Tibetan man detained by Chinese authorities after seeking basic utilities for family

Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, May 8: A 42-year-old Tibetan man named Kelsang has been detained by Chinese authorities after publicly appealing for access to electricity and water that his family has been denied for over nine years, according to information released by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). Kelsang, a resident of Serdak Township […]

Dalai Lama congratulates Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz

Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, May 7: Tibetan leader His Holiness The Dalai Lama has extended his congratulations to Friedrich Merz on his election as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, expressing optimism about the new leader’s ability to navigate current global challenges. In a statement, the octogenarian Tibetan spiritual leader reflected on his longstanding connection with […]

28th Shoton Festival begins in Dharamshala with 14 opera troupes

Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, May 7: The 28th Tibetan Shoton Festival in exile opened today at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) in Dharamshala, marking the beginning of a 12-day celebration of traditional Tibetan opera that will run until May 19. This year’s festival will showcase fourteen Tibetan opera troupes from exile communities across India, Nepal, […]

RFA to shut down Tibetan service amid budget cuts and legal battle

Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, May 6: Radio Free Asia’s Tibetan Service, one of the few independent news sources available to Tibetans inside Tibet and in exile, will cease operations at the end of this month amid unprecedented budget cuts and legal battles between RFA and the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). This closure follows the Voice […]

Jewels linked to Buddha’s relic to be auctioned in Hong Kong

Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, May, 5: A collection of ancient jewels associated with Buddha’s remains is set for auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong on Wednesday, igniting controversy over the ethical implications of selling items considered sacred by many Buddhists worldwide. The collection, known as ‘The Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha, Mauryan Empire, Ashokan era, circa 240-200 […]

Dalai Lama has not changed position on practice of Dolgyal spirit: Gaden Phodrang

Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, May 5: The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, also known as Gaden Phodrang, has issued an announcement clarifying His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s unwavering position regarding the controversial propagation of the Dolgyal spirit, addressing misconceptions that have circulated since a 2021 statement. The Gaden Phodrang urged Tibetans to remain firm in […]