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A Boeing 767-300ER airplane named "FLY! PANDA" with a panda-shaped pattern on its body is displayed as invited guests pose next to it during an unveiling at New Tokyo international airport in Narita, east of Tokyo July 24, 2007. The special airplane, designed and operated by All Nippon Airways Co., was made to mark the 35th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Japan and China. The vessel, which is also made to mark the company's 20th anniversary of airline service between Japan and China, is scheduled to commence its service, with the panda design, in July 25 to Beijing. [Reuters]

SANYA, Hainan- Two Chinese naval vessels left here on Tuesday for an 87-day tour that will take them to Russia, Britain, Spain and France. The guided missile destroyer Guangzhou and the supply ship Weishanhu are under the command of Major General Su Zhiqian, deputy commander of the South China Sea Fleet of the Chinese Navy. The Guangzhou -- 155 meters long, 16 meters wide and with a displacement of 5,850 tons -- is said to be one of China's newest naval vessels. The two ships will travel more than 23,000 nautical miles, stopping in Russia's Saint Petersburg, Britain's Portsmouth, Spain's Cadiz, and France's Toulon in succession. More than 500 soldiers and officers are on board the vessels. They will join activities for the Year of China in Saint Petersburg and hold joint rescue exercises with the British, Spanish and French navies.

Westinghouse President and CEO Steve Tritch (L) shakes hands with Wang Binghua, Chairman of the State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation of China, during a signing ceremony to build nuclear power plants at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing July 24, 2007. [Reuters]

China on Tuesday finalized a contract with a consortium, led by the US-based Westinghouse Electric Co, to build four nuclear power reactors in the eastern part of the country.

Neither party revealed the amount involved in the contract but earlier media reports had estimated it to be $8 billion.

China will use Westinghouse's AP1000 technology to build the four reactors, two of which will be in Sanmen, Zhejiang Province, and the others in Haiyang, Shandong Province.

The cooperation between China and the US will be "crucial" in the development of the country's third generation nuclear power technology, Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan said.

"The contract will result in the first-ever use of advanced US nuclear power technology in China," Westinghouse President and Chief Executive Stephen Tritch said.

Based on standard Westinghouse pressurized water reactor technology, AP1000 is "the safest, most advanced nuclear power technology in the world". It has been chosen for at least 12 reactors in the US to be built in the next 10 to 12 years.

The deal is expected to generate at least 5,000 jobs for Westinghouse and its consortium partners, the company said.

Work on the first reactor is expected to begin in 2009, and it will become operational in late 2013. The other three are expected to come on line between 2014 and 2015.

Japan's Toshiba took majority control of Westinghouse last October. Two months later China signed an MOU with the company for the four reactors after it outbid competitors Areva of France and Atomstroiexport of Russia following a two-year negotiation process.

Nuclear power is the most important electricity generating method after thermal power and hydropower in China, and the country has become the third-largest nuclear power producer in Asia. Only Japan and South Korea generate more nuclear power.

All nuclear reactors in operation or being constructed in China have employ the first- or second-generation technology from France, Canada or Russia.

This year the country formed the State Nuclear Power Technology Corp (SNPTC), which is mainly in charge of developing third-generation nuclear power technologies. The registered capital of SNPTC is 4 billion yuan ($528.89 million).

The central government will fund 60 percent of the company, and the rest will come from four large State-owned enterprises, including the country's two nuclear conglomerates CNNC and China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co.

Ding Junhui of China takes a shoot in the Men's snooker doubles final at the Asian Games, in Doha, December 6, 2006. China's Ding Junhui and Tian Pengfei beats Chan Wai Ki and Marco Fu Ka Chun of Hong Kong, China to win the gold medal.

Models present mobile phones as visitors examine new products at the LG booth during the first day of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecom World 2006 in Hong Kong December 4, 2006

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Chinese coach Li Yongbo praised his team for surpassing expectations at the Madrid world championships which ended on Sunday.

Chinese coach Li Yongbo praised his team for surpassing expectations at the Madrid world championships which ended on Sunday.

Li had challenged the team to better the two golds, four silver and one bronze taken at the last world championships. They finished with four of the five gold medals at stake in Madrid.

"Due to limits on the number of players at the tournament, the level of competition was greater than before and the achievement was even less easy," Li told the China News Service agency.

Li particularly praised top-seeded men's doubles pair Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng.

"This perfect performance should really lift their confidence in preparing for the Olympic Games," Li said.

He also said China had proved its superiority in the women's doubles where Gao Ling and Huang Sui beat Zhang Yawen and Wei Yili in an all-Chinese final.

"Although we might drop the odd match, our overall superiority is unassailable," he said.

Li was less pleased with the mixed doubles - the only event in which Chinese hegemony was broken at the championships, after Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms beat Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg to win gold in an all-English final.

"I believe they didn't play their best. In principle, there should have been at least one team to break into the semifinals," Li said.

Master-MVA Aspar's 125cc rider Alvaro Bautista (19) of Spain leads the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, north of Tokyo, September 24, 2006

China's 08 Olympics soccer team were beaten 2-0 by their Japanese counterparts in a friendly on August 7 held in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province.

This match seemed to be auguring things to come as a month later, defending champions China were downed by North Korea 2-1, losing their spot in the semifinals of the AFC U-17 Championship.

Adding insult to injury, the national team, coached by Zhu Guanghu, would obtain more red cards than goals in two games against Singapore, casting a shadow on their bid for qualification for next year's Asian Cup finals.

"Deviating from the correct path, more than a decade of professional reform has produced very little effect," the 62-year-old Jin Zhiyang was quoted by China Youth Daily as saying on September 14.

Jin, former head coach of Beijing Guo'an and Tianjin Taida and assistant coach of the national team during the 2002 World Cup.

Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil returns a ball to Simon Aspelin and Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden during their Davis Cup play-off doubles tennis match in Belo Horizonte, Brazil September 24, 2006.

Benfica's Georgios Karagounis (R) fights for the ball with Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo during their Champions League Group F soccer match at the Luz stadium in Lisbon September 26, 2006

Top seeds Jelena Jankovic of Serbia and Na Li of China were among Tuesday's first-round winners at the U.S.$175,000 Guangzhou International Women's Open.

The U.S. Open semifinalist Jankovic eased past Chinese Meng Yuan 6-0, 6-2, while Li leveled Russian Galina Voskoboeva 6-3, 6-4 at the Tennis Courts of Fangcun Sports Center. Li will battle her countrywoman Tiantian Sun in the second round here.

Two other seeds advanced, as No. 4 Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues grounded Russian Alina Jidkova 6-1, 6-3 and No. 8 Belarusian Anastasiya Yakimova erased Chinese qualifier Shengnan Sun 6-2, 6-1.

Sixth-seeded American Meghann Shaughnessy was sent packing by Croat Jelena Kostanic 6-4, 6-4 on Day 2.

Other opening-round winners were Aussie Alicia Molik, Dutch qualifier Elise Tamaela and Chinese qualifier Jing Ren. Molik fought back to take out American Vania King 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-5.

The 2006 Guangzhou winner will collect U.S.$28,000. Chinese Yan Zi defeated Spaniard Nuria Llagostera Vives in last year's finale.

Olympic champion and world record holder Liu Xiang continues to dominate the IAAF world rankings for the men's 110-meter hurdles after winning his event in Shanghai last week.

Liu Xiang of China (L) celebrates as he wins the 110 meters hurdles ahead of Allen Johnson of the U.S (R) during the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix athletics meet in Shanghai September 23, 2006.[

Real Madrid's Raul celebrates scoring against Real Betis during their Trophy of Carranza soccer match at the Ramon de Carranza stadium in Cadiz August 18, 2006. [Reuters]

Real Madrid's David Beckham looks on during their Trophy of Carranza soccer match against Real Betis at the Ramon de Carranza stadium in Cadiz August 18, 2006.[Reuters]

Real Madrid's Ruud Van Nistelrooy (L) celebrates his goal against Real Betis with team mate David Beckham during their Trophy of Carranza soccer match at the Ramon de Carranza stadium in Cadiz August 18, 2006.[Reuters]

Host team China started the fifth day of competition with two gold medals and one silver from the 10,000 meters walking race.  ²é¿´È«ÎÄ

China's Yao Ming (R) is fouled by Italy's Denis Marconato during the first round of the world basketball championships in Sapporo August 19, 2006. [Reuters]

China's Yao Ming goes up to shoot against Italy during the first round of the world basketball championships in Sapporo, northern Japan August 19, 2006. [Reuters]

China's coach Jonas Kazlauskas (R) and center Yao Ming react during their game against Italy in the first round of the world basketball championships in Sapporo August 19, 2006. [Reuters]

China's Yao Ming dunks against Italy during the first round of the world basketball championships in Sapporo, northern Japan August 19, 2006. [Reuters]

Nigeria's Aloysius Anagonye (L) dunks the ball beside Venezuela's Victor Diaz (C) and Nigeria's Gabe Muoneke during their match at the world basketball championships in Sendai August 20, 2006. [Reuters]

Italy's Andrea Michelori (L) drives past China's Yao Ming during the first round of the world basketball championships in Sapporo August 19, 2006. [Reuters]

Oscar Torres of Venezuela dunks during their second round match at the world basketball championships against Venezuela in Sendai August 20, 2006.[Reuters]

Venezuela's Richard Lugo (C) struggles for the ball with Nigeria's Ime Udoka (R) and Jeff Varem during their match at the world basketball championships in Sendai August 20, 2006. [Reuters]

L-R) China's Liu Yanan (top) celebrates with teammate Wang Yimei after winning a point over Azerbaijan during their FIVB World Grand Prix preliminary match in Hong Kong August 19, 2006. [Reuters]

Australia's Sam Mackinnon (C) hangs down from a basket after his dunk shot during their first round match against Brazil at the world basketball championships in Hamamatsu, central Japan August 19, 2006. [Reuters]

Australia's Sam MacKinnon (R) goes for a basket as Brazil's Anderson tries to stop him during their first round match at the world basketball championships in Hamamatsu, central Japan August 19, 2006.[Reuters]

Australia's Andrew Bogut (2nd R) and team mates celebrate their 83-77 win over Brazil after their first round match at the world basketball championships in Hamamatsu, central Japan August 19, 2006.[Reuters]

Competitors practice for the 2006 Qingdao International Regatta sailing competition in Qingdao, China's eastern province of Shandong, August 20, 2006. The races begin on August 21, with the regatta as the first trial of an official venue for the upcoming 2008 Summer Olympics.[Reuters]

competitor practices for the 2006 Qingdao International Regatta sailing competition in Qingdao, China's eastern province of Shandong, August 20, 2006. The races begin on August 21, with the regatta as the first trial of an official venue for the upcoming 2008 Summer Olympics.

competitor practices for the 2006 Qingdao International Regatta sailing competition in Qingdao, China's eastern province of Shandong, August 20, 2006. The races begin on August 21, with the regatta as the first trial of an official venue for the upcoming 2008 Summer Olympics.

Iranian military forces run from the down-draft of a helicopter, during a training exercise in Zahedan, in the southeastern province of Sistan va Baluchistan, Iran, on Saturday Aug. 19, 2006. Iran on Saturday launched a series of large-scale military maneuvers aimed at introducing the country's new defensive doctrine, state-run television reported. [AP Photo]

Iranian military forces alight from a helicopter during a training exercise in Zahedan, in the southeastern province of Sistan va Baluchistan, Iran, August 19, 2006. Iran on Saturday launched a series of large-scale military maneuvers aimed at introducing the country's new defensive doctrine, state-run television reported

Iranian army helicopters lift equipment during a war game in Sistan-o Balouchestan province, southeast of Tehran, August 19, 2006. Iran on Saturday launched a series of large-scale military maneuvers aimed at introducing the country's new defensive doctrine, state-run television reported.

LeBron James (C) of the US goes up to shoot as China's Yao Ming (L) guards during the first round of the world basketball championships in Sapporo, northern Japan August 20, 2006.

