many products with a comparative advantage. On issues verging on international peace and security, not excluding international humanitarian laws, even genocide - of which one is in motion in Gaza - although the world has witnessed others in Myanmar, Darfur, Rwanda and countless others before, the United Nations Security Council is rendered hapless. Why ? As and when a binding resolution has to be passed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the veto power of the five permanent members in the UNSC have been wielded time and again to protect their crony states, even when they are actively pursuing a policy of wiping out either partially or in whole, another population - ethnic cleansing. The hot button issue of today is Gaza. The problem is it has been triggering countless terror stricken campaigns, as things stand, verging on the likes of Israel, bombing 1.7 million more Gazans, all of whom are concentrated in Rafah. Since the verdict of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on January 26, 2024, which the judges voted by 14 to 2, that Israel is involved in a plausible genocide and the United States being complicitous, the situation has gone from bad to worse. It was none other than former UN Ambassador of US during the Obama Administration, who has had to admit, what the world has long known, indeed, opposed, that Gaza is facing a triple assault of a no holds barred arms assault from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), deliberate choking off of at least 500 food trucks that are needed to keep the victims well fed and now mass starvation. Malaysia has spoken of the strategic and moral necessity of reforming the UNSC. Instead of allowing each of the five permanent members, therein, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the US from wielding their veto to protect their allies that have gone rogue in murdering tens of thousands without even wanting to countenance a second "ceasefire," such a formula be permanently altered in these forms. First and foremost, for a veto to work more effectively, to prevent an issue from degenerating into the worst specter of a killing spree by one state against the other, at least three vetoes are needed by the five permanent members to block the UNSC resolution. Secondly, the UN General Assembly, a simple majority from the 197 member states is also needed to approve of what the UNSC had approved of. Without these immediate reforms, the world will be careening to m

untuk membolehkan pembakaran roti disambung semula. Pegawai Palestin berkata terdapat kira-kira 140 kedai roti di Semenanjung Gaza yang membekalkan majoriti penduduk dengan roti. Israel berdepan tekanan antarabangsa yang semakin meningkat untuk membenarkan lebih banyak bekalan bantuan kemanusiaan masuk ke semenanjung yang disekat itu. Pertubuhan bantuan menggambarkan situasi itu sebagai kritikal dan mengatakan lebih daripada sejuta orang berisiko mengalami kebuluran. Lebih 33,000 orang terbunuh di Gaza sejak meletusnya perang pada 7 Okt lepas, menurut pegawai kesihatan di wilayah pimpinan Hamas. Ketua Agensi Pembangunan Antarabangsa Amerika Syarikat (USAID) percaya bahawa kebuluran sudah berlaku di bahagian Semenanjung Gaza. Klasifikasi rasmi sebagai kebuluran bermakna sekurang-kurangnya 20 peratus penduduk terjejas oleh kekurangan makanan yang melampau. Di samping itu, sekurang-kurangnya satu daripada tiga kanak-kanak mengalami malnutrisi akut. - Bernama, dpa

allow baking to resume. Palestinian officials say there were around 140 bakeries in the Gaza Strip that supplied the majority of the population with bread. Israel is under increasing pressure to allow more humanitarian aid supplies into the sealed-off strip. Aid organisations describe the situation as catastrophic and say more than a million people are at risk of starvation. More than 33,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the outbreak of war on Oct 7, according to health officials in the Hamas-led region. The head of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) believes that famine is already occurring in parts of the Gaza Strip. The official classification as a famine means that at least 20 per cent of the population is affected by extreme food shortages. In addition, at least one in three children suffers from acute malnutrition.- Bernama, dpa

Timur Tengah dan akan melaraskan laluan penerbangan seperti yang diperlukan,kata jurucakap itu. Agensi Berita Republik Islam Iran (IRNA) melaporkan bahawa Angkatan Aeroangkasa Kor Pengawal Revolusi Iran (IRGC) melancarkan sejumlah misil ke atas sasaran tertentu di dalam wilayah diduduki Ierael. IRGC berkata serangan itu sebagai tindak balas terhadap banyak sekali jenayah dilakukan Israel, termasuk serangan ke atas Kedutaan Iran di Damsyik minggu lepas. Menurut laporan media antarabangsa, selain Israel beberapa negara di Timur Tengah juga telah menutup sementara ruang udara mereka berikutan peningkatan ketegangan di rantau itu termasuk di Jordan, Iraq dan Lubnan.

