Miracle 517-April 24, 2020

Volume 20 Issue 517- Ramdan 1, 1441H, April 24, 2020

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BC, CANADA First Muslim Biweekly & Bilingual

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3 Doctors demand strict

City Council 8 Surrey continues focus

8 Poisoned chalice’:

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Property taxes posi.

29 new COVID-19 cases in B.C.;

lockdown,,urge relig Crash! US crude futures turn negative Nova Scotia rampage results in 18 victims,

Is Taraweeh 5 What Prayer?

Know 15Don’t What To Say?

17 How the coronavirus outbreak in India?

O believers! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may learn self-restraint. [Quran 2:183].

Ramadan Timetable at Page 7

Ramadan Kareem to all from all our Advertisers , Writers and the Miracle Media Team.

Coronavirus Cases:

Deaths:

Recovered:

749,849

Last updated: April 24, 2020, 06:31 GMT

2,726,752

191,081

Coronavirus Cases:

Deaths:

Recovered:

CANADA Last updated: April 24, 2020, 06:31 GMT

Coronavirus Cases:

Deaths:

Recovered:

BC;CANADA Last updated: April 24, 2020, 06:31 GMT

42,110 1,824

2,147

Trump assures Pakistan of support during Covid-19 crisis, says will provide ‘ventilators and economic help’

At Pg 3

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14,761 1,092

“Ramadan Mubarak.”

Statement by the Prime Minister on Ramadan

At Pg 12

www.worldometers.info

29 new COVID-19 cases in B.C.; several new out breaks At Pg 8

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Ramdan 1, 1441H April 24, 2020

e d i t o r i a l

Ramadan, Excellent Source for Taqwa & overall Health

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anadian Muslims are excited, as the blessed month of Ramadan has already begun to give them another golden chance for self-evaluation and spiritual growth.

Ramadan is also called Ramzan or Ramadhan and is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, which consists of 354 days in 12 months cycle.

The month is spent in the hot pursuit of Taqwa by the devout Muslims all around the world for 29 or 30 days every year depending on various factoral limitations.

On the (lunar) Islamic calendar, Ramadan is always on the same date; however, the date on the (solar) Gregorian calendar varies from year to year. The month moves in the Gregorian calendar approximately 11 days annually. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, and the days begin at sunset, so there is a slight chance of one-day in counting error depending on when the new moon is first sighted.

Fasting during the month is one of the five pillars of Islam and is known to be month of reflection and complete submission to Allah SWT (God Almighty). The majority of the Muslim Ummah agrees that fasting in the month is an essential part of fundamental Islamic obligations.

The beginning and ending of the month may vary from country to country depending on the moon sighting.

Islamically, fasting (sawm) is abstaining or refraining from certain things for a specified period of time.

For example: While fasting, a Muslim is required to abstain from sexual intercourse, food and drinks of all kinds right from dawn to sunset time preceded by the intention (Niyyah).

But one must remember that sins under no circumstance are justifiable regardless of fasting or not.

Dawn to dusk fasting starts before Fajar (Sunrise) and ends at Maghreb (Sunset) when “Iftar” (breaking fast) is mandatory. Almost all masaajid (mosques) host daily Iftar during Ramadan where Muslims can break their fast and eat together.

Exemption: The young children, the sick and the elderly are exempted from fasting.

Realising the pain of starvation: The Ramadhan fasting enables the Muslims to broaden their compassion for “the Hungry” and “the less fortunate.” That is why; the Muslims tend to generously donate to charity. It’s pleasing to know that hyper-participation in food drives for the poor during the month is quite usual, as Muslims are motivated to give out for the needy and hungry for the entire year.

And in Masaajid, the Qur’an is recited by the Imam during congregational taravi prayers every night throughout the blessed month.

Essence of fasting during Ramadan and its goal is summed up in the Qur’an just in one word: “Taqwa””O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may attain Taqwa.” (Qur’an 2:183). Taqwa is both an attitude and a process.

In fact, the proper attitude of the Muslims toward Allah SWT denotes nothing but love, devotion, and fear.

This clearly indicates that Ramadanfasting like other religious practices in Islam is one of the best sources available to generate moral excellence to appropriately handle the daily routine matters including social interaction. Beyond doubt, one can achieve the best moral values and can easily become a role model for others provided there is no hypocrisy or double standards.

If we are sincere towards Allah

SWT, fasting in Ramadan helps us to develop our moral discipline, which also reminds us of the plight of those have-nots who suffer from constant hunger and deprivation.

With all said, it boils down to the fact that “Fasting” is not simply a time during which people deprive themselves from physical pleasures, but it’s also an important occasion to practise moral self restraint for attaining the spiritual growth.

Indeed, the sense of spiritual fulfillment through a state of “TAQWA” becomes attainable with month long “Fasting Work-Out” during the blessed month, because the first verses of the holy Quran were actually revealed to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Ramadhan.

And, “Laaelatul-Qadr” is remembered as being the anniversary of that actual day, when the Quran was actually presented to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Furthermore, the “Laaelatul-Qadr” is known as the “Night of Power” which usually falls on any odd dated night within the last 10 days of Ramadan.

As sawm in Arabic means “Refrain,” so Ramadan provides the best opportunity to learn that there is a lot more than just the ‘disallowed eating or drinking’ between the Sunrise and the Sunset.

Fortunately, the blessed month empowers the Muslims to be brave enough to restrain themselves from devilish or sinful activity including backbiting, gossiping, looking immorally at forbidden things and using obscene words.

Thus, taking part in the mandatory practice of Ramadan fasting through offering the prayers on time, eating and drinking as prescribed makes the Muslims well disciplined and Muttaqee (God fearing).

Among the health benefits of Rama-

dhan fasting, is the relaxation period for stomach, digestive system, refining system, heart, circulatory system, the kidneys and the list goes on and on.

As claimed by medical scientists and doctors, Islamic Fast is also a kind of psychological treatment, because it provides spiritual enhancement and strengthens the feeling of being free from physical limitations and habits and addictions.

Since the blessed month make Muslims feel morally re-conditioned and rebooted, they must maintain the momentum of carrying out their self-check up through increased religious dedication 24/7 during the entire remainder of the year till next Ramadan.

As self-discipline, patience and spirituality are the great fruits of fasting work out, surely, Ramadan helps grow the remembrance of Allah SWT leading to another renewal of solid commitment to the noble values that God Almighty has revealed to the Muslims and the entire Humankind, of course.

Nevertheless, without sincere effort, benefits derived from fasting are short lived.

In fact, Islamic Fast, which plays an important role in the treatment of some diseases, can be very effective if it is practiced according to the Sunna of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Conclusion is Islamic fasting during Ramadan or otherwise definitely helps in ridding our bodies of stored poisons, including addictive substances, and we feel enabled to adjust our craving and upgrade our tolerance level.

Most of all, one’s mind becomes purely clean and clear of all lustful thoughts after attaining Taqwa.

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

‘Blessed Month of Ramadaan’. “The blessings in disguise”.

By: Gulshan Aalani

The most sacred blessed month of Ramadaan is the blessings in disguise for mankind introducing the perfect Map for the safe destination. For the first time the fasting Muslims can relax at home with the families and enjoy Ramadaan.

Soon the deadly Virus will be over (InshaaAllah-GOD willing) by the Miraculous blessed month of Ramadaan and blessed time of ‘Passover’, the pleasant remembrance of miraculous liberation of Israelites from the notorious King Pharaoh

by Prophet Moses (AS), the miracle of Allah of dividing the Sea to rescue them and giving the victory to Prophet Moses (AS), which is celebrated by Muslims by fasting one day as recommended by Universal Messenger Muhammad (SAWS).

In the month of Ramadaan the final Revelation of Quran was revealed to the final Messenger Muhammad (SAWS) by Angel Gabriel. Quran is the final warning to mankind to live by the commandments of Allah-Creator. Quran is the continuation and reviving the past original Divine Revelations: the Old Testament, the Torah, and Injeel-Gospel of Messiah Jesus (AS). There

won’t be anymore Divine Revelations for mankind.

Quran consists of Science, Astronomy, health, rules of cleanliness, food-Halal and Harram, physical and Mental purification, way of life of high moral ethics and moral values.

Overall the rules of ‘Forbidden Tree’ must be obeyed as disobeying Divine rules invites the wrath of GOD. As some preachers are saying: “our way of life is not accepted by GOD, who is giving us warning”.

Rick Pearson also explains the time of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Though, for righteous pure ones could be HIS test, like the test of Prophet Job (AS) he was struck with disease as a test from GOD, but he remained steadfast and patient with full faith in Creator, who eventually relieved him of the disease.

Most of all Quran is reminding and introducing the importance of true concept of One Ruler-One Creator of the Universe. GOD of H. Adam (AS), Prophets Abraham (AS), Ishmael (AS), Israel/Jacob (AS), Noah (AS), Lot (AS) Moses (AS) and Messiah Jesus (AS) and all the Biblical Prophets.

Whose mission was the same to rescue mankind from Hell fire.

Fasting in the month of Ramadaan is ordained by Almighty AllahCreator of the Universe. Including the performance of prayers 5 times a day. That has Scientific movements, especially, in prostration touching the floor with forehead.

None of the Islamic practices are man-made but are divinely ordained.

Obeying Creator’s commandments purifies the heart, soul and body.

Strong unity with HIM leads to the unity of mankind. Who becomes more GOD conscious, and keeps the evil spirit away. GOD created man, Jinn and Angels giving them different duties to perform. The bad Jinn takes over the minds of human gods to mislead poor mankind.

The victims of the devil Dajjaalanti-Christ going through Hell by the painful time of deadly Virus of Covid-19, screaming with pain: Where is GOD? Who obviously has no idea why we have the Divine wrath that is on going since the Biblical time. Their question should be where are the gods? As we have as many gods as many religions some Divine Scriptural re-

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Contents

ligions, some man-made religions and so we all have different gods.

The Virus can be over sooner, if everyone of us would humble ourselves by praying an prostrating to our Lord Creator of the Universe.

Plead HIM to forgive our sins of unethical lifestyle, mainly confess of major sin of worshiping the human gods. If there can’t be 2 P.M and 2 presidents in one office then certainly not 2 gods in authority.

Ramadaan Mubarak.

Salaam/peace

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Ramdan 1, 1441H April 24, 2020

P A K I S TA N

Trump assures Pakistan of support during Covid-19 Conditional Permission Granted To crisis, says will provide ‘ventilators and economic help’ ISLAMABADOffer Taraweeh In Mosques (92 News) – President Dr

The call was an extension of the premier’s diplomatic outreach efforts related to his Global Debt Relief Initiative. The initiative aims to bring together leaders from different countries “notably from the Paris Club, Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and heads of international organisations” to push for a more coordinated response to the pandemic.

Based on the premier’s belief that “enhanced fiscal capacity is fundamental to recovery from the ongoing pandemic”, the initiative seeks to lay the ground for urgent debt relief for developing countries without “onerous conditionalities”.

The premier thanked the US president for American support in international forums, particularly the International Monetary Fund.

The US president offered to send a rapid testing machine for Covid-19 to the prime minister after learning that he would get tested for the virus.

During the telephone call, the premier conveyed “his condolences to President Trump on the loss of so many precious

lives” in the US because of the coronavirus.Prime Minister Imran also informed the US president of Pakistan’s efforts to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, emphasising that the country was “facing a dual challenge” — to control the spread of the virus and to protect people, particularly the weakest sector of society from dying of hunger amid the lockdown.

He added that the government had recently introduced an $8 billion package to support those affected by the pandemic.

The prime minister also reiterated Pakistan’s support for “facilitation of the Afghan peace process and underscored the importance of next steps leading to the earliest commencement of Intra-Afghan negotiations,” the statement added.

Source: dawn.com

Doctors demand strict lockdown, urge religious scholars to review decision to open mosques

Senior doctors in Karachi warned authorities on Wednesday that introducing relaxations in the lockdown will cause a spike in Covid-19 cases that would in turn cripple the country’s already fragile healthcare system. Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Pakistan Medical Association Secretary General Dr Qaiser Sajjad regretted that the strict lockdown in Sindh, which was enforced by the provincial government effectively earlier, had “now become a joke just like in the rest of the country”. “I have to say, with all due respect, that our government has made a very wrong decision and our ulema have demonstrated extreme insensitivity [akin to] playing with human lives.“This fight is between the coronavirus and doctors, so please listen to us [...] You (government and scholars)

have held a meeting without including any technical person. You have drafted 20 SOPs (standard operating procedures). Please tell me, will these SOPs be followed in Pakistan’s mosques? “The prime minister has said that the mosques where SOPs are not followed will be closed. Mr prime minister, by then, it will be too late.”

Dr Atif Hafeez Siddiqui also urged religious scholars to “review their decision” to keep mosques open. “We want to say that congregations like these would lead to exponential growth [...] and if we don’t stop that and this [virus] spreads, then everyone will forget markets and supermarkets. Fingers will only be pointed at mosques.”

“Religious scholars from all sectors should please understand that saving lives is of foremost importance in the epidemic. They should endorse the need to keep common people away from congregations in mosques. The different innovations suggested are unlikely to be followed. Dr Siddiqui insisted that a strict lockdown needed to be imposed in order to curb the spread of the virus. He acknowledged that a lockdown “will hurt”, but added that Pakistan was “declared the fourth most philanthropic nation” and with the help of charitable individuals and organisations, the vulnerable people could be taken care of.

Source: dawn.com

Arif Alvi said that they will have to take step to stop the spread of coronavirus during Ramazanul Mubarik.

In a consultative meeting with Ulema through the video link on Saturday, he said that the objective of the meeting is to create national harmony. “The people can offer Taraweeh in mosques with a distance of six feet among them. Taraveeh will be offered in the courtyard of mosques,” he said.

He said that the nation is looking towards the government and the religious scholars to come up with a consensus policy on the matter. “We have to give a message of unity to the nation to deal with the current situation.”

President Dr Arif Alvi said that he had consulted different political leaders over the last few days and sought proposals from the provincial governments with regard to the guidelines to be observed in mosques during Ramazan. He stressed that the message of discipline to cope with coronavirus must emanate from mosques. “We have to follow discipline as per the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW).”

He said that the government could review the decisions if the precautionary measures not taken. During the meeting, President Dr Arif Alvi and Ulema agreed on the 20-point strategy to offer prayers in mosques.

According to the strategy, no carpets will be laid in the mosques and Imambargahs and

the prayers will be offered on the floor with a distance of six feet between the people offering prayers. The people are also required to perform ablution at home and wash hands for 20 seconds with soap before leaving for the mosque with masks on their faces.

They are also required to observe social distancing and refrain from any sort of gathering after the prayers. There will be no gatherings for Iftar and Sehr in mosques during Ramazan. The floor of the mosques will be washed with chlorine mixed water.

Governors, Punjab Auqaf Minister Pir Syed Saeedul Hassan Shah, chief secretaries and the IGPs also attended the meeting.

Data Darbar Khateeb Maulana Maqsood Ahmed Chishti, Maulana Hanif Jalanddhari, Tahir Ashrafi, Allama Niaz Hussain Naqvi, Sahibzada Abdullah Mustafa, Allama Ibtesam Elahi Zaheer, Maulana Ghulam Ahmed Sialvi, Pir Habib Irfani.. Sour: 92newshd.tv

PM Imran Khan tests negative for coronavirus

Prime Minister Imran was tested for Covid-19 after it emerged that Faisal Edhi, son of world-famous philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi and chairman of the Edhi Foundation, had contracted the virus.

“Prime minister will undergo Covid-19 test as he met philanthropist Faisal Edhi who later tested positive for the deadly virus,” Dr Sultan had said on Tuesday at a news conference. Faisal Edhi had visited the prime minister last week in Islamabad and handed over a cheque for Rs10 million to the prime minister for his coronavirus relief fund.

An official of the National Institute of Health (NIH) had said yesterday that as per the Standard Operating Procedures, all contacts of a confirmed Covid-19 patient should be tested. When asked about the definition of a contact, he said any person who had talked to a confirmed patient for 15 minutes in a closed room or stood at a distance of less than six feet was called a contact.

“Though according to Faisal Edhi he spent just a few minutes with the premier, the picture we have seen in newspapers showed that the distance between the two personalities was less than six feet. Though they did

not shake hands, the virus can be transferred through cheque,” the official had said.

Meanwhile, Faisal Edhi in a video statement urged his team to continue their welfare activities, saying he would join them after having recovered from Covid-19.

Saad Edhi, a son of Faisal Edhi, told Dawn in Karachi that his father had developed Covid-19 symptoms a day after meeting Prime Minister Imran. The impact of symptoms, he added, continued for four days and then subsided. However, on Monday, he got tested in Islamabad and on Tuesday his report came as positive.

Saad said his father’s health was better and he was in self-isolation, adding that he was not admitted to any hospital.

Dr Sultan had revealed earlier in the day that the premier’s samples had been collected and the test results were expected soon.

Source: dawn.com

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Ramdan 1, 1441H April 24, 2020

In t e r n a t i o n a l N e w s

Crash! US crude futures turn negative U.S. monitoring intelligence that North Kofor first time in history rean leader is in grave danger after surgery Physical demand for crude has dried up in the wake of coronavirus containment measures, creating a global supply glut.

United States oil futures turned negative for the first time in history on Monday with traders dumping May contracts as analysts warn that crude storage will fill to the brim by next month, and US shale firms weigh the real possibility of shutting down production.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for May delivery crashed more than 300 percent on Monday, deep into negative territory, touching -$40.32 before clawing back to settle in the negative thirties.

The speed and swiftness of the May contract’s death spiral took even seasoned oil veterans by surprise.

“Wow. Prices needed to fall given the rapid decrease in demand and storage filling quickly. But I did not expect them to fall so fast,” Samantha Gross, Energy and Climate Fellow at Brookings Institution told Al Jazeera. “We have never seen companies paying to have their oil taken away. It can’t stay this way for long- it is the market signaling that storage is filling rapidly and that more production isn’t needed.”

By turning negative, prices are signalling that traders are actually paying to have oil taken off their hands.

“WTI doesn’t have anywhere to go,” Louise Dickson, oil markets analyst at Rystad Energy told Al Jazeera. “Traders have had a whole month to sit on this oil and decide what to do with it, and today is the last day they could sell it.”

April 21 is the last day to trade May 2020 WTI on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). And US shale oil finds itself in a major bind with limited storage options.

WTI for June delivery was holding above $21 a barrel on Monday.

Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil, is trading around $26 a barrel, having plummeted by as much as 70 percent since the start of January as coronavirus lockdowns

have destroyed global demand in crude.

The US Energy Information Administration last week reported a record 19.3 million barrel crude stock build. There is currently a remaining 21 million barrels of storage available at the Cushing hub in Cushing, Oklahoma.

But that will fill up to the brim by mid-tolate May, Rystad Energy predicts.

The tsunami of supply has battered the US shale market - where many firms need crude to fetch between $48 and $54 a barrel to break even, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Oil prices were already weighed down by oversupply going into 2020, and were further pressured by coronavirus containment measures that have obliterated demand. But crude prices went into freefall last month after Saudi Arabia initiated an oil price war in retaliation for Russia not agreeing to deep output cuts to offset the blow from COVID-19 disruptions.

