The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mosque-Cathedral in Cordoba, southern Spain, reopened to visitors on Saturday following a fire that broke out late Friday night. The affected vaults had been recently restored and are not among the building's oldest parts.

The fire also damaged some sculptural, pictorial, and altarpiece works, but the overall impact was "very localized," according to the dean of the Cathedral. The blaze began around 21:15 local time on Friday, reportedly sparked by an automatic sweeping machine. No casualties or trapped individuals were reported, according to Spanish broadcaster Cadena SER.

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More than 1,000 Cambodian Buddhist monks attended a prayer ceremony for soldiers killed in border clashes on Friday. They briefly marched on the streets in capital Phnom Penh before gathering at a Buddhist temple. Pictures of the reportedly fallen soldiers were displayed at the temple.

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Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife, accompanied by Joint Executive Chief and wife, and officials, made a pilgrimage to Bago on Sunday.

First, the Commission Chairman and wife and party paid homage to the Sutaungpyae ShweMawDaw pagoda and offered alms, fruits, flower, water and oil light. They also paid homage to the Sutaungpyae BaluuYanNaing Buddha Image at the upper terrace, and offered gold-foils.

They then paid homage to the pagoda in clockwise direction and instructed to maintain the religious buildings for long-term duaribality and to supervise the fitting of marble slabs at the pagoda platform, donated by the families of Tatmadaw (Army, Navy, Air).

During the visit, the Commission Chairman cordially greeted the visitors to the pagoda. Afterwards, they observed the buddha statues and religious edifices displayed at ShweMawDaw Historical Museum and guided necessaries. Next, the commission chairman made cash donation for all-round renovation of the pagoda.

At ShinPinTharHlaung @ Shwe Thar Hlaung pagoda, the Commission Chairman and wife, and party offered flower, water and oil light to the Buddha Image, and paid homage to the pagoda in clockwise direction. He also met with visitors cordially and donated cash for all-round renovation of pagoda.

The Commission Chairman and party also observed religious edifices and handicrafts shops in the pagoda compound. The Commission Chairman and party  proceeded to Sutaungpyae SweTawShin Maha Ceti Pagoda, donated and built by King Bayintnaung, founder of 2nd Myanmar Empire, and offered fruits, flower, water and oil light. He then made a cash donation for all-round renovation of the pagoda and instructed to maintain it for long-term duability.

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Pope Leo XIV presided over a final mass in Rome for over one million young people on Sunday, the culmination of a pilgrimage that has drawn Catholics from across the world.

The week-long "Jubilee of Youth” was an enormous undertaking for the Vatican, with a half a million young pilgrims in Rome for most of the week. On Saturday night, before a twilight vigil led by the pope, organizers said there were 800,000 people in the open-air space on Rome's eastern outskirts, and on Sunday the Vatican said that number had grown to one million.

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Pope Leo XIV presided over a final mass in Rome for over one million young people on Sunday, the culmination of a youth pilgrimage that has drawn Catholics from across the world. The week-long event ending Sunday, a highlight of the Jubilee holy year, was an enormous undertaking for the Vatican, with a half a million young pilgrims in Rome for most of the week.

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A ceremony to receive Ovada or guidance from the Ovadacariya Sayadawgyis by the Board of Trustees of the Upadasanti Pagoda, for the renovation and restoration of the earthquake-damaged Upadasanti Pagoda and affiliated religious buildings, was held inside the cave hall of the Pagoda in Nay Pyi Taw on July 23rd.

First, the congregation led by the Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture received the Five Precepts from the Ovadacariya Sayadawgyi of the Upadasanti Pagoda Board of Trustees, Presiding Sayadaw of the Pauk Myaing Monastery in Lewe Township.

Next, the Union Minister U Tin Oo Lwin supplicated religious affairs explaining that following the powerful Mandalay earthquake on March 28, 2025, significant damage occurred to the Upadasanti Pagoda, the Thathana Maha Beikman, the Visungama Shwe Thein Taw, the Cetiyapala San Kyaung, Sangarama residences (buildings 1 to 4), the Board of Trustees office, and other religious structures.

