Volume 20 Issue 521- Shawwal 28, 1441H, June 19, 2020
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BC, CANADA First Muslim Biweekly & Bilingual
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3 ‘Smart lockdown’
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15 No additional COV-
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12 B.C. premier optimistic about moving to
ID-19 deaths 25 years of offering summer employment
India-China clash: 20 Indian troops killed in Ladakh fighting At Pg 9
begins in Karachi’s Facebook removes Trump campaig PM Justin Trudeau speaks with PM K
A CERB extension is in the works for those in need: PM
At Pg 6
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Leadership Lessons From Prophet 33 Tips for Jihad against Racism Vaccines Could Start Rolling Out
Pakistan: Cross-Border Indian Firing Kills 4 Civilians At Pg 9
At Pg 10
Coronavirus Cases:
Deaths:
Recovered:
4,532,598
8,583,928
456,432
Coronavirus Cases:
Deaths:
Recovered:
Coronavirus Cases:
Deaths:
Recovered:
100,220 2,783
8,300 168
62,496 2,425
Last updated: June 19, 2020,05:37 GMT
www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?
CANADA Last updated: June 19, 2020, 05:37 GMT
BC;CANADA Last updated: June 19, 2020, 05:37 GMT
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Shawwal 28, 1441H June 19, 2020
o p i n i o n
Leadership matters
O we are back to a ‘smart lockdown’ after a month of mayhem that has seen a relentless rise in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country. There may be some signs of panic in the corridors of power with the latest projection crossing one million cases in the next few weeks, and yet there is no coherent strategy to deal with the crisis. While the pandemic stares us in the face, the leadership continues to sow confusion with its flip-flops. There is still no sense of seriousness though the daily death toll is now over 100. Pakistan is now among the top 10 countries reporting the highest number of new daily cases of Covid-19. At this rate, the death toll could be in the thousands by the time the disease reaches its peak in mid-August. With large numbers of medical staff down with the virus, the country’s health system has already collapsed with hospitals turning away an ever-increasing number of patients. The federal government’s reckless decision to reopen during the month of Ramazan, ignoring the warning by local and international health experts, has created a catastrophic situation. While no section of society is safe from the rampaging virus, it is the poor and working classes that have been most affected by the infection. In a rare move, the World Health Organisation has urged Pakistan to return to lockdown. But the federal government has dismissed the warning saying the country could not afford a total shutdown. The prime minister continues to harp on his old anti-lockdown mantra.
Mixed messaging and late. Sadly, the government’s observing SOPs, which have downplaying the problem chaotic policy could neither never been properly defined. No state can leave the enforcehave confused the public. save lives nor the economy. Intriguingly, two days after he had rejected any move to reimpose the lockdown the National Coordination and Operation Centre (NCOC) ordered what it describes as a ‘smart lockdown’, sealing areas in 20 major cities and towns across the country. One wonders who made the decision. It seems to be a repeat of the unilateral decisions taken by the provincial governments to shut down all business, ignoring the prime minister’s advice against it in March. He has repeatedly denounced the move and even tried to undermine the efforts of the Sindh government to restrict movement and congregations. He was finally able to prevail and ordered the removal of all restrictions and reopened the economy prematurely. That wiped out success in mitigating the spread of the disease during the brief lockdown. We are now in a much worse situation than we were a month ago as provincial administrations now move to impose restrictions in major hotspots. It may not be as effective as a complete lockdown for some period of time that health experts and the WHO has been asking for. But it’s still better than the freefor-all approach witnessed for the past one month. Given Imran Khan’s scepticism regarding the issue of lockdown, one is not sure how effective even the few restrictions will be. The problem is that he and his followers genuinely believe that his government’s handling of the pandemic was an example for the world to emu-
Such a Trumpian style of selfglorification gives little hope for rectifying mistakes. The prime minister has his own ingenious idea of fighting the disease with his ‘Tiger Force’. The elusive million-strong volunteer force is yet to be seen in action though there has been a claim of its being very effective in parts of the country. Such gimmickry cannot be a substitute for a comprehensive policy to deal with a serious public health and economic crisis. Dealing with the global pandemic has produced stories of international success as well failures. Leaders who have taken timely and tough decisions have been able to mitigate the damage and have pulled out their countries from the crisis much faster. It is nothing to do with the size, population, and wealth of a nation; it is leadership and one’s capability to think clearly in times of crisis that matter. Surely decisions are not easy to make but that is what leadership is all about. Women have proved to be tougher and more decisive leaders. Most of the success stories are of countries ruled by leaders who have been able to unite the country and mobilise the masses. Unfortunately, our leadership has failed on all counts. Mixed messaging and downplaying the problem have confused the public. As a result, people have never taken the infection seriously. The government was completely absent when it came to the enforcement of restrictions. It is unfair now to put all the blame for the spread of the infection on the people for not
ment of the law to the discretion of the general public. Instead of uniting the country in such challenging times, the PTI government has done everything to divide and polarise it. The selective application of anti-corruption laws has exposed the government to the allegation of a political witch-hunt. The government’s so-called drive against graft is, in fact, a cover for its incompetence. The pandemic is also being used by the PTI to cover up its failure to improve governance. The economy is in a shambles, and for the first time in 68 years, it has shown negative growth. It’s convenient for the government to entirely blame the pandemic and the less than two-monthlong partial lockdown for the contraction, but it is not based on facts. There is still time for the government to salvage the situation and take the battle against the pandemic more seriously. The prime minister has to change his flawed approach and show some leadership and clarity in policy. The government has to impose a strict lockdown for at least several weeks in order to reduce the number of infected people to a small fraction of the current numbers. Saving lives is more important; that would also help a faster revival of the economy. The prime minister must not make it a matter of ego. He needs to follow the examples of leaders with success stories to tell rather than live in a state of selfdeception. Courtesy by:
Zahid Hussain
Waan laysa lil insaniilla ma’ sa’aa That man can have nothing but what he strives for.
Canada Locking Up Yemeni Doctor for more than Six Months Seeking to Deport Him to Mexico Tomorrow By: Omar Chu (Surrey) – No One Is Illegal – Coast Salish Territories is calling on the CBSA to immediately release Dr. Mohammed Al-Humaikani from detention and halt his deportation. Dr. Al-Humaikani has been indefinitely imprisoned in Fraser Regional Correctional Centre and the Surrey Immigration Holding Centre since he arrived in Canada on November 21, 2019. Dr Al-Humaikani fled Yemen in 2016 travelling through Turkey, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico and the USA. The five-year-long war in Yemen has left 100,000 dead, with more than 20 million people in Yemen needing humanitarian assistance. “I am looking for anywhere where I can live safely with my wife and son,” Dr Al-Humaikani says. “I’ve faced so much discrimination and violence as an Arab who can’t speak Spanish, and I could
not stay in the US because of the ban on Yemenis. Then, Canada put me in jail.” Canada Border Services Agency is seeking to remove Dr Al-Humaikani to Mexico tomorrow, where COVID-19 deaths have hit a new daily high of 1,092 deaths. Dr Al-Humaikani has presented to CBSA proof from the Mexican government that he has renounced his Mexican permanent residence, meaning that CBSA would be deporting him to a country dealing with a skyrocketing pandemic and where he no longer has any immigration status. Dr. Al-Humaikani has been unfairly detained already for six months and twenty-four days, since November 21, 2019, because Canada says they do not think he will appear for proceedings. He has been so frustrated with the conditions that he began a hunger strike. “This is just another example of
the twisted logic behind Canada’s immigration detention regime,” says Omar Chu, a member of No One Is Illegal. “Dr Al-Humaikani has been clear that he is searching for the right to safety, and Canada responds by imprisoning him. Meanwhile, they lifted the freeze on arm exports to Saudi Arabia, who are leading a coalition that continues to bomb Sana’a, his stitutional racism, and discriminahometown.” tion, but that is nothing new. Such
‘Hatred of Humans’!
By: Gulshan Aalani
Mankind all over the world still suffering under the calamity of deadly Corona Virus, yet at the same time hit with another calamity of sorrowful racist ‘hatred’ of other humans, ‘Racial’ violence killing so many Black people without a trial is most horrible in-
To be Continued at page 5
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Contents
Editorial Pak. News Int. News Faith Current A
Middle East
Kashmir India Politics Health Women History Info Pakistan Corona Urdu
2 3 6,10 5,7,8 10 14 17 9 11 20 19 16 18 22 15 23-32
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Shawwal 28, 1441H June 19, 2020
PAKISTAN
PM Imran says ‘no objection to 18th Amend- Army huddle resolves to thwart Indian designs ment but certain points need to be reviewed’ in occupied Kashmir Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that the government had “no objection” to the 18th Amendment but that it was necessary to review some of its points that were “included in a hurry”. While addressing the media at the Governor’s House, Karachi, he said that the Amendment had given provincial chief ministers “powers equivalent to dictators”, but they did not devolve that power to local governments. “The system everywhere is based on three tiers but [in Pakistan] the system is two-tiered.” The premier is in Karachi for a two-day visit to Sindh — his first since the coronavirus outbreak began. “I have clarified that devolution of power happens in societies where there is good governance. [The PPP government] included some things in the 18th Amendment in a hurry that need to be reviewed,” he said. “One example is pollution — air and environment pollution affect all provinces. Medicines need to be standardised. They have done several things wrong.” The
premier claimed that the local government system the PTI would bring in the next elections would be “the best in the world”, adding that it was the PTI that devolved power and empowered village councils in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, making it the first province to do so.“We have held direct elections at the Tehsil level. The purpose for doing this is because we realised that a lot of corruption was done when elections was conducted through nazim. This is the system worldwide.” Source: dawn.com
The military’s top brass on Wednesday resolved to “continue thwarting Indian designs, expose Indian targeting of innocent civilians in Kashmir and [their] open support to terrorist outfits”. The resolve was expressed during a Corps Commanders Conference held at the GHQ today. In a statement, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar said that the forum was briefed on the national and regional security situation. ”It expressed satisfaction on continued reduction in incidents of violence across the country, gradual positive effects of [the] ongoing Afghan peace process
along the western border and resolved to keep supporting the normalisation process through national institutions.” The meeting also discussed the Pakistan Army’s ongoing support to the government in the fight against Covid-19, locusts and polio as well as “ways to improve the same within available resources”. “It was underlined that Covid-19 can only be fought as a ‘whole of nation approach’ wherein every individual will have to play a role to ensure success through observation of basic procedures and discipline,” the statement read. Source: dawn.com
‘Smart lockdown’ begins in Karachi’s Covid-19 hotspots
“Smart lockdowns” have been put in place in Covid-19 hotspots in various localities of Karachi, according to a notification issued by the Karachi Commissioner’s Office late on Wednesday night as a measure to control the spread of the coronavirus. The lockdown started from 7pm today (Thursday) and will remain effective till July
2. According to the notification, the movement of residents in these areas will be “strictly restricted” while anyone going in or out of the areas will be required to wear a mask. Only one person from each household will be allowed outside to buy groceries or other essential items by showing their Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) to
An Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday ruled that Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain ordered the killing of the party’s senior leader Dr Imran Farooq, who was was stabbed to death outside his home in London in September 2010. According to Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, during the trial of three arrested accused it was “proved that Altaf Hussain ordered the killing of Dr Imran Farooq”. The court handed life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs2 million on three men — Shamim Khalid, Syed Mohsin Ali and Moazzam Ali — and directed them to pay Rs1m each to the deceased doctor’s family. In its judgement, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the court said that “it is expected from governments of Pakistan and UK that absconders [MQM founder Altaf Hussain, Iftikhar Hussain, Mohammad Anwar and Kashif Kamran] will be traced, arrested and brought before court as soon as possible.” The court ruled that two senior party leaders based in London “conveyed
Hussain’s orders to the relevant people in Pakistan”. The court said it had found that accused Moazzam Ali, another senior member working at Nine Zero (the headquarters of MQM in Karachi) and accused Khalid Shamim engaged accused Syed Mohsin Ali and Kashif Khan Kamran to execute Farooq. “The two executors were properly facilitated who went with the sole purpose to London for committing the murder and as per preplanned conspiracy, an innocent person was brutally murdered. “The act of abettors and executors was preconceived with a design to intimidate and overawe the public in general and workers of MQM in particular so that in future no one can raise voice against Altaf Hussain, the leader of MQM,” the judgement stated. “The motive thus for murdering Imran Farooq upon the orders of Altaf Hussain and other senior [MQM] leadership is proved because of his [Imran Farooq’s] strong position and services in the party.” The court observed that Dr Farooq’s notes, written and signed by him in 2008, showed that he feared he would be killed on the pretext of trying to become number one in the MQM. “Existence of that threat also figures in the two confessional statements made by accused and further more Khalid Shamim while directly referring to a conversation with his leader Altaf Hussain states that Altaf Hussain told him that no one can be his number 2, 3 or 1 ½ what to say of number one.” Source: dawn.com
MQM founder Altaf Hussain ordered the killing of Dr Imran Farooq in UK: court
officials from law enforcement agencies. Only grocery shops and pharmacies will be allowed to remain open while all industrial units in the areas will remain closed. Takeaways and home deliveries of food items will also not be allowed. The notification added that residents will not be allowed to hold private gatherings inside their homes. No joy riding or pillion riding will be allowed while operations of public and private transport services including Careem, Airlift, Swvl and Uber shall remain suspended.It added that that the government would try to provide rations to needy families in the areas using its own resources as well as through the help of charitable organisations and would also try to provide mobile dispensaries for the residents. Source: dawn.com
SC hears Justice Qazi Faez Isa case
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday has conducted hearing on Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s petition in which he maintained that the presidential reference against him is based on malafide intent. During the hearing headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed, defence lawyer Farogh Naseem told that Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi respect the supremacy of court. The government side has no objection over forwarding this matter to Federal Board of out that several personalities had concealed Revenue (FBR). The premier has also direct- their assets abroad through offshore compaed to seize properties in London and deposit nies, and PM Imran was prominent amongst the money in national exchequer, he added. them. In a response, Justice Maqbool Baqir re- Justice Isa maintained that his wife and chilmarked that the judge has not said that the dren had never concealed any assets abroad property belongs to the PM. using offshore companies, and the properties Meanwhile, Justice Qazi Faez appeared in the they own were bought in their own names. court and recorded his arguments. My wife Source: dawn.com wants to present her stance in SC via video link as she is not willing to tell anything to FBR, he stated. Justice Faez further requested the top judge to allow his wife to record her statement before the court. Justice Faez Isa accuses PM Imran, politicians of establishing offshore companies In a new written response submitted by Justice Qazi Faez Isa with the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) in the presiden- (York Business Centre) Surrey. BC V3W 4E8 tial reference filed against him, C: 604.817.3022 the judge has accused Prime O: 604.503.5025 Minister Imran Khan and several other politicians of posFax: 604.503.5045 sessing offshore companies. http://www.salimnotary.com/ The 116-page response subhttp://cwics.ca/ mitted with the apex court by www.cwics.team advocate Munir A Malik on Emails:salim@salimnotary.com behalf of his client, pointed &:cwics.team@yahoo.ca
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Shawwal 28, 1441H June 19, 2020 I
n t e r n at i o n al N e w s
Facebook removes Trump campaign New Zealand military to control ads with ‘Nazi’ symbol borders after virus bungle on the “Team Trump” page. ”Our policy pro-
The move follows 900 far-right ads being removed this week. Trump has accused social media companies of ‘censorship’. Facebook said on Thursday that it took down posts and ads run by the re-election campaign of US President Donald Trump for violating its policy against organised hate as part of a broader culling of what the social media giant considers inflammatory racial rhetoric. The ads showed a red inverted triangle with text asking Facebook users to sign a petition against Antifa, a loosely organised anti-fascist movement. In a tweet on Thursday, the Anti-Defamation League’s CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, said: “The Nazis used red triangles to identify their political victims in concentration camps. Using it to attack political opponents is highly offensive.” The Facebook ads were run on pages belonging to Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, and also appeared in ads and organic posts
hibits using a banned hate group’s symbol to identify political prisoners without the context that condemns or discusses the symbol,” said a Facebook company spokesperson. “The inverted red triangle is a symbol used by Antifa, so it was included in an ad about Antifa,” Tim Murtaugh, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, said in an email. “We would note that Facebook still has an inverted red triangle emoji in use, which looks exactly the same, so it’s curious that they would target only this ad. The image is also not included in the Anti-Defamation League’s database of symbols of hate.” Trump has threatened to designate Antifa a domestic “terror” organisation, though scholars are not sure it is possible for him to do so. Antifa members have denied accusations of “terror”. The Twitter page of Antifa International - a branch of the loosely organised movement - noted that Antifa does not use that symbol and had pointed out the use of the symbol in Trump-linked ads more than a year ago. Facebook removed another 900 social media accounts Tuesday linked to white supremacy groups after members discussed plans to bring weapons to protests about police killings of Black people. The accounts on Facebook and Instagram were tied to the Proud Boys and the American Guard, two hate groups already banned on those platforms. Source: aljazeera.com
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND -- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ordered the military to oversee the country’s border controls Wednesday after a bungle that allowed two people with the coronavirus to leave quarantine. A 24-day run with no new cases was broken Tuesday when it emerged two women who recently arrived from Britain were allowed out of quarantine early without being tested for the virus, even though one had mild symptoms. The pair were eventually swabbed and proved to be infected, but only after they made a 650-kilometre (400-mile) road trip from Auckland to Wellington to see a dying relative. Ardern said it was “absolutely nonsensical” they were not tested earlier and border controls clearly needed to be tightened to prevent similar failures. She said Assistant Chief of Defence Digby Webb had been appointed to oversee border quarantine operations and was being given access to military personnel and logistical expertise.“My view is that we need the rigour, we need the confidence, we need the discipline that the military can provide,”
Ardern told reporters. Health Minister David Clark acknowledged widespread anger at the blunder. Kiwis endured a stringent seven-week lockdown to eliminate the virus in the country which has recorded only 1,156 cases and 22 deaths in a population of five million. “New Zealanders have made great sacrifices to make it to this point,” he told Radio New Zealand. “Our system has performed incredibly well as a whole in New Zealand. We have eliminated COVID-19 but I want this fixed straight away.” Source: ctvnews.ca
course, al-Qaida and ISIS (ISIL),” referring to the violent group that used haven in Afghanistan during the Taliban’s previous rule to plan the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US, as well as the ISIL group’s Afghanistan affiliate. As part of the February deal, the Taliban agreed they would not allow any violent group to use Afghan territory to plan or carry out attacks on the US. “The jury is still very much out on that” Taliban commitment, McKenzie said, “and so we will watch the Taliban.” He added, “They have not yet completely made that case. There remains an opportunity for them to do it, but time is now beginning to grow short.” McKenzie spoke cautiously of trends in Iraq, where several thousand US troops are training and advising Iraqi forces and contending with periodic hostility from Iranian-backed militia groups. Although he praised recent efforts by the Iraqi government to deal with Iranian influences in the country, he pointed to “a beginning of a spike in unprovoked rocket attacks on Iraqi bases that host US forces”. He said he thinks Iran and its proxies in Iraq are conducting these recent attacks “because they have been unable to prevail in the political arena in Iraq.” He spoke after Iraqi authorities reported that four rockets exploded inside Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone near the American embassy. It was the third such reported attack since the US embarked on strategic talks with Iraq’s new government. Source: aljazeera.com
