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Airbus H160 Assembly Line - Marignane

A view of the Airbus H160 assembly line on January 14, 2022 in Marignane, south of France. This helicopter is certified to operate on 50 % Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)/biomass fuel. With its low fuel consumption, optimised maintenance costs and faster cruise speed, the H160 paves the way for economic competitiveness compared with other helicopters in its class. Fuel consumption is reduced by 15 % compared with the previous engine class for the same operations, while maintenance costs are reduced by almost 15% for the “airframe by the hour” and “service by the hour” options. Designed as a multi-role helicopter capable of carrying out a wide range of missions – such as offshore transport, emergency medical services, private and business aviation, as well as public services – the highly flexible H160 incorporates the latest Airbus innovations. Photo by Laurent Coust/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Exclusive - Illustration - The Cathedral of Notre Dame - Paris

ILE DE FRANCE - YVELYNES (78) - SAINT REMY LES CHEVREUSE - ATELIERS SAINT-JACQUES FONDERIE COUBERTIN - CHANTIER NOTRE DAME DE PARIS - AUTOMNE 2024 : PRESENTATION A LA PRESSE DE LA CHASSE-RELIQUAIRE DE LA COURONNE D?EPINES. LES MAITRES VERRIERS CATHERINE DENOYELLE (A GAUCHE) ET OLIVIER JUTEAU (A DROITE) EFFECTUENT LES DERNIERS MONTAGES DE PAVES DE VERRE DU DISQUE DE LA CHASSE RELIQUAIRE. LE DISQUE EST SERTI DE 394 PAVES DE VERRE MOULE ET DORE, FRAPPES D?UN POINCON EN FORME DE CROIX. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only Paris/ABACAPRESS.COM

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(VistaNingxia)CHINA-NINGXIA-ZHONGWEI-ENVIRONMENT-SAND CONTROL (CN)

(240616) -- ZHONGWEI, June 16, 2024 Photo by Xinhua/ABACAPRESS.COM) -- A worker paves straw checkerboards in the Tengger Desert, in Zhongwei of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, May 30, 2024. In the 1950s, to protect China's first railway that runs through a desert, the city of Zhongwei embarked on a journey of desert mitigation. Scientists at the Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, part of the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with local residents, developed straw checkerboards to stabilize the sand and prevent dunes from shifting. Tang Ximing, a senior engineer at a state-owned forestry farm in Zhongwei, crafted a steel tool that differs from regular shovels by featuring two horizontal bars at the front tip. This innovative tool enables the planting of seedling roots 50 centimeters deep into the moist sand layer. This simple tool increases the survival rate of afforestation by 25 percent to over 85 percent. It has been

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(VistaNingxia)CHINA-NINGXIA-ZHONGWEI-ENVIRONMENT-SAND CONTROL (CN)

(240616) -- ZHONGWEI, June 16, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A worker paves straw checkerboards in the Tengger Desert, in Zhongwei of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, May 30, 2024. In the 1950s, to protect China's first railway that runs through a desert, the city of Zhongwei embarked on a journey of desert mitigation. Scientists at the Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, part of the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with local residents, developed straw checkerboards to stabilize the sand and prevent dunes from shifting. Tang Ximing, a senior engineer at a state-owned forestry farm in Zhongwei, crafted a steel tool that differs from regular shovels by featuring two horizontal bars at the front tip. This innovative tool enables the planting of seedling roots 50 centimeters deep into the moist sand layer. This simple tool increases the survival rate of afforestation by 25 percent to over 85 percent. It has been widely promoted and

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Yemen's Houthis unilaterally release 113 detainees: ICRC

STORY: Yemen's Houthis unilaterally release 113 detainees: ICRC SHOOTING TIME: May 26, 2024 DATELINE: May 27, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:07 LOCATION: Sanaa CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the detainees 2. various of the press conference 3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): AHMED ABDU DAIRM, Released detainee STORYLINE: Yemen's Houthi group unilaterally released 113 detainees in the Houthi-held Yemeni capital Sanaa on Sunday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said. "We are pleased to see that humanitarian considerations are being prioritized, particularly for the families eagerly awaiting the return of their loved ones, especially with the approach of the Eid al-Adha celebrations in a few weeks," said Daphnee Maret, the ICRC's head of delegation in Yemen. "We hope this paves the way for further releases," Maret said. The ICRC said it had conducted private pre-departure interviews with the detainees to confirm their identities, and "listen to any concerns they may have about the release pr

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CHINA-XIZANG-FORMER SERF-EDUCATION (CN)

