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Volume 14 Issue 381-Jamadiul Awaal 16, 1436 AH / February 6, 2015- $1

Loonie could fall as low as 69 US cents, forecaster warns

The Canadian dollar will sink as low as 69 U.S. cents with little to drive the economy after oil’s collapse, according to Macquarie Group Ltd, joining a growing list of forecasters lowering their projections. Macquarie forecast Monday the currency would reach a bottom near 69 U.S. cents. Royal Bank of Canada and Credit Suisse Group AG last week lowered their forecasts to 75 cents. HSBC Holdings Plc is calling for a 74 cent Canadian dollar. Morgan Stanley sees the loonie dropping to 71 U.S. cents by next year. “There’s going to need to be even more Canadian dollar weakness than people expect because of the significant loss of competitiveness,” Evan Brown, an analyst with Morgan Stanley, said by phone from New York. With consumer debt loads at a record high, manufacturing hobbled by the surge in the loonie to parity with its U.S. peer in the past decade and energy producers cutting investment and jobs, there are few growth

Continued on pg 5

Muslim groups ‘troubled’ by PM Stephen Harper’s mosque remark drew a link between radicalization and mosques.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair decries prime minister’s comment as a form of Islamaphobia

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Jamadiul Awal 16,1436 February 6, 2015

E D I T O R E I A L

National Interests Come First

Most of the countries are in competition with one another as they want to accelerate and protect their economic progression to gain an improved standard of living for their populace. Similarly, both India and Pakistan are interested in the eradication of poverty so that living conditions of their peoples get improved significantly. In doing so, they have to compete with each other in securing an influential position in the comity of nations.

India has strived hard to reach a point where business and infrastructure growth is being aligned to propel the nation to “a position of world power.” And, there is absolutely no doubt that with a true visionary leader like Modi, India is all set to be heading towards the right direction.

Furthermore, nationalistic spirit is at all time high in India, people are getting wealthier, and businesses keep on booming throughout the country. That’s why, the whole world wants to do business with India, because the market is highly lucrative there.

Both President Obama and P.M. Modi have jointly demonstrated a “political will” to significantly elevate the U.S.-India relationship.

Indeed, the 2015 January 25 Joint Statement builds on the September 30 Joint Statement of 2014 which presents an exhaustive and comprehensive vision for mutual future cooperation and collaboration between the two economic powers. India is likely to enjoy the U.S. assistance ranging from high tech & space to defence, climate change, and energy.

Nevertheless, with the U.S. tilt towards the arch rival India, the Pak-U.S. mindset of understanding seems to be somewhat fading away. Obviously, there are no more fake smiles. Most probably,

Islamabad is in a “wake up mode” after having been frustrated due to the U.S. foreign policy of favouring India’s bid for permanent membership in the UN Security Council.

Apparently, Pakistan has been denied what India is getting in the form of specific exemption to join the Nuclear Supply Group.

This would allow India to import American civil nuclear technology.

According to media sources, Islamabad has warned that the US policy would compound the already “fragile” strategic stability atmosphere, and there could be detrimental impact on the peace in South Asia.

What is it that has convinced the U.S. to go ahead with preferential treatment favouring India and ignoring its long term ally Pakistan?

Reasons are following among others: (A) The country’s “image building” matters a lot. And, India has succeeded in uplifting/projecting its image through its foreign service and its people working in the West. While, Pakistan usually falls short of sending smarter personnel and ambassadors abroad who could diligently handle matters to promote national cause.

(B) Indian media has always been very active in portraying Pakistan as terrorist state. Now with the help of some elements in Pakistani media, their job is getting easier.

(C) Also, Pakistan doesn’t even have a foreign minister yet - so what can you expect from the paralysed government other than embarrassment? In Pakistan, almost eighty percent of people are illiterate who have no clue whatsoever of national interests, however, everyone is bickering about the unsatisfied personal interests.

Thought provoking: When President Obama was in India, Pak army Chief General Raheel Sharif dashed to China which described its friendship with Islamabad as irreplaceable in a changing geo-strategic environment in south Asia.

Pakistani leadership is in shock as the U.S.-Pak traditional alliance is set to face gradual erosion ahead.

For much of its history, Pakistan has been an ally of the U.S., while Russia had stronger ties with India, even backing it during that country’s 1971 war with Pakistan.

It’s very frustrating that most of the Nato troops have left nextdoor Afghanistan – and the Pakistani army is straining to overcome Islamist militants on its western border – the concerned officials fear some unpleasant surprises may erupt as the United States of America’s regional interest is tilting toward India, Pakistan’s eastern neighbour and arch-rival.

Analysts are of the opinion that Pakistan’s strategic partnership with the U.S. is aimed at short term gains to fight off the ongoing militancy in the region. Therefore, Pakistan is skeptical about its alliance with the U.S. in so called war on terror. That is why, Islamabad is fast expanding its economic and geo-strategic partnership with China. Pakistan believes China as its time tested friend.

Lesson for Pakistan: The people of Pakistan must be educated enough to elect a visionary leader and the right kind of government next time to eliminate the stinky status quo.

Pakistan needs a commercially oriented foreign policy on urgent basis.

All Ambassadors and their subordinate staff should have high negotiating skills so that they are ies ...

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able to sell Pakistan’s point of view while serving abroad.

Mineral and natural resources/ reserves rich Pakistan is in need of regaining its lost self esteem; it needs to stop its addiction of being a donation receiving country.

Pakistanis must realise that no one is capable of solving their problems other than themselves.

The fact is a nuclear Pakistan is unacceptable to many who will do everything to neutralize it.

Despite Pakistan faces an excessive amount of terrorism, it is managing to have an annual growth rate in the neighbourhood of 4.5 percent significantly more than many European States. Pakistan has been surviving against the odds including anti Pakistan proxy war, hence is not a failed state. Actually, the term “failed state” only applies to countries like Greece, Spain and others that have received hundreds of billions of US dollars as rescue packages, yet no growth.

Most importantly, Pakistan leadership needs to understand that for attracting foreign investment along with enhanced trade, the ongoing state of political instability and militancy has to end, sooner the better.

Pakistani business elite including political leaders must show their sincerity to the nation by bringing back their capital from abroad to give an economic facelift to their own country. Indeed, it would be helping Pakistan to stay competitive internationally.

Waan laysa lil insani illa ma’ sa’aa That man can have nothing but what he strives for.

SOURCES: http://www.theguardian.com/ http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/01/25/ us-india-joint-statement-shared-effort-progress-all www.dawn.com, www.thenews.com.pk, www.nation.com

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Jamadiul Awaal 16,1436H February 6, 2015

P A K I S T A N

Imran meets CEC, submits ‘evidence’ of rigging

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan suspend National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq until the verdict of NA-122 case is announced. Speaking to media after meeting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan here on Monday, Imran Khan said, “I have requested the chief election commissioner to make two task forces. One which guides the people, sending remittances from abroad, as how they can avail their right to vote. Second, which reviews the electronic voting system,” Imran said. He added that the electronic voting system was being used across the world and the country should take advantage of the latest technology. Imran said he had also asked the chief election commissioner to constitute another task force for giving right of vote to the overseas Pakistanis. He said seven million Pakistani people were living abroad and contributing greatly to the national economy through their remittances. The PTI chief also asked the electoral body to introduce biometric system and minimise the possibility of rigging in future.

The PTI chairman also CEC with evidence of rigging stating that election tribunal had to pass the verdict pertaining to rigging in NA-122 in a four-month stipulated period, but the tribunal failed to do so despite lapsing two years.

“The election commission has the authority to conduct day to day hearing in case of any delay. The ECP also holds the power to suspend the person against which the petition has been lodged (Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq), until the final judgment,” he added. Imran said both winners and losers of the elections in the country were claiming that the polls were rigged. Imran further said that he had collected such evidence that will prove the incompetence of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PMLN). “There are same signatures of presiding officers in 50 polling stations in NA-122 Lahore constituency whereas there are same signatures in Form No. 14 in 20 polling stations of the constituency,” he claimed. He added that the verdict of NA-122 case was to be announced in four months. He stated that three of his cases were pending in election tribunals whereas the rest were being heard by the Supreme Court. Imran added that the CEC had the right to dismiss the tribunal’s presiding official if the verdict was being delayed. Talking about the approaching Senate elections, the PTI chief said that the value of a vote for the Senate elections has reached Rs20 million adding that open balloting would be held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa instead of secret ballots. Federal Information Minister Pervez Rasheed Monday said that PTI Chief Imran Khan

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neither has a clear stance nor has any taste of politics as he was showing his immaturity in the national politics.

The minister was talking to media soon after the meeting of Imran Khan with Chief Election Commissioner on the issue of rigging in last general elections in the CEC Office. The minister said that how can PTI contest for Senate elections when its chief had showed his distrust in the parliament and had declared a fake one. He also talked about Imran Khan’s political approach and said that “no one should irritate on whatever Imran Khan is doing, as we should expect such things from him because he has no political vision.” He said that PTI had totally failed to prove rigging in election and Imran Khan was showing confidence in the same election commission whom he had rejected earlier. He said the people connected with Imran Khan were misguiding him as a result of this the PTI chief was making immature political decisions, which were causing immense damage to his reputation. Later, the minister, while talking to the media outside the Parliament, said that Imran Khan had claimed that election commission printed fake ballot papers from Urdu Bazaar but during his meeting with the chief election commissioner did not take the issue with him. The minister alleged that Imran Khan wasted the whole year of the nation on roads but he did not take the courage to raise the issue with the chief election commissioner. He said that Imran Khan had failed to present any evidence of rigging and now he was demanding the resignation of Speaker National Assembly without any reason and without proving anything against him. The minister said that he was praying for the Chief Election Commissioner because Imran Khan was habitual to level accusations against important officeholders of Pakistan as he had alleged former Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and others. He said that Imran Khan had changed his lawyer now in the same way as he had changed his early stances.

Source: The Nation

US to continue help for Pakistan’s anti-terror efforts

The US budget for the next fiscal year, released on Monday, includes assurance that Washington will continue to assist Pakistan’s efforts for countering terrorism. “For Pakistan, the budget demonstrates our commitment to fostering stability and prosperity, and provides security assistance that promotes counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency capabilities,” said a statement issued with the budget. “The budget continues to support public engagement and partnership programmes in Pakistan and maintains staffing in order to support these critical US priorities,” it added. The statement issued by the US State Department assured Islamabad and Kabul that the budget for the next US fiscal year “reinforces our commitment to Afghanistan and Pakistan”. The US fiscal year begins on Oct 1 of the current year and ends on Sept 30 of the next calendar year. The $3.99 trillion US budget includes $561 billion in defence outlays. There is a discretionary funding of $50.3bn for the State Department and the US Agency for International Development. Funds for countering terrorist activities and helping development in Afghanistan and Pakistan come from these two sources. The defence budget includes funds for confrontation with Russia over its incursion in Ukraine and the US-led fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. It also reserves $14bn for cybersecurity measures. The State Department noted that Afghanistan now had “a new reform-minded” government, which encouraged Washington to continue its security, economic and civilian programmes in that country. These programmes were “necessary to solidify the progress made over the last decade”, the statement said. The budget also

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invests in security improvements at diplomatic facilities in Afghanistan to sustain operations as the US military presence continues to decline. The $50.3bn of discretionary funding includes $7.0bn in overseas contingency operations. Of this, $3.5bn is for countering the ‘Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’ and for responding to the crisis in Syria. About $1bn has been set aside to address the root causes of migration from Central America, including the migration of unaccompanied children. The budget also provides funds for promoting clean energy and sustainable development in vulnerable countries. It provides $5.4bn for international organisations and peacekeeping missions.