pressed willingness to halt investigations to give ‘favours’ to dictators. President Donald Trump’s former National Security Adviser John Bolton writes in his upcoming memoir that Trump sought Chinese President Xi Jinping’s help in winning re-election during a closed-door meeting in June 2019, according to a report in the New York Times on Wednesday. Trump reportedly asked the Chinese leader during trade negotiations at a summit in Osaka, Japan to buy more agricultural products in order to help him win farm states in the November general election. “Trump then, stunningly, turned the conversation to the coming US presidential election, alluding to China’s economic capability and pleading with Xi to ensure he’d win,” Bolton wrote, according to the Times, which obtained an advance copy of the book. “He stressed the importance of farmers and increased Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat in the electoral outcome,” Bolton wrote. The book, The Room Where it Happened: A White House Memoir, is due to be published on June 23, but the Trump administration has sued to block its distribution, claiming that it contains classified information and would compromise national security. Publication of the book “would cause irreparable harm, because the disclosure of instances of classified information in the manuscript reasonably could be expected to cause serious damage, or exceptionally grave damage, to the national security of the United States,” according to the lawsuit. Both the Times and the Washington Post obtained advance copies. The Post said in the same meeting with Xi, the Chinese leader defended the building of camps holding up to a million Uighur Muslims. “According to our interpreter,” Bolton wrote, “Trump said that Xi should go ahead with building the camps, which Trump thought was exactly the right thing to do,” the Post reported. Bolton resigned in September 2019 after roughly 17 months as national security adviser. Trump, however, claims he fired him after the two clashed over policy towards North Korea, Iran, Ukraine and the Tali-
ban in Afghanistan.. Publisher Simon and Schuster said the lawsuit is an attempt by the Trump administration to stop “publication of a book it deems unflattering to the President”. It said Bolton has fully cooperated with the National Security Council prepublication review. In the book, according to the Times, Bolton described several episodes when the president expressed willingness to halt criminal investigations “to, in effect, give personal favours to dictators he liked”. The investigations in question are said to involve Turkey’s Halkbank to curry favour with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey or China’s ZTE to favour Xi. “The pattern looked like obstruction of justice as a way of life,” Bolton wrote. Among the other accusations levelled by Bolton according to the Times: Intelligence briefings with the president were a waste of time “since much of the time was spent listening to Trump, rather than Trump listening to the briefers,” Bolton alleges. Trump explicitly linked aid to Ukraine to investigations there involving his presumed rival in November, Democrat Joe Biden. Trump “said he wasn’t in favour of sending them anything until all the Russiainvestigation materials related to Clinton and Biden had been turned over,” Bolton says.During one meeting, Trump seemed surprised to learn that the United Kingdom was a nuclear power and asked whether Finland was part of Russia. The Times describes the book overall as “a withering portrait of a president ignorant of even basic facts about the world, susceptible to transparent flattery by authoritarian leaders manipulating him and prone to false statements, foul-mouthed eruptions and snap decisions that aides try to manage or reverse.” Source: aljazeera.com
US has hit agreed troop-cut target Bolton memoir: Trump sought Chinese help to win 2020 election of 8,600 in Afghanistan Bolton describes episodes where Trump ex-
President Donald Trump has been eager for a full US withdrawal from Afghanistan. The United States has reduced its troop presence in Afghanistan to 8,600, fulfilling its obligation as part of a February deal with the Taliban, the general who oversees American forces in that region said on Thursday. Marine General Frank McKenzie gave no indication of when, or at what pace, US forces would be further reduced. He noted that the February deal requires the US to fully withdraw its forces by next May, but he called that an “aspirational” commitment that would depend on certain actions by the Taliban. President Donald Trump has been eager for a full US withdrawal from Afghanistan, asserting that American forces are merely policing a civil conflict and should be brought home. The war began in October 2001. Without directly mentioning the 8,600 figure, McKenzie said, “We’re at that number now,” in accordance with the February agreement. The deal said the US would drop to 8,600 within 135 days, which is mid-July. It represents a reduction from about 12,000 troops at the time of the agreement. “We have met our part of the agreement,” he said, speaking at an Aspen Strategy Group webinar. McKenzie said a full US withdrawal would happen if conditions are right. “Conditions would have to be met that satisfy us that attacks against our homeland are not going to be generated from Afghanistan,” he said. “That’s not the Taliban. That is, of
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Shawwal 28, 1441H June 19, 2020
f a i t h Abdullah ibn Amr reported: When the Prophet, peace and blessings
be upon him, entered the mosque, he would say, “I seek refuge in Allah Almighty, in his noble countenance, and in his everlasting authority from the accursed Satan.”Sunan Abī Dāwūd 466
Leadership Lessons From Prophet Muhammad A llah SWT chose Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as the leader of the Muslim ummah and there are many extraordinary qualities that make Prophet Muhammad a successful leader: And We made them into leaders to guide people in accordance with Our command, and We inspired them to good works, and to establish Prayers and to give Zakah. They worshipped Us alone (Al-Anbya 21:73) Here are some qualities that made Prophet Muhammad ﷺan excellent leader and what we can practise in our lives when being a leader.
Be Trustworthy
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was known as Sadiq and Ameen and everyone knew that he could be trusted fully. Even those who did not believe in the message of Islam sometimes gave him their assets for safekeeping. For someone, who had so many enemies (based on the opposition of Islam), to be trusted in such a manner is a testament to the kind of person and leader he was.It is impor-
The life of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) consists of many examples of willpower. When he was threatened about his preachings of Islam, he remained resolute and never backed down from his religious and moral endeavor. The highly successful leaders are fearless to take any actions in the favor of common good. They are not easily influenced and not only take bold decisions, but also remain steadfast on their stance.
Be Compassionate
tant for the people to trust in their leader and – Those who make show [of their deeds]. hence it is a quality that must be present in And withhold [simple] assistance anyone who aims to be a good leader. (Al-Ma’un 107:1-7) Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was a perfect Be Fair Allah Almighty clearly states that those who example of a just leader. As a leader, one should strive to be fair and offer assistance deny rights are to be looked down upon: Have you seen the one who denies the Rec- whenever approached. In addition, a leader ompense? For that is the one who drives should be just in such a way so as to not disaway the orphan. And does not encourage criminate against anyone based on gender, the feeding of the poor. So woe to those who race or class status. pray. [But] who are heedless of their prayer Be Steadfast and Determined
Dhu’l Qadah and You
‘Hatred of Humans’! Letter Continued from page 2 hatred is centuries old, as if humans are hardwired with such hateful behavior. The great philosopher Aristotle once wrote: “ Man is by nature a social animal”. (Ouch). “And while his statement, at the time, had more to do with the benefits of a civilized society than how the human brain may be wired, decades of research in the neuroscience realm has largely supported his thoughts on the matter: The Society for Neuroscience, researchers from around the globe came together to discuss the latest insights into the social brain - and suggest that strong social connections may be facilitated by synchronous brain activity between two or more people. A convergence of research and discoveries in genetics, neuropsychology, and paleobiology, among other sciences, evolutionary psychology holds that although human beings today inhabit a thoroughly modern world of space exploration and virtual realities, they do so with the ingrained mentality of Stone Age hunter-gatherers: “You can take the person out of the Stone Age, evolutionary psychologists contend, but you can’t take the Stone Age out of the person”. Apparently, we can all make up our own opinions but one true opinion comes from the Divine Authority, confirming HE created perfect mankind. Obviously, HE has not created such racist mankind. According to the Holy Scripture every human is born with the spirit of GOD, blown in the baby in the Womb.
If at all we believe humans are hardwired for doing evil then in that case we are blaming our Lord-Creator for creating such evil humans, who without doubt are influenced and possessed by the evil spirit, rebellious transgressors rejecters of the Creator-GOD, lacking of sympathy, empathy and mercy, ignorant of facts that all the different color humans are created by One and only One Creator of the Universe, Lord of the Heavens and Earth, loves HIS creation of Black, Brown, White people: who didn’t pray to GOD to give them certain colors. Therefore, we must stop stigmatizing and fighting certain colors, different tribes, Jews, Israelites and Muslims. According to the Sharia-Divine law established by Universal Messenger Muhammad SAWS: the elimination of superiority, discrimination and racism, the most remarkable law of ‘Oneness’ of GOD, and the concept of ‘One community’, reflects in the Muslim Salat/prayer where Black, White, and Brown stand shoulder to shoulder, bow and prostrate to their Lord-Creator, proving their true ID of Muslims/Believerschildren of H. Adam (AS) surrounded by protective Angels. Evidently, most remarkable pleasant picture of thousands of White supporters walking with the Black protestors denouncing racism and Police brutality, proving majority are the good decent people and only the minorities are hate-mongers, oppressors, looters, and rioters possessed by the emotional anger unknown of illegal/harram actions; should be taught
In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says about Prophet Muhammad And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds Al-Anbya (21:107) And indeed the Prophet Muhammad was the epitome of compassion and mercy. Whenever someone wronged him, he would forgive them and would refrain from holding grudges. Leadership is about compassion. It is about having the ability to be understanding, relate to and connect with people for the purpose of inspiring and empowering their lives. Source: islamicfinder.org/
The Months of Islam
Do you know that you’ve just entered the month of Dhu’l-Qa’dah? Dhu’l-Qa’dah is the first of the four sacred months (Al-Ashhur Al-Hurum). The other three are Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. These four months are mentioned in Surah At Tawbah, Quran, 9:36. In these sacred months the rewards and punishments for deeds are magnified, subhanAllah! Specifically, Allah azza wajall warns us against doing injustice to ourselves during (Qamari months). However, the calendar starts with the emigration or hijra of the these months. The name Dhu’l Qa’dah can be translated as prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam from the month of “settlement” or “sitting,” as it is Makkah to Medinah as this hijra was the the month when people stop fighting each turning point in the history of Islam, hence other in wars. Let this inspire you to settle the name hijri calendar. This calendar was adopted two and a half years after Umar ibn arguments and let go of ill feelings! The months of the Islamic calendar months Al-Khattab became caliph. are based on the movement of the moon Source: understandquran.com of taking a decisive action, learn to speak up and not to destroy the properties of innocent ones, but to be the keepers of the humanity and their belongings as per the Divine law.‘Silence of good people empowers evil’. Although, hardly any Muslims, Sikhs, or Hindus to be seen with the protestors, out of fear to be branded as terrorist or either would be killed or confined in Prison, and the whole situation would turn around in opposite direction.
Prayer Schedule in Greater Vancouver June 19- July 3, 2020 Shawwal 28 -Zul Qaedah 13 , 1441 H Isl. Dt. Day Date Fajar
28 Fri 29 Sat *1 Sun 2 Mon 3 Tue 4 Wed Location Date Day Sunset Moonset Difference Moon 5 Thus Makkah 20-June-2020 Sat 7:05 PM 6:26 PM 0 hrs 29 mins Below Horizon 6 Fri 21-June-2020 Sun 7:05 PM 7:23 PM 0 hrs 23 mins Above Horizon 7 Sat 22-June-2020 Mon 7:06 PM 8:19 PM 1 hrs 13 mins Above Horizon 8 Sun Vancouver 20-June Sat 9:21 PM 9:08 PM 0 hrs 13 mins Below Horizon 9 Mon 21-June-20 Sun 9:21 PM 10:08 PM 0 hrs 47 mins Above Horizon 10 Tue 22-June-20 Mon 9:22 PM 10:59 PM 1 hrs 37 mins Above Horizon 11 Wed Zul Qaedah will be month of 30 days. ** Full Moon on the evening of Sat, June 04, 2020 * 12 Thus *** Tentative first day of Zul Qaedah is on Monday, June 22, 2020 13 Fri
Sunr
Zawal
Dhuhr Shafi Maghrib Isha DhuhrAsarAsar
Created By: SB Moon position for Zul Qaedah 1441 in Makkah and Vancouver
Source: www.timeanddate.com
By: Suleman Bhamji
For such Prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times: Quran ,n 4:103 Source: BCMA
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Shawwal 28, 1441H June 19, 2020
Nat i o n al
&
A CERB extension is in the works for those in need: PM
OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is looking at extending the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, and is promising an update by the end of the week.“For now, all I can say is that we will continue to be there to support Canadians,” Trudeau said. By the first week of July and through the summer, millions of Canadians will come to the end of their 16-week eligibility period to claim CERB, which has prompted questions about what will happen to those who have been on the program since it first launched and have already accessed the full $8,000 available, but are still out of a job and without income due to COVID-19. The prime minister announced on Monday that because so many are still struggling, the government is “working on a solution to extend the benefit for people who can’t return to work yet.” “If you’re having trouble finding a job, you shouldn’t also be worrying about whether you’ll hit the limit of your CERB benefits,” Trudeau said. The first application period opened in early
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April, and Canadians are able to claim the benefit for a maximum of 16 weeks between March 15 and October 3, meaning there will still be Canadians receiving funding for weeks to come, but others are soon going to run out. There are also Canadians who could be coming up to the end of their benefit payments earlier if they were rolled onto the program from the Employment Insurance program at the very outset. Close to 1.2 million Canadians have dropped off the program before maxing out their 16week eligibility, meaning they have either gone back to work or have been moved onto the wage subsidy program through their employer. As of June 4, the federal government has spent a total of $43.5 billion sending more than 8.4 million Canadians the $2,000 monthly payments. An extension—as the NDP have called for— would amount to approximately $17 billion each month the program remains in place under the current parameters. “Whether it’s to cover the bills, to keep people on the payroll, or to make rent on a storefront, many Canadians need a hand right now,” Trudeau said. 14 The government’s initial intention was to gradually wean people off CERB and onto the federal wage subsidy program, which was rolled out with the promise of seeing millions of out-of-work Canadians be put back on their employer’s payroll, though the number of companies applying to receive the 75 per cent subsidy has been less than anticipated. Source: ctvnews.ca
PM Justin Trudeau speaks with PM of Pakistan Imran Khan
June 16, 2020 Ottawa, Ontario Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan. Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Khan discussed their respective national efforts to fight the pandemic and protect the health, safety, and economic well-being of their citizens. The two leaders spoke about the importance of a coordinated global response to the COVID-19 crisis, and in particular support for the needs of vulnerable countries affected by the pandemic. They discussed the joint initiative Prime Minister Trudeau recently launched with the United Nations
Secretary-General and the Prime Minister of Jamaica to accelerate the global response to the pandemic and mobilize access to critical development financing, including for low- and middle-income countries. Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Khan looked forward to strengthening cooperation between Canada and Pakistan and continuing to work together on these and other important global issues. COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving global challenge. The Government of Canada is working closely with local, provincial, territorial, and international partners to minimize its health, economic, and social impacts in Canada and around the world. Source: pm.gc.ca/en/news
Messages of solidarity are being shared by people of all races. But what does being an ally really mean? We’ve seen the protests supporting Black Lives Matter, the black squares posted on social media for “#BlackOutTuesday” and the lists of places you can donate to help — all efforts to shine a light on the systemic and institutional racism faced by Black people. The death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer, has led to renewed calls for change, with protests against systemic anti-Black racism now in their third week in the U.S. and around the world. Messages of solidarity are being shared by people of all races, who are standing up to be allies. But what does being an ally mean? According to Handel Kashope Wright with the University of British Columbia’s Centre for Culture, Identity and Education, it’s a person who can stand up and engage “in the struggle of a group that is marginalized against, even though they [the ally] are not a member of that group.” Wright says allies can play a critical role in a movement — but says there are good and bad types of allyship. The good involves being open and listening to the people you are trying to align yourself with. That’s especially important if you are in a
position of power, where you can “use your authority to create a better, more inclusive culture,” Wright says. Educating yourself — taking the burden off those facing injustice to do the educating — is vital to becoming a good ally, he adds. “Act with humility and take the initiative to do your own research and learn about the cause,” Wright says. When it comes to good allyship, it’s all about long-term commitment, he adds; a bad ally treats causes like a “flavour of the month” and ultimately loses interest.smael Traore, an anti-racism educator, breaks the concept of allyship into two dimensions. The first looks at non-compliance, in which, he says, “you’re clear what you’re saying ‘no’ to” — ultimately meaning you reject anything that would lead to racial disparity. The second dimension Traore sees is affirmation. This means working toward increasing the wellbeing of racialized people. Traore refers to several studies that show the more equal a society, the better the life expectancy. The ultimate aim is a balance between races. “It’s not a zero sum game,” says Traore. “Black Lives Matter doesn’t mean white lives don’t matter. To say Black liberation is important doesn’t mean that white bondage is the conclusion of Black liberation.” Source: cbc.ca/news
How to become an ally: Educators, community leaders explain ways to stand up to anti-Black racism
With spotlight on policing failures, how can the system better respond to mental-health crises? TORONTO -- When someone broke into her car earlier this month, Meenakshi Mannoe knew the potential consequences of calling police. The Vancouver resident weighed several questions: Would she get her belongings back? Was it even worth the hassle? And the tipping point: What good would it ultimately do? Ultimately, Mannoe believed it wasn’t a big deal -- she could easily replace her lost portable speaker and first aid kit, and she questioned the impact of calling the cops on someone desperate enough to take them. “Is it an inconvenience? Absolutely. But I don’t want to contribute to the over-criminalization of folks, or hyper-policing when I know that people are doing things just to get by, just to survive.” The decision was an easy one for Mannoe, well-versed in the myriad systemic forces that underlie day-to-day struggles of many as a campaign staffer with Pivot Legal Society, which examines police accountability, drug policy, homelessness, and sex workers’ rights. But they’re questions she says we’re increasingly facing as anger-fuelled protests draw fresh scrutiny over the prevalence of police brutality and systemic racism facing Black and Indigenous people. The weekend killing of Rodney Levi near Metepenagiag, N.B., -- the second Indigenous person to die at the hands of an officer in that province in less than a month -- has only intensified calls to defund the police as a part of a holistic approach to re-define public safety and how it’s achieved. “From Indigenous communities we regularly hear the sentiment that people feel overpoliced and under-protected,” Mannoe said last week, before Levi’s death. “I think this is a vital moment to really reframe what justice looks like and to heed
calls from our courts like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, or the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (national inquiry) and really look at: How do we create culturally safe and responsive Indigenous-led crisis intervention?” The defund movement doesn’t mean abolishing police -- although there are calls for that, too -- but rather is an acknowledgment that law enforcement has ballooned to encompass far-ranging responsibilities it’s incapable of addressing, says Toronto city councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, who will introduce a motion later this month to cut Toronto’s police budget by 10 per cent. “In some ways, we have set them up to fail,” says Wong-Tam, noting calls often involve people in the throes of a mental health crisis or substance abuse. “Asking police officers to be the social worker that shows up on the doorstep armed with guns and pepper spray, I just don’t think that has given us always the best outcome.” Levi was killed Friday night after RCMP say they responded to a complaint about an “unwanted person” at a home near Metepenagiag, about 30 kilometres west of Miramichi. Officers say they were confronted by a man carrying knives, and tried to subdue him with a stun gun. Levi was ultimately shot by an officer and declared dead in hospital. Source: ctvnews.ca
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Shawwal 28, 1441H June 19, 2020
By: Abdul Malik Mujahid
A
33 Tips for Jihad against Racism
lhamdu lillah (Praise God), all Masjids in the world are open to all people. Muslims pray shoulder to shoulder with no regard to any national, ethnic, class or color differences. Islamic egalitarianism still gains respect from the untouchables of India to Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali in America. However, this dominant reality is sometimes marred by individual behavior, which is contrary to the ideals of Islam. Some Muslims fall for the age-old trick of Satan and start playing the silly inferiority/ superiority game. Some stereotype others and tolerate prejudice against other human beings, despite the fact that all human beings are equal, from the same man and woman. (Quran 49:13) How should we save ourselves from falling into this trap? How should we help others stay above the killing fields of racism and nationalism? What can we do to become a better human being? Here are some tips on how we can launch our personal Jihad against this disease. The Prophet said: If one of you sees something evil he should change it with his hand. If he cannot, he should speak out against it, and if he cannot do even that he should at least detest it in his heart, this being the weakest form of faith (Sahih of Muslim).
