by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | humanitarianism, islam, leadership, news, politics
KUALA LUMPUR – The Muslim community is experiencing growing divisions, which is particularly noticeable in Malaysia.
Amidst escalating political battles and self-serving agendas, Datuk Hussamuddin Yaacub, the founder of Warisan Ummah Ikhlas Foundation (WUIF), has urged leaders to set aside their pride and focus on fostering unity instead.
Addressing the 10th anniversary of the World #QuranHour 2025 event today, he encouraged leaders to contemplate the messages from the Quran and collaborate for the collective well-being.
Alhamdulillah, today signifies ten years since the inception of World #QuranHour. Our aim is to elevate this endeavor, extending its influence onto a global stage.
“While engagement has expanded beyond Malaysia’s borders, it continues to predominantly be a national movement. It would be ideal if this idea achieves wider international acknowledgment,” he stated when approached following the event, today.
Even with its achievements, only a few nations like Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, and India have embraced this initiative.
Hussamuddin emphasized that the main objective was to bring together all segments of the Muslim world.
“We observe fellow Muslims involved in disputes, hurling insults at each other and circulating malicious gossip. By reciting and contemplating (tadabbur) Surah As-Saff, we are prompted to remember the critical importance of scholars and the broader Muslim community joining forces in harmony,” he further stated.
He appealed to Malay Islamic leaders in Malaysia to set aside their individual aspirations and political differences, encouraging them to focus instead on the collective well-being of the ummah.
He mentioned it was crucial to discover a method for cooperation, to step back from conflicts of power, and to gather around the same table for substantial conversations.
More than just arranging an yearly gathering, World #QuranHour is a movement crafted to ignite a greater understanding and appreciation of the Quran amongst Muslims globally.
The movement’s ultimate aim is to engage two billion Muslims, thereby laying the groundwork for the resurgence and empowerment of Islamic countries.
The event hosted at the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Mosque located within the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) campus in Gombak today, witnessed the attendance of Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Almarhum Sultan Iskandar.
At 11:55 am, Her Majesty reached the mosque premises alongside Bandar Tun Razak MP and the Prime Minister’s spouse, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. Other notable figures joining them included the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Religious Affairs, Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, among others of similar stature.
Hussamuddin mentioned that the organization has managed to maintain this effort for ten years despite being a modest NGO, yet he emphasized that for the movement to really thrive, it needed backing from the government.
He mentioned that if the authorities got involved, the initiative could expand even more.
He pointed out that by working together with the IIUM, which boasts more than 100 alumni chapters across the globe, along with utilizing governmental connections via institutions such as Wisma Putra, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, this initiative could genuinely make a worldwide difference.
He mentioned that Malaysia could potentially be acknowledged as the originator of this movement.
He similarly called upon the Prime Minister and pertinent ministries to earnestly back this initiative.
We encourage them to examine the program, grasp its intent, and acknowledge our progress up to this point.
“If the administration supplies the crucial ‘thrust’ for this campaign and IIUM serves as the launching pad, we can elevate this effort to extraordinary heights,” he stated.
After dedicating many years to this initiative, Hussamuddin realized that his tenure as leader could be coming to an end soon. That’s why he wished for genuine governmental backing of the movement.
“The backing we get at present is minimal, even though this is an international effort brimming with vast potential. The moment has come to bring World Quran Hour onto the world platform,” he further stated.
This year, World #QuranHour 2025 was themed around ‘Preserving the Ummah,’ highlighting the significance of solidarity in maintaining the faith of Allah SWT.
The 10th iteration of the World #QuranHour 2025 event gathered numerous attendees via their presence at the primary location, live TV transmissions, and online streaming.
Moreover, this year’s event saw registrations from 1,370 sites within the nation and 25 additional sites located in 19 different foreign countries.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | churches, courts, government, politics, politics and law
A court in Tokyo has directed the Unification Church in Japan to dissolve, as requested by the nation’s government.
The church, officially named the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, faced greater examination following the 2022 assassination of ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The suspected killer alleges that the church caused his mother’s financial ruin, and he holds Abe responsible for his party’s connection to it.
In 2023, Japan’s education ministry requested the disbandment of the church, alleging that it had caused harm to its members and their families via deceptive funding and enrollment practices.
In support of their submission, the governmental body presented 5,000 files and evidentiary items to the court, derived from over 170 witness interviews.
In its decision regarding the case, the Tokyo District Court declared on Tuesday that it would be rescinding the official recognition of the religious group based in South Korea, commonly referred to as Moonies by its adherents. The term “Moonies” originates from the surname of the church’s founder and self-declared Messiah, Sun Myung Moon.
