Elder brother of Dalai Lama, Gyalo Thondup, dies at 97; key figure in Tibetan diplomacy.

Gyalo Thondup, the 97-year-old elder brother of the Dalai Lama and a former chairman of the exiled Tibetan government in India, has died at his home in Kalimpong. Thondup, who was pivotal in facilitating talks between Tibet and China, also helped establish relations with the U.S. and Indian governments to support the Tibetan cause. He began dialogue efforts with China in 1979 and was praised by the Dalai Lama for his contributions to the Tibetan struggle.