1. Knowledge is power
Do we know what the Quran and Sunnah say about racism? The Quran established individual character as the criteria of success, not color, tribal or economic status of a person. The Prophet preached and established these ideals in the peace sanctuary of Madinah and Islamic society which he developed. Let our parents, children, Islamic schools, and Imams learn and teach the ideals of Islam.
2. Ask the only One who can really help
We can get rid of racial and prejudicial attitudes within ourselves with the help of God. Make sincere and focused Dua for those people and groups who remain oppressed, subject to humiliation, subject to difficult behavior. After all, Dua increases love between people (Hadith). Also make Dua for yourself and others to gain an appreciation of others. Pray together with your family for those friends in the Masjid or at your job who are from other groups. And remember that dua without actions is nothing.
3. Hate the hatred
The Prophet never hated anyone. He neither hated Makkah nor the Makkans who tortured him, starved him and his people and killed his companions, may Allah be pleased with them. He continued to pray even for his worst enemies like Abu Jahl.
4. Make sincere Tawbah (repentance to God)
If we have hurt someone through our tongue or attitude, we need to seek God’s forgiveness. It is also important to seek the personal forgiveness of that persons as well if s/he is within reach as an Islamic pre-requisite to seek God’s forgiveness. There has to be a personal acknowledgment of wrongdoing and a commitment to change. This is done by turning to God and seeking His Forgiveness for looking down on other beings due to a false belief in someone’s inferiority.
5. Watching Our Tongue
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The Prophet said: Whoever can give me a guarantee for what is between his two jaws and between his two legs, I can assure him Paradise (Sahih of Bukhari). Keeping this in mind, effort should be made to curb useless talk, which can lead to worse things like backbiting and slander of individuals and groups of people.
the third alone since this may grieve him. (Sahiah of Bukhari & Muslim).
12. Read about others
Defining backbiting, the Prophet said that backbiting is anything that you say about someone in his absence that may displease him. When he was asked by one of the Companions, ‘even if he is as I describe him?’ he responded by saying, If he is as you describe him then you are guilty of backbiting, otherwise you are guilty of slander (which is worse than backbiting) (Sahih of Muslim). To add emphasis to how awful slander is, consider that the Prophet said it is worse than adultery because if a person commits adultery, Allah can forgive him if he repents. But a slanderer will not be forgiven until the person he had been speaking about forgives him (Baihaqi).
6. No ethnic jokes please
Ethnic jokes are not innocent humor. They carry the virus of bigotry most of the time. Think about how hurt we feel when some comedians depict Muslims as terrorist. Consider this verse of the Quran: “O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former, nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one’s brother after having Faith. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed wrong doers” (Quran 49:11). Such silly and hurtful jest clearly goes against the type of manners Allah and His Prophet expect from us. It’s a sin in Islam to ridicule or laugh at any beings, and if they are a group, the sin is stronger.
Read about people to gain positive insights into other cultures. Read what they have written about themselves. Read about, for instance, what African-Americans have contributed to America. Even better, read an autobiography like that of Malcolm X, which recounts the personal experience and struggles of one Muslim African-American. mand not to insult one another’s parents Much of what he has to say is also a reflection of the experience of other African(Sahih of Bukhari and Muslim). Even the Islamic term Kafir has to be use Americans. with care. Not every non-believer is a Kafir. 13. Share your joy This Quranic term, regarding those who re- Have you invited people other than your jected Allah’s guidance after recognizing it cultural group at an occasion of happiness to be the truth, should not become a term in your family? Whether it’s Eid, a wedding or the Aqiqa of of hate. 8. Challenge the offensive, names, a newborn baby, expand your next guest list to include those of different backgrounds. jokes and comments Sharing joy is a great way for people of all If someone uses a hurtful name in our presethno-cultural groups to bond. ence, we might simply say, “Don’t call him/ 14. Share your sorrow her that. Call him/her by his/her name.” If Have you visited a sick colleague, class fellow you are the victim, simply say “That kind of or a neighbor of another ethnic group? Have joke offends me,” or say “You don’t like to be you been to the funeral of other people? called bad names and neither do I”. Relationships are not only built on the good We should feel comfortable in pointing out times, but on the hard ones as well. Visit the unfairness. It is very rewarding in the eyes of sick, attend funerals, and console those who Allah, since by challenging this we are folneed it, and don’t reserve your sympathy to lowing three of Allah’s commands: those of the same skin color or country. Stand up against injustice 15. The way to a man’s heart is through Discourage the evil his stomach Don’t call people with bad nicknames It’s part of a Muslim’s duty to enjoin the good Have you learned to cook the food of other and forbid the evil. Let’s do it with wisdom cultures? Have you shared your food with them? and patience. Be polite but firm. I know people who have become Muslim be9. Do not generalize If you observe something wrong in some cause of the hospitality of Muslims. Food is persons’ behavior, don’t generalize it to their a great way to bring people together, and to ethnic group. Attribute it to those persons get to know others. Share food with neighnot their group. For example, I have heard bors. Food is power. Use it!
several times that Arabs in Chicago run liquor stores. While it is true that there may be 100 or so Arabs who have this type of Haram business, they are a small minority among hundreds and thousands of Arabs living in Chicago. Without condoning what they are 7. Don’t call people, Kalla, Gora, Desi, doing, we must see that there are Muslims of Chapta, Abd or Rafeeq other nationalities who are also involved in Muslims disliked being called Moslems, Haram businesses. Moor, or Mohammaden. We insist that 10. Defend the abused group since we write our name Muslims that’s how Note unique and special qualities in other everyone should spell our name. So let’s call people. Show the positive points of an ethnic other people with the names they like for group that is being made fun of. Whether it’s themselves. Fair enough? the hospitality of the Arabs, the respect for Alhamdu lillah most Muslims don’t do this. elders in Indo-Pakistani culture, the resilBut once in a while we hear names, which ience of African-Americans, for instance, we need to challenge. The Urdu term “Kal- point out the positive to those who don’t la” is used by some for African-Americans. want to see the other side of the coin. While it literally means “black”, the way it If you’re still tongue-tied, consider this Hais used most of the time is demeaning. The dith: the Prophet said: If a man’s Muslim same is true for the Urdu term Chapta or brother is slandered in his presence, and he Peela, which refers to the color, and features is capable of defending him, and does so, Alof South East Asian people. Gora in Urdu lah will defend him in this world and in the for Caucasians falls in the same category al- next. But if he fails to defend him, Allah will though it also just means a white person, but destroy him in this world and in the next. is used to convey historical distrust and be- 11. Speak everyone’s language trayal of the white colonial lords. Desi on the What do you do when there are say, three other hand is mostly used to describe stereo- people, one of whom speaks your native lantypical images of South Asians “curry smell- guage and the other doesn’t? ing” Indians and “pakis.” It is often used as Too often, many of us do the wrong thing. a term of self hate in the second generation. It creates suspicion and discomfort if you Similarly some Arabs use the term Abd to speak a language in front of others who may describe black people, despite the fact the not understand it. Use a common language Prophet catogarically prohibited use of this understandable to all. So if Br. Muneer and term. Another term Zingy is used for the you both understand Arabic, but Sr. Yassame people in the demeaning way. Some meen doesn’t, speak in English instead, so Arabs use the term Rafeeq (literally com- she doesn’t feel left out. If you observe this rade) for Pakistanis in demeaning way simi- behavior tell them it’s unfair. If you are the lar to how the “N word” is used in the west. one who is doing the wrong thing, then Ibn al Khinzeeer (son of a pig), a reference to don’t defend it by saying, “you should learn whoever you are angry with amongst some our language”. Arabs and specially towards Jews is not only The Prophet said: When three people are tounworthy of the followers of Prophet Mu- gether, two should not talk secretly, leaving hammad, it is a direct violation of his com-
16. Smiling is a charity
Who do you smile at? Do you limit your grins to groups you know, especially your ethno-cultural group? Smiling is charity (Sahiah of Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi), not just for your people. Expand your smile “directory” to include all. Smile opens close hearts.
17. Salam is for everyone
Quran demands that we greet others better than the way they have greeted us. (Quran 4:86). After Juma do you say Salam and meet only those people you know or do you initiate a Salam to those from another ethnic group? Consider this Hadith: The Prophet said: Those who are nearest to Allah are those who are the first to give a greeting (Sahiah of Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi). Saying Salam is also a great way to increase your love for a fellow Muslim, no matter where they are from. Consider this Hadith: the Prophet said: You will not enter Heaven until you believe, and you will not believe until you love each other. Let me guide you to something which will cause you to love each other: spreading the greetings of peace (Assalamu alaikum) (Sahiah of Muslim).
18. Hug someone today
Have you ever experienced a hug by a Muslim you never knew? What a feeling. This one just for the sake of Allah. Try it on a Muslim in your Masjid and then introduce yourself to him. He is your brother. Isn’t he?
19. Beyond Salam
Alhamdu lillah, we see a lot of faces of different ethnic groups in Masjids, but have we gone beyond Salam with them? Have we invited this brother or sister to our home this year? Let’s take the initiative to go beyond the Salam and invite a fellow human being of a different background over to our
To be Continued at page 8
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Shawwal 28, 1441H June 19, 2020
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33 Tips for Jihad against Racism
Continued from page 7
place. Don’t wait for a specific occasion. Just invite them over for dinner, lunch, or a game of basketball.
20. A Masjid tour of other neighborhoods
While in a number of cities in America and South Africa, Masjids tend to become ethnically homogeneous due to the population patterns of the city; we can try to overcome this isolation. Let’s visit other neighborhoods and pray in a Masjid there. So if you’re an Urdu speaking person, visit the predominantly Arab mosque. If you’re an Arab visit the mostly African-American mosque. If you’re Turkish, visit the mostly Bengali mosque. Let’s defy the neighborhood divisions which we did not create. Let’s take our Sunday school children on field trips to different neighborhoods and Masjids. Providing opportunities for interaction with people of diverse groups instills understanding. Studies show that children playing and working together toward common goals develop positive attitudes about one another.
21. Do your duty, but a little differently
capable of it. Document and pursue the case with local police, the department of human resources and anti-hate groups. God tolerates a person who is being wronged to respond in the same coin but He prefers us to be better: “The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof, but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah. Verily, He likes not the Zalimun (oppressors)” (Quran 42:40). An ex-Marine member of the white supremacist movement the Ku Klux Klan became Muslim due partly to the polite and confident response of a Muslim doctor to his racist remarks calling him a “dog eater”. This is an example of following Allah’s instructions that ask us to respond to evil with You can use your tax money to fight against something which is better. racism by supporting policies or institutions that encourage respect for differences. We 25. Stand up for justice Take an active stand against injustices like should support subsidies to human rights profiling and discrimination in the work- organizations dedicated to fighting racism, place or at schools. Speak out against some- specifically. one or a group being paid less because of 29. Vote against racism their national background. Support candidates who oppose racism and “O you who believe! Stand out firmly for nationalism both within America and withjustice, as witnesses to Allah, even though out. For example, former US president Bill it is against yourselves, or your parents, or Clinton strongly campaigned against the use your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a better of tobacco in America but ironically he also Protector to both (than you) are. So follow helped the US tobacco companies to achieve not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you may record profits by helping them sell and proavoid justice, and if you distort your wit- mote tobacco in the Third World. If tobacco ness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever is wrong for America, it is wrong for every Well-Acquainted with what you do” (Quran other human being as well. Let’s not tolerate 4:135). “Cancer for other people.”
Who do you usually give your Zakat to? Is it just to your ethnic group or do you use it as one of the categories-to win over hearts? Plan to give your next Zakat to a community or individuals who are not of your ethnocultural background. This will be a practical way to give of yourself to those who are your brothers and sisters, and those who are 26. Work with other anti-racism 30. Vote for multi-ethnicity in your in need.
groups Masjid 22. Strangers should find an open Volunteer time to organizations and groups Make sure your Masjid in North America Masjid door which are working for an anti-racism agen- has a multi ethnic board and leadership. How are you at welcoming strangers in your Masjid? Do you move forward in welcoming, guiding and introducing them to others or do you allow a stranger to remain a stranger while you busily chat with your own cultural group? Open your heart and arms to the new brother or sister who may have come to the Masjid with great difficulty. Welcome their choice and don’t let them regret visiting your mosque. The security staff at Masjids need to have sensitivity training as well.
23. Watch those expressions and attitudes
Did you see that twist of the mouth, or the raise of that eyebrow? Sometimes, it’s not just words, but facial expressions that also indicate ethno-racial degradation and intolerance. It’s not enough for us to just avoid verbal jabs. Language is not just about words; it’s about body language too.
24. Defend yourself
If you are the target of ethno-racial humor, slurs or attacks defend yourself. First seek refuge in Allah from Satan Following the Prophet’s advice, if you are angry, remain silent, sit down, move away or make wudu. If you feel your security is being threatened seek any help available. If you are attacked defend yourself if you are
da or for social justice. All the prophets were sent to help people take a stand for establishing justice (Quran 57:25). Working for a common cause brings people closer. Islam encourages cooperation with non Muslims for the common good of humanity (Quran 5:2).
