The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) on October 19 presented to the Lao Buddhist Coalition Central Committee five tonnes of rice and 500 boxes of instant noodle to help Lao monks overcome difficulties caused by COVID-19.

Pope Francis on Oct. 9 called on lawmakers worldwide to overcome “the narrow confines” of partisan politics to quickly reach consensus on fighting climate change.

During the meeting 'Faith and Science: Towards Cop26' held in the Vatican on October 4, Pope Francis along with scientists and religious leaders signs a document which calls for the world to achieve net-zero carbon emissions as soon as possible, reduce its own emissions and finance emission reductions by poorer nations.

India plans to host what it bills as the first-ever Global Buddhist Conference in November, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) announced on Tuesday, also sharing that Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will present a new Award for Promotion of Buddhist Studies following the conference.

The government has ordered a suspension of Pchum Ben, effective from September 25, to contain the spread of Covid-19 after dozens of cases have been detected in some pagodas in the first two days of the 15-day festival.

The Taliban has pledged to respect women's rights and allow access for humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan in written commitments with a U.N. relief office, but the international community needs to monitor whether the Islamist group will keep its word, the head of the office said.

Amid nationwide pandemic prevention and control measures, Cambodia’s Ministry of Cults and Religions has permitted all Buddhist temples and monasteries across the country to celebrate the traditional Pchum Ben or Ancestor’s Day festival. According to a statement released by the Minister for Cults and Religions, Chhit Sokhon, Pchum Ben will be held from 22 September to 6 October, this year, followed by the month-long Kathina celebration from 22 October to 15 November.

The fifth ecumenical pilgrimage for climate justice got underway on Saturday, starting from Zielona Góra, Poland.

Mr. Chhit Sokhon, Minister of Cults and Religion has instructed all pagodas and temples of all religions to beat drums and ring bells in unison at 6 pm on August 20

Italy has just added two more sites to its long list of UNESCO-inscribed places and monuments, art and architecture, for a total of 58 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the country with the largest number in the world (second comes China with 56). 

As COVID-19 cases surge in Thailand, some Buddhist monks are donning personal protective equipment over their distinctive robes, delivering oxygen cylinders, taking nasal samples to help with testing, and even helping carry the dead to the crematoriums.

The World Heritage Committee today inscribed five cultural sites, including one transnational property, in Saudi Arabia, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on UNESCO’s World Heritage List during its 44^th session held online and chaired from Fuzhou (China).

Indonesians prayed outside mosques and slaughtered goats to commemorate a sombre Eid al-Adha festival on Tuesday (July 20) despite efforts to stop mass gatherings as coronavirus deaths skyrocket.

ISIS have claimed responsibility for an suicide attack that ripped through a busy market in the Iraqi capital on Monday, killing 30 people and wounding 50.

On Tuesday, 13 July 2021, at Collegio Internationale San Lorenzo da Brindisi (Rome), His Eminence, Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, who was appointed by His Holiness Pope Francis, to serve as Cardinal Delegate at the OFM General Chapter 2021, announced with joy that Br. Massimo Fusarelli is elected as the new OFM Minister General for 2021- 2027.