US player Dwight Howard (L) fights for a rebound with China's Yao Ming during the first round of the world basketball championships in Sapporo August 20, 2006. [Reuters]

Dwyane Wade (C) of the US goes up to shoot past China's Yao Ming during the first round of the world basketball championships in Sapporo, northern Japan August 20, 2006. The United States crushed China 121-90 to underline their status as favourites at the world basketball championship, [Reuters]

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, a transvestite from India, looks at a dress made of condoms by Brazilian artist Adriana Bertini at the International AIDS conference in Toronto August 17, 2006. The exhibit aims to get people comfortable about condoms, especially those living in countries where the little piece of latex is considered taboo.

Brazilian artist Adriana Bertini poses with one of her dresses made of condoms on exhibit at the International AIDS Conference in Toronto August 17, 2006. The exhibit aims to get people comfortable about condoms, especially those living in countries where the little piece of latex is considered taboo

Liu Xiang, the 110m hurdles world record holder and Olympic champion, runs as he stars in a film promoting the image of Shanghai, in front of the Grand Theatre in Shanghai August 19, 2006.

Tehran - Iran on Sunday test-fired a surface-to-surface short-range missile a day after its army launched large-scale military exercises throughout the country, state-run television reported.

Washington - The United States hopes it will avoid filing lawsuit to the World Trade Organization against China to fix trade problems that have strained relations, the top US trade official said on Friday.

"Quite frankly, I'd rather not litigate in the World Trade Organization," US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said in an interview taped for C-Span television's "The Newsmakers," which will air on Sunday.

"I would rather have China fix the problem whether it's a market access problem or a problem related to intellectual property or so on," she said.

Schwab will travel to China in late August after attending the annual economics ministers meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, next week.

The United States, the European Union and Canada already have taken one step toward a WTO case against China for tariff policies they said discriminate against foreign auto parts.

Washington also has been considering another case aimed at getting Beijing to toughen its enforcement of laws against pirating and counterfeiting goods.

American companies said they lose billions of dollars in China each year because of the fake goods, some of which end up back in the United States.

Schwab said she planned to discuss both issues with her Chinese counterpart, as well as US concern that China honor commitments to open its financial services market.

The United States also wants China to become much more engaged in nearly 5-year-old world trade talks, which were suspended last month after countries failed to agree on how much to cut agricultural and manufacturing tariffs.

China's environmental chief has blamed fraudulent project approval procedures and slow construction of pollution control facilities for the rise in pollutant emission in the first half of the year.

Encephalitis B has killed 26 people in China so far, as seven more were reported died from the disease in the north of the country.

Beirut, Lebanon - Standing in the midst of the rubble of south Beirut, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora called the Israeli bombing campaign "a crime against humanity," and Lebanon's defense minister warned any group that breaks the Middle East ceasefire will be dealt with harshly.

Sapporo, Japan - The United States crushed China 121-90 to underline their status as favourites at the world basketball championship on Sunday. (See Full Coverage on the FIBA World Championship 2006 )

Beijing - Prolonged hot weather and severe drought have left 18 million people in China short of drinking water and damaged vast areas of arable farmland.

Beijing - Prolonged hot weather and severe drought have left 18 million people in China short of drinking water and damaged vast areas of arable farmland.

China's Liu Hong survived a yellow-card warning to claim the women's 10,000m race walk title at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Beijing on Saturday.

The 19-year-old clocked a personal best time of 45 minutes and 12.84 seconds under sweltering conditions, while compatriot Chai Xue finished sixth in 48:09.51.

Russia's Tatyana Shemyakina was edged to the second position in 45:34.41, while Romanian Anamaria Greceanu finished the podium after clocking a distant 46:45.67.

Liu, who has been mainly practising the 20 km, attributed her victory to her tactics.

"I was too anxious and the yellow card alerted me. I tried to relax after that and raced better," Liu told a post-match press conference.

"We've prepared well for this race and were confident about clinching the title.

"The result proved that our tactics were quite right," she added.

Liu guessed that Chai ran out of energy so that she could not stay in the leading pack.

"It's a pity that Chai did not catch up with me in the final stage. She might be too tired," Liu said.

HAVANA - Acting President Raul Castro said Cuba remains open to normalized relations with the United States, but warned the Bush administration in his first comments since assuming power that it will get nowhere with threats or pressure.

SHANGHAI: China's largest commercial lender, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), denied on Friday that loopholes in its online banking system had caused the loss of customers' funds.

However, about 200 of the ICBC's e-banking customers from across the country, who claim to have lost sums up to 389,000 yuan (US$48,600), have demanded compensation from the bank.

Experts said that improvements are needed to ensure the security of China's online banking system, noting that the incident would put off many potential customers.

The security of online banking was placed under spotlight recently when the 200 alleged victims of ICBC's defective Internet banking service formed an alliance to safeguard their rights and threatened to take the bank to court.

A number of cases have been revealed recently in which online banking customers suffered losses as a result of hacking, fake websites or viruses.

In the latest incident, a court in East China's Zhejiang Province ordered a branch of the Agricultural Bank of China to compensate Hong Rongyao to the tune of 102,500 yuan (US$12,800) after his password was stolen and a large amount of money was taken from his account.

But the large number of victims of ICBC's allegedly defective online banking system has drawn particular attention.

"We will file a collective lawsuit and ask for compensation for the losses resulting from the loopholes in ICBC's online banking system, and end the bank's infringement of its customers' rights," the organizer of the customer alliance said on its website.

The lender was also accused of failing to deal with hackers and being unable to provide a safe online banking network. Each victim's name, place of residence and the amount of money lost was posted on the site.

A man named Pang Feng from Shanghai lost 389,000 yuan (US$48, 000), the largest amount on the list.

The site also posted a wanted notice for a man, aged around 30, who is suspected of stealing 427,000 yuan (US$53,400) from ICBC's online banking service.

But the bank fought back on Friday. A statement on the ICBC website said that customers' failure to safeguard their card numbers and passwords had caused the losses.

The bank, pointing out that its online banking service has 20 million customers, said that the losses were "isolated cases."

Since 2003, the lender has required its customers to use USB-Shield, a patented customer certificate to help avoid risks such as hacking, fake websites or viruses.

"The large number of alleged thefts shows that commercial lenders' online banking services are not 100 per cent secure," said Li Hong, dean of the banking studies department of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.

"The incident might have an impact on customers using the service in the future," he added.

BEIJING - China raised rates on Friday for the second time in four months in the latest effort to slow a boom in credit and investment that risks destabilising the world's fourth-largest economy.

The People's Bank of China, the central bank, said on its Web site (www.pbc.gov.cn) that it had ordered an increase of 0.27 percentage point in commercial banks' benchmark one-year deposit and lending rates.

Tests carried out into China's first AIDS vaccine suggest the drug could prove effective at protecting people against the HIV virus, the Ministry of Science and Technology announced on Friday.

Belgium's player Stein Huysegems controls the ball during a training session of the Belgian squad in Kraainem near Brussels, August 14, 2006

German national soccer players (L-R) Bernd Schneider, Lukas Podolski, Thomas Hitzlsperger and Manuel Friedrich head footballs during a training session in Berlin August 14, 2006. The German national soccer team will play against Sweden in a friendly soccer match in Gelsenkirchen on August 16. [Reuters]

Barcelona's newly signed soccer player Gianluca Zambrotta stretches during his first training session with the team in Barcelona, Spain August 15, 2006

Barcelona's newly signed soccer player Liliam Thuram (R) speaks with team mates Ronaldinho (C) and Samuel Eto'o (L) during a training session in Barcelona August 15, 2006

Yao Ming, right, and Wang Zhizhi, left, of China try to grab the ball from Andrew Bogut of Australia, center, during the match of the 2006 Stankovic Continental Champions Cup Tuesday Aug. 15, 2006 in Kunshan, China. China defeat Australia 63-61

Yao Ming of China, right, tries to pass the ball as Brad Newley of Australia, left, defends during the match of the 2006 Stankovic Continental Champions Cup Tuesday Aug. 15, 2006 in Kunshan, China. China won over Australia 63-61

Li Changchun(C),a member of the Standing Committee of Political Bureau,the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee,attended the opening ceremony and announced that the 11th IAAF World Junior Championships opened in Beijing Chaoyang Sports Centre August 15, 2006

A performance at the opening ceremony of the 11th IAAF World Junior Championships that opened in Beijing Chaoyang Sports Centre August 15, 2006

The 11th IAAF World Junior Championships opened in Beijing Chaoyang Sports Centre August 15, 2006

The 11th IAAF World Junior Championships opened in Beijing Chaoyang Sports Centre August 15, 2006.[

Spanish bullfighter Fernando Cruz waits to start a bullfight at the Maestranza bullring in Seville August 15, 2006.

Bullfighter Antonio Barrera is tossed by a bull during a bullfight at San Sebastian's Illumbe bullring August 15, 2006

Spanish bullfighter Anibal Ruiz is tackled by a bull during a bullfight at the Maestranza bullring in Seville August 15, 2006

Spanish bullfighter Anibal Ruiz performs a pass to a bull during a bullfight at the Maestranza bullring in Seville August 15, 2006

Yohan Blake (L) of Jamaica crosses the finish line ahead of Justyn Warner (R) of Canada and Wade Bennett-Jackson (C) of Britain during the semi-final of the Men's 100 m event of the 11th IAAF World Junior Championships in Beijing August 15, 2006. The three runners qualified for the final.

The first gold went to Dutch shotput star Melissa Boekelman after the 11th IAAF World Junior Championships kicked off in Beijing August 15,2006

Xue Fei (136) leads the pack during the finals of the Women's 5000 metres event of the 11th IAAF World Junior Championships in Beijing August 15, 2006

Xue Fei of China crosses the finish line in the final of the Women's 5000 m event of the 11th IAAF World Junior Championships in Beijing August 15, 2006. Xue won the gold with a time of 15.31.61

raham Chepkirwok of Uganda crosses the finish line ahead of Lachlan Renshaw of Australia during the men's 800m heat of the 11th IAAF World Junior Championships in Beijing August 15, 2006. Chepkirwok and Renshaw advanced to the semifinals.

The 11th IAAF World Junior Championships have now officially opened, with a lavish ceremony at Chaoyang Sports Park in Beijing

China's star Li Na suffered an early exit from the Montreal Cup WTA tournament after losing 6-4, 6-2 to local favorite Marie-Eve Pelletier Tuesday in the first round.

The 24-year-old from Quebec, ranked 337th in the world, dumped 16th seed Li, who is hoping to improve upon her first-round elimination from Flushing Meadows last year when the US Open starts in two weeks.

"I have to say that my best performance so far was actually qualifying for the Australian Open, but I do think that this is the best win of my career," said Pelletier.

"With all of the foot and ankle injuries I've had, this win is really good for me."

China's Peng Shaui also lost, falling to German 10th seed Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-3, 6-3.

Top seed and defending champion Kim Clijsters, the reigning US Open champion from Belgium will face Stephanie Dubois in the second round after the Canadian wild card defeated Italian lucky loser Tathiana Garbin, 6-4, 6-4.

Dubois had dropped the first game of the second set when play was suspended by rain on Monday night, then was behind 4-3 when the match was halted due to rain Tuesday afternoon.

When play resumed, Dubois won the final three games to advance into Clijsters' path. Enditem

Complete solar halo appears in the sky of Guangzhou Tuesday afternoon, capital city of South China's Guangdong Province. Two layers of halo respectively in red and purple circle the sun and amaze many locals

A sailor jumps into the water for escape from a sinking cargo ship which was loaded with coal in the Chaotianmen section of the Yangtze River in Chongqing Municipality Wednesday, August 16, 2006. Water began to leak into the ship after it ran into a reef. Rescue work has been launched by local marine authorities. No casualty was reported

Israeli soldiers leave Lebanese territory during the second day of ceasefire, near the town of Avivim August 15, 2006. As a truce between Israel and Lebanon's Hizbollah entered its second day on Tuesday, planning got underway for a beefed up UN peacekeeping force to back the Lebanese army when it deploys to the south

An Israeli soldier kisses his wife during the first day of ceasefire, near the town of Manara August 14, 2006. A fragile UN-ordered truce took hold in Lebanon on Monday after a month-long war between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas

Israeli soldiers walk together after leaving Lebanon near the Israeli-Lebanon border August 15, 2006 in this picture released by the Israeli Defense Forces.