Follow the Prophet in engineering social change. He paired each Ansar and Muhajir as brothers as he started building the Islamic society of Madina.
28. Jihad with your taxes
33. Let’s have a straight niyyah to please Allah
31. Put money where your mouth is
There are a number of organizations dedicated to fighting racism in America at variSome Fiqh (Islamic Law) books that dis- ous levels. Support them by your donation. like and discourage multi-ethnic marriages If you don’t want to donate, establish your amongst Muslims are wrong because they own organization against bigotry. conflict with the Sunnah of the Prophet and 32. Raising race free children with the Quranic principle of all people be- Islam does not recognize race, but the sociing one. ety we live in does. Bridging this gap is the For instance, the Fiqh manual Reliance of challenge of Muslim parenting. the Traveler, in a chapter on Kafa’a (compat- Choose to live in a multi-ethnic commuibility), while recognizing that there should nity. Children with multi-ethnic interaction be no consideration of skin color in mar- grow up to be better human beings. riage, does mention that a match between a Participate in your PTA with an antiracist non-Arab man and an Arab woman is un- agenda. suitable (page 523). Help your children feel good about themI am not advising anyone to offer him or selves. Children who feel good about themherself for a social experiment. But we must selves are less likely to be prejudiced. accept our children’s choice with an open Welcome children of all background in your heart instead of resistance based on the false home. interpretation of compatibility (Kafa’a) of- Debrief them if they come home with a rafered by some Fiqh books. cial slur from the school.
27. Multi-ethnic Marriages
Your personal jihad against racism must also include a collective effort against racism and nationalism. Your taxes are used to institute policies, some of which you may agree with and others that you may completely oppose.
Let’s make our intentions (niyyah) that we will strive to build human society based on the equality of all human beings as Allah has asked us to do. Insha Allah, He will reward
us for each step we take to get ourselves, our community, and our society rid of racism and nationalism.
Conclusion
As Muslims who are dehumanized day and night by the media and opinion leaders, it is our duty to emerge as a better human being through this ordeal instead of engaging in the satanic game of counter dehumanization. Whoever starts to look at others as lower beings first kills his own humanity. Prejudice, racism and nationalism are equal opportunity diseases. Muslims, Christians, Hindus and Jews, all have a choice of either using their teachings to rise up for the ideals of humanity or sink in the killing fields of nationalism. Dehumanization of Native Americans contributed to their almost complete annihilation. Dehumanization of Africans as nations and individuals resulted in generational loss of life and heritage. Dehumanization of Jews and Gypsies is associated with the mass murder by Nazis. Dehumanization of Japanese Americans contributed to their being sent to internment camps in America. The dehumanization of Muslims in America after the 9/11 tragedy is responsible for the virtual internment camp Muslims in America live today and the tortures in Abu Gharib and abuse at Guantanamo Bay. Unfortunately there is a demonization of America taking place in the world, which by and large does not know how a majority of Americans today feel about the historical wrongs done on their names. Even the strong American reaction to the Abu Gharib images did not slow down the harm neo-con policies are causing to American standing in the world. Racism and nationalism are twin evils which have killed more people in last one hundred years than probably all the wars in last one thousand years including crusades and massacres of the infamous Genghis Khan. Let’s launch our personal Jihad against racism. May God be with you. Allahu Akbar (God is Great). Abdul Malik Mujahid, is an American Muslim religious leader and social activist. He is also the President and Director of Sound Vision. This article was originally published on May 9, 2009. Source: .islamicity.org
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Shawwal 28, 1441H June 19, 2020
IN D I A
B O A R D ER
India-China clash: 20 Indian troops killed in Ladakh fighting
At least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese forces in a disputed Himalayan border area, Indian officials say. The incident follows rising tensions, and is the first deadly clash in the border area in at least 45 years. The Indian army initially said three of its soldiers had been killed, adding that both sides suffered casualties. =But later on Tuesday, officials said a number of critically injured soldiers had died of their wounds. India’s external affairs ministry accused China of breaking an agreement struck the previous week to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley. BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says violence between two armies high up in the Himalayas is very serious, and pressure will grow on the two nuclear powers not to allow a slide into full-scale conflict.What have both sides said about the incident? Early on Tuesday the Indian army said three of its soldiers, including an officer, had died in a clash in Ladakh, in the disputed Kashmir region. Later in the day, it released a statement saying the two sides had disengaged. It added that “17 Indian troops who were critically injured in the line of duty” and died from their injuries, taking the “total that were killed in action to 20”. China did not confirm any casualties, but accused India in turn of crossing the border onto the Chinese side. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said India had crossed the border twice on Monday, “provoking and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical confrontation between border forces on the two sides”, AFP news agency reported. Both sides insist no bullet has been fired in four decades, and the Indian army said on Tuesday that “no shots were fired” in this latest skirmish. How a clash that did not involve an exchange of
fire could prove so lethal is unclear. There are reports that it was fought with rocks and clubs Local media outlets reported that the Indian soldiers had been “beaten to death”. How tense is the area? The LAC is poorly demarcated. The presence of rivers, lakes and snowcaps means the line can shift. The soldiers either side - representing two of the world’s largest armies - come face to face at many points. India-China border row explained in 400 words Why tensions are rising between the neighbours How a new map stirred old rivalries But there have been tense confrontations along the border in recent weeks. India has accused China of sending thousands of troops into Ladakh’s Galwan valley and says China occupies 38,000sq km (14,700sq miles) of its territory. Several rounds of talks in the last three decades have failed to resolve the boundary disputes. The two countries have fought only one war so far, in 1962, when India suffered a humiliating defeat. In May, dozens of Indian and Chinese soldiers exchanged physical blows on the border in the north-eastern state of Sikkim. And in 2017, the two countries clashed in the region after China tried to extend a border road through a disputed plateau. There are several reasons why tensions are rising now - but competing strategic goals lie at the root, and both sides blame each other. India has built a new road in what experts say is the most remote and vulnerable area along the LAC in Ladakh. And India’s decision to ramp up infrastructure seems to have infuriated Beijing. The road could boost Delhi’s capability to move men and materiel rapidly in case of a conflict. India also disputes part of Kashmir - an ethnically diverse Himalayan region covering about 140,000sq km - with Pakistan. Source: bbc.com/news/
India, China foreign ministers discuss deadly Ladakh clash
Pakistan: Cross-Border Indian Firing Kills 4 Civilians
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Wednesday said Indian troops fired across the de facto Kashmir border, known as the Line of Control, killing four civilians and injuring another. A late-night army statement said India violated a mutually agreed-on cease-fire and “initiated unprovoked” firing against villages in the Pakistani-ruled part of the divided Himalayan region. “Pakistan army troops responded effectively to Indian firing,” it added. There was no immediate reaction available from Indian officials. New Delhi controls two-thirds of Kashmir and Islamabad the rest, with both countries claiming the region in its entirety. The nuclear-armed South Asian rivals agreed in 2003 to halt military clashes across the Kashmir Line of Control as part of efforts to ease tensions and normalize relations. However, military skirmishes have become almost a daily affair over the past couple of years, rendering the cease-fire ineffective. Indian and Pakistani forces accuse each oth-
er of starting the violence that has inflicted scores of security and civilian casualties on both sides. A historically acrimonious bilateral relationship has deteriorated since last August when India unilaterally stripped semiautonomy of its administered part of Kashmir. Indian authorities simultaneously also imposed a strict security lockdown, coupled with a communication blockade, in the majority-Muslim state to deter violent reaction against the moves from Kashmiris. The restrictions have since been partially eased. Islamabad rejected Indian actions, saying Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute under a decades-old U.N. Security Council resolution and neither side could unilaterally alter the status. Pakistan also downgraded diplomatic and trade ties with India, demanding a reversal of the Kashmir-related moves. New Delhi, however, has rebutted the criticism, describing the measures as its internal matter. Source: dawn.com
Two officials of the Indian High Commission in Pakistan were handed over to the police on Monday after being involved in a car accident in Islamabad, it emerged on Monday. According to a letter by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the staffers were identified as Dwimu Brahma and Paul Selvadhas and had arrived in the country in 2017. From the letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn. com, the two officials are non-diplomats. According to the FIR registered at the Secretariat Police Station, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, the two officials ran over a pedestrian and subsequently attempted to flee. The FIR also stated that counterfeit currency notes were found in the possession of one of the officials. The Foreign Office has yet to issue a statement. The news comes after Indian media started reporting that two High Commission officials had “gone missing” in Islamabad. According to Times of India, the employees had gone out for “official work”, adding that
the matter had been taken up with the Pakistani authorities. Journalist Geeta Mohan tweeted that India’s Ministry of External Affairs had summoned Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires Syed Haider Shah over the matter. Indian media outlets implied that the detention of the two officials was a “reciprocal action” by Islamabad. Earlier this month, India had expelled two officials of the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi accusing them of espionage — a charge, which was immediately rejected by Pakistan as “false and unsubstantiated”. Source: dawn.com
2 Indian High Commission officials detained in Islamabad after being involved in road accident
Wang Yi and Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar hold telephone talks over clash that killed 20 Indian soldiers.
down” the tensions. In a TV address to the nation, India’s PM Narendra Modi says the sacrifice of soldiers killed in Ladakh by China’s The foreign ministers of China and In- army “will not go in vain”. dia have held telephone talks over the India says the “violent face-off ” is deadly border clash, agreeing to “cool an attempt by China to “unilaterally
change the status quo” on the Galwan Valley frontier in Indian-administered Ladakh. Beijing, in turn, accuses the Indian army of “provoking and attacking Chinese personnel, resulting in serious physical confrontation”.S. aljazeera.com
What is the way forward in India-Nepal border dispute?
India says new road to Lipulekh falls within Indian territory, but Nepal claims at least 17km of it lies on its land. Kathmandu, Nepal - For several weeks, Indian soldiers have been engaged in a standoff with their Chinese counterparts along their disputed border, even as New Delhi is busy planning a strategy to resolve a land dispute with another neighbour, Nepal. India’s latest diplomatic row with Nepal erupted on May 8 when New Delhi announced the inauguration of a Hima-
layan road link that passes through the disputed area of Kalapani. India’s updated political map stirs controversy in Nepal Under pressure from the opposition, civil society and a vociferous Nepali press, the government of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli issued a new political map of the country, showing Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura within its borders. ndia objected, saying the new Nepal map “included parts of the Indian ter-
ritory”. The dispute’s origins lay in the November 2019 release of India’s new political map, which showed Kalapani within India. The announcement saw Nepal’s capital Kathmandu rocked by protests, while Oli’s government requested a high-level meeting to resolve the dispute. But India was not forthcoming. The two neighbours entered a new paradigm of “cartographic war” as anger grew on both sides. Source: aljazeera.com
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C U RREN T
Canada loses bid for UN Security Council seat
OTTAWA — Canada was humbled on the world stage Wednesday when it failed to secure a seat on the United Nations Security Council, losing to Norway and Ireland on the first ballot. The loss was Canada’s second consecutive defeat in a bid for a seat on the world’s most powerful body, and stood as a stark reminder of the country’s diminishing influence. The defeat of the Liberal government led by Justin Trudeau followed the loss by the former Conservative government of Stephen Harper in 2010. Prior to that, Canada had won six times in a row, roughly each decade since the creation of the UN, although it lost its first bid in 1946 just months after it contributed to the construction of the organization out of the ashes of the Second World War. “This must act as a wake-up call to the Liberal government and a message to Canadians: Canada is not doing enough,” said Jack Harris, the NDP’s foreign affairs critic. ”Prime Minister Trudeau announced in 2015 that ‘Canada is back!’ but there is little to show for it.” Harris cited low spending on international development assistance and the decline of Canadian contributions to UN peacekeeping missions to historic lows — two criteria that were widely seen as essential in winning a seat on the council. Canada’s latest loss came in the first round of voting Wednesday in a secret ballot of 192 member states of the United Nations General Assembly for two available seats on the council for a two-year term starting next year. Canada needed 128 votes — or twothirds of the voting members of the assembly. Norway passed the threshold with 130 and Ireland garnered 128 votes. Canada fell short with 108 votes. Earlier Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said even if Canada lost, it would
H
A FF A IR S
By: M. M Ashraf uman history is replete with wars and conflicts that cause deaths, destruction and pile miseries on the vanquished or subjugated people. The painful reality about them is that sexual violence against women is often employed as weapon of war and as a tactic to brutalize, humiliate, dominate and instill fear. According to UNICEF, systematic rape is also often used as a tool in ethnic cleansing. Regrettably this has been happening and continues to happen notwithstanding a number of UN resolutions, International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights law under which states have accepted obligations to discourage and shun the use of rape in wars and conflicts. The reason is that powerful nations which wield tremendous influence in the management of international affairs, and in peace keeping, remain indifferent to forces carrying out such detestable and inhuman practices. Kashmir is a classic example of this indifference by the powers that be. The conflict in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) dates back to 1989 when frustrated by the Indian intransigence to allow the people of Kashmir to exercise their right to
continue its international efforts to fight against climate change, economic inequity and preserving the world’s increasingly fragile institutions. Norway and Ireland had an advance start in campaigning because Trudeau only announced Canada’s intention to seek a seat in 2015 after the Liberals were elected. Trudeau dismissed suggestions that a loss for Canada would be a political failure for him personally, given the capital he has invested in the bid — starting with his “Canada is back” declaration the day after he won the October 2015 federal election. Adam Chapnick, a professor at the Royal Military College of Canada and author of a recent book on the Security Council, said Norway and Ireland had massive head starts on Canada. Both “are legitimate opponents with good records who took the campaign seriously from the beginning and likely had concluded enough vote trades before we even began to campaign, to make a Canadian victory highly unlikely from the beginning,” he said. “The fact that our campaign was taken off track by the 2016 U.S. election and the threat to NAFTA didn’t help, either. I think the campaign team did a very good job over the last six months but that wasn’t enough.” Bessma Momani, an international affairs expert at the University of Waterloo, said it is not fair to see the loss as an indictment of Trudeau’s global popularity, But it “should be seen as an indictment on our lack of spending, attention, and engagement with the world,” she said. That said, this will be used by Trudeau’s detractors at home to remind him that the world certainly doesn’t think ‘Canada is back’ and that ‘the world needs more Canada’” So it was. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer called
the loss “another foreign affairs failure” for Trudeau. His deputy leader, Leona Alleslev, launched her own attack in the House of Commons, reiterating her party’s criticism of what is sees as failed policies towards China and India and in its trade relationship with the United States. “He sold out Canada’s principles for a personal vanity project and still lost,” Scheer said in a statement. Trudeau said his government has been engaged in a wide range of international activities and groups because he said that is in the interest of all Canadians, who need global trade and economic success everywhere so they can succeed at home. “These are the things that we will continue to do into the future, regardless of what happens this week. But it certainly would be nice to have that extra lever of a seat on the Security Council,” Trudeau said. Canada’s campaign for the council focused heavily on what it has been doing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. That has included convening like-minded nations to ensure food security in developing countries, keeping vital supply chains open across the globe, and working on new financing models to help struggling countries whose economies have been decimated by the pandemic. European countries were expected to unite around Canada’s two competitors, which
Sexual Violence As War Weapon
self-determination as enshrined in the UN resolutions, they launched a freedom movement. So since January 1990, the state of Jammu and Kashmir has been the site of a continuous conflict between Indian security forces and Kashmiri freedom fighters. In its efforts to crush the freedom movement, India has been pursuing a policy of repression in Kashmir which has resulted in massive human rights violations by Indian army and paramilitary forces. They have assaulted civilians during search operations, tortured and summarily executed detainees in custody and also murdered them in reprisal attacks. They have enjoyed impunity for these brutalities under Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1990.The law provides sweeping powers to soldiers, including the power to shoot to kill in certain situations and to arrest people without warrants. They also provide virtual immunity from prosecution. The law has facilitated grave human rights violations, including extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, rape and torture and ill treatment of the people of IOJK. There are authentic reports that the Indian security forces have killed more than one hundred thousand Kashmiris since 1989 to April 2020. The number of women who were raped stands at 11170 besides 22913 women who were widowed. Independent sources including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch have been regularly compiling reports and providing testimony in regards to extensive abuse of human rights in IOK particularly indulgence in rape of women by the personnel of the Indian security forces. At the 52nd United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Professor William Baker gave testimony that rape in Kashmir was not merely a case of isolated incidents involving
undisciplined soldiers, rather the security forces were actively deploying rape on the Kashmiri populace as a method of humiliation. An Amnesty International report in 1992 stated that rape was conducted during counter-offensives against militants as part of a bid to methodically shame local Kashmiri communities. A study in 2005 by Medicins San Frontiers concluded that the rate of sexual violence against Kashmiri women was one of the highest among the world’s conflict zones. Scholar Dara Kay Cohen from Harvard University listed the conflict in Kashmir, alongside Bosnia and Rwanda, as among the worst of the so-called mass rape wars. According to Human Rights Watch, “there are no reliable statistics on the number of rapes committed by security forces in Kashmir. Human rights groups have documented many cases since 1990, but because many of the incidents have occurred in remote villages, it is impossible to confirm any precise number. There can be no doubt that the use of rape is common and routinely goes unpunished.” One can imagine the plight of the widows whose husbands and the bread earners of the family have been killed by the Indian security forces. They are indeed living under miserable circumstances and finding it hard to maintain connection between their bodies and souls particularly when they are living under fear of the rampaging Indian security forces. Besides these widows there are also women in IOK whose husbands have been taken away by the Indian security forces during search operations never to be heard of again. These women called half-widows according to sources number between 1500 to 2500. Unaware of their husbands’ whereabouts, these women not only endure the grief that
forced the Trudeau government to focus on Africa, Latin America, and Arab nations, as well as the small island states of the South Pacific that face potential extinction one day from rising sea levels caused by climate change. Trudeau levelled veiled criticism at the UN’s geographical organization that has placed Canada in a grouping against European countries, which can never agree on two candidates for the temporary seats on the council. “I have nothing but respect for our two competitors, Ireland and Norway, that have demonstrated an engagement in the world,” he said. “It is unfortunate that we’re in a situation of having to compete against friends for this.” Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Canada faced a tough fight in the UN’s Western European and Others Group, and victory was never guaranteed because it is one of the most competitive of its geographical blocs. “I think Canada is going to be reflecting at the type of reforms we need at the UN,” he said. “We need to think about a lot of things over the next few months” including, “where Canada best belongs in terms of these groupings.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2020. Source: wellandtribune.ca/news-story
comes from being separated from their spouses but are also constantly struggling to survive. Their husbands — either still alive in the custody of Indian forces or dead at their hands — have not been declared deceased, hence the term half-widows. Left on their own, these Kashmiri women must make ends meet, and provide for their children. Since their husbands have not been proclaimed dead officially, they face challenges in inheritance. They also suffer from trauma and constant fear of being mistreated by the occupying forces that hunt, torture, and rape women at will. The social stigma attached to these women also adds to their woes. The only thing that keeps them alive is the hope that one day they will be reunited with their husbands, and their children will hold their father’s hands. This hope alleviates their miseries and reduces their pain to some extent. The situation in IOJK has become even more precarious and excruciating for the local people since 5th of August 2019 with the repeal of article 370 and 35-A of the Indian constitution that ended special status of the state and its annexation through The Jummu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019. The people of IOK are under continued curfew since 5th August. Two recent reports compiled by UN Human Rights Commission have also unequivocally indicated blatant abuse of human rights in IOK and demanded constitution of an inquiry commission in this regard. Kashmiris are looking up to the international community and UN to come to their rescue and end their sufferings by fulfilling their obligations towards them. The permeating situation in IOK is an affront to the conscience of the world community. Will it respond to its conscience?