To address these damages and conduct renovations, various committees were formed under the leadership of the Union Minister and the Chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw Council. These include the Central Renovation Steering Committee, the Operations Committee, the Technical Advisory Subcommittee, the Information and Public Relations Subcommittee, the Finance Subcommittee, the Procurement Subcommittee, and the Security Subcommittee. Coordination meetings have been held, and work is ongoing.

Following that, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman U Than Tun Oo also supplicated the religious affairs. Next, Ovadacariya Sayadawgyis of the Upadasanti Pagoda Board of Trustees, led by the Presiding Sayadaw of the Pauk Myaing Monastery in Lewe Township, Bhaddanta Janinda delivered the Ovada Katha.

Then, the Board of Trustees and responsible officials, led by the Union Minister offered donations to the Sayadawgyis. In support of the renovation efforts, Union Minister U Tin Oo Lwin, on behalf of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture and the well-wishers, donated 10.8 million Kyats, which was received by Board of Trustees member U Tun Kyi.

Following that, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman U Than Tun Oo donated an additional 10.8 million Kyats on behalf of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, also received by U Tun Kyi.

At the end of the ceremony, the guests led by the Union Minister respectfully listened to a sermon delivered by Ovadacariya Sayadawgyi of the Pagoda Board of Trustees, Presiding Sayadaw of Inn-Tha Ah-Shay monastery in Lewe Township Bhaddanta Pandita, shared the merits gained and concluded the ceremony.

After that, Union Minister U Tin Oo Lwin, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman U Than Tun Oo, and officials toured and inspected the earthquake-damaged areas of the cave and precincts of the Upadasnti Pagoda. U Tun Tun, a member of the Nay Pyi Taw Development Committee, gave a briefing on the situation, it was reported.

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The pagodas in Nay Pyi Taw were bustling with those who did good deeds on the full moon day of Waso (Dhammacakka Day).
The Maravijaya Buddha Image was also packed with pilgrims, and the visitors observed around the compound of the Buddha Park peacefully.
Similarly, other pagodas such as Latlotetaung and Shwenanthwin in Nay Pyi Taw, Dhatuzaya Dhatpaungsu pagoda in Zabuthiri Township, Yanaungmyin pagoda in Dekkhinathiri Township, Phaungdaw Chetma pagoda in Lawe Township, Thatta Thattar Maha Bodhi pagoda and “Phwa, Pwint, Haw, San” pagoda and other religious sites in Ottarathiri Township were also crowded with pilgrims who donated Waso robes, flowers, and observed Sabbath.
The full moon day of Waso is a public holiday, and the recreational sites in Nay Pyi Taw were packed with people who were having fun and relaxing.
The full moon day of Waso is significant for the Buddhists on the day of conceiving the embryo of the Lord Buddha, the day of leaving the society for the jungle, the day of preaching the Dhammacakka Sutta, the day of performing the supernatural miracle, the day of admitting the enlightenment of the Buddha, the day of firstly emerging Dhamma, the day of firstly emerging Sangha and the day of firstly calling Ehi Bhikkhu. — Min Kyaw Swa/KTZH

GNLM

The Bagan-NyaungU Ancient Cultural Heritage Zone drew large crowds of pilgrims and merit-makers from across Myanmar on the auspicious Waso Full Moon Day (Dhammacakka Day), according to officials from the Shwezigon Pagoda Board of Trustees in NyaungU Township.
Although Bagan typically receives a steady flow of visitors even on ordinary days, public holidays and Buddhist holy days such as Waso often see a significant increase in the number of pilgrims. Families, groups of friends and religious travellers arrived in the early hours to visit pagodas, offer alms and engage in Dhamma practices.
To accommodate the seasonal rise in visitors, pagodas under the cultural heritage zone’s management are open daily from 5 am to 7 pm during the Buddhist Lent. On Waso Full Moon Day, many pilgrims gathered at the revered Shwezigon Pagoda starting from 4 am to participate in almsgiving, meditation and recitation of protective verses and blessings.
U Than Myint Oo, head of the Shwezigon Pagoda Board of Trustees, explained that eighteen pagodas under the cultural authority remain open throughout the Lenten period, ensuring ample opportunity for devotees to visit and make merit.