An elderly man talks to the media in Bint-Jbeil town in south Lebanon August 15, 2006. Israeli forces began leaving parts of south Lebanon on Tuesday as a UN truce largely held for a second day and the Lebanese army prepared to move south

A Lebanese man surveys his house after he returns in Ghandouriyeh August 15, 2006. Thousands of displaced Lebanese headed home on Tuesday as a UN truce between Israel and Hizbollah held on into a second day and planning got under way for a beefed up U.N. force to deploy in the area.

Brides and grooms take part in a mass wedding for 32 couples from areas of northern Israel skirting the Lebanese frontier, in Tel Aviv August 14, 2006.

A pair of golden monkeys enjoy iced fruits to prevent sunstroke at the Wuhan Zoo, C. China's Hubei Province on August 14, 2006.

Venezuela plans to increase oil its sales to China by 50,000 barrels a day by the end of the year, the country's oil minister said.

Venezuela's state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA, will increase sales to China to 200,000 barrels a day from the current 150,000 barrels per day, Rafael Ramirez said Tuesday. He said the shipments include crude and other products, such as fuel oil.

President Hugo Chavez and other officials had previously said they hoped Venezuela would be exporting 300,000 barrels a day to China by the end of the year.

Though the United States remains the No. 1 buyer of Venezuelan crude, Chavez's government has sought to sell increasing amounts to a variety of other countries in recent years.

As recently as 2004, the South American country exported only 12,300 barrels a day to China.

Chavez also plans to seal an agreement during a visit to Beijing this month to buy 12 Chinese-made oil drills and to have an additional 12 drills assembled in Venezuela at a new joint factory, Ramirez said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on its Web site that Chavez will make a state visit to China from Aug. 22-27. It said Chavez was formally invited by Chinese President Hu Jintao but did not give details of his itinerary.

Venezuela's congress on Tuesday, however, said Chavez's China visit will include a tour of the facilities where initial work is being done on a communications satellite for Venezuela.

The South American country last year signed a deal with China for the satellite that it hopes will bring it full autonomy in telecommunications. The satellite, which is expected to be in orbit by 2008, will bear the name of Venezuelan independence hero Simon Bolivar, Chavez said.

Chavez will sign a series of energy, financial, technological and cultural accords during his trip, which will also take him to Malaysia and Angola, the congress said in a statement.

Since taking office in 1999, Chavez has forged strong ties with China. During his last visit in December 2004, Chavez signed a series of accords in oil, technology and other areas.

Ramirez said Tuesday that Venezuela also will work on developing the aging oil fields in the Zumano area of eastern Anzoategui state with China National Petroleum Corporation, or CNPC.

CNPC is also involved in certifying heavy oil reserves in the Orinoco river basin, where Venezuela's state oil company hopes to sharply increase production of heavy crude in the coming years.

Several squirrel monkeys cool themselves off with ice-lolly as record high temperatures hit Hefei Safari Park, E. China's Anhui Province on August 15, 200

China's legislature, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) will read the drafts of a new anti-drug law and a new property law during a six-day legislative session which will begin on August 22.

The anti-drug law is aimed at curbing drug-related crimes and reducing the growing number of drug users.

China has toughened its anti-drug stance in recent years and statistics from the Supreme People's Court show that Chinese courts handled 47,232 drug crime cases from January 2005 to May 2006.

Altogether, 53,205 defendants were given prison sentences in that period, with 22,371 convicts handed tough penalties including life imprisonment or even the death penalty, the statistics showed.

In June police officials said armed drug smuggling gangs had emerged in China and were trying to create a sophisticated network to sell drugs such as heroine and "ice".

Experts and police have repeatedly called for more anti-drug legislation to bring drug activities under control. The Ministry of Public Security has played an active role in drawing up the bill.

The draft property law will be submitted to the upcoming legislation for the fifth read, after China's legislature solicited public opinions on the draft by releasing it in full to the general public.

Chinese citizens provided 11,543 suggestions on the revision of the draft property law through the Internet, newspapers and letters to the top legislature in 40 days, since the draft was released to the public on July 10, 2005.

The draft has drawn nationwide attention as it relates to important issues, such as how to prevent farmland from forced acquisition by the local government, how to protect private assets and how to avoid state assets being embezzled.

The draft of the property law was submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for the first read in December 2002.

Normally, China's law is adopted by the legislature after three reads. However, because the property law relates to every aspect of people's lives and attaches great importance to the protection of state assets and private assets, as well as social stability, the draft of property law will be submitted for the fifth read and it will be finally adopted in a plenary session of the NPC, said an official with the NPC Standing Committee.

Next week, along with the anti-drug bill and the draft property law, a draft law on the protection of minors will be submitted to the legislature for the first read. Lawmakers will also continue to deliberate drafts of a anti-money laundering law and a bankruptcy law.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's repeated, provocative visits to the Yasukuni Shrine a symbol of militarism means he has failed to fully atone for his country's war past, Chinese historians said yesterday.

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HONG KONG - Chinese pop diva Faye Wong's husband, mainland Chinese actor Li Yapeng, said in his blog Sunday the couple's newborn daughter has received surgery for a cleft lip in the U.S.

"Now our daughter (Li Yan) has received treatment and is resting at home. Everything went well," Li Yapeng wrote.

Li said he and his friends plan to set up a charity for children with cleft lips.

"The corrective surgery Yan received in the U.S. doesn't exist in China. We have contacted hospitals in the U.S. and medical groups. We plan to set up a charity with some friends," he said.

Li also wrote that babies with cleft lips are "gods" according to South American mythology, and there are hundreds of thousands like Yan born to parents in China every year.

Li Yan was reportedly born in Beijing on May 27.

Wong, a Beijing native who made her name in Hong Kong, started out in mainstream Chinese pop but branched out into more alternative fare.

She was hugely popular in China and Hong Kong in the mid-1990s but has unofficially retired from the entertainment scene in recent years.

Wong also has another daughter from her previous marriage to Chinese rocker Dou Wei.

FUZHOU -- The death toll from typhoon Saomai had risen to 255 in China by 2 p.m. Monday, with another 41 bodies discovered in Fuding city in east China's Fujian Province.

Over 160 others are still missing after Saomai wrought havoc in the eastern provinces of Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangxi.

Chinese businesses will have to cope with continuously rising resources costs as pricing liberalization is sped up.

Despite concerns, the nation's top policy-making body, the National Development and Reform Commission, has vowed to push ahead with its liberalization campaign.

"We will allow the scarcity of resources to determine their price," said Bi Jingquan, the commission's vice-minister in charge of price reform, at a national forum last week. "That's the basic principle of the price reforms."

His words were echoed by a think-tank report released over the weekend, which called for price reforms to encourage more efficient economic growth.

Bi said liberalizing the pricing of raw materials and energy will definitely increase costs in the long run, but the government is determined to make prices more dependent on market forces.

Industry insiders said his speech was the first time the government has formally expressed its determination for pricing reform.

The major concern over the liberalization was possible consumer price hikes, which may cause financial difficulty for farmers and other disadvantaged people.

Bi said the government is considering further measures to liberalize the price of coal, electricity, oil, natural gas and water. "And related social policies, such as offering subsidies, are being considered to lessen the impact on disadvantaged groups."

Over the weekend, the government's top think-tank, the Development Research Centre (DRC) under the State Council, also called for reforms on resource prices to promote more efficient economic growth.

"The price reforms should increase the costs of resource products for businesses with low efficiency," said the DRC report, cited by Xinhua News Agency yesterday.

The DRC attributed China's current high energy-consuming growth mode to a price system that fails to reflect the scarcity of resources.

Statistics from the centre show that water is China's most precious resource, yet the water price is only one third the international average.

The low price has led to over consumption and water being wasted, said the report. The same problems have affected rural land and other resources.

Government statistics show that China's energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) rose slightly by 0.8 per cent in the first half of this year.

The rise represents a major challenge for economic planners, who envisaged a 4-per-cent cut in the country's energy consumption per unit of GDP in 2006.

Possible measures to deregulate prices include levying a resource tax, a windfall-profit tax or higher land-utilization fees to encourage companies to reduce their projects' environmental impact and solve the difficulties posed for people with low incomes.

The government should also increase resource utilization fees, said Huang Shengchu, president of the China Coal Information Institute.

For example, mine owners are charged only 1,000 yuan (US$125) annually per square kilometre of coalmine. "The government should raise that by a big margin," said Huang. "Low fees have caused a lot of waste."

The reckless exploitation of resources has led to shocking waste. As an example the DRC report cited northwestern Shaanxi Province, where mines on average extract only 30 per cent of the coal in a seam, leaving the other 70 per cent underground forever.

Amid recent requests from cabinet departments to speed up the liberation of the pricing regime, the Ministry of Commerce ruled out the possibility of rapid price hikes for major resources and energy during the second half this year.

But the commerce ministry forecasted further price increases for oil-related products because of a shortage in supply. For other production materials, the prices may remain "stable" or "lowering" due to the balance of supply and demand.

The ministry released the survey results after questioning companies in China and abroad on the price trends of nearly 300 production materials.

Chinese businesses will have to cope with continuously rising resources costs as pricing liberalization is sped up.

Despite concerns, the nation's top policy-making body, the National Development and Reform Commission, has vowed to push ahead with its liberalization campaign.

"We will allow the scarcity of resources to determine their price," said Bi Jingquan, the commission's vice-minister in charge of price reform, at a national forum last week. "That's the basic principle of the price reforms."

His words were echoed by a think-tank report released over the weekend, which called for price reforms to encourage more efficient economic growth.

Bi said liberalizing the pricing of raw materials and energy will definitely increase costs in the long run, but the government is determined to make prices more dependent on market forces.

Industry insiders said his speech was the first time the government has formally expressed its determination for pricing reform.

The major concern over the liberalization was possible consumer price hikes, which may cause financial difficulty for farmers and other disadvantaged people.

Bi said the government is considering further measures to liberalize the price of coal, electricity, oil, natural gas and water. "And related social policies, such as offering subsidies, are being considered to lessen the impact on disadvantaged groups."

Over the weekend, the government's top think-tank, the Development Research Centre (DRC) under the State Council, also called for reforms on resource prices to promote more efficient economic growth.

"The price reforms should increase the costs of resource products for businesses with low efficiency," said the DRC report, cited by Xinhua News Agency yesterday.

The DRC attributed China's current high energy-consuming growth mode to a price system that fails to reflect the scarcity of resources.

Statistics from the centre show that water is China's most precious resource, yet the water price is only one third the international average.

The low price has led to over consumption and water being wasted, said the report. The same problems have affected rural land and other resources.

Government statistics show that China's energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) rose slightly by 0.8 per cent in the first half of this year.

The rise represents a major challenge for economic planners, who envisaged a 4-per-cent cut in the country's energy consumption per unit of GDP in 2006.

Possible measures to deregulate prices include levying a resource tax, a windfall-profit tax or higher land-utilization fees to encourage companies to reduce their projects' environmental impact and solve the difficulties posed for people with low incomes.

The government should also increase resource utilization fees, said Huang Shengchu, president of the China Coal Information Institute.

For example, mine owners are charged only 1,000 yuan (US$125) annually per square kilometre of coalmine. "The government should raise that by a big margin," said Huang. "Low fees have caused a lot of waste."

The reckless exploitation of resources has led to shocking waste. As an example the DRC report cited northwestern Shaanxi Province, where mines on average extract only 30 per cent of the coal in a seam, leaving the other 70 per cent underground forever.

Amid recent requests from cabinet departments to speed up the liberation of the pricing regime, the Ministry of Commerce ruled out the possibility of rapid price hikes for major resources and energy during the second half this year.

But the commerce ministry forecasted further price increases for oil-related products because of a shortage in supply. For other production materials, the prices may remain "stable" or "lowering" due to the balance of supply and demand.

The ministry released the survey results after questioning companies in China and abroad on the price trends of nearly 300 production materials.