A total of $4.8bn has been set aside to support security requirements, infrastructure and programmes that enable US operations and relations with foreign governments. The budget also allocates an undisclosed amount of money for countering Russian “pressure and aggressive actions”. It will provide essential support for Ukraine and neighbouring countries in the region.

Source: Dawn

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PM’s foreign visits in 15 months cost exchequer Rs 294 M Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s 16 foreign visits between July 2013 and September 2014 cost the nation over Rs294 million. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in a written reply to a question informed the Senate on Tuesday that the expenditure statements of the premier’s three visits in September 2014 and one in December were still awaited from the respective missions abroad. The total number of foreign visits undertaken by the prime minister from July 2013 to December 2014 comes to 20. These visits included three each to United States, China and United Kingdom, two to Turkey and one each to Thailand, Hague, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Germany and Nepal. The first official visit was to China which Mr Aziz said provided an opportunity to the prime minister to meet the Chinese leadership for projecting Pakistan’s key interests.

An expenditure of Rs26.2 million was incurred on the visit from July 3 to 8, 2013. Mr Sharif visited Turkey from September 16-18 where he co-chaired a meeting of the Strategic Cooperation Council along with his Turkish counterpart. An amount of Rs11.3 million was spent on the visit. The prime minister’s week-long visit (September 23-29, 2013) to New York was the most expensive as an amount of Rs91.6 million was spent on it. During the visit, Mr Sharif got an opportunity to shake hands with President Barrack Obama at a dinner hosted by the latter for the visiting world leaders on September 24. Days after the visit, he again traveled to Washington and Continued on pg 5 held a bilateral

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amadiul Awaal 16,1436H February 6, 2015

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Ukraine crisis: US considers Opposition MPs want more ‘lethal aid’ to government controls on CSIS

The US administration is considering whether to send arms to help the Ukraine government against pro-Russian rebels in the east, US media report. They suggest officials are exploring the possibility of sending defensive weapons and other lethal aid.

No decision has been made, but National Security spokesperson Bernadette Meehan said the US was “constantly assessing” its policies in Ukraine. The reports come amid an upsurge in fighting in the east of the country. President Barack Obama had originally been firmly opposed to arming the Ukrainian military, fearing a proxy battle between the US and Russia, says the BBC’s Jon Sopel from Washington. The US provides only non-lethal military equipment to Ukraine such as gas masks and radar technology. But the New York Times reported on Monday that the failure of such aid and of economic sanctions to stop Russia from helping the rebels is pushing the issue of defensive weapons back into discussion.

The deliveries could include anti-tank, antiair and anti-mortar systems, CNN reported.

An unnamed senior US official told Reuters news agency that the idea of lethal defensive aid was getting “fresh look”. “Where things will end up, we don’t know,” he added. Ms Meehan said: “Although our focus remains on pursuing a solution through diplomatic means, we are always evaluating other op-

tions that will help create space for a negotiated solution to the crisis.” An unnamed official told The Associated Press news agency that a decision on the matter was not imminent but that the recent spike in violence has led to a re-examination of US policy. US Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Kiev for talks with Ukraine’s government later in the week. Russia denies Western accusations that it is supplying weapons and personnel to the rebels. Dozens of people including civilians were killed in clashes and artillery fire at the weekend. In a sign of the escalating violence, Pro-Russian separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenk has said that the rebels will aim to boost their forces to 100,000 men. Ukraine’s government has also announced a major mobilisation, with plans to bring the numbers in its armed forces to 200,000 in 2015. Military officials in Kiev said on Monday that five soldiers had been killed in 24 hours, although separatists said the number was more than 20. Fifteen civilians were killed in the rebel-held city of Donetsk over the weekend, rebel sources said. Overall, more than 5,000 people have been killed and some 1.2 million have fled their homes since last April, when the rebels seized a big swathe of Luhansk and Donetsk regions, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Source: BBC News

Terror charges laid against three men: RCMP

Canadian police have announced charges against three men for alleged involvement in recruiting fighters for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group as well as another arrest, according to a senior police official. The Associated Press news agency cited the official as saying on Tuesday that the new arrest was linked to the cases of three men held in Ottawa in January. It involves alleged recruitment of ISIL fighters and John Maguire, a Canadian man who appeared in an ISIL video overseas and who reportedly might have been killed recently.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to before Tuesday’s planned announcement, said charges will be brought against Maguire, who police could not confirm is dead.

“We’d’ been working him for a while,” the official said. The official said Awso Peshdary, the man arrested in Ottawa, was the subject of a prior police investigation but was not arrested earlier because there was not enough evidence against him. The official said police would also announce charges against the third man. Suliman Mohamed, 21, was charged last month with “participating in a terrorist group”. That arrest occurred just days after Ashton Car-

leton Larmond and Carlos Larmond - twin brothers linked to Mohamed - were charged with “terrorism-related” offences. Carlos Larmond was arrested at Montreal’s airport on charges of intending to travel overseas for “terrorist purposes”. A separate government official familiar with the matter said then that the brothers were trying to get to Syria. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said the latest charges includes an arrest and also involves people who are outside Canada.

“It’s a cell in Ottawa. Their focus seems to be on overseas activities, not on carrying out terrorist acts at home,” the government official said. In October, Canada was hit by two attacks by so-called lone wolves believed to have been inspired by ISIL group.

In Ottawa, an armed man shot and killed a soldier at Canada’s National War Memorial and then stormed parliament before being shot to death. The attack in Ottawa came two days after a man ran over two soldiers in a parking lot in Quebec, killing one and injuring the other before being shot to death by police. Canada is taking part in the USled campaign against ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

Source: Al-Jazeera

Opposition parties stepped up demands for Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government to strengthen measures to control Canada’s spies as part of itssweeping antiterror legislation. NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair said Harper failed to balance the new powers proposed for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) with more oversight provisionsto protect the rights and civil liberties of citizens. “If you are going to give enhanced powers, you have to have enhanced oversight,” Mulcair said Monday. “If you look at Washington, if you look at London, there’s always serious oversight and it’s done by elected officials.” He was responding to the wideranging legislation introduced Friday by Harper that is meant to combat terrorism by broadening CSIS’s mandate to include police-like powers for the first time. Opposition MPs question whether the existing five-member Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC), which looks into complaints against CSIS, would provide adequate oversight once the intelligence agency is allowed to take a much more activist role in investigating and thwarting suspected terrorist threats. The Harper government has so far turned aside questions about the adequacy of oversight provisions under the new legislation. In a television interview Sunday, Conservative MP Roxanne James said adding more controls on CSIS would amount to “needless red tape.” But in the Commons Monday, Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney sought to reassure MPs, saying SIRC “will cover all activities that CSIS will be mandated by this Parliament to accomplish.” Mulcair told reporters he doesn’t know if the NDP will support the legislation in the Commons. Parts of the multi-faceted proposals, such as criminalizing incitement to commit a terrorist offence, are useful, he said. But the NDP intends to fight hard for the inclusion of more controls over CSIS. “Canadians are going to demand that we take care of their safety at the same time that we respect their freedoms and their rights. Mr. Harper doesn’t get that yet, he’s going to eventually have to understand,” Mulcair said. “Of course, Mr. Harper’s number one intention is to get people concentrated on this issue instead of having them look at their poor track record on the economy” — particularly unemployment, he said. The Liberals called for CSIS to be answerable for its actions to a Parliamentary committee. “Every single one of our allies with whom we share intelligence has a parliamentary or congres-

sional oversight mechanism,” Liberal MP Ralph Goodale said. “If it is right for the U.S., the UK, New Zealand and Australia, why is it wrong for Canada? “Let us remember this is the government that had the great judgment to appoint ArthurPorter, now in a Panama jail, to head up SIRC,” Goodale said in the Commons. Canada is currently trying to extradite Porter in connection with bribery and money laundering allegations. On Monday, Mulcair called on Harper to apologize for his remark in Richmond Hill last week. Speaking of the wide application of the new legislation, Harper said, “It doesn’t matter what the age of the person is, or whether they’re in a basement, or whether they’re in a mosque or somewhere else.” Mulcair told reporters: “It was irresponsible of the prime minister to throw the mosques into his comments and it was a form of Islamophobia and it was wrong, so he should realize that he was wrong to do that and simply apologize to the Muslim community.” A spokesperson for Harper responded, saying “the prime minister did not say that all radicalization occurs in mosques. In fact, he said the exact opposite. Radicalization towards jihadi terrorism can happen anywhere,” said PMO press secretary Carl Vallée. Harper has recognized the Muslim community for its efforts to fight radicalization, he added.

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said the anti-terror legislation goes too far and is an attempt to whip up fear to generate support for Harper’s tough stance. “Right now, I think Stephen Harper is trying to scare Canadians out of their mind for political purposes,” she told reporters.

Source: The Star

Canada: Continued from pg 1

drivers left in the economy, analysts say.

Employment in manufacturing remains near the record low it reached during the 2009 recession, far from a peak in 2002, when the currency bottomed last time.

The loonie, as the currency is known, has dropped 26% to $1.2583 per U.S. dollar, or 79 U.S. cents, in the past two years. “What we’re left with is now the re-balancing of

the economy falls even more on non-energy exports as almost the single prop,” David Watt, Toronto-based chief economist at HSBC’s Canadian unit, said in a telephone interview. “It basically means the Canadian dollar is going to have to do more to carry the burden of adjustment.” The cascade of forecast revisions comes after the Bank of Canada unexpectedly cut interest rates last month, calling it insurance against a slump in crude oil prices, the country’s largest export. The central bank had been counting on export-driven business investment to spur growth. A declining currency makes a country’s exports cheaper abroad. “The oil story was always a key factor behind that re- balancing,” said HSBC’s Watt.

“Now one of the sectors that would have been carrying that burden of adjustment has abandoned ship.”

Source: Financial Post

5

amadiul Awaal 16,1436H February 6, 2015

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

HRW: Human rights violations U.S. budget would hike taxled to ISIL es on high-income earners

The rise of violent groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) are the product of governments’ tendencies to ignore rights abuses, Human Right Watch has warned. “Human rights violations played a major role in spawning or aggravating many of today’s crises,” Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth said in the introduction to the 664-page World Report 2015. . “Protecting human rights and ensuring democratic accountability are key to resolving them,” he said. Discussing the general deterioration of human rights, the report drew attention to a number of examples worldwide including intensified repression in Egypt, ethnic cleansing of Sunni civilians in Iraq and China’s recurrant crackdown on the Uighur minority. The report also accused governments affected by growing turmoil of suppressing popular pressure for democratic change, and said that many governments chose to prioritise security threats over human rights. The rise of the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which has been the culprit of numerous beheadings of journalists and aid workers, did not emerge on its

own, the report stated. The rights organisation argued that the US-led military surge in Iraq in 2003 produced a hole in security.

