Saddened by reports he has seen of the devastating earthquakes that have struck Turkey and Syria leading to extensive loss of life and many injuries, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has written to the Executive Director of the World Food Programme.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has written to the Rt. Hon. Chris Hipkins to congratulate him on becoming the Prime Minister of New Zealand.

This morning he drove to the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) where he had been invited to give the inaugural TN Chaturvedi Memorial Lecture. TN Chaturvedi was a distinguished member of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Following his retirement, he served as Comptroller and Auditor General of India and later as Governor of Karnataka.

This morning, His Holiness the Dalai Lama drove the short distance from his residence at the main Tibetan monastery here to Palyul Namdroling Monastery. There members of the Nyingma Tradition were to make offerings and prayers for his long life as part of their Great Prayer Festival.

In separate letters His Holiness the Dalai Lama has congratulated the Honourable Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the US House of Representatives and House Democratic leader, the Honourable Hakeem Jeffries, on their victories in the recent elections to their respective posts.