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A new study shows that lower back pain is a serious problem in rural communities in Tibet. Public health strategies in developing countries often focus on infectious diseases, such as those borne by dirty water.

Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian, left, receives a blessed scarf from Tashi Wangdi, the Dalai Lama's envoy, during the inauguration of the Taiwan Tibet Exchange Foundation, Monday, Jan. 20, 2003 in Taipei, Taiwan. The foundation will take over relations with the Tibetan government-in-exile from the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission, which will be slowly abolished. The government's move makes a break with the commission, a legacy from the Nationalist Party, which claimed sovereignty over China, Tibet and Mongolia. (AP Photo/Jerome Favre)

The government is to abolish the Cabinet-level Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission, many of the functions of which will be taken over by a new Taiwan-Tibet Exchange Foundation which is to be formally established today.

Despite a threat from some Indian monks to immolate themselves, the biggest religious gathering in Tibetan Buddhism concluded peacefully Monday with the departure of the Dalai Lama.

Once his name was Donald Pham, and he was the shy son of a Laguna Niguel dentist. Now his name is Konchog "Kusho" Osel, and he's the youngest monk studying Buddhist philosophy in Dharamsala, India

Seven monks from the Tashi Lhunpo monastery in India will visit Reno next week, hoping to raise funds for their monastery in exile.The three days of events are free and open to the public, but donations are accepted.

PENSIVE: Konchog “Kusho” Osel, 16 – once Donald Pham of Laguna Niguel – pauses after a study session at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, India. Cindy Yamanaka / The Register

A number of devotees attending the Kalachakra puja has reached its peak in the last two days since the main initiation began. The Kalachakra Maidan is packed to its extended capacity

Ragdi, head of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) Regional People's Congress

Ragdi and Lekchog have been re-elected as heads of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) Regional People's Congress and the TAR Government respectively, the Chinese government announced on January 17, 2003.