With US shale oil producers getting hammered by the oil price war, US President Donald Trump appealed directly to Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin to set aside their differences and stabilize oil markets.

Those efforts culminated in an historic agreement on April 12 between Saudi-led OPEC and its allies led by Russia, a group known as OPEC+, to cut output by 9.7 million barrels per day. Source: aljazeera.com

The U.S. is monitoring intelligence that suggests North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, is in grave danger after undergoing a previous surgery, according to a U.S. official with direct knowledge.

A second source familiar with the intelligence told CNN that the US has been closely monitoring reports on Kim’s health.

Kim recently missed the celebration of his grandfather’s birthday on April 15, which raised speculation about his well-being.

He had been seen four days before that at a government meeting. Another U.S. official told CNN Monday that the concerns about Kim’s health are credible but the severity is hard to assess. Daily NK, an online newspaper based in South Korea that focuses on North Korea, reports that Kim reportedly received a cardiovascular system procedure on April 12. Kim received the cardiovascular system procedure because of “excessive smoking, obesity, and overwork,” according to the news site, and is now receiving treatment in a villa in Hyangsan County following his procedure.

After assessing that Kim’s condition had improved, most of the medical team treating him returned to Pyongyang on April 19 and only part of them remained to oversee his recovery situation, according to the news site. CNN is unable to independently confirm the report. A South Korean source told CNN Monday that the country’s top leaders are very much aware of reports about Kim’s health status but cannot independently verify details published by Daily NK. The source acknowledged that Kim’s issues related to weight and smoking are well known but made clear they are waiting for more information. South Korea’s Presidential Blue House said in a statement provided to reporters that they have nothing to confirm on reports about Kim’s health and that “no unusual signs” have been detected inside North Korea.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry and De-

fense Ministry have given a “no comment.”

The National Security Council and Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment when reached by CNN on Monday. CNN has also reached out to the CIA and the State Department for comment. In the meantime, U.S. officials have been reaching out to North Korean experts -- particularly those who have studied the Kim regime -- to talk about contingency planning, a third source familiar with the communications told CNN. Still, the situation remains murky as gathering intelligence out of North Korea is notoriously difficult -- one of the most challenging targets for US intelligence.

North Korea tightly controls any information surrounding its leader, who is treated almost like a deity within the country. His absences from official state media often spark speculation and rumors about his health. North Korea has no free press and is often a black hole when it comes to the country’s leadership. Analysts are heavily reliant on scanning state media dispatches and watching propaganda videos for any semblance of a clue.

Kim last appeared in North Korean state media on April 11. April 15 -- North Korea’s most important holiday, the anniversary of the birth of the country’s founding father, Kim Il Sung -- came and went without any official mention of Kim Jong Un’s movements. Experts are unsure of what to make of Kim’s absence from any festivities celebrating his grandfather. S: ctvnews.ca

TANZANIA, TANZANIA -- UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres said Thursday that the coronavirus pandemic is “a human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis.”

The UN chief said in a video message that there is discrimination in the delivery of public services to tackle COVID-19 and there are “structural inequalities that impede access to them.”

Guterres said the pandemic has also seen “disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, the targeting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy-handed security responses undermining the health response.” He warned that with “rising ethnonationalism, populism, authoritarianism and a push back against human rights in some countries, the crisis can provide a pretext to adopt repressive measures for purposes unrelated to the pandemic.”

In February, Guterres issued a call to action to countries, businesses and people to help renew and revive human rights across the globe, laying out a seven-point plan amid concerns about climate change, conflict and repression.“As I said then, human rights cannot be an afterthought in times of crisis -- and we now face the biggest international crisis in generations,” he said.

The secretary-general said he was releasing a report Thursday on how human rights must guide the response to the virus and recovery from the pandemic. Neither he nor the report name any countries or parties responsible for human rights violations.

Guterres said governments must be “transparent, responsive and accountable,” and stressed

that press freedom, civil society organizations, the private sector and “civic space” are essential.The report said governments also need to take action to mitigate the worst impacts of COVID-19 on jobs, livelihoods, access to basic services and family life.

Guterres said any emergency measures -- including states of emergency -- must be “legal, proportionate, necessary and non-discriminatory, have a specific focus and duration, and take the least intrusive approach possible to protect public health.”Emergency powers may be needed but broad executive powers, swiftly granted with minimal oversight, carry risks,” the report warned.

“Heavy-handed security responses undermine the health response and can exacerbate existing threats to peace and security or create new ones.”

The report said the best response is proportionate to the immediate threat and protects human rights.“The message is clear: People -- and their rights -- must be front and centre,” Guterres said. Source: ctvnews.ca

Trump tweets US will destroy Iranian UN chief: Pandemic is fast becoming a ‘human rights crisis’ gunboats harassing US ships

The tweet comes a week after vessels from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy came close to US ships in the Gulf.

US President Donald Trump tweeted on Wednesday morning that he has instructed the United States Navy to “shoot down and destroy” Iranian gunboats that “harass” US ships.“I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea,” Trump tweeted.

Senior Pentagon officials said Trump’s comments were meant as a warning to Tehran but suggested that the US military would continue to abide by their existing right to self defence instead of changing their rules.“The president issued an important warning to the Iranians, what he was emphasising is all of our ships retain the right of self-defence,” Deputy Secretary of Defense David Norquist told reporters at the Pentagon.

Following Trump’s tweet, an Iranian armed forces spokesman said the US should focus on saving its military from the coronavirus.

“Today, instead of bullying others, the Americans should put all their efforts toward saving those members of their forces who are infected with coronavirus,” Abolfazl Shekarchi said, according to Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency.

Trump’s comments on Wednesday came about a week after 11 vessels from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy came close to US ships.

On Sunday, the Revolutionary Guard ac-

knowledged it had a tense encounter last week with US warships in the Gulf, but alleged without offering evidence that US forces sparked the incident.

Iranian and US vessels routinely have tense encounters in the Gulf and its narrow mouth, the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil passes.

Satellite launch Earlier on Wednesday, the Revolutionary Guard said it had put the country’s first military satellite into orbit, dramatically unveiling what experts described as a secret space programme with a surprise launch that came amid wider tensions with the US. The satellite “orbited the Earth at 425km [264 miles]”, said the elite forces’ official website. “This action will be a great success and a new development in the field of space for Islamic Iran.”

The launch immediately raised concerns among experts on whether the technology used could help Iran develop intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Source: aljazeera.com

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Ramdan 1, 1441H April 24, 2020

f a i t h

Narrated Ibn Umar: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “When you see the crescent (of the month of Ramadan), start fasting, and when you see the crescent (of the month of Shawwal), stop fasting; and if the sky is overcast (and you can’t see It) then regard the crescent (month) of Ramadan (as of 30 days)”. 124 ‘Fasting’ of Sahih Bukhari.

A ‘Solitary Ramadan’

ome, close your eyes and think of the word RAMADAN with me. What do you see?

I see a hint of the crescent moon shyly lighting up the blue-black sky amidst the twinkling of decorative fairy lights and fanoos; I smell samosas and chaat, dahi bade and phirni; I hear the doorbell peal suddenly to announce the addition of a neighbor’s traditional and special Iftar dish to our table; I revel in the joy of family togetherness at the Iftar table. I sense the happy rush in the air to join the special nightly prayers, souls hungering to hear the melodious recitations of the noble Qur’an reverberating from the mosques scattered across our cities. And as I wrap up Iftar and hurry to the neighbourhood mosque, I marvel at the crowds around me doing the same, to partake in the heartrending Taraweeh du’aas that resound in the night air, begging the Almighty to forgive us all and grant us increase in His favour.

But today, in the midst of this global Corona Crisis, just thinking about the word Ramadan makes me feel sad. This year too, In Sha Allah, the crescent moon will smile shyly and usher the month in and we will likely enjoy delicious Iftars with our families chatting around the table but how dearly will we miss the communal Iftars and then the gathering and praying at the mosques, with the aim of listening to one or more complete recitations of the Qur’an with the Ummah uniting in the offering of special du’aas!

Already much of the Muslim world is in a stupor, with the closure of the majority of mosques including the 2 holiest on the Earth – Masjidul Haram & Masjid ul Nabawi – since the past 5 weeks or more. Daily and weekly Jumu’ah prayers have been suspended and now we are having to contend with a Ramadan without Taraweeh, Qiyaam ul Layl and perhaps even Eid prayers, with the Mu’athin calling out each prayer, “Assalatu Fi Buyootikum”(Pray in your homes)!!

While the reasons for the shortened Athan, no Iqamah and cancellation of the daily/ weekly community prayers that are being enforced today worldwide are completely legitimate and required in this situation, it’s the actual and indefinite closure of the mosques worldwide that’s disturbing. In effect, here’s what we are actually missing each time we miss out on a prayer at the mosque (Hadith and dua references at the end of the article):

he Taraweeh Prayer is an emphasised Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah( peace be upon him ) during the month of Ramadan.Both al-Bukhaari (1129) and Muslim (761) narrated from ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) prayed one night in the mosque, and the people followed him in prayer. Then he prayed the next night, and many people came. Then they gathered on the third or fourth night, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not come out to them. The next morning he said: “I saw what you did, and nothing kept me from coming out to you except the fact that I feared that it would be made obligatory for you.” And that was in Ramadan These hadith show that praying Taraweeh in congregation is prescribed in the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Umar during his Khilafah restablished this Sunnah of

* The chance to erase our sins by walking to the mosque in a state of wudu (Hadith 1) * The reward of walking to the mosque in a state of ablution (wudu) and gaining a’jr for every step we take (Hadith 1) * The opportunity to make dua’a to bring light upon ourselves, to have the doors of His mercy opened to us and to ask for His abundant blessings upon us while walking to and entering/exiting His house (Dua 1 & 2) * The chance to make accepted dua’as between the Athan and the Iqamah (Hadith 2) * The chance to pray Nafl prayers in the masjid after the Athan and before the Iqamah * The rewards of the Jam’aah prayers – 25 to 27 times more reward than individual prayers prayed at home or in the marketplace! (Hadith 3) * The chance and reward to personally exchange face-to-face salams with our neighbours * The weekly opportunity to meet our brothers and sisters from the Ummah at large * The chance and reward to meet and greet many neighbours and friends as is common in Ramadan, as we only see many of them yearly during the Taraweeh prayers! * The chance to engage in congregational dua’a and istighfar * The chance to be in the blessed company of angels while gaining knowledge in the after-Salah halaqas (Hadith 4) * The chance to have the angels pray for us as we wait in the mosque (Hadith 5) As it is rightly said, “We only realize the value of a thing when it is lost.” Brothers and Sisters, have we ever thought how many rewards we gain when we attend just a single jama’ah prayer? And now how many of these free-for-all rewards are at stake with the complete suspension of these prayers??!! We are all aware of the ajr and barakah in attending regular prayers at the mosque but keeping in mind the multiple-fold reward for every good deed in Ramadan, it breaks the heart to know what we might be missing!

Sadness mounted in me until I came across this Hadith, “Worship in a time of turmoil is

as if he had emigrated to me.” (Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2948). What a fantastic thought to keep being motivated to perform acts of worship during difficult days!

Therefore, here’s what I researched and came up with to avoid missing out on the above rewards (wherever possible/required, detailed references have been included at the end of the write-up): 1: Start a family Halaqah – Family halaqahs are a great way to involve all ages including the elderly and the very young in a circle of learning. Now with Ramadan upon us, a whole month of seeking knowledge, acting upon what we learnt and fasting correctly with the right intention to be abundantly rewarded is enough motivation to get together and start the daily Halaqahs! And what better way to have the angels lower their wings upon us as seekers of knowledge and pray for us! *Institute congregational prayers on time with our families – Praying on time is one of the best deeds that we can do. Scholars maintain that the smallest number that counts for prayer in congregation, apart from Jumu’ah prayer, is two: the Imam and the person who is praying behind him, who should stand to his right. Even the Jumu’ah is valid if there are 3 or more people praying in congregation. (Source: Islamqa.info) *Pray the Ramadan Taraweeh prayers (if possible, in congregation) – This is a fantastic time to introduce our families to a Sunnah prayer that was done by the Prophet (peace be upon him) individually and in congregation and to remind ourselves that the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us that whoever prays the night prayer in Ramadan, out of sincerity and seeking its reward will be forgiven for all his previous sins.

In fact, it is a mercy upon us that he (peace be upon him) did not obligate these prayers to be prayed in the masjid. By praying together behind one who knows the most Qur’an in the family, we can all still listen to the Qur’anic recitation and partake in communal du’aa as in the mosque. (Hadith 6) *Make a lot of dua’a together as a family – This is another great way to have the angels make dua’a for us to be blessed with the same things that we make dua’a for, for the entire Ummah. Remember to use the most powerful dua’as and dhikr for maximum reward and effect (refer the book Hisnul Muslim)! While this can be done throughout the year and at different times of the day, the best time would

be just before breaking the fast as the du’aa of the fasting person is never rejected! (Hadith 7 & 8) *Use Quarantine is actually Qur’an-Time – Just as this phrase is trending these days, let us turn to reading/memorizing/perfecting the recitation our Noble Book, an act that we always increase multiple-folds in Ramadan.

This year, let us use this quarantine to reflect upon its golden words and actively seek to apply its timeless wisdom and teachings whilst getting rewarded 10 times over for every letter recited. (Hadith 9) *Increase the sending of Salawat on Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) – One salat on the Prophet (pbuh) is 10 blessings upon ourselves and through this simple act, we can also expect increase of reward and erasure of sins as mentioned in the Hadith. Also, our salam reaches him wherever we may send it from, and we will be rewarded for it always.

What a great way to gain ajr! (Hadith 10) *Connect creatively – The coronavirus pandemic has socially and severely distanced us.

What better time than to refresh those friendships/relationships online and drop a line to ask after others! We could also use other noncontact ways to connect with neighbours and friends by phoning/chatting with them on social media and once in a while, surprising them with a delicious Iftar dish on their doorstep!

Finally, it pays to remember the Sahih Hadith that states that acts of worship during times of difficulty/illness/travels are rewarded similarly as when done at home in times of good health and ease. We can also hope that Allah (SWT) in His infinite mercy and generosity will continue to fully reward the people who regularly attended the daily prayers in the masjid prior to these trying times in the same way. Therefore, let us set good intentions and act upon them by doing good deeds as much and whenever we can in our good times, so as to continue reaping the rewards during our difficult days.

Let us use this ‘Solitary Ramadan’ to focus on perfecting our fasting and implement its lessons and blessings throughout our lives in the years to come. Let us remind ourselves that Islam is a smart and modern way of life that takes into account every situation and circumstance that may affect mankind, with a solution to tackle it effectively. May Allah (SWT) guide us, forgive us and keep us all steadfast on His Deen, Aameen!

Source: understandquran.com/

prayer in congregation.

It was narrated in al-Saheehayn from ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would forgo doing something that he liked to do lest the people do it and it become obligatory upon them.

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1060; Muslim, Salaat al-Musaafireen, 1174). Al-Bukhaari (2010) narrated that ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn ‘Abd al-Qaari said: I went out with ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) to the mosque one night in Ramadan, and the people were scattered, each man praying by himself. Some men would pray and have groups of people behind them following them. ‘Umar said: “I think that if I unite all these people with one reader, it will be better. Then he resolved to gather them behind Ubayy ibn Ka’b.

Al-Haafiz said: Ibn al-Teen and others said that ‘Umar based this decision on the Proph-

et’s approval of those who prayed with him on those nights. Although he disliked that for them, that was based on the fear that it might be made obligatory for them. When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) died, there was no longer any fear of that happening, and ‘Umar thought, because of the potential division that might arise from people praying separately, and because uniting them behind one reader is more motivating for many people. The majority agreed with ‘Umar’s decision. End quote from Fath al-Baari.

THE VIRTUES OF THE TARAWEEH PRAYER Abu Hurayrah said: Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said “He who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his

past sins forgiven” (Agreed Upon) The Majority of scholars say that by all his pasts sins it means his minor sin not major sins if the person stand all the nights of Ramadan in prayer and not just a few nights . The scholars say in order for major sins to be forgiven a person is required to make sincere toba (sincere repentance) Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever stands with the Imam until he finishes, it is equivalent to spending the whole night in prayer.”Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 806; Abu Dawood, 1375; al-Nasaa’i, 1605; Ibn Maajah, 1327. Classed as saheeh by alTirmidhi, Ibn Khuzaymah (3/337), Ibn Hibbaan (3/340) and al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 447.

WHAT IS TARAWEEH PRAYER? T

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PM Trudeau says Canada will be ‘very, very Feds commit $1.1B for COVID-19 vaccareful’ about lifting COVID-19 restrictions cine, clinical trials, immunity research TORONTO -- Canada is making progress in the battle against COVID-19 but will have to be extremely cautious about removing physical distancing measures and other restrictions, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Sunday.“All these measures we’ve brought in are about helping you do the things that will get us through this – and it’s working,” Trudeau said at a press conference outside his home.

“We’ve seen the numbers trending in the right direction, so we need to keep doing what we’re doing and keep being extremely careful.” As of early Sunday afternoon, Canada had seen nearly 34,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus and more than 1,500 associated deaths. More than 11,000 patients are known to have recovered.

Some parts of the country have reported data that suggests their regional curves may be flattening, with case numbers declining from their peak and some provinces going days without finding a single new case of COVID-19.

Federal authorities have urged viewing that information from a “cautiously optimistic” perspective, as Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said on Wednesday.

The federal government wants to see more prolonged decreases in key indicators before physical distancing measures are relaxed.

This was evidenced again on Sunday, when the prime minister was asked about the approach being taken in Austria, where some non-essential stores have been allowed to reopen and others will soon be added to the list if infection numbers do not spike.

“We are listening very carefully to experts and looking very carefully at what is working and has worked in other jurisdictions, and seeing how and if that can be adapted to us,” Trudeau said.

The prime minister said “many” decisions about reopening schools, businesses and public spaces will be made at the provincial and territorial level, both because it was provinces and territories that enacted them

and because the different situations in different parts of the country could allow for some to lift their restrictions before others.

He said the federal government is working with provinces and territories to develop “a set of principles and approaches that can be applied at different moments and in different ways.” It has been suggested that restrictions could yo-yo between being lifted and being reenacted, based on how each adjustment affects the strain on hospitals in the area.

Researchers at Harvard have found that, in the U.S. at least, this approach could last until 2022 before life fully returns to normal. The Canadian government has been reluctant to speculate on timelines for lifting restrictions, preferring to use vague terms such as “weeks” and “months” – although in recent days, “weeks” has increasingly been the word of choice to describe when a first round of reopenings could occur.

Trudeau echoed the call for caution on Sunday, saying he does not want to see any part of the country relax too many restrictions at once and cause a new spike in cases, which could potentially put the area’s health-care system at risk.

“It’s not going to suddenly reopen in any part of the country, overnight, to what it was before,” he said.

“We are going to have to be very, very careful, very gradual, very progressive if we are to prevent that kind of resurgence that would send us all back into lockdown.”

Source: ctvnews.ca/

Fewer than 10 asylum seekers tried to cross since border closure: Blair But Blair called the measures in that deal to

OTTAWA -- The historic closure of the Canada-U.S. border appears to have stopped the flow of asylum seekers into Canada, with fewer than 10 people turned back to the U.S. in the month since the shutdown to all but non-essential traffic went into effect.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair provided the update to the House of Commons Monday, the same day the Immigration Department released new figures suggesting prior to the closure the number of asylum-seekers entering Canada was actually higher in the first three months of this year than last.