Sectarian policies of the Iraqi and Syrian governments and international indifference to those governments’ human rights abuses played an important role in spawning the violent groups. In Syria, ISIL was able to portray itself as a group capable of standing up to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad’s military as government forces attacked civilians in opposition-held areas. Though the US-led coalition has taken on ISIL, no nation has increased pressure on al-Assad to stop civilian killings, the report pointed out.

The US’ offensive against ISIL has overshadowed efforts to end Assad’s abuses, it said. This perceived “selective concern has been a gift to ISIS recruiters, who portray themselves as the only ones willing and able to stand up to Assad’s atrocities,” Roth stated in the report. The report shed light on a number of other security challenges while highlighting governments’ tendency towards putting security as a priority over human rights. “Some governments make the mistake of seeing human rights as a luxury for less trying times, instead of an essential compass for political action,” Roth continued. “Rather than treating human rights as a chafing restraint, policymakers worldwide would do better to recognize them as moral guides offering a path out of crisis and chaos.”

Source: Al-Jazeera

The rise of violent groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) are the product of governments’ tendencies to ignore rights abuses, Human Right Watch has warned. “Human rights violations played a major role in spawning or aggravating many of today’s crises,” Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth said in the introduction to the 664-page World Report 2015. . “Protecting human rights and ensuring democratic accountability are key to resolving them,” he said. Discussing the general deterioration of human rights, the report drew attention to a number of examples worldwide including intensified repression in Egypt, ethnic cleansing of Sunni civilians in Iraq and China’s recurrant crackdown on the Uighur minority. The report also accused governments affected by growing turmoil of suppressing popular pressure for democratic change, and said that many governments chose to prioritise security threats over human rights. The

rise of the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which has been the culprit of numerous beheadings of journalists and aid workers, did not emerge on its own, the report stated. The rights organisation argued that the US-led military surge in Iraq in 2003 produced a hole in security.

Sectarian policies of the Iraqi and Syrian governments and international indifference to those governments’ human rights abuses played an important role in spawning the violent groups. In Syria, ISIL was able to portray itself as a group capable of standing up to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad’s military as government forces attacked civilians in opposition-held areas. Though the US-led coalition has taken on ISIL, no nation has increased pressure on al-Assad to stop civilian killings, the report pointed out.

The US’ offensive against ISIL has overshadowed efforts to end Assad’s abuses, it said. This perceived “selective concern has been a gift to ISIS recruiters, who portray themselves as the only ones willing and able to stand up to Assad’s atrocities,” Roth stated in the report. The report shed light on a number of other security challenges while highlighting governments’ tendency towards putting security as a priority over human rights. “Some governments make the mistake of seeing human rights as a luxury for less trying times, instead of an essential compass for political action,” Roth continued. “Rather than treating human rights as a chafing restraint, policymakers worldwide would do better to recognize them as moral guides offering a path out of crisis and chaos.”

Source: Al-Jazeera

Metro Vancouver mayors reveal plans to promote ‘Yes’ vote on transit tax

President Barack Obama is sending Congress a $4 trillion US budget that would boost taxes on higher-income Americans and corporations. It would use the money to get rid of tight budget spending caps, fund an ambitious public works program and provide middle-class tax relief. Obama’s budget, which will set off months of wrangling in Congress, proposes spending $4 trillion — $3.999 trillion before rounding — in the budget year that begins Oct. 1.

That’s a 6.4 per cent increase over projected spending this year. It projects the deficit will decline to $474 billion in 2016. The budget includes an ambitious $478 billion public works program for highway, bridge and transit upgrades. On the weekend, the White House also revealed there would be a one-time mandatory tax of 14 per cent on profits that U.S. companies have amassed overseas. That’s lower than the current top corporate rate of 35 per cent, and it would be accompanied by an administration plan to overhaul corporate taxes to end some tax breaks and lower rates overall. Obama’s budget also called also is calling for a $60 billion program for free community college for an estimated 9 million students if all states participate. It also proposes expanding child care to more than 1.1 million additional children under the age of 4 by 2025 and seeks to implement universal preschool. Obama also wants to require estates to pay capital gains taxes on securities at the time they are inherited. In a message accompanying the massive budget books, Obama says his proposals are “practical, not partisan.” The budget Obama has proposed is a beginning only in his negotiations with the Republican-controlled Congress. Even before the books were delivered, Republicans found plenty to criticize in tax hikes totalling $2 trillion. “The president is advocating more spending, more taxes and more debt,” said House Speaker John Boehner. “A proposal that never balances is not a serious plan for America’s fiscal future.”

Boehner and other GOP leaders said that the budget they produce this spring will achieve balance within 10 years, curb the explosive growth of government benefit programs and reform the loophole-cluttered tax code. In a lengthy run-up to Monday’s budget release, the administration highlighted a number of its proposals, including $320 billion in increased taxes on the wealthy and corporations that would be used to pay for expanded middle class tax breaks. The budget documents reveal that all the tax increases will total $2 trillion, including a number of proposals Obama has made before to limit

deductions the wealthy can take to reduce their tax bill. Wealthy people would only be able to take tax deductions at the 28 per cent rate even if their income is taxed at 39.6 per cent and would also see an increase in their maximum capital gains rate to 28 per cent instead of 24.2 per cent. All told, Obama proposes higher receipts of about $2 trillion in his budget: about $1.5 trillion come from tax increases and almost $500 billion from fresh revenue as immigration changes lift the economy and provide new workers.

Among those benefiting from Obama’s proposed tax cuts would be couples earning up to $120,000 a year who would qualify for a new “second earner” credit of up to $500 as well as a maximum $3,000 child care credit for two children, triple the current $1,000.

Not all of Obama’s tax hikes would hit the wealthy. His budget also proposes to raise $95 billion over the next decade by hiking the tax on cigarettes from the current $1.01 per pack to $1.95. Obama’s spending plan would ease tight budget constraints imposed on the military and domestic programs back in 2011 when lawmakers were responding to the public outcry over deficits that were then topping $1 trillion a year. Obama’s budget calls these caps, known as sequestration, “mindless austerity.” The elimination of the budget caps this will boost spending by $74 billion — divided between the military and domestic programs — in 2016 and would result in a spending increase over the remaining six years the caps were to have been in place of $362 billion. While many Republicans support easing the budget caps for the military, they oppose reducing the limits on domestic programs. Obama said Monday he would not accept a budget that boosts national security programs at the expense of domestic programs. “It would be bad for our security and bad for our growth,” he said in a visit to the Homeland Security Department. In a budget agreement reached in late 2013, the budget caps were eased but not eliminated for 2014 and 2015. They are to go back in force in 2016.

Source: CBC News

Pakistan: Continued from pg 3 meeting with the US president. This was the first official visit of a Pakistani prime minister to Washington in over a decade. The cost of the visit was Rs35 million. After the October 20-23 US visit, he went to the United Kingdom on October 29-30 to attend world Islamic economic forum’s and Pakistan-Afghanistan-UK trilateral summit.

The cost of the visit was Rs30.9 million.

The prime minister visited Colombo, Sri Lanka, from November 14 to 17, 2013, and Bangkok, Thailand, from November 17 to 19. An amount of Rs11.8 million and Rs9.7 million were spent on the two visits respectively. The minimum expenditure of Rs1.4 million incurred when Mr Sharif undertook a day-long visit to Afghanistan on November 30, 2013. An amount of Rs6.9 million was spent on his visit to Turkey (February 12-15 , 2015), Rs12.9 on a tour to Hague from March 23-25, 2014, Rs11.7 million on

a visit to China from April 8 to 11, 2014, and Rs2.5 million on a visit to United Kingdom from April 29 to May 4, 2014. He visited Iran from May 11-12, 2014, India from May 26-27, 2014 and Tajikistan from June 17-18.

An amount of Rs2.8 million, Rs4.3 million and Rs3.7 million were spent on these visits respectively. The cost of his third visit to the US from September 24-27, 2014, stood at Rs31.7 million. He visited China from November 7-9, 2014, Germany from November 10-12, Nepal from November 25-28 and United Kingdom from December 2-6, 2014. The details of the expenditure of the last four visits are yet to be received from Pakistan’s missions abroad. The list of foreign tours undertaken by the prime minister does not find a mention of his visits to Saudi Arabia. Source: Dawn

6

Jamadiul Awaal 16,1436H February 6, 2015

F A I T H Narrated Ibn ‘Umar: Allah’s Apostle met ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab while the latter was going with a group of camel-riders, and he was swearing by his father. The Prophet said, “Lo! Allah forbids you to swear by your fathers, so whoever has to take an oath, he should swear by Allah or keep quiet.”

Love the Prophet?

By: Aisha Aijaz Love is a beautiful emotion. It encompasses all the most beautiful things in the world. Every relation and connection gets stronger and more durable when there is an element of affiliation and love added to it. Beginning from our first love as a child for our mother to choosing someone to spend our whole life with, love is what makes life worth living. And, like all precious things in the world, this priceless treasure demands guarantees to keep it flourishing.

When you love someone, they are always on your mind and become the driving force of your direction in life. You love to follow them, obey them, do whatever you can to please them and try your best to avoid whatever displeases them. You share with them your problems and consult them for their best advice. Their name soothes you and their company is the most precious time of your day. Never do their messages and mails go unread or ignored. The world sees you change when this beautiful feeling overpowers you, whether this love be for a human, a mission, a career or simply a car or a gadget. Love changes your priorities and the color of this feeling is evident on your face and in your feelings, words, and actions.

We all love the Prophet Muhammad , the personality whose greatness is acknowledged by Muslim and non-Muslim thinkers and scholars-a warm friend and a guide for his companions, a devoted and loving husband to his wives, a shady tree for his daughters, a leader of the Ummah (community), an exemplary politician and a reformist who transformed the most uncultured Bedouin into the most disciplined force of people known to history.

His message, which begins with the oneness of Allah , gives answers for all the problems we face today. But how many of us have actually explored the message he

Follow Him.

brought? Do we really know the message?

The Qur’anic code of life sent to us though our beloved Messenger of Allah still remains untouched, only to be ‘recited’ when we are in trouble or a calamity afflicts us, or it becomes a part of the deluxe package that goes with the bride. How many of us consult his way in our practical lives whether it’s a matter of celebration or woe?

We never see the Prophet telling a lie, deceiving a human or even an animal, breaking a pact or a promise. He forgives and prays for the humiliating tribal chiefs of Taif and the people who throw stones at him. He rejects social inequality and all sorts of racial supremacy and lays down in his final sermon, the basic charter of human rights, An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.

“An Arab has no superiority over a non-

Names Of A l l a h (SWT) & Mohammad (PBUH) Last edition Names were

Al Qabiz name of Allah(swt) & The Munj’i Mohammad(saw) name.

Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.”

He sets best examples of justice and warns that the previous nations were destroyed because they only punished their weak and poor for crimes. He teaches us to be on our best behavior and to have ‘akhlaaq’ (manners) with our neighbors (Muslim or NonMuslims) so much so that he once thought that they might get a share in inheritance (because of the stress Allah has put on their rights). He cries for Allah’s forgiveness for us and stresses us to remain united and not be divided due to language, castes or sects.

Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Non- Muslim minorities are at peace under his rule. Justice is served irrespective of faith, status or personal affiliation. He lifts the status of a woman from the one who was buried alive at birth to a guarantee to get best rewards, may it be through serving and obeying one’s mother, taking care of a wife or raising a daughter with love. He brings a message that puts rewards in charity and spending from what we love most, giving an orphan a home and helping a widow to survive.

