ITALY HONOURS DALAI LAMA

Terzin Gyatso, the Dalai Lama, is now an honorary citizen of both Rome and Venice. The Tibetan spiritual leader was greeted with a standing ovation at Romes City Hall on Capitol Hill. Mayor Gianni Alemanno presented him with the symbol of Rome - a model of the ancient bronze sculpture of the wolf suckling the twins Romulus and Remus, legendary founders of the city.

Shortly afterwards, the honorary citizenship of Venice was also conferred on the Dalai Lama by Venetian mayor Massimo Cacciari in a special ceremony at Venice City Hall