(240323) -- LHASA, March 23, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Phutsering exercises at his residential compound in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 23, 2024. TO GO WITH "Across China: Education paves way for former serf in Xizang" (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

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CHINA-XIZANG-FORMER SERF-EDUCATION (CN)

(240323) -- LHASA, March 23, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Phutsering pets a dog at home in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 23, 2024. TO GO WITH "Across China: Education paves way for former serf in Xizang" (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

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CHINA-XIZANG-FORMER SERF-EDUCATION (CN)

(240323) -- LHASA, March 23, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Phutsering and his wife pose for a photo at home in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 23, 2024. TO GO WITH "Across China: Education paves way for former serf in Xizang" (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

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CHINA-XIZANG-FORMER SERF-EDUCATION (CN)

(240323) -- LHASA, March 23, 2024 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on March 23, 2024 shows a portrait of Phutsering. TO GO WITH "Across China: Education paves way for former serf in Xizang" (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

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CAMEROON-CHINA-PROJECTS

(240317) -- YAOUNDE, March 17, 2024 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on March 26, 2016 shows a view at Limbe Omnisport Stadium in Cameroon. TO GO WITH "Roundup: China's Belt and Road Initiative paves way for common prosperity in Central Africa" (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)

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CAMEROON-CHINA-PROJECTS

(240317) -- YAOUNDE, March 17, 2024 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on March 16, 2022 shows a view of the Lobe drinking water treatment plant in the south region of Cameroon. TO GO WITH "Roundup: China's Belt and Road Initiative paves way for common prosperity in Central Africa" (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)

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CAMEROON-CHINA-PROJECTS

(240317) -- YAOUNDE, March 17, 2024 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on March 15, 2022 shows a view of the Kribi Deep Sea Port in Kribi, Cameroon. TO GO WITH "Roundup: China's Belt and Road Initiative paves way for common prosperity in Central Africa" (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)

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CAMEROON-CHINA-PROJECTS

(240317) -- YAOUNDE, March 17, 2024 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on March 15, 2022 shows a view of the Kribi Deep Sea Port in Kribi, Cameroon. TO GO WITH "Roundup: China's Belt and Road Initiative paves way for common prosperity in Central Africa" (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua)

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AFGHANISTAN-NANGARHAR-CHINESE-BUILT ROAD

(231124) -- NANGARHAR, Nov. 24, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Vehicles run on a section of the Chinese-built road in Nangarhar province, east Afghanistan, Nov. 23, 2023. TO GO WITH "Feature: Chinese-built road paves way to better life for Afghans" (Photo by Aimal Zahir/Xinhua)

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AFGHANISTAN-NANGARHAR-CHINESE-BUILT ROAD

(231124) -- NANGARHAR, Nov. 24, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on Nov. 23, 2023 shows a section of the Chinese-built road in Nangarhar province, east Afghanistan. TO GO WITH "Feature: Chinese-built road paves way to better life for Afghans" (Photo by Aimal Zahir/Xinhua)

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Chinese-built road paves way to better life for Afghans

STORY: Chinese-built road paves way to better life for Afghans SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 20, 2023 DATELINE: Nov. 24, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:06 LOCATION: JALALABAD, Afghanistan CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the China-built road and street scenes in Nangarhar Province, east Afghanistan 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Pashto): ZAHIDULLAH, Taxi driver 3. various of the China-built road and street scenes in Nangarhar Province, east Afghanistan 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Pashto): QURISHI BADLON, Public relations officer of Nangarhar province 5. various of the China-built road and street scenes in Nangarhar Province, east Afghanistan 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Dari): LAL MOHAMMAD, Shopkeeper 7. various of the China-built road and street scenes in Nangarhar Province, east Afghanistan STORYLINE: A Chinese-constructed road in Afghanistan has greatly improved local people's lives and facilitated transportation and business activities. The newly completed 45-km-long road runs from Jalalabad, the capital of east Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, to south

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BRI paves way for global development, cooperation and inclusiveness: Pakistani officials

STORY: BRI paves way for global development, cooperation and inclusiveness: Pakistani officials SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 6, 2023 DATELINE: Nov. 8, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:18 LOCATION: Islamabad CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of BRI and CPEC projects 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MURTAZA SOLANGI, Minister for Information and Broadcasting 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): MURTAZA SOLANGI, Minister for Information and Broadcasting 4. various of BRI and CPEC projects 5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): MUSHAHID HUSSAIN SYED, Senator and chairman of the Pakistani Senate's Defense Committee STORYLINE: The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has paved the way for global economic development, win-win cooperation, and inclusiveness, said Pakistani officials. The officials made the remarks at a seminar here on Monday. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of BRI, proved to be a real game changer for Pakistan, and a clear demonstration proj