Beijing organisers will provide students with some low-fare tickets in order to better promote the Olympic Movement among the youngsters, local report said on Saturday.

Wang Hui, vice executive director of media and communication department of the Beijing organising committee, said that they are considering putting names on the low-price tickets which students need to get by producing identifications.

She added that the low price of tickets do not mean the seats are unfavorable for watching competition.

"All the seats of Olympic venues have been designed scientifically, and the view of any ticket holder will not be ¡¡hindered,"she was quoted as saying by Beijing Youth Daily.

There are a total of 7 million tickets for the competition of the 2008 Olympics, whose sales are expected to start from early next year, Wang added.

Beckham's England career appeared to have reached its journey's end after the Real Madrid midfielder was left out of McClaren's squad to face Greece in a friendly on Wednesday.

But McClaren, who took over the England helm from Sven-Goran Eriksson, told the BBC: "It's not the England manager's decision to end anyone's international career.

"While David says he has the passion to play for England, I have to respect that and I will monitor the situation in Madrid. I will never say never."

McClaren denied that dropping the 31-year-old had been the hardest decision he would ever have to make.

"It would have been hard if I didn't have the relationship I've got with him and if I didn't have the respect I have for him," he said.

"It was a big decision but one I felt I had to make for the future."

McClaren had encouraging words for Theo Walcott, the 17-year-old untried Arsenal striker who was surprisingly selected by Eriksson as part of his England World Cup squad.

"Theo Walcott is a very good player, he has a bright future and a future playing for England," McClaren said.

"But what he needs now is that experience he needs to play regularly at this level.

"We will give him that opportunity at under-21 level and, hopefully, he will break through and we will see him at senior level again."

McClaren appointed Cheslea's John Terry to replace Beckham as captain but he suggested that role one day could be handed to Wayne Rooney.

"He is a fantastic character. He is still very young but he wants to be the best player in the world and, ultimately, I know he will want to be captain of England," he said.

"That is a possibility."

SEOUL, South Korea -- Good news for the United States as the world championships approach: Carmelo Anthony is at full strength and the team is playing tough defense.

Both elements were evident Sunday in a 111-88 victory over Lithuania in a tuneup for the worlds, which begin Saturday in Sapporo, Japan. The Americans are 4-0 in exhibitions leading to the tournament.

Anthony hyperextended his knee during a win over Brazil last week. The Denver Nuggets forward scored 19 points against Lithuania, setting the tone with a slam in the opening minutes that drew a huge ovation.

Kristov Lavrinovic led Lithuania with 26 points. But Lithuania, ranked fourth in the world, hardly looked like the medal contender many expect it to be in Japan.

"Our game plan was to just keep the ball moving," said Anthony, who leads his team in scoring in the four games. "We know we can score from just about anywhere, so we don't have to wait for a fantastic shot."

Dwyane Wade added 14 points for the U.S., which placed seven players in double figures. LeBron James and Antawn Jamison added 13, Joe Johnson 12, and Kirk Hinrich and Chris Paul 10 each.

"I thought we played very good defense," U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "Lithuania is a strong team and we were able to take them out defensively. I think we got better today by playing an outstanding team."

After an exhibition Tuesday against South Korea, the U.S. will head to Sapporo, Japan, for its tournament opener against Puerto Rico.

Anthony, Wade, Hinrich, Shane Battier and Elton Brand started for the U.S. The Americans brought 14 players to Asia and must cut the roster to 12 before the worlds.

This latest performance was an impressive one for a team quickly adjusting to the wider lanes of international play. The United States finished sixth at the worlds in 2002 and third in 1998. The last time the Americans won the tournament was 1994.

Wade had 10 points in the first quarter. The Miami Heat guard hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give the U.S. a 25-9 lead midway through the opening period. James closed the first half with a 3-pointer before the buzzer to make it 56-32, and the Americans led by 28 after three quarters.

Early in the fourth, James brought the crowd to its feet with a one-handed dunk that made it 87-55. The Cleveland Cavaliers star put the U.S. ahead 108-78 with another jam with two minutes left.

In another game at the World Basketball Challenge, Stefano Mancinelli's 16 points carried Italy past South Korea 96-61. Lee Kyu-sup led South Korea (0-3) with 16 points.

SEOUL, South Korea -- Good news for the United States as the world championships approach: Carmelo Anthony is at full strength and the team is playing tough defense.

Both elements were evident Sunday in a 111-88 victory over Lithuania in a tuneup for the worlds, which begin Saturday in Sapporo, Japan. The Americans are 4-0 in exhibitions leading to the tournament.

Anthony hyperextended his knee during a win over Brazil last week. The Denver Nuggets forward scored 19 points against Lithuania, setting the tone with a slam in the opening minutes that drew a huge ovation.

Kristov Lavrinovic led Lithuania with 26 points. But Lithuania, ranked fourth in the world, hardly looked like the medal contender many expect it to be in Japan.

"Our game plan was to just keep the ball moving," said Anthony, who leads his team in scoring in the four games. "We know we can score from just about anywhere, so we don't have to wait for a fantastic shot."

Dwyane Wade added 14 points for the U.S., which placed seven players in double figures. LeBron James and Antawn Jamison added 13, Joe Johnson 12, and Kirk Hinrich and Chris Paul 10 each.

"I thought we played very good defense," U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "Lithuania is a strong team and we were able to take them out defensively. I think we got better today by playing an outstanding team."

After an exhibition Tuesday against South Korea, the U.S. will head to Sapporo, Japan, for its tournament opener against Puerto Rico.

Anthony, Wade, Hinrich, Shane Battier and Elton Brand started for the U.S. The Americans brought 14 players to Asia and must cut the roster to 12 before the worlds.

This latest performance was an impressive one for a team quickly adjusting to the wider lanes of international play. The United States finished sixth at the worlds in 2002 and third in 1998. The last time the Americans won the tournament was 1994.

Wade had 10 points in the first quarter. The Miami Heat guard hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give the U.S. a 25-9 lead midway through the opening period. James closed the first half with a 3-pointer before the buzzer to make it 56-32, and the Americans led by 28 after three quarters.

Early in the fourth, James brought the crowd to its feet with a one-handed dunk that made it 87-55. The Cleveland Cavaliers star put the U.S. ahead 108-78 with another jam with two minutes left.

In another game at the World Basketball Challenge, Stefano Mancinelli's 16 points carried Italy past South Korea 96-61. Lee Kyu-sup led South Korea (0-3) with 16 points.

PARIS - No buts about it, Zinedine Zidane is France's favorite personality.

Despite the head butt on an Italian defender that arguably cost France the World Cup, the former captain of the national soccer side is by far the most popular personality in the country, a new poll showed on Sunday.

Zidane was shown a red card 10 minutes before the end of extra time in the July 9 final after felling Italy's Marco Materazzi. That ensured he missed the penalty shoot-out that decided the match in Italy's favor.

But a survey by pollster Ifop for the Journal du Dimanche showed Zidane -- hailed as a footballing genius and one of the finest players of his generation -- is now the country's most popular figure for 48 percent of French people.

"The day after July 9, for many, his reputation seemed to have sunk. His head butt had ruined everything. And yet...," the newspaper said of Zidane in an article accompanying the survey.

"We have to believe that the French have forgiven him, have even knighted him," it said.

Zidane's 48 percent was way ahead of the country's former favorite Yannick Noah, the ex-tennis champion who has launched a successful new career as a pop star. He came second with 30 percent.

Third place, with an unspecified figure, went to ecologist Nicolas Hulot followed by aging French rocker Johnny Hallyday and film star Jean Reno.

The head butt ruined Zidane's swan-song, as the final was the last competitive match in an illustrious career that had taken him from his native Marseille to footballing giants Juventus and Real Madrid.

Zidane later said he had struck Materazzi after the Italian insulted his sister and mother, and offered only a partial apology for his actions. The pair were fined and given three- and two-match bans respectively by FIFA last month.

French President Jacques Chirac captured the mood of national forgiveness in the wake of the narrow defeat, hailing Zidane as a "virtuoso, a genius of world football" admired and loved by the country.

With the chart-topping success of the cheeky summer hit "Coup de Boule" (Head Butt), which immortalized Zidane's strike in song, it was clear France had forgiven its favorite son.

LONDON - There'll be no David Beckham, no Zinedine Zidane and no Fabio Cannavaro when international soccer resumes barely five weeks after the end of the World Cup.

Zheng Jie of China has ousted Anastasia Myskina of Russia in the women's Final of Nordea Nordic Light Open, 6-4, 6-1.

Two Chinese tennis players, Li Na and Zheng Jie, have reached the Top 30 in the WTA's World Rankings.  ²é¿´È«ÎÄ

An injury crisis has left China vulnerable ahead of its Group E Asian Cup qualifiers at home to Singapore with defenders Sun Jihai, Du Wei and Ji Mingyi all ruled out.

But on the positive side, several overseas-based players will be back, giving a lineup headache to coach Zhu Guanghu.

Shao Jiayi, who plays for Bundesliga side Energie Cottbus, arrived in Tianjin yesterday after the game against Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday. The midfielder is expected to lead the national team's attack tomorrow.

Shandong Luneng striker Li Jinyu is likely to start while club teammate Han Peng and Manchester United prospect Dong Fangzhuo will compete for the other striking options. That depends however if Zhu chooses to go with Shao as an attacking midfielder or as a striker.

If Shao plays in the midfield, Li Tie, who moved to Sheffield United from Everton this season, will jostle for starting position with national team regular Zhao Junzhe.

Meanwhile, crisis-hit Lebanon's enforced withdrawal from the qualifying competition has cast a dark cloud over across the region, Reuters reported.

Lebanon pulled out earlier this month because of the heavy damage inflicted on the country by Israeli air strikes. Asian officials approved Lebanon's decision with several players missing amid the devastation.

Lebanon was scheduled to play Bahrain away tomorrow in one of 12 qualifying matches.

Australia faces Kuwait in the other Group D game in Sydney with a young Socceroos side slight favorites to become the first team to qualify for next year's finals.

Kuwait will take heart from the fact Australia go into its first competitive game of the post-Guus Hiddink era with just two members of the squad that reached the last 16 of the World Cup.

Holder Japan will also be expected to take three points at home to Yemen in Group A.

New coach Ivica Osim has named an inexperienced squad unrecognizable from the one that flopped badly at the World Cup under previous coach Zico.

Saudi Arabia will look to keep pace with Japan when it travels to India in the other Group A game.

Iran suffered a blow when playmaker Ali Karimi pulled out of its Group B game with Syria through injury but will still start as a firm favorite to win in front of a partisan crowd in Tehran's Azadi Stadium.

NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal of the Miami Heat has joined China's leading sportswear company LiNing to tap the huge basketball market in China.

NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal of the Miami Heat has joined China's leading sportswear company LiNing to tap the huge basketball market in China.

NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal of the Miami Heat has joined China's leading sportswear company LiNing to tap the huge basketball market in China.

NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal of the Miami Heat has joined China's leading sportswear company LiNing to tap the huge basketball market in China.

BEIJING, Aug 14 - There is no way Olympic and world 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin can avoid a lifetime ban if his positive test for testosterone is confirmed, a senior IAAF official said on Monday.

IAAF general secretary Pierre Weiss, speaking on the sidelines of a news conference to open the world junior championships, said any work American Gatlin's lawyers did to prove there were special circumstances would be in vain.

"There is no question," Weiss said. "The rules are very clear, two years for a first offence then a lifetime ban.

"If it is confirmed that he has tested positive for testosterone, I don't see any way not to impose a lifetime ban."

The IAAF are still waiting to receive official confirmation of the charges against Gatlin from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Gatlin appealed against his first positive test, for amphetamine at the U.S. junior championships in 2001, saying the drug was contained in a prescription medicine he had taken for 10 years to counter a form of attention deficit disorder.

As a result, The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) reinstated him early from his two-year ban, although he was told that another positive test would result in a lifetime ban.

BITTERLY DISAPPOINTED

IAAF president Lamine Diack said on Monday that the rules under which Gatlin's first ban was appealed no longer stood and reiterated his disappointment that such a high profile athlete had tested positive.

