Free Republic

A Tibetan man protesting China’s occupation fatally set himself on fire outside the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan on Thursday evening, capturing the horrifying scene on livestreamed footage. The protester, identified by a friend as Lobga Rangzen, was dressed in full monastic garb when he planted a Tibetan flag on the sidewalk and then self-immolated along the busy street during the evening rush, according to the video. He scattered pieces of paper as he burned to death. Rangzen, who has lived in the US for about 20 years and worked as an Uber driver, crumbled to the ground less than...

US President Barack Obama has had a first public meeting with the Dalai Lama, hailing the Tibetan religious leader as a “good friend.” Even before the encounter took place, Beijing had expressed its disquiet. Obama greeted the Dalai Lama at a National Prayer Breakfast in the US capital on Thursday, marking the pair’s first ever public encounter. As the Tibetan spiritual leader was formally introduced to the audience, the US president smiled and clasped his hands together in a bow-like gesture, before offering a more informal wave to the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. The Dalai Lama gave a wave of...