If the group fails to overturn this ruling effectively, they stand to lose their tax-free status and will be required to sell off all their holdings within Japan.
The church, which has expressed consideration for filing an appeal, described Tuesday’s ruling as “totally unacceptable,” asserting that the court provided “an incorrect legal interpretation.”
For the first time, a religious group in Japan is facing the consequences of a revocation order as per the nation’s civil code.
The Unification Church, established in Seoul in 1954, gained official recognition in Japan during the 1960s. This development is believed to have received backing from Abe’s grandfather, ex-Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi.
After Abe’s murder during a political event, attention was drawn to the connections between the church and Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party.
In 2022, former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida conducted a cabinet reshuffle that led to the removal of seven officials associated with the church. Prior to this, Economy Minister Daishiro Yamagiwa stepped down due to his connections to the same group.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | happiness, politics, society, welfare, world
Finland has been crowned the globe’s happiest nation for eight years running, as stated in the World Happiness Report 2025.
Specialists point out that easy access to natural areas and an effective social support network contribute to this.
This is followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden.
These nations consistently achieve top scores in indicators such as social support, trust, and general well-being.
The World Happiness Report polled over 100,000 individuals across 140 nations and regions.
“Contentment in Finland isn’t defined by unceasing happiness but rather by a feeling of safety, trust, and equilibrium in everyday living. This satisfaction stems from the assurance that help is available whenever required, be it via robust social welfare systems, superior educational opportunities, or proximity to natural environments,” stated Miika Mäkitalo, CEO of
HappyOrNot
, a Finnish firm that assists companies gauge customer contentment.
Mäkitalo added: “In our community, we uphold principles of equity and environmental stewardship, fostering a setting where individuals receive support and can flourish. By implementing policies like extensive paternity leave and accessible early childhood care, we guarantee that households enjoy economic stability along with ample opportunities to bond with offspring, underscoring a broader dedication to health and harmony between professional duties and personal life.”
Eating together and having someone to count on
Communities where individuals often have meal-sharing experiences tend to exhibit greater levels of happiness and stronger social support systems.
The sole EU nation appearing in the upper echelon is Poland, where individuals partake in over 10 communal meals each week on average.
In contrast, Estonia sits at the bottom of the list, with residents reporting just 2.7 shared meals per week.
Individuals residing solo tend to be unhappier.
In Europe, households comprising four to five individuals show the greatest degrees of happiness.
Nevertheless, loneliness amongst younger individuals is increasing, with 19% stating they have nobody to depend on — this marks a 39% rise from what was seen in 2006.
A lot of young people often undervalue their friends’ ability to understand and share feelings, causing them to shy away from forming connections and losing chances for significant bonds.
Deeds of compassion saw an upsurge during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to be 10% higher than before the outbreak.
It seems that donating and volunteering are more prevalent in Central and Eastern Europe, whereas sharing tangible assets is more frequent in Western Europe.
The current year’s report encourages us to focus on factors beyond conventional measures such as health and wealth. Surprisingly, activities like sharing meals and having trust in others emerge as more significant indicators of happiness than anticipated,” stated Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, who directs Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre and co-edits the World Happiness Report. “Amidst today’s climate of social distancing and political division, it becomes essential to discover methods to gather individuals at one table once again—this action is vital for both personal and communal well-being.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | journalism, national security, news, news media, politics
The
A journalist was added to a group chat.
Involving multiple key Cabinet members from Donald Trump’s administration who were allegedly part of discussions about war strategies have rebutted Pete Hegseth’s strong dismissal of these reports.
Jeffrey Goldberg, who serves as the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, stunned everyone with his disclosure on Monday when he unexpectedly found himself
incorporated into a discussion on Signal, an encrypted messaging platform
.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz initiated the conversation, which involved users identified as Vice President Vance and Secretary of State.
Marco Rubio
, Defense Secretary
Pete Hegseth
Director of National Intelligence
Tulsi Gabbard
, a CIA spokesperson, Trump adviser Stephen Miller and
White House
Head of Staff Susie Wiles.
Goldberg talked to CNN on Monday evening, disclosing that the conversation involved ‘assault strategies,’ specific sites, and details about those targeted along with the order of attacks against the Houthis, outlining the sequence of assaults.
Hegseth refutes the narrative
was ‘a lie.’
“No, that’s not true. He was sending texts about battle strategies and assault tactics instead. The messages included details on which targets would be hit, methods of attack, individuals present at those locations, and timings for subsequent strikes,” he stated.
