It has been two years since the tragic downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Eastern Ukraine on 17 July 2014, while on a scheduled flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. The great loss of 298 innocent lives from that incident, and 239 lives from the earlier MH370 calamity, had cast a pall over Malaysia ever since. Our nation is still reeling from the trauma of this double catastrophe.
Read moreOn late Thursday night, a suspected Islamist terrorist rammed a truck into a large gathering in Nice, southern France, killing at least 80 people. The crowd was enjoying firework display at a beach – it was ‘Bastille Day’, a national holiday in France.
Read moreYesterday was another dark episode for humanity. Suicide bombers opened fire and detonated themselves at the crowded Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, killing at least 41 people and injuring more than 230.
Read moreEgyptAir flight MS 804 enroute from Paris to Cairo has reportedly gone missing over Northern Africa since early this morning. The plane went off the radar at around 6.45am Malaysian time. Let us pray that the 69 passengers and crew on board EgyptAir Airbus 320 are safely found. Sotthi.
Read moreOn Monday 25 April, Nalanda Centre held a special memorial service to mark the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake that caused widespread damage and the death of more than 8,000 people in Nepal alone.
Read moreToday marks the first anniversary of the destructive earthquake which devastated many parts of Nepal on 25 April 2015. More than 8,000 people were killed throughout the country, plus a hundred others in neighbouring India, Tibet and Bangladesh. Let us spare some time to think about the victims of the earthquake and their loved ones. Reflect also on the impermanence and uncertainty of life. Let us live wisely and mindfully every day.
Read moreThree powerful earthquakes in the past four days struck Kyushu Island in Southern Japan and Ecuador in South America, causing serious damage and the loss of many lives. Dozens have been killed in each of the two shaken countries, with the death toll expected to rise further as search efforts continue.
Read more“Months ago they struck Paris… and now, Brussels. Those terrorists perform murderous acts to put fear and hate into our minds. They want to disrupt our peaceful and productive lives. Such acts of terrorism should be censured and denounced, no question about that. But we should not give in to hatred (towards the terrorists). It is easy to hate people who want to harm and kill the innocent; but please don’t give in to that.
Read more8 March 2016 marks the second anniversary of Malaysia Airlines MH370′s mysterious disappearance over the Indian Ocean. Even after two years of intensive and extensive search, the main wreckage of the B777 aircraft is still not found.
Read moreOn the eve of the Lunar New Year, Nalandians in Taiping gather annually at Buddhist temples and centres nearby to usher in the year in a meaningful and spiritual way.
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