Phayul
UN raises alarm over Chinese influence in French museums’ erasure of Tibet
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 30: The UN Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights on Monday voiced concerns over the erasure of the term “Tibet” from French museum exhibits, warning that the adoption of Chinese-approved labels, such as “Xizang” and “Himalayan...
200 TYC leaders gather for 19th General Body Meeting in Dharamshala
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 29: Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), the largest Tibetan NGO advocating for complete independence for Tibet, commenced its 19th General Body Meeting at Lower TCV School in Dharamshala on Monday. The meeting, which runs until October...
China’s draft ‘Ethnic Unity’ Law seek to expand assimilation drive
Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 29: A newly proposed law in China has sparked alarm among rights groups, who warn it will entrench repression of minorities, accelerate forced assimilation, and expand Beijing’s ideological control beyond its borders. The 62-article draft Law on...
Former head of Gelugpa tradition, 104th Gaden Tripa, passes away at 90
Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 26: His Eminence the 104th Gaden Tripa, H.E. Dorje Chang Je Tsun Lobsang Tenzin Palzangpo, the former head of the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, also known as the yellow sect, passed away at approximately 9:55...
Tenzin Choegyal’s ‘Snow Flower’ nominated for Best World Music Album at 2026 ARIA Awards
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 26: Tibetan-Australian artist Tenzin Choegyal has earned a nomination for Best World Music Album at the 2025 ARIA Music Awards for his collaborative project Snow Flower, the Grammy-nominated musician confirmed following Thursday’s announcement of this year’s...
Tibetans left to clean up debris despite Chinese artist and Arc’teryx promises of remediation
Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 25: Despite apologies and pledges of environmental responsibility, Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang and Canadian outdoor brand Arc’teryx are facing renewed backlash after their fireworks spectacle in Tibet left behind toxic debris that is now being...
CTA President open to seeking another term but vows not to campaign
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 25: The incumbent President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), speaking to Phayul on Wednesday, indicated his willingness to seek a second term in office during next year’s election, but firmly ruled out active campaigning,...
HRW calls China for immediate release of rights activist Zhang Yadi
Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, Sep 23: Global watch-dog Human Rights Watch has called on Chinese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Zhang Yadi, a 22-year-old student advocate for Tibetan rights, who was arrested in late July while visiting her family...
Tibetans, supporters in Brussels rally for peace and compassion to honour Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 23: Over 70 Tibetans and supporters cycled through the streets of Brussels on Sunday in a peace and compassion rally commemorating the Year of Compassion and the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The...
Massive fireworks in Tibet by Chinese artist Cai Guoqiang and Arc’Teryx sparks environmental backlash
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 22: A massive fireworks spectacle staged by Chinese contemporary artist Cai Guoqiang in collaboration with outdoor apparel brand Arc’Teryx on the Tibetan Plateau has ignited widespread criticism and environmental concern. The performance, titled “Rising Dragon”, unfolded on...
‘Wisdom of Happiness’ documentary to premiere across United States
Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 22: ‘Wisdom of Happiness’, a documentary featuring His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his teachings on inner peace and compassion, will screen coast-to-coast in the United States on October 16 in what is being described...
22-year-old student advocate for Tibet held incommunicado in China for 49 days
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 19: Zhang Yadi, known online by the alias Tara, a 22-year-old international student and outspoken advocate for Tibetan culture, has been missing inside China for 49 days. Originally from Changsha, Hunan, Zhang had been studying in...
Middle Way Day marked by honouring 17 top Tibetan language students
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 18: On the occasion of the Middle Way Day, the Global Tibetan People’s Movement for Middle Way Approach awarded a total prize money of ₹1Lakh to 17 students who excelled in this year’s CBSE class...
Two additional Election Commissioners elected ahead of 2026 elections
Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 18: The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile elected two seasoned Tibetan women leaders as Additional Election Commissioners ahead of the 2026 general elections on Friday during the last day of the parliamentary session. Former parliamentarian Tsering Youdon was elected...
Tibetan monk missing since 2021 after arrest in Lhasa
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 17: Dhargye, a Tibetan monk, has been missing for more than four years after being arbitrarily arrested by Chinese police in Tibet’s capital, Lhasa. The news of his disappearance has only now surfaced outside Tibet....