ministers and officials to formulate immediate steps in response to the situation. The tension and conflict currently occurring between Iran and Israel stem from the Zionist Israeli regimes attack on the Iranian Consulate (in Syria), which actually violates international law, and violations usually provoke responses, he said. Anwar was speaking to newsmen after officiating the Fifth International Convention of Dr B.R. Ambedkar and the commemoration of the late Indian jurist, economist, social reformer and political leaders 133rd anniversary here today. Foreign media today reported that Iran had launched a barrage of missiles and drones on Israel. Meanwhile, the prime minister said the meeting will also discuss the necessity for international demands to guarantee settlement and peace in the Middle East conflict. This is because what is happening there (Iran-Israel attack and conflict) will affect world security and economy, he said. In another development, Anwar, when commenting on UMNO Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh labelling a cabinet minister as stupid, said the statement was inappropriate within the context of the Unity Government. I dont entertain such statements. Not proper in our context of (the) Unity government. We should work together, he said.

dikatakan berpunca daripada tindakan Israel menyerang kedutaannya di Damsyik, Syria yang membunuh tujuh pegawai kanan tenteranya yang dikatakan menjadi perantara penting bagi hubungan dengan Hizbollah. Ditanya sama ada tindakan Iran yang telahpun diramalkan dari awal lagi oleh Israel dan sekutunya Amerika Syarikat (AS) akan menyebabkan perang lebih besar, Azmi menjawab ia bergantung kepada tindak balas Israel selepas ini. Menurut beliau kesan serangan Iran ke atas Israel akan bergantung sama ada Israel menerima mesej Iran atau tidak. Namun beliau percaya dalam masa 24 jam ini akan digembar-gemburkan berita bahawa Israel berjaya mematahkan serangan Iran. Jadi dalam masa 24 jam ini kita tidak akan melihat kemusnahan besar-besaran ke atas Israel. Ini kerana peluru berpandu yang dilancar Iran boleh dipintas oleh sistem pertahanan udara Israel, kata Azmi merujuk kepada mesej tersirat di sebalik serangan Tehran itu. Jika dalam masa 24 jam digembar-gemburkan Israel berjaya mematah serangan Iran, maka serangan balas balik ini akan berakhir di situ. Air muka Tel Aviv dan Tehran terpelihara. Itu sudah cukup menggambarkan bahawa Israel menang dan tidak perlu tindakan lanjut seperti menyerang Iran. Israel dan AS juga tidak mahukan konflik seperti itu berlaku, katanya. Sementara itu Agensi Anadolu melaporkan letupan kedengaran di beberapa kawasan di Israel awal Ahad apabila pertahanan udara memintas dron dan misil yang dilacarkan dari Iran. Siren roket dan letupan kuat kedengaran di selatan Israel, termasuk Eilat, Beersheba, Dimona, Nevatim dan kawasan-kawasan lain, lapor Agensi Anadolu yang memetik The Times of Israel. Kor Pengawal Revolusi Iran (IRGC) mengesahkan pada Sabtu pelancaran serangan dron dan misil ke atas Israel. IRGC berkata serangan itu sebagai tindak balas terhadap banyak sekali jenayah dilakukan Israel, termasuk serangan ke atas Kedutaan Iran di Damsyik pada 1 April lepas, yang mengorbankan sekurang-kurangnya 13 orang termasuk tujuh penasihat tentera. Iran mendakwa serangan itu dilakukan Israel tetapi Tel Aviv tidak mengaku bertanggungjawab terhadap serangan itu secara rasmi. Perutusan Tetap Iran ke Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu di New York dalam hantarannya di laman X berkata tindakan ketenteraan Iran adalah tindak balas terhadap serangan rejim Zionis terhadap premis diplomatik Iran di Damsyik. Perkara itu boleh dianggap selesai. Bagaimanapun, sekiranya rejim Israel melakukan lagi kesilapan, Iran akan bertindak balas dengan lebih keras. Ini adalah konflik di antara Iran dan rejim Israel, yang mana Amerika Syarikat tidak perlu campur tangan, katanya. Setiausaha Agung Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) Antonio Guterres dalam satu kenyataan disiarkan dalam portal un.org mengutuk sekeras-kerasnya serangan itu dan menyeru supaya persengketaan itu dihentikan segera. Saya amat bimbang terhadap bahaya sebenar peningkatan konflik serantau ini. Saya menggesa semua pihak supaya bersabar dan mengelakkan daripada mengambil tindakan yang boleh membawa kepada konfrontasi ketenteraan di pelbagai perbatasan di Asia Barat. Saya telah berulang kali menekankan dunia dan rantaunya tidak lagi mampu menghadapi peperangan, kata Guterres.

