Actor Richard Gere on Monday surprised on audience in India that was waiting to hear the Dalai Lama speak at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in Bangalore. He spoke at the inauguration of an integrated center for yoga.
In brief comments, Gere — a big fan of the Dalai Lama — said the United States is still open to different cultures despite recent gun violence and the resulting backlash.
He called doctors at the institute pioneers for initiating a dialogue between science and religions like Buddhism and ancient tradition.
The Dalai Lama, who spoke after Gere, asked people to not follow faith blindly and to always question and investigate — which is the Buddhist way. Gere, an activist for human rights in Tibet, is a practicing Tibetan Buddhist.
Pamela Anderson takes cause to Moscow
A top Russian official on Monday met with actress turned animal welfare activist Pamela Anderson at the Kremlin to discuss wildlife conservation. During the televised meeting with President Vladimir Putin's chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov, Anderson expressed her concern about the fate of Russian seals and the prevalence of sea aquariums that keep belugas, orcas and dolphins in captivity. In his opening remarks, Ivanov praised the former "Baywatch" star for an opportunity to discuss issues of conservation "in the company of beautiful women." Earlier this year, the actress wrote to Putin requesting to block the passage of a cargo vessel through the Northern Sea Route, which was said to contain more than 1,700 tons of whale meat traveling from Iceland to Japan.
in mourning: Country star Keith Urban is mourning the death of his father, Bob Urban, at 73. Urban said in a statement released late Sunday that his dad died Saturday after a "long battle" with cancer. Urban, who started singing as a young child in Australia, said it was his father's love of country music and the United States that set him on his journey. The four-time Grammy winner and "American Idol" judge said he was touched by the outpouring of love and support for his family.
what's in a name: Kim Kardashian and hubby Kanye West announced the name of their new boy via Twitter and her app. Daughter North's brother was born Saturday, weighing in at 8 pounds, 1 ounce. And his name … Saint West.
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