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PFW Eva Longoria X Global Gift Gala

Ken Paves and Eva Longoria attending the 11th Eva Longoria X Global Gift Gala as part of Paris Fashion Week at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris, France on September 30, 2023. Photo by Aurore Marechal/ABACAPRESS.COM

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PFW Eva Longoria X Global Gift Gala

Ken Paves attending the 11th Eva Longoria X Global Gift Gala as part of Paris Fashion Week at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris, France on September 30, 2023. Photo by Aurore Marechal/ABACAPRESS.COM

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PFW Eva Longoria X Global Gift Gala

Melissa Theuriau, Zazou Marbella, Eva Longoria, Ken Paves and Maria Bravo attending the 11th Eva Longoria X Global Gift Gala as part of Paris Fashion Week at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris, France on September 30, 2023. Photo by Aurore Marechal/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Feijoo fails in 2nd vote to become Spanish PM

STORY: Feijoo fails in 2nd vote to become Spanish PM DATELINE: Sept. 30, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:22 LOCATION: Madrid CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. Feijoo at Spanish Congress 2. Pedro Sanchez, acting Prime Minister and Oscar Puente, spokesman of PSOE party 3. Spanish Congress 4. Spanish King Felipe VI and Pedro Sanchez (file) 5. Spanish general elections (file) STORYLINE: The leader of Spain's right-wing People's Party (PP), Alberto Nunez Feijoo, on Friday failed for a second time to win the support of the Spanish Congress to become prime minister. After being defeated in the first investiture vote on Wednesday with 178 votes against and 172 in his favor, Feijoo lost the second vote in 48 hours with 177 against and 172 in his favor. This slight difference stemmed from Eduard Pujol, a member of the Catalan separatist party Junts per Catalonya, who accidentally voted in favor but quickly retracted his support. This outcome paves the way for acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of the Spanish Socialist Wo

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CHINA-HEILONGJIANG-SIBERIAN TIGERS-TECHNOLOGY (CN)

(230730) -- MUDANJIANG, July 30, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This screen image captured on July 26, 2023 at the Suiyang bureau branch of park administration of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province shows a wild Siberian tiger traced by an infrared camera. TO GO WITH "China Focus: Technology paves way for return of Siberian tigers" (Xinhua/Dai Jinrong)

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CHINA-HEILONGJIANG-SIBERIAN TIGERS-TECHNOLOGY (CN)

(230730) -- MUDANJIANG, July 30, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Rangers install an infrared camera in the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 25, 2023. TO GO WITH "China Focus: Technology paves way for return of Siberian tigers" (Xinhua/Dai Jinrong)

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CHINA-HEILONGJIANG-SIBERIAN TIGERS-TECHNOLOGY (CN)

(230730) -- MUDANJIANG, July 30, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Rangers patrol the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 25, 2023. TO GO WITH "China Focus: Technology paves way for return of Siberian tigers" (Xinhua/Dai Jinrong)

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CHINA-HEILONGJIANG-SIBERIAN TIGERS-TECHNOLOGY (CN)

(230730) -- MUDANJIANG, July 30, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Ranger Zang Peng (R) checks images taken by infrared cameras at the Suiyang bureau branch of park administration of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 26, 2023. TO GO WITH "China Focus: Technology paves way for return of Siberian tigers" (Xinhua/Dai Jinrong)

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Inter-city metro line connects E China's Shanghai, Suzhou

STORY: Inter-city metro line connects E China's Shanghai, Suzhou DATELINE: June 25, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:41 LOCATION: SHANGHAI, China CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of trans-provincial metro line 2. various of Yangtze River Delta region STORYLINE: A trans-provincial metro line went into operation in east China on Saturday, linking Suzhou, a major GDP contributor in east China's Jiangsu Province, with Shanghai, another economic heavyweight in the region. This is the first time that the core cities in the Yangtze River Delta region have linked their separate urban subway systems. The line can cut the travel time between city propers of Suzhou and Shanghai to about two hours. The launch of the intercity subway line also paves the way for further synergetic development of Suzhou and Shanghai. At present, many Fortune 500 enterprises have built their Chinese headquarters in Shanghai while placing their factories in Suzhou. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Shanghai, China. (XHTV)

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Egypt condemns Israel's repeal of settlement ban