The influx of pilgrims also brought bustling activity to the local economy. Horse-cart drivers, e-bike rentals, mini-van operators, local tour guides, food vendors, souvenir artists and guesthouse operators all saw heightened business. Hotels and lodges were reportedly busy with both religious travellers and tourists seeking to mark the special occasion in Bagan. — Dipa Linn/KZL

GNLM

As the full moon day of Waso (Dhammacakka Day) is the most sacred day for Buddhists, people flocked to pagodas, temples, and stupas all over the country yesterday, making efforts to worship, recite and offer Waso robes and flowers also at the religious halls in neighbourhoods and streets.
Similarly, at temples, pagodas, stupas, and monasteries in and around Mandalay, Buddhist monks and people gathered for religious merit, including offerings, presenting flowers and robes, donating alms, and releasing animals, starting from early morning.
Moreover, in towns, villages, and neighbourhood religious halls, people were captivated by the sounds of religious chants and engaged in offering Waso robes and food to monks.
The Mandalay Region Government organized a Waso robe donation ceremony for 27 monks at Maha Atula Waiyan (Atu Mashi) monastery in Aungmyaythazan township.
The temples and pagodas: Sanda Muni pagoda, Kuthodaw pagoda, Mandalay Hill, Weerawsana Jade pagoda, Aungdawmu pagoda, were crowded with pilgrims.
Similarly, other significant sites of Mandalay, like the Myotaw Garden, Yadanabon Zoological Garden, resorts in Patheingyi, U Bein bridge in Amarapura, and Taungthaman Zal Lwin Pyin resorts, were also packed with visitors from all over the country. — Maung Aye Chan, Min Htet Aung/KTZH

GNLM

The auspicious Waso Full Moon Day (Dhamma Cakka Day) is a special and blessed day for Buddhists in Myanmar.

Across the nation, at pagodas and stupas, people are performing meritorious deeds in devotion to the Buddha. These include offering Waso robes and Waso flowers, making donations, observing precepts, and practicing meditation.

Since the morning, the Maravijaya Buddha Image, the tallest sitting marvel Buddha Image in the world, enshrined in the Buddha Park in Dekkhinathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, has been exceptionally crowded with pilgrims arriving with immense faith and devotion.

Similarly, other religious sites in Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory including (Let Loke Taung and Shwenan-thwin Pagoda, the Datucaya Dat Paung Su Pagoda, Yan Aung Myin Pagoda, Phaungdaw Chatma Pagoda, Satta Sattaha Mahabodhi Pagoda, and the four Saṃvejaniya holy places were bustling with pilgrims.

In honor of this day, pagodas and stupas across Yangon, including the Shwedagon Pagoda, are crowded with devotees who are observing the Precepts, performing meritorious deeds, and paying homage.

At the Shwedagon Pagoda, ceremonies commemorating the Full Moon Day of Waso (Dhamma Cakka Day) of the year 1387 ME were organized under the supervision of the Pagoda Board of Trustee and began at 5 AM in designated areas around the pagoda precincts.

Similar ceremonies were organized at other renowned pagodas in Yangon such as Sirimangala Kabha Aye Pagoda, Botahtaung Kyaikdae-ap Hair Relic Pagoda, Sule Pagoda, Lokachanthar Abhaya Labhamuni Buddha Image (Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda), Tooth Relic Pagoda (Yangon), Kyaikwaing Pagoda, Maelamu Pagoda, Nga-Htat Kyee Pagoda, Chauk-Htat Kyee Pagoda, Koe Htat Kyee Pagoda, Thabbin-Nyu Stupa (Yangon).

Likewise, starting from in the morning, not only local residents but also monks and laypeople from various regions have been visiting the renowned Mahamuni Buddha Image in Mandalay. They are paying homage with deep reverence offering alms, water, flowers, and robes, lighting oil lamps.

In addition, many are observing the precepts, engaging in meditation, and participating in religious and social organizations’ group recitations of Dhamma Sakya sermons, accumulating merit through these acts of devotion.

Furthermore, at pagodas, stupas, shrines, and monasteries across Mandalay city and its surrounding areas, Buddhist monks and lay devotees have been actively taking part since dawn in various religious ceremonies marking Dhamma Cakkya Day. These include Waso robe offering ceremonies, Waso flower and robe donations, alms offering, and acts of generosity such as life-saving donations, all of which are being vibrantly observed by numerous merit-makers.

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