di negara berkenaan perlu bersedia hadapi gangguan pada jadual penerbangan dan rancang perjalanan sewajarnya,??? katanya dalam satu kenyataan pada Ahad. Sebelum ini, Sinar Harian melaporkan Iran melancarkan lebih 200 dron dan peluru berpandu balistik kepada Israel, malah serangan itu dikatakan masih berterusan hingga kini. Menurut wakil tetap Iran ke Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB), serangan ke atas Israel adalah mengikut lunas undang-undang. Memetik Artikel 51 Piagam PBB, Iran tegaskan republik tersebut mempunyai hak untuk mempertahankan diri susulan serangan Israel ke atas bangunan konsulatnya di Damsyik, Syria pada 1 April lalu. Wisma Putra turut memaklumkan, mereka yang berada dalam kecemasan dan memerlukan bantuan boleh berhubung dengan kedutaan atau Konsulat Malaysia terdekat. Tambahnya, rakyat diingatkan supaya kekal berwaspada dengan situasi semasa dan mematuhi arahan pihak berkuasa tempatan. ???Hubungi Kedutaan Besar Malaysia Tehran, Iran di talian 98 21 880724444 manakala Amman, Jordan 962 6590 2400 dan Beirut, Lubnan 961 71 380 063 serta 964 786 497 0086 di Baghdad, Iraq. ???Kerajaan komited dalam memastikan keselamatan dan kesejahteraan warganegara Malaysia di kawasan tersebut,??? ujarnya lagi. Ikuti Channel rasmi Sinar Harian di WhatsApp supaya anda tidak terlepas berita-berita terkini daripada kami. Jom! Klik di sini!

dikatakan berpunca daripada tindakan Israel menyerang kedutaannya di Damsyik, Syria yang membunuh tujuh pegawai kanan tenteranya yang dikatakan menjadi perantara penting bagi hubungan dengan Hizbollah. Ditanya sama ada tindakan Iran yang telahpun diramalkan dari awal lagi oleh Israel dan sekutunya Amerika Syarikat (AS) akan menyebabkan perang lebih besar, Azmi menjawab ia bergantung kepada tindak balas Israel selepas ini. Menurut beliau, kesan serangan Iran ke atas Israel akan bergantung sama ada Israel menerima mesej Iran atau tidak. Namun beliau percaya dalam masa 24 jam ini akan digembar-gemburkan berita bahawa Israel berjaya mematahkan serangan Iran. "Jadi dalam masa 24 jam ini kita tidak akan melihat kemusnahan besar-besaran ke atas Israel. Ini kerana peluru berpandu yang dilancar Iran boleh dipintas oleh sistem pertahanan udara Israel. "Jika dalam masa 24 jam digembar-gemburkan Israel berjaya mematah serangan Iran, maka serangan balas balik ini akan berakhir di situ. Air muka Tel Aviv dan Tehran terpelihara. Itu sudah cukup menggambarkan bahawa Israel menang dan tidak perlu tindakan lanjut seperti menyerang Iran. Israel dan AS juga tidak mahukan konflik seperti itu berlaku,??? kata Azmi merujuk kepada mesej tersirat di sebalik serangan Tehran itu. Sementara itu, Agensi Anadolu melaporkan letupan kedengaran di beberapa kawasan di Israel awal Ahad apabila pertahanan udara memintas dron dan misil yang dilacarkan dari Iran. Siren roket dan letupan kuat kedengaran di selatan Israel, termasuk Eilat, Beersheba, Dimona, Nevatim dan kawasan-kawasan lain, lapor Agensi Anadolu yang memetik The Times of Israel. Kor Pengawal Revolusi Iran (IRGC) mengesahkan pada Sabtu pelancaran serangan dron dan misil ke atas Israel. IRGC berkata, serangan itu sebagai tindak balas terhadap 'banyak sekali jenayah' dilakukan Israel, termasuk serangan ke atas Kedutaan Iran di Damsyik pada 1 April lepas, yang mengorbankan sekurang-kurangnya 13 orang termasuk tujuh penasihat tentera. Iran mendakwa serangan itu dilakukan Israel tetapi Tel Aviv tidak mengaku bertanggungjawab terhadap serangan itu secara rasmi. Perwakilan Tetap Iran ke Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu di New York dalam hantarannya di laman X berkata tindakan ketenteraan Iran adalah tindak balas terhadap serangan rejim Zionis terhadap premis diplomatik Iran di Damsyik. "Perkara itu boleh dianggap selesai. Bagaimanapun, sekiranya rejim Israel melakukan lagi kesilapan, Iran akan bertindak balas dengan lebih keras. Ini adalah konflik di antara Iran dan rejim Israel, yang mana Amerika Syarikat tidak perlu campur tangan," katanya. Setiausaha Agung Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB), Antonio Guterres dalam satu kenyataan disiarkan dalam portal un.org mengutuk sekeras-kerasnya serangan itu dan menyeru supaya persengketaan itu dihentikan segera. "Saya amat bimbang terhadap bahaya sebenar peningkatan konflik serantau ini. Saya menggesa semua pihak supaya bersabar dan mengelakkan daripada mengambil tindakan yang boleh membawa kepada konfrontasi ketenteraan di pelbagai perbatasan di Asia Barat. Saya telah berulang kali menekankan dunia dan rantaunya tidak lagi mampu menghadapi peperangan,??? kata Guterres. - Bernama Nak berita-berita terkini dengan lebih pantas? Jom sertai saluran WhatsApp Sinar Harian: ... @sinarharianonline Serangan dron dan peluru berpandu oleh Iran ke atas Israel pada awal Ahad (waktu Malaysia) bukan bermaksud untuk memusnahkan atau membunuh rakyat Israel, tetapi untuk menunjukkan Tehran mampu bertindak sendiri terhadap negara seterunya itu. Felo Kanan Akademi Penyelidikan Strategik Nusantara, Profesor Dr Azmi Hassan ketika dihubungi Bernama berkata, Tehran tidak bergantung kepada proksi seperti Hizbollah di Lubnan dalam melakukan sebarang gerakan terhadap Israel. Anda boleh baca berita penuh di portal Sinar Harian di www.sinarharian.com.my atau swipe up di IG story serta jangan lupa follow IG @sinarharian untuk berita terkini dalam dan luar negara. #SinarHarian #SinarTerkini #Semasa #Nasional #Dunia #Global #TimurTengah #Iran #Palestin #Israel Autumn - Sami Yusuf

