Dalai Lama honoured

The Dalai Lama is to be honoured with a Congressional Gold Medal in the United States. Previous recipients of the Gold Medals have included Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Mother Teresa. "The award is in recognition of the Dalai Lama's advocacy of religious harmony, non-violence, and human rights throughout the world and for his efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Tibet issue through dialogue with the Chinese leadership." The Chinese government are about as pleased about it (not at all) as they were when he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

The Dalai Lama displayed his humour when he brushed off China's furious reaction to the celebrations in his honour. "That always happens," he said with a laugh, speaking to reporters outside his hotel in Washington on 16 October.

The Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to the Dalai Lama on Wednesday 17 October 2007.