No one has the right to question anybody’s sincerity of ‘love for the Prophet ‘ but we all need some serious self-evaluation.

When we claim to be his followers, it automatically makes us his ambassadors and representatives in whatever roles and responsibilities we take. Do we consult the Prophet in different matters of our lives?

Let’s follow the Prophet to prove that we love him. Let’s celebrate him every day.

Let’s light up our hearts with the beacon of this message like we light up the streets on his birthday. Let’s engrave those beautiful stories of his life, which we memorize and narrate, on our actions. Let’s check if our deeds are compatible with our claims of love towards him. In following him, lies the secret of Allah’s love, mercy and forgiveness for us. ‘’Say, [O Muhammad], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Al-Qur’an 3:31) Source: SuhaibWebb.com - Aisha Aijzaz oples is not a civil war, Its terrorism, with whole heartedly, I should condemn it. For the past 35 five years Afghanistan and Pakistan are burning within. Afghanistan is an open battle ground, but Pakistan has been pushed into proxy war, day by day Pakistan is dragged deeper into international proxy war. External enemies are using both countries as a battle field. Above drone attacks are

Prayer Schedule in Greater Vancouver Feb 6 - Feb 20, 2015 Jamadiul Awaal / 16-30, 1436H Date 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Date Day 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

Fajar

5:46 5:44 5:43 5:41 5:40 5:40 5:37 5:35 5:34 5:32 5:30 5:29 5:27 5:25 5:24

Sunr

7:34 7:32 7:31 7:29 7:27 7:27 7:24 7:22 7:21 7:19 7:17 7:15 7:13 7:12 7:10

Zawal

Dhuhr

Asar

12:36 12:36 12:36 12:36 12:36 12:36 12:36 12:36 12:36 12:36 12:36 12:36 12:36 12:36 12:35

2:52 2:53 2:55 2:56 2:57 2:57 3:00 3:01 3:03 3:04 3:05 3:07 3:08 3:09 3:10

Maghrib

5:26 5:27 5:29 5:31 5:32 5:32 5:36 5:37 5:39 5:41 5:42 5:44 5:46 5:47 5:49

Isha

6:48 6:49 6:51 6:52 6:54 6:54 6:57 6:58 7:00 7:01 7:03 7:04 7:06 7:07 7:09

For such Prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times: Quran ,n 4:103 Source: BCMA

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Jamadiul Awaal 16,1436H February 6, 2015

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Jamadiul Awaal 16,1436H February 6, 2015

A D V E R T I S E R

Vancouver Anti-War Rally Demands “No to Islamophobia! No to War! No to Occupation”

By Janine Solanki, Chairperson, Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO) On Saturday January 31, Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) called upon peace-loving people in Vancouver to join them in the streets of downtown Vancouver for their first antiwar rally and petition campaign drive of 2015. A quick look back on the last 12 months demonstrates clearly that the US-led war machine has continued the assault on oppressed people around the world through the ever-expanding new era of war and occupation with massive military aggression. Since October of 2001, with the start of the new era of war and occupation, the world has already seen the complete destruction of Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, and now Syria is left in a constant state of U.S. fomented division and civil war.

Following the attack on the offices of the Charlie Hebdo magazine in France, there has been a huge rise of Islamophobia in imperialist countries, coupled with the introduction of more and more so-called anti-terrorist legislation that threatens basic civil liberties. Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) in their rally condemned the terrorist attack in France, however also used the opportunity to condemn all forms of terrorism, including state terrorism, which is used by western colonial powers including France, Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. “We stand strongly against Islamophobia and the assault on civil liberties that is being organized and promoted by imperialist governments and the Western mainstream media,” stated Thomas Davies, an organizer and a founding member of MAWO who spoke during the rally.

Canada’s role in Iraq was also protested during the rally where it was stated that over 600 military personnel and special forces, six CF-18 fighter jets, a refueling tanker aircraft and two surveillance planes are operating there as part of an air combat mission. MAWO organizers made it clear that the government of Canada is fully complicit in this newest brutal addition to the legacy of foreign wars and occupations that have devastated Iraq and killed millions of people.

During the rally, organizers and activists with Mobilization Against War & Occupation distributed information against war to people walking by the busy downtown location while collecting signatures on their petition against the US led bombing campaign against Iraq. The petition also demands that the governments of Canada and the U.S. stop all material and financial aid to the ISIS/ISIL groups in Syria and Iraq.

MAWO organizers while finishing their protest and petition drive encouraged supporters to join them again next month as they continue their monthly rallies and forums to protest against war and occupation and building an effective antiwar movement.

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Jamadiul Awaal 16,1436H

M I D D L E

February 6, 2015

E A S T

Saudi New King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud

Salman, defence minister since 2011, takes the throne at age of 79 after demise of his half-brother King Abdullah.

Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud has ascended to the throne as Saudi Arabia’s new king.

A veteran of the country’s top leadership, Salman succeeded his half-brother, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud on January 23, 2015, after his predecessor’s death.

The 79-year-old takes the helm at a time when the oil powerhouse is trying to navigate social pressures from a burgeoning youth population, and address reforms aimed at modernising the country.

Born in 1935, Salman is one of so-called “Sudayri Seven” - seven sons born to one of Abdulaziz bin al-Saud’s most favoured wives, Hussa bint Ahmad Sudayri. Al-Saud was founder of modern day Saudi Arabia.

He started his political career at a relatively young age, becoming the governor of Riyadh in 1963, and continued to fill that position, with a brief halt during the power struggle between King Saud and King Faisal, from 1960 until 1962.

For nearly 50 years, he oversaw the development of the Saudi capital from a small desert town to a major metropolis.

He was appointed minister of defence in

2011 and then heir apparent in 2012, when two elder full-brothers, Crown Princess Sultan and Nayef died within a year of each other.

Conservative The defence portfolio involved running the kingdom’s top-spending ministry, which used massive arms purchases to bolster ties with allies such as the United States, Britain and France.

Known to have extensive contacts among the country’s tribes, Salman’s influence is further extended through a network of family businesses, including a stake in the panArab newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat.

Salman is widely believed to be conservative and holds traditional views with regards to political reforms and social change.

However, there are many rumours regarding his health condition as well as his ca-

pacity to endure long office hours. He suffered at least one stroke that has left him with limited movement in his left arm.

The Saudi throne has for decades passed between al-Saud’s sons.

Several of his sons hold prestigious and powerful positions. Prince Abdulaziz is the deputy oil minister; Prince Faisal, the governor of Medina; and Prince Sultan, the first Arab astronaut, is the current head of the tourism authority.

Another son with influence is believed to be Prince Mohammed, the eldest son from Salman’s third wife. In his 30s, Mohammed is the head of his father’s royal court.

Salman’s crown prince will be his youngest half-brother Prince Muqrin, a former intelligence chief who was appointed as deputy crown prince in March 2014.

Source: Al Jazeera

Tunisia’s Ennahda to join coalition government Deal reached on Sunday with Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Habib Essid’s dominant Nidaa Tounes party.

Tunisia’s moderate Islamist party Ennahda has agreed to join its main rival secular party Nidaa Tounes as part of a coalition government, Reuters news agency quoted party leaders as saying.

The deal reached on Sunday came after Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Habib Essid’s new cabinet faced a threat of rejection in parliament last week from key parties opposed to his choice of ministers.

Ennahda holds the second largest number of seats in parliament.

Prime Minister-designate Essid courted

controversy in recent weeks when he selected ministers from secular Nidaa Tounes, the leading party in parliament, and other smaller partners, while shunning Ennahda.

Tunisia has been praised for its recent run of free elections, new constitution and politics of compromise between secular and Islamist leaders four years after an uprising overthrew autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali. Representatives from the leftist Popular Front have rejected Essid’s new cabinet partly because it contained former officials from Ben Ali’s regime, some of whom they said were suspected of corruption in

the past.

Since its 2011 uprising, Tunisian politics has often been dominated by compromises between secular and Islamist leaders to keep democratisation on track after a series of deadlocks threatened to overturn its transition.

Nidaa Tounes won a parliamentary election in October and party leader Beji Caid Essebsi, a former Ben Ali official, also won the presidency in a second-round run off.

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Jamadiul Awaal 16,1436H February 6, 2015

L O C A L

INSPIRING LIVES, ONE CLIENT AT A TIME

By Fatema M. Dewji, ASPIRE Caseworker Alhamdulillah last year I was blessed to join the Muslim Food Bank ASPIRE program as a caseworker and I would like to share my experience with you. I started by taking a one-day caseworker training session that taught me the theories of active listening, empathy and basic counseling skills. It also gave me hands on training in these areas with practice sessions and role-playing with other students. I found the session to be very useful. The monthly caseworker meetings continue to provide training and especially the awareness of all the resources that are available in the Muslim and wider community.

After completing my criminal records check, I was assigned my very first client.

I was really excited to meet someone new, a single immigrant mom bringing up a young daughter in Canada. I did complete needs assessment of my client, evaluating her financial, housing, social, health and educational needs. The caseworker program provides the form. She was determined to find a job so that she could show enough income

to sponsor her husband into Canada so that he would see his daughter who he had never seen! (She was pregnant when she moved to Canada as a refugee) We met a couple of times and had a few phone meetings where we exchanged ideas on parenting and talked about community resources. Eventually she found a job and felt that she no longer required the services of the ASPIRE program.

Another client is still struggling but is slowly moving towards a brighter future. When I met her two days after my initial phone call to her to arrange a meeting, she told me, “when you called me the other day, I felt some HOPE again in my heart!” This client witnessed a lot of trauma in Iraq during the war and then later in Syria and when she finally landed in Canada she thought her family would be safe and there was hope for them. Unfortunately her husband was diagnosed with brain cancer and passed away suddenly leaving her with a five-month-old baby and three older kids. This left her insecure, anxious and without any hope for a better future. Slowly she fell into depression having low energy, feeling hopeless, unmo-

tivated, anxious and always worried about her kids and the future. My role as her caseworker is to provide her with moral support, help her access available services so that she is more financially stable, encourage her to take her medications and empower her to use the community resources in order to provide the best care for her children. She has many personal strengths and with a little support is able to improve her own and her children’s quality of life. She no more needs to feel alone in Canada because she knows that God and someone from the Muslim community is there for her.

Not only does the ASPIRE program help the clients’ development; personally for me it has been a very beneficial experience.

Through working with my clients I have found more meaning and purpose in my own life. It has given me a clearer perspective of life, making me appreciate and feel contented with the blessings that I enjoy. It has improved my communication, leadership and counseling skills. Through it, I have met incredible people with extraordinary strengths and determination, who continue to move

on, despite all the odds against them and that is a life lesson that no college or university can teach!

Do you feel that Allah has blessed you and you want to thank Him for His blessings in a meaningful way?

Do you want to empower and provide support to Muslim individuals or families who are new to Canada?

Do you enjoy meeting new people and want to develop your own leadership, communication and confidence skills?

If you replied yes to some of the above questions, then consider joining the Muslim Food Bank ASPIRE Caseworker program.

This program aims to tackle some of the underlying issues that cause people to require food bank services. It aims to recognize the challenges that clients face in supporting themselves and helps them to become independent through education, employment and community support. To find out more please call 1-866-824-2525 ext 115 or email aspire@muslimfoodbank.com.

