World News in Brief
19 Buddhist monks peacefully protest
On Oct. 26, 2025, 19 Buddhist monks left Fort Worth, Texas, and began a 2,300-mile Walk for Peace, which concluded on Feb.10, 2026, when they arrived in Washington, D.C. The monks came from Thailand, Vietnam, France, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and other countries and were organized by the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara. The goal of the walk was to spread a message of peace and compassion. “We hope that our country, our world will be healed. We hope that everyone will live in harmony,” Pannakara said.
America withdraws from the World Health Organization
President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14155 on Jan. 20, 2026. The order formally withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization [WHO], stating the reason for withdrawal as “the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states,” according to whitehouse.gov.
Bondi Beach accused has first court appearance
Naveed Akram, the accused gunman in the December Bondi Beach shooting, had his first court appearance on Feb. 16, 2026. The shooting occurred on Dec. 14, 2025, at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach and was the worst mass shooting in Australia in 30 years, killing 15 people and injuring over 40. Akram and his father were the alleged attackers, and Akram’s father was shot dead by police on Bondi Beach. Akram is facing 59 charges for the shooting, 15 of which are counts of murder, and one for committing a terrorist attack. Akram and his lawyer have not yet stated a plea.