11 P o l i t i cs PM says a national contact tracing app is coming next month, how will it work? Shawwal 28, 1441H June 19, 2020
OTTAWA -- The federal government will begin testing a “completely voluntary” mobile contact tracing app in Ontario, to eventually be used nationwide, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday. The app will compile confirmed positive COVID-19 cases and notify Canadians when they’ve been in proximity to someone who has the virus. The government intends to make the free app available for download in early July and said that the program will be compatible with 30 million smartphones in Canada, meaning a significant portion of the population could use the app and be notified directly if they’ve come into contact with any-
one who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days. Trudeau described the app as one that people can download and forget about, though it is set to face scrutiny over the fine print of its privacy and permissions settings, as Privacy Commissioner Daniel Therrien says he’s yet to offer his recommendations about the app to the government. In making the announcement the prime minister said the case monitoring and exposure notification application a “crucial” public health step as more Canadians begin resuming some semblance of normal life, including returning to work.
“I want to stress that this will be completely voluntary. It will be up to individual Canadians to decide whether to download the app or not. But the app will be most effective when as many people as possible have it,” Trudeau said. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Thursday afternoon that the app will be part of the province’s overall tracing strategy. “If we can trace, we can track it,” Ford said, adding that his government will have more to say in the coming days about the “madein-Ontario” app. Health authorities in Ontario will be the first to distribute the unique codes to people who test positive for COVID-19.
OTTAWA -- NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he stands by his actions and words in the House of Commons after he was kicked out on Wednesday for calling a Bloc Quebecois MP a racist. Singh was removed after refusing to apologize to Bloc Quebecois House Leader Alain Therrien. Singh called Therrien a racist for denying the approval needed for a motion calling out systemic racism in the RCMP. “I don’t back down from standing up to racism… I don’t think it benefits for me to call people names, I was angry at the moment and I stand by it,” Singh said in a press conference a few hours after the very tense moment during the special sitting to study the latest round of federal spending measures.. “In that moment I got angry, but I am sad now, because why can’t we act? Why can’t we do something to save peoples’ lives? We can do something, and why would someone say no to that?” Singh said, visibly emotional. Singh was seeking the unanimous consent
of the House of Commons to pass a motion calling on the House to recognize there is systemic racism within the RCMP and call on the government to review the RCMP budget as well as the federal law that governs the police force. His motion also called for other accountability measures related to the RCMP, including a full review of the use of force by members and the training officers get. It appeared that all other parties were on side with the motion but an audible “no” came from the area in the House of Commons where the Bloc Quebecois caucus sits. To reporters in the viewing gallery above the House of Commons, Singh and Therrien could then be seen exchanging heated words a few rows away from each other and out of the view of the Commons cameras, before Bloc Quebecois MP and party whip Claude DeBellefeuille called on the House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota to call for order, saying in French that the NDP leader had insulted her colleague and was using un-
parliamentarily language. Singh then rose, and said in French: “It’s true, I called him a racist.” He was asked to apologize and he refused. After a few minutes of deliberation, Rota rose and ruled that for his comments and refusal to apologize when asked, Singh was not able to participate in the remainder of the day’s sitting. “In this moment where Indigenous people are being killed and being brutalized, Black people are being killed and brutalized in Canada. We’ve not seen any action,” Singh told reporters. “And in that moment, we put forward this motion, but I thought given where we are, given what’s going on, given the lack of action, here is something we can do concretely to actually make a difference… Kind of shocked that anyone would say no to this motion.” In a statement, DeBellefeuille defended her colleague and once again called on Singh to apologize, saying that the Bloc Quebecois
supported the idea of a study into systemic racism and discrimination within the RCMP as they agree it is an issue, but that the party would not support drawing conclusions before the review was done. She said that Singh’s insult was unjustified and tarnished Therrien’s reputation. Source: ctvnews.ca
TORONTO -- Bloc Quebecois leader YvesFrancois Blanchet hopes Jagmeet Singh will apologize after the NDP leader accused a Bloc MP of being a racist in the House of Commons. Singh was expelled from the House of Commons on Wednesday, for calling Bloc MP Alain Therrien a “racist” after the the Bloc
Quebecois House Leader blocked an NDP motion calling out systemic racism in the RCMP. “I hope that the leader of the NDP will apologize sincerely and if not, I hope the president of the House of Commons will be quite severe because if the only penalty is not being allowed into the room for one day and not being to speak for one day, everybody will feel entitled to do the same and trade insults and accusations on the floor,” Blanchet said during a press conference in Ottawa Thursday morning. Earlier on Thursday, Singh defended his comments and said he was prepared to face any penalty as a result. “I believe in what I said,” he told CTV News Channel. The NDP leader also said he hadn’t spoken privately with Therrien after he made the accusation, but he’s not opposed to the idea.
However, he said he’s more concerned with seeing systemic change. “I want to see some systemic change,” he said. “I don’t really care to appease one person’s feelings. I want to bring in changes to the police so that I don’t see another Indigenous person be brutally beaten. I want to bring in changes to the federal policing so that people who are, need a wellness check, aren’t then killed afterwards. I want to see that.” Singh sought the unanimous consent of the House of Commons to pass a motion that would recognize the existence of systemic racism within the RCMP and to call on the government to review the police force’s budget and the federal law that governs them, examine their use of force, and increase spending on mental health and addiction support outside of the police. While it appeared that all of the parties sup-
ported the motion at first, there was an audible “no” from the area in the Commons where the Bloc Quebecois caucus sit. Later on Wednesday, Singh told reporters that he was angry, not only that Therrien denied the motion, but that he also appeared to make a dismissive hand gesture during the exchange. “It was this brazen act of one MP to not just say no, but to say no loudly and to kind of gesture like this,” Singh said as he imitated someone brushing something away with their hand. “Almost like this is meaningless and in that gesture, I saw exactly what has happened for so long. People see racism as not a big deal, see systemic racism and the killing of Indigenous people as not a big deal, see Black people being the subject of violence and being killed as not a big deal, and in the moment I saw the face of racism.” Source: ctvnews.ca
The Canada Emergency Business Account, or CEBA, was first announced in March and opened up for applications in April, as a way for businesses to access government-guaranteed loans to cover the costs of keeping their enterprise afloat during the COVID-19 crisis. Trudeau announced on Monday that the eligibility has been expanded to include more companies, with the updated application process set to open on Friday. Specifically, now small businesses with payrolls between $20,000 and $1.5 million, sole proprietors receiving business income directly, and family-owned corporations that pay through dividends will be eligible. Initially, CEBA was open to businesses that had payrolls between $50,000 and $1 million. “Our government is providing support to small businesses, so that they can keep their doors open, keep their employees on the job,
and be better positioned once the economy begins to recover. We want businesses to know that we are there for them and that we are listening to their concerns,” said Finance Minister Bill Morneau in a statement. “Based on the feedback we have received on the CEBA, we are pleased to make adjustments to the program and expand it so that it can help more small businesses.” The program offers $40,000 governmentguaranteed loans, interest-free for the first year. If the company can repay the balance of the loan by the end of 2022, up to $10,000 will be forgiven. Projected as a $25-billion program, notfor-profit organizations are also able to apply through their banks, to help cover their operating costs during a period when their revenues have been “temporarily reduced” due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos
said on Monday that so far, approximately 670,000 businesses have applied for these loans, which amounts to more than $26 billion in credit being made available.
Singh stands by calling Bloc MP a racist after being removed from House
Racism allegation: Blanchet wants Singh to apologize or face ‘severe’ consequence
Ceba Eligibility Expanded
FOOD SURPLUS PROGRAM OPENS
Trudeau announced on Monday that the applications for the surplus food program are now open. First promised in May, the $50-million program will see the government buy large quantities of surplus products and redistribute them to areas where food insecurity is an issue, to avoid throwing out food and to allow the producers to still be compensated. Fishers or farmers who can’t sell their harvest can apply and the federal government will send the surplus to northern communities or food banks. “No one could have predicted that this spring would turn out the way it did. Certainly for farmers, who keep our grocery
stores stocked and our families fed, it’s been an unexpectedly challenging few months,” Trudeau said. “Farmers will have people to buy their goods, and food will get to the plates of families who wouldn’t have enough otherwise.” Source: ctvnews.ca
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B.C. premier optimistic about moving to Phase 3 ‘sometime next week’ VANCOUVER -- B.C.’s premier says he is hopeful that the province will be able to move to the next phase of its COVID-19 restart plan by next week. John Horgan made the remarks during a news conference in Victoria Wednesday where he announced the province is looking for public feedback as it reopens its economy. “I’m hopeful based on the numbers we’ve seen over the past num-
ber of weeks that we’ll be in a position to move to Phase 3 sometime next week,” Horgan said Wednesday in Victoria. When asked about whether he felt it was appropriate to start making summer vacation bookings, the premier said he was “looking at making bookings (himself).” Horgan says provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry will be releasing new modelling data next week that will
“help guide the decisions that cabinet will make with respect to various orders around travel.” “Although the risk of the pandemic has not left us – COVID-19 remains in British Columbia and people have to remain vigilant – we are in a place where we can start talking about, what does the future look like?” he said. Source: bc.ctvnews.ca/
Park used to unite families across the border to close temporarily, B.C. government says
After attendance skyrocketed, the B.C. government says it is temporarily closing a park that straddles the Canada-U.S. border.Peace Arch Park – near the border crossing with the same name – was built on the international boundary between Canada and the U.S.While it’s heavily patrolled to make sure nobody crosses into the other country, visitors are allowed to explore the entire park on both sides of the border. So, when
provincial parks reopened last month as part of B.C.’s COVID-19 recovery plan, the park was used for reunions between loved ones who were trapped on either side of the border because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The problem, the B.C. government says, is that visits to the park have doubled compared to last year and “parking lots and local access roads have been overwhelmed … resulting in illegal parking” and
“an increase in pedestrians along roadways.” The border’s been closed to non-essential travel since mid-March to slow the spread of COVID-19. While that closure has been extended to at least July 21, new rules came into effect last week allowing immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to enter Canada to be with their family member for a period of at least 15 days. Source: bc.ctvnews.ca
Canada-U.S. border closure to be extended beyond June 21, sources say
By: Katie Simpson, Peter Zimonjic · eral public health officials on Wednesday, are showing any signs or Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland Both countries say current deal to reduce said the current arrangement with the United States is “working very well” and converCOVID-19 spread is working well sations are happening daily between the two The Canada-U.S. border closure to all non-esgovernments. sential traffic will be extended beyond the June Some family members allowed to cross 21 date set last month, sources tell CBC News. On Monday, the federal government anSources with direct knowledge of the situanounced Canada will begin allowing some tion have confirmed to CBC News that Canfamily members separated by temporary ada and the United States are holding talks COVID-19 travel restrictions to cross the about extending the border restrictions but border into the country. the agreement has yet to be signed. “We are bringing in a limited exemption to Both countries reached an agreement in allow immediate family members of citizens March to temporarily close the border to or permanent residents to come to Canada,” non-essential travel — meaning no recreaPrime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday. tional visits — while keeping it open to com“This is an incredibly difficult time to be mercial traffic and essential workers who apart from a spouse, a child, or mom or dad.” cross the border for work. Anyone who enters the country will have to The deal extension was first reported by Reself-quarantine for 14 days, and failure to uters on Tuesday. follow the rules could result in “serious penIt is unclear how long the border restrictions alties” Trudeau said. will be extended. The initial agreement was Those changes kicked in at midnight on extended in April by 30 days until May 21, Monday and they apply to foreign nationbefore being extended for another 30 days als who are immediate family members last month. of Canadian citizens and permanent resiDuring a daily briefing by ministers and feddents and who do not have COVID-19 or CBC News · Posted: Jun 09, 2020
symptoms of the coronavirus, “or who do not have reason to believe they have COVID-19.” Internal documents show CBSA scenarios to decide who gets across the border — and who doesn’t Families separated by COVID-19 border closure ‘excited’ to reunite A number of stories have emerged in the past few weeks of families stuck on opposite sides of the border, including expectant parents. Through this exemption, the government is defining an immediate family member as someone’s:
Spouse or common-law partner. Dependent child.
Parent or step-parent or the parent or stepparent of the person’s spouse or commonlaw partner.
Guardian or tutor.
More than 110,000 people have died of the coronavirus in the United States, one of the world’s worst-hit nations. Canada reported
7,835 deaths and 96,244 coronavirus cases on June 9. Extending the measures would hurt Canadian airlines and the tourism industry. Carriers, including Air Canada, have been hit hard as travel bans resulted in thousands of flight cancellations, forcing carriers to cut jobs and costs. “There is a push from some sectors for reopening (the border), like Air Canada, ” a Canadian government source said. Asked about reopening the border, Air Canada said in a statement that governments around the world are relaxing restrictions and it was working with tourism and industry groups to “streamline and clarify rules around travel.” Source: cbc.ca/news
RCMP dashcam video shows officer tackling, punching Chief Allan Adam during arrest
Charles Rusnell, Jennie Russell · CBC News RCMP dashcam footage of the March arrest of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam shows an arriving officer jump-tackling the chief to the ground without warning, punching him in the head and putting him in a chokehold. In the nearly 12-minute video obtained by CBC News, an agitated Adam swears repeatedly at the police officers, accuses the RCMP of harassing him and removes his jacket while appearing ready to fight one of the officers after RCMP pulled behind his idling truck outside a Fort McMurray, Alta., casino early in the morning of March 10. RCMP had noticed Adam’s licence plate had expired. “F--king leave us alone!” Adam shouts at an RCMP officer, moments after he pulled up behind his idling truck in the parking lot with the cruiser’s lights flashing. “Don’t f--king stop behind us like you’re f-king watching us.” At one point, Adam tells an officer to tell his sergeant that “Chief Adam f--king tells you, ‘I’m tired of being harassed by the RCMP.’” The officer, who is still in his vehicle at that point, repeatedly tells Adam to return to his vehicle and that he will talk to him in a minute. “You and I are going to have a f--king problem, right here, right f--king now,” Adam tells the officer. Investigation launched after northern Alberta chief accuses RCMP of assault
Adam appears to become increasingly agitated and at one point storms past the rear of his truck while removing his jacket. A few moments later, he assumed a fighting stance while his wife appeared to try to calm him. The video shows the officer briefly grabbing Adam’s wife as she stands at the rear passenger side door of the truck. Adam yells at the officer to not touch his wife. About seven minutes into the incident, behind Adam’s truck, the officer tries to grab Adam’s left arm in what appears to be an attempt to arrest him. At that moment, another officer runs up and jump-tackles Adam to the ground. The second officer punches Adam in the head as he continues to struggle and a few seconds later places him in a chokehold. “F--k you, don’t resist arrest!” the officer yells, along with, “Don’t resist! Don’t resist!” Adam’s face is bloody as officers lead him to their vehicle.
‘I struck the male’
An affidavit filed in court along with the video quotes the notes of Const. Simon Seguin. “I charged at the male [Adam] with the intention of bringing him to the ground,” Seguin wrote in his notes. “I struck the male as he tried to come up,” Seguin later wrote. “He turned on his right side. I struck him using my right hand on his right side of the face. “I wrapped my hand [left arm] around his jaw and started squeezing.”