dikatakan berpunca daripada tindakan Israel menyerang kedutaannya di Damsyik, Syria yang membunuh tujuh pegawai kanan tenteranya yang dikatakan menjadi perantara penting bagi hubungan dengan Hizbollah. Ditanya sama ada tindakan Iran yang telahpun diramalkan dari awal lagi oleh Israel dan sekutunya Amerika Syarikat (AS) akan menyebabkan perang lebih besar, Azmi menjawab ia bergantung kepada tindak balas Israel selepas ini. Menurut beliau, kesan serangan Iran ke atas Israel akan bergantung sama ada Israel menerima mesej Iran atau tidak. Namun beliau percaya dalam masa 24 jam ini akan digembar-gemburkan berita bahawa Israel berjaya mematahkan serangan Iran. "Jadi dalam masa 24 jam ini kita tidak akan melihat kemusnahan besar-besaran ke atas Israel. Ini kerana peluru berpandu yang dilancar Iran boleh dipintas oleh sistem pertahanan udara Israel. "Jika dalam masa 24 jam digembar-gemburkan Israel berjaya mematah serangan Iran, maka serangan balas balik ini akan berakhir di situ. Air muka Tel Aviv dan Teheran terpelihara. Itu sudah cukup menggambarkan bahawa Israel menang dan tidak perlu tindakan lanjut seperti menyerang Iran. Israel dan AS juga tidak mahukan konflik seperti itu berlaku,??? kata Azmi merujuk kepada mesej tersirat di sebalik serangan Teheran itu. Sementara itu, Agensi Anadolu melaporkan letupan kedengaran di beberapa kawasan di Israel awal Ahad apabila pertahanan udara memintas dron dan misil yang dilacarkan dari Iran. Siren roket dan letupan kuat kedengaran di selatan Israel, termasuk Eilat, Beersheba, Dimona, Nevatim dan kawasan-kawasan lain, lapor Agensi Anadolu yang memetik The Times of Israel. Kor Pengawal Revolusi Iran (IRGC) mengesahkan pada Sabtu pelancaran serangan dron dan misil ke atas Israel. IRGC berkata, serangan itu sebagai tindak balas terhadap 'banyak sekali jenayah' dilakukan Israel, termasuk serangan ke atas Kedutaan Iran di Damsyik pada 1 April lepas, yang mengorbankan sekurang-kurangnya 13 orang termasuk tujuh penasihat tentera. Iran mendakwa serangan itu dilakukan Israel tetapi Tel Aviv tidak mengaku bertanggungjawab terhadap serangan itu secara rasmi. Perwakilan Tetap Iran ke Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu di New York dalam hantarannya di laman X berkata tindakan ketenteraan Iran adalah tindak balas terhadap serangan rejim Zionis terhadap premis diplomatik Iran di Damsyik. "Perkara itu boleh dianggap selesai. Bagaimanapun, sekiranya rejim Israel melakukan lagi kesilapan, Iran akan bertindak balas dengan lebih keras. Ini adalah konflik di antara Iran dan rejim Israel, yang mana Amerika Syarikat tidak perlu campur tangan," katanya. Setiausaha Agung Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB), Antonio Guterres dalam satu kenyataan disiarkan dalam portal un.org mengutuk sekeras-kerasnya serangan itu dan menyeru supaya persengketaan itu dihentikan segera. "Saya amat bimbang terhadap bahaya sebenar peningkatan konflik serantau ini. Saya menggesa semua pihak supaya bersabar dan mengelakkan daripada mengambil tindakan yang boleh membawa kepada konfrontasi ketenteraan di pelbagai perbatasan di Asia Barat. Saya telah berulang kali menekankan dunia dan rantaunya tidak lagi mampu menghadapi peperangan,??? kata Guterres. - Bernama Nak berita-berita terkini dengan lebih pantas? Jom sertai saluran WhatsApp Sinar Harian: ... @sinarharianonline Serangan dron dan peluru berpandu oleh Iran ke atas Israel pada awal Ahad (waktu Malaysia) bukan bermaksud untuk memusnahkan atau membunuh rakyat Israel, tetapi untuk menunjukkan Tehran mampu bertindak sendiri terhadap negara seterunya itu. Felo Kanan Akademi Penyelidikan Strategik Nusantara, Profesor Dr Azmi Hassan ketika dihubungi Bernama berkata, Tehran tidak bergantung kepada proksi seperti Hizbollah di Lubnan dalam melakukan sebarang gerakan terhadap Israel. Anda boleh baca berita penuh di portal Sinar Harian di www.sinarharian.com.my atau swipe up di IG story serta jangan lupa follow IG @sinarharian untuk berita terkini dalam dan luar negara. #SinarHarian #SinarTerkini #Semasa #Nasional #Dunia #Global #TimurTengah #Iran #Palestin #Israel Autumn - Sami Yusuf

