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File - Conclave at the Vatican

File photo - Roman Catholic Cardinals filed into the Sistine Chapel for a conclave to elect a new pope on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media /ABACAPRESS.COM

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File - Conclave at the Vatican

File photo - Roman Catholic Cardinals filed into the Sistine Chapel for a conclave to elect a new pope on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media /ABACAPRESS.COM

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File - Conclave at the Vatican

File photo - Roman Catholic Cardinals filed into the Sistine Chapel for a conclave to elect a new pope on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media /ABACAPRESS.COM

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File - Conclave at the Vatican

File photo - Roman Catholic Cardinals filed into the Sistine Chapel for a conclave to elect a new pope on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media /ABACAPRESS.COM

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File - Conclave at the Vatican

File photo - Roman Catholic Cardinals filed into the Sistine Chapel for a conclave to elect a new pope on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican.Photo by (EV) Vatican Media /ABACAPRESS.COM

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File - Conclave at the Vatican

File photo - A view of the plates where the ballots will be deposited by the cardinals during the conclave in the Sistine chapel at the Vatican on March 12, 2013. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media /ABACAPRESS.COM

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File - Conclave at the Vatican

File photo - Roman Catholic Cardinals filed into the Sistine Chapel for a conclave to elect a new pope on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media /ABACAPRESS.COM

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File - Conclave at the Vatican

File photo - Roman Catholic Cardinals filed into the Sistine Chapel for a conclave to elect a new pope on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican.Photo by (EV) Vatican Media /ABACAPRESS.COM

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File - Conclave at the Vatican

File photo - Roman Catholic Cardinals filed into the Sistine Chapel for a conclave to elect a new pope on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media /ABACAPRESS.COM

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File - Conclave at the Vatican

File photo - Before the conclave three versions, small, medium and large of the white habit are ready for the new pope near the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on March 12, 2013. Roman tailor Annibale Gammarelli made three versions, small, medium and large of the white vestments the new pope will wear when he first appears to the world. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media /ABACAPRESS.COM

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File - Conclave at the Vatican

File photo - Closing of the door of the Sistine Chapel before a conclave to elect a new pope on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Photo by Eric Vandeville/ABACAPRESS.COM

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BENIN-PARAKOU-CHINESE TECHNOLOGY-COTTON PRODUCTION

(240612) -- PARAKOU, June 12, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- This photo taken on March 25, 2022 shows agricultural machinery of the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin, in Belle Cite village, near the central city of Parakou, Benin. Parakou is a vital hub for cotton production in Donatien Benin, with cotton cultivation serving as the primary income source for locals like Ezin. Since 2013, the Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin has been assisting local farmers to improve agricultural techniques. TO GO WITH "Feature: Chinese technology boosts cotton production in Benin" (Chinese Support Mission for Cotton Production in Benin/Handout via Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-OPERA-PRINCESS WENCHENG (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Artists perform in a new season of the historical opera "Princess Wencheng" in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. "Princess Wencheng" was first staged in Lhasa in 2013. Since its debut, more than 1,800 performances of the opera have been staged. The show tells the story of Princess Wencheng, who came all the way from Chang'an (today's city of Xi'an) to marry Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo over 1,300 years ago. (Xinhua/Tenzing Nima Qadhup)

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-OPERA-PRINCESS WENCHENG (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Artists perform in a new season of the historical opera "Princess Wencheng" in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. "Princess Wencheng" was first staged in Lhasa in 2013. Since its debut, more than 1,800 performances of the opera have been staged. The show tells the story of Princess Wencheng, who came all the way from Chang'an (today's city of Xi'an) to marry Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo over 1,300 years ago. (Xinhua/Tenzing Nima Qadhup)

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-OPERA-PRINCESS WENCHENG (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Artists perform in a new season of the historical opera "Princess Wencheng" in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. "Princess Wencheng" was first staged in Lhasa in 2013. Since its debut, more than 1,800 performances of the opera have been staged. The show tells the story of Princess Wencheng, who came all the way from Chang'an (today's city of Xi'an) to marry Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo over 1,300 years ago. (Xinhua/Tenzing Nima Qadhup)