Seguin said at one point, “I then wound up placing my left knee on the back of the male’s head and ‘cranked’ the male’s left arm up.” “The male [Adam] was complaining of police brutality.”
Chief alleges officers assaulted him
Adam, through his lawyer Brian Beresh, declined an interview request. An RCMP spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. Beresh entered the video into the public court file Thursday as part of a motion seeking to have charges against Adam stayed. The RCMP had rejected Beresh’s call to publicly release it. The RCMP said they could not release it because it is evidence in the criminal case against Adam. In an interview Thursday, Beresh said there is no way senior RCMP officers, after viewing the dashcam video, should have concluded the officers’ actions were appropriate. “This was a false arrest; there was no basis for it, and it was excessive force used,” he said. “We reject that totally. We will let the public look at the video and make a determination.” At a news conference on June 6, Adam alleged Wood Buffalo RCMP officers assaulted him in a Fort McMurray, Alta., parking lot in March. (Jamie Malbeuf/CBC) Beresh said he thinks Adam’s behaviour leading up to the arrest was “a reaction to the systemic racism that his people have suffered for a long time, and that is a part of what agitated him.”
“He, as the leader, feels that he has to stand up and make the statement,” Beresh said. “If you’re bothering me as the leader, what is happening to those people that have no voice?” The incident occurred at about 2 a.m. MT on March 10 after Adam, his wife Freda Courtoreille and their niece left a casino in downtown Fort McMurray. Adam said a police vehicle pulled up behind his truck while he was moving a child seat. He said he asked the officer why police were harassing him and told him who he was, and he said he told the officer he would raise the matter with his superior. Adam said he made his way back into his truck where his wife was at the wheel, and that he told her that they weren’t allowed to go anywhere. He said she put the truck into
To be Continued at page 16
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14 MIDDLE EAST Meeting Abbas, Jordan foreign minister warns against annexation Shawwal 28, 1441H June 19, 2020
Ayman Safadi visits Ramallah to coordinate moves against Israel’s annexation plans in occupied West Bank, Jordan Valley. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi has warned Israel’s plan to annex large parts of the occupied Palestinian territories would
pose an “unprecedented danger” and have wider consequences for peace in the region. His comments on Thursday came during a visit to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank for talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas “within the framework of continuous coordination and consultation” between the two sides on the annexation issue. The trip is part of efforts spearheaded by Jordan against Israel’s plans to annex illegally-built Jewish settlements in the West Bank as well as the water-rich Jordan Valley, moves greenlighted by the United States as part of a controversial plan unveiled by President Donald Trump in January. The Palestinians rejected Trump’s proposal as utterly biased in favour of Israel. “The position I carried with me today has
been the kingdom’s permanent historic position to stand with our Palestinian brothers and their right to freedom and to establish their Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,” Safadi told a joint news conference alongside his Palestinian counterpart, Riyad al-Maliki. “We have said in the past that annexation means that Israel had chosen conflict over peace and it alone bear the responsibility of its decisions,” he added, calling the issue of annexation “an unprecedented danger to the peace process”. “Consequences [of the annexation] are not only on the Israeli-Jordanian ties but also on the entire peace efforts in the region,” Safadi said. Jordan and Egypt are the only Arab countries to have peace agreements with Is-
Coronavirus and fallout of oil price war could further jeopardise MBS’s blueprint for economic transformation. Saudi Arabia missed its $10 billion target for foreign direct investment by more than half last year, as damage from the coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices now threatens to throw plans further off track. According to a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, FDI inflows reached $4.6 billion in 2019, up from $4.2 billion a year earlier. Outward investments were almost triple the level of
inflows, but declined nearly 43% relative to 2018 even as state enterprises bought assets abroad and some wealthy Saudis looked for ways to move money out of the country. Attracting more foreign investment is a key goal under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s “Vision 2030” plan to diversify the economy away from oil. Saudi Arabia’s inward investments increased mainly because of a few large mergers and acquisitions, including major oil contracts, according to the UN agency known as UNCTAD. “The new investment policy and a broader
economic reform program under the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative are intended to improve the country’s investment environment and promote economic diversification,” it said in the report. The kingdom’s investment minister, Majid Al-Qasabi, last year said the government was actually planning to double its FDI target for 2020. The goal may now be in doubt as the economy heads for its worst contraction since 1999 and austerity measures hurt consumer spending. Source: aljazeera.com
Turkish FM says no technical disagreements despite postponement of talks that were scheduled for Sunday. Turkey will continue talks with Russia over reaching a lasting ceasefire in Libya despite the postponement of talks on Sunday, Turkey’s foreign minister said. Speaking alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif at a news conference in Istanbul on Monday, Mevlut Cavusoglu said the postponement was unrelated to any lingering issues on the “core principles” between the two sides on Libya and Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to continue working together to establish a lasting ceasefire in Libya, Cavusoglu said. With Turkish military support, Libya’s internationally recognised Government of
National Accord (GNA) has advanced for weeks against Khalifa Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), which is backed by Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. Heavy clashes have erupted as the GNA laid siege to LNA-held Sirte, close to major energy export terminals on the Mediterranean seaboard. The push last week came despite a unilateral ceasefire proposal by Egypt, a backer of the LNA’s Haftar, who has waged a 14-month campaign to try and capture the capital. After launching a counteroffensive in March against attacks on Tripoli, the GNA’s army recently retook strategic locations, including the Al-Watiya airbase and Tarhuna. On Sunday, Russia and Turkey postponed ministerial-level talks that were expected to focus on Libya and Syria, where the two
countries support opposing sides in longstanding conflicts. Cavusoglu and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov decided to put off the talks during a phone call, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. Failed ceasefire However, Cavusoglu said that it was important to prevent another failed ceasefire. A previous truce attempt collapsed earlier this year and shortly afterwards the GNA began to register battlefield victories - with the help of Turkish military advisers and drones. Cavusoglu also said it would be “unrealistic” for Turkey and Russia to make decisions without consulting the Libyans, “especially the legitimate government”. He dismissed speculation of a link with the situation in Syria, where Turkey and Russia are also on opposing sides of the war.
During the 1967 Six-Day War, he was the only pilot to have downed four Israeli aircraft. Mourning him on Facebook, Palestinian historian Osama al-Ashqar hailed Azam as a great airman. “Our brothers in Bangladesh and Pakistan were our partners in resistance and defending the Al-Aqsa Mosque,” the holy site in Jerusalem, he added. The Palestinian professor Naji Shoukri posted on his Twitter prayers mourning Azam. “Saiful Azam loved Palestine and fought for During the 1967 Six-Day War, Saiful the sake of Jerusalem,” said Shoukri, saluting Azam became the only fighter pilot to him and wishing him God’s grace. Renowned Palestinian journalist Tamer alhave downed four Israeli aircraft. Palestinian activists are mourning the loss Mishal lauded Azam, calling him “the Eagle of Saiful Azam, 79, a Bangladesh fighter pi- of the Air”. lot who died of natural causes in the capital, Downing four Israeli warplanes On June 5, 1967, four Israeli jets were deDhaka, on Sunday. Azam, also a former legislator from Bangla- scending on Jordan’s Mafraq airbase to desh’s mid-northern Pabna-3 constituency, smash the country’s tiny air force, shortly was regarded as a legendary figure for Bang- after the entire Egyptian air force had been ladeshi people, thanks to his record as an ace destroyed. Jordanian air force commanders deployed Azam to thwart the attack, shootfighter pilot. A unique figure in the history of Bangla- ing down two aircraft. He was shifted to Iraq desh, Azam fought in wars as a fighter pilot two days later to defend air bases, where he in three different countries - Jordan, Iraq, shot down two more Israeli planes. In recognition of Azam’s contributions, he and Pakistan. was conferred with military awards by Jor-
dan and Iraq. The United States also gave him the Living Eagles title in 2001 for his outstanding skills. After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the veteran pilot joined the Bangladesh Air Force to serve his homeland. In 1980, he retired and joined the civil service and later took up a political career. Describing Azam as the pride of Bangladesh, former chief of Border Guards Bangladesh, Major General Fazlur Rahman, said his name will remain a part of Bangladesh’s history. “He is a source of inspiration for every soldier in the battleground on how to defeat the big enemy with limited weapons. He set a milestone in optimum use of skills and courage during war,” Rahman said.
rael. On Tuesday, Jordan’s King Abdullah II addressed US congressional leaders via video conference to discuss Jordan-US strategic ties and to rally support against the planned annexation. Abdullah reiterated the Jordanian stance on the importance of “establishing an independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian state”, according to a statement by the royal court. The Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said it could begin the annexation process from July 1. The planned move would deprive Palestinians of key agricultural land and water resources, especially in the Jordan Valley region. It would also effectively kill the twostate solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict that was based on the idea of land for peace. Source: aljazeera.com
Saudi Arabia missed its FDI target by more than half last year
Turkey, Russia continue to work together for Libya ceasefire
Libya, a major oil producer, has been mired in turmoil since 2011 when longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in a NATObacked uprising. Last week, the United Nations said the warring sides had begun new ceasefire talks in Libya. Source: aljazeera.com
Palestinians mourn death of a Bangladeshi war hero
Star of courage medal
Born in a remote area in Bangladesh’s central district of Pabna in 1941, he spent his childhood in the Indian city of Kolkata with his father. After the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, his family migrated to Bangladesh (then East Pakistan). According to the South Asia-based analytical website Roar Media, Azam left home at the age of 14 for higher secondary education in then West Pakistan (now Pakistan). In
1958 he was admitted to Pakistan Air Force Cadet College, where he completed his education as a pilot officer. Popular defence blog Fighter Jets World also recorded that after learning the fundamentals of aviation in Pakistan, Azam was sent for advanced air combat training at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. During the 1965 India-Pakistan war he also downed an Indian warplane, encouraging Pakistani forces to stand against India with limited warfare tools. The act was widely applauded in Pakistan, which awarded Azam Pakistani’s Star of Courage (Sitara-e-Jurat) medal, the thirdmost prestigious award of its military. Source: aljazeera.com
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Shawwal 28, 1441H June 19, 2020
C o r o n av i r us
Vaccines Could Start Rolling Out This Fall. We’re Not Ready for How Complicated It Will Be.
I
By Matt Peterson June 18, 2020 t’s difficult to untangle the science of the Covid-19 pandemic from the politics. Exhibit A is hydroxychloroquine. After the president repeatedly advocated for the malaria drug, the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization to increase access to it during the pandemic. This week, the FDA revoked that authorization based on its review of the scientific evidence. To get a better sense of what to expect from both the science and the politics of the pandemic, I called Luciana Borio, a physician whose work on protecting the public from infectious disease took her all the way to the White House, where she served on the National Security Council during the Trump administration. She was also the acting chief scientist at the FDA. Here are Borio’s key takeaways: If there are vaccines available this fall, they will not be available to everyone. “People who are medically at risk or in critical infrastructure, they usually go first,” Borio said. There is a “pile of confusion”over what treatments work in part because standards for clinical studies have slipped. The U.S. government led an effort during the Ebola epidemic to improve scientific standards. That was then. Now a “disturbing” number of studies “do not yield results that can be interpreted, neither with respect to safety or efficacy.” America has blindly reacted to China rather than devising its own pandemic strategy. Just look at lockdowns. “The magic is about social distancing. Locking down is just a totalitarian way of achieving that.” We spoke twice this week, before and after former National Security Adviser John Bolton published a defense of his 2018 decision to disband the global-health team Borio served on. Borio left the government in March 2019 and now works for In-Q-Tel, a nonprofit that invests in technologies for the U.S. intelligence community. My conversations with Borio are condensed in the following transcript, which has also been edited for clarity. Asked for comment, an FDA press officer referred to a recent speech by Commissioner Stephen Hahn, who said: “Good science as the basis for decisionmaking has been a hallmark of my career, and is a value that I hold deeply.” he Wall Street Journal published an excerpt of Bolton’s book in which he described his changes to the National Security Council team you served on as “streamlining.” He said most of the globalhealth staff kept doing the same work afterward. What’s your reaction? Luciana Borio: The work continued in earnest, and the idea that the streamlining led to an erosion in the work that was being undertaken is just not right. I can’t comment for what happened after I left. Let’s look ahead. Several companies are reporting progress on their vaccines. By the fall, some vaccines may be ready for emergency use. What is that going to actually look like? Moderna is proceeding to a Phase 3 trial, the latest-stage clinical development, in July. Johnson & Johnson is going to start its Phase 1 clinical trials in July. There is the Oxford-
AstraZeneca partnership that is already in Phase 2/3. By the time they are manufactured in real amounts, hopefully we’ll know through these clinical trials, which are highly efficient and very definitive in terms of giving us a signal of safety and efficacy, whether this vaccine has been effective to roll out. Now, who receives the initial doses depends on how much vaccine is available. Generally speaking, you like to be able to give the initial doses for individuals that are at highest risk of exposure or highest risk of getting sick or seriously ill. People who are medically at risk or in critical infrastructure, they usually go first.
Who actually are those kinds of people?
It’s subject to definition by both federal and state governments. But that generally includes things like utility workers and medical professionals. There’s opportunity to adapt to what defines critical infrastructure. We saw this time around how important grocery workers became. Delivery workers became really important. Meat-packing industry workers and those in the agricultural sector that are supplying our food are very critical. So in the next few months, we’re likely to have a scenario where we’re reasonably confident that some vaccines work, but they won’t be available to everybody all at once, right? They won’t.
That period is going to be complicated.
This rollout would be complicated no matter what. It will be complicated because we’ll have staggered vaccine availability, since multiple technologies are being developed. Most vaccines are going to be two doses. Some of them employ novel technology that hasn’t been proven before. This is not going to be an easy rollout from either a communications perspective or a logistics perspective. I think it’s fair to say that most people today, given the communications that they have heard from the U.S. government, do not understand what this will entail. The communications have been very high-level and very limited. It’s not a criticism. It’s just a fact that it’s a complicated enterprise. There is no guarantee that these vaccines actually are going to work, especially the ones that are in most advanced stages right now. How do you make sense of vaccine news— including reports that don’t show the strong results you’re describing—if you’re someone who doesn’t understand the science? It is complicated. I think it’s fair for investigators to release provisional information before publication in a peer-reviewed journal when there is the potential to impact so many lives. The reservation around this type of approach, though, is that so many studies have been done so poorly. The vast majority of clinical studies that were done represent a failure of the system that regulates and conducts clinical studies; the failure of academic institutions; the failure of institutional-review boards that are supposed to watch out for the interests of human subjects; the failure of regulatory agencies; the failure of funders. You end up with the situation that we’ve seen, which is a lot of announcements and press releases based on very flawed studies, and the general public is not able to distinguish between what’s a high-quality study and what’s flawed. That’s something that we need to change for the future. It’s very disturbing to see that the vast majority of clinical studies that were conducted to date were not interpretable.
No additional COVID-19 deaths in B.C. for 6th straight day
VANCOUVER -- For the sixth consecutive day, British Columbia has seen no additional deaths from COVID-19, health officials announced Thursday. They also announced eight additional testpositive cases of the virus, bringing the total identified since the coronavirus pandemic began to 2,783. Of that total, there are 190 active cases of the virus, including 10 people who are hospitalized, five of whom are in intensive care. Source: vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca You’re describing systemic failure from a number of institutions. How did we get to this point? In 2009, when there was pandemic influenza, the prevailing thought was that it was just too complicated to do proper studies in the midst of an emergency. In retrospect, there were so many missed opportunities. In Ebola, 2014, this changed, thanks a lot to the U.S., which insisted that we adhere to high standards of science. The U.S. government helped lead the efforts to conduct proper studies, not only for vaccines, but also for therapeutics against Ebola. That was a paradigm shift. Going back to the 2009 pandemic flu, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization for peramivir, an investigational flu drug that was at an advanced stage of clinical development. The U.S. government back then did not think it could do a randomized controlled study in the middle of a pandemic. Because there was tremendous demand for this drug, it turned out that it took two more years for the company to actually accrue enough patients to enroll in the proper clinical studies that actually demonstrated that the drug had no value in the population. It didn’t really help the population for which we issued the emergency authorization. Imagine how quickly this could have been demonstrated if it had been done in the pandemic, given how many cases were there. I thought we had moved on. So it was so surprising to me to have the Covid pandemic and see the number of studies, not just in the U.S., but globally, that were designed in such a manner that do not yield results that can be interpreted, neither with respect to safety or efficacy. And then you end up with the pile of confusion. How much of this is because the government officials you described as stepping up in Ebola are not doing what they should now? Source: barrons.com/articles
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16
Shawwal 28, 1441H June 19, 2020
h i st o r y
The Portuguese rediscovering their country’s Muslim past
Historians and archaeologists are showing just how integral Islam is to the country’s identity.
By Marta Vidal 10 Jun 2020
L
isbon, Portugal - After fleeing war in his native Iraq, 33-year-old Mustafa Abdulsattar risked his life on a perilous boat trip from Turkey to Greece. Once in Greece, he was offered resettlement in Portugal, a country he knew very little about. But he was able to find some familiar features. “I found many common words,” he explains before beginning to list them. Some relate to food, others to cities or regions. Then there is the expression “oxala” (pronounced oshallah), a direct descendent of the Arabic “inshallah”. Both mean “God willing”.