"We were all bitterly disappointed to hear ... Gatlin failed a dope test," Diack told the news conference.

"Although his case has not yet been concluded, we must use this opportunity to underline the IAAF's total commitment to the fight against doping.

"In order to defend the credibility of our sport we will engage all our efforts ... to defend the majority of clean athletes against the small minority who persist in ignoring our anti-doping rules."

Late last month, Gatlin announced he had tested positive for male sex hormone testosterone or its precursors but said he did not know how the substance had got into his sample.

A card game called "Mafia" that requires competitors to "kill" their fellow players is sweeping China.

Pubs, clubs and restaurants are full of people playing the game, and it has even jumped to the Internet, where games can last a whole day.

The game has, however, caused controversy, with some professors complaining the game is too violent.

Searching the Internet, surfers can find out everything about the game, including information about game rules, online game services, "Mafia" clubs and debates on the advantages and disadvantages of the game.

There are various forms of the game, although the type using cards usually has 10 to 20 players who take on a number of different roles, including a judge, cops, killers, an angel and ordinary people.

The aim of the game differs depending on which character you play, but killers do just that, while ordinary people have to find who the killers are.

Xclub, in the Haidian District of Beijing, was one of the first "Mafia" clubs in China.

"The game can improve people's personalities, making them smarter and quicker," according to Yuan Yi, the club's vice-manager. "Introvert people become more active."

The Beijing-based club has registered more than 50,000 members all over the country since opening for business in March.

Yuan said members are from a wide range of circles, including public relations workers, media people, IT engineers and students.

"The name sounds scary but actually it builds up your brain without any actual violence. It demands high concentration, which is a great challenge," said player Liu Mei, a 28-year old Beijing architect.

"I think this game is much more meaningful than surfing online, doing karaoke, or playing poker or mahjong."

But not everyone agrees.

A player will try hard to lie, deny he is a killer and by fair means or foul "kill" others," said Gao Feng, a professor from Beijing People's Police College.

"People will imitate these ways of thinking when they commit a crime in real life and try to escape legal punishment."

"Players are easily addicted to the game and become numb when it comes to 'killing,'" added another professor, Zhang Zhensheng, from China Public Security University.

"These cheating minds formed through the game will have a negative effects on lives and careers in the long run," he said.

Zhang even predicts that lie detectors could fail when faced with experienced "Mafia" game players as they will be used to cheating.

GUANGZHOU: China's first clinical gene vaccine that fights SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, is expected to be launched after clinical testing.

The news came after the opening of a genetic vaccine research centre last week in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province.

The centre, a co-operative project between Guangzhou-based Sun Yat-sen University and the US-based University of Pennsylvania, is the first of its kind in Guangdong Province.

"We will conduct research into vaccines against tropical epidemic diseases that greatly threaten human health," said Li Gang, vice-president of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.

According to Li, the centre is currently working on research into vaccines against AIDS, SARS, dengue fever, Avian flu and other epidemic disease.

In terms of a genetic vaccine against SARS, Li said the research has already been conducted at the University of Pennsylvania.

Further clinical trials on the vaccine will be conducted after its approval by the State Food and Drug Administration, according to Li.

"After clinical testing, China will see its first genetic vaccine against SARS," Li said in an interview with China Daily yesterday.

The SARS vaccine has been tested on animals and proved a success, according to Gao Guangping, vice- director of the research centre.

"The genetic vaccine is totally different from other vaccines; it has been developed from the gene of a disease source, such as animals," Gao said.

He said civet cats had not developed SARS after being vaccinated by the genetic vaccine.

"The genetic vaccine is able to deal with any variation of the SARS virus," Gao said.

He also revealed that China would soon begin testing a genetic vaccine against AIDS on humans.

According to Gao, co-operation on vaccine research at the centre has been approved by the US Department of Defence, the State Department and the Department of Commerce, and China's Ministry of Education.

Sun Yat-sen University signed an agreement with the University of Pennsylvania on the vaccine research last September.

According to the agreement, both sides will share the intellectual property rights of genetic vaccines.

He said investment in the co-operation projects totalled 20 million yuan (US$2.5 million), which has come from the Guangzhou municipal government, Sun Yat-sen University and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.

Five-year-old Rebecca Jin had to leave her favourite doll at Beijing Capital International Airport yesterday, after airport security officials found that it contained liquid.

Rebecca's mother Jin Zhaohui, 35, finally persuaded her daughter to give up the doll by promising to buy her a new one in the United States.

"We knew that liquids and gels were forbidden on airplanes before we got here," said Jin, who was travelling with her three children on a United Airlines flight yesterday afternoon.

However, she did not expect that the doll, a "Fairy Barbie," contained liquid in its wings.

As Rebecca liked the doll very much and did not want to leave it at first, airport staff and her mother tried to cut the wings open to let the liquid flow out. But as they lacked suitable tools, they had to give up.

"There are many similar cases happening at the moment. People read the news about liquids and gels banned on flights to the United States, but they just do not reckon their face cream, lip balm or medicine is in the forbidden category," said Yang Yan, a United Airlines employee working at the airport.

Despite feeling exhausted after working non-stop for the past few days, she said she was pleased that most passengers were showing understanding and following her advice.

Due to tighter security checks, check-in time has increased.

"Security departments used to check an average 240 passengers per hour, now they can only check about 130 passengers," said Li Wei, who is in charge of security checks for flights to the US.

"Our staff are working over time. They do not even have time to go to the washroom or drink some water," said Li.

In order to ease pressure on the 21 staff at channels 15 to 18 where passengers for the United States pass through, Li has added 10 more personnel.

There are also three guides handing out leaflets in the international departure hall and suggesting passengers, especially women, put their cosmetics into checked luggage before it is too late.

At present, no flights leaving Beijing for the United States have been cancelled since British police last Thursday foiled a terrorist plot to blow up aircraft between the United States and Britain.

In Shanghai, tightened security measures seemed to have little impact on operations at Shanghai's two airports, authorities said yesterday.

"Everything is going smoothly in both Hongqiao and Pudong airports. There have been no cancellations or delays. Passengers are very co-operative when we carry out our security checks," said a spokesman surnamed Huang from Shanghai Airport Group, which manages the two airports.

"Our security measures have been very strict, even without warnings of terrorist attacks. Compared with London, we have a much easier task," he added.

Special measures were mainly taken for flights to destinations in the United States, including forbidding passengers from bringing liquids onto the planes.

Such measures will remain until the General Administration of Civial Aviation of China gives instructions to cancel them, he said.

Technology will be harnessed to curb illegal acquisition of farmland for property development, the government announced yesterday.

By 2010, the new land regulation system equipped with satellite-based remote sensing and Internet communications among other things will cover all cities and 95 per cent of land in rural regions, the Ministry of Land and Resources said.

Data collected by the system will include physical dimensions, soil quality rating, and ownership of every piece of land, said Fan Zhiquan, a department director at the ministry.

He said the central government would depute specially-trained staff to monitor changes to land use contracts and prevent illegal transactions.

"The supervision system is especially important now as the central government tries to control land supply to cool overheated investment in fixed assets," said Fan.

The rampant acquisition of land from farmers by local and grass-root governments and loose credit supply have heated China's economy since mid-2003. Despite stricter land-control measures and tighter credit, the nation's economy still grew at 10.9 per cent during the first half of this year.

In the long run, Fan said, the new system and closer monitoring of land use can help ensure that the country has enough arable land.

China had 122 million hectares of arable land last year, down from 130 million hectares in 1996. According to the ministry, it needs at least 106.7 million hectares of cultivated land to feed its projected population peak of 1.6 billion in 2030.

Experts said the monitoring system can help prevent infringement of farmers' rights.

"The system, which is widely used in developed countries, can stop local governments from grabbing land from farmers," said Jiang Zhongyi, a senior researcher at the Agricultural Economic Research Centre affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Currently, some local governments acquire farmland for commercial purposes but fail to report the change of ownership to provincial or central governments, so as to evade tight restrictions the central government has placed on the reclamation of arable land for business use.

Premier Wen Jiabao last month expressed concern over provincial and local governments using too much land for real-estate development; the low transfer cost of land for industrial purposes; and rampant illegal occupation of farmland.

The ministry responded by releasing regulations stipulating that all land for business, tourism, recreation, commercial property and other profitable purposes be transferred through public bidding and auctions.

BEIRUT: Heavy fighting in southern Lebanon stopped abruptly yesterday after a UN-brokered truce came into effect, but reports that Israeli troops killed two Hezbollah guerrillas underlined the fragility of the calm.

As East China picks up the pieces from the devastation left in the wake of Saomai's trail, the southwestern part of the country reels under drought and high temperatures.

The death toll from the typhoon rose to 255 yesterday, with 41 more bodies discovered in Fuding of Fujian Province.

More than 160 are still missing after Saomai, the strongest typhoon to hit the country in five decades, wrought havoc in the eastern provinces of Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangxi.

In Fuding, the worst-hit city in the province, 138 people were killed, 1,350 injured and 86 missing.

Officials at the Fujian Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said most of the victims were killed when the "super typhoon" broke the moorings on their ships which sought shelter in the harbour.

Others died in typhoon-triggered incidents such as floods, landslides and mudflows.

The Fuding death-toll update brings the total fatalities in Fujian to 166. Previous reports listed 87 dead and 52 missing in Zhejiang Province where Saomai barreled in, and two dead and one missing in nearby Jiangxi.

In Zhejiang, at least 2.1 million people have been affected, 18,000 houses destroyed and 56 provincial roads and national highways swamped, causing losses of 4.89 billion yuan (US$611 million).

Meanwhile, heat waves in Southwest China have caused blackouts, water shortages and an increasing number of people suffering sunstrokes, local media reported.

The highest temperatures there ranged between 35C and 40C; and water levels in many sections of the Yangtze River are historically low.

The Yangtze River Hydrological Bureau said that this month, the volume of water entering the Three Gorges Reservoir in the middle reaches of the river was only 8,400 cubic metres per second, about the same as the February dry season.

Weather forecasts offer little hope of rainfall in the next few days in the upper and middle reaches of the river, including Sichua Province and Chongqing Municipality, where farmers are facing blistering drought.

Chongqing is suffering the worst drought in the past 50 years and water supplies for nearly 7.5 million people have been threatened, local authorities said yesterday.

More than 1.3 million hectares of cropland have been affected, according to a spokesman for the Chongqing Municipal Disaster Relief Office.

"Two thirds of the communities and townships in the municipality have reported water supply shortages," he said.

The drought has caused direct losses of about 2.5 billion yuan (US$312.5 million), he said.

The dry spell has lasted for more than 50 days in most areas of Chongqing, the spokesman said.

In neighbouring Sichuan, the drought has made it difficult for more than 3 million people and 4 million livestock to access drinking water. Meanwhile, nearly 1.4 million hectares of cropland have been affected, or 39 per cent of the total in the drought-hit areas.

"Sichuan is suffering its worst drought since 1972," said Zhang Shilin, director of the office responsible for artificial rainfall.

Yuncheng City of north China's Shanxi Province reported 65 cases of encephalitis B as of Monday, up from Sunday's figure of 60.

Of the 65 people, 19 have died, 38 are being treated in hospital, four are being treated at home and four have fully recovered and have been discharged from hospital, according to the daily update from the Yuncheng City Health Bureau.

Effective measures have been taken to curb the spread of the disease since the first case of encephalitis B was reported in the city on July 13, said bureau head Zhou Ying.

Local people were told how to protect themselves from contracting the disease, the environment was cleaned up and vaccination was enhanced in the affected and nearby areas, Zhou added.

All these efforts have paid off and the epidemic situation is under control, the official said.

Nine out of the 13 counties of the city, which has a population of 5 million, have reported cases of encephalitis B, said the local disease control center.

Encephalitis B causes an inflammation of the brain and can be contracted by people of all ages. It is usually the result of a viral infection passed to humans by mosquitoes. The illness begins with flu-like symptoms and severe headaches.

Many people who have fallen ill come from the rural areas of Yuncheng and live on flood plains of the Yellow River, where there is poor sanitation and good breeding conditions for mosquitoes, Zhou said.