So far in 2020, the RCMP have intercepted 3,035 people crossing between official entry points, up from 2,698 in the first three months of 2019.

Last month, the RCMP apprehended 955 people, but were unable to immediately say how many were stopped prior to the March 21 implementation of the unprecedented deal to shut the border.

block the asylum seekers “effective.”

“Since the time of that agreement, now 30 days ago, there have been fewer than 10 individuals who have crossed the border and been subsequently directed back to the United States,” Blair told the House of Commons.

Earlier this month, the Canada Border Services Agency said that between March 21 and April 2, six asylum-seekers were directed back to the U.S.; it was not immediately clear whether more have tried to arrive since.

Last month, 930 of the 955 intercepted were in Quebec, at the best known among the unofficial openings in the Canada-U.S. border, called Roxham Road.

People use unofficial border points to get around Canada’s agreement with the U.S. that governs asylum claims. The agreement states that with few exceptions, people aren’t allow to request refugee status upon arrival at land border crossings in either country.

The agreement is predicated on the belief that those seeking asylum must do so in the first safe country they arrive in, and both Canada and the U.S. have agreed they are each safe and so refugee seekers can file their requests in either.

But the Liberal government has been under pressure for years to amend the Safe Third Country Agreement, partially in response to changes in U.S. immigration policy that critics say render that country effectively unsafe for refugees. Source: ctvnews.ca/

OTTAWA -- With increased testing and further understanding of the virus deemed necessary before reopening the Canadian economy, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is spending an additional $1.1 billion for a national medical and research strategy to address COVID-19.

During his remarks on Thursday, Trudeau said that with the effectiveness of public health measures now in place and with Canada continuing on the right track, “we need to be thinking not just about the next weeks, but about the next months,” and that will require progress on interim medical interventions to control the spread of the virus while waiting for a vaccine.

The PM’s announcement includes: $115 million more for research into developing and producing vaccines and treatments in Canada, in an effort to offset what Trudeau expects will be a supply and demand struggle similar to that seen for personal protective equipment; $662 million for research projects on how brain and airway cells are affected, as well as for clinical trials, including one trial that will “evaluate safety of a potential cell therapy to reduce the impacts and severity of acute respiratory distress associated with COVID-19”; and $350 million for national testing, modelling, data-monitoring and tracking of COVID-19 in Canada.

As well, the federal government is creating a “COVID-19 immunity task force,” which Trudeau says will include a series of Canada’s

top doctors and will focus on blood testing to track and understand immunity to this novel coronavirus. Among the doctors that will lead this group are Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam and Chief Science Advisor Dr. Mona Nemer.

“They will be looking at key questions like how many people beyond those we’ve already tested have had COVID-19, whether you are immune once you’ve had it, and if so, how long that lasts,” Trudeau said.

Through this serology testing, the prime minister is committing to testing at least one million Canadians in the next two years. He said it will also inform which public health measures are the most effective. During the ministerial update following Trudeau’s remarks, Nemer said that one of the biggest outstanding questions of the pandemic is how many Canadians have been infected and do not know it because they did not develop any symptoms.

She said that the testing for the presence of antibodies will give the government a better idea of the rate of infection. Nemer said it will also inform health officials’ planning related to how quickly immunity to the virus develops and fades.

This new plan comes after Tam said the day before that rapid testing to detect and trace the virus’ spread, as well as those who have garnered immunity, will be essential in the interim.

In Canada, there are more than 40,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and the country has just surpassed 2,000 deaths.

TORONTO -- Nova Scotia RCMP have confirmed an additional four victims of the weekend killing spree, bringing the total death toll to 22 in what is now one of the deadliest massacres in Canadian history.

Officials say it could take months to unravel the lone suspect’s violent path across the province as they continue to probe 16 different crime scenes, including five structure fires where police have found human remains. “The investigative team is focused on learning more about this very tragic situation, including accurate victim information and whether others may have aided the suspect,” the RCMP said in an email update Tuesday afternoon. For families with missing loved ones, the lack of clear answers is agonizing. “If that is my parents in the house… that’s all I want to know,” Justin Zahl said during an interview with CTV’s Your Morning Tuesday.

“Just confirm my suspicions.”

It wasn’t until Monday afternoon that Zahl learned his parents’ house was one of the crime scenes involved in the investigation after it was burned to the ground. He believes his parents, John Zahl and Elizabeth Joanne Thomas, were inside.

Zahl, who last heard from his mother around 6 p.m. Saturday night, says he is left searching for dental records to hand over to RCMP as he awaits news.

“It may take a week or so until they figure out the identities of who was in the house,” Zahl told CTV Atlantic. “I want to put my faith in the system, but right now it’s really hard to.”

Police said they searched for the suspect for about 12 hours from late Saturday night into Sunday morning, as he travelled more than 150 kilometres along rural roads and highways, killing at least 22 victims and torching properties and police vehicles. Victims have been located in the communities of Portapique, Wentworth, Debert, Shubenacadie/ Milford and Enfield.

All of the victims were adults, police said, except for a 17-year-old girl who has been

identified as Emily Tuck, a young fiddler who had been using music to help her family through isolation during COVID-19.

A 23-year veteran of the RCMP, a teacher, a nurse, and a retired firefighter are also among the victims. Kristen Beaton, a continuing care assistant who advocated for more personal protective equipment for frontline health-care workers battling COVID-19, was pregnant when she was killed on the side of the road. Her husband told CTV News that they planned to tell their family sometime this week.

The shooter knew some of the victims and those individuals “were targeted,” the RCMP said, while other victims were not known to him. The RCMP said it will not be providing more details on those relationships.

The suspect, identified as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, was killed Sunday after police intercepted him near a gas station. He was wearing an authentic police uniform and driving a vehicle that resembled a police cruiser. Investigators are now looking into how he obtained such a vehicle.

CTV News has learned that Wortman was convicted of assault in 2002. According to court documents, he was ordered to undergo counselling for anger management and banned from possessing firearms, explosives and any prohibited weapon for nine months.

He was also ordered to pay a fine and received a conditional discharge.

Others were injured in the shooting, including a police officer and members of the public, but they have not released more details on their injuries......................

Source: ctvnews.ca/

22 people killed in Nova Scotia rampage: RCMP

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R a m a d a n

AH 1441 RAMADAN TIMETABLE 2020

Date Fajr / Maghrib Ramadan BCMA Sunrise Zawaal Dhur Asr / Iftar BCMA Date Days May/June Sahur 6:02 6:02 5:59 5:57 5:55 5:53 5:51 5:50 5:48 5:46 5:45 5:43 5:41 5:40 5:38 5:37 5:35 5:34 5:32 5:31 5:29 5:28 5:27 5:25 5:23 5:22 5:21 5:19 5:18 5:17

* Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat

*Apr 24 4:18 *3:55 25 4:15 3:52 26 4:13 3:49 27 4:10 3:46 28 4:08 3:44 29 4:05 3:41 30 4:02 3:38 May 1 4:00 3:36 2 3:58 3:33 3 3:56 3:31 4 3:53 3:28 5 3:51 3:26 6 3:48 3:24 7 3:46 3:21 8 3:44 3:18 9 3:41 3:15 10 3:38 3:13 11 3:36 3:10 12 3:34 3:07 13 3:26 3:04 14 3:25 3:01 15 3:24 2:59 16 3:23 2:58 17 3:22 2:56 18 3:22 2:54 19 3:21 2:53 20 3:21 2:51 21 3:20 2:49 22 3:19 2:48 23 3:19 2:46 *1 Shawwal

6:02 1:10 6:02 1:10 5:59 1:10 5:57 1:10 5:55 1:10 5:53 1:10 5:51 1:10 5:50 1:10 5:48 1:10 5:46 1:10 5:45 1:10 5:43 1:10 5:41 1:10 5:40 1:10 5:38 1:10 5:37 1:10 5:35 1:10 5:34 1:10 5:32 1:10 5:31 1:10 5:29 1:10 5:28 1:10 5:27 1:10 5:25 1:10 5:23 1:10 5:22 1:10 5:21 1:10 5:19 1:10 5:18 1:10 5:17 1:10 1441 AH EID

1:30 8:21 6:07 1:30 8:22 6:07 1:30 8:24 6:08 1:30 8:25 6:09 1:30 8:27 6:10 1:30 8:28 6:11 1:30 8:30 6:12 1:30 8:31 6:13 1:30 8:33 6:14 1:30 8:34 6:15 1:30 8:36 6:16 1:30 8:37 6:17 1:30 8:39 6:17 1:30 8:40 6:18 1:30 8:42 6:19 1:30 8:43 6:20 1:30 8:45 6:21 1:30 8:46 6:22 1:30 8:47 6:23 1:30 8:49 6:24 1:30 8:50 6:25 1:30 8:51 6:26 1:30 8:53 6:27 1:30 8:54 6:27 1:30 8:55 6:28 1:30 8:57 6:29 1:30 8:58 6:30 1:30 8:59 6:30 1:30 9:01 6:30 1:30 9:02 6:31 UL FITAR 2020

*8:22 8:23 8:25 8:26 8:28 8:29 8:31 8:32 8:34 8:35 8:37 8:38 8:40 8:41 8:43 8:44 8:45 8:47 8:48 8:50 8:51 8:52 8:54 8:55 8:56 8:58 8:59 9:00 9:02 9:03

Isha 10:00 10:00 10:00 10:00 10:00 10:00 10:00 10:10 10:10 10:10 10:10 10:10 10:10 10:10 10:20 10:20 10:20 10:20 10:20 10:20 10:20 10:30 10:30 10:30 10:30 10:30 10:30 10:30 10:30 10:30

May Allah bless everyone with peace and happiness in this Ramadan

Timetable Source Fiji Islamic Centre Surrey, Canada &* BCMA Sahur & Iftr Time Differences

Please follow your Masjid /Centre or Musalah Ramadan Timetable

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29 new COVID-19 cases in B.C.; several new outbreaks

VANCOUVER -- Four more people have died from COVID-19 in British Columbia, health officials announced Thursday, bringing the death toll from the coronavirus in the province to 94.

They also announced 29 new test-positive cases of the virus and several new outbreaks, including one at a long-term care facility in the Interior, two in acute care units at Lower Mainland hospitals, and another one at a poultry processing facility in Coquitlam.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the new cases and outbreaks at their daily briefing on the virus Thursday. The update comes after the pair announced 71 new cases of the virus on Wednesday - the largest single-day surge since March.

The number of new cases announced Thursday is more in line with where it had been on Monday and Tuesday, when the province announced fewer than 30 new cases confirmed through testing over the preceding 24-hour periods.

A total of 1,824 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in B.C. Of those, 103 are in hospital and 44 are in intensive care, according to health officials.

The new outbreaks announced Thursday include one at Hawthorne Park long-term care facility in the Interior Health region, the second such outbreak at a home outside the Lower Mainland.

The two acute care outbreaks happened at Ridge Meadows Hospital - where one acute

care outbreak had already been announced and at Lions Gate Hospital.

The poultry processing facility outbreak occurred at Superior Poultry in Coquitlam, which Henry described as a “sister” plant to the United Poultry facility in Vancouver where an outbreak was announced earlier this week. Two people have tested positive for COVID-19 at Superior Poultry, and the total number of positive tests at United Poultry has risen to 29, Henry said.

In more positive news, the provincial health officer said a total of 10 long-term care facility outbreaks that had previously been announced are now considered over.

Some 1,092 people who have previously tested positive for the coronavirus are now considered fully recovered, meaning there are 638 active cases of the virus in British Columbia.

Watch an American Sign Language translation of the news conference on the provincial government’s YouTube page. .Source: bc.ctvnews.ca

HALIFAX -- New details are emerging about the chaos that ensued as police in rural Nova Scotia tried to capture a killer disguised as an RCMP officer -- and first responders tried to help a rapidly growing list of victims.

The search for the suspect stretched from late Saturday night to Sunday morning, when the death toll rose to 22 as the gunman evaded police by driving in a car identical to an RCMP cruiser.

Audio recordings of first responders communicating on two-way radios provide a glimpse of their frantic attempts to help the first victims found Saturday at 10:40 p.m. amid burning homes in the village of Portapique, N.S. On one of the recordings, stored on the Broadcastify website, first responders dispatched to the scene along Highway 2 tell the dispatcher they can see something burning in the distance.

“I’m seeing huge flames and smoke from where we are,” says one, minutes before the dispatcher says police have discovered a gunshot victim on Portapique Beach Road.

Within the next 20 minutes, the extent of the carnage comes into sharp focus as police call

for more ambulances -- twice.

“There possibly could be other victims down by the scene but police are slowly bringing people out,” the paramedic says in a steady, even tone that speaks of his training.

Then the pace of his speech quickens.

“There’s a person down there with a gun,” he says.“They’re still looking for him. The patient we have got shot by him. He was just down there observing the fire, checking out the fire. So there could be other patients around the fire that could be gone already, but we’re not sure.” He indicates there is confusion in the darkness as police search for the killer.“It’s very vague what’s going on down there, but there is for sure multiple patients down there,” he says.

By 11:20 p.m., the first responders are still unsure of what is going on.

“Do we know if they’ve caught the assailant?” one asks over the radio.

The dispatcher responds: “No not for sure ...

They’re bringing victims out to that intersection from the actual scene. But no, they don’t know if they’ve caught him. I don’t know.”

Source: atlantic.ctvnews.ca

•There is currently no open burning allowed in Surrey, including backyard burning, campfires or beach fires.

•Natural gas, propane or charcoal briquettes are permitted as long as they are being used in ULC/CSA-approved devices for that parVANCOUVER -- The mayor of Vancouver ticular product. says steep property tax hikes could be in the •If you see open burning, please call our city’s future without financial aid from the non-emergency number at 604-543-6700. federal and provincial governments.

In the Community Kennedy Stewart provided an update on •Vacant homes may be vulnerable to the risk four key areas of Vancouver’s efforts to curb of a fire, please report any vacant unsecured COVID-19 in the city on Wednesday. homes to us at the number or email below.

Speaking at an afternoon news conference, •Please report any smoke or fire that you see Stewart reiterated his priorities: to us by dialing 9-1-1.

City-wide compliance with health orders; Media inquiries: (Jason Cairney) Support for vulnerable communities, including the Downtown Eastside; City government’s financial health; and Vancouver’s post-COVID economic recovery.

1-in-5 workers laid off Stewart was previously criticized for warning that the pandemic’s economic impact could result in job cuts, which may impact Vancouver’s fire and police departments.

He said he’s aware Vancouver isn’t the only city facing these challenges, and said nearly one-in-five civic workers have been laid off for the time being. sible in order for people to have access to the “These are real people who provide the serwell-paid and skilled jobs created through vices that make our city the great place it is, the construction sector.” and it breaks my heart to have to do this,” The total cost of the construction projects he said. Among those affected are library, given Final Adoption, which include single youth, child-care, community centre and family homes and a 6-story rental apart- parks workers, he said. ment building is $55,201,000.

As he has during previous addresses, Stewart By: Oliver Lum (Communications Manager) criticized the federal and provincial govern-

ments for failing to offer financial aid to cities.

Stewart acknowledged the province is allowing cities to borrow money, but said Vancouver’s deficit will be massive. He said amount of money owed will be enough that it will not be recovered without measures such as “large” property tax hikes in future years.

The city would also have to consider what he described as “deep” service cuts.

“This is a poisoned chalice for which I categorically reject,” he said.

“This is not a viable solution to the serious financial challenges cities are facing.”

More parking tickets possible Overall, he said he’s pleased with how the city is co-operating with public health guidelines including physical distancing, but said an outbreak at a local chicken processing plant shows there’s still a risk if there’s a lapse.

Stewart says the city’s streets are getting busier, and that street parking is often full.

The city decided last month to cease much of its parking enforcement, but has brought ticketing back to some neighbourhoods after noticing crowds at local parks and beaches.

On Wednesday, the mayor said the pause in parking enforcement was meant to help health-care workers, not to encourage people to drive more.

He said the city will start enforcing paid parking in more areas if drivers don’t respect the rules. Source: bc.ctvnews.ca

Fire safety awareness during COVID-19

Surrey, BC – The Surrey Fire Service has been receiving requests to attend birthdays for a drive by.

We appreciate your support and would love to drive by every party request, unfortunately we are unable to accommodate these requests.

The Surrey Fire Service continues to address community risk and respond to incidents during COVID-19. We have modified our processes to maintain physical distancing and are keeping busy with a continued focus on Community Risk Reduction and Fire Prevention initiatives to ensure the safety of the citizens of Surrey.

Here are some tips to keep you safe: Inside the Home

•Check your smoke alarms to ensure that they are present and working. There should be one on each level of the home and make a noise when the button is pressed.

•Cooking fires can happen very quickly, never leave food unattended when cooking.

‘Poisoned chalice’: Property taxes possible if no help with Vancouver deficit, mayor warns

Outside the Home

Surrey City Council continues focus on job creation within local construction sector

At last night’s Regular Council – Land Use Meeting, Surrey City Council granted Final Adoption to projects that have a combined total construction of over $55M that will create approximately 550 new jobs.

“While we all have to do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is equally important to find ways to keep our local construction sector going that is so critical in creating so many meaningful and essential jobs,” said Mayor Doug McCallum. “Surrey City Council has made it a priority to ensure there is an environment for our builders and developers to carry through with their projects. Most importantly by doing so, we are making sure that projects are not only design ready, but shovel ready as soon as pos-

‘Multiple patients’: Recordings of first responders reveal frantic bid to help

9

Ramdan 1, 1441H April 24, 2020

Ramadan Mubarak

Help Stop COVID-19, Do Your Part, Celebrate Safely!

For COVID-19 updates go to www.canada.ca

Hon. Harjit Sajjan

MP Vancouver South 604.775.5323 Harjit.Sajjan@parl.gc.ca

Terry Beech

MP Burnaby North - Seymour 604.718.8870 terry.beech@parl.gc.ca

Ken Hardie

MP Fleetwood - Port Kells 604.501.5900 ken.hardie@parl.gc.ca

Patrick Weiler

MP West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast - Sea to Sky Country 604.913.2660 Patrick.Weiler@parl.gc.ca

Sukh Dhaliwal

MP Surrey - Newton 604.598.2200 sukh.dhaliwal@parl.gc.ca

Hon. Joyce Murray

MP Vancouver Quadra 604.664.9220 Joyce.Murray@parl.gc.ca

Randeep Sarai

MP Surrey Centre 604.589.2441 Randeep.Sarai@parl.gc.ca

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Ramdan 1, 1441H April 24, 2020

B C

g O V T

Help for you and your family during COVID-19 (updated regularly)

W

Source: www.bcndp.ca e’re keeping track of the supports and services the BC NDP government is offering to people and businesses during this crisis.

For people here in BC and around the world, this is a stressful and unprecedented time.

To help, we’ve rounded up a bunch of relevant resources for people, families and businesses that the BC NDP government has announced so far — and we’ll keep updating this regularly, too.

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch and we’ll try our best to point you in the right direction.

We’re all in this together.

