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Tibet govt-in-exile defends Dalai Lama’s “innocent grandfatherly affectionate demeanor”, accuses “pro-Chinese sources” for viral video

Penpa Tsering, the Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration, has defended the Dalai Lama against allegations of impropriety stemming from a viral video showing him kissing a young boy on the lips and asking him to “suck his tongue”.

Tsering claimed that the clip had been “tailored” and misinterpreted, and that the spiritual leader had been unfairly labelled with hurtful names.

The incident took place in late February at the Dalai Lama’s temple in Dharamshala, India, where he met with over 100 young students who had just graduated from the Indian M3M Foundation.

The viral video has drawn criticism from many people who consider the behavior to be inappropriate and contradictory to the Dalai Lama’s image as a revered spiritual leader.

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2 years ago

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Penpa Tsering, the Sikyong (political leader) of the Central Tibetan Administration in exile, has defended the Dalai Lama against allegations of impropriety in a video in which he appears to ask a young boy to “suck his tongue“.

In an interview conducted on Thursday (13 Apr), Tsering claimed that the clip had been “tailored” and misinterpreted, and that the spiritual leader had been unfairly labelled with hurtful names.

“Maybe for the people who are giving these names, it’s an individual perception, but his Holiness for us, is The Reincarnation of “Avalokitesvara”, the lord of compassion, and his compassion and his love, extends beyond all this.”

“That (accusation) really hurts us, please understand this. We are hurt by the insinuations,” he said.

Penpa Tsering stated that in his view, the 87-year-old Dalai Lama displayed an “innocent grandfatherly affectionate demeanor” towards the young boy, and that when he asked the boy to “suck his tongue,” it was meant to be “amusement”.

He emphasized that the incident took place in the presence of the boy’s mother and that neither she nor the boy lodged any complaints.

Instead, he asserted that Dalai Lama was the victim of unfair labeling and hurtful insinuations.

Furthermore, he claimed that their preliminary investigation suggested that “pro-Chinese sources” were responsible for making the video go viral, and that the political implications of this incident should not be disregarded.

Dalai Lama apologised for incident

The Dalai Lama’s official Twitter page issued a statement on Monday (10 April), saying that the leader wanted to apologize to the child and his family “for the hurt his words may have caused.”

The statement also explained that the Dalai Lama often teases people he meets in an “innocent and playful way” and regrets the incident.

In a viral video, the spiritual leader was seen kissing a young boy on the lips and asking him to “suck his tongue.”

The incident took place in late February at the Dalai Lama’s temple in Dharamshala, India, where he met with over 100 young students who had just graduated from the Indian M3M Foundation.

The leader motions to his cheek, saying “first here,” and the boy kisses his cheek and gives him a hug.

Afterwards, the Dalai Lama gestures towards his lips and said, “I think here also,” before kissing the boy on the lips, while laughter can be heard in the background.

He then places his forehead against the boy’s and sticks out his tongue, saying “and suck my tongue.”

After embracing the boy once more, the Dalai Lama imparted some advice before letting him go. He encouraged the boy to look up to individuals who strive to cultivate peace and happiness in the world.

The viral video has drawn criticism from many people who consider the behaviour to be inappropriate and contradictory to the Dalai Lama’s image as a revered spiritual leader.

While the gesture of sticking out one’s tongue is indeed a traditional Tibetan greeting used as a sign of agreement or respect. However, it is not commonly used in group settings.

It is unclear why the Dalai Lama asked the boy to “suck his tongue” as this is not a typical aspect of the greeting.

 

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Up to 200 athletes tested for doping so far at Asian Games

Between 150 and 200 Asian Games athletes tested for doping, yielding no positive results. Anti-doping efforts emphasized for a clean event, focusing on record-breakers.

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1 year ago

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25 September 2023

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HANGZHOU, CHINA — Between 150 and 200 Asian Games athletes have already been tested for doping, the Olympic Council of Asia said on Monday, with no positive results so far.

Speaking at an anti-doping press conference on the second full day of the Games in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, the OCA said dope-testing was “gaining momentum” at the event.

Mani Jegathesan, an adviser to the OCA anti-doping committee, warned that drug cheats would be rooted out.

Up to 200 athletes have been tested so far, he said, but any positive results will take several days to come through.

“Every athlete participating in these Games must understand that they could be picked at any time,” Jegathesan warned.

“That is the best step to ensuring we have a clean event.”

There are about 12,000 athletes at the 19th Asian Games, more competitors than the Olympics, and Jegathesan admitted it would be impossible to test them all.

Instead, they will prioritise, including picking out those who break world or Asian records.

— AFP

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Foodpanda’s restructuring amid sale speculations

Food delivery giant Foodpanda, a subsidiary of Delivery Hero, announces staff layoffs in the Asia-Pacific region, aiming for increased efficiency. This move coincides with ongoing talks about potentially selling parts of its 11-year-old business.

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1 year ago

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24 September 2023

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Foodpanda, a subsidiary of Delivery Hero, is initiating undisclosed staff reductions in the Asia-Pacific region, as discussions continue regarding the potential sale of a portion of its 11-year-old food delivery business.

In a memorandum circulated to employees on 21 September, Foodpanda CEO Jakob Angele conveyed the company’s intent to become more streamlined, efficient, and agile.

Although the exact number of affected employees was not disclosed, the emphasis was on enhancing operational efficiency for the future.

No mention was made in the memo regarding the reports of Foodpanda’s potential sale in Singapore and six other Southeast Asian markets, possibly to Grab or other interested buyers.

Foodpanda had previously conducted staff layoffs in February and September 2022. These actions come as the company faces mounting pressure to achieve profitability, particularly in challenging economic conditions.

The regulatory filings of Foodpanda’s Singapore entity for the fiscal year 2022, ending on 31 Dec, indicated a loss of S$42.7 million despite generating revenue of S$256.7 million.

Angele further explained that Foodpanda intends to review its organizational structure, including both regional and country teams, with some reporting lines being reassigned to different leaders. Additionally, certain functions will be consolidated into regional teams.

Expressing regret over the challenging decisions, Angele assured affected employees of a severance package, paid gardening leave, and extended medical insurance coverage where feasible.

Foodpanda will also forego the usual waiting period for long-term incentive plan grants, and vesting will continue until the last employment date. Employees will retain all vested shares as of their last day of employment.

Foodpanda, established in 2012 and headquartered in Singapore, became a part of Delivery Hero in 2016. The company operates in 11 markets across the Asia-Pacific region, excluding its exit from the Japanese market last year.

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