KYAUKPHYU, ARAKAN, MYANMAR – Buddhists and Muslims gave a show of unity in a five-day national conference from April 27 to May 01 2014, to discuss ways to improve security, peace and tranquility in the conflicted region.  

Rotterdam, Holland, 11 May 2014 - His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s second day in Rotterdam began with rain beating against the windows. Before leaving for the Ahoy Stadium he gave three interviews: the first to Floris Harm van Luyn of NOS National News, who asked him about his meeting yesterday with the Dutch Foreign Minister.

Oslo, Norway, 7 May 2014 - Many friends came to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama off from Riga, before he drove to the airport under leaden skies. A Norwegian journalist who approached him there was the first to ask the question that would be repeated several times during the day - what did he feel about the Norwegian Government’s declining to meet him while he’s in Oslo? He replied that such responses have become normal, that he accepts things as they are.

Riga, Latvia, 4 May 2014 - Delhi was sizzling hot even in the middle of the night when His Holiness the Dalai Lama boarded a plane for Europe yesterday. After a comfortable flight, with a short stopover in Frankfurt, where the temperature was 0°C, he flew on to Riga, capital of Latvia, one of the three Baltic States. Cloud hung low over Riga and the roads were wet with recent rain, but he was warmly welcomed at the airport by members of ‘Save Tibet - Latvia’ and ‘Save Tibet - Russia’ and their spiritual director Telo Tulku.

In the morning of April 29, the 4th meeting of the Interdisciplinary Group to guide and assist National Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (NVBS) in preparing and organizing the United Nations Day of VESAK (UNDV) 2014 took place at the Headquarter of the Committee for Religious Affairs.

The grandest padoga in South East Asia (Bai Dinh Pagoda) in Ninh Binh are being decorated and finalizing all stages for the preparations of the opening ceremony of the United Nations Day of VESAK (UNDV) 2014.

'Sompur Katha', a play based on Bangladesh’s archaeological artifacts, was performed at Paharpur Sompura Mahavihara in Naogoan district on April 20, 2014. The play (dir. Debashish Ghosh) depicts the story of Somapura Mahavihara, a monument built by Dhammapala, the second Pala king of Bengal.* The performance was produced by the Movie and Theatre Department of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy to introduce the archaeological site and its history to the people of Bangladesh.

What rights do animals have, if any? Is it wrong to participate in (or passively condone) the mechanized meat industry? Is it fine for someone at a seafood restaurant to make a choice between eating an expensive lobster and a humble garoupa? If so, do they have the right to criticize those who choose between eating a cat and a dog? 

The normally sleepy acreage suburb of Forestdale, nestled between Brisbane’s southern suburbs and Logan, will explode in colour and the enticing aroma of Thai cuisine on Easter Sunday as more than 10,000 people converge on the Thai community’s Buddhist Temple to celebrate Thai New Year.