Grand Opening of Kabob Palace at New Location Kabob Palace owner, Mr. Mian Saeed, opened his restaurant in new location near at 135 Street & 72 Avenue. Many local guests were in atttendance for the grand opening.

Photos: Community Times Canada

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L O C A L

Harpreet Singh to be Conservative candidate in Surrey-Newton Surrey, BC – Today Harpreet Singh was named the Conservative candidate in Surrey-Newton for the October 2015 federal election. Singh, a former journalist for over 13 years, announced earlier this month, his intentions to seek the Conservative nomination saying his focus would be on the opportunities for greater prosperity in the riding.

“I’m excited to be officially confirmed as the Conservative candidate, and I’m looking forward to representing Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s strong, dependable team here in Surrey-Newton,” Singh said today. “With the Prime Minister focused squarely on the needs of BC families, like announcing the new Family Tax Cut, and increasing the Universal Childcare Benefit, it’s clear that the Conservative Party understands the needs of families in Surrey-Newton, and across BC.” Singh spoke of his community work and what he believes

is at stake in this upcoming election for his home of the past decade.

“I’ve worked closely with many in our community over the past years, and I know there’s a lot at stake in this election,” Singh said. “With the stakes so high, so are the risks.

On one hand, we have Justin Trudeau who would raise taxes, increase our debt and force our country into longterm economic decline. On the other, we have Stephen Harper who will balance the budget, cut taxes and provide a strong, serious leadership we need in our Prime Minister during times of uncertainty.”

Singh concluded by stating his campaign will focus on tax relief for families, protecting Canadians, and creating quality jobs.

The federal general election will be October 19, 2015.

How An Extraordinary Vision Can Bring You More Customers

By Leslie Cunningham There is a fabulous hot tub retail and service business in southwest Montana, pleasantly named Mountain Hot Tub. It was during one of our monthly team meetings that they officially declared their vision...they would be known as “The Hot Tub Capital of the World”.

As soon as the vision was proclaimed, the energy in the room sky- rocketed!

Employees began talking excitedly about what it would look like to be “The Hot Tub Capital of the World.”

One employee remarked, “We would have a loyal community and following of hot tubers!” Another stated, “For every residential area, more than 50% of the residents would own hot tubs!”

The sharing continued...”I would own a fishing cabin above the Gallatin River!” Followed by, “We would service all brands of hot tubs!” The input and ideas were amazing.

1Weeks later they received a phone call. It was a request to repair another hot tub brand.

The service tech drove out to the spa owner’s home.

After carefully inspecting the hot tub he said, “I hate to tell you this, but basically it’s going to cost you about as much to repair this hot tub as it would cost you to buy a new one. I would really encourage you to come into the store and speak with one of our sales guys to see what he can do for you.”

A few days later the customer visited the store and sought out the recommended sales person.

They began by exploring through the used hot tubs. The sales person then started showing the customer the new hot tubs in order to compare the tow. During this time the two men were deep in conversation.

Meanwhile, another customer walked in to buy some chemicals for his hot tub. After he purchased his chemicals he asked the cashier, “Is that person thinking about buying a hot tub?”She advised him that he was indeed making that consideration.

The gentleman turned around and waited patiently, all while holding a heavy armload of chemicals; he wanted to talk to the customer who was considering buying a new spa.

When there was a break in conversation he introduced himself and said, “You should buy a spa from these guys. They will take great care of you! They have amazingcustomer service and these spas are INCREDIBLE! I can’t say enough about these guys or their hot tubs; they’ve been just phenomenal!”

Needless to say, the customer purchased a brand new hot tub from Mountain Hot Tub. These are the kind of events that happen when you declare and commit to a vision that pulls you forward. It brings about an unforeseen series of events that you could never have orchestrated, like customers waiting patiently with an armload of heavy chemicals to express their deep appreciation and gratitude.

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Jamadiul Awaal 16,1436H February 6, 2015

A D V E R T I S E R

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Jamadiul Awaal 16,1436H February 6, 2015

A D V E R T I S E R

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Jamadiul Awaal 16,1436H February 6, 2015

H E A L T H

Is Breakfast Really Your Most Important Meal?

By Rita Rubin Your mother might’ve told you breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Some recent reports, though, might make you think Mom’s take on breakfast is about as credible as other old wives’ tales. The reports that challenge the importance of breakfast say most studies linking it to a smaller waistline and improved health have been observational. Observational studies can’t prove cause and effect, though. Skeptics wonder whether some other quality common in breakfasteaters -- or breakfast-skippers, for that matter -- might have a greater impact on their health and weight than the meal itself. Researchers also say how the studies are done may explain the conflicting results. Several scientists who’ve studied the relationship between eating breakfast and health -- all of whom said they eat breakfast daily -- helped us sort it out.

Q. If I want to lose weight, why not skip breakfast? After all, two meals have fewer calories than three.

A. The desire to lose weight is one of the most frequently cited reasons for skipping breakfast. But many observational studies have found that people who skip breakfast are more likely to be overweight. The theory is that they more than make up for the missed calories in the morning by eating more at lunch or snacking all day. But a study published in June challenged these beliefs. The study was a randomized controlled trial, considered the gold standard of medical research. In this type of study, volunteers don’t get to decide whether they eat breakfast, but are instead randomly assigned to either eat it or not.

The study showed that when people skip

breakfast, “overall, there’s still a similar intake or a lesser intake (of calories) over the whole day,” says researcher Krista Casazza, PhD, RD. Another small randomized trial published by Cornell University researchers in Physiology & Behavior in 2013 found that college students ate about 145 calories more at lunch when they ate nothing in the morning than they did on a day when they ate breakfast. Considering that their breakfasts averaged about 625 calories, skipping it still resulted in a savings of about 450 calories by day’s end, according to the study. Whether that calorie deficit lasts for more than a few days and leads to weight loss remains to be seen, says Harvard School of Public Health researcher Rania Mekary, PhD. “Your metabolic rate might end up decreasing,” she says. “If you starve yourself, you might lose weight, but is that something good longterm?”Researchers point out that randomized trials have shortcomings, as well. They are often small and last only a few days. The bottom line is that while research hasn’t shown eating breakfast can lead to weight loss, neither does it show that eating breakfast makes you pack on the pounds, says Heather Leidy, PhD. She’s an assistant professor in the department of nutrition and exercise physiology at the University of Missouri School of Medicine.

Q. What if you don’t eat anything until after you’ve been up for a couple of hours or more? Does that count as breakfast?

A. Does eating later in the morning count as breakfast or a snack, especially if it’s something small and not a calorie-laden meal? In many studies, researchers typically ask only whether participants ate breakfast, not what they ate or when they ate it.

“There’s no real standard definition of breakfast,” says Megan McCrory, PhD. She’s an associate professor of nutrition at the Georgia State University Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions. Some people might call that container of yogurt scarfed down at their office a morning snack, while others might call it breakfast, McCrory says, muddying the research findings. More study is needed, she said in an article published in July in Physiology & Behavior. Mekary says she wondered whether people who said they skipped breakfast actually ate the same amount of that meal but called it snacking. She and her colleagues had asked participants in the Nurses Health Study whether they snacked before lunch as well as whether they ate breakfast. In one analysis of their data, Mekary lumped together all of the before-lunch snackers who said they didn’t eat breakfast and compared them to the women who said they did. Both groups had a similarly lower risk of type 2 diabetes compared to women who said they ate nothing before lunch, in part because the morning eaters tended to weigh less. In other words, whether

you call it breakfast or a snack and eat it first thing or later in the morning, the potential benefits appear to be similar, Mekary says.Q. What is the breakfast of champions?

A. Whether grabbing a doughnut is better than no breakfast at all remains to be seen, Leidy says. “Some of our studies suggest that it is better to eat something for breakfast as opposed to skipping,” she says. “On the other hand, we also show that eating a high sugar/ high carbohydrate breakfast is detrimental in terms of appetite control and snacking.”

A breakfast high in protein -- such as Greek yogurt with blueberries, granola, and nuts, or a breakfast burrito with eggs, lean meat or soy, and vegetables -- is a better choice, Leidy says.

Q. Can eating breakfast make me smarter?

A. It’s probably too late for you, but it might work for your kids. An observational study of Chinese kindergartners published in 2013 found that those who regularly ate breakfast had higher IQ scores than their peers who didn’t. The difference remained even after accounting for other factors that can influence IQ, such as parents’ education and occupations.

Casazza, although skeptical of the benefits of breakfast for adults, says “a significant amount of data” support the meal’s importance for the brain in children and teens.

There may be other benefits as well. A study of more than 4,000 children in the U.K., published Sept. 2 in PLoS Medicine, suggests that children who eat a daily breakfast may have a lower risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

Mekary, who has a 3½-year-old daughter, says, “I would never send her to preschool without breakfast.”

Source: WebMD Health News

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Jamadiul Awaal 16,1436H February 6, 2015

L I F E S T Y L E

How to Organize Your Closet

Having an organized closet is the gateway to having an organized room and an organized life. To organize your closet, you’ll have to sort through all of your clothes to determine what you really need and find the best way to reorganize your clothes and other belongings. If you want to know how to organize your closet, just follow these steps.

Sort Through Clothes

Your

Remove all of the clothes from your closet. Take all of your clothes off their hangers and out of any bins or drawers in your closet. Fold them in piles on the floor or on your bed.

This includes your shoes as well.

Decide which clothes you will keep. The clothes you will keep are the clothes that you wear on a regular basis and clothes that you would miss if they weren’t in your closet. If you’ve worn a certain item in the last week, month, or even few months, you should hold on to it as long as it’s seasonally appropriate.

Make a “Keep” pile for the clothes that you will keep and wear on a regular basis.

Decide which clothes you will store. You should store the clothes that you won’t be wearing for a while because they aren’t seasonally appropriate. If it’s the middle of summer, you can store your winter sweaters and scarves, and if it’s the dead of winter, you can store your summer dresses.

- You can also store clothes that may have sentimental value for you, such as a shirt your grandmother knitted for you, or an old t-shirt from your high school tennis team that no longer fits. Try to keep the sentimental value clothes to a minimum, though. Clothes are meant to be worn, after all.

- When you’re done sorting through the clothes you will store, put them in a plastic bin. You can either store them in the back of your closet, under your bed, or in a storage unit or a different part of your home if you have the room.

Decide which clothes you will donate or throw out. This is the hardest step, and the most important. If you want to have a truly organized closet, then your goal should be to get rid of as many items of clothing as possible. This doesn’t mean you should throw out your favorite things -- it does mean that you should take a long hard look to ask yourself which clothes you will actually ever wear again.

- If you haven’t worn something in over a year and it has no sentimental value, it’s time to donate it.

- If you have an item that is so worn, covered in moth holes, or faded that you and anyone else will never wear it again, then it’s time to throw it out.

- If you have a few items of clothing that are just way too small, stop waiting for the day that they will fit and donate them.

- Donate all of the clothes you don’t

need that are in good condition, or give them to a sibling or friend.