Yuncheng reported about 30 cases of encephalitis B patients in 2005. The number of encephalitis B patients in Yuncheng accounts for over 50 percent of the total in Shanxi Province every year.

Investment in China's factories, real estate and other fixed assets likely grew at a slower pace in July as the government moved to curb expansion.

Fixed-asset investment in towns and cities climbed 30.7 percent in the first seven months from a year earlier, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey of 20 economists. The gain follows a 31.3 percent increase in the first half. The figures are due at 10 a.m. local time tomorrow.

Premier Wen Jiabao is stepping up efforts to curb spending on factories and real estate to prevent the world's fastest-growing major economy from overheating. Money supply expansion has cooled since May and new lending dropped last month after banks were forced to set aside more money as reserves.

"Investment growth likely eased marginally in July in line with the moderation of money supply and bank loan growth as well as policies such as those targeted at the property market," said Qian Wang, an economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Hong Kong.

Money supply grew 18.4 percent in the year to July after accelerating to 19.1 percent in May, the fastest pace since December 2003. New yuan lending in July totaled 171.8 billion yuan, half the monthly average in the first six months of the year.

In its second-quarter policy report last week, the People's Bank of China said it would use a mix of monetary tools to reduce the amount of cash in the financial system available for investment funding. The central bank raised lending rates in April and has since twice increased the reserve requirement ratio for commercial banks.

Inflation Concerns

China's economy grew 11.3 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, the fastest expansion in a decade, raising concerns that booming investment may stoke inflation. The last time China expanded that fast, in 1994, inflation was running at more than 20 percent.

The central bank last week said economic growth will slow "slightly" in the second half and warned that inflationary pressure is rising as surging investment boosts prices of raw materials and energy.

Inflation as measured by the consumer price index unexpectedly fell to 1 percent in July as vegetable prices dropped. Excluding food, inflation was 1.2 percent, matching June's pace which was the fastest since November.

"The government is worried about the impact of investment on inflation," said Hong Liang, an economist at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in Hong Kong. "It will be inflationary, and when you have inflation you have to tighten."

Government Commands

The National Development and Reform Commission, the nation's top economic planning body, on Aug. 1 said it ordered provincial authorities to review new investment projects and cancel those that don't meet the government's industrial, land, credit and environmental regulations.

The crackdown is aimed at reining in an expansion Wen has said could ultimately lead to overcapacity, falling prices and rising bad loans in the nation's banks. The World Bank says failure to slow investment may lead to a sharp slowdown in China's economy.

Administrative measures may not be as effective as monetary tightening because local authorities may find ways to skirt central government commands, some economists said.

"We wouldn't look for a sharp downturn in spending because of these new policy announcements," said Jonathan Anderson, chief Asia economist at UBS AG in Hong Kong. ``Beijing never has much success with this kind of industrial policy management.''

Industrial output probably rose 18.9 percent in July, slowing from June's 19.5 percent expansion, the Bloomberg Survey showed. Production figures are due at 10 a.m. local time today.

Semiconductor Plants

Growth in overall fixed-asset investment, which includes spending in rural areas, will slow to as little as 20 percent in the second half from 30 percent in the first half, the National Development and Reform Commission said in a report published in the China Securities Journal on Aug. 3. The economic planning agency targets 18 percent expansion for the full year.

Investment is still rising at almost triple the pace of the overall economy as companies including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. build factories in the nation to meet surging domestic demand. Semiconductor Manufacturing is spending $1.1 billion this year to expand capacity at its plants on the mainland.

"Our China business is growing rapidly and steadily so we have to position ourselves to have enough capacity to service our customers in China and worldwide," Chief Executive Richard Chang said in a July 31 interview.

Investment in China's factories, real estate and other fixed assets likely grew at a slower pace in July as the government moved to curb expansion.

Fixed-asset investment in towns and cities climbed 30.7 percent in the first seven months from a year earlier, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey of 20 economists. The gain follows a 31.3 percent increase in the first half. The figures are due at 10 a.m. local time tomorrow.

Premier Wen Jiabao is stepping up efforts to curb spending on factories and real estate to prevent the world's fastest-growing major economy from overheating. Money supply expansion has cooled since May and new lending dropped last month after banks were forced to set aside more money as reserves.

"Investment growth likely eased marginally in July in line with the moderation of money supply and bank loan growth as well as policies such as those targeted at the property market," said Qian Wang, an economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Hong Kong.

Money supply grew 18.4 percent in the year to July after accelerating to 19.1 percent in May, the fastest pace since December 2003. New yuan lending in July totaled 171.8 billion yuan, half the monthly average in the first six months of the year.

In its second-quarter policy report last week, the People's Bank of China said it would use a mix of monetary tools to reduce the amount of cash in the financial system available for investment funding. The central bank raised lending rates in April and has since twice increased the reserve requirement ratio for commercial banks.

Inflation Concerns

China's economy grew 11.3 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, the fastest expansion in a decade, raising concerns that booming investment may stoke inflation. The last time China expanded that fast, in 1994, inflation was running at more than 20 percent.

The central bank last week said economic growth will slow "slightly" in the second half and warned that inflationary pressure is rising as surging investment boosts prices of raw materials and energy.

Inflation as measured by the consumer price index unexpectedly fell to 1 percent in July as vegetable prices dropped. Excluding food, inflation was 1.2 percent, matching June's pace which was the fastest since November.

"The government is worried about the impact of investment on inflation," said Hong Liang, an economist at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in Hong Kong. "It will be inflationary, and when you have inflation you have to tighten."

Government Commands

The National Development and Reform Commission, the nation's top economic planning body, on Aug. 1 said it ordered provincial authorities to review new investment projects and cancel those that don't meet the government's industrial, land, credit and environmental regulations.

The crackdown is aimed at reining in an expansion Wen has said could ultimately lead to overcapacity, falling prices and rising bad loans in the nation's banks. The World Bank says failure to slow investment may lead to a sharp slowdown in China's economy.

Administrative measures may not be as effective as monetary tightening because local authorities may find ways to skirt central government commands, some economists said.

"We wouldn't look for a sharp downturn in spending because of these new policy announcements," said Jonathan Anderson, chief Asia economist at UBS AG in Hong Kong. ``Beijing never has much success with this kind of industrial policy management.''

Industrial output probably rose 18.9 percent in July, slowing from June's 19.5 percent expansion, the Bloomberg Survey showed. Production figures are due at 10 a.m. local time today.

Semiconductor Plants

Growth in overall fixed-asset investment, which includes spending in rural areas, will slow to as little as 20 percent in the second half from 30 percent in the first half, the National Development and Reform Commission said in a report published in the China Securities Journal on Aug. 3. The economic planning agency targets 18 percent expansion for the full year.

Investment is still rising at almost triple the pace of the overall economy as companies including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. build factories in the nation to meet surging domestic demand. Semiconductor Manufacturing is spending $1.1 billion this year to expand capacity at its plants on the mainland.

"Our China business is growing rapidly and steadily so we have to position ourselves to have enough capacity to service our customers in China and worldwide," Chief Executive Richard Chang said in a July 31 interview.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will make a pilgrimage later on Tuesday to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine for war dead, considered to be a symbol of Japan's past militarism, an aide said.

Pollutant emissions have increased in the first half of the year, the country's top environmental watchdog warned yesterday.

Pollutant emissions have increased in the first half of the year, the country's top environmental watchdog warned yesterday.

LONDON, Aug 7 - Renault say a damaged wheel nut caused Fernando Alonso's retirement while he was leading Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Formula One champion's failure to finish, his first in more than a year, left the title battle finely balanced with Ferrari's Michael Schumacher 10 points adrift with five races remaining.

Engineering head Pat Symonds said in a team review of the weekend's action that a safety mechanism holding the wheel nut on had failed to disengage at Alonso's second pitstop.

"That meant the wheel nut was damaged as it was removed, and did not re-attach correctly as the new wheel went on.

"The reassuring fact is that this is a simple problem to fix, and doesn't put the exceptional reliability of the R26 in any doubt. We will have a modified solution in place for Turkey," he said.

LONDON, Aug 7 - Fernando Alonso says the Formula One championship has been transformed into a winner-takes-all battle that is going his way despite the best efforts of Ferrari's Michael Schumacher.

The Spaniard told reporters after the most action-packed and exciting grand prix of the season in Hungary on Sunday: "I am confident that I am going to win more races with Renault so everything's okay."

The 25-year-old world champion saw his advantage over Schumacher trimmed by just one point to 10, with five races remaining, after he crashed out while leading.

It was the first time since Canada in June 2005 that the Renault driver had failed to score in a race.

Seven times champion Schumacher could have bitten a hefty chunk out of that lead in the first wet race in years but the German failed to finish, inheriting eighth place only after BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica was disqualified.

Instead Briton Jenson Button took a thrilling first victory -- and the current Honda team's first -- on an afternoon without a Renault or a Ferrari on the podium.

"It doesn't change anything at all for us," said Renault's chief strategist Pat Symonds, after the team's first complete blank of the season left Renault seven points ahead of Ferrari in the constructors' standings.

MINIMAL DIFFERENCE

"The end result in terms of the points difference is minimal.

"The pleasure of yesterday's race for the team was that we were able to dominate in all conditions, and that the Renault was the best car out there," he added in a team review of the weekend.

"Equally, we feel very, very confident that in a dry race, the car would have been extremely competitive, and I am convinced we would have beaten Ferrari.

"In spite of scoring zero points, that's a very encouraging situation for the next races."

Alonso, winner six times so far this season to Schumacher's five, said before Sunday's race he expected Hungary and the next two races in Turkey and Italy round to be difficult for Renault.

He had seen the team coming back strongly in China, Japan and the season-ender in Brazil but he sounded more confident on Sunday's evidence.

BUDAPEST, Aug 7 - BMW Sauber parted company with Jacques Villeneuve on Monday after replacing the 1997 Formula One world champion with Poland's Robert Kubica in Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.

The team said that the Canadian would not drive for them again this season, a decision that looks sure to end the 35-year-old's grand prix career after 163 races and 11 victories.

"Following discussions last week, Jacques Villeneuve and the BMW Sauber F1 team agreed to terminate their current contract with immediate effect five races ahead of schedule," the statement said.

Villeneuve said the team had told him last week that they wanted to try out Kubica and could offer him no assurances of a drive after Hungary.

"This is really disappointing as I was looking forward to working with BMW on longer terms -- going into next season capitalising on our common experiences," he said on his personal Web site.

"I will now have more time to concentrate on future projects.

BMW team boss Mario Theissen thanked Villeneuve for his contribution in the German carmaker's first season since they bought Sauber.

"Jacques has performed well for us this year, scoring the team's first grand prix points in Malaysia," he said.

"However after Jacques's accident in the Hockenheim race, the team decided to review its options for next year, including assessing Robert Kubica in a race environment," added Theissen.

He said this "naturally impacted Jacques' position for the remainder of this season" and BMW fully understood that "it is difficult for Jacques to maintain his natural level of commitment in circumstances of uncertainty."

HEAVY CRASH

Villeneuve crashed heavily in his last race, the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim eight days ago. The team said last week that he had told them he had a headache and could not race in Hungary.

Few in Formula One, a sport awash with rumour and speculation, believed that the driver was really unwell and suspected that he would not be seen in a grand prix car again.

The Canadian has not won a race since his championship season with Williams and his last podium finish was third place with BAR, a team he joined from the outset in 1999, at Hockenheim in 2001.

MELBOURNE, Aug 8 - Williams driver Mark Webber expects Red Bull to emerge from the pack and challenge the likes of McLaren, Ferrari and Renault when he joins them in 2007.

"I'm very confident Red Bull will be the most improved team next season," the Australian told reporters in a conference call on Tuesday.

Red Bull Racing, which took over the Jaguar team Webber left for Williams at the end of 2004, announced on Monday that the 29-year-old would be driving alongside David Coulthard in 2007.

After Williams announced last month that Austrian test driver Alexander Wurz would be partnering Nico Rosberg in 2007, Webber's Formula One career lay elsewhere and he said he was delighted to take up the challenge with Red Bull.