FINANCIAL HELP FOR PEOPLE If you’re worried about being able to provide for your family during this crisis, these are the first round of financial resources available.

For workers who’ve lost income during COVID-19: the BC Emergency Benefit will provide you with a one-time $1,000 payment.

All BC residents who receive federal Employment Insurance, or the new federal Canada Emergency Response Benefit are eligible Applications for the one-time payment will open soon, and we’ll share the link as soon as we have it.

For low-income seniors and people on income assistance or disability assistance, there’s emergency support available: You’ll receive an additional $300/month supplement for 3 months.

If you receive federal EI and the new CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit) of $2000/month, these benefits will not be clawed back.

BC Bus Pass users will receive their $52/ month payment directly as long as transit fares are suspended.

For the many British Columbians who rent their home: We’ve frozen rent increases effective April 1.

Evictions are halted except in rare, emergency situations.

We’ve also put in place a new temporary rental supplement of up to $500/month. Applications are now open here.

For post-secondary students,we’ve frozen BC student loan payments for six months until September 30, 2020. The federal government has done the same for Canada Student Loans.

For BC Hydro ratepayers,BC Hydro has reduced its rates by 1%, province-wide. For folks with financial challenges, options are available: You can defer payments for 3 months; Emergency $600 crisis grants are available; plus Customers who’ve lost work because of COVID-19 can receive 3 months credit.

ICBC customers can defer monthly payments for up to 90 days. Use this online tool to apply.

For parents or caregivers looking after chil-

dren at home during COVID-19 instead of at your licensed child care provider, your monthly childcare fees should not be charged to you.

For moderate and low-income families, this July you’ll receive a one-time enhancement to their climate action tax credit. For most British Columbians, this means an adult will receive up to $218.00 (increased from $43.50) and a child will receive $64.00 (increased from $12.75).

SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PEOPLE

For kids in care, or those aging out of care, many financial supports available before COVID-19 are still accessible. Youth and young adults from care will continue receiving the same level of service during the pandemic, even if they were set to age out. Young adults between the ages of 19 and 27 enrolled in the Agreements with Young Adults (AYA) program will continue to receive financial support despite school closures and other training program interruptions.

RESOURCES FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS

The BC NDP government is expanding many existing services and introducing new ones to ensure people have what they need during this crisis.

For newcomers to BC, we’re waiving the Medical Services Plan waiting period, and offering temporary coverage. Also, a reminder: we have eliminated MSP fees for all British Columbians effective January 1, 2020.

For tenants in subsidized or affordable housing buildings operated by BC Housing, evictions are temporarily suspended.

For British Columbians looking to purchase alcohol or cannabis, BC Liquor Stores are open with reduced hours, and BC Cannabis Stores are taking online orders that can be collected at a post office.

For people and workers who need to take transit during this time, Both BC Transit and Translink BC have suspended fares during COVID-19.

For vulnerable people and those experiencing homelessness who need to self-isolate, there are now more than 900 rooms available at 23 sites including hotels, motels and community centres throughout BC where you can stay. Contact your local Health Authority for information, or BC Housing.

For seniors who need help getting groceries, medical supplies or prescriptions — the BC government has passed on $50M in funding to the United Way to provide senior-focused services in communities around the province. To get connected to people in your community who can help, visit BC211 or call 211.

For information about COVID-19, please call BC’s dedicated COVID-19 phone line, 1-888-COVID19. For health-specific information, please call 811.

For people experiencing mental health challenges because of COVID-19, new and expanded virtual/online mental health services are available, including no or low cost counselling. We’ll update this with specific information as it becomes available. If you need urgent support, please contact the BC Crisis Line toll-free at 1-888-661-3311.

They’re available 24/7.

For parents of kids with special needs, an emergency relief support fund will provide a direct payment of $225 per month to eligible families over the next three months (to June 30, 2020). We’ll share more details, including how to apply, as they become available.

If you’re not an essential worker and you’d like to share your support for them during COVID-19, we’re collecting messages here.

If you’re one of the essential workers on the frontline of this crisis, or doing the work that helps keep BC running, we’re so grateful for you during this time.

If you need childcare so you can go to work, the government is working to match essential service workers with temporary emergency childcare.

If you want to know your rights regarding safety at work, WorkSafeBC has resources available.

If you become ill, or you need to step away from your work to take care of someone in your family who has become ill with COVID-19, your job is safe. Retroactive to January 27, 2020 (the first day a diagnosed case of COVID-19 was found in BC), it is illegal for employers to terminate your employment for following the orders of the Provincial Health Officer. Additionally, your employer must excuse you from work for sickness without requiring a doctor’s note.

HELP AND SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES

For childcare operators, temporary emergency funding is available to allow you to keep your staff employed during COVID-19.

For farmers and businesses in the agricultural sector, support through AgriStability, AgriInvest and AgriInsurance is available.

Farmers who sell food products directly to the public at Farmer’s Markets can continue to do so. If your farm operates with the support of Temporary Foreign Workers, these guidelines will be useful.

For artists and cultural businesses, funding may be available for you through the BC Arts Council, including advances on operating grants and a one-time resilience supplement.

Canada’s federal government is continuing to roll out resources for businesses. The current list of supports is here. Parliament is reconvening soon, and we’ll update as more information is available.

IMPORTANT: If you run a business and your employees fall ill, are absent from work, or your business is unexpectedly disrupted, here’s a list of what you can and should do — and what you can’t.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT Returning Travellers Effective April 8, 2020, international travellers (including from the United States) coming to the province are required to provide a self-isolation plan before or upon arrival to B.C., regardless of their point of entry to Canada.

This document, which can be submitted online or completed in person on arrival, must show that returning travellers have supports in place to safely self-isolate for 14 days.

Beginning Friday, April 10, 2020, provincial officials will be on hand at the Vancouver International Airport and major land border crossings to make sure self-isolation plans are complete and to assist those who need it.

Education

For all business operators in BC, temporary relief from some taxes is available to help you have as much cash on hand as possible during this time.

The filing and payment due date for the following taxes have been moved to September 30, 2020: Employer Health Tax Carbon tax Motor fuel tax, including the International Fuel Tax Agreement Provincial sales tax (PST), including the municipal and regional district tax on accommodation Tobacco tax The following taxes have been delayed indefinitely: The carbon tax increase Implementation of a tax on sweetened carbonated beverages The school tax for commercial properties has been reduced by 50% for the 2020 tax year.

All K-12 learning is suspended in classrooms. Online learning is coming and we’ll share details as soon as we have them.

For post-secondary students, many BC universities and colleges are now delivering their classes online. Check with your institution for more information.

Travel and Transportation The best way to help BC flatten the curve is to stay home.

The Canada-US border remains closed to all non-essential traffic. Alberta and BC have advised travellers against interprovincial travel. BC Ferries is operating at a reduced capacity, with some routes not running at all. Here’s their current schedule. Some rest areas on BC highways are closed. For up to date information, check DriveBC. All BC provincial parks are temporarily closed through May 31, 2020. This includes campgrounds and accommodations.

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12

Ramdan 1, 1441H April 24, 2020

P o l i t i cs

Statement by the Prime Minister on Ramadan

April 23, 2020 Ottawa, Ontario The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Ramadan: “Tonight at sunset, Muslims in Canada and around the world will mark the beginning of Ramadan, a month-long spiritual journey of fasting and prayer.

“Traditionally, Ramadan is a time of collective gathering. Families and friends observe Ramadan by getting together, fasting during the day, and ending their day with iftar.

This year, Ramadan will look different as we

continue to fight the global COVID-19 pandemic, and work to protect our communities by staying home and following the advice of public health experts. From mosques hosting Friday prayers online to families having iftar virtually, Muslim Canadians will be doing their part this year.

“During this crisis, the values at the heart of Islam – compassion, gratitude, and generosity – resonate more than ever, as we see Muslim Canadians helping their neighbours. A time of charity and spiritual contemplation, Ramadan reminds us to put the needs of oth-

ers before our own and to practice those values in our daily lives.

“Let us take the time to recognize, and show gratitude for, the invaluable contributions Muslim Canadians make each day to our country.

“On behalf of our family, Sophie and I wish everyone celebrating a blessed and peaceful Ramadan.

“Ramadan Mubarak.”

Source: pm.gc.ca/en

The Hon. Andrew Scheer, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives and of the Official Opposition, issues statement to mark Ramadan OTTAWA, ON – The Honourable Andrew Scheer, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives and of the Official Opposition, issued the following statement on Ramadan: “At sundown this evening, Muslims in Canada and around the world will mark the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

“Ramadan reminds us of the importance of helping the less fortunate. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, this is especially important. Religious communities across the country, including Canada’s Muslim community, have stepped up to

“While families and friend will not be able to physically gather at community centres and mosques for iftar dinners this year, I hope that all members of the Muslim community will be able to break the fast with loved ones using online videoconferencing platforms.

“On behalf of Canada’s Conservatives, I would like to extend my best wishes to Muslims observing Ramadan, in Canada and around the world.

help their neighbours by organizing food banks, delivering groceries and readymade meals to the elderly and those in need, and donating protective equipment to hospitals and other institutions. Thank you for your numerous acts of kindness.

“This year’s Ramadan will be different, as Canadians practice social distancing. Despite the hardships that people of faith are enduring during this unprecedented time, I hope this month will serve as an opportunity to reflect on the importance of hope and remind us of all the blessings in our lives.

“Ramadan Mubarak.”

Sent By: Julie Pham

WHO warns coronavirus to ‘be with us for long time’: Live updates

WHO chief Tedros warns against relaxing containment measures, says there is still ‘a long way to go’.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said there were “worrying upward trends” in early epidemics in parts of Africa and central and South America, warning that the “virus will be with us for a long

time”.

More than 2.5 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus. At least 178,000 have died, with the US accounting for about a quarter of all deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The United Nations is warning global hunger could double as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, putting 265 million people at risk. Australia is trying to build support internationally for an independent review of the origins and spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: aljazeera.com

New funds for COVID-19 community programs coming, wage subsidy launching April 27: PM

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is setting up a $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund to help charities and non-profits keep up their work assisting Canada’s most vulnerable through the COVID-19 pandemic. And, as of Tuesday companies who have been eyeing the 75 per cent wage subsidy for employees will be able to get an estimate of how much money they’ll be able to claim once the application portal opens next

Monday. Speaking to the supplementary supports for community programs, Trudeau said that due to a drop in donations and because organizations have had to change the way they deliver services in accordance with public health measures, it has left groups like seniors and people with disabilities without the programs they rely on. The new funding will go to small front-line organizations, as well as larger national groups, “that can get funds to local organizations and vulnerable people quickly,” Trudeau said.

The government says this funding will help with increasing volunteer home deliveries of groceries and medications; allowing more help-lines to provide information and support; providing transportation services to appointments; and beefing up virtual versions of social gatherings.

The federal government had already put in place some aid measures, such as increasing funding to food banks and homeless shelters, as well as other community outreach programs, but advocacy groups have contin-

ued to say more is needed, with some in the charitable sector calling for dollar-for-dollar matching programs.

Charity advocacy group Imagine Canada has forecast that charities will lose between $9.5 billion and $15.7 billion in revenue and be forced to reduce staff by between 117,000 and 195,000 this year.

The federal government had already put in place some aid measures, such as increasing funding to food banks and homeless shelters, as well as other community outreach programs, but advocacy groups have continued to say more is needed, with some in the charitable sector calling for dollar-for-dollar matching programs.

Charity advocacy group Imagine Canada has forecast that charities will lose between $9.5 billion and $15.7 billion in revenue and be forced to reduce staff by between 117,000 and 195,000 this year.

Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Ahmed Hussen said that more Canadians than usual are relying on

Conservatives Call on Government to Enhance Border Screening and Protect the Health and Safety of Canadian Border Officials Ottawa, ON – April 17 Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Safety, Border Security and Emergency Preparedness, and Glen Motz, Associate Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, called on the government to ensure that any extension of the March 20th agreement with the United States to limit non-essential travel between our two countries includes enhanced screening measures and protects the health and safety of Canadian border officials.

“While it is important that Canada and the United States agree to extend the temporary

closure of our shared border to non-essential travel, the Canadian government must also enhance screening measures and protect Canadian border officials,” said MP Paul-Hus. In January, Conservatives asked why the government was not implementing stricter screening measures at the border and why travellers returning from COVID-19 hotspots were not required to self-isolate.

“Despite the current public health crisis, there continue to be few Public Health officials at points of entry to support the work of border agents. Conservatives are calling on the government to immediately provide ad-

these social support systems and offered his thanks to those still showing up to help out.

“This money will help groups like those in Eastern Ontario, but are looking to provide meals to those who cannot leave their homes... It would also help organizations such as the Atlantic Compassion Fund or the Vancouver Foundation which is providing support to women who are fleeing domestic violence,” Hussen said. of Families, Children and Social Development Ahmed Hussen said that more Canadians than usual are relying on these social support systems and offered his thanks to those still showing up to help out.

“This money will help groups like those in Eastern Ontario, but are looking to provide meals to those who cannot leave their homes... It would also help organizations such as the Atlantic Compassion Fund or the Vancouver Foundation which is providing support to women who are fleeing domestic violence,” Hussen said.

Source: www.ctvnews.ca

ditional support to front line CBSA officers and ensure that they have the supplies they need to keep themselves and Canadians safe,” said MP Motz.

In addition, Conservatives will be pressing the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to provide weekly public reports on the situation at entry points across Canada. This is just one more reason why Parliament must have in-person sittings so that Opposition parties can debate, discuss and improve government programs and policies and ensure the safety of all Canadians Source: Office of Pierre Paul-Hus, MP

13 C ORO N A / bc m a Ramadan Mubarak (Friday, April 24, 2020) from BCMA Ramdan 1, 1441H April 24, 2020

Al salāmu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullāh

W

e hope this message reaches you in the best of health and īmān. As per our verified moon-sighting policy, the BCMA hereby announces that Ramadān 1441 will commence on Friday, April 24, 2020. In light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we would like to share the following with the community.

This Ramadān will be unlike any other that we have witnessed in our lifetimes. We share the sadness of the community in not being able to congregate inside our masājid for salāh and taraweeh. However, we would

like to remind everyone that we must remain content with the decree of Allah and use this time to seek His mercy and forgiveness.

Although we will all greatly miss the communal aspect of Ramadān, we encourage the community to concentrate on the devotional aspect; it is through our sincerity of worship and devotion that we will attract the help and mercy of Allah during these challenging times. We encourage everyone to remember in their du’ās our brothers and sisters who have passed away as a result of Covid-19 as well as those who are on the frontlines caring for the sick during this pandemic.

We would also like to remind the community of the following.

1.All BCMA Masājid/Centres are closed for the public until further notice.

2.Live lectures/lessons are being conducted by our imams throughout the month of Ramadān. We encourage the community to benefit. These lectures can be accessed on your Masjid’s social media.

3We understand that these are financially trying times for many. If you’re are able, please continue to support your local Masjid through your generous contributions. You can donate online at our website or on www.

Anwar has been working around the clock on the front lines with other doctors and respiratory therapists.

He said Manchester Memorial Hospital and other hospitals across the country are overwhelmed with patients.

Many are dealing with a shortage of not only N95 masks, but ventilators as well.

“We don’t have enough ventilators; my thought is that we can expand our capacity to make our ventilators work harder and then be able to save more lives.”

According to Anwar, the four-piece splitter has been used in the most severe cases, like the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.

“The doctor over there was smart enough,” Anwar said, “He was actually able to coordinate things and then put as many people on

a ventilator to save as many lives as he could and buy time.”

Anwar is also a Connecticut state senator serving East Windsor, South Windsor, East Hartford and Ellington.

He said he’s talked with his colleagues about the possibility of using the device in the coming weeks.

In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo approved a similar device that allows at least two people to share one ventilator.

If and when the time comes, Anwar hopes his colleagues in the state senate will approve the concept.

bcma.com and select the Masjid in your region.

We make du’ā that Allah enable us all to seek His pleasure in all circumstances; we seek His help and mercy, and ask for deliverance from this test of ours. Āmīn On behalf of the Board of Religious Services, Ramadān Kareem.

Imam Yahya Momla

Board of Religious Services BCMA

Muslim Doctor Develops Method to Help Coronavirus Patients

Connecticut doctor has proposed a new way to deal with ventilator shortages.

Doctor Saud Anwar said, by using a fourpiece splitter, which is made with a 3-D printer, a single ventilator can serve up to seven patients suffering from respiratory issues due to COVID-19.

“Before we get to the point of the surge, I’m hoping our state, our governor is going to make a call of a similar capacity to say it is okay go ahead and save as many people as you can…This is not the standard of care, but then the other option is to let people die, and as a physician, I can’t accept that, and I am trying to fight that.” SOURCE: WTNH www.islamicity.org

Removing barriers for international students working in essential services to fight COVID-19 Temporary rule change aimed at helping health-care facilities, other workplaces under pressure April 22, 2020—Ottawa—To help battle the COVID-19 outbreak, starting immediately, the government will remove the restriction that allows international students to work a maximum of 20 hours per week while classes are in session, provided they are working in an essential service or function, such as health care, critical infrastructure, or the supply of food or other critical goods.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, workers in certain roles and industries have been under considerable pressure, and the government recognizes that international students who are already present in Canada will help meet

the challenges of the pandemic.

For instance, thousands of international students are studying in health- and emergency service-related programs, including many who are nearly fully trained and ready to graduate. This temporary rule change provides health-care facilities with access to additional well-trained workers at a time when they are badly needed.

Quote “Immigrants, temporary foreign workers and international students are making important contributions as frontline workers in health care and other essential service sectors. We know and value their efforts and sacrifices to keep Canadians healthy and ensure the delivery of critical goods and services.”

– The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Quick facts •International students and their employers should consult Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada’s Guidance on Essential Services and Functions in Canada During the COVID-19 Outbreak to determine if the work the student is doing would allow them to work more than 20 hours per week during the academic session.

•This temporary rule change will be in place at Canada’s universities and colleges, repreuntil August 31, 2020.

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14

Ramdan 1, 1441H April 24, 2020

MIDDLE

EA S T

Turkey warns Monday.

Syria of ‘very heavy losses’ if truce violated Turkey and Russia, which back op- President Bashar al-Assad to use the pan-

President Erdogan says Turkey will protect March 5 ceasefire pact with Russia and will not allow ‘aggression’ by Syria.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Syrian government forces of “accelerating its aggression” in the Idlib deescalation zone by taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Turkey will protect its commitment to the March 5 agreement reached with Russia, and will not allow the aggression of the regime,” Erdogan said at a cabinet meeting late on

posing sides in Syria’s war, agreed on March 5 to halt hostilities in northwestern Syria after an escalation of violence there displaced nearly a million people and brought the two sides close to confrontation.

“If the regime, which violates the ceasefire and other conditions of agreement, continues like this, it will pay for it with very heavy losses,” he said. Turkish Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said on Twitter Ankara would not allow the government of

demic to escalate military operations.

“Our government continues to be focused on the coronavirus challenge at home and abroad but we are also working on foreign policy matters such as those in Syria, Libya and the Aegean Sea,” said Altun. “As President Erdogan indicated, the Syrian regime is trying to take advantage of the situation.”