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-OPERA-PRINCESS WENCHENG (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Artists perform in a new season of the historical opera "Princess Wencheng" in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. "Princess Wencheng" was first staged in Lhasa in 2013. Since its debut, more than 1,800 performances of the opera have been staged. The show tells the story of Princess Wencheng, who came all the way from Chang'an (today's city of Xi'an) to marry Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo over 1,300 years ago. (Xinhua/Tenzing Nima Qadhup)

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-OPERA-PRINCESS WENCHENG (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Artists perform in a new season of the historical opera "Princess Wencheng" in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. "Princess Wencheng" was first staged in Lhasa in 2013. Since its debut, more than 1,800 performances of the opera have been staged. The show tells the story of Princess Wencheng, who came all the way from Chang'an (today's city of Xi'an) to marry Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo over 1,300 years ago. (Xinhua/Tenzing Nima Qadhup)

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-OPERA-PRINCESS WENCHENG (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Artists perform in a new season of the historical opera "Princess Wencheng" in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. "Princess Wencheng" was first staged in Lhasa in 2013. Since its debut, more than 1,800 performances of the opera have been staged. The show tells the story of Princess Wencheng, who came all the way from Chang'an (today's city of Xi'an) to marry Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo over 1,300 years ago. (Xinhua/Tenzing Nima Qadhup)

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-BARREN MOUNTAIN-TREE PLANTING (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- An aerial photo taken on March 12, 2024 shows villagers of the Donggar community transferring saplings by cableway in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. In Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, more than 90 villagers of the Donggar community gathered on Xiga Mountain Tuesday to earth up saplings. They planned to plant about 2,000 saplings on this day. Xiga Mountain, which once was barren with rocks, has transformed its appearance since a proposal by Rigzin, a group leader of the Donggar community, in 2013 to utilize part of the collective income for tree-planting. From the year of 2013 to 2020, a total of 28.54 million yuan (about 3.97 million U.S. dollars) was invested, greening 800 mu (about 53.33 hectares) of the mountain land. Thanks to related policies rolled out by local government, villagers of the group planted an area of 1,200 mu (about 80 hectares) with trees in 2021. In 2022, Rigzin's group was granted a loan of 24 mil

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-BARREN MOUNTAIN-TREE PLANTING (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Villagers of the Donggar community transfer saplings by cableway in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. In Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, more than 90 villagers of the Donggar community gathered on Xiga Mountain Tuesday to earth up saplings. They planned to plant about 2,000 saplings on this day. Xiga Mountain, which once was barren with rocks, has transformed its appearance since a proposal by Rigzin, a group leader of the Donggar community, in 2013 to utilize part of the collective income for tree-planting. From the year of 2013 to 2020, a total of 28.54 million yuan (about 3.97 million U.S. dollars) was invested, greening 800 mu (about 53.33 hectares) of the mountain land. Thanks to related policies rolled out by local government, villagers of the group planted an area of 1,200 mu (about 80 hectares) with trees in 2021. In 2022, Rigzin's group was granted a loan of 24 million yuan (about 3.34 million U.S. dollars) to joi

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-BARREN MOUNTAIN-TREE PLANTING (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on March 12, 2024 shows trees planted on Xiga Mountain in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. In Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, more than 90 villagers of the Donggar community gathered on Xiga Mountain Tuesday to earth up saplings. They planned to plant about 2,000 saplings on this day. Xiga Mountain, which once was barren with rocks, has transformed its appearance since a proposal by Rigzin, a group leader of the Donggar community, in 2013 to utilize part of the collective income for tree-planting. From the year of 2013 to 2020, a total of 28.54 million yuan (about 3.97 million U.S. dollars) was invested, greening 800 mu (about 53.33 hectares) of the mountain land. Thanks to related policies rolled out by local government, villagers of the group planted an area of 1,200 mu (about 80 hectares) with trees in 2021. In 2022, Rigzin's group was granted a loan of 24 million yuan (about 3.34 million U.S. dollars) to j