"We are not going to win the world championship, I'm realistic but I am confident we can have a strong season, one which I am really looking forward to," he said.

"Red Bull wants to win and whether that will happen next year could be a tall order, to be consistent points scorers is what we want. We could be in the top five next year, which would still be quite a hard challenge."

Webber revealed he knew before the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim he would be leaving Williams and be joining the team owned by Austrian energy drink billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz.

Flavio Briatore, Webber's manager and Renault team boss, orchestrated the move and the former Jaguar pilot was inevitably linked with the vacancy at the French team vacated when world champion Fernando Alonso heads for McLaren in 2007.

"It was before Hockenheim I knew I would be going to Red Bull. Flavio gave me the minimum I could expect and I knew he would look after me and he's a man of his word.

"When Red Bull came for me they came pretty hard to the finish line and to tell you the truth I'm delighted to be with them."

RELIABILITY PROBLEMS

He stressed he was disappointed to be leaving the Williams team but after a season dogged by reliability problems he thought his best chances lay elsewhere.

"Formula One careers are short and it's important to make the most of every year. It's disappointing it didn't work out at Grove but that can happen and we all suffered there together and still are.

"I'm not one for jumping ships, I'd have finished my career at Williams but in the end you've got to look for something better for the future."

LONDON, Aug 8 - Briton Jenson Button can go on to become a multiple race winner and world champion after taking his first Formula One victory in Hungary at the weekend, according to Jackie Stewart.

"Jenson has got the keys to the door now," the Scot, three times a world champion, told the Daily Mail newspaper on Tuesday.

"Even though he may not win the next race, people cannot say that Jenson flopped again...I believe he can go and win many more times if he has got the car.

"Jenson can go on to be world champion. He has the talent to do that."

Button was the first Briton to win a grand prix since David Coulthard in 2003 and the first Englishman since Johnny Herbert in 1999.

Neither Coulthard nor Herbert went on to win the championship. Damon Hill, who took his first victory in Hungary in 1993, remains the last British world champion in 1996.

Hill warned Button that he might face a long wait for another success.

"I believe that Honda still has some more work to do before we can regard the team as having consistently winning equipment," he told the Guardian newspaper.

"Jenson's win was very much a wild-card success in unusual circumstances and it's my feeling that when it comes to the next race in Istanbul it will be back to situation normal, with the team reverting to its role as a championship pretender rather than an established front runner."

CARSON, Calif. - Throwing out her pride along with 10 double-faults, Lindsay Davenport's comeback ended with a 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3 loss to Australian Samantha Stosur in the JPMorgan Chase Open on Wednesday

DENVER - The Denver Nuggets traded guard-forward Ruben Patterson to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday for forward Joe Smith. Smith has averaged 12.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in 751 career games with Golden State, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Detroit and Milwaukee. He averaged 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 44 games for the Bucks last season.

Smith was the top overall pick by the Warriors in the 1995 NBA draft and his best season was 1996-97, when he averaged 18.7 points and 8.5 rebounds for Golden State.

Patterson was acquired in a deadline deal with Portland on Feb. 23. He averaged 13.2 points and 3.5 rebounds in 26 games with Denver. For the year, his averages were 12.1 points and 3.4 rebounds.

NEW YORK - Knicks coach Isiah Thomas has filed court papers denying he sexually harassed a former team executive, the New York Daily News reported Thursday.

In the 12-page court document filed Wednesday, Thomas acknowledged he once touched Anucha Browne Sanders' shoulder, and may have even tried to kiss her on the cheek. But he insisted he did nothing wrong, reiterating his stance since the allegations were made public in January.

Sanders, the Knicks' former senior vice president of marketing and business operations, contends she was fired in January "for telling the truth" while going through internal channels to stop the harassment. She has accused Thomas of telling her he was "very attracted" to her and "in love" with her and tried to kiss her.

Her "inability to accept the changes that occurred under Thomas' leadership fueled her antipathy toward Thomas and are reflected by this meritless lawsuit," Thomas' lawyers said in papers filed in Manhattan Federal Court, the Daily News reported.

According to the papers, Thomas admits he "greeted plaintiff by placing his hand on her shoulder and attempting to kiss her on the cheek."

But he categorically denied all of Browne Sanders' accusations.

"Many of the allegations are without any factual support and those that have some semblance of accuracy have been distorted," Thomas' defense attorney, Peter Parcher, wrote.

Thomas previously asked a judge to toss out the lawsuit and have Browne Sanders pick up the tab for his legal fees. Browne Sanders' attorney, Kevin Mintzer, declined comment to the newspaper on Thomas' papers, which were filed a week after she amended her lawsuit, adding James Dolan, the chairman of Madison Square Garden's parent company Cablevision, as a defendant.

In court documents, Browne Sanders said Thomas often berated her and made crude comments about her to Knicks officials, telling them not to listen to any of her directions.

In its own court papers, the Garden said Browne Sanders' firing was for legitimate business reasons.

NEW YORK - Michael Curry, who played only two of his 11 pro seasons in the National Basketball Association, was named the league's vice president of basketball operations, NBA commissioner David Stern said.

Michael Curry(L) and NBA Commissioner David Stern pose for a photo in June 2005. Curry, who played only two of his 11 pro seasons in the National Basketball Association, was named the league's vice president of basketball operations, Stern said.

No one would accuse Wang Zhizhi, China's former and first NBA star of having things too easy since his return to China's national team this April from the U.S. after a five-year estrangement from the team - the seven foot-one-inch center has spent most of his time on the bench after being injured five times in just over three months of training and games

CARSON, Calif. - Throwing out her pride along with 10 double-faults, Lindsay Davenport's comeback ended with a 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3 loss to Australian Samantha Stosur in the JPMorgan Chase Open on Wednesday.

NEW YORK - Michael Curry, who played only two of his 11 pro seasons in the National Basketball Association, was named the league's vice president of basketball operations, NBA commissioner David Stern said.

BEIJING - Guinea international Ousmane Bangoura, who lost the sight in one eye after an incident in a Chinese Super League match last month, will receive 1.3 million yuan ($163,200) in compensation from his club, local newspapers reported on Thursday

MILAN, Italy _ Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined Inter Milan for euro24.8 million (US$31.9 million) on Thursday, becoming the latest player to leave demoted Juventus.

The 2006 edition of the yearly charity race, Beijing Terry Fox Run, will take place on September 23rd to raise money for the cancer research.

This year's Terry Fox Run in Beijing will start from the Worker's Stadium at ten o'clock in the morning and will finish at the Cancer Hospital with a distance of approximately eight kilometers.

Participants can run, walk, ride their bikes, use their wheel chairs or their roller blades.

The Runs will also be held in Shanghai and GuangZhou later this fall.

Canadian Terry Fox initiated the race in 1977 when the 18-year-old at that time, still a college student, was diagnosed with bone cancer and forced to have his right leg amputated.

In 1980, Terry started his charity race, also named Marathon of Hope, across Canada on an artificial leg to raise money for cancer research.

After Terry died in 1981, people held the race to commemorate Terry's feat and raise money for cancer research.

In 1998, the first time of Marathon of Hope in China was held in Shanghai. Beijing began to hold the yearly run next year with tens of thousands of participants joined this activity in Beijing.

Last year, funds raised amounted to over 1.2 million RMB (about 150.000 US dollars).

STOCKHOLM, Sweden _ Third-seeded Jie Zheng beat Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-4, 6-4 Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Nordic Light Open.

LONDON (AP) _ John Terry's development into one of England's most dependable players was completed Thursday when he was named captain of the national team.

QINHUANGDAO, North China, August 10 -- The Chinese national soccer squad crushed Thai under-23 national team 4-0 here on Thursday night in a soccer friendly.

A report released by the State Development and Reform Commission shows that the Gini coefficient, an index for measuring the income disparity, has now reached 0.4, or the maximum point within the appropriate range in China's urban areas.

China's first-ever auction of licenses for hunting wild animals, scheduled for Sunday, has triggered controversies after a Beijing newspaper released the news Wednesday.

The Beijing Youth Daily said in its Wednesday edition that foreigners would be allowed to hunt wild animals like yak when they become successful bidders at the auction to take place in Chengdu, capital of southwestern Sichuan Province.

The planned auction, however, was criticized by some angry Chinese netizens as a profit-driven move that would have a fatal impact on wild life conservation in China, where the situation is not encouraging.

An official with the State Forestry Administration (SFA), organizer of the auction and China's watchdog for wild life, defended the move on Thursday, saying that wild animals such as wolf, red deer and yak among the auction hunts are not endangered species and appropriately-managed hunting is helpful for their protection.

Chinese government has strengthened wild life conservation over the past decades and the population of some wild animals has been increasing so quickly that they have become a burden on the local ecological system, Wang Weisheng, an official with SFA's wildlife and plants protection department, told Xinhua.

Wang also confirmed that foreigners will be allowed to hunt in eight western areas including Sichuan, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Gansu and Xinjiang , but the exact species and quotes are not decided yet.

Once a foreigner wins a hunting license, the hunter will pay 200 U.S. dollars for a wolf, 6,000 dollars for a red deer, and 10,000 U.S. dollars for an argali, or wild Asiatic sheep with big horns

"The hunting quotas we set for each species this time are quite limited and only the old ones are allowed to be killed, so as to ensure the trophy hunting would not have a negative impact on the wild life population," said Wang.

"What's more, the money from the auction will be used for protection of endangered species," he said.

Wang's comments won support from the forestry authorities in Sichuan, which have received a rising number of reports on wild animals, especially vegetarian ones, intruding local villages and destroying crops.

Take takins for instance. The rising population of the ruminant mammal with backward-pointing horns and a shaggy coat, which was put under national protection in the 1960s and has been listed in the auction hunts, have even threatened the living of wild giant pandas, said Wang Hongjia, head of the Sichuan provincial station for wildlife resources survey and administration.

"The two species live in the same mountainous area and we've found takins are obviously in a stronger position in habitat and food competition," said Wang.

"Even though, hunting for takins would be allowed only in designated areas and when the animals are not in their oestrum or breeding period," said Wang.

Though a novelty in China, sales of licenses for hunting wild animals , or trophy hunting, takes place in some African countries.

It has also aroused wide objection from animal lovers and wildlife protection organizations as rare animals, like elephant and rhinoceros which were prohibited for trade by international pact, were also on the target list due to an excessive population in a certain country.

"We are against Sunday's auction hunts. The point is well-meaning polices do not always result in an ideal way. Some people may have the wrong idea that the government is loosening protection for wild animals and those who have money can do what they want," Yang Xin, head of Green River, a Chengdu-based non-governmental organization for environment protection, told Xinhua.

Yang's organizations have successfully carried out times of wildlife researches in the Hoh Xil, a major habitat of the endangered Tibetan antelope in southwestern China, and around the source of the Yangtze River in Qinghai Province.

"We've found the wildlife population did begin to recover in these areas after the local government confiscated guns from local residents, but we are not very sure if their wild population are stable enough for hunting," said Yang.

"Even if the number of some wild animal was so much as to cause troubles, trophy hunting is not the best solution now," he said.

Yang suggested that a compensation mechanism should be established as soon as possible to ensure both the living rights of wild animals and economic benefits of local residents can be properly guaranteed.

"The government can set up a special fund for those who suffered from wild animal intrusion, which is helpful for local residents to maintain their just-formed habit to protect wildlife, " said Yang.

O'gorman Dermot, chief representative of World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) China branch, also urged the Chinese government to pay special attention to the species selection and quota setting when carrying out trophy hunting.

"Trophy hunting to some species does occur in some countries and it can help with conservation for some species in some countries and also improve livelihoods of local communities when it was scientifically based and properly managed, but of course, we don't support trophy hunting to some endangered or threatened species," the WWF China chief told Xinhua.

"There must be clear laws and guidelines on the quotas (for trophy hunting) that allocated and professional hunting standards for what type of animals can be targeted," said Dermot, adding special attention should be given on monitoring the hunting process.

According to Wang Hongjia, the forestry authorities concerned have been required to assign special workers to accompany foreign hunters during the whole hunting process to make sure trophy hunting is properly conducted.