Altun also stressed Turkey stands by the March 5 agreement with Russia and is de“aggression” in Idlib despite provocations. termined not to allow Syrian government Source: aljazeera.com

Domestic abuse against Palestinian women soars

Since start of coronavirus lockdown, at least five women have been killed at the hands of their abusers, activists say.

Banging pots and pans and waving homemade banners, scores of Palestinians have expressed their solidarity with women enduring various forms of domestic violence during a lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The initiative on Monday, which saw both women and men stand at their windows and balconies across the occupied Palestinian territories and historic Palestine, was aimed

at shedding light on the plight of women who are locked down with their abusers.

According to a tally combined by Tal’at, an independent political feminist movement that organised the campaign, 11 Palestinian women have been killed as a result of domestic violence so far this year, with five of the fatalities occurring since the implementation of the lockdown in early March. Of these five, four succumbed to gun wounds.

Tal’at activist Soheir Asaad said that while for many “quarantine” suggests being safe at home, for others it is “hell”.

“It means living with someone who could end your life,” Assad told Al Jazeera from Haifa, describing the reality faced by some women during the lockdown.

Assiwar, a women’s support NGO, says the number of calls it has received in recent weeks has risen by 30 percent, notwithstanding a plethora of messages landing on its social media platforms. Other groups report similar increases, with the Palestinian Working Women Society for Development (PW-

WSD) saying its counseling hotline received 924 calls between March 22 and April 15.

Lamia Naamneh, head of Assiwar and a women’s rights defender for more than 20 years, said most appeals for help involve women who have received death threats.

Just yesterday, a call led us to a woman who was only able to speak to us via Facebook Messenger chat while at home,” Naamneh told Al Jazeera on Monday.

“She said she was threatened, beaten, and we had to send the police to get her transferred to a safe house,” she said.Naamneh added there has also been a surge in cases of both sexual violence and domestic abuse against children following the implementation of the lockdown measures. At the same time, there are major concerns that many cases of domestic violence go unreported.

“Fear is the biggest barrier faced by abused women … Fear of being ostracised, excluded, abandoned, of not being a good mother or daughter,” said Amany Khalifa, a social worker who also participated in Monday’s

campaign. The situation becomes even more difficult when authorities do not work to protect women, she told Al Jazeera from occupied East Jerusalem.

“We cannot ask an inherently violent institution to change the reality of Palestinian women.” It is common for cases to be underreported in certain areas of the West Bank, such as in Area C - which is under full Israeli military control. This is because it is difficult for the police to reach homes in these areas, according to PWWSD coordinator Futna Khalifa, who notes there are checkpoints hindering the movement of Palestinians.

“Many Palestinian families live in small apartment complexes, and the small spaces can increase the chances of friction and conflict between a husband and wife,” Khalifa said. “This is especially true for those women who already faced abuse prior to the lockdown. What may have been psychological abuse, may have turned into a physical form of abuse during this time.”

Source: aljazeera.com

Amnesty: Saudi Arabia executed record number of people in 2019

Saudi Arabia executed a record 184 people last year, according to Amnesty International, which said it was the highest number the rights organisation has ever recorded in a single year in the country.

In its 2019 global review of the death penalty published on Tuesday, Amnesty reported Saudi Arabia stepped up its use of the death penalty even as the rest of the world saw a decline in executions, including in the AsiaPacific region. Saudi Arabia executed 178 men and six women in 2019, just over half

of whom were foreign nationals. The figure was 149 in 2018.

The majority of executions were for drugrelated offences and murder. “Saudi Arabia’s growing use of the death penalty, including as a weapon against political dissidents, is an alarming development,” Clare Algar, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Advocacy and Policy, said.

Only 20 countries are responsible for all known executions worldwide.

Iran remained the world’s second-most pro-

lific executioner after China, where the exact number of people put to death remains a state secret. The number of executions nearly doubled in Iraq, the report added.

Global executions decreased for the fourth consecutive year to at least 657 in 2019 from at least 690 during the previous year - the lowest recorded figure of the past decade.

The top five executing countries in 2019 were: China (1000s), Iran (at least 251), Saudi Arabia (184), Iraq (at least 100) and Egypt (at least 32). Source: aljazeera.com

Bahrain latest Gulf country to announce drastic spending cuts

and government agencies by 30 percent to help the country weather the coronavirus outbreak, according to a cabinet statement released after a meeting on Monday.

The Gulf island state’s government will also reschedule some construction and consulting projects to keep spending within the 2020 budget and make room for other spending needs emerging as a result of the disease’s spread. The move comes as other states in the Gulf including Saudi Arabia and Oman seek to cut spending as they Bahrain will slash state spending by nearly a face fiscal pressure from virus containment third to help it weather the economic effects measures that have brought to a near halt vital economic sectors such as tourism and of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bahrain will slash spending by ministries transport.

The oil price crash and an agreement on production cuts are also expected to weigh on regional budgets this year. The Bahraini government has agreed to “reschedule a number of construction and consulting projects to make room for more emergency spending to help with the spread of the coronavirus within the ceiling of the 2020 national budget,” the statement said on Monday. The cabinet also issued some amendments to the labour code allowing it to rethink allowances and benefits of public sector employees, it added.

Oman has recently reduced its budgeted expenditure by more than $1bn through cuts to development and operating budgets,

Price of oil spiked despite growing evidence that no amount of output cuts will offset demand destroyed by coronavirus.

Price of oil spiked despite growing evidence that no amount of output cuts will offset demand destroyed by coronavirus.

Since the start of the year, both benchmarks have lost more than two-thirds of their value. Fuel demand is down about 30 percent worldwide in April, and supply will outstrip demand for months to come due to the pandemic.Brent rose $1.08, or 5.30 percent, to $21.45 a barrel by 3:21pm Eastern Daylight Time (19:00 GMT), while WTI jumped

in 2020 to 89.2 million bpd, a 10 percent decline from 2019. Last week, the energy consultant projected demand would fall to 90.3 million bpd in 2020.Russia is looking for options to cut its production and may go as far as burning its own oil, sources said.

Its production has not changed much from March until now.

The market was also higher after US President Donald Trump said he had instructed the US Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it in the Gulf, although he added later he was not changing the military’s rules of engagement. Source: aljazeera.com

while Saudi Arabia - the largest Arab economy - last month cut almost 5 percent of its 2020 budget and said it would reassess expenditure according to developments in oil markets and the pandemic.

Bahrain, rated junk by all the three major credit rating agencies, last month obtained a loan of around $1bn which it used to repay a maturing bond, sources told Reuters news agency. The government could post a fiscal deficit of 15.7 percent of GDP this year from a 10.6 percent deficit in 2019, according to the International Monetary Fund, while the economy could contract by 3.6 percent. The IMF expects growth to bounce back to 3 percent in 2021. Source: aljazeera.com

Oil rallies on hopes of more OPEC cuts amid flaring Gulf tensions $3.07, or 22.28 percent, to $16.85.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil-producing nations, a grouping known as OPEC+, agreed this month to cut output by a record 9.7 million barrels per day, around 10 percent of global supply, to support oil prices, but prices continued to decline.

Kuwait said on Thursday it had begun cutting oil supply to the international market, ahead of the May 1 date when the deal was supposed to take effect.Whether that will be sufficient to offset weak demand is unclear.

Rystad Energy cut its forecast for oil demand

15

Ramdan 1, 1441H April 24, 2020

k a sh m i r

‘Don’t Know What To Say, How To React’: Kashmiri Journalist Booked For ‘Anti-National’ Posts

By: Shafaq Shah ‘Don’t Know What To Say, How To React’: Kashmiri Journalist Booked For ‘Anti-National’ Posts SRINAGAR – On Saturday, Masrat Zahra, a photojournalist, received a call from the Jammu and Kashmir police asking her to report to the Cyber Police Station in Srinagar.

Alarmed by the sudden call, Zahra immediately alerted the Kashmir Press Club (KPC).

“They told me not to worry as they have spoken to the police and the matter will be resolved,” she said in an interview with HuffPost India. “The police didn’t tell me that an FIR has been lodged against me.”

On Monday, the 26-year-old learnt from the Twitter messages of fellow journalists that the police had booked her under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), an anti-terror law that carries a jail term of up to seven years. The FIR against her reads, “Cyber police received information through reliable sources that one Facebook user namely Masrat Zahra is uploading anti-national posts with criminal intention to induce the youth and to promote offences against public tranquillity.”

Zahra is the second journalist in Kashmir who has been booked under UAPA. In 2018, another Srinagar-based journalist Asif Sultan was also booked under the same Act and remains in detention.

In a conversation with HuffPost India, Zahra said, “I was just uploading my professional work and nothing else... I am clueless, I don’t know what to say, how to react.”

I am clueless, I don’t know what to say, how to react.

In Kashmir, we often hear of male journalists

getting summoned, harassed and booked by the police, but not female journalists. What happened?

On Saturday evening, I was reading in my room. At four in the afternoon, I got a call from an unknown number. I answered the call and it was a police officer asking me to come to the Cyber Police Station as there is a case against me. I was shocked. What had happened? I am not working these days because of the (coronavirus) pandemic. I haven’t reported anything. Why would the police file a case against me? However, they didn’t tell me that an FIR has been lodged against me.

Sensing trouble, I called the members of the Kashmir Press Club from my father’s phone and they told me that they will take care of it. At eight in the evening, I called Director Information, Sehrish Asgar, and she told me not to worry and that she will intervene. I was relieved. But on Monday, while going through Twitter, I saw that a female journalist had been booked under UAPA and I was shocked to know that it was me. I have always felt bad for journalists who are picked up by the police or get arrested, but I never thought that one day I will be booked for performing my professional duties.

What was your reaction when you read about your arrest on Twitter?

The moment I read that a female photojournalist had been booked under the UAPA, I knew it was me. I went into my room, got the keys of the scooty and left the house. I wanted to talk to fellow journalists, my friends in the fraternity. I straight away went to the Press Enclave at Lal Chowk and started telling my friends about the incident. I wanted

to talk, talk and talk and relieve myself.

In an earlier interview with News18, you have said that your family doesn’t support your journalism. Are they aware that you have been booked under UAPA? I have had a tough time convincing my family that I want to pursue journalism. They still don’t like my profession. And if they will get to know that I have been booked under the stringent UAPA, I don’t know how they will react. My father is a driver at the Power Development Department and my mother is a homemaker. They don’t know what the UAPA is. I am scared for them. When I left home today, I hugged my mother because I wasn’t sure whether I would come back home or not. She knows there is an FIR against me, but she doesn’t know about UAPA. I don’t know how they will react.

Tell us about your posts.

Since I was stuck at home, I have been putting photos of my work over the past few years on Facebook and Twitter. For example, the photo of a newspaper cutting and money soaked in blood of a man suspected of being a militant who was killed in an en-

counter. These were all professional photos.

I wasn’t uploading anything fake or baseless.

It was all my work. I don’t know why they found my work objectionable.

The police don’t identify you as a journalist, but as a ‘Facebook user.’ Does this worry you?

Of course, it does. I have given four years to this profession and now they are telling me that I am an outsider. #IStandWithMasrat Zahra is trending today. Social media is flooded with solidarity posts for you. Does this give you strength?

I am amazed to see how people are responding. I have the support of my fraternity and this is what gives me courage at this point of time. Despite the (coronavirus) lockdown, I have people standing next to me. I have received hundreds of calls. I am sure that the journalist fraternity will not leave me alone when I need them most.

Are you frightened?

I am. I don’t know what is going to happen.

They can arrest me, do anything. I am clueless, I don’t know what to say, how to react.

Source: huffingtonpost

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Ramdan 1, 1441H April 24, 2020

RAMADA N /

LO C AL

How to support your Muslim coworkers who are fasting during Ramadan?

BY: Allana Akhtar and Marguerite Ward

Hooper said. Fasting Muslims lose energy

Many non-Muslims might not know a whole lot about Ramadan, Hooper says. He said some people mistakenly believe Muslims go the whole 30 days without eating, when in reality they eat when the sun’s not up.

You might be embarrassed by the lack of knowledge, but most Muslims welcome questions from colleagues and friends. Being open about Ramadan can also help employees plan their meetings during the daytime when fasting Muslims have more energy. “By and large, it’s a period of time people look forward to every year despite the self-deprivation,” Hooper added.

tablish earlier work hours during Ramadan.

Muslims don’t expect any extra accommodation, but “it really feels nice and good to be recognized when people try to do something extra for you,” Nasr said.

At one office where Nasr worked, a boss privately asked her if she needed any special accommodations while observing Ramadan. Nasr asked to be able to leave on time, at 5 pm, rather than staying late, which she habitually did. The gesture made her feel appreciated and recognized.

This month, most American-Muslims will observe Ramadan in social isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic. This actually may make the holiday more difficult, as Ramadan is traditionally a social holiday: Muslims break their fast with family and friends, and visit mosques more often for additional prayers.

But working remotely might make giving your employee flexible work hours easier,

means “have a generous Ramadan,” accord- but is abstaining, it’s best not to nudge them ing to USA Today. unless they bring it up themselves.

Typically, Iftar (or breaking of the fast) in- 5. Don’t apologize for eating or volves a large meal with extended family and drinking in front of a colleague obfriends. This year, it will look different due to serving Ramadan ... the coronavirus pandemic.

4. If you notice a coworker isn’t While you may think you’re being considerate not eating in front of your coworker, you fasting, try not to publicly ask why. could be doing more harm than good.

Muslim women don’t fast when they are on “It gets awkward when people apologize their periods — and since menstrual cycles

6. But don’t make jokes about your colleague not having coffee or eating lunch, either.

instruction, parents, teachers, support staff and administrators across the Surrey School District have come together, going above and beyond to help our kids learn from a distance.

All across Surrey, our community is stepping up to support our students. After the decision was made to suspend in-class learning, the Surrey Board of Education acted quickly to ensure its school-based meal program could continue operating, getting meals to over 2,100 vulnerable Surrey students who depend on them.

In my riding of Surrey-Panorama, teachers, education assistants and administrators at schools like Colebrook Elementary, École Woodward Hill Elementary, and Georges Vanier have gone above and beyond to develop daily activities and messages to help students keep learning and stay connected to their school community.

Teachers are working hard to support students, and Surrey students are leading efforts to support one another. A great example of this can be found at Semiahmoo Secondary School, where students Stuti Sharma and

Esther Zhang created the Learning Bridge, a free online program where students can come together for tutoring, mentorship, and connection.

Our government is stepping up too, and we’re working with the Surrey School District to develop an approach that works for students, parents, and teachers. In a province as diverse as ours, there won’t be a onesize-fits-all approach to continued learning – flexibility is key as we all move forward together.

A key part of this is working with schools and families to address any barriers that make it difficult for students to learn from home. The Surrey School District is loaning out laptops and iPads to students who need them, and across the province more than 23,000 students in need have been loaned technology to help them learn from home.

There is also work underway to arrange lowcost internet plans and free wifi hotspots for families without access to the internet.

To make sure kids and families have the supports they need, we have launched Keep Learning BC, a place to find free, grade-

specific learning resources and supports for parents to help kids adjust to new learning environments.

With the support of resources like Keep Learning BC, I hope parents feel empowered to get creative in their efforts to keep kids learning, both inside the virtual classroom and outside of it. Whether we’re cooking with our kids, doing household chores, getting outside, or taking time to talk about emotional well-being, our daily lives are filled with ways to learn, and have fun, together.

This is a challenging time for everyone, but we all have the same goal. I have been so inspired by the leadership shown by Surrey’s teachers, education assistants, administrators, parents and students in the past weeks.

Thank you for your compassion, your adaptability, and your commitment to bringing out your best for our children. Everything you’re doing is making a difference, and our students, families, and communities are so much stronger for it.

twice to pass emergency legislation that was needed to get urgent help to Canadians.

As things stand, the House of Commons is scheduled to sit once again on April 20. All parties have been negotiating to determine how exactly the House should reconvene given the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conservatives have proposed a reasonable workplan that would keep Parliament open so that we can improve government programs and policies and get better results for Canadians.

Everyone understands that we cannot have all 338 Members of Parliament in the House and still respect public health advice. That is why, during the previous two emergency sittings, on March 24 and then again on April 11, the House met with a much smaller number of MPs. Each party was represented in proportion to the size of its total caucus. We are proposing that model continues to be used.

In order to ensure that Canadians get the

real help they need, there must be oversight and accountability. That is why Conservatives have proposed having three in-person sittings each week to allow MPs to debate and vote on essential COVID-19 legislation.

MPs would also have two hours each day to question the Prime Minister and ministers on all aspects of the government’s response to the pandemic. These sessions have proven to be extremely valuable thus far.

We have improved the government’s wage subsidy legislation, pressed the government to include seasonal workers in the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, and gotten answers to many questions that Canadians have been asking.

The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs has also been tasked with studying the possible implementation of virtual sittings to augment these in-person sittings. If the committee recommends virtual sittings, we would be happy to meet virtually one day a week to allow a broader range of MPs to participate.

As this crisis progresses, we recognize that the government may need to pass new legislation to help Canadians who are struggling.

Opposition parties have already demonstrated how debate, discussion and tough questions ultimately improves government programs and policies. Conservatives are ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Parliamentary committees also play an essential role in holding the government to account. Normally they are the masters of their own domain and can call witnesses, pass motions and force the government to produce documents. In February, the Health Committee was able to secure over 1,000 pages of information related to the government’s handling of the pandemic. But what they received in March was heavily redacted by the government. Virtual committees have no recourse to get this information. Canadians deserve to know where things went wrong and how the government

1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. as the day goes on, so employers could es-

3. Wishing a coworker don’t make for the best office chatter, you “Happy Ramadan” isn’t offensive might not want to publicly point out when 2. While it’s not necessary, manag- or inaccurate. a woman isn’t fasting. ers can privately ask their direct Most Muslims use the Arabic translation Plus, there are many other reasons why Mus“Ramadan Mubarak” to greet each other. lims don’t fast, like during illness or travel. reports if they would like any You can also say “Ramadan Kareem, ” which If you notice a coworker who normally fasts special accommodations.

when they eat or drink around me.

The whole point of the month is for me to do something for myself. It’s supposed to be challenging, and it’s supposed to be hard.

I don’t need anyone to feel guilty or awkward,” Nasr said.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, gatherings such as the Maghrib prayer after breaking fast are not happening for many Muslims. This one goes without saying, but even small quips can be very offensive. “Be sensitive,” Nasr said. Source: businessinsider.com

Surrey Coming Together to Keep Students Learning

VICTORIA- As the world faces the challenge of navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, parents in Surrey and across the province are facing an unprecedented challenge of their own – the challenge of helping their kids learn at home during a pandemic, in many cases while working from home themselves.

As a parent, grandparent, and former teacher myself, I know this task will not be an easy one. But in the weeks since the Province followed the advice of Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry to suspend in-class

Jinny Sims is the

MLA for Surrey-Panorama.

An Open Letter to Canadians

By:Andrew Scheer, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives and of the Official Opposition The COVID-19 pandemic has plunged our country into an unprecedented public health emergency. More than 30,000 Canadians have gotten sick and many have been hospitalized. Too many of us are mourning the loss of family members and friends.

