Dalai Lama apologises after asking young boy to ‘suck my tongue’
The Dalai Lama has apologised after footage emerged showing him kissing a young boy on the lips and asking him to “suck my tongue”.
The Buddhist spiritual leader’s office said he wanted to apologise to the boy and his family “for the hurt his words may have caused”.
It said the 87-year-old “often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way” but he “regrets the incident”.
Footage showed the Dalai Lama saying to the child “first here” and pointing to his cheek, which the boy kisses, before he says “then I think finally here also” and points to his lips.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner then pulls the boy’s chin towards him and kisses the child on the lips.
Laughter and clapping can be heard on the video.
They then touch heads, before the Dalai Lama says “and suck my tongue” and sticks out his tongue.
When the pair embrace later in the video the Dalai Lama tickles the young boy under the arms.
The footage was taken from an event on 28 February when the Dalai Lama addressed a group of students at the Tsuglagkhang temple in Dharamshala, northern India.
Before he was invited to meet the Dalai Lama the young boy had asked: “Can I hug you?”
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‘He regrets the incident’
In a statement the Dalai Lama’s office said: “A video clip has been circulating that shows a recent meeting when a young boy asked His Holiness the Dalai Lama if he could give him a hug.
“His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused.
“His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident.”
Sticking out one’s tongue is a form of greeting in the Dalai Lama’s native Tibet.
Previous controversy
It is not the first time the Dalai Lama has caused controversy.
In 2019 he apologised for saying if his successor were a woman “she should be more attractive”.
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, was born in Tibet and has been living in India as a refugee since 1959 after he fled his home country following a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
At least 53 people have died and dozens others have been injured after a strong earthquake in China, according to the country’s state media.
The 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck in a mountainous area in the autonomous Tibet region, near the border with Nepal, shortly after 9.05am on Tuesday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said it had recorded a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, centred in the Tibet region.
China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, citing the regional disaster relief headquarters, said alongside the 53 people who had died, 62 others had been injured.
About 1,500 fire and rescue workers have been deployed to search for people in the rubble, China’s Ministry of Emergency Management said.
State broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) said the epicentre was in the Tingri region, around 380 kilometres (240 miles) from Tibet’s capital Lhasa and about 23 kilometres (14 miles) from the region’s second-largest city of Shigatse – also known as Xigaze.
The epicentre was reportedly about 23 kilometres (14 miles) from Shigatse – also known as Xigaze
Shigatse is one of the holiest cities of Tibet. It is home to the Tashilhunpo Monastery – the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, who is second only to the Dalai Lama in terms of spiritual authority in Tibetan Buddhism.
According to state media, the initial earthquake was followed by a number of aftershocks with magnitudes of up to 4.4. Tremors were also felt in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, as well as Bhutan and northern India.
Rescuers look for survivors following an earthquake in Tibet, China. Pic: AP
Pic: AP
Anoj Raj Ghimire, chief district officer of Solukhumbu district in Nepal, said: “We felt a very strong earthquake. So far we have not received any report of injuries or physical loss.”
The earthquake struck in an area where the Indian and Eurasian plates clash, causing uplifts which form the Himalayan mountains.
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Shigatse is one of the holiest cities of Tibet and is home to the Tashilhunpo Monastery (pictured). File pic: AP
There have been 10 earthquakes of at least magnitude 6 in the area where Tuesday’s quake hit over the past century, the USGS said.
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed some 9,000 people and damaged about 1 million structures in Nepal in 2015.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation.
The 53-year-old said he will step down as leader of the country’s ruling Liberal Party, which he has led since 2013.
He says it will allow his party to choose a new leader as he suspends parliament until March due to political deadlock.
Chrystia Freeland, seen on the day she quit as finance minister and deputy prime minister in December. Pic: Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP
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Speaking to reporters in front of his residence at Rideau Cottage, in the country’s capital, Ottawa, he said “internal battles” mean that he “cannot be the best option” in the next election.
“I don’t easily back down faced with a fight, especially a very important one for our party and the country. But I do this job because the interests of Canadians and the well-being of democracy is something that I hold dear.