It's hard to get excited about China's efforts to slow its white-hot economy.

Sure, the world is watching -- it has to. An overheated China that spirals into crisis could make the region's 1997 meltdown look negligible. China, after all, is the world's No. 4 economy and one that even Japan -- the second-biggest -- is relying on for growth.

The U.S. also has a big stake in a Chinese soft landing. Corporate America has found China's cheap labor and land ideal for boosting profits in a competitive world. And then there is the $326 billion of Treasuries held by China's central bank. That keeps U.S. interest rates low and consumers in the stores.

Even so, it's difficult to buy into the view that China really wants to slow its economy, at least not significantly. To date, its efforts smack more of public relations than genuine steps to reduce growth. Then again, how does China do it?

It's often pointed out that China is a command economy controlled by officials in Beijing. Yet they have far less sway over their $2.2 trillion economy than many analysts assume, and China's model is to blame. Increasingly, local governments are dominating development. Since they benefit from all the investment rushing to China -- and creating overheating risks -- they're loath to tap on the brakes.

Not only does China lack the kind of vibrant debt markets that could make its monetary policies more potent, it also has little power over some of the forces driving the economy, which grew 11.3 percent in the second quarter.

Where can China look for direction? Asia's 1997 crisis may offer some clues about what China is experiencing at the moment, and where it's headed.

A 1997 Quality

On the face of it, the events that slammed Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea before denting markets around the globe seem of little relevance to China. A major trigger for the crisis was Thailand's devaluation on July 2, 1997. China is almost universally thought to have an undervalued currency. It also avoided the crisis, keeping the yuan pegged in 1997 rather than devaluing it.

Yet there are some intriguing similarities between the challenges facing China today and the ones Asia confronted nine years ago. Just as with many economies in the region in 1997, investors are concerned about the quality of Chinese growth.

Lost in the hype about China's rise is the reality that much of the economic expansion is powered by public spending and by investment from abroad. In other words, there's little about China's boom that's self-sustaining. Asia was in that situation in 1997.

Overcapacity

Together with exports, investment has catapulted China's economy past the U.K. in the 28 years since Deng Xiaoping's free- market changes. In the most recent quarter, gross domestic product grew at the fastest pace since 1994, when the economy was a quarter of its current size. And yet, China has one of the world's lowest ratios of household spending to GDP.

The kinds of overcapacity in industries and unproductive investments that were at the root of the Asian crisis abound in China. What's fascinating about China's rise is how it's all good. It's the place to be, it's thought to be run by geniuses and anyone who isn't rushing there is a fool. Yet China must create millions of jobs each year to maintain stability, while also slowing growth. That's quite a challenge.

Just as in Asia before 1997, investors and corporate executives are so dazzled by China's growth that they're willing to overlook the risks of it all coming to an end. To them, it's China's vast potential and its 1.3 billion people that matter, not a rickety financial system, rampant pollution or the risk of social instability.

Dazzled by GDP

Unfolding around China today is one of the greatest building booms in history. A dozen cities vying to be the next Shanghai are constructing five-star hotels, shopping centers, six-lane highways, universities, airports, you name it. It's all being financed with debt that could go bad if the economy slows.

China also is producing too much cement, aluminum, clothing and other goods. In that way, the country has its fair share of deflationary pressures to offset concern it may overheat.

In the years since 1997, Asian economies have tried to move away from so-called fixed-asset investments such as schools, roads, factories, dams and bridges, in favor of stimulating consumer spending. At the moment, spending on such projects only adds to China's overcapacity. Over time, that may crimp corporate profits and exacerbate the bad-debt threat for banks.

Lessons for China?

China's currency is also the target of more and more speculators. No foreign-exchange trader would test China's resolve to keep the yuan from strengthening. It's intriguing, though, that just as in Asia's case in 1997, China's economic pressures are showing up in its exchange rate.

None of this means a Chinese crisis is imminent. Officials in Beijing have proven remarkably astute at keeping things from running out of control. Yet if China is searching for a glimpse of what lies ahead, Asia's experience may provide some insight.

Production faults were cited by health authorities yesterday as a major reason for an antibiotic killing at least seven people nationwide.

China's trade surplus hit a record in July for the third month in a row, which may raise outside pressure for a stronger yuan.

The surplus rose to US$14.6 billion from US$10.4 billion in July 2005, the customs administration said. Economists polled by Reuters had expected no change from June's US$14.5 billion.

The figures came a day after the central bank highlighted the risks posed by the large surplus and said the yuan's exchange rate should be part of a package of measures to rebalance the world's fourth-largest economy.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi dropped new hints Thursday that he may visit a shrine critics say glorifies militarism on the anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender.

Speculation is building that Koizumi, despite sharp international criticism, will make a pilgrimage to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, a sensitive date marking the end of World War II in Asia.

China and India last month reopened crossborder trade through the Himalayan Nathu La Pass, but trade is running at a "low level" and was "not ideal," a Chinese official said Thursday.

The most powerful typhoon to hit China in five decades raged across the southeastern coast Thursday, claiming at least 111 lives as it capsized ships, destroyed buildings and forced 1.5 million people from their homes.

After two local governments ordered mass killings of dogs following a rabies outbreak, a heated debate has emerged about that method of rabies control.

The local government of Mouding County, in southwest China's Yunnan Province, killed 54,429 dogs from July 25 to 30 after discovering 357 locals had been bitten by dogs so far this year and that three people had died of rabies.

The local government of Jining City, in east China's Shandong Province, did the same, after the city's 9 counties and districts and 14 townships reported several outbreaks of rabies that have claimed several lives.

Dog lovers consider the local governments' actions horrific.

"If these dogs weren't vaccinated, that's people's fault and dogs should not be made to pay for human negligence," said Tang Bing, a tourism official.

"The mass slaughter of dogs is cold-blooded. Governments should detect dogs with rabies and put them down in a humane manner," said Stone Chen, a 22-year-old journalist and dog owner.

Protest letter

Fourteen animal protection associations from all over the country wrote a letter to protest the two governments' mass slaughter policy.

They said rabies had broken out in other parts of the country in the past, but local governments had curbed the spread of the contagious disease by strengthening vaccination work and killing vagrant dogs.

Other citizens believe the mass slaughter of dogs in the event of a rabies outbreak is necessary.

An Internet user left a message on Xinhuanet.com saying that thousands of unvaccinated dogs in a county would pose a huge threat to the public.

Ding Zhengrong, a local epidemic prevention official in Yunnan Province, said if advance measures could be taken to prevent an outbreak of rabies, there would be no mass killing of dogs.

"Compulsory vaccination of all dogs is a solution," Ding said. He added some urban families failed to register and vaccinate their dogs because of the expensive fees.

In Jining City, in Shandong Province, it costs a family 4,500 yuan (US$565) to register and vaccinate a dog. The high cost reduces registrations and increases the risk of rabies outbreaks, Ding said. In vast rural areas, there is no clear-cut dog registration and vaccination system.

The Bush administration posted an unprecedented code-red alert for passenger flights from Britain to the United States and banned liquids from all carry-on bags Thursday, clamping down quickly after British authorities disrupted a frightening terror plot.

Murder, rape, arson and bombing cases in China dropped sharply in the first half of this year, while economic crimes rose quickly, said Wu Heping, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Security, yesterday.

Wu said the reduction of violent crimes came after public security authorities strengthened their efforts to crack down on crimes.

Murder cases dropped 14.9 percent in the period from a year ago and rape crimes declined by 6.3 percent, with arsons falling 17.5 percent and bombings down 18.3 percent.

Police cracked 33,000 economic crimes in the period, an increase of 6.8 percent from a year earlier.

The economic crimes involved 58.14 billion yuan (US$7.27 billion).

Among the economic crimes, 14,000 cases disturbed market order, growing 22.3 percent from a year earlier, the spokesman said.

"The government pays more attention to the acts that disturb market order, such as fake advertisements, illegal businesses, damaging a company's reputation and contract fraud," Wu said.

Offenses that disturbed the public order also dropped, Wu said. Prostitution cases were down 6.2 percent. The number of gambling cases fell 51.9 percent and narcotic crimes were down 20 percent.

Wu said China had witnessed a significant decrease in juvenile delinquency in the first six months of 2006, the first time in recent years.

The percentage of people under 25 among arrested criminal suspects dropped by 6.5 percent year-on-year.

Crimes committed by youths under 18 dropped 11.4 percent in the period, Wu said.

"Parents should be responsible for educating their children, together with schools and society. We should all do our part and help the young criminals begin a new life," Wu said.

In recent years, China has witnessed an upsurge in juvenile delinquency. In 2005, more than 70 percent of the country's robbery cases were committed by juveniles.

Also, in the first six months of the year, the country recorded 129,000 fire incidents, which killed 871 people and injured 991, and causing 394 million yuan of economic losses.

All these figures were down over the previous period.

Police investigated a total of 1.811 million property infringement cases - mainly burglary and robbery cases - down 1.5 percent.

Overall, police filed 2.115 million criminal cases, down 1 percent, and cracked 1.185 million criminal cases, up 3.7 percent, Wu said.

A German scientist has been testing an "anti-stupidity" pill with encouraging results on mice and fruit flies, Bild newspaper reported Saturday. ²é¿´È«ÎÄ

With their wallets bulging, more and more wealthy Shanghai families are hiring Philippine maids to speak English with the kids, despite an official ban on hiring foreign workers.

Some rich Shanghaiese are willing to pay 6,000 yuan (750 U.S. dollars) a month to hire a Philippine servant with a college education background, much higher than the average salary of 3,000 to 4,000 yuan (375 to 500 dollars) that most Philippine servants can get.

In comparison, a Chinese servant generally gets no more than 1,500 yuan (187.5 dollars) a month.

A major reason for the burgeoning demand for the Filipinos is that they can speak English with the children at home.

But the market is still outlawed by government regulations. According to the Shanghai labor and social security bureau, individuals and families are not allowed to hire foreign laborers.

The bureau has launched a month-long inspection campaign into the employment of foreigners and people from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan to stamp out irregularities.

But with more and more foreigners, corporate management personnel and professionals coming in, the market is too lucrative to be overlooked by homemaking companies.

Official statistics show that over 50,000 foreigners and nearly 20,000 people from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are currently working in Shanghai.

Insiders estimate that there is a demand for around 4,000 to 5,000 Philippine maids in Shanghai and at least 2,000 such servants are already working.

60 percent of them were brought to the mainland by their employers, while the other 40 percent have been introduced by Shanghai's homemaking companies, which import Filipinos ostensibly as foreign teachers for private schools and kindergartens.

Xia Jun, head of the Shanghai Jialilai Homemaking Co., hoped the government would relax its market controls which forced his company to abort a plan to introduce Filipinos three years ago.

"We cannot employ Filipinos, so we can only train Chinese to have the same qualifications as a Filipino servant, including their ability to speak English and provide housemaking services."

To meet market demand, the company now hires English teachers from less developed central and western regions, but Xia hoped the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and 2010 Shanghai World Expo would prompt the authorities to loosen policy controls.

A German scientist has been testing an "anti-stupidity" pill with encouraging results on mice and fruit flies, Bild newspaper reported Saturday. ²é¿´È«ÎÄ

Officials in Jinshan District are rounding up unlicensed dogs and slaying them after a 59-year-old man died of rabies on Saturday morning.

The Shanghai Public Health Center yesterday confirmed Jin Weiren contacted rabies after his two dogs bit him earlier this year.

The Jinshan District Disease Prevention Center has sterilized the man's residence in Luxiang Town and vaccinated anyone who had close contact with the victim.

District police have also launched a blanket search of the area for unlicensed dogs. They wouldn't say how many unlicensed canines have been seized and killed so far.

According to police, Jin was rushed to the town's medical clinic on August 1, then transferred to a district hospital. He finally died at the Shanghai Public Health Center at 12:20am on Saturday.

Jin was bitten twice on the left hand by a female dog he kept and one of its puppy in January and July of this year.

The man did not receive medical treatment for the wounds until August 1 when he came down with the illness, police said.

Zhou Yaowei, an official from the Shanghai Public Health Center, said Jin was very ill by the time he arrived