Healthcare workers are working around the clock without always having the necessary medical supplies. Our economy is almost completely shut down, putting millions out of work and endangering businesses from coast to coast. Children are losing valuable school time. Our seniors are isolated and in tragic cases, in need of much better care.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Trudeau tells us it will be many weeks before Canada can begin to open up again.

On March 13, as the scale of the crisis became clear, the House of Commons adjourned its normal business for five weeks.

During this adjournment, Parliament has sat

To be continued at page 21

17 corona in india How the coronavirus outbreak in India was blamed on Muslims?

Ramdan 1, 1441H April 24, 2020

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has been turned into yet another Islamophobic conspiracy theory.

The outbreak of COVID-19 in India has presented yet another opportunity to launch a fresh attack on the Muslim community.

Physical, verbal and psychological warfare is being waged against Muslims, pushing further their ostracisation in Indian society.

Violent attacks on Muslims perceived to be carriers of the virus have been reported from different parts of the country. There have been reports of meetings in gated communities discussing the prohibition on Muslims being allowed in. Elsewhere, gangs of youth have been manning the entry points of villages to prevent the entry of Muslims. Muslim vendors have also been asked to stop selling on the streets.

There has been a sudden surge in Islamophobic hashtags and posts on different social media platforms accusing Muslims of purposefully spreading the virus. A new term, “corona jihad”, has been coined to describe this conspiracy. Videos showing Muslims spitting on vegetables and fruit, licking plates and smearing surfaces with their saliva are being circulated widely.

It all started when news spread that people who had attended a large gathering of Tablighi Jamaat, a Muslim missionary movement, at its premises in New Delhi had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. People travelled from outside India to attend this event and it is suspected that they may have introduced the virus into the congregation.

The Tablighi Jamaat was blamed for organising this event in the middle of March, ignoring the threat of the spread of the virus.

Very soon, reports started pouring in from different parts of India suggesting that the largest number of positive cases could be traced back to the event.

This became a justification for the government to create a separate column of Tablighi Jamaat-related cases in its daily briefings. It

has created an impression that the Muslim movement is the main culprit. Since it is difficult for many to differentiate between Tablighis and other Muslims, all Muslims are now seen as potential carriers of this virus and are therefore shunned and hated.

But some have questioned the methodology of COVID-19 testing and reporting.

According to Saugato Datta, a behavioural and developmental economist, highlighting the large proportion of overall positive cases that are linked to the New Delhi event is misleading, given that the authorities did not aggressively trace and test people from other gatherings like it.

“This is basically sampling bias: Since people from this one cluster have been tested at very high rates, and overall testing is low, it is hardly surprising that a large proportion of overall positives is attributed to this cluster,” Datta said.

As some have pointed out, the Tablighi Jamaat event was only one of the many congregations, religious and non-religious, which happened in mid-March. At that time, the government of India tried to downplay the gravity of the situation, allowing the parliament to function and letting nearly 1.5 million people enter the country without proper screening between January and March. The Tablighi Jamaat guests were a tiny fraction of this number.

Despite this, Indian media launched a highdecibel campaign about the matter. One

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YOU ALL ARE WELL AWARE OF THE TORTURE OF MUSLIMS IN DELHI, INDIA MANY BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN BURNT DOWN AND LIVES LOST. WE HAVE BEEN APPROACHED FOR HELP BY MANY INDIVIDUALS FOR ZAKAAH & FITRA.

newspaper went as far as publishing a cartoon depicting the coronavirus as a terrorist in Muslim attire.

Similarly, social media has been abuzz with posts about what many consider to be a Muslim conspiracy. A tweet which had about 2,000 retweets before it was removed for violating Twitter’s rules, featured a cartoon of a caricatured Muslim man labelled “corona Jihad” trying to push a Hindu off a cliff.

These sentiments have been fuelled by official channels as well. Officers from the Border Security forces have claimed that there is a plot for people from a particular community (read Muslim) to infiltrate the porous borders of India through Nepal with the aim of spreading the infection here.

Even the government of India is adding to this campaign in a very subtle manner. It recently sent a memo to the government of West Bengal state expressing concern that it was failing to implement the lockdown strictly in certain areas. It mentioned seven localities in the state, of which six are distinctly Muslim dominated.

Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, reacted very strongly to the directive and asked the central government not to use this crisis to further its communal agenda.

The excitement and enthusiasm with which this anti-Muslim campaign has been taken up is a deeply worrying phenomenon.

It adds to already existing conspiracy theories

about Muslims waiting in the wings, reproducing at a frantic pace to outnumber Hindus and “pollute” the Hindu land. Since the community was already seen as plotting to inflict damage on “Mother India”, it was easy to “establish” that Muslims would seek to infect Hindus with coronavirus to destroy them.

This campaign has not only fed existing anti-Muslim sentiments but it has also slowed down the momentum gained by a protest movement, which had been demonstrating against the increasingly precarious situation of the community. For months before the outbreak, Muslims and their allies across India had been protesting against the new citizenship law and other executive exercises like the National Register of Citizens and National Population Register, which were seen as discriminatory against the community.

While undermining political efforts to end government-sponsored discrimination, the outbreak and its accompanying anti-Muslim drive may lead to even further ostracisation of the community.

Muslims are hardly present in the formal sector of the economy and their number is insignificant in the state services. The largest working population of Muslims is in the informal sector. This campaign is pushing to make them “untouchable” for non-Muslims, which would certainly push them out of a variety of economic activities.

Muslims have been disenfranchised politically, now this campaign can break them economically and make their survival impossible.

It is disheartening to see the world watching silently this continuous persecution of the largest religious minority in India. It would go down as yet another dark chapter in the making of a new kind of apartheid against Muslims in the biggest democracy in the world.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

By: Apoorvanand Source: .aljazeera.com

YOU ALL ARE WELL AWARE OF THE TORTURE OF MUSLIMS IN DELHI, INDIA MANY BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN BURNT DOWN AND LIVES LOST. WE HAVE BEEN APPROACHED FOR HELP BY MANY INDIVIDUALS FOR ZAKAAH & FITRA.

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NOT-FOR-PROFIT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2. Individual has wealth more than the Prescribed BUSINESS ANDMinimum TAX PLANNING known as NISAB PARTNERSHIPS SR&ED 3.

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18

Ramdan 1, 1441H April 24, 2020

S O C IAL

5 tips for grocery shopping during COVID-19 By: Mariska Gordon,

Registered Dietitian, Copeman Healthcare |Supported by TELUS Health eeping our bodies and minds well fueled with nutritious foods remains as important as ever during these challenging times. When it comes to grocery shopping, aim to minimize your trips to the store and make the process less stressful by having a solid game plan in place.

Stay safe while grocery shopping by visiting the store when it is less busy, and maintain a two-metre distance between you and other shoppers. Wash your hands with soap and warm water before, and after you grocery shop, and avoid touching items when unnecessary. If you are sick, please refrain from going to the store. Instead, have someone pick up your grocery items for you and drop them at your door.

Here are five tips to help you make the most out of your next grocery shop.

K

1. Meal plan rather than stockpile

Stockpiling without a plan could mean that you end up with items that don’t work well together and meals that may not give you a good balance of nutrients. Ultimately stocking up without a plan can result in both food waste, and a hole in your wallet. If you have been meaning to work on those meal planning skills, now is the perfect time!

Aim to put together a plan for two weeks.

First, make an inventory. Take a look at what you already have in the fridge and pantry, and make sure to check the best before dates.

Make a list of your favourite healthy meals and plan for meals to yield a few extra portions to use as lunch leftovers or to store in the freezer. Get your family involved too!

Have everyone contribute a meal idea. Need some more recipes?

2. Get the store to lend a hand To help promote physical distancing, use grocery delivery or click and collect services where available. Some stores have these services available, however, they are in high demand at the moment. Make sure to call your local store or check their websites to see what services they can offer at this time. Meal box services are also good options.

3. It’s not all about the canned food aisle Make sure to purchase a mix of fresh and frozen foods along with pantry items. Make sure to include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, dairy foods and other proteinrich foods on your list. Not all fresh foods, in particular fruits and vegetables, will keep for more than a week or so. Luckily, there are some options with longer shelf lives. Options for fresh produce that have longer shelf lives are listed under tip #4.

4. Purchase foods that support a healthy immune system Some key nutrients involved in maintaining a healthy immune system include vitamins A, C, D, E, B, iron, selenium and zinc and, of course, protein. Foods rich in these nutrients include fruits, vegetables, pulses, meat, chicken, fish, nuts, seeds and whole grains.

Fruits and vegetables: In addition to your favourites, consider fruits and vegetables with longer shelf lives. Frozen fruits and vegetables, and canned vegetables and fruits (in water) are good options. Fresh fruits and vegetables with longer shelf lives include: beets, carrots, parsnips, turnips, sweet potatoes, cabbage, garlic, onions, apples, melons, oranges and grapefruit. Challenge yourself to include fruits and vegetables at every meal and snack. Consider starting your day with a smoothie or smoothie bowl to fit in plenty of nutrients first thing in the

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morning!

Protein: Aim to include protein-rich foods for all meals and snacks. Animal-based proteins like beef, pork, poultry, and fish are options, but so are nuts, nut butters, beans, chickpeas, lentils, tofu, eggs, canned fish and frozen seafood. If you are less familiar with cooking beans/chickpeas and lentils, Pulse Canada has a great cookbook you can access online.

Beans and lentils can be a quick and easy protein for salads, tacos and pasta sauces.

From the frozen section, consider picking up a bag of edamame beans and a bag of frozen shrimp, two great frozen protein options.

Dairy: Greek yogurt is another great protein-rich food. If possible, choose plain, lower fat options. All yogurt will have some sugar, and that’s okay, there is some naturally occurring lactose. Dairy alternatives like almond milk and ultra filtered milks (Fairlife or Joyya) have longer shelf lives than regular milk if you are worried about your milk going bad.

Grain products: Aim to choose whole grain options as they offer more nutrients than their refined counterparts (even the enriched refined counterparts). Some options to consider for your list are: steel cut oats, wild and brown rice mixes, quinoa, whole wheat pasta, whole grain wraps or pitas, whole wheat rotini, high-fibre cold cereals (Kashi, All Bran), high-fibre crackers (Ryvita Crunch, Wasa) and hemp hearts.

Fluids: There is no need to switch over to drinking bottled water at this time. Good old tap water is just fine! Make sure to stay well hydrated throughout the day. Your typical routine might be thrown off, meaning habits

like drinking water between meals might be off course too. Try using a large water bottle to help you keep track of your water intake. If you need a little variety, other good options to stay hydrated include herbal tea or flavoured soda water like Bubly, Nestle Pure Life, PC Blue Menu sparkling water, Perrier, etc.

5. Choosing wisely when selecting pre-made meals If you’re not feeling up to cooking and plan to stock up on some frozen meals, look for options that are lower in sodium and saturated fat. Brands with meals that fit these guidelines include: Mann’s Frozen Meals, Healthy Choice, Luvo and PC Blue Menu. Consider choosing seafood, poultry and bean-based meals over red meat meals. Choose higher fibre and whole grain options, avoiding cheesy, fried or curry meals. Additionally, aim for the lowest sodium option you can find. Depending on your area, there may also be options in your community to have healthy, fresh, pre-made meals delivered to your home.

Together, we can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 through effective social distancing and hand washing. In our homes, we can cook and eat delicious and nutritious meals that ensure that we remain well nourished.

Source:www.telushealth.co

Zakat Appeal - Deaf Reach There are over 1 million deaf children in Pakistan, many at risk now in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Deaf children nationwide, the majority of whom hail from slum areas living on the edge of poverty, already face the dire threats that come with poverty and a high risk of being abused and exploited.

Deaf Reach, a program of Family Educational Services Foundation (FESF), has created a safe haven for these children, and spent the past 3 decades in providing education, training and job placement for Deaf youth nationwide. We are committed to continue helping the Deaf Community manage their way through this present crisis situation.

In this critical time of uncertainty, we have mobilized our network across Pakistan to provide timely and crucial information and support to those most vulnerable, as well as assisting local Government bodies in doing the same.

We are doing the following:

language, and posting them to the Deaf Community nationwide.

See https://web.facebook.com/pg/deafreachprogram/posts/?ref=page_internal Please include us in your Zakat giving to ensure that those without a voice are taken care of. We can only mitigate the risks of this pandemic with your continued support towards our deaf students, teachers and their families.

FESF eligible for Zakat contributions, registered with the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and Pakistan Center for Philanthropy (PCP), and fully Shariah compliant.

How to Donate: Canada based donors can pay via HCI Canada (Specify: FOR DEAF STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN). HCI will provide receipts to claim tax exemption in Canada. Their Charitable Registration

Number is 107497125RR0001

Online Donation: https://www.humanconcern.org/deaf-children-in-pakistan/ Please dedicate the funds to

DEAF STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN

HCI respects your privacy. Please inform me of your giving so your generous support can be acknowledged. Thank you.

•Implementing a Raashan Program to Pakistan based donations help care of and provide food to our online: www.deafreach.com/donate-now 1,200+ deaf children, teachers, staff and Please click to view our Shariah Certificate Please click to view our Deaf Reach flyer their families.

•Continuing to provide salaries to all With great thanks and appreciation, our 350 teachers and school staff, a large Sarah Shaikh Development Director, FESF - Deaf Reach number of whom are deaf.

•Creating information videos in sign Mob/ WA: +92-321-231-5876

19

Ramdan 1, 1441H April 24, 2020

womeN/Youth

Challenges Leads To Success

By: Shabnam Khan, Family Counsellor If you want success as bad as you want to breath, you will be successful. I’m sure everyone wants to breath so really what are the steps to become a real success story? People are yearning and wanting success. We all want to make more money, or have more than we already have right now. But how bad do we really want it? How do we really become a real success story?

The steps to becoming a real success story are not always simple as one may think. If so, everyone would have a success story, everyone would be making more money, or everyone would be starting their own business, etc. But if you want it as bad as you want to breath, success will not only come but will change your life to ways that you never saw before. There are 5 magical steps that will help you to become successful.

1. Find your purpose ~ Find your purpose and true happiness will come. We were all created with a thought in mind and with a true purpose.

Finding your purpose will help you live longer and grow stronger. What if we were sitting in a chair expecting it to ride us down the street like a car would. It wouldn’t work would it? That’s because it’s not the purpose of the chair to take us here or there. Find your purpose and the success you yearn for will push you to becoming a real success story.

2. Write the Vision ~ Writing the vision is the 2nd step to becoming a real success story. In a nutshell it just says that your dreams and vi-

sion will come to life.

Writing the vision is another word for setting goals for yourself and seeing who you will become and be and what your real live success story will look like.

3. Be willing to Fail ~ All real success stories are full of failure stories.

Chances are some successful people may have failed at one time or another. Remember, just “don’t quit”. Continue to try over and over again until they become a real success story.

4. Surround yourself with other real success stories ~ This means continue to surround yourself around like-minded people. If you want to be a real success story, then surround yourself with other people who live, breath and produce success.

5. Be a positive thinker ~ All people who are a real success continued to believe that they could do anything possible than they believed. Even when the time is down and negative things happened, they still believed that they would be success no matter what the results were.

If you want to have a true successful story, just take the challenge and do it anyways. You will be amazed with the results and it will be very rewarding!! info: shabnam@skcounselling.ca

Ramadan Mubarak

By: Asma Shums, Ramadan, the month of blessings have started in a different circumstances now. It is rightly said that in every act of Allah there is some mercy, something thing good comes out of it.

There is always a reason behind everything.

A leaf cannot move without his permission.

Nothing can happen without his permission.

God is kind, always kind and has a purpose and reason for our own betterment. Some difficulties are the results of our own mistakes and some are godgiven to guide us, to improve us or to prepare for some future.

Coming back to our topic of Ramzan,this year it is different then the rest of the other years. / we are affected by virus, we have to save ourselves from it. We can observe our ramzan month now with a little simplicity. We can pray, meditate and have more time to think now that we are all confined at home. We now have a lot of time in our hands during this quarantine, and this gives us more time to pray. Since we re keeping a social distancing, we aren’t going to be having iftar gatherings.

This is the first Ramzan where we are locked up before the Shaitan

So this month: 1) Let us keep social distancing and avoid large gatherings 2) Let us plan our day ahead and schedule proper work from home timing 3) Let us make plan for reading Quran more and think about Allah 4) Let us read Hadis with our family member 5) Let us spend quality time with our family 6) Let us read knowledgeable books and increase our knowledge 7) Count our blessings Let us restart our life with simple living, high thinking, being kind, giving value to our family and friends. Let us be aware of the needs of others, and share a part of our good fortune.

We can do volunteering work and help the less fortunate. info at: asmashums@gmail.com

2: There two questions are no longer asked by wives to their husbands:

Where are you? & When will you come home?

How to curb anxiety during Ideas to Cure Your Selfthe COVID-19 pandemic Isolation Boredom

By:Dr. Jaleh Shahin, Psychologist, Copeman Healthcare |Supported by TELUS Health f you’ve found yourself feeling worried or anxious about your health, the health of loved ones, finances, work, your children’s education and more, you’re not alone.

Experiencing anxiety and worry in uncertain times is normal. In fact, intense anxiety and/or fear is an adaptive response that has helped our species survive throughout history. Referred to as the fight or flight response, it’s our brain’s version of a smoke alarm that tells us to stay put or run away in dangerous situations. Essentially, it makes us extra vigilant of harmful threats.

In this global pandemic – a time with immense uncertainty – some anxiety and fear is to be expected. However, too much anxiety may be putting you or your loved ones at more risk of harm.

Individuals react differently to extreme anxiety and fear. Some may go into “denial mode” and underestimate the risks. As a result, they may not take the advice of health officials seriously enough and proceed normally; this could put them and their loved ones at higher risk of exposure to the COVID virus. Others may respond to their intense fear by going into “panic mode” and respond by panic purchasing, stockpiling items and supplies or making frequent and unnecessary calls or visits to medical facilities. This response also can be harmful by limiting availability of necessities and medical supplies.

So, what can be done to ensure we can respond to our fears in a way that keeps everyone as healthy and safe as possible?

Whether you’re experiencing extreme anxiety or moderate levels that are normal, here are eight strategies that can help you manage

I

those anxious feelings.

1. Identify what you can and what you can NOT control Identify what you can and can’t control.

Let go of what you can’t control and focus on what you do have control over. Focus on how you spend your time at home and your thoughts and actions, such as hand washing, practicing social distancing, staying home and following other guidelines provided by health officials.

2. Connect with friends and family virtually We live in a digital world that allows us to stay connected to our loved ones almost anywhere, anytime. Reach out to your friends and family online. Have an online coffee date, play an online game together, watch movies together, schedule phone calls, Facetime or Skype, text a loving message to someone you care about and keep the connection going.

Connecting with others is more important than ever during times of crisis.

3. Stop talking about COVID It’s tempting to spend a lot of time talking about the pandemic, the virus, the exposure, what others should or should not be doing, and all the other worries you’ve been experiencing! Fight this temptation! We are surrounded by messages about the risks and potential harm of this virus, this will impact your sense of threat. Allow yourself and your loved ones to take breaks from talking about the virus and the pandemic. Don’t initiate conversations about the virus or gently redirect the conversation when it comes up. You could even make an agreement with loved ones that some of your conversations are “COVID-free.”