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-BARREN MOUNTAIN-TREE PLANTING (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on March 12, 2024 shows villagers of the Donggar community planting saplings in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. In Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, more than 90 villagers of the Donggar community gathered on Xiga Mountain Tuesday to earth up saplings. They planned to plant about 2,000 saplings on this day. Xiga Mountain, which once was barren with rocks, has transformed its appearance since a proposal by Rigzin, a group leader of the Donggar community, in 2013 to utilize part of the collective income for tree-planting. From the year of 2013 to 2020, a total of 28.54 million yuan (about 3.97 million U.S. dollars) was invested, greening 800 mu (about 53.33 hectares) of the mountain land. Thanks to related policies rolled out by local government, villagers of the group planted an area of 1,200 mu (about 80 hectares) with trees in 2021. In 2022, Rigzin's group was granted a loan of 24 million yuan (about 3.34 mill

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-BARREN MOUNTAIN-TREE PLANTING (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Villagers of the Donggar community transfer saplings in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. In Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, more than 90 villagers of the Donggar community gathered on Xiga Mountain Tuesday to earth up saplings. They planned to plant about 2,000 saplings on this day. Xiga Mountain, which once was barren with rocks, has transformed its appearance since a proposal by Rigzin, a group leader of the Donggar community, in 2013 to utilize part of the collective income for tree-planting. From the year of 2013 to 2020, a total of 28.54 million yuan (about 3.97 million U.S. dollars) was invested, greening 800 mu (about 53.33 hectares) of the mountain land. Thanks to related policies rolled out by local government, villagers of the group planted an area of 1,200 mu (about 80 hectares) with trees in 2021. In 2022, Rigzin's group was granted a loan of 24 million yuan (about 3.34 million U.S. dollars) to join a greening

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-BARREN MOUNTAIN-TREE PLANTING (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A villager of the Donggar community waters saplings in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. In Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, more than 90 villagers of the Donggar community gathered on Xiga Mountain Tuesday to earth up saplings. They planned to plant about 2,000 saplings on this day. Xiga Mountain, which once was barren with rocks, has transformed its appearance since a proposal by Rigzin, a group leader of the Donggar community, in 2013 to utilize part of the collective income for tree-planting. From the year of 2013 to 2020, a total of 28.54 million yuan (about 3.97 million U.S. dollars) was invested, greening 800 mu (about 53.33 hectares) of the mountain land. Thanks to related policies rolled out by local government, villagers of the group planted an area of 1,200 mu (about 80 hectares) with trees in 2021. In 2022, Rigzin's group was granted a loan of 24 million yuan (about 3.34 million U.S. dollars) to join a greening

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-BARREN MOUNTAIN-TREE PLANTING (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Rigzin (C) and villagers of the Donggar community plant saplings in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. In Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, more than 90 villagers of the Donggar community gathered on Xiga Mountain Tuesday to earth up saplings. They planned to plant about 2,000 saplings on this day. Xiga Mountain, which once was barren with rocks, has transformed its appearance since a proposal by Rigzin, a group leader of the Donggar community, in 2013 to utilize part of the collective income for tree-planting. From the year of 2013 to 2020, a total of 28.54 million yuan (about 3.97 million U.S. dollars) was invested, greening 800 mu (about 53.33 hectares) of the mountain land. Thanks to related policies rolled out by local government, villagers of the group planted an area of 1,200 mu (about 80 hectares) with trees in 2021. In 2022, Rigzin's group was granted a loan of 24 million yuan (about 3.34 million U.S. dollars) to joi

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-BARREN MOUNTAIN-TREE PLANTING (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Villagers of the Donggar community plant saplings in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. In Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, more than 90 villagers of the Donggar community gathered on Xiga Mountain Tuesday to earth up saplings. They planned to plant about 2,000 saplings on this day. Xiga Mountain, which once was barren with rocks, has transformed its appearance since a proposal by Rigzin, a group leader of the Donggar community, in 2013 to utilize part of the collective income for tree-planting. From the year of 2013 to 2020, a total of 28.54 million yuan (about 3.97 million U.S. dollars) was invested, greening 800 mu (about 53.33 hectares) of the mountain land. Thanks to related policies rolled out by local government, villagers of the group planted an area of 1,200 mu (about 80 hectares) with trees in 2021. In 2022, Rigzin's group was granted a loan of 24 million yuan (about 3.34 million U.S. dollars) to join a greening pr