STORY: Egypt condemns Israel's repeal of settlement ban DATELINE: March 23, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:55 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Egyptian Foreign Ministry STORYLINE: The Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned the Israeli parliament's amendment of a law that paves the way for Jewish settlers to return to four West Bank settlements that had been dismantled in 2005. In a statement, the ministry warned against any form of Israeli settlement activities, terming them as "illegitimate based on international laws." Such decisions undermine the ongoing efforts for reaching a truce between the Israeli and the Palestinian sides and incite feelings of anger and add more complications to the security and political environment in the occupied territories, it added. On Tuesday, the Israeli Knesset voted to roll back legislation that ordered the evacuation of four northern West Bank settlements, namely Homesh, Sa-Nur, Ganim and Kadim. Xinhua News Agency correspondents rep

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CHINA-TIANJIN-BUSINESS-ITALIAN MANAGER (CN)

(230214) -- TIANJIN, Feb. 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Mirko Turrina introduces products at Goglio (Tianjin) Packaging Co., Ltd. in Tianjin, north China, Dec. 29, 2022. TO GO WITH "Across China: Favorable business climate paves way for Italian manager's success story in China" (Xinhua)

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CHINA-TIANJIN-BUSINESS-ITALIAN MANAGER (CN)

(230214) -- TIANJIN, Feb. 14, 2023 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken in 2021 shows Mirko Turrina attending a coffee tasting activity in Shanghai, east China. TO GO WITH "Across China: Favorable business climate paves way for Italian manager's success story in China" (Xinhua)

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Libyan preparatory forum for comprehensive conference of national reconciliation kicks off

STORY: Libyan preparatory forum for comprehensive conference of national reconciliation kicks off DATELINE: Jan. 9, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:32 LOCATION: Tripoli CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the forum 2. various of representatives STORYLINE: A preparatory forum for a comprehensive conference of national reconciliation kicked off on Sunday in Libya's capital Tripoli, with the participation of representatives of the various Libyan parties, the Libyan Presidency Council said in a statement. The opening ceremony was attended by President of the Libyan Presidency Council Mohamed Menfi, the Council's deputy Abdullah Allafi, and a number of ambassadors to Libya, the statement said. Speeches were delivered at the opening ceremony highlighting the importance of the national reconciliation, which paves the way for stability and peace leading to national elections, the statement added. Stressing the importance of national reconciliation for stability and peace in Libya, prerecorded speeches were delivered

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Baseball, softball may return to 2020 Tokyo Olympics

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Softball Association Vice President Taeko Utsugi (L) and Baseball Federation of Japan Vice President Yoshinobu Suzuki look happy in Tokyo on Dec. 8, 2014, after the International Olympic Committee's recent approval of a reform for the framework of the Olympic program which paves the way for a possible return of the two events in a joint bid for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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Sam Rainsy

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy. Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni pardoned Sam Rainsy on July 12, 2013. The pardon paves the way for Rainsy, in self-exile even before being sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison by Cambodian courts in September 2010, to enter the campaign for Cambodia's July 28 national elections.

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Organ transplant law revised to recognize brain deaths

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows a plenary session of the House of Councillors which enacted on July 13 a revised Organ Transplant Law. The revised law recognizes people who are brain dead as legally deceased and paves the way for children under 15 also to be organ donors amid mounting calls from patients' and doctors' groups to increase opportunities for transplants.

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China signs deal to lift ban on Japanese rice imports

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka (R) and Li Changjiang (L), director of the Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, sign a rice trade resumption accord in Tokyo on April 11. Beijing's lifting of its four-year ban on Japanese rice imports paves the way for Japan to resume rice shipments to China as early as July.

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China signs deal to lift ban on Japanese rice imports

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka (R) and Li Changjiang (L), director of the Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, shake hands after signing a rice trade resumption accord in Tokyo on April 11. Beijing's lifting of its four-year ban on Japanese rice imports paves the way for Japan to resume rice shipments to China as early as July.

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China tells U.S. will honor U.N. resolution on N. Korea

BEIJING, China - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) and Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing hold a joint press conference after their talks at Diaoyutai Guesthouse in Beijing on Oct. 20. Li said China will fulfill its obligations under the U.N. Security Council resolution against North Korea's nuclear test, which paves the way for sanctions against the country.

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High court rejects AUM founder Asahara's objection to ruling

TOKYO, Japan - The Tokyo High Court has rejected an objection filed by the defense team for AUM Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara (in a photo taken in September 1995) against the court's March 27 decision to dismiss their appeal against his death sentence two years and three months ago, judicial sources said on May 30. The decision paves the way for Asahara's death sentence to stand since the Supreme Court is unlikely to overrule unless any violation of the Constitution or a precedent can be found in the high court decision.

