NEWS / ASIA PACIFIC New Zealand cabinet agrees on tougher gun laws in principle: PM Jacinda Ardern also announces an inquiry into Christchurch mosque attacks...

 
Media captionJacinda Ardern: "This can only be described as a terrorist attack"   Forty people have been killed and more than 20 wounded in shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. Australian prime minister Scott Morrison described the gunman, who had Australian citizenship, as an "extremist, right-wing" terrorist. Four people - three men and one woman - were in custody in connection with the shooting, New Zealand police said. New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern called it one of New Zealand's darkest days". What do we know at this point? New Zealand police commissioner Mike Bush confirmed that "multiple fatalities" were recorded at two locations. The first report of an attack came from the Al Noor mosque, located in central Christchurch. Witnesses...

Gunmen kill at least 49 people during Friday prayers at two mosques in Christchurch in the country's worst ever attack. 3 minutes ago Ambulance staff take a wounded man from outside the mosque in central Christchurch on Friday [Mark Baker/AP] Forty nine people have been killed and at least 20 others injured in shootings...

As Salaamu Alaikum Warahmatulaahi Wabarakatuhu. We are now on instagram. You can follow us @islaaminfo. or https://instagram.com/islaaminfo/ Jazakallahu Khairan. Was Salaamu Alaikum By Khalid Baig ‘... For only then we truly live. Otherwise we only pretend to live….’ It happened at an international inter-faith conference. The organizers decided to end the conference with readings from the scriptures of major religions, done by followers of other religions. As it happened, an Arab Christian read a passage from the Qur’aan. He was a good reciter. Every one seemed to be moved by his heart-rending reading, including the reciter himself....

As we all know, woodpeckers build their nests by boring holes in tree trunks with their beaks. This may sound familiar to most people. But the point many people fail to examine is why woodpeckers suffer no brain haemorrhage when they beat a tattoo so vigorously with their heads. What the woodpecker does is in a way similar to a human being driving a nail into the wall with his head. If a man ventured to do something like that, he would probably undergo a brain shock followed by a brain haemorrhage. However, a woodpecker can peck a hard tree trunk 38-43 times in just two or three seconds and nothing happens to it.(1)   Nothing happens because the head structure of woodpeckers is ideally created for such a task. The skull of the woodpecker has a remarkable suspension system that absorbs the force of the blows. Its forehead and some skull...

Many people are under the misconception that an increase in wealth will lead to an increase in happiness. However, this could not be further from the truth, as depression affects people across all income-brackets and from all walks of life. The severity of depression can perhaps be gauged by the fact that according to statistics, in South Africa alone, there are approximately twenty-three known suicides a day! Islam has given us a simple, free prescription that has no unwanted side effects and is incomparable in combating depression. In this regard, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) taught us that we should always look at those who are less fortunate than ourselves (Saheeh Muslim #7428). In doing so, we will realize how many bounties we enjoy for which we should be thankful and how fortunate we really are. Hence, we...

A well know Arabic saying advises, “Don’t talk about a person. Ask about his companions.” This simply means that if you want to enquire about a person — about his character, what are his habits, is he responsible, etc., then do not enquire specifically about him. Instead enquire about the company he keeps. If he keeps good company, insha-Allah he will be likewise a good and upright person. On the contrary if he remains in the company of people accustomed to sin and vice or people of low character and morals, he will generally be judged accordingly. Musk Seller Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has emphasized upon us to always maintain good company. He is reported to have said: “A person follows the way of his friend, therefore beware of who you befriend!” (Sunan Abi Dawood #4833) In another hadeeth a good friend...

In the year 2119, in just 100 years from now, every single reader of this piece will be underground, our bodies having become part of the soil. During that time, our fate with respect to paradise or hell would have been made known to us.   Meanwhile above the soil, our houses that were left behind would have become homes for others, our clothes would have become garments for others, our cars will be driven by others, and as for us, we will be – for the most part – never thought about by anyone again. How often do you think about your great grandfather? How often does your great grandmother cross your mind?   Our presence here on earth today, that presence that we make so much noise about and shed so many tears for, was preceded by countless generations before us and shall be followed by countless generations after us....

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was recently appointed as the Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena has decided to resign from the premiership tomorrow after a special statement, MP Namal Rajapaksa tweeted a short while ago.  
http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/MR-to-resign-tomorrow-Namal-159811.html

The Supreme Court has decided to take up the appeal of Mahinda Rajapaksa against the interim order of the Court of Appeal on the premiership on the 16th, 17th and 18th of January 2019. However, the request of the petitioners for a stay order on the interim order restraining Mahinda Rajapaksa from holding office of Prime Minister and his Cabinet from functioning has been unanimously rejected by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has also ordered the Appeal Court not to hear the petition against Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Cabinet holding office, until the Supreme Court hearing is over. The Court informed the parties that if they wish the petition to be heard before a five-member judge bench, they should refer the request to the Chief Justice. Justice Eva Wanasundera, who was a part of the three-judge panel which considered the appeal...