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-BARREN MOUNTAIN-TREE PLANTING (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Villagers of the Donggar community transfer saplings in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. In Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, more than 90 villagers of the Donggar community gathered on Xiga Mountain Tuesday to earth up saplings. They planned to plant about 2,000 saplings on this day. Xiga Mountain, which once was barren with rocks, has transformed its appearance since a proposal by Rigzin, a group leader of the Donggar community, in 2013 to utilize part of the collective income for tree-planting. From the year of 2013 to 2020, a total of 28.54 million yuan (about 3.97 million U.S. dollars) was invested, greening 800 mu (about 53.33 hectares) of the mountain land. Thanks to related policies rolled out by local government, villagers of the group planted an area of 1,200 mu (about 80 hectares) with trees in 2021. In 2022, Rigzin's group was granted a loan of 24 million yuan (about 3.34 million U.S. dollars) to join a greening

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-BARREN MOUNTAIN-TREE PLANTING (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Rigzin, a group leader in the Donggar community, checks the growth of saplings in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. In Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, more than 90 villagers of the Donggar community gathered on Xiga Mountain Tuesday to earth up saplings. They planned to plant about 2,000 saplings on this day. Xiga Mountain, which once was barren with rocks, has transformed its appearance since a proposal by Rigzin, a group leader of the Donggar community, in 2013 to utilize part of the collective income for tree-planting. From the year of 2013 to 2020, a total of 28.54 million yuan (about 3.97 million U.S. dollars) was invested, greening 800 mu (about 53.33 hectares) of the mountain land. Thanks to related policies rolled out by local government, villagers of the group planted an area of 1,200 mu (about 80 hectares) with trees in 2021. In 2022, Rigzin's group was granted a loan of 24 million yuan (about 3.34 million U.S. d

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-BARREN MOUNTAIN-TREE PLANTING (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Villagers of the Donggar community plant saplings in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. In Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, more than 90 villagers of the Donggar community gathered on Xiga Mountain Tuesday to earth up saplings. They planned to plant about 2,000 saplings on this day. Xiga Mountain, which once was barren with rocks, has transformed its appearance since a proposal by Rigzin, a group leader of the Donggar community, in 2013 to utilize part of the collective income for tree-planting. From the year of 2013 to 2020, a total of 28.54 million yuan (about 3.97 million U.S. dollars) was invested, greening 800 mu (about 53.33 hectares) of the mountain land. Thanks to related policies rolled out by local government, villagers of the group planted an area of 1,200 mu (about 80 hectares) with trees in 2021. In 2022, Rigzin's group was granted a loan of 24 million yuan (about 3.34 million U.S. dollars) to join a greening pr

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-BARREN MOUNTAIN-TREE PLANTING (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A villager of the Donggar community transfers saplings in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. In Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, more than 90 villagers of the Donggar community gathered on Xiga Mountain Tuesday to earth up saplings. They planned to plant about 2,000 saplings on this day. Xiga Mountain, which once was barren with rocks, has transformed its appearance since a proposal by Rigzin, a group leader of the Donggar community, in 2013 to utilize part of the collective income for tree-planting. From the year of 2013 to 2020, a total of 28.54 million yuan (about 3.97 million U.S. dollars) was invested, greening 800 mu (about 53.33 hectares) of the mountain land. Thanks to related policies rolled out by local government, villagers of the group planted an area of 1,200 mu (about 80 hectares) with trees in 2021. In 2022, Rigzin's group was granted a loan of 24 million yuan (about 3.34 million U.S. dollars) to join a greeni

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-BARREN MOUNTAIN-TREE PLANTING (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A villager of the Donggar community waters saplings in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. In Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, more than 90 villagers of the Donggar community gathered on Xiga Mountain Tuesday to earth up saplings. They planned to plant about 2,000 saplings on this day. Xiga Mountain, which once was barren with rocks, has transformed its appearance since a proposal by Rigzin, a group leader of the Donggar community, in 2013 to utilize part of the collective income for tree-planting. From the year of 2013 to 2020, a total of 28.54 million yuan (about 3.97 million U.S. dollars) was invested, greening 800 mu (about 53.33 hectares) of the mountain land. Thanks to related policies rolled out by local government, villagers of the group planted an area of 1,200 mu (about 80 hectares) with trees in 2021. In 2022, Rigzin's group was granted a loan of 24 million yuan (about 3.34 million U.S. dollars) to join a greening