The defense secretary made his debut appearance following the publication of the story, shortly after returning from a flight.
Hawaii
, criticized Goldberg much like former President Donald Trump did.
slammed his magazine
.
‘So you are talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who has made a profession of peddling hoaxes, time and time again.’
He mentioned several articles that The Atlantic has published.
Trump
‘s alleged connections to
Russia
,
His remarks about ‘really nice individuals’
after the
Charlottesville
riots being misinterpreted and misrepresented
The supposed remarks about ‘losers and suckers.’
Regarding soldiers who lost their lives in warfare.
“This is someone who deals with trash. That’s his business,” Hegseth added.
He commended U.S. forces engaged in combat against the Houthis in Yemen and denounced the Biden administration’s actions regarding the situation.
A journalist inquired of Hegseth, “Why were those specifics disclosed via Signal?”
Hegseth responded, “I’m aware of how it has been described. No one was sending texts with war strategies, and that’s everything I want to comment on this matter.”
When contacted for comments, a spokesperson from the Pentagon informed LIFEHACK: “We have nothing additional to share beyond what the Secretary has mentioned.”
Goldberg also mentioned that there were additional details he chose not to release because they were highly significant, overly technical, and he feared that making this information public might pose risks to the safety of U.S. military personnel.
He painted the picture of himself sitting in a supermarket parking lot as he observed the conversation unfolding.
They executed a military strategy through a messaging application without knowing all participants involved, which clearly demonstrates a laughable lapse in security. Notice how he failed to address the query directly?
He stated: “Their purpose is to maintain all these discussions at a higher level, the classified level, which is why they possess such systems.”
The editor mentions that he has no clue about who might have invited him to join the chat and is also unaware of the person they intended to invite.
‘What were the odds of inviting the editor of The Atlantic to join your conversation? How did that happen?’
Goldberg also expressed feelings of ‘genuine anxiety and anger’ regarding the ‘carelessness’ exhibited by those involved.
Keep in mind that American servicemen were directly implicated in this assault. This was not merely about long-range weaponry launched from thousands of miles away. You understand, you can’t simply release such details and expect everything to turn out fine.
Goldberg quipped that those involved should consider themselves “fortunate they didn’t mistakenly send this to a Houthi or a foreign diplomat, or someone with access to their phone records; perhaps that counts as a silver lining.”
He mentioned that throughout this time, nobody from the team ever doubted his position within the group chat or reached out after he decided to leave.
“It’s a degree of lack of curiosity, perhaps putting it mildly; what I’m really referring to is a reckless attitude that I haven’t encountered in my extensive career covering national security,” he stated.
When contacted for commentary, a spokesperson from the Pentagon informed LIFEHACK: “We have nothing further to add besides what was mentioned by the Secretary.”
Goldberg was equally astonished to witness
JD Vance disagrees with the president.
, distancing himself from Trump and also casting doubt on his understanding of the topic.
“I doubt the president realizes how contradictory this is with his current stance on Europe. Additionally, there’s a significant danger of witnessing a moderate to severe increase in oil prices,” Vance noted.
‘There is a genuine danger that people might not grasp this concept or see its necessity. The most compelling argument for taking this action is, as the President stated, to convey a clear message,’ Mr. Vance proceeded with his explanation.
Goldberg said that essentially, the person has informed the whole cabinet that he opposes the president’s choice and furthermore believes that the president lacks understanding of the matter.
CNN
.
‘It sounds quite serious; he believes the president hasn’t grasped the outcomes and implications. This revelation was both enlightening and intriguing,’ he commented.
Vance added: ‘I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.’
Goldberg established the context for the startling exposé by verifying that he hadn’t received any previous invitation to insider information about the American security apparatus.
“As might be obvious, but I will state it nonetheless, I have never received an invitation to attend a White House principals committee meeting. Furthermore, during my extensive career covering issues related to national security, I have never come across such a meeting being called due to concerns about a commercial messaging application,” he wrote.
The Atlantic.
The startling narrative unveils how operational specifics were inadvertently disclosed. Defense Secretary Hegseth, who previously served as
Fox News
The host is currently under scrutiny due to significant failures.
Goldberg mentioned that ‘Pete Hegseth, who serves as the Secretary of Defense, sent me the battle strategy via text at 11:44 a.m.’ The airstrikes began in Yemen shortly after 2 p.m.
Trump told reporters at the White House he hadn’t seen The Atlantic story: ‘I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of the Atlantic. It’s to me, it’s a magazine that’s going out of business.’