Organize Your Clothes in Your Closet Hang up your clothes and organize them. Try to hang up as many of your clothes as you can. This will make it easier for you to find your clothes and to conserve space. You should not only hang up your clothes, but you should also organize them in a particular way so you can easily find them whenever you need to. Here are some ways to organize the clothes you hang up: - Organize your clothes by season. If you’ve stored away some of your seasonal clothes, organize your clothes by season just for

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half the year. If it’s summer, hang up your summer clothes first, followed by your fall clothes.

- Organize your clothes by type.

You can separate your shirts, pants, skirts, and dresses.

- You can also think about installing another pole to hang up your additional clothes.

Put additional clothes in other parts of your closet. Once you’ve hung up all of the clothes fit on your pole, you should find other parts of the closet to store the rest of your clothes. The clothes that you put in the bins should be used less frequently than the clothes you hang up, or they should be clothes that don’t need to be hung up, like your workout clothes.

Here are a few ideas:

Organize the Rest of Your Closet Organize any boxes in your closet. If your closet is big enough, then it’s likely that you’ve stored things other than clothes in it, such as big boxes filled with mementos, old photo albums, and CDs you haven’t seen for ten years. To finish organizing your closet, you should go through these old boxes to see what you should keep and what you should toss. Here’s how to do it: - Get rid of any papers or items you’ve kept for over a year that have no sentimental value.

- If you’ve been using cardboard boxes, trade them up for plastic bins. They will last longer and will be more visually appealing.

- Label the boxes or bins so you know what’s in them next time you move or organize your things again.

Organize any additional items in your closet. Take the time to go through any additional items in your closet to make sure that you still need them and that the closet is really the best place for them.

Here are some examples: - Make sure that all of the other items you find belong in the closet and not another part of your home.

For example, if you find a box of light bulbs, a box of comic books, or a box of chocolate, ask yourself if those items wouldn’t be more logically organized elsewhere.

Loving Yourself!

Shabnam Khan – Family Counsellor It is a fact that there are times when we often focus on building relationships with others that we forget the essential first step - that’s being friends to ourselves. It is the crucial first step if we are to have good relationships with others. There are often challenges to have good relationships with others if we don’t even have good relationship with ourselves!

1. Forgive yourself You may have made those mistakes in the past, but is there anything you can do about them? Except learning from them. It’s true that you are not perfect, but neither is anybody else. It’s normal to make mistakes, so do yourself a favor by giving yourself forgiveness.

2. Accept things you can’t change There are some things you cannot change, such as your background and your past. So learn to accept them. You will feel much relieved if you treat things you can’t change the way they deserve - just accept them and move on.

3. Focus on your strengths Instead of focusing on your weaknesses, focus on your strengths. You always have some strength which gives you a unique combination nobody else have. Recognize your strengths and build your life around them.

4. Write your success stories One reason we may not like ourselves is we are too focused on what we don’t have that we forget about what we have. So it’s help-

ffull to make k a list of your achievements, write your success stories.

They do not have to be big things but are a lot of small but important achievements in our life.

For example, if you have some good friends and families, that’s yourr achievement!

5. Stop comparing yourself with others You are unique. You can never be like otherr people and neither can other people be like you. The way you measure your success is not determined by other people and what they achieve. Instead, it is determined by yourr own life purpose. You have everything you need to achieve your life purpose, so it’s useless to compare yourself with others.

6. Always be true to yourself You don’t like other people being dishonestt to you and similarly you won’t like yourself if you know that you are dishonest to yourself. Whether you realize it or not, thatt gives your mind a reason not to like yourself!

That’s why it’s important to always be true to yourself in whatever you do. Be honest and d follow your conscience. shabnam@skcounselling.ca

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Jamadiul Awaal 16,1436H February 6, 2015

WOMEN

I felt secured and safe in Noor is a former Hindu woman based in the UK. Here is a personal account of her as how she got disenchanted with modern social arrangements in the Hindu as well as Christian societies and became a Muslim.

IN Hinduism men are treated like gods. In one of the religious celebrations, unmarried Hindu girls worship an idol of Shiva (a Hindu deity), to aspire for husbands like him. Even my own mother had asked me to do this.

This ritual in particular made me realize that the Hindu religion, which is based on superstitions and traditions that oppressed women, could not be right.

Many social evils have crept into the Hindu society that oppressed women.

For instance, if widowed, the woman will have to wear a white sari (costume), eat vegetarian and cut her hair short. Besides, she cannot think of a re-marriage. The bride always had to pay the dowry (bridal money) to the in-laws. And the groom can ask for anything, regardless of in-laws affordability. In case of having failed to bring in enough dowry, she is tortured both emotionally and physically. In many cases such marriages have ended up in the brides’ “accidental death.” More and more of such instances are taking place in the country.

I came from a purely Hindu family where we were taught to regard our-

ISLAM

selves as ones who were eventually to be married off and have children and serve the husband.

When I came to England for studies, I initially thought the country gives equal rights to men and women and does not oppress them. We all have freedom to do as we like, I thought.

But as I started to meet people and make new friends, I learned about this new society, and went to all the places my friends went to in order to “socialize” (bars, dance halls, etc.), I realized this “equality” missing in practice.

Outwardly, women in the West are seem have equal rights in education and work, but in reality they are an oppressed lot in a different but more subtle way. Durning hang outs, I found everybody interested to talk to me, and I thought that was normal.

But it was only later that I realized how naïve I was and recognized what these people were really looking for.

I soon began to feel uncomfortable.

I had to dress in a certain way and talk in a manner that pleased them. It made me all the more uncomfortable.

Everybody there would say they enjoyed the environment, but I never found it anything enjoying.

I hadn’t studied Islam, though I had some Muslim acquaintances. By now I decided to look for a right belief that provided a better atmosphere and culture where I would feel happy, se-

cured and respected. If having fun by getting off with other people is someone’s belief, they do this. If making money is someone’s belief, they do everything to achieve this. If they believe drinking is one way to enjoy life then they do it. But I feel all this leads to nowhere; no one is truly satisfied, and the respect women are looking for is diminishing in this way.

I pondered over the concept of “equal rights” in the modern society where a girl is expected to have a boyfriend, or else you are considered weird. I found it another form of oppression even though some women do not realize it.

When I came to Islam, it was obvious that I had finally found permanent security. A religion, a belief that was so complete and clear in every aspect of life. Many people have a misconception that Islam is an oppressive religion, where women are covered from head to toe and are not allowed any freedom or rights.

In fact, women in Islam are given more rights. They have been given such rights for the past 1,400 years while the western and other societies have accorded such rights to their women only recently. There are still societies where women are oppressed, as I mentioned earlier in relation to Hindu women.

Muslim women have the right to inheritance. They have the right to run their own trade and business. They

have the full right to ownership, property, disposal over their wealth to which the husband has no right.

They have the right to education, a right to refuse marriage as long as this refusal is according to reasonable and justifiable grounds. The Qur’an itself, which is the Word of God, contains many verses commanding men to be kind to their wives and stressing the rights of women. Islam gives the right set of rules, because they are not made by men, but made by God; hence it is a perfect religion.

Often, the Muslim women are asked why they are covered from head to toe. In Islam, marriage is an important part of life; it means making of the society. Therefore, a woman should not go around exposing. Even the man in Islam is not allowed to expose his body beyond a certain extent. Modesty is stressed in Islam. “O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) over their bodies (when outdoors). That is most convenient that they could be known as such (i.e. decent and chaste) and not molested.”

(Qur’an, 33:59) If we look around, we find in majority of the societies, women are attacked and molested because of their dress.

The rules and regulation laid down in Islam do not apply just to women but to men also. There is no intermingling and free-running between men and women for the benefit of both.

Whatever God commands is right, wholesome, pure and beneficial to mankind; there is no doubt about that. A verse in the Qur’an explains this concept clearly: “Say to the be-

lieving men that they should lower their gaze and protect their private parts (i.e. from indecency, illegal sexual acts, etc.); that will make for greater purity for them. And God is well aware of what they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and protect their private parts (from indecency, illegal sexual intercourse, etc.); and that they should not display their beauty and ornaments…” (Qur’an, 24:31) When I felt happy put on my a veil.

It gave a great sense of satisfaction and happiness. I could really see the differences in behavior toward me.

I had accepted Islam not blindly, or under any compulsion. In the Qur’an itself there is a verse, which says: “…

Let there be no compulsion in religion…” (Qur’an. 2:256) I accepted Islam with conviction. I have seen, been there, done that, and seen both sides of the story. I know and have experienced what the other side is like, and I know that I have done the right thing. Islam does not oppress women, but rather Islam liberates them and gives them the respect they deserve. Islam is the religion God has chosen for the whole of mankind.

Those who accept it are truly liberated from the chains and shackles of mankind, whose ruling and legislating necessitates nothing but the oppression of one group by another and the exploitation and oppression of one sex by the other. This is not the case of Islam which truly liberated women and gave them an individuality not given by any other authority.

—Courtesy: esinislam.com

3 Tips For How to Get More Free Time For Busy Women Entrepreneurs

By Leslie Cunningham When my husband and I began dating we would often have a ‘veg out’ Saturday. It would involve sleeping in, watching or renting movies, playing games and eating left over’s. It was quiet, relaxing and also very fun.

Fast-forward 7 years of married life with 3 daughters … it surely has changed that little bit of respite during the weekend.

Last month during our Financial Date® I suggested that we look into incorporating the ‘veg out’ Saturdays and try involving the children.

So now on Friday night we remind the kids that they are encouraged to sleep in Saturday and that we will make popcorn later on for some family movies and family games to enjoy and then take a walk to the playground.

It is very relaxing and makes you realize the value in having this time for

your body, mind and soul to rejuvenate.

It has created peace and eliminated the mentality and desire to go shopping right after a pay week and instead enjoy more quality family time.

I wanted to send you an email to share this with you because you inspired me with your latest article on having a ‘stay-cation’, and creating a vacation at home instead of traveling.”

This email arrived in my in-box from one of my on-line newsletter subscribers. I immediately smiled when I read about her inspiration of having a designated weekly “veg out” day.

It’s easy to get busy and overcommitted I’ve noticed that as a mother and business owner it’s all too easy to get focused on forward- thinking and planning everything for every minute of the day and every day of the week.

Many women entrepreneurs easily fall into the trap of believing that relaxation

and down time must be reserved as the ultimate reward we indulge in only after completing our work, errands and family obligations.

But this kind of thinking has a faulty error. As long as we’re living, breathing human beings we are kidding ourselves when we think that there will come a point in time when we’ve completed all the tasks on our never-ending business and personal to-do lists.

If we wait until we have more time for “vegging out,” relaxing and simply just “being” that time will never arrive.

Slowing down can actually be something that you easily integrate on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

My husband and I recently re-discovered the joy and simplicity in eating a warm breakfast together in the morning and consistently having dinners as a family in the evening.

I found some placemats and a new can-

dle centerpiece for our dining room table so that eating meals can be a beautiful experience instead of just a matter of functionality.

It’s amazing how these simple acts of sharing meals can serve as a cornerstone for good old fashion family connection.

Weekly, it can be as simple as designating a “veg-out” day, like the subscriber of my newsletter suggested.

I love the idea of discussing the many possibilities for how women might want to spend their day off in advance so the entire family can anticipate it. At first it might take some getting used to - you don’t make any plans or commitments but just allow yourselves to be spontaneous AND laid back.