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-BARREN MOUNTAIN-TREE PLANTING (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Villagers of the Donggar community transfer saplings in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. In Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, more than 90 villagers of the Donggar community gathered on Xiga Mountain Tuesday to earth up saplings. They planned to plant about 2,000 saplings on this day. Xiga Mountain, which once was barren with rocks, has transformed its appearance since a proposal by Rigzin, a group leader of the Donggar community, in 2013 to utilize part of the collective income for tree-planting. From the year of 2013 to 2020, a total of 28.54 million yuan (about 3.97 million U.S. dollars) was invested, greening 800 mu (about 53.33 hectares) of the mountain land. Thanks to related policies rolled out by local government, villagers of the group planted an area of 1,200 mu (about 80 hectares) with trees in 2021. In 2022, Rigzin's group was granted a loan of 24 million yuan (about 3.34 million U.S. dollars) to join a greening

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(InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-LHASA-BARREN MOUNTAIN-TREE PLANTING (CN)

(240313) -- LHASA, March 13, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Villagers of the Donggar community plant saplings in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2024. In Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, more than 90 villagers of the Donggar community gathered on Xiga Mountain Tuesday to earth up saplings. They planned to plant about 2,000 saplings on this day. Xiga Mountain, which once was barren with rocks, has transformed its appearance since a proposal by Rigzin, a group leader of the Donggar community, in 2013 to utilize part of the collective income for tree-planting. From the year of 2013 to 2020, a total of 28.54 million yuan (about 3.97 million U.S. dollars) was invested, greening 800 mu (about 53.33 hectares) of the mountain land. Thanks to related policies rolled out by local government, villagers of the group planted an area of 1,200 mu (about 80 hectares) with trees in 2021. In 2022, Rigzin's group was granted a loan of 24 million yuan (about 3.34 million U.S. dollars) to join a greening pr

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Egypt extends initiatives to support tourism sector

STORY: Egypt extends initiatives to support tourism sector DATELINE: Dec. 26, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:12 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) 2. various of banks in Egypt STORYLINE: The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced on Sunday that it has extended two initiatives supporting the tourism sector through March 2023. The initiatives were initially set to expire at the end of this year. The first initiative allows companies to obtain loans with a lower interest rate, within which the banks will accept the beneficiaries' requests to delay due repayment to the banks. The initiative was first launched in 2013 and amended in 2021 to support the sector amid the severe impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The second initiative that was extended aims to provide retail loans to the sector's workers. During the three-month period, the banks will be required to carry forward the dues on the initiative's beneficiaries, particularly for loans obtained by workers for co

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Tokyo Commodity Exchange starts trading in 4 farm products

TOKYO, Japan - Tadashi Ezaki (L), president of Tokyo Commodity Exchange Inc., rings the bell during a ceremony at the exchange in Tokyo on Feb. 12, 2013, before TOCOM started trading in four agricultural products transferred from the Tokyo Grain Exchange, which will be disbanded in March.

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Restoration of 'miracle pine'

RIKUZENTAKATA, Japan - A part of the trunk of the "miracle pine" that initially withstood the massive March 2011 tsunami is suspended from a crane to be planted into the ground in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on Feb. 12, 2013, as restoration of the tree reached the final stage. The remnants of the tree were dissected in September 2012 into several parts for anti-decay treatment.

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Sharp returns to black in FY 2013

TOKYO, Japan - Sharp Corp. President Kozo Takahashi holds a press conference in Tokyo on May 12, 2014, on the electronics maker's earnings results for fiscal 2013. Sharp said it returned to profitability in the business year ended March 2014 for the first time in three years, posting a group net profit of 11.56 billion yen, on increased sales of its mainstay liquid crystal display panels and solar batteries.

