(Reported by Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan - July 15, 2010)

Lukas Pokorny is from Austria, with a job as Research Assistant at the Chair of East Asian Economy and Society. He is Vice Director of the Studies Program of the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Vienna. He holds an M.A. degree in Comparative Religious Studies, General History, Philosophy, and Korean Studies and a PhD in Philosophy. His current research focuses on Religious Traditions in East Asia, with emphasis on the Role of Confucianism and the Political Impact/Doctrinal Dimension of New Religious Movements, Historical Epistemology, and Comparative Religious Studies.

(News from Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 22, 2010)

The Academic Council of Dhaka University, Bangladesh, on April 21, 2010, has just awarded the degree of Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) to a student of the Department of World Religions, following the recommendation of the Exam Committee of the University. The student’s name is SHAIKH FARID, his thesis for graduation is titled “Caodaism: a syncretistic religion of Viet Nam”. The ceremony of this graduation will be held on May 16, 2010 in the main auditorium of the University.