Malaysia, saya nasihat elakkan dulu mana-mana tempat berisiko tinggi, sama ada Iran atau negara berdekatan,??? katanya kepada pemberita ketika ditemui selepas menghadiri Majlis Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri anjuran Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Tupong, Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman di sini pada Ahad. Stesen telelevisyen Kerajaan Iran Anadolu pada Sabtu melaporkan Kor Pengawal Revolusi Iran telah memulakan operasi serangan dron, menyasarkan lokasi di dalam wilayah yang diduduki Israel. - Bernama Nak berita-berita terkini dengan lebih pantas? Jom sertai saluran WhatsApp Sinar Harian: ... @sinarharianonline Tangguh dulu perjalanan ke Iran, negara berdekatan - Fadillah #fyp #SinarHarian #SinarTerkini #Semasa #Dunia #Global #TimurTengah #Iran #Israel #FadillahYusof Du'a - Sami Yusuf

sosial, Facebook pada Ahad. Sebelum ini, media melaporkan Iran melancarkan berpuluh-puluh serangan dron terhadap Israel pada Sabtu. Bagaimanapun serangan dron itu mungkin mengambil masa beberapa jam sebelum mencapai sasarannya. Dua sumber keselamatan di Iraq berkata, berpuluh-puluh dron telah dikesan terbang dari Iran ke arah Israel di atas ruang udara Iraq. Ikuti Channel rasmi Sinar Harian di WhatsApp supaya anda tidak terlepas berita-berita terkini daripada kami. Jom! Klik di sini!