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Private-sector managed public library in Saga Pref.

SAGA, Japan - Visitors relax at Takeo City Library in Takeo, Saga Prefecture, on April 1, 2014, one year after the public library was reopened under the management of a private-sector entity. The total number of visitors to the library in fiscal 2013 ended March 31 reached 920,000, 3.6 times higher than the last fiscal year the library was open for a full 12 months under city management.

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Osaka high-tech exhibition attracts 900,000 visitors

OSAKA, Japan - A girl looks at robots and other high-tech exhibits at Active Lab., an intellectual entertainment space in Knowledge Capital of Grand Front Osaka in Osaka, western Japan, on March 12, 2014. Active Lab. attracted over 900,000 visitors in the 10 months since opening in April 2013, about double the initial annual goal.

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2 and a half years after quake

SENDAI, Japan - Combination photos from a Kyodo News helicopter show the Yoshida area of Watari town, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 12, 2011 (L), a day after the March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake, and about two and a half years later on Sept. 1, 2013 (R), complete with a greenhouse complex to grow strawberries.

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2 and a half years after quake

SENDAI, Japan - Combination photos from a Kyodo News helicopter show the Arahama area of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 12, 2011 (top), the day of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and about two and a half years later on Sept. 1, 2013 (bottom).

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2 and a half years after quake

SENDAI, Japan - Combination photos taken from a Kyodo News helicopter show the Shishiori area in the city of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 12, 2011 (L), the day after the March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake, and about two and a half years later on Sept. 1, 2013 (R). Work began Sept. 9, 2013, to dismantle the fishing vessel Kyotoku Maru No. 18 (front in both) that was washed ashore by the tsunami and has remained stranded.

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Undersea debris

SENDAI, Japan - Photo taken with a fisheye lens on July 12, 2013 at about 25 meters deep in the Pacific Ocean off Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture, shows a tower-like aggregation of debris from the March 2011 tsunami, including ropes from fish farming facilities and crushed fishing gears.

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Undersea debris

SENDAI, Japan - Photo taken with a fisheye lens on July 12, 2013 at about 25 meters deep in the Pacific Ocean off Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture, shows a tower-like aggregation of debris from the March 2011 tsunami, including ropes from fish farming facilities and crushed fishing gears.

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JETRO official supports Japan firms in Yangon

YANGON, Myanmar - Toshihiro Mizutani, an official at the Japan External Trade Organization's Yangon office, speaks on March 12, 2013, at the office about his job. Since 2011, Mizutani has provided information and support to Japanese companies considering advancing into Myanmar.

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MIT Professor Richard Samuels

NEW YORK, United States - Richard Samuels, political science professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and author of "3.11 Disaster and Change in Japan," speaks in an interview with Kyodo News in New York on March 12, 2013.

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Japanese astronomers at Alma radio telescope

ATACAMA PLATEAU, Chile - Shinya Komugi (L), a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, talks with colleagues on March 12, 2013, in an operation center located at an altitude of 2,900 meters, where they remotely control the antennas of the Alma telescope. The telescope was built at an altitude of around 5,000 meters on the Atacama Plateau in Chile to explore cosmic mysteries.

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Cherry blossoms in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Photo from a Kyodo News helicopter shows people aboard boats viewing cherry blossoms in Chidorigafuchi moat in Tokyo on March 22, 2013. Cherry blossoms reached full bloom the same day in central Tokyo, 12 days earlier than the 30-year average between 1981 and 2010, and 15 days earlier than the previous year, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

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Cherry blossoms in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Photo from a Kyodo News helicopter shows people viewing cherry blossoms in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo on March 22, 2013. Cherry blossoms reached full bloom that day in central Tokyo, 12 days earlier than the 30-year average between 1981 and 2010, and 15 days earlier than the previous year, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

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Cherry blossoms in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Photo from a Kyodo News helicopter shows people viewing cherry blossoms in Ueno Park in Tokyo on March 22, 2013. Cherry blossoms reached full bloom the same day in central Tokyo, 12 days earlier than the 30-year average between 1981 and 2010, and 15 days earlier than the previous year, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.