“A new prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party will carry its values and ideals into that next election. I am excited to see that process unfold in the months ahead.”
Former governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, is among the favourites to succeed him.
Chrystia Freeland, whose stunning resignation as finance minister and deputy prime minister precipitated the current crisis, leads in the polls.
Other front-runners are the former premier of British Columbia, Christy Clark, current finance minister Dominic LeBlanc and minister of foreign affairs, Melanie Joly.
Mr Trudeau, who has been prime minister since 2015, faced calls to quit from a chorus of his MPs amid poor showings in opinion polls.
He came under further pressure after Ms Freeland quit in December because of policy disagreements, including over how to handle possible US tariffs imposed by Donald Trump‘s incoming administration.
Justin Trudeau and Donald Trump in Italy in 2017. Pic: AP
Mr Trudeau’s resignation comes as the polls show his party is likely to suffer a heavy defeat to the official opposition Conservatives in an election that must be held by late October.
The Liberals must now name an interim leader to take over as prime minister ahead of a special leadership convention.
Mr Trudeau came to power 10 years ago following a decade of Conservative Party rule and was initially praised for returning the country to its liberal past.
But he has become deeply unpopular with voters in recent years over a range of issues, including the soaring cost of food and housing and surging immigration.
He is the eldest son of Pierre Trudeau, one of Canada’s most famous prime ministers, who led the country from 1968 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984.
The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada internationally.
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US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods if Ottawa does not stem what Mr Trump calls a flow of migrants and drugs into the US.
Many fewer of each cross into the US from Canada than from Mexico, which Mr Trump has also threatened.
In a social media post on Christmas Day, Mr Trump even suggested the US could take control of Canada, as well as Greenland and the Panama Canal.
Canada is a major exporter of oil and natural gas to the US, which also relies on its northern neighbour for steel, aluminium and autos.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation.
The 53-year-old said he will step down as leader of the country’s ruling Liberal Party, which he has led since 2013.
He says it will allow his party to choose a new leader as he suspends parliament until March due to political deadlock.
Chrystia Freeland, seen on the day she quit as finance minister and deputy prime minister in December. Pic: Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press via AP
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Speaking to reporters in front of his residence at Rideau Cottage, in the country’s capital, Ottawa, he said “internal battles” mean that he “cannot be the best option” in the next election.
“I don’t easily back down faced with a fight, especially a very important one for our party and the country. But I do this job because the interests of Canadians and the well-being of democracy is something that I hold dear.
“A new prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party will carry its values and ideals into that next election. I am excited to see that process unfold in the months ahead.”
Mr Trudeau, who has been prime minister since 2015, faced calls to quit from a chorus of his MPs amid poor showings in opinion polls.
He came under further pressure after his finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, resigned in December over clashes on policy.
The disagreements included how to handle possible US tariffs imposed by Donald Trump‘s incoming administration.
Justin Trudeau and Donald Trump in Italy in 2017. Pic: AP
Mr Trudeau’s resignation comes as the polls show his party is likely to suffer a heavy defeat to the official opposition Conservatives in an election that must be held by late October.
The Liberals must now name an interim leader to take over as prime minister ahead of a special leadership convention.
Mr Trudeau came to power 10 years ago following a decade of Conservative Party rule and was initially praised for returning the country to its liberal past.
But he has become deeply unpopular with voters in recent years over a range of issues, including the soaring cost of food and housing and surging immigration.
He is the eldest son of Pierre Trudeau, one of Canada’s most famous prime ministers, who led the country from 1968 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984.
The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada internationally.
Read more:
Former golden boy’s popularity in shreds
Zimbabwean migrants heading to South Africa
60m Americans under weather warnings
US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods if Ottawa does not stem what Mr Trump calls a flow of migrants and drugs into the US.
Many fewer of each cross into the US from Canada than from Mexico, which Mr Trump has also threatened.
In a social media post on Christmas Day, Mr Trump even suggested the US could take control of Canada, as well as Greenland and the Panama Canal.
Canada is a major exporter of oil and natural gas to the US, which also relies on its northern neighbour for steel, aluminium and autos.
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