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6 nations fail to agree on resolution enabling sanctions on Iran

PARIS, France - U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns emerges from a meeting of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany in Paris on May 2. Burns said that senior officials from the six countries failed to reach agreement on a resolution based on Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter that paves the way for imposing sanctions on Iran.

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6 nations fail to agree on resolution enabling sanctions on Iran

PARIS, France - U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns speaks at a press conference after a meeting of senior officials from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany in Paris on May 2. Burns said that senior officials from the six countries failed to reach agreement on a resolution based on Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter that paves the way for imposing sanctions on Iran.

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Cabinet approves privatization of postal services

TOKYO, Japan - Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Heizo Takenaka speaks to reporters after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi won formal Cabinet approval of a blueprint to privatize Japan's postal system on Sept. 10. The paves the way to split Japan Post into four companies and place them under a holding company when the process begins in April 2007.

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Shimizu midfielder Alex obtains Japanese citizenship

SHIMIZU, Japan - Shimizu S-Pulse midfielder Alex holds a board showing his new Japanese name at a press conference at a hotel in Shizuoka on Nov. 12 after being informed that he has been granted Japanese citizenship. The Brazilian-born player's application was cleared in just eight months and paves the way for his appearance for the national side.

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Upper house panel passes coast guard bill on suspicious ships

TOKYO, Oct. 25 Kyodo - A House of Councillors committee passes a bill Oct. 25 to allow the Japan Coast Guard to open fire on suspicious ships if they enter Japan's territorial waters without government permission. The committee's approval of the bill, which will revise the current coast guard law, paves the way for it to be enacted after clearing an upper house plenary session.

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N. Korean participation in ARF paves way for more dialogue

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon speaks in an interview with Kyodo News at his office in Manila on July 6. He said North Korea's participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) will pave the way for the reclusive North Asian country to eventually become a regional dialogue partner of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

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Japan, N. Korea Red Cross societies agree on food aid

BEIJING, China - Tadateru Konoe (R), vice president of the Japanese Red Cross Society, and Ho Hae Ryong, vice chairman of the North Korean Red Cross Society, shake hands after exchanging a joint statement on humanitarian issues in Beijing on Dec. 21. The statement paves the way for the governments of the two countries to resume talks for normalizing diplomatic ties. Red Cross officials agreed to ask Tokyo to resume food aid to the North at a ''possible early date.''

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Maglev trains pass at record velocity of 1,003 kph

KOFU, Japan - Two magnetically levitated trains pass each other at a relative velocity of 1,003 kilometers per hour in a test run in Yamanashi Prefecture on Nov. 16, beating the previous record of 966 kph recorded last December. Officials of Central Japan Railway Co. said the test run paves the way for the introduction of a superconducting magnetically levitated train in the future. Relative velocity is the speed at which one object sees the other object as they pass.

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China, U.S. sign WTO entry agreement

BEIJING, China - Chinese Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Minister Shi Guangsheng (R) and U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky shake hands in Beijing on Nov. 15 after signing a breakthrough agreement that paves the way for China to accede to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

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Party heads sign 3-way coalition agreement

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi (C), Liberal Party leader Ichiro Ozawa (L) and New Komeito head Takenori Kanzaki (R) sign an agreement Oct. 4 on forming a tripartite coalition government. The agreement signed at the premier's official residence paves the way for Obuchi, who is also president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, to reshuffle his cabinet Oct. 5 to launch the new coalition.

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LDP, New Komeito reach basic policy accord

TOKYO, Japan - Yukihiko Ikeda (R), chairman of the policy research council of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and Chikara Sakaguchi (L), his New Komeito Party counterpart, exchange papers after reaching a basic policy agreement in the Diet on Sept. 3. The accord paves the way for New Komeito to join the LDP and its current coalition partner, the Liberal Party, in the ruling alliance in late September.

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Indonesia, Portugal sign accord on E. Timor

Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas (L) and Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Gama (R), along with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, sign a U.N.-brokered agreement on East Timor at the U.N. headquarters in New York on May 5. The accord paves the way for an Aug. 8 vote on autonomy or independence in the former Portuguese colony.

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Ozeki Wakanohana wins Emperor's Cup

Ozeki Wakanohana wins his second straight Emperor's Cup May 24 after beating fellow ozeki Musashimaru for a 12-3 record on the final day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo. The victory paves the way for Wakanohana to join his younger brother Takanohana as yokozuna, the first sibling yokozuna in sumo history.