Every month my husband and I plan a weekend get-away to someplace different. We might escape to a forest service cabin, go soak at a nearby hot

springs or go camping. We look at our calendars and schedule these weekend retreats 2 to 3 months out.

We actually mark them down even though we don’t usually know for certain where we’re going or what we’re actually going to do – we plan to figure it out a week or two before we leave.

We’ve also planned some retreats as “staycations” where we don’t make any plans at all for the entire weekend. Instead we’ll incorporate a “veg out weekend” where we might go for a hike, bike ride or ski in the mountains depending on the season, work on a puzzle together or just lounge around and watch a movie.

I have come to realize that having a busy life does not necessarily equate to being fulfilled. To me life is about much more than just working hard to make more money and get ahead - it’s about living and loving richly™.

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22

Jamadiul Awaal 16,1436H February 6, 2015

Y O U T H

KNOW YOUR TIME: Time-Tracking Experiment

Umar Bin Al-Khattab, may Allah (glorified and exalted be He) be pleased with him said “Take yourself to account before you’re taken to account”.

As Muslims who believe that we’ll be judged for every minute we spent on this earth, it is sometimes quite useful to track how we spend our time in order to accurately measure how well we’re living our lives according to the purpose we’ve been created for.

About two years ago, I ran a time tracking experiment on myself for a few days to help me measure exactly how I spend my time in different activities. The results of this experiment were astonishing! It made me realize how much I was wasting my time and helped me take drastic measures to improve my productivity.

Here’s how you can run your own time tracking experiment with a few, free simple tools.

THE EXPERIMENT As with every successful experiment, you need the right measuring tools and apparatus to accurately measure the data and draw the most useful conclusions. This can be challenging if you’re trying to record what you do every minute of your day, since you’ll either forget to record what you do, OR be biased in your recording to show that you were productive when in reality you weren’t.

To overcome this problem, you need to divide your time tracking experiment into two parts: 1. Recording the time spent online/on a computer Since the majority of our time these days is spent on the computer and online, you can start by recording what you do on them.

Thankfully, there’s a great application for that!

RescueTime (Free)

One of the best time tracking tools online today is RescueTime; a web-based time recording and analytical tool that sits quietly in the background of your computer and measures which application, website or document you’re currently actively using.

At the end of each week, RescueTime will send you beautiful (or scary) result graphs showing exactly what percentage of your time online/on the computer is spent on “Productive Tasks” (e.g. Word document, online research, presentations..etc) vs. “Unproductive Tasks” (e.g. social media, personal e-mails, etc). (Note: you can choose which applications/documents RescueTime should classify as “productive” vs. “unproductive”).

Another great feature of RescueTime is that if you’re away from your computer for more than 5 to 10 minutes, it will ask you to write down where you went and what you did, again giving you visibility of how you spend your time during your breaks away from your computer. (E.g. in one day, I realized I spent 5 hours at meetings!)

2. Recording the time spent offline/off a computer Now that you have an accurate recording of your time spent online or on the computer (and even during short breaks between your working day), it’s time to measure how you spend your time offline, especially when you’re away from your laptop for long stretches, or at home.

To record your time offline, I highly recom-

mend the techniques used by accountants and auditors who need to record their time for billing purposes where they simply record what they are doing every 20m. There are a couple of ways to do this accurately: 1. You could keep a buzzer next to you and set the timer for 20 minutes or 1 hour. Every time the buzzer goes off, you record exactly what you’re doing on a piece of paper.

2. You can ask a friend, spouse, child, or someone else who’s close to you to simply record what you’re doing every 20 minutes.

That’s it! At the end of the week, you’ll have a pretty accurate picture of how you spend your time.

Finally, a word of caution: recording your time is a painful and tedious experiment and it can be very tempting to skip some steps, or record how you think you spent your time at the end of your day, but that will defeat the purpose! You need to be as objective as possible and avoid relying on your memory to remember what you did at certain times.

WHAT TO DO WITH THE RESULTS? Once you have an accurate measure of your time (both online/offline), you need to compare the results with the results you’d like to achieve as a Productive Muslim – a person who achieves success both in this life and in the Hereafter. If the results of your experiment show that you’re wasting a lot of your time, then you know you have to do something about it as the results won’t improve by themselves.

Here are 3 practical things you can do to im-

prove your time management: 1. Limit time-wasting activities: If you find that you spend a big chunk of your time on social media, TV or aimlessly surfing the Internet, try to limit these activities by allocating specific times for them during the day.

2. Compress your work time into large work chunks: If you find that you work in bursts of 10-20 minutes throughout the day, try to compress all your work time into large chunks of at least 45 to 90 minutes. This will allow you to work more productively and achieve greater results.

3. Manage your time actively: Instead of managing your time reactively and firefighting your way through your days, try your best to actively manage your time by planning each day the night before, using our ProductiveMuslim Taskinator and completing at least 3 to 5 of the Most Important Tasks (M.I.Ts) early in the morning.

Moreover, such active management of time would help you avoid the common pitfall of “heedlessness” from Allah’s commands and allows you to truly develop a balanced lifestyle that doesn’t forget the akhira and works hard in this dunya.

Once you’ve adopted some of the above changes and you feel that your time management has improved, re-run the time tracking experiment again and let the results speak for themselves.

Source: Productive Muslim

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Jamadiul Awaal 16,1436H February 6, 2015

S P E C I A L

Learn more about February Heart Month

Heart and Stroke Foundation - History More than 60 years ago, a visionary group of Canadians, including physicians and researchers, established the National Heart Foundation of Canada with big hopes for the future.

They had a dream: to put heart health on the public agenda, to empower researchers to turn the tide on heart disease, and to educate Canadians about their hearts. With the emergence of Ontario’s Foundation in 1952 and British Columbia’s three years later, a network soon began to develop across the country. In 1956, the Quebec and Saskatchewan Foundations were established. In 1961, the Foundation was renamed the Canadian Heart Foundation.

After decades of growth in influence and impact on the health of Canadians, the Heart and Stroke Foundation reached its latest milestone in 2011, when the national office and nine independent provincial bodies united to become one strong, national organization.

Today, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada is at work in communities from coast to coast, with: • 130,000 volunteers • close to two million donors Since 1956, the Foundation has raised and invested more than $1.3 billion in leading-edge heart disease and stroke research. These impressive results have been made possible by the ongoing and valuable efforts of volunteers and donors across this country.

Heart Month - History The Heart Month campaign began in 1958 when the Foundation, led by Dr. Wilfred Bi-

gelow, committed to raise $600,000 to fund heart research. In Ontario, volunteers in Hamilton, Kingston, Lakehead, London, Oakville, Oshawa, Peterborough and Port Hope launched a modest door-to-door campaign to raise a provincial goal of $250,000. By the end of the campaign, they had exceeded goal and raised $320,000.

In 1962, the canvass – named the “Heart Sunday Canvass” – was expanded to include additional cities. Canvassers consisted primarily of Air Cadet Squadrons, Ladies’ Auxiliary and Canadian Legion branches and medical students from the University of Toronto.

of activity daily. However, Rachel Colley, a research analyst at Statistics Canada who helped author the report, said it must be remembered that these are averages and that many children are falling below the guidelines.

She noted that an earlier analysis of the same data, released last year, found just seven per cent of children and youths aged six to 19 were getting the recommended 60 minutes of activity a day, at least six days per week. “A lot of kids are coming quite close, but very few are actually meeting the guideline, as it is defined,” Colley said. This latest Statistics Canada report said it was “not unexpected”

to see a wide gap between the amount of activity parents report their children getting and the amount they actually do. For example, it noted how a parent might record participation in a 60-minute soccer game as a full hour of activity, but in actuality, the child likely would be taking breaks in the action, and the accelerometer would pick this up.

“This example highlights a fundamental difference between the methods; parent reports capture time spent doing a specific activity, while accelerometry captures actual movement at a defined intensity,” the report said.

Colley said the discrepancy between how much activity children get and what their

Today, the February Heart Month canvass is a national, community-based fundraising campaign. The success of this program depends on its 100,000 volunteers, who make friendly, personal requests to their neighbours and online networks. Volunteers canvass for donations through the month of February, to support life-saving research and raise awareness of heart disease and stroke within their communities.

Today, heart disease and stroke take one life every 7 minutes and 90% of Canadians have at least one risk factor. Heart Month is the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s key opportunity to reach millions of Canadians in February and alert them to the risks of heart disease and stroke. Volunteers are the face and the voice of the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Heart Month is a critical time when we depend on you to share our message.

StatsCan figures show parents overestimate children’s activity levels

Statistics Canada released details of a study that found parents reported, on average, about 105 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous activity for their children aged six to 11, while direct measurements using a movement-detecting device called an accelerometer showed it was actually 63 minutes. The figures were based on data taken between 2007 and 2009, with 878 children included in the analysis.

Some might interpret these results as measuring up well against recommendations from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, which says children between the ages of five and 11 should get at least 60 minutes

parents think they get could be one of many factors contributing to unhealthy conditions among children. In this study, 23 per cent of the children were found to be either overweight or obese. According to the study, parents reported an average of 2.5 hours a day of screen time for their children, which would include things such as watching television, playing video games, and the usage of computers or other electronic devices. The movement trackers picked up an average of 7.6 hours a day of sedentary time for children, or behaviour that would involve very little physical movement.

(Source: Postmedia news)

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Jamadiul Awaal 16,1436H February 6, 2015

P A K I S T A N

Kashmir Day in Pakistan

Kashmir Day or Kashmir Solidarity Day is a public holiday in Pakistan on February 5 each year.

It is a day dedicated to show Pakistan’s support and unity with the people of Indianoccupied Kashmir, their ongoing freedom struggle, and to pay homage to Kashmiri martyrs who lost their lives fighting for Kashmir’s freedom.

What Do People Do? Kashmir Day is observed by people throughout Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK). It is an internationally recognized day observed by people, predominantly Kashmiris, worldwide. The day is marked by public processions, special prayers in mosques for the liberation of Kashmir and protests that are carried out against the Indian oppression of Kashmir.

Kashmir Day is also of particular political importance to major political and religious parties in both Pakistan and AJK. Processions, rallies, conferences and seminars are organized by many political and religious parties where politicians, heads of religious organizations, opinion leaders, and influential public figures address the masses and speak to support the Kashmiri freedom movement. These leaders and spokespeople also advocate a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue. Long marches, and rallies sponsored by political organizations, religious parties and other organizations are held, in which people chant slogans to support the Kashmiri freedom struggle and to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people.

Another common spectacle is the formation of a human chain on all major routes leading to AJK from Pakistan. People stand in rows with their hands clasped forming a human chain on all major crossings into AJK from Pakistan. This symbolizes unity and solidarity to reassure Kashmiris that they are not alone in their struggle for freedom.

Special cultural programs and festivals are also held to promote Kashmiri culture and tradition. News and entertainment channels air special programs, talk shows, dramas and Kashmiri songs about the oppression and brutalities suffered by Kashmiris over the years. Educational institutions organize debate competitions and dialogue forums where students express their views and ideas for resolving Kashmiri-related issues.

Public Life Kashmir Day is a public holiday in Pakistan and AJK. Government offices (federal and provincial), banks, educational institutions and businesses remain closed. However, some multinational companies continue normal business activities on this day.

Public transport is available throughout the day, but traffic congestion is common in major cities. Major roads and streets remain blocked because of Kashmir Day parades and processions.