No more foreign
It should not be too surprising that Arabic influences can still be found in the Portuguese language. For centuries, the region was ruled by Arabic-speaking Muslims known as Moors. In the 8th century, Muslims sailed from North Africa and took control of what is now Portugal and Spain. Known in Arabic as al-Andalus, the region joined the expanding Umayyad Empire and prospered under Muslim rule. But that legacy has been largely forgotten in the predominantly Catholic country. In Portuguese schools, the five centuries of Muslim rule are studied only briefly. Textbooks place more emphasis on a triumphant “reconquest” of the territory by Christian rulers, aided by crusaders, that ended in the 13th century. Since then, Portuguese identity has been constructed in opposition to the Moors, historically depicted as enemies. But not everyone agrees with this version of history. “A great part of the population converted to Islam,” explains Filomena Barros, a professor of Medieval History at the University of Evora. Research has suggested that by the 10th century, half the population of the Iberian peninsula was Muslim. For Barros, Muslims who sailed from North Africa were no more foreign than the Christian kings and armies from northern Europe who conquered the territory before and after them. “The Iberian Peninsula kept being conquered,” she says. “It’s interesting we don’t talk about the Roman conquest, or the Visigothic conquest, but we always talk about the Islamic conquest.” Before Muslim armies arrived, the region was ruled by Visigoths, a Germanic people
who ruled between 418 and 711. History textbooks emphasise the battles fought by Christian rulers against Muslim ones, but the defeat of Muslim armies did not mean an end to the Muslim presence in Portugal. “The Christian reconquest doesn’t mean Muslims go back to their land, because this land was theirs as well,” says the historian. Today, however, less than 0.5 percent of the population of 11 million is Muslim, and few are aware that Muslims once made up a much larger proportion of the population. “What is taught in school is always taught from the perspective of the [winners],” says 30-year-old Noor-ayn Sacoor. Born in Portugal to parents of Indian and Arab origins, Sacoor is a member of Lisbon’s Muslim community. She would have liked the school curricula to better cover the long period of coexistence between Muslims, Christians and Jews, often believed to be the reason the region prospered as a hub for culture and science. “I wish there was more focus on the heritage left by Muslim rule, it’s not very well-known in Portugal,” she reflects.
Constructing a European identity
All students who attend Portuguese schools are required to read The Lusiads, an epic 16th-century poem by Portuguese poet Luis Vaz de Camoes that celebrates the glory of Portugal’s kings and explorers at a time of imperial expansion. The poem tells the story of the navigator Vasco da Gama’s first sea voyage to India and his encounters with Muslims, who are portrayed as sly and treacherous. Celebrated as a national hero for opening the sea route to India that gave Portugal access to the spice trade, which had been controlled by Arab merchants until then, da Gama has also been accused of carrying out a campaign of terror against Muslims in the struggle for control of the sea trade. In retaliation for attacks against the Portu-
guese, da Gama captured a ship with 200 Muslim pilgrims returning from Mecca and set it alight, killing hundreds on board. But such massacres are not mentioned in The Lusiads, nor in Portuguese school textbooks, where Muslims are blamed for most attacks. Widely regarded as one of Portugal’s greatest poets, Camoes is commemorated on June 10 in a national holiday called Portugal Day. The holiday used to be known as the “Day of the Portuguese Race,” and was promoted by conservative nationalist Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, dictator between 1933 and 1968, as a nationalist celebration. This continued until the end of the authoritarian regime he established, the “Estado Novo”, in 1974. With Catholicism at the core of nationalist narratives, the ultraconservative dictatorship depicted Muslims as invaders and “enemies of the Christian nation”. “Camoes is not responsible for the appropriations of his work by nationalism,” says Barros. “He’s still one of the greatest Portuguese poets.” But, the historian adds, The Lusiads was a product of the period’s ideological construction of European identity in opposition to Muslims, and a crusading mentality that depicted Christian-Muslim relations in conflictive terms. According to Barros, when the poem was written, the Ottoman Empire posed a threat to the hegemony of Europe’s Christian rulers. Throughout the 15th and 16th century, Portuguese kings continued to expand into North Africa, where they established military bases and engaged in warfare. This continued until a disastrous 1578 defeat in the Moroccan town of Ksar el-Kebir (known in Portuguese as Alcacer Quibir) that put an end to Portugal’s expansionist ambitions in North Africa. The Moor became Portugal’s stereotypical “other” as European identity was being shaped in opposition to Islam. Although the term “Moor” traditionally referred to
Arabic-speaking Muslims in North Africa, the label was often used to broadly refer to Muslims, reducing their diversity to a mass of otherness. But nationalist narratives built on a Catholic identity gloss over centuries of coexistence between Muslims, Jews and Christians in what is now Portugal and Spain. Barros explains that, contrary to dominant versions of history and long-standing myths, Muslims were not outsiders. “It’s dangerous to appropriate this for nationalist propaganda,” adds the historian, especially in light of the rise of the far-right across Europe. Portugal’s Estado Novo was overthrown by the Carnation Revolution of 1974, but some of the old narratives still linger on. In 2019, a newly formed far-right party won a seat in Portugal’s parliament for the first time since the end of Salazar’s rule. The party has proposed excluding “the teaching of Islam” from public schools, and emphasises the need to combat “Islamic fundamentalism” and defend Europe’s borders from an “invasion” from the south of the Mediterranean.
Erasing Portugal’s Muslim and Jewish history
In 1249, King Afonso III of Portugal captured Faro, the last Muslim stronghold in Algarve. Most Muslims there were killed, fled to territory controlled by Muslims or converted to Christianity, but a small minority were allowed to stay in segregated neighbourhoods. In 1496, King Manuel I decided to expel all Jews and Muslims, turning the kingdom exclusively Christian. There are no exact records, but estimates place the number of Jews at the time between 20,000 and 100,000, and the Muslim community is thought to have been considerably smaller. After they were expelled, synagogues and mosques were either destroyed, given to the Catholic church or turned into private dwellings, in an attempt to efface the region’s diverse past and centuries of Jewish and Muslim presence. The expulsion of the Jewish minority has been acknowledged by the Portuguese government with public apologies and a 2015 law that offers Portuguese citizenship to descendants of Jews who were expelled. Yet Muslims who were expelled by the same 1496 edict were not granted the same courtesies. Jose Ribeiro e Castro, a conservative politician who drafted the restitution law, said
To be Continued at page 21
RCMP dashcam video shows officer tackling, punching Chief Allan Adam during arrest
Floyd, a Black man, by police in Minneapolis. Adam’s allegations of police brutality and drive, and then the officer began knocking the photo of his battered face have received on the window. widespread attention at anti-racism ralMore officers arrived during the ensuing al- lies, which attracted large crowds across the tercation, and Adam said one of the officers country. “just gave me a, what you would call in the RCMP says Adam resisted arrest wrestling world, a clothesline.” In an emailed statement Saturday, Wood He said blood was gushing from his mouth Buffalo RCMP said officers had observed and as he fought to maintain consciousness, the expired licence plate on Adam’s truck he was being struck repeatedly on the back. and when he returned to the vehicle, a con“Every time our people do wrong … [the frontation occurred. RCMP said Adam was RCMP] always seem to use excessive force placed under arrest, resisted the arrest, and and that has to stop,” Adam told reporters officers “were required to use force to effect Saturday. “Enough is enough.” the arrest.” Adam said that if he wasn’t a member of a RCMP charged Adam with one count each minority group, he wouldn’t have been sub- of resisting arrest and assaulting a peace ofjected to violence for an expired vehicle reg- ficer. He is to appear in court July 2. istration. He views the violent incident as After reviewing the dashcam video of the part of a broader pattern of harassment by incident, senior officers determined the arpolice of minorities across Canada. resting officers’ actions were reasonable “and Saturday’s news conference occurred amidst did not meet the threshold for an external a paroxysm of mass demonstrations, some investigation.” violent, across the United States, Canada and But Alberta’s director of law enforcement the world following the murder of George subsequently directed the Alberta Serious
Continued from page 12
Incident Response Team to conduct an investigation since a criminal allegation had been made about police by Adam and his lawyer.
Trudeau ‘deeply alarmed’
On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was deeply troubled by Adam’s allegations and vowed to bring in “significant, concrete and rapid measures” to address systemic racism in policing. “We have obviously all seen and been deeply alarmed by the pictures that Chief Adam shared,” Trudeau said. Trudeau ‘deeply alarmed’ by brutality claims during arrest of Alberta Indigenous chief Video shows Winnipeg police kicking, kneeing man during arrest The prime minister added his voice to concerns already raised by two other federal ministers, including Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, a former Toronto police chief, who said in a tweet that the government will be paying close attention to the independent inquiry into Adam’s allegations. Also on Monday, the commanding officer of the RCMP in Alberta publicly denied there
was systemic racism in policing in Canada. Deputy Commissioner Curtis Zablocki told a news conference in Edmonton that he didn’t believe there was systemic racism in policing in Canada or in Alberta. Alberta RCMP deputy commissioner denies systemic racism in policing in Canada In a statement issued later, Zablocki walked back his claim, at least in part. “We all acknowledge that racist individuals can be anywhere throughout our society and institutions — and we have acknowledged that organizationally in the RCMP.”· Source: cbc.ca/news
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At UN, Pakistan calls for holding India accountable for violating int’l humanitarian law in Kashmir
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nited Nations, June 12 (KMS): A top Pakistani diplomat has urged the world community to intervene and hold India accountable for its “grave” breaches of international humanitarian law and war crimes in occupied Kashmir, as he highlighted the decades of Kashmiri people’s sufferings now compounded by the coronavirus pandemic. “Our efforts to fight COVID-19 and its humanitarian impact must not remain oblivious to challenges posed by the pandemic in situations of protracted conflicts, foreign occupation and alien domination,” Ambassador Munir Akram told the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the economic arms of the United Nations. Speaking in the 2020 Humanitarian Affairs Segment (HAS), he also briefed the 54-member Council on the measures taken by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government to mitigate the spread of coronavirus and address its effects as well as to provide relief to the vulnerable people and initiate plans to put Pakistan on the road to economic recovery. Dealing with the worsening humanitarian situation in Indian occupied Kashmir, the Pakistani envoy said the people, who were already reeling under a 10 months digital and physical lockdown, have been denied adequate access to medical supplies and facilities and high-speed internet in the wake of the pandemic. Hundreds of Kashmiri political leaders and abducted youth continued to languish in crowded jails across India, making them vulnerable to the virus. “In blatant violation of international hu-
manitarian law, the Indian government has also denied access to all U.N. and non-UN humanitarian agencies and civil society organizations,” Ambassador Akram told the meeting. “While the world’s attention was riveted on combating the Covid-19 virus,”, he said, “India has taken further steps, almost by stealth, to change the demography of occupied Jammu and Kashmir by promulgating new ‘domicile’ regulations that would enable settlers from all over India to colonize the occupied State in violation of Security Council resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention. “Defying the UN Secretary-General’s global call for ceasefire, India has also intensified its violations of the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and the ‘Working Boundary’, he said, pointing out more than 1,000 ceasefire violations since January 1, and targeting civilians on the Pakistan side of the LoC, killing 6 and injuring 82 civilians. “In flagrant violation of Article 28 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, India has frequently placed its artillery guns within crowded Kashmiri villages, using them as human shields, to avoid Pakistani retaliation for its ceasefire violations.” As regards actions taken by Pakistan to contain coronavirus, he told the Council that a robust institutional mechanism was set up under the National Security Committee (NSC) and National Coordination Committee (NCC) to ensure a unified response. The measures included smart lockdowns, international travel restrictions, school and
university closures, cancellation of public events, localized quarantines, strengthening of country-wide health response and varying levels of lockdown in cities across the country. Only recently, he said, the government had eased some of these restrictions as the economic cost of an indefinite lockdown was not sustainable. “It was also feared that any prolonged lockdown would have caused an even greater humanitarian crisis triggered by hunger and unemployment in the country.” Ambassador Akram said that Prime Minister Khan has launched a package of $ 8 billion for vulnerable groups covering relief measures for daily wage workers, low-income families, financial support for Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs), support for health and food supplies and fuel prices, and procurement of emergency services. “The government has also announced an emergency cash assistance initiative benefiting the most vulnerable refugee families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.” For developing countries, he said, there are additional challenges as remittance flows to low and middle-income countries are expected to shrink by 20 % this year – equivalent to $110 billion – just as direct foreign investment in these countries is also expected to de-
There are signs that young people who have years old have shown up at the polls in lower been calling for change, are also energised numbers than older voters. But there are indications this could change in 2020. about voting in November. Last week, Rock the Vote, a nonprofit organBy Jihan Abdalla ashington, DC - Young people isation that assists and encourages young across the United States flood- people to vote, said more than 80,000 new ed the streets of their cities and voters registered through their website last towns in unprecedented numbers to de- week - the most registrations the group has nounce the killing of George Floyd, demand experienced in a single week this election reforms to policing and calling for an end to cycle. For nearly three weeks, dozens of young systemic racism in the country. Whether this will translate into a higher people have gathered in the evenings in the turnout in the November presidential elec- newly-named Black Lives Matter Plaza near tion is still up in the air, experts say. But the White House. The place has become there are signs that this year, young vot- symbolic in downtown Washington, DC of ers are more energised about making their the protesters’ demand for justice for Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died on May 25 voices heard. “There is no lack of enthusiasm or engage- after a white police officer knelt on his neck ment, there is a distinct feeling that the sys- for nearly nine minutes. tem and the political leaders in that system Not the ideal candidate have failed us,” said Alex Butcher-Nesbitt, A young man with a loudspeaker leads the deputy press secretary at NextGen Ameri- chants, “Black Lives Matter”, “No justice, ca, an organisation that seeks to encourage no peace, no racist police” - the leading deyoung people to vote. mands during the protests. “There is a huge power in numbers, we see “I want my voice to be heard and I want that on the streets now and we will see it there to be a change,” said Lany, 20, who did at the polls in November,” Butcher-Nesbitt not wish to give her last name. Lany said she told Al Jazeera. Young adults, those aged initially supported Bernie Sanders, a self18-44 make up 39 percent of eligible voters, described Democratic socialist who ended and could make a substantial difference in his campaign in April, and endorsed the the presidential race, especially in crucial presumptive nominee Joe Biden. swing states. Lany says although Biden is not her ideal Historically in the US, voters less than 30 candidate, she will still vote for the Democrat. “While I don’t like the two candidates that are running, there’s clearly one that’s better than the other,” she said, “I would rather have my voice heard and do my duty than just let Trump - who is a fascist - run our country.” Recent polls show that Trump, who adopted a hardline approach to the protests and threatened to deploy the US military to quell violent dissent, is unpopular among young people, putting him at political risk.
In a survey conducted by YouGov on June 10-11, 26 percent of voters aged 18-29 said they support Trump, compared with 59 percent of voters who said they back Biden. Biden’s campaign has not made significant changes to its youth outreach amid the protests, but in a recent virtual fundraiser, he said he believed the protests will energise young people to turn out for him. “Now they are engaged,” Biden said. “They feel it. They taste it. And they’re angry and they’re determined.”
cline by a third. In this regard, Prime Minister Khan has launched a “Global Initiative on Debt Relief ” which aims to seek urgent debt relief for low- and middle-income countries. “Developing countries must be supported in overcoming the massive impact of COVID-19 by providing fiscal space and financial relief to manage the unfolding crisis.” Pakistan, he said, has also launched “Pakistan’s Preparedness and Response Plan” (PPRP), worth US $ 595 million, in a bid to strengthen Pakistan’s capacity in emergency prevention, preparedness, response and build health systems for a period of 9 months from April to December this year. “We are now reaching out to international partners, relevant UN agencies and donors to reduce the social and financial impact of the pandemic on the most vulnerable people in the country by providing the strongest possible support to the response plan.” Source: kmsnews.org/news
Youth in US protested by the thousands, but will they vote?
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Swing states
The young vote may prove crucial in a race that is expected to be focused on several highly contested swing states. “Given Trump’s lead in key swing states, the only way Biden is going to win is if we see a massive uptick in turnout,” said Jim Manley, a Democratic strategist and former leadership aide in the US Senate. “No young person can look at the events in the last couple of months and not march to the polls and vote for Biden,” Manley told Al Jazeera. “He is going to show young people that he is a strong principled alternative to the chaos that is coming out of this White House.” But for some protesters, animosity towards Trump will not be enough to push them to vote for Biden. “I really don’t care for any of the candidates
that are running for office right now. I think they are the same,” said Dion, 37, who did not want to provide his last name. He said he has been participating in every protest in Washington, DC since they began on May 29, and has no plans to stop showing up. “I don’t have any love for Biden, I wouldn’t vote for him,” he said.Biden has rejected calls to “defund the police,” which has become a rallying cry for protesters. “I don’t think the police should be defunded,” Biden said in an op-ed on Wednesday. “The better answer is to give police departments the resources they need to implement meaningful reforms, and to condition other federal dollars on completing those reforms,” he wrote. Observers say, for many protesters, Biden’s position on these key issues may reassure his base of older and moderate voters, but will not satisfy younger people who want to see meaningful change. “Biden has got to recognise that this energy does not automatically transfer to being an anti-Trump vote,” said Cliff Albright, a cofounder of the Black Voters Matter Fund, “it’s gotta be earned,” Albright told Al Jazeera. Biden’s response to the protests has been “tone deaf ”, Albright adds. Trump’s policies had already heightened interest among young voters, and the vote is a referendum on the president, said John Della Volpe, director of polling at Harvard University’s Kennedy Institute of Politics. “We were on our way to a significant turnout among young people because of Trump,” Della Volpe told Al Jazeera, “Now, there are two additional factors, COVID and these protests.” “It is now up to Biden,” Della Volpe said. “If he is able to meet the moment and transfer much of the energy of those who wouldn’t normally vote and say we can change this country faster, more substantively if you both protest and you vote.” Source: aljazeera.com
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US Muslims join calls for police reforms in wake of Floyd killing
In street protests, statements, sermons and webinars, US Muslims have rallied against racism and discussed reforms.