tidak berubah, macam bulan Januari jatuh, Februari naik,??? katanya kepada Sinar Ahad. Ujar Syarifudin, gerakan boikot produk berkaitan Israel turut membuka peluang kepada jenama tempatan untuk lebih dikenali ramai. Menurutnya, Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (Pernas) turut memainkan peranan penting dalam membimbing para usahawan dalam aspek perkembangan perniagaan francais lokal selain bantuan kewangan. ???Mereka juga menyediakan kelas prosedur operasi standard (SOP), macam mana hendak menjadi francaisi dan lebih kepada mendidik. ???Sekali gus memberi kesedaran berhubung perniagaan francais kepada usahawan bumiputra,??? katanya.

proactive approach and speedily undertake on-the-ground service work whenever ethnic or religious tensions surface. The occasional interfaith forum or seminar featuring representatives from various religions talking about the good points of their respective faiths is a long outdated style. It has no impact on society. Our religious leaders and the National Unity Ministry should do more during the month of World Interfaith Harmony Week, as currently no significant grassroots programmes are conducted. Some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that aim to be peacebuilders have also shied away from the task and now focus on charity work rather than exploring solutions to inter-communal problems besetting our nation. The socks incident and the ensuing bitterness that kept spiralling upwards ought to serve as a wake-up call to the National Unity Ministry and all NGOs with a public service goal that their top priority must be to establish nationwide reconciliation. In recent years, such NGOs have narrowed their scope to serving fragments of society rather than adopting a whole-of-society approach. Religious groups also seem to have lost their grand vision or have abandoned whatever broad vision they used to hold dear. All have forgotten this all-important verse in the Book of Proverbs addressed to an entire nation: Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint and run wild. Religious organisations should break out of the parochial focus on teaching their faiths only and embrace a divine vision of multicultural and multifaith unity to hold the nation tightly together. They must strive to work collaboratively and undertake service to the public in all matters that affect national unity. King Abdullah II of Jordan and his late father King Hussein are widely acknowledged as world leaders who initiated the interfaith era for humanity. In 2006, King Abdullah was invited to address a large evangelical Christian audience at a national prayer breakfast in Washington and he called upon people of all faiths to discard the idea of a clash of civilisations. It was he who introduced the World Interfaith Harmony Week at the 65th United Nations General Assembly in 2010. On that memorable occasion, he told the plenary session: It is essential to resist forces of division that spread misunderstanding and mistrust, especially among peoples of different religions. The fact is, humanity everywhere is bound together, not only by mutual interests but by shared commandments to love God and neighbour, to love the good and neighbour. Yet in Malaysia, nobody follows his initiative fully despite such harmful incidents as the socks debacle and similar potentially inflammable but fortunately rare incidents such as the occasional destruction of temple stone images by misguided vandals. After KK Mart had issued an apology, an interfaith team from MCCBCHST and perhaps with the inclusion of the smaller but more tightly-knit Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship should have visited the directors soonest possible and advised them to make atonement through an act of sacrifice taught by all religions. The sacrifice could be in the form of several thousand ringgit worth of halal food packs donated to various mosque committees for distribution to poor Muslim families. KK Mart could even pledge to distribute halal food packs every Ramadan. In view of the escalation into bomb-throwing, this is a fit occasion to explain the practice of sacrifice. The trail leads from human sacrifice to animal sacrifice, to sacrifice in the form of charity and finally back to human sacrifice in a completely transformed manner the most efficacious sacrifice with high relevance to Malaysias political situation. The notion of sacrifice arose from observation of nature in ancient times. For instance, the scarlet worm dies soon after giving birth so that the larvae may feed on her body for nourishment. This is self-sacrifice for the sake of new life. The octopus, squid, salmon, common mayfly, praying mantis, spider, scorpion and aphid are among many other species where it has been observed that mothers die soon after birth often to feed predators who then refrain from eating the newborn. Humans imitated the sacrificial character of nature by inventing the practice of child sacrifice, and it became standard practice in the early days of all ancient civilisations. In 2020, archaeologists in China excavated a human skeleton in a sacrificial pit dating back to the Shang Dynasty around 3,600 years ago. The skeleton was found in a kneeling position with both hands crossed in front. The sacrificial person had been beheaded. In 2018, archaeologists in Peru found evidence of the biggest-ever human sacrifice, uncovering the remains of more than 140 children who were slain in a sacred ritual at the time of the Chimu civilisation. More than 20 years earlier, archaeologists had found a well-preserved mummy of an Inca maiden, no older than 15 years, who was sacrificed by a blow to the head. In pre-Roman times, child sacrifice was prevalent throughout Western Europe. Some 15 years ago, archaeologists found evidence of a young, healthy and strong man whose body was painted in mysterious symbols being sacrificed by having his head clubbed and throat slit. He was a hero of the druids in Britain who were fighting to ward off the Roman invaders. The druids had sacrificed him as an offering to God to fight alongside them. Child sacrifice was equally prevalent in West Asia including the Holy Land. The Torah describes child sacrifice by Canaanites and Israelites. In the second book of Kings, the King of Moab took his eldest son and offered him a burnt offering after a battle with the Israelites. In the book of Judges, an Israelite commander-in-chief defeated the Ammonites and in thanksgiving to God he made a burnt offering of his daughter who was his only child. As civilisations grew aware of human rights, an offering of the best animals and farm produce was devised to substitute for child sacrifice. The food was then consumed by humans, of course. This switch to a substitutionary sacrifice was dramatised in a chilling story about an ancient patriarch Abraham and his son. Abraham took his son Isaac on a journey up a mountain, built an altar, laid his son on it and placed a bundle of chopped wood to make a burnt offering of the boy. Just as he was about to slay his son with a knife, he stopped, looked around and spotted a ram caught in a thicket. He burnt the ram instead. This epic drama symbolised the abandonment of child sacrifice by civilisations. Animal slaughter in sacrificial rituals became the vogue and remains the favourite to this day. The livestock animals picked to give their lives are preferably sheep, cattle, goats, pigs and chickens. Fruits and vegetables are also placed on altars. However, awareness of animal rights and environmental destruction is leading to growing revulsion over the forced slaughter of innocent lives. Bear in mind that the main purpose of sacrifice is reconciliation: to re-establish a broken link or to mend a damaged relationship, and also to influence higher powers to work in your favour. Thus, in any incident wherein a relationship with one community has been damaged, the distribution of food packs to poor members of that community is the most suitable form of reconciliation. Two religions indigenous to India, Hinduism and Sikhism, have long traced the cause of all broken or damaged relationships to one root cause: human ego. These two religions have transmuted the ritual into the loftiest form of sacrifice the sacrifice of ego. Known as purusayajna in Sanskrit, or the sacrifice of collective humanity, the call is to sacrifice biasness, selfish gain and parochialism. Instead, practise non-attachment, sacrifice of self and communal exclusivity, and embrace a whole identity. Purusayajna contains a lesson for many politicians around the world whose favourite indulgence is to garner selfish gain for power, sacrifice national interests for party advancement and aggravate tensions to widen their grip on traditional voter bases. The Sikh scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, is hard-hitting. Here is a short list of powerful verses: Everyone worships God while abiding in ego, and so, ones mind is saturated not with God, nor one gathers peace. One utters prayers to gratify ones ego, and so wastes away ones life, and ones dedication avails not. Where there is avarice, there is death and where there is forgiveness, there is God himself. Of what avail is the abandonment of maya, if man abandons not his self-conceit? Ego destroys all ones merit. Ego eats all up. Power breeds ego and pride must have a fall. He who is alive to his ego dies, and he who is dead to his ego becomes eternal. I indulge in self-esteem, and egoistic is my speech. He alone attains to the gate of salvation who stills his ego from within himself. The ego has burnt down the whole world. The writer champions interfaith harmony. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