When questioned regarding the Signal chat, Trump stated: “It must not have been too effective since the assault proved quite successful. Let me assure you that I am not familiar with this matter. This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
Goldberg recounted the strange story, initially expressing doubt regarding the text message exchange, wondering if it was authentic. He later confirmed its validity as “the bombs began dropping.”
He acknowledges that he was astonished by the notion that the National Security Adviser to the President would be so careless as to involve the Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic in conversations with high-ranking US officials, all the way up to the Vice President.
The reporter showed up as ‘JG’ in the chat. It remains uncertain whom Waltz intended to include, but Jamieson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, shares the same initials, leading to speculations that he might have been the intended person.
Goldberg chose not to share all details during the conversation, invoking reasons of national security.
The White House showed faith in Waltz.
As President Trump stated, the strikes against the Houthis have proven to be highly successful and effective. President Trump remains committed.
possess complete faith in his national security staff, which includes National Security Advisor Mike Waltz
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated in an official release.
The National Security Council verified that the conversation was genuine.
At her daily press briefing, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce informed journalists: “We won’t provide any comments on this matter; instead, please reach out to the White House for further information.”
If accurate, this represents a shocking security lapse.
Trump
authorized attacks on the Iran-supported rebels in Yemen as a message to Tehran.
The Houthi insurgents were aiming at vessels navigating the Red Sea that hailed from nations connected to Israel, such as the United States and Britain.
Waltz initiated the principles group on Signal for coordination purposes, calling it the ‘Houthi PC small group.’
Goldberg expressed reservations upon being included, confessing that he feared the text message exchange might be part of a ‘disinformation campaign.’
However, as he observed the messages passing by, he realized that the content seemed authentic, and several specifics aligned correctly.
For instance, the account tagged as Vance sent a message stating he would skip a meeting since he had to attend an economic event in Michigan. As expected, the vice president was present in Michigan on that particular day.
That’s when Vance also voiced his concerns regarding the operation.
Vance’s report raised alarms regarding the scheduling of the suggested mission, cautioning that it could lead to a surge in oil prices.
Hegseth replied that he grasped the situation: “VP: I comprehend your worries — and completely endorse you bringing them up with POTUS. There are several critical factors to consider, many of which are difficult to predict their outcomes (such as economic impacts, resolving the conflict in Ukraine, situations in Gaza, among others). Regardless of the approach, I believe the communication strategy will face significant challenges.”
Following some conversation, Vance agrees: “If you believe we should proceed, then let’s do it. I simply dislike having to rescue Europe once more.”
Goldberg, observing the conversation unfold on his Signal app, confessed he was ‘puzzled that nobody in the group appeared to be aware of me being there.’
He mentions that he chose to withhold certain details from a long passage penned by Hegseth, as these pieces of information—if accessed by enemies of the United States—might potentially be exploited to endanger American military and intelligence officers.
What I want to highlight to demonstrate the alarming carelessness of this Signal conversation is that the Hegseth posting included specific operational plans for upcoming attacks in Yemen,” Goldberg explained. “This entailed details such as target locations, types of weaponry the U.S. intended to use, and the sequence of assaults.
The guidelines outlined in the chat addressed Hegseth’s concerns, though.
“I shall offer a prayer for triumph,” Vance penned down.
Goldberg observes that two additional users later included prayer emojis.
If the conversation had been real, explosions would have started hitting locations in Yemen at 1:45 PM Eastern Time. In this scenario, Goldberg waited in his car at a supermarket parking lot.
If this Signal conversation was indeed genuine, I deduced that Houthi targets would swiftly come under attack. Around 1:55, I looked at X and searched for news from Yemen. It turned out explosions were echoing throughout Sanaa, the nation’s capital.
When Goldberg rejoined the group chat, he discovered an abundance of emojis and messages filled with congratulations circulating within the conversation.
Waltz replied using three emojis: a closed fist, an American flag, and flames.
Susie Wiles commented: ‘Congratulations to everyone – with extra praise for those in theater and at CENTCOM! Truly excellent. God bless.’
Steve Witkow showed his sentiment using five emojis: two praying hands, one flexed bicep, and two American flags.
Goldberg stated that he chose to leave the group chat himself and immediately reached out to those involved to inquire about the situation.
Brian Hughes, spokesperson for the National Security Council, addressed the individual and verified that the conversation was indeed genuine.
This seems to be a genuine message trail, and we are examining how an unintended figure got included,” Hughes stated. “This exchange highlights the extensive and meticulous policy collaboration among high-ranking officials. The continuous effectiveness of the Houthi initiative indicates that there weren’t any risks posed to personnel or national safety.
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