4. Limit your social media and news consumption Limit your exposure to the news and especially social media. Know the facts and only use reputable sources such as official government websites for obtaining pertinent information. Limit how often you check the news and make sure you avoid taking advice from social media.

5. Be kind to yourself and practice mindfulness You may be experiencing many other emotions in addition to anxiety and fear. You may have feelings of sadness, loss, grief and

By: Khadija Nadeem Gr 8 Self-isolation has left us all at home, wondering what to do with all our spare time. So, here are 5 ideas you can use to spend your time.

1. In the kitchen.

Learning how to bake or cook won’t only add another skill to your belt, but it’s fun to do with family and you get to eat what you make. Some basic things to bake could include cookies, brownies or muffins. And if you’re looking for something a bit more savoury, try making pasta (like macaroni and cheese) or pizza.

2. Get Get out the arts and crafts supplies.

Everyone loves getting a little messy with paint and it’s a good way to occupy your time. Whether you’re making something to pass the time or to give to someone or hang up, it’s a great way to relax and have fun.

3.During self-isolation, we’re cut off from our friends. But that’s doesn’t mean we can’t still have fun with them. Using facetime, skype, houseparty or whatever app you want, connect with your friends or

loved ones and play some games. Some popular ones include, Never Have I Ever, Whisper Challenge, Truth or Dare, Would You Rather, Charades, Guess the Song and so many more fun ones.

4. Break out your board games. You’re sure to have the classics like Monopoly and Game of Life. And if that’s not your cup of tea, try cards. Some good card games include, Rummy, Old Maid, Spoons, Cheat and many more.

5. We all have our favourite tv show or movie so why not re-watch them! Maybe try some new ones or have a marathon of all your favourite ones. Some good movies to have a marathon with include the Marvel series, The Lord of the Rings + The Hobbit, Harry Potter, Madagascar, Star Wars, Spiderman and many more.

more. Practice self-compassion and allow yourself to feel your feelings. A great way to learn to experience and have space for emotions is practicing mindfulness. There are several free resources on mindfulness.

Some mindfulness apps may be offering their programs for free for a period, so explore your options. Commonly used mindfulness apps include Breathe, Headspace and Calm.

6. Practice self-care Taking care of yourself during stressful times is an essential component of nurturing your mental health. It could be engaging in a favorite activity or one that’s new and engaging. The list is endless, but here are some examples to consider: eat and sleep well, exercise, take a bath, watch your favorite show or movie, listen to music, dance, play or learn a musical instrument, learn a new language, journal, practice gratitude.

7. Become an anxiety expert If you’re struggling with heightened anxiety, there are numerous resources that teach you everything you need to know about anxiety and how to tackle it. Anxiety Canada is an excellent source; they offer a plethora of information, tools and strategies and resources for adults, youth and children.

8. If all else fails and the anxiety is disruptive to your life, seek professional mental health support Sometimes anxiety can become disruptive to our daily functioning. If you’re experiencing debilitating anxiety, access a mental health professional for support.

Finally, we’re all in this together, so let’s lend a helping hand to our friends and neighbours. Humans are resilient and we have overcome challenging times repeatedly through history – this time will be no different! Be kind and stay safe.

Source:www.telushealth.co

20

Ramdan 1, 1441H April 24, 2020

Influenza

The flu, or influenza,

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health

s a highly contagious viral infection that mainly affects the respiratory system.

It’s usually a seasonal illness, with yearly outbreaks killing hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Though rare, completely new versions of the virus may infect people and spread quickly, resulting in pandemics (an infection that spreads throughout the world) with death tolls in the millions. Symptoms of the flu include sudden onset fever, coughing, sneezing, a runny nose, and severe malaise, though it can also include vomiting, diarrhea and nausea.

Influenza has plagued humankind for centuries and, given its highly variable nature, may continue to do so for centuries to come.

What Is the Flu? Influenza is a viral respiratory infection that causes symptoms similar to, but more severe than, the common cold. Flu symptoms can include sudden onset fever, cough, runny or stuffy nose and severe malaise (feeling unwell). The flu can also sometimes cause vomiting, diarrhea and nausea, (particularly in young children), but the flu is primarily a respiratory disease and not a stomach or intestinal disease.

Symptoms develop 1 to 4 days after contracting the virus. Most people recover within 2 weeks without medical treatment, but the flu can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, bronchitis and sinus and ear infections.

The “flu season” typically lasts from late fall to spring. Each year, flu epidemics cause 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness and about 290,000 to 650,000 deaths around the globe, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

During recent years in the United States, between 12,000 and 56,000 people have died annually from the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

What Causes Influenza?

Influenza has likely been around for millennia, though its cause was only identified relatively recently.

One of the earliest reports of an influenzalike illness comes from Hippocrates, who described a highly contagious disease from northern Greece (ca. 410 B.C.).

The word influenza, however, wasn’t used to describe a disease until many centuries later. In 1357, people called an epidemic in Florence, Italy influenza di freddo, which translates to “cold influence,” referring to the disease’s possible cause.

In 1414, French chroniclers used similar terms to describe an epidemic that affected up to 100,000 people in Paris. They said it originated from vent puant et tout plein de froidure, or a “smelly and cold wind.”

The term influenza became commonplace to describe the disease, at least in Britain, in the mid-1700s. At the time, it was thought that the influence of the cold (influenza di freddo), along with astrological influences or the conjunction of stars and planets (influenza di stelle), caused the disease.

In 1892, Dr. Richard Pfeiffer isolated an unknown bacterium from the sputum of his sickest flu patients, and he concluded that the bacteria caused influenza. He called it Pfeiffer’s bacillus, or Haemophilus influenzae.

Scientists later discovered that H. influenzae causes many types of infections—including pneumonia and meningitis—but not influenza.

Researchers finally isolated the virus that causes flu from pigs in 1931, and from humans in 1933.

Influenza Virus Influenza viruses, which are part of the Ortho-

myxoviridae family of viruses, cause the flu.

Four types of the virus exist: A and B, which are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics in people; C, which is relatively rare, causes a mild respiratory illness, and is not thought to cause epidemics; and D, which primarily infects cattle and isn’t known to affect people.

Influenza A virus, which also infects including birds, swine, horses, and other animals, is further divided into subtypes based on two antigens (proteins) on the virus’s surface: hemagglutinin (H), of which there 18 subtypes, and neuraminidase (N), of which there 11 subtypes.

The specific virus is recognized by these antigens. For example, H1N1 refers to influenza A virus with hemagglutinin subtype 1 and neuraminidase subtype 1, and H3N2 refers to influenza A virus with hemagglutinin subtype 3 and neuraminidase subtype 2.

Influenza B, on the other hand, is recognized by lineages and strains. The influenza B viruses commonly seen in people belong to one of two lineages: B/Yamagata or B/ Victoria.

How Flu Pandemics Arise Influenza is a constantly evolving virus. It quickly goes through mutations that slightly alter the properties of its H and N antigens.

Due to these changes, acquiring immunity (either by getting sick or vaccinated with a flu shot) to an influenza subtype such as H1N1 one year will not necessarily mean a person is immune to a slightly different virus circulating in subsequent years.

But since the strain produced by this “antigenic drift” is still similar to older strains, the immune systems of some people will still recognize and properly respond to the virus.

In other cases, however, the virus can undergo major changes to the antigens such that most people don’t have an immunity to the new virus, resulting in pandemics rather than epidemics.

This “antigenic shift” can occur if an influenza A subtype in an animal jumps directly into humans.

It can also occur if an intermediate host such as a pig—which is susceptible to avian, human, and swine influenza—becomes simultaneously infected by influenza viruses from two different species and the viruses exchange genetic information to acquire completely new antigens, a process called genetic reassortment.

How the Flu Spreads The flu spreads several ways: through airborne coughs or sneezes, through touching contaminated surfaces like doorknobs or keyboards, through contact like handshakes or hugs and from saliva shared through drinks or kissing. If you become sick, consider working or studying from home while recovering, as going to work or school can spread the disease to others.

How to Prevent the Flu The elderly, young children, pregnant women, people with chronic disease and those with compromised immune systems are more likely to get the flu. The CDC says the flu vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the flu, though it is not foolproof.

Avoiding close contact with sick individuals, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing your hands often can help prevent the flu.

Once someone has contracted the flu, doctors can prescribe antiviral medication to shorten the illness and decrease symptoms.

The History of the Flu Pinpointing pandemics from historical reports is challenging given the lack of accurate and consistent records, but epidemiologists generally agree that the 1580 influenza outbreak is the earliest known pandemic.

The 1580 pandemic began in Asia during the summer, and then spread to Africa and

Europe. Within six months, influenza had spread from southern Europe all the way to the northern European countries, and the infection subsequently reached the Americas. The actual death toll is unknown, but 8,000 deaths occurred in Rome alone.

Nearly 150 years later, another influenza pandemic arose. It began in 1729 in Russia and spread throughout Europe within 6 months and all the world within three years.

King Louis XV was reportedly infected and stated that the disease spread like a foolish little girl, or follette in French.

Only 40 years later, in 1781, another pandemic struck. It arose in China, spread to Russia, and then encompassed Europe and North America over the next year. At its peak, the infection struck 30,000 people each day in St. Petersburg and affected twothirds of the population in Rome.

The pandemic of 1830–1833 began in China, and then spread by ships to the Philippines, India and Indonesia, and finally across Russia and into Europe, which experienced two recurrences over the span of the pandemic.

Outbreaks appeared in North America from 1831–1832. Before it ended, the pandemic may have affected 20 to 25 percent of the world’s population.

Spanish Flu Pandemic The first “modern” flu pandemic occurred in 1889 in Russia, and its sometimes known as the “Russian flu.” It reached the American continent just 70 days after it began and ultimately affected approximately 40 percent of

the world’s population.

The flu pandemic of 1918 is sometimes known as the “mother of all pandemics.”

The so-called Spanish flu pandemic was the deadliest in history, affecting one-third of the world’s population and killing up to 50 million people.

The Spanish flu, the first known pandemic to involve the H1N1 virus, came in several waves and killed its victims quickly, often within a matter of hours or days. More U.S. soldiers in World War I died from the flu than from battle.

The 20th century saw two other flu pandemics: the 1957 Asian flu (caused by H2N2), which killed 1.1 million people worldwide, and the Hong Kong flu of 1968 (H3N2), which killed 1 million people worldwide.

Both of these flu strains arose from a genetic reassortment between a human and an avian virus.

In 2009, a new influenza A H1N1 virus emerged in North America and spread

throughout the world. The “swine flu” pandemic primarily affected children and young adults who had no immunity to the new virus, while nearly one-third of people over the age of 60 had antibodies against the virus due to prior exposure to a similar H1N1 virus strain.

Compared with previous pandemics, the 2009 swine flu was relatively mild, despite

killing up to 203,000 people worldwide.

Flu Vaccine: A Moving Target Shortly after scientists identified the influenza A virus, researchers began work on creating a flu vaccine, with the first clinical trials commencing in the mid-1930s.

Given the high death toll of World War I soldiers to the flu, the U.S. military was highly interested in a flu vaccine. During World War II, U.S. soldiers were part of field tests on the safety and efficacy of the new vaccine.

But during these 1942–1945 tests, scientists discovered influenza type B, necessitating a new bivalent vaccine that protects against both H1N1 and the influenza B virus.

After the Asian flu pandemic arose in 1957, a new vaccine protecting against H2N2 was developed. WHO monitored the circulating influenza virus strains in various countries to determine which flu vaccine would be needed in an upcoming season.

During the 1978 pandemic, scientists developed the first trivalent flu vaccine, which protected against one strain of influenza A/ H1N1, one strain of influenza virus A/H3N2 and a type B virus. Most U.S.-licensed seasonal flu vaccines since then have been trivalent.

In 2012, the first quadrivalent flu vaccine that protects against an additional influenza B virus was approved for use.

Scientists at WHO and its collaborating centers determine which strains to vaccinate against based on how the viruses have mutated in the past year and how they are spreading, with different vaccines needed for the Northern and Southern hemisphere.

But given the uncertainties involved in these estimates, vaccine effectiveness can vary widely—the 2004–2005 vaccine was only 10 percent effective in the United States, while the 2010-2011 vaccine was 60 percent effective, according to the CDC. The 2018–2019 flu vaccine was 29 percent effective against Influenza A and B and 44 percent effective in preventing influenza A (H1N1) viruses in the United States.

Sourcewww.history.com/topics/inventions/flu

21

Ramdan 1, 1441H

sp e c i a l

April 24, 2020

Dr Israr Ahmad (A Religious Islamic Scholar of Pakistan) Health

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srar Ahmed 26 April 1932 – 14 April 2010; Msc, MBBS)

in Islam and philosophy grew further and he subsequently moved to Karachi, Sindh Province in the 1960s where he enrolled in Karachi University. After submitting his thesis in 1965, he earned his MSc in Islamic Studies from Karachi University. [5] Peace TV. Dr. Israr Ahmad

was a prominent Pakistani Islamic theologian, philosopher, and an Islamic scholar followed particularly in South Asia as well as by a number of South Asian Muslims in the Middle East, Western Europe, Work and North America. “About the Founder: Literature and Philosophy Dr. Israr Ahmad Hashmi, Salima.

In 1967, Ahmed wrote and published the On the Philosophy of Dr. Israr Ahmed important philosophy book, the “Islamic About Renaissance: The Real Task Ahead”, in Dr Israr Ahmed R.A a renowned Islamic which he briefly explained the abstract idea scholar. His lectures and sermons are listen of the Caliphate system. He vehemently globally on Quran, Politico Socio Economic maintained that only by revitalising concept System of Islam, Global Affairs and End and importance of faith among the Muslims Times. About in general and intelligentsia in particular.

His solution was to teach Qur’an in contemDr Israr Ahmed porary idiom backed by the highest level History He was the founder of the Tanzeem-e-Is- of scholarship. Commenting on scientific lami and an offshoot activist of the rightist aspects, Ahmed wrote that “this undertakJamaat-e-Islami.Ahmed wrote and pub- ing would remove the existing dichotomy lished 60 books on different aspects of Islam between modern physical and social sciand religion, nine of which were translated ences on the one hand, and Islamic revealed into English.Prior to that, he was a televi- knowledge on the other.” sion personality and daily hosted a religious show on Peace TV. Our Staff Reporter (15 April 2010). Prominent scholar Dr Israr Ahmed dies

Awarded

Early Life and Education

Israr Ahmed was born in Hisar, a province of East Punjab of British Indian Empire, on 26 April 1932. His father was a civil servant in British Government and had his family settled from Hisar to Montgomery, now Sahiwal, Punjab Province of Pakistan.

Graduate

After graduating from a local high school, Ahmed moved to Lahore to attend the King Edward Medical University in 1950. There, he received MBBS from King Edward Medi- He criticised modern democracy and the cal University in 1954 and began practising prevalent electoral system and argued that medicine. the head of an Islamic state could reject the Joined Jamaat-e-Islami majority decisions of an elected assembly.

In 1950, he joined Jamaat-e-Islami led by Although he did not like to receive it perAbul Ala Maududi, but left the party when sonally, Ahmed was awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz the latter opted for participating in electoral in 1981. He has to his credit over 60 books politics in 1957. Ahmed resigned from the in Urdu on topics related to Islam and PakiJamaat-e-Islami in April 1957 because of its stan, nine of which have been translated into involvement in the national politics, which English and other languages.[6] Mumtaz he believed was irreconcilable with the Ahmad, Media-Based Preachers and the revolutionary methodology adopted by the Creation of New Muslim Publics in PakiJama’at in the pre-1947 period. His interest stan, NBR Special Report

Continued from page 16 intends to improve going forward.

Currently, the Health and Finance committees are meeting virtually, and several other committees are expected to start meeting next week. But the government has refused to give virtual committees the same powers regular committees have. Conservatives are pushing for all committees to be able to meet virtually to discuss the pandemic response and for them to have their regular powers. The government must not be allowed to hide things from Canadians.

Through our tireless efforts to ensure prop-

Ahmed relinquished the leadership of Tanzeem-e-Islami in October 2002 on grounds of bad health and Hafiz Akif Saeed is the present Ameer of the Tanzeem to whom all rufaqaa of Tanzeem renewed their pledge of Baiyah.

Biography of Ameer Tanzeem-e-Islami Hafiz Akif Saeed The Founder - Dr Israr Ahmed April 26, 1932 - April 14 2010 Dr. Israr Ahmad, the second son of a government servant, was born on April 26, 1932 in Hisar (a district of East Punjab, now a part of Haryana) in India. He graduated from King Edward Medical College (Lahore) in 1954 and later received his masters in Islamic Studies from the University of Karachi in 1965. He came under the influence of Allama Iqbal and Maulana Abul A`la Maududi as a young student, worked briefly for Muslim Student’s Federation in the Independence Movement and, following the creation of Pakistan in 1947, for the Islami Jami`yat-e-Talaba and then for the Jama`ate-Islami. Dr. Israr Ahmad resigned from the Jama`at in April 1957 because of its involvement in the electoral politics, which he believed was irreconcilable with the revolutionary methodology adopted by the Jama’at in the pre-1947 period.

Fame and Eminence

While still a student and an activist of the Islami Jamiyat-e-Talaba, Dr. Israr Ahmad gained considerable fame and eminence as a Mudarris (or teacher) of the Holy Qur’an.

Even after resigning from the Jama`at, he continued to give Qur’anic lectures in different cities of Pakistan, and especially after 1965 he has, according to his own disclosure, invested the better part of his physical and intellectual abilities in the learning and teaching of the Qur’anic wisdom.

Dr. Israr Ahmad wrote an extremely significant tract in 1967 in which he explained his basic thought — that an Islamic Renaissance is possible only by revitalizing the Iman (true faith and conviction) among the Muslims, particularly their intelligentsia. The revitalization of Iman, in turn, is possible only by the propagation of the Qur’anic teachings and presenting the everlasting wisdom of the Book of Allah (SWT) in contemporary idiom and at the highest level of scholarship. This undertaking is essential in order to remove the existing dichotomy between modern physical and social sciences on the one hand and the knowledge revealed by Almighty Allah (SWT) on the other. This tract is available in English as “Islamic Renaissance: The Real Task Ahead”.

Medical Practice

Dr. Israr Ahmad gave up his thriving medical practice in 1971 in order to launch a full-fledged and vigorous movement for the revival of Islam. As a result of his efforts, the Markazi Anjuman Khuddam-ul-Qur’an Lahore was established in 1972, Tanzeem-eIslami was founded in 1975, and Tahreek-eKhilafat Pakistan was launched in 1991.

An Open Letter to Canadians er accountability, Parliament has tasked the helping Canadians through this crisis and Auditor General with reviewing the unprecedented level of government spending during this crisis and ensuring that not one cent of taxpayer dollars is misspent. In order to carry out this vital work, the government must appoint a permanent Auditor General with a ten-year term and provide his or her office with the necessary resources.

Some have suggested that Conservatives are only interested in holding weekly sittings for partisan purposes. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our focus is on

ensuring that when the time comes, we have a plan to get Canada’s economy back on track.

In the words of the great John Diefenbaker, “Parliament is more than procedure – it is the custodian of the nation’s freedom.”

No government should use a health crisis to try to effectively shut down democracy or take away hard-won rights or freedoms.