retaliate for a strike in Damascus -- a possibility also raised by President Joe Biden, who urged Iran against the move. Oil prices surged more than two percent at session peaks before easing somewhat. Gold also benefitted from its status as a haven investment, breaking the $2,400 per ounce level. Investor attention was set to focus on the start Friday of the corporate earnings season after economic data released earlier this week largely killed off the possibility that the US Federal Reserve could begin cutting interest rates in June. Equity markets took the recalibration of expectations of interest rate cuts in their stride as the data showing the US economy in strong health raised hopes that companies will report strong earnings. At the start of the year markets had priced in six interest cuts by the Fed in 2024, but now expect only two. JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Citigroup all reported better-than-expected earnings results for the first quarter. But shares in JPMorgan Chase, which have risen strongly this year, sank 6.5 percent, while the other two banks retreated by less. While Paris and Frankfurt edged lower, London stocks fizzed higher on data showing the UK economy grew for a second straight month in February, further fueling recovery hopes after sliding into a shallow recession in the second half of last year. Dimming hopes for US rate cuts continued to support the dollar, which surged to another 34-year high above 153 yen, putting Japanese officials in the spotlight after they said they were ready to intervene in markets to support their currency. - Key figures around 2030 GMT - New York - Dow: DOWN 1.2 percent at 37,983.24 (close) New York - S 500: DOWN 1.5 percent at 5,123.41 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: DOWN 1.6 percent at 16,175.09 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.9 percent at 7,995.58 (close) Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.2 percent at 8,010.32 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.1 percent at 17,930.32 (close) EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.2 percent at 4,955.01 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.2 percent at 39,523.55 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 2.2 percent at 16,721.69 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.5 percent at 3,019.47 (close) Dollar/yen: DOWN at 153.24 yen from 153.27 yen on Thursday Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0645 from $1.0726 Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2449 from $1.2553 Euro/pound: UP at 85.48 pence from 85.44 pence Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.8 percent at $90.45 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.8 percent at $85.66 per barrel