CTA security minister urges Tibetans visiting Tibet to remain vigilant against Chinese influence
Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 17: Minister of Security Gyari Dolma cautioned Tibetans travelling to Tibet not to fall under Chinese influence or in the propaganda machinery, emphasising the importance of vigilance during visits to their homeland during the 2025 general...
Dalai Lama extends birthday wishes to PM Modi, expresses gratitude to India for warm hospitality
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 17: Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has written to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, extending warm greetings on his birthday and wishing him continued good health and a long life on Wednesday. In...
Bill seeking amendment on interim budget fails house floor test
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 16: A bill proposing amendments to the interim budget provisions failed floor test after extensive deliberation on Tuesday during the 2025 general session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. The amendment to the Rules of Budget sought to...
China stations military veterans in schools and kindergartens in Tibet
Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 16: China has launched a pilot programme in Tibet that stations military veterans in state-run kindergartens and schools, raising alarm over the growing militarisation of Tibetan education. According to a new report by Tibet Watch, the...
Emerging Tibetan filmmakers in the spotlight at Dharamshala and Zurich Tibet Film Festival
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 16: The Tibet Film Festival (TFF) returned this year with its 13th edition in Dharamshala, held from September 11 to 12 at Upper Tibetan Children’s Village School, and its 16th edition in Zurich from September 12 to...
Tibetan MP urges responsible parenting in the west amid rising youth delinquency
Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 15: During the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s 2025 general session on Monday, lawmaker from Europe, Mr Thupten Gyatso from France expressed deep concern over challenges faced by Tibetan youth in the West. Hehighlight a negative trend of delinquency...
MPs raise doubts over back-channel dialogue with China, CTA President assures contact but notes little progress
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 15: On the fifth day of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s 2025 general session on Monday, lawmakers pressed the President of the Tibetan exile government for clarity on back-channel dialogue with Beijing. The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA)...
Dalai Lama congratulates Sushila Karki on being appointed as PM of Nepal
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 13: His Holiness the Dalai Lama has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Sushila Karki, the newly appointed Prime Minister of Nepal. In a letter addressed to the new PM, the Tibetan spiritual leader wrote, “As...
Tibetan parliament unanimously passes resolution honouring the Dalai Lama
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 12: The 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, during the second day of its 2025 general session, unanimously passed a five-point official resolution expressing profound gratitude to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The resolution was introduced by...
US tech giants enabled China’s surveillance of Tibetans and Uyghurs: AP report
Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, Sep 12: A new investigation has revealed that leading American technology companies played a pivotal role in building China’s surveillance state, supplying billions of dollars’ worth of equipment and software later used in mass repression of Tibetans...
Maiden Tibetan Youth Festival unites young Tibetans in Dharamshala
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 12: The first-ever Tibetan Youth Festival, held as part of the Global Youth Tenshug, is underway at Upper TCV, Dharamshala, and will run until September 13. The three-day gathering has drawn young Tibetans from around...
Global Tibetan youth offer long-life prayer to Dalai Lama in Dharamshala
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 10: In a historic first, the revered Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama was offered a Long Life Prayer by Tibetan youth along with Lhokha Cultural & Welfare Association and Namgyal Institute Ithaca...
Progress on human rights of Uyghurs and Tibetans “has yet to materialise”: UN Human Rights Chief
Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, Sep. 10: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has raised fresh concerns about the situation in Tibet, warning that meaningful progress on protecting the rights of Tibetans in Tibet remains absent despite years of...
Dalai Lama sends prayers, relief assistance to monsoon-hit Himachal state
Tsering Dhundup DHARAMSHALA, Sep 9: Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives and extensive destruction caused by this year’s unusually heavy monsoon rains in Himachal Pradesh. In a letter...
Eight short films by young Tibetans to screen at 13th Dharamshala Tibet Film Festival
Tenzin Nyidon DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 9: The 13th edition of the Tibet Film Festival (TFF) is set to commence in Dharamshala from September 11 to 12 at Upper Tibetan Children’s Village School, coinciding with the Tibetan Youth Festival. Parallel to...