When the government has tried to grant itself sweeping new powers, we have stopped them. When they have tried to avoid ac-

First Appeared on Pakistan Television Dr. Israr Ahmad first appeared on Pakistan Television in 1978 in a program called AlKitab; this was followed by other programs, known as Alif Lam Meem, Rasool-e-Kamil, Umm-ul-Kitab and the most popular of all religious programs in the history of Pakistan Television, the Al-Huda, which made him a household name throughout the country.

Although he did not like to receive it personally, Dr. Israr Ahmad was awarded Sitara-eImtiaz in 1981. He has to his credit over 60 Urdu books on topics related to Islam and Pakistan, 9 of which have been translated into English and other languages.

Traditionalist

In the context of Quranic exegesis and understanding, Dr. Israr Ahmad is a firm traditionalist of the genre of Maulana Mehmood Hassan Deobandi and Allama Shabeer Ahmad Usmani; yet he presents Qur’anic teachings in a scientific and enlightened way, being also a disciple of Allama Iqbal and Dr. Muhammad Rafiuddin, and also because of his own background in science and medicine. Concerning the internal coherence of and the principles of deep reflection in the Qur’an, he has essentially followed the thinking of Maulana Hameed Uddin Farahi and Maulana Ameen Ahsan Islahi, though even here he has further developed their line of argument. Dr. Israr Ahmad believes in a dynamic and revolutionary conception of Islam, and in this regard he is a disciple of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Maulana Sayyid Abul A`la Maududi.

Widely Traveled

For the last forty years or so, Dr. Israr Ahmad has been actively engaged not only in reviving the Qur’an-centered Islamic perennial philosophy and world-view but also reforming the society in a practical way with the ultimate objective of establishing a true Islamic State, or the System of Khilafah. He has widely traveled abroad and the audio and video tapes of his Qur’anic discourses in Urdu and English languages have circulated in thousands throughout the world.

Masters Thesis

A master’s thesis, entitled Dr. Israr Ahmad’s Political Thought and Activities, was written

by Ms. Shagufta Ahmad in the Islamic Studies department of Canada’s Mac Gill University. This thesis is available from Markazi Anjuman Khuddam-ul-Qur’an Lahore.

Tanzeem-e-Islami

Dr. Israr Ahmed relinquished the leadership of Tanzeem-e-Islami in October, 2002 on grounds of bad health and Hafiz Aakif Saeed is the present Ameer of the Tanzeem to whom all rufaqaa of Tanzeem renewed their pledge of Baiyah.

Popularity

He was popular for his lectures and debates on television over burning religious issues. He turned into a household name during the early ‘80s thanks to a PTV programme, Al Huda.

Source: https://www.pakpedia.pk/ dr-israr-ahmad countability, we have required transparency.

And when they have brought forward legislation to help Canadians, we have made improvements. That work must continue.

Parliament is an essential service. Representatives in Japan, Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Sweden, Finland and the European Parliament are continuing to meet during these trying times. Our democracy should be no different.

It is my sincere hope that all parties will agree to our common-sense proposals.

Canadians are counting on us.,

22

Ramdan 1, 1441H April 24, 2020

Pakistan

Chinese pharma offers to conduct clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccine in Pakistan

A major Chinese pharmaceutical company has invited the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, to collaborate in conducting clinical trials of its recently developed inactivated vaccine for Covid-19 in Pakistan, it emerged on Wednesday.

The offer was made in a letter sent to NIH Executive Director Maj Gen Dr Aamer Ikram by the general manager of China Sinopharm International Corp., Li Can, who expressed the hope that “a successful clinical trial in Pakistan will make it one of [the] first few countries for the launch of a Covid-19 vaccine”.

While confirming that he had received the letter on Wednesday, Dr Ikram told Dawn. com that although no action has so far been taken, the collaboration could be “a great thing for Pakistan”.

“We want to increase the trend of clinical trials in the country. There are a number of laws before it can start; it has to be approved by the ethics committee, et al, but we will start when we get the clearance,” he added.

According to Dr Ikram, the benefit from the clinical trials being held in Pakistan will be that if the vaccine proves to be successful, the country will be able to procure it on a high-priority basis.

NIH is an autonomous organisation that

functions under the ministry of national health services.

The letter, a copy of which has been seen by Dawn.com, stated that Sinopharm is one of the first organisations to have led the development of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. A state-owned enterprise, Sinopharm produces more than 80 per cent of the mandatory immunisation needs of China and played a leading role in fighting the Covid-19 crisis in the country.

“In the process we developed a lot of practical insights that we would like to share with you,” reads the letter written to the NIH chief, noting that the two organisations have already been collaborating regarding vaccine development in Pakistan.

It said that regulatory authorities worldwide have initiated emergency protocols to facilitate clinical trials and early introduction of a Covid-19 vaccine. In China, Phase I and II of the clinical trials have been combined to speed up the process.

The Chinese pharma recommended that Pakistan adopt a similar approach through the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap).

Endeavour of ‘utmost importance’ It noted that the NIH has the necessary technical expertise and elements for conduct-

ing clinical trials on recruited participants through a nominated medical institution.

In order to achieve this, the letter proposed that Sinopharm, its representative HealthBee Projects Private Limited and the NIH enter into a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) “urgently to plan and commence the implementation of these Phase I and II combined clinical trials”.

Li Can noted that the signing of the agreement will enable Siopharm to share “more detailed confidential information for approvals and planning”.

While requesting NIH to facilitate the trials’ approval by the health ministry and

Drap, the company said it will “provide full support” in the provision of supporting documentation, distribution of trial-related funding, planning of logistics and submission of clinical trial dossier to Drap through HealthBee. “We will work in close collaboration with [the] NIH clinical trial team during the processing for the success of the clinical trial as this endeavour is of utmost importance for our countries in accordance with the current pandemic situation,” the communique added.

Source: dawn.com

Moin Akhtar’s peers pay tribute to his talent (Dec 24, 1950,- April 22, 2011)

A

pril 22nd marks the ninth death anniversary of the multifaceted actor and comedian Moin Akhtar, whose roles still resonate deeply with people. Born on December 24, 1950, Moin Akhtar entered the entertainment industry in 1966 when his parody performance as popular actor Muhammad Ali shot him into the limelight.

After this there was no stopping Akhtar.

His long-standing double act with writer Anwar Maqsood made him an icon, and when Bushra Ansari joined them the resulting comedy was matchless. Talking to Images, actor Arshad Mehmood said of Moin Akhtar: “I knew him since a long time and this would be enough to say that he was indeed a huge artist but he was not just a great artist, he was a far greater human being.”

Acclaimed actor Samina Peerzada also shared her memories with the late comedian: “I have worked with Moin in both theatre and TV and I had an amazing time with him. He was truly an icon, a legend. There

was nobody like him and there will be no one like him. I truly miss him,” she said.

“He was an extremely funny and he would always have a prank up his sleeve. Ullu bohat banatay thay, and he would pull it in such a serious way that anyone would fall for it,” she added.

In an earlier interview with Dawn.com, Anwar Maqsood remembered him as the ‘best star in a night sky’: “I have never seen such a professional yet such a careless person in my life,” he said.

Reminiscing about him, the writer known for his powerful satire had said that no actor could have done what Moin did for him.

“There are many good actors in India and Pakistan. But I couldn’t find an actor like Moin, neither in Pakistan nor in India.”

Veteran actor Qazi Wajid also echoed similar thoughts in the same interview. For him, Moin Akhtar was an extremely humble man who never addressed him by taking his name. As for his skills, Qazi Wajid said: “He was a master performer.”

His adaptability was undoubtedly his greatest strength: from speaking fluent Urdu to English, Bengali, Hindi, Pashto, Sindhi or Punjabi, Moin Akhtar could become anyone he willed: he was a perfect behroopiya, an impersonator.

His acts were not only lauded in Pakistan but he was admired in India as well by the likes of Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan He is famous for his impeccable performance in shows like Rozi, Half-Plate, and Family 93. His theatre performance with Omer Sharif in Bakra Qiston Par and Buddha Ghar Pe Hai is also remembered as one

of the best stage-shows, as the genre has seen a decline in recent years. He was last seen making others chuckle in the popular show Loose-Talk which saw faux interviews of Moin Akhtar by Anwar Maqsood as he pulled on innumerable roles ranging from a labourer, politician, transvestite and even a dictator. It was Loose-Talk which made sure that the newer generation knew the art of being Moin Akhtar.

Along with many accolades, he was conferred the Pride of Performance in 2012.

Following a cardiac arrest, Moin Akhtar passed away on April 22 2011 in his home

town, Karachi.

He was last seen making others chuckle in the popular show Loose-Talk which saw faux interviews of Moin Akhtar by Anwar Maqsood as he pulled on innumerable roles ranging from a labourer, politician, transvestite and even a dictator. It was Loose-Talk which made sure that the newer generation knew the art of being Moin Akhtar.

Along with many accolades, he was conferred the Pride of Performance in 2012.

Following a cardiac arrest, Moin Akhtar passed away on April 22 2011 in his hometown, Karachi. Source: images.dawn.com

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Vancouver ; 11:00 Calgary 12:00 Sundays : Vancouver; 15:30 Calgary 16:30 DAPTV is Rocking in Western Canada

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‫ﮐﻮ ِوڈ ‪ (COVID-19) 19-‬ﮐﮯ ﭘﮭﯿﻼؤ ﮐﻮ ﮐﻢ ﮐﺮﻧﮯ ﻣﯿﮟ ﻣﺪد‬ ‫ﮐﺮﯾﮟ‬ ‫ﮐﻮروﻧﺎ واﺋﺮس ﮐﯽ ﺑﯿﻤﺎری )‪ (COVID-19‬ﮐﮯ ﭘﮭﯿﻼؤ ﮐﻮ ﮐﻢ‬ ‫ﮐﺮﻧﮯ ﮐﮯ ﻟﺌﮯ اﻗﺪاﻣﺎت ‪:‬‬

‫ﺍﭘﻨﮯ ﻣﻘﺎﻣﯽ ﭘﺒﻠﮏ ﮨﯿﻠﺘﮫ ﺍﺗﮭﺎﺭﭨﯽ‬ ‫ﮐﮯ ﻣﺸﻮﺭﮮ ﭘﺮ ﲻﻞ ﮐﺮﯾﮟ۔‬

‫ﮐﻢ ﺍﺯ ﮐﻢ ‪ 20‬ﺳﯿﮑﻨﮉ ﺗﮏ‬ ‫ﺍﭘﻨﮯ ﮨﺎﺗﮫ ﺍﮐﱶ ﺩﮬﻮﺋﯿﮟ ﺍﻭﺭ۔‬

‫ﺑﯿﲈﺭ ﻟﻮﮔﻮﮞ ﺳﮯ‬ ‫ﻗﺮﯾﺒﯽ ﺭﺍﺑﻄﮧ ﺭﮐﮭﻨﮯ‬ ‫ﺳﮯ ﮔﺮﯾﺰ ﮐﺮﯾﮟ۔‬

‫ﮐﻮﺷﺶ ﮐﺮﯾﮟ ﯾﮧ ﺍﭘﻨﯽ‬ ‫ﺁﻧﮑﮭﻮﮞ‪ ،‬ﻧﺎﮎ ﯾﺎ ﻣﻨﮧ ﮐﻮ‬ ‫ﮨﺎﺗﮫ ﺳﮯ ﻧﮧ ﭼﮭﻮﺋﯿﮟ۔‬

‫ﺍﭘﻨﮯ ﺑﺎﺯﻭ ﮐﮯ ﻣﻮﮌ‬ ‫ﻣﯿﮟ ﮐﮭﺎﻧﺴﯿﮟ ﺍﻭﺭ‬ ‫ﭼﮭﯿﻨﮑﯿﮟ ‪ ،‬ﻧﮧ ﮐﮧ ﺍﭘﻨﮯ‬ ‫ﮨﺎﺗﮭﻮﮞ ﻣﯿﮟ۔‬

‫ﻋﻼﻣﺎت‬

‫ﺍﮔﺮ ﺻﺎﺑﻦ ﺍﻭﺭ ﭘﺎﻧﯽ ﺩﺳﺘﯿﺎﺏ ﻧﮧ ﮨﻮ ﺗﻮ ﺍﻟﮑﺤﻞ‬ ‫ﭘﺮ ﻣﺒﻨﯽ ﮨﺎﺗﮭﻮﮞ ﮐﻮ ﺟﺮﺍﺛﯿﻢ ﺳﮯ ﭘﺎﮎ ﺭﮐﮭﻨﮯ‬ ‫ﻭﺍﻻ ﳏﻠﻮﻝ )ﮨﯿﻨﮉ ﺳﯿﻨﯿﭩﺎﺋﺰﺭ( ﺍﺳﺘﻌﲈﻝ ﮐﺮﯾﮟ۔‬

‫ﺟﺲ ﻗﺪﺭﳑﮑﻦ ﮨﻮ ﮔﮭﺮ ﻣﯿﮟ ﺭﮨﯿﮟ ﺍﻭﺭ ﺍﮔﺮ‬ ‫ﺁﭖ ﮐﻮ ﮔﮭﺮ ﺳﮯ ﺑﺎﮨﺮ ﺟﺎﻧﮯ ﮐﯽ ﴐﻭﺭﺕ ﮨﻮ‬ ‫ﺗﻮ ﺟﳧﺎﻧﯽ ﺩﻭﺭﯼ )ﺗﻘﺮﯾﺒﺎ ‪ 2‬ﻣﯿﭩﺮ( ﺑﺮﻗﺮﺍﺭ‬ ‫ﺭﮐﮭﻨﮯ ﭘﺮ ﲻﻞ ﮐﺮﯾﮟ۔‬

‫اﮔﺮ آپ ﮐﻮ ﻋﻼﻣﺎت ﮨﯿﮟ‬

‫ﮐﻮﻭِﮈ ‪ 19-‬ﮐﯽ ﻋﻼﻣﺎﺕ ﺑﮩﺖ ﻣﻌﻤﻮﻟﯽ ﯾﺎ ﺯﯾﺎﺩﮦ ﺷﺪﯾﺪ‬ ‫ﮨﻮﺳﮑﺘﯽ ﮨﯿﮟ ﺍﻭﺭ ﻭﺍﺋﺮﺱ ﺳﮯ ﺍﯾﮑﺴﭙﻮﮊﺭ)ﺳﺎﻣﻨﺎ( ﮐﮯ‬ ‫ﺑﻌﺪ ﻇﺎﮨﺮ ﮨﻮﻧﮯ ﻣﯿﮟ ‪ 14‬ﺩﻥ ﺗﮏ ﻟﮓ ﺳﮑﺘﮯ ﮨﯿﮟ۔‬

‫ﲞﺎﺭ )‪ 38‬ﮈﮔﺮﯾﺰ ﺳﯿﻨﭩﯽ‬ ‫ﮔﺮﯾﮉ ﺳﮯ ﺯﯾﺎﺩﮦ ﯾﺎ ﺍﺱ ﮐﮯ ﺑﺮﺍﺑﺮ(‬

‫ﮐﮭﺎﻧﺴﯽ‬

‫ﺳﺎﻧﺲ ﻟﯿﻨﮯ ﻣﯿﮟ ﺩﺷﻮﺍﺭﯼ‬

‫ﺩﻭﴎﻭﮞ ﺗﮏ ﺑﯿﲈﺭﯼ ﭘﮭﯿﻼﻧﮯ‬ ‫ﺳﮯ ﮔﺮﯾﺰ ﮐﺮﻧﮯ ﮐﮯ ﻟﺌﮯ ﮔﮭﺮ‬ ‫ﭘﺮ ﻋﻠ ٰﯿ ﺤﺪﮔﯽ ﺑﺮﻗﺮﺍﺭ ﺭﮐﮭﯿﮟ‬ ‫)ﺁﺳﻮﻟﯿﭧ ﮨﻮﮞ(۔‬

‫ﲻﺮ ﺭﺳﯿﺪﮦ ﺍﻓﺮﺍﺩ ﺳﮯ ‪ ،‬ﯾﺎ ﺟﻦ‬ ‫ﮐﻮ ﺩﻭﴎﮮ ﻃﺒﯽ ﻣﺴﺎﺋﻞ ﮨﯿﮟ ﺍﻥ‬ ‫ﺳﮯ ﻣﻠﻨﮯ ﺟﺎﻧﮯ ﺳﮯ ﮔﺮﯾﺰ ﮐﺮﯾﮟ۔‬ ‫ﺍﻧﮩﯿﮟ ﺷﺪﯾﺪ ﺑﯿﲈﺭﯼ ﮨﻮﻧﮯ ﮐﺎ‬ ‫ﺯﯾﺎﺩﮦ ﺧﻄﺮﮦ ﮨﮯ۔‬

‫ﲱﺖ ﮐﯽ ﺩﯾﮑﮫ ﺑﮭﺎﻝ ﻓﺮﺍﮨﻢ‬ ‫ﮐﺮﻧﮯ ﻭﺍﻟﮯ ﭘﯿﺸﮧ ﻭﺭﮐﮯ ﭘﺎﺱ ﺟﺎﻧﮯ‬ ‫ﺳﮯ ﭘﮩﻠﮯ ﻓﻮﻥ ﮐﺮﮐﮯ ﺑﺘﺎﺋﯿﮟ ﯾﺎ‬ ‫ﺍﭘﻨﮯ ﻣﻘﺎﻣﯽ ﭘﺒﻠﮏ ﮨﯿﻠﺘﮫ ﺍﺗﮭﺎﺭﭨﯽ‬ ‫ﮐﻮ ﻓﻮﻥ ﮐﺮﯾﮟ۔‬

‫ﺍﮔﺮ ﺁﭖ ﮐﮯ ﻋﻼﻣﺎﺕ ﻣﺰﯾﺪ ﺑﮕﮍ‬ ‫ﺟﺎﺗﮯ ﮨﯿﮟ ﺗﻮ ‪ ،‬ﻓﻮﺭﴽ ﺍﭘﻨﮯ ﲱﺖ‬ ‫ﮐﯽ ﺩﯾﮑﮫ ﺑﮭﺎﻝ ﻓﺮﺍﮨﻢ ﮐﺮﻧﮯ ﻭﺍﻟﮯ‬ ‫ﯾﺎ ﭘﺒﻠﮏ ﮨﯿﻠﺘﮫ ﺍﺗﮭﺎﺭﭨﯽ ﺳﮯ‬ ‫ﺭﺍﺑﻄﮧ ﮐﺮﯾﮟ ‪ ،‬ﺍﻭﺭ ﺍﻥ ﮐﯽ ﮨﺪﺍﯾﺎﺕ‬ ‫ﭘﺮ ﲻﻞ ﮐﺮﯾﮟ۔‬

‫ﮐﻮ ِوڈ ‪ 19-‬ﮐﮯ ﺑﺎرے ﻣﯿﮟ ﻣﺰﯾﺪ ﻣﻌﻠﻮﻣﺎت ﮐﮯ ﻟﺌﮯ‪:‬‬ ‫‪canada.ca/coronavirus‬‬

‫‪1-833-784-4397‬‬

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* Rab-bigh-fir war-ham wa Anta Khair-ur-Raahmeen.

(Surah Al Muminun:118)

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Pakistan Last updated: April 24, 2020,@9:45am Pk T