Iran akan menyerang Israel. German Press Agency (dpa) melaporkan bahawa Presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS) Joe Biden berkata pada Jumaat, beliau berasakan Iran akan melancarkan serangan terhadap Israel 'lebih cepat daripada jangkaan'. Biden bagaimanapun enggan menghuraikan perisikan rahsia Washington mengenai rancangan Teheran, lapor agensi itu. Ancaman Iran terhadap Israel semakin meningkat berikutan serangan udara ke atas pekarangan kedutaan Iran di Syria pada 1 April lepas yang mengorbankan beberapa jeneral tentera. Terdapat laporan bahawa Kor Pengawal Revolusi Islam Iran (IRGC) telah merampas sebuah kapal kontena yang berkaitan dengan Israel di kawasan teluk. Bagi AirAsia, tiada satu pun laluan semasanya menggunakan ruang udara Iran. - Bernama Nak berita-berita terkini dengan lebih pantas? Jom sertai saluran WhatsApp Sinar Harian: ...

said on Friday he expected Iran to launch an attack against Israel sooner than later. ALSO READ: India tells citizens not to travel to Israel and Iran Biden said he did not want to elaborate on what classified intelligence Washington had about Tehrans plans, the agency reported. Irans threats towards Israel have increased following an airstrike on the Iranian embassy compound in Syria on April 1 which killed several military generals. There were reports that Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had seized a container ship related to Israel in the Gulf as tensions soar in the region. As for AirAsia, none of its current routes uses the Iranian airspace.

terhadap perjuangan suci warga Palestin sepatutnya dinyatakan. ???Sesungguhnya segala cabaran dan kesukaran yang dialami di Malaysia tidak seberapa berbanding apa yang ditempuhi oleh mereka setiap hari. ???Menerusi panggilan telefon hampir 15 minit itu, Ismail menegaskan bahawa kesyahidan ahli keluarganya dan mereka yang tidak berdosa tidak akan sesekali mematahkan semangat serta memadamkan api perjuangan rakyat Palestin. ???Mereka tidak akan berganjak walau seinci pun dan akan terus mempertahankan serta memperjuangkan hak mereka sehingga hembusan nafas yang terakhir,??? katanya dalam satu hantaran di Facebook pada Sabtu. Sebelum ini, Sinar Harian melaporkan, Ismail kehilangan tiga anak lelakinya iaitu Hazen, Amir dan Muhammad serta beberapa cucu akibat terbunuh dalam serangan Israel di Semenanjung Gaza. Terbaharu, media antarabangsa memaklumkan, sejak bermulanya kempen pembunuhan beramai-ramai di Gaza pada 7 Oktober 2023, lebih 33,360 rakyat Palestin terbunuh dan 75,993 cedera. Hamzah turut meminta semua pihak untuk terus berdoa supaya rakyat Palestin sentiasa dirahmati dan diberikan kecekalan serta kekuatan berdepan rejim keji aparteid Israel yang biadab sehingga melampaui segala batas kemanusiaan. ???Walaupun berada jauh dari bumi Palestin, kami turut bersama merasai penderitaan atau keperitan mereka dalam perjuangan menuntut hak dan kebenaran atas nama agama serta tanah air mereka,??? ujarnya lagi. Ikuti Channel rasmi Sinar Harian di WhatsApp supaya anda tidak terlepas berita-berita terkini daripada kami. Jom! Klik di sini!