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Chinese officials say improvements in health care standards in Tibet have almost doubled life spans there from 35 to 65 years. And by 2010, they are confident that Tibet's development can rival other Chinese cities.

This is a transcript from The World Today. The program is broadcast around Australia at 12:10pm on ABC Local Radio. HAMISH ROBERTSON: We start the program in Beijing, where the Prime Minister John Howard is today beginning a series of meetings with China's top leaders.

What is now a beautiful and inspiring sand design will soon be at the bottom of the Powow River tomorrow, by design. Two Tibetan Buddhist monks are nearing the end of a week-long ritual of peace by constructing a colorful sand mandala inside a downtown church.

At least one local resident will help lead a discussion panel during the Dalai Lama's visit to Bloomington next month -- model Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp, wife of rocker John Mellencamp.

Bharat Tibet Sahyog Manch will organise a three-day conference from September 5 in Chandigarh to discuss various issues relating to Tibet and Sino-Indian relations with particular reference to the joint declaration after the recent visit of the Prime Minister Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to China.

At least 50 people, including 16 army personnel, were reported missing in a landslide that buried settlements and an army post last night near the Nepal-Tibet border, a newspaper report said today.

As India celebrated its 56th year of independence with much enthusiasm and festivity, the Central Tibetan Administration yesterday held a small gathering in front of the Kashag Secretariat courtyard to greet the host country on its Independence Day.

The search for new and interesting natural fibres has zoned in on the Tibetan yak, which features in a new sweater collection from UK sportswear specialist William Evans. The range uses the fine guard hair which grows in the area beneath the animal’s chin.

A satellite communication network, with an investment of 200 million yuan (about US$24.1 million) from the China Telecom Group, is being built in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, dubbed as the "roof of the world".

The Potala Palace, a tourist destination in the capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, is enjoying a quieter busy season thanks to a restriction on the number of its visitors.