China to encourage undergraduates to work in the country's less developed areas for one or two years. Xiji Country where Xu's school is located is defined by the United Nations as unfit for human habitation.

Discovery begins Launch countdown

Two technicians examine the cables of space shuttle Discovery in Cape Canaveral, Florida Wednesday, June 28. The launch countdown officially began at 5 p.m. EDT and Discovery is set to blast off on July 1 at the Kennedy Space Center.

Rainstorm, hails hit Beijing

Vehicles get trapped in flood after heavy rain on a street in Beijing, June 28, 2006. Some areas in Beijing were hit by high winds, rainstorm, and hail on early Wednesday.

Chinese peacekeepers in Haiti

Armed UN Chinese peacekeepers stand guard near a church during a religious celebration of the local residents in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian Capital, June 27, 2006. Currently, there are 125 Chinese peacekeepers in Haiti. (Newsphoto)

Go jogging with disabled soldier, president Bush

Photo taken on June 27 shows US president George W. Bush goes jogging with a US Army soldier who has lost his legs in Iraq War on White House South Lawn. In the US-led War on Iraq, the soldier lost the use of both legs and now he stands on artificial limbs.

Ships, trains suspended as storm approaches

Ships are at anchor in the new port of Haikou, capital city of south China's Hainan Province on Wednesday. Ships operating on the Qiongzhou Strait and trains from Haikou to Guangzhou running across the Qiongzhou Strait have been suspended before tropical storm Jelawat's arrival on Wednesday evening.

Supporters cheer in the stands

French supporters cheer in the stands before the World Cup 2006 round of 16 football match between Spain and France in Hanover, Germany, June 27, 2006.

Montenegro admitted as UN member

Filip Vujanovic, President of the Republic of Montenegro addresses the General Assembly shortly after his country was admitted as the 192nd Member State of the United Nations at United Nations headquarters in New York Wednesday, June, 28, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters photo)

Brazil crashes Ghana three to nil

An unidentified Ghana's player (L) vies with Brazil's Ronaldinho during the second round of 2006 World Cup soccer match in Dortmund, Germany, June 27, 2006. Brazil beats Ghana 3-0.

Qinghai-Tibet railway ticket on sale

A passenger shows the passenger health registration form and his ticket of the train from Xining to Lhasa in Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, June 28, 2006. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is due to open for trial operations on July 1, and the train tickets are put on sale from June 28.

Israeli army enters southern Gaza in offensive

An Israeli Apache helicopter flies over Israeli troops and tanks in southern Gaza, June 28, 2006. Israeli tanks and troops penetrate into southern Gaza Strip early Wednesday morning.