Background There is a part of Kashmir called Azad Jammu Kashmir (Azad means “Liberated” in Urdu). Many Indians call it PakistanOccupied Kashmir. Officially Pakistan recognizes AJK as a separate state, having its own parliament, head of state and governing institutions.

Kashmir Day was first observed in 1990 on call of Nawaz Sharif, who was the opposition leader and chief minister of Punjab at the time. Sharif appealed for a nationwide strike to protest against the Indian occupation of Kashmir and called for people to pray for the Kashmiri freedom movement’s success. The Pakistan People’s Party then declared February 5 as a public holiday and Kashmir Day has since been observed every year.

Symbols The Kashmir valley is metaphorically referred to as “heaven on earth”. The valley is shown in modern art as being engulfed by flames, depicting unrest, uproar and peril in heaven. The valley is also shown to be surrounded by a barbed wire drenched in blood. This illustrates human rights violations in Kashmir.

Note: The information in this article is from reliable sources, including from government and news sources. However, timeanddate.com does not take political views on the history behind the events mentioned in this article.

KASHMIR: NUCLEAR FLASHPOINT 1948-1954 TIMELINE Map of Jammu and Kashmir

• 1948: India takes the Kashmir problem to the United Nations (UN) Security Council on 1 January.

• 1949: On 1 January, a ceasefire between Indian and Pakistani forces leaves India in control of most of the valley, as well as

Jammu and Ladakh, while Pakistan gains control of part of Kashmir including what Pakistan calls “Azad” Kashmir and Northern territories. Pakistan claims it is merely supporting an indigenous rebellion in “Azad” Kashmir and Northern Territories against repression, while India terms that territory as POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir).

• 1949: On 5 January 1949, UNCIP (United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan) resolution states that the question of the accession of the State of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan will be decided through a free and impartial plebiscite.

As per the 1948 and 1949 UNCIP Resolutions, both countries accept the principle, that Pakistan secures the withdrawal of Pakistani intruders followed by withdrawal of Pakistani and Indian forces, as a basis for the formulation of a Truce agreement whose details are to be arrived in future, followed by a plebiscite; However, both countries fail to arrive at a Truce agreement due to differences in interpretation of the procedure for and extent of demilitarisation one of them being whether the Azad Kashmiri army is to be disbanded during the truce stage or the plebiscite stage.

• 1949: On 17 October, the Indian Constituent Assembly adopts Article 370 of the Constitution, ensuring a special status and internal autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir, with Indian jurisdiction in Kashmir limited to the three areas agreed in the IOA, namely, defence, foreign affairs and communications.

• 1951: First post-independence elections.

The UN passes a resolution to the effect that such elections do not substitute a plebiscite, because a plebiscite offers the option of choosing between India and Pakistan. Sheikh Abdullah wins, mostly unopposed. There are widespread charges of election rigging which continue to plague all the subsequent elections; effectively, the Center would rule the State with the help of its local nominees, imposing an one-party Rule with no avenues for the growth of opposition.

• 1947-1952: Sheikh Abdullah drifts from a position of endorsing accession to India in 1947 to insisting on the self-determination of Kashmiris in 1952. In July 1952, he signs Delhi Agreement with the Central government on Centre-State relationships, providing for autonomy of the State within India and of regions within the State; Article 370 is confirmed and the State is allowed to have its own flag. The domination of Kashmir Valley(which has a 95% Muslim majority and accounts for more than

50% of the total population of Indian J&K) and Abdullah’s land reforms create discontent in Jammu and Ladakh; An agitation is launched in the Hindu-majority Jammu region against the Delhi Agreement and in favour of full accession with the Indian Union; the movement is withdrawn later, due to pressure from the Center; Secessionist sentiments in the Valley and communalism in Jammu feed each other.

• 1953-1954: In 1953, the governments of India and Pakistan agree to appoint a Plebiscite Administrator by the end of April 1954.

Abdullah procrastinates in confirming the accession of Kashmir to India. In August 1953, Abdullah is dismissed and arrested.

Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed is installed in power, who then gets the accession formally ratified in 1954.

Pakistan and US sign a Mutual Defence Assistance Agreement in May 1954; Nehru states that he is concerned about the coldwar alignments and that such an alliance affects the Kashmir issue. India would resist plebiscite efforts from then on. Kashmiri activists continue to insist on the promised self-determination.

• Balraj Puri, Kashmir: Towards Insurgency, New Delhi 1993, p.19.

• Prem Nath Bazaz, Democracy through Intimidation and Terror, New Delhi: Heritage Publishers, 1978, p.15.

In September 1954, Pakistan joins SEATO (South East Asian Treaty Organization) and later CENTO (Central Treaty Organization) in 1955, aligning herself with US, UK, Turkey and Iran. From 1955, Indo-Soviet relations become closer with India receiving Soviet military aid and later the Soviet would veto the 1962 UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir in favour of India.

Alastair Lamb, Kashmir A Disputed Legacy 1846-1990, Roxford 1991, pp.227-231 Sources: http://www.kashmirlibrary.org

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Jamadiul Awaal 16,1436H February 6, 2015

S P O R T S

U.S., England support Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein for FIFA presidency FIFA vice president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein says the United States was among the national associations to nominate him to stand against Sepp Blatter for the top job in world football. The Jordanian also disclosed he was endorsed by his home federation, Belarus, Malta and Georgia. The English FA had already announced it was backing him. The vote to decide the presidency will be held at the FIFA Congress in May. At his campaign launch in London, Prince Ali said: “My nominations are from three different confederations, which I’m very happy with. I know it is going to be a big challenge and we have a lot to do until May 29, but I’m very confident in all our national associations and the presidents of our national associations who want the best for football.” Prince Ali’s inability to gain widespread backing beyond his home-

land in the Asian Football Confederation highlights the tough task unseating Blatter, who is running for a fifth, four-year term in May. Michael van Praag of the Netherlands and Portugal great Luis Figo are also vying for the presidency, but Jerome Champagne has confirmed he will not be contesting the presidency after failing to secure the necessary backing. Champagne had said some FAs had “feared reprisals” if they supported him, and Prince Ali also questioned previous elections and voting within the federation, and said he hopes for a cleaner fight for the presidency this time. “Obviously there is a culture of intimidation -- let me put it that way -- within FIFA,” he said. “In the past, if people take a stand they possibly end up being punished for it. That is why the vote is secret and I hope that if things are played fairly

and played rightly that things will go in the appropriate way. “I believe the incumbent has a natural advantage but I assure our national associations that we are moving in the right direction and I will be the right candidate for them. “Frankly I have been in football for many years. In the last four years I have understood what is going on. I have worked with our players and our fans and understanding their needs. I want to bring that back to football. Talking about Blatter specifically, Prince Ali believes the 78-year-old has to hold his hands up for the way FIFA has been run, with clouds still hanging over his previous nominations as president as well as the bidding process that saw Russia and Qatar named as World Cup host nations. “He has been the president and definitely the president needs to be held responsible for what happens,” he said. “If

David Richardson, the ICC chief executive, has conceded that modern bats have “shifted the balance” in favour of batsmen, especially in limited-overs cricket. The issue, Richardson said, was a growing concern and the ICC has begun to consider remedial steps, the first of which will come during the World Cup where boundary ropes are to be pulled as far back as 90 yards. “The balance may have shifted a little bit too much because sometimes poor shots or mis-hits are going for six,” Richardson told ESPNcricinfo in an extensive interview. “Let us try and rectify that.

What we have done up until now is try and maximize the size of the boundary. You will see for the World Cup, most of the grounds in Australia in particular, which allow for big playing surfaces, boundary ropes will be pushed back to at least 90 yards where possible.” Modern-day cricketers make statements with their bats. They have more bulge at the back, the edges are chunky (as thick as two inches), the whole bat is a sweet spot and it can send the ball much higher, much faster and much farther than once imagined.

As the same time, in the name of entertainment, administrators have given consent to shorter boundaries at most venues thereby further hurting the case of the bowler. How-

ever, the MCC’s World Cricket Committee, at its last meeting in July, decided against making changes to the law governing bat dimensions. The panel, comprising eminent former cricketers and captains, failed to find a consensus and it was decided to retain the current ruling on the size of bats, contained in Appendix E of the Laws of Cricket, which only limits the length of the bat to 38 inches and the width to 4¼ inches. Such leniency has led to long-standing batting records being shattered. Last month, South Africa’s ODI captain, AB de Villiers, hit the fastest ODI century in 31 balls and 40 minutes, erasing the previous record set by New Zealand allrounder Corey Anderson less than a year ago, which had come off 36 deliveries. According to Richardson, de Villiers deserved praise for his amazing feat. But he also acknowledged the fact that mis-hits could sail over the boundary ropes effortlessly deserved inspection. “No one begrudges an AB de Villiers, who plays some superb shots,” he said. “Him, Brendon McCullum, Kumar Sangakkara, they are exceptionally talented and no one minds if they hit some great shots which go for six. But where some batsmen are mis-hitting balls and it is just carrying over the rope and going for a six instead of

being caught at the boundary, that is what some cricket people believe has become unfair. “The bats are so good these days that the sweet spot is much larger than it would have been 10-15 years ago. The MCC, as law makers, and the ICC will be looking at giving perhaps some consideration to placing limitations on the depth of a bat in particular.” Richardson spoke on a wide array of hot topics, including increasing incidents of on-field misbehaviour of players; playing conditions, such as use of two new balls at each end and the restriction of boundary fielders in ODI cricket; and the promotion of Ireland and Afghanistan into the ODI ranking table, which could allow them to make a direct entry into the ten-team 2019 World Cup. Asked if the ICC was not going against its own policy of spreading the game by shrinking the number of participating nations at the World Cup in four years’ time, Richardson argued that the premier event needed to be far more competitive. “It would if we were precluding the Associate Members from qualifying or finding a route directly to compete with the Full Members in bilateral cricket. But by creating that pathway it has enabled us to kill two birds with one stone.

Firstly, it has expanded the opportunities

I’m president I will take responsibility for all actions that come out of FIFA. We have also had promises from him that he would not run again but that is not the case and I think that, with full honesty and integrity, he should give a chance to others -- including myself.” Although he has now officially launched his campaign, Prince Ali intends to garner opinions from across all member nations of FIFA before publishing a completed framework for his campaign.

Source: ESPN

Balance favours batsmen - Richardson

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for Associate Members to play at the highest level through bilateral series. Secondly, the World Cup itself, the premium event, without exception should be played between teams that are evenly matched and competitive.” Alongside promoting Ireland and Afghanistan, the ICC Board also decided to put in place a promotion and relegation system, involving the lowest-ranked Associate team in the ODI rankings taking on the winner of the WCL Championship to decide which side will take their place in the full rankings table for the next cycle. Asked why the relegation rule could not be applied to the lowestranked Full Member, Richardson said it may be considered in due course. “It is a step by step process. The governance structure of the ICC is such that we have got Full Members and ODI members. The reason that they are Full Members is because they have a cricket economy as cricket-playing countries. There has been significant investment in those countries. So it makes sense to allow them to continue play each other bilaterally. Proper promotion and relegation [of Full Members] might be a step for the future, but at this stage it is too early to contemplate that.”

Source: Cricinfo

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