In the wake of George Floyd’s death in police custody, dozens of Muslim organisations in the United States have come together to call for reform to policing practices and to support Black-led organisations. “The victimization of unarmed Black Muslims has a long and troubling history,” said a coalition statement signed by more than 90 civil rights, advocacy, community and faith or-
ganisations and released on Monday. “As American Muslims, we will draw on our diversity, our strength, and our resilience to demand these reforms because Black lives matter.” Proposed changes include prohibiting racial profiling and manoeuvers that restrict the flow of blood or oxygen to the brain, such as chokeholds; making it legally easier for prosecutors to hold law enforcement accountable; and redirecting police funding “into community health, education, employment and housing
programs”. The statement also calls for the establishment of “a federal standard that use of force be reserved as a last resort, only when absolutely necessary” and after exhausting all reasonable options. “These demands are a floor for our groups and not a ceiling. Some would call for much more,” said Farhana Khera, executive director of Muslim Advocates, one of the state-
ment’s co-conveners. “We’re also urging all American Muslims to call their members of Congress right now and to demand a stronger response from them.”
Source: aljazeera.com
‘Time to be aggressive’: U.S. prosecutors charge police after George Floyd protests By Alanna Durkin Richer And Michael Tarm The Associated Press Prosecutors across the country are defying traditionally cozy relationships with police departments, swiftly charging officers with murder, assault and other crimes following protests over the death of George Floyd and dropping charges against demonstrators. Even just a few years ago, when protests erupted over the killings of other black men by police, officers were rarely arrested for suspected criminal acts during the demonstrations. It’s been rare to charge police with crimes in the death of civilians, and winning a conviction is harder. But the tide may be turning, led by progres-
sive prosecutors pressing for criminal justice reforms to better hold police accountable for wrongdoing.“Prosecutors realize that they’re being watched,” said Mark Dupree Sr., district attorney for Kansas’ Wyandotte County, which includes Kansas City. “My hope is that this is a change and that we are turning a tide.” On Wednesday, Fulton County prosecutors charged Atlanta officer Garrett Rolfe with murder for a shooting during a sobriety check gone awry near a Wendy’s. The other officer involved in Rayshard Brooks’ death faces lower-level charges. The shooting happened less than a week ago. Derek Chauvin, the officer who pinned George Floyd to the ground by the neck,
was charged with murder days after Floyd’s death, and three other officers were charged shortly afterward. Most of the time it takes months, if not years, to charge an officer in an on-duty death. Meanwhile, in New York City, a police officer caught on video shoving a woman to the
ground is facing criminal charges, and prosecutors in Buffalo charged two officers with assault after a video showed them knocking down a 75-year-old protester. Atlanta police were charged with assault in a protest-related stop. In Philadelphia, a police officer faces aggravated assault stemming from video that shows him striking a student protester in the head with a metal baton. And in Chicago, investigators are looking at whether more than half a dozen officers broke the law after security video captured them lounging around a side-street office with its windows smashed in, making popcorn and napping on a couch, as a shopping centre was ransacked nearby... Source: globalnews.ca/news
Trump Almighty needs a Miracle
As the incumbent president slips in the polls, he will need divine intervention to win.
By Marwan Bishara
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s America implodes, the president would like to have all Americans know of his two rules. Rule one: Donald Trump is always a winner. Rule two: when Donald Trump is losing, refer back to rule one. So as an increasing number of Republicans and conservatives abandon him; as former generals and government officials denounce a president who is losing the public trust, refer back to rule one. As the economy dips and unemployment rises to an historic high, and Americans die in record numbers from the coronavirus, all under his watch: Ditto. As an historic protest against racism and police brutality spreads nationwide and shakes the presidency. Ditto. Trump would like to have you rest assured that he will beat these “pathetic losers”, “thugs”, agitators and news fakers. Just as he “built the greatest economy in the world, the best the US has ever had”, he is “doing it again!” After all, “God is on our side”, as he told his political supporters at a megachurch outside Miami back in January. After all, he is the incarnation of the “Second Coming”; he is “the chosen one”. Or is he now!
Piety and patriotism
vance his views and policies; far from it. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s use of the Orthodox church, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s use of Hinduism, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s use of Shia Islam, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s use of Judaism are no less cynical. But Trump is mainly tapping into a long American history of political exploitation of religion, which intensified as America began to identify more pronouncedly as a “nation under God”, or a “Christian nation”. In fact, it was a Democrat who first made a notable use of biblical scripture to advance his vision of a kinder society. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt recited biblical verses in speeches to defend and advance his liberal policies, notably the New Deal in the 1930s following the Great Depression. President Dwight Eisenhower of the Republican Party did the same in the 1950s, but to advance a conservative agenda, notably to unify Americans against the “godless Soviet Union” during the Cold War. He presided in 1953 over the first National Prayer Breakfast, and in 1954 enthusiastically supported the addition of “under God” to the national allegiance, “one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all under God”. Soon after, “In God We Trust” appeared on stamps, coins and currency to become the official national motto. Since then, Democrats and Republicans have followed in the footsteps of both Roosevelt and Eisenhower. Some have preached the ‘social gospel’ of the welfare state helping the powerless and vulnerable; others have preached the ‘freedom gospel’ of individual sovereignty, small government and free enterprise. Needless to say, Trump belongs to the latter camp, having long expressed his personal admiration for Eisenhower, but focusing mainly on the gospel of “I, me and myself ”.
Trump knowing all too well he is an adulterer, blasphemer and thrice married. They even picked him over their favourite Christian, Ted Cruz. This was a marriage of convenience, considering “God has used worse people”. Conservative Christians saw Trump as a necessary evil, a cutthroat businessman, and a “winner” who would do anything, for them, to win.
And he has. Big time.
From assigning conservative judges, to cutting taxes and supporting “pro-life” and other socially conservative policies, to recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and demonising Iran, Trump has indeed done a lot to satisfy Christian libertarians. He saw them as indispensable allies: without them he could not win; with them he would not fail. And it all seemed to work rather well until recently, when his mismanagement of the pandemic and his mishandling of the protest movement against racism and police brutality backfired. As word got out that Trump cowardly sought shelter in the White House bunker in fear of the unrest while calling for military deployment to cover up for his impotence and incompetence, public anger intensified. In an attempt to appear like a strong and pious leader and appeal to his Christian base, Trump walked from the White House to nearby St John’s church, which was damaged during the protests. Brandishing a copy of the Bible, he posed for photos in front of the church and cajoled administration officials to join him. This staged photo op seemed like a hypocritical act of using God’s name in vain. The man who boasted, “no president has ever done what I have done for evangelicals, or religion itself ”, was now calling for his Christian base to return the favour, to help him against, well, mainly fellow Christian Americans.
Such use of God’s name in vain may be especially dishonest and narcissistic, but Trump Unholy matrimony is not the first leader to use religion to ad- In 2016, conservative Christians embraced Neither cool, nor Christian
The answer came swift, clear and surprisingly damning from one of the most popular conservative evangelical leaders in the country. Media mogul and televangelist Pat Robertson scolded Trump for responding harshly and punitively by threatening to deploy the military, instead of responding with compassion to the plight of the protesters. “You just don’t do that, Mr President. It isn’t cool,” he said.
The church stunt clearly backfired.
Trump, who has been gripped by anxiety about losing conservative evangelical voters, is now bleeding more support with his desperate attempts to save his presidency. The first signs that his solid base has started to crack appeared in December, when a damning editorial in the influential evangelical magazine, Christianity Today, called for his removal from office. By May, his approval ratings among white evangelicals had declined from 77 in March to 62 percent. An even greater decline of 27 points was registered among white Catholics. That is more than the decline in the general population. Clearly, as the country’s mood changes, so does the mood of the evangelicals, whose support for Trump has been guided by the Machiavellian, and arguably “unchristian”, principle: the ends justify the means. But in recent months, Evangelicals and conservative Christians in general may increasingly see the unpopular Trump as a meaningless mean; even a liability that may cost them some loss among their own followers. In that case, and short of a total turnaround of the economy, Trump will need more than one or two rules to win. He will need divine intervention. But in the memorable words of former Senate Majority leader George Mitchell, “Although he’s regularly asked to do so, God does not take sides in American politics.” Source: aljazeera.com
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My Happiness Matters To Me
By: Shabnam Khan, Family Counsellor
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eeling happy and finding life meaningful are both important and related goals. But does happiness and meaning always go together? While happiness and a sense of meaning often overlap, they also diverge in important and surprising ways. As one might expect, people’s happiness levels were positively correlated with whether they saw their lives as meaningful. However, the two measures were not identical – suggesting that what makes us happy may not always bring more meaning, and vice versa. To probe for differences between the two, it’s important to ask detailed questions about people’s feelings and moods, their relationships with others, and their day-to-day activities. Feeling happy was strongly correlated with seeing life as easy, pleasant, and free from difficult or troubling events. Happiness was also correlated with being in good health and generally feeling well most of the time. However, none of these things were correlated with a greater sense of meaning. Feeling good most of the time might help us feel happier, but it doesn’t necessarily bring a sense of purpose to our lives. However, having enough money seemed to make little difference in life’s sense of meaning. People who are wealthy tend to be hap-
pier, however, they don’t see their lives as meaningful, while people who are not that wealthy tend to see their lives as more meaningful. This might be related to having a purpose in life, doing things that are important to and for them, being connected to people and stronger social ties among those that matters. Perhaps instead of saying that “money doesn’t buy happiness,” we ought to say “money doesn’t buy meaning” Not too surprisingly, our relationships with other people are related to both how happy we are as well as how meaningful we see our lives. Feeling more connected to others improved both happiness and meaning. However, the role we adopt in our relationships makes an important difference. In addition, spending more time with friends was related to greater happiness but not more meaning. When it comes to thinking about how to be happier, many of us fantasize about taking more vacations or finding ways to avoid tasks. However, some tasks which don’t make us happy can, over time, add up to a meaningful life. Even routine activities - talking on the phone, cooking, cleaning, housework, meditating, praying, reading book and balancing finances - appeared to bring more meaning to people’s lives, but not happiness in the moment. To conclude, happiness can be attained in things which we already have but don’t realize the true meaning. Value and cherish each moment of those precious moments! info: shabnam@skcounselling.ca
25 years of offering summer employment opportunities for youth that also help the environment
Staying Healthy during Stressful Times By: Asma and pain when you are in stressShums,
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situations e have ful d i s - from the dentists, interviews, cussed the im- or stuck in trafportance of pri- fic while driving. oritizing and Short breathing folmanaging good exercises mental health lowed by talking practices, but it to yourself as you would to a friend helps alis important to leviate the pressure you feel in the moment. manage it with 2. Address your sources of conflict head on – healthy physical upset by a friend or family? State your needs and emotional or distresses directly which are in line with health to live a your priorities with assertiveness. nourishing and 3. Create Goals – having something to look forward to helps us with motivation and crewholesome life. Maintaining a ates discipline. healthy lifestyle during troubling times may 4. tart the journey to a healthier you – small reduce some of the negative effects of stress steps lead to big changes. Start by going for on the body, and the accelerated aging that a walk before you run a marathon, start by incorporating vegetables in your diet before can come with it Beyond simply living a healthy lifestyle from turning vegan if that is your goal. blogs and newspapers that help us feel good There are many reasons to manage stress and about our actions, stressful lives physically it’s important to know how these benefits change the cells in our body. If you have poor will directly reward you. There are numerous eating habits, eating and sleeping less during benefits to be had from reducing and managstressful times have extra damages to their ing stress, beginning with an increase in concells in comparison to others with better hab- centration, a decrease in anxiety, and a reduction in pain. Effectively managing stress often its and the same level of stress. Research says even a year of changes is con- leads to improved health. Stress management sidered a short amount of time for your cells programs are drug-free. Most importantly, to recover in their strength and length after stress management programs put you in adopting healthy practices to manage stress, charge and give you a sense of control, which and often times damages are considered per- leads to enhanced self-esteem, less likelihood of depression, and an overall improvement in manent. So how do you manage stress before it be- quality of life. The primary cost consideration is an investment of your time. comes unmanageable? 1. Mini-relaxations – they help reduce fear info at: asmashums@gmail.com
My doctor told me that I should start killing people, its healthy for me. Well not in those exact words.. He said I have to reduce the stress in my life. Same thing.
Stress In Kids
Surrey BC – City of Surrey’s Salmon Habitat Restoration Program (SHaRP) and Surrey’s Natural Areas Partnership (SNAP) are celebrating notable anniversaries in offering summer youth employment opportunities that build awareness and training in environmental stewardship. Collectively, the programs have employed over 880 students, who have received training in environmental restoration practices such as removing invasive plants, installing instream complexing features in waterways, and planting. “I’m very proud to continue Surrey’s tradition of employing our youth as environmental stewards,” says Mayor McCallum. “Not only do the students receive hands-on environmental field skills training, but they also develop skills in leadership, teamwork, and communications, which will help them in any future career endeavor. These programs no doubt shape the environmental leaders of the future.” Over its 25 years, SHaRP has employed over 665 students and dedicated over 254,000 stewardship hours toward watershed sustainability and healthy salmon habitats. Efforts have included revitalizing over 2,625 instream sites within Surrey; delivering over 1,000 presentations at community based
events, day camps, libraries and schools; and educating over 9,000 homeowners and businesses in environmental protection. SNAP has employed over 215 students over the past 20 years, collectively educating over 185,000 residents through community outreach. Together, students have removed 3,421 m3 of invasive plants from eight hectares of parkland and restored over 4,646 tree wells. SNAP is a partnership between the City and non-profit organizations including Green Timbers Heritage Society, which administers the program, the Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society and the White Rock and Surrey Naturalists Society. Continuing this legacy, 35 youth are being hired for the 2020 season through these programs. Youth will soon be removing invasive plants, maintaining shade trees in parks, restoring waterways for salmon habitat across the City, and carrying out community outreach. This year, in addition to sites throughout the City, the students will be working on two collaborative projects focusing on the restoration and enhancement of Hyland Creek Park and Walnut Park.
Amber Stowe
Communications Project Manager Office of the Mayor
By: Khadija Nadeem Gr 7 Stress in kids is becoming more and more common as of 2019. Many studies have been released, for parents to use as guides, when they are helping their children cope with the mental state they’re going through. But if we educate children (if we educate you), they can understand their feelings and emotions quicker. Feelings and emotions your parents might be oblivious to. Stress itself is something your body feels when you are uncomfortable or worried about something. You may feel angry, frustrated or afraid, which can give you headaches. Many things can cause youth to feel stressed. Such as homework or having too many extracurriculars, or something serious such as having a dysfunctional family. To identify stress is to stop it. The quicker you find it the less it can progress. There are different signs of stress in whether it
be changes in eating and sleeping habits or new/recurring fears. Nevertheless, to help yourself cope with stress you can do many things. First you should manage your day so that you have time for play. The older children get the more they think they are “to cool for playing” but everyone needs time to calm down and relax. Make sleep a priority. Sleep isn’t overrated. It makes you feel rejuvenated and calm which is vital for a peaceful day. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. In today’s generations, perfectionists are common. Be sure you understand that mistakes are part of the process. If you see these signs in yourself or in anyone else, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. There are resources all around you. From teachers to parents to older siblings. Remember, your closest friend could be going through this and you wouldn’t know. Keep a lookout for signs!
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h e alt h
Health Canada approves first clinical trial for possible coronavirus vaccine By: Emerald Bensadoun , Global News
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Posted May 16, 2020 rime Minister Justin Trudeau says the first Canadian clinical trials of a potential COVID-19 vaccine have b een approved by Health Canada, and will be conducted out of the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology at Dalhousie University. Speaking from Rideau Cottage on Saturday, he said the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) will be working with the drug’s manufacturers in order to produce and distribute the vaccine “here at home” — if the trials are successful. “Research and development take time and must be done right,” he said. “But this is encouraging news.” The vaccine is called Ad5-nCoV and was approved for Phase 1 human trials in China on March 17. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the first Canadian clinical trials of a potential COVID-19 vaccine have been approved by Health Canada, and will be conducted out of the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology at Dalhousie University. Speaking from Rideau Cottage on Saturday, he said the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) will be working with the drug’s manufacturers in order to produce and distribute the vaccine “here at home” — if the trials are successful. “Research and development take time and must be done right,” he said. “But this is encouraging news.” The vaccine is called Ad5-nCoV and was approved for Phase 1 human trials in China on March 17. “This is the first clinical trial ap-
plication in Canada for a vaccine specifically designed to prevent COVID-19,” the statement read. “This decision followed careful review of the application, which Health Canada determined met the necessary requirements for safety and quality.” Researchers in several other provinces have also joined the race for a COVID-19 vaccine. On Thursday, Quebec biopharmaceutical company Medicago said in a press release they received “promising early results” from its COVID-19 test’s animal trials on mice. How successfully are provinces flattening the curve? This graph shows the growth trend of confirmed cases in each province since reaching its 100th confirmed case. Each province below reached this grim milestone at a different point in time. By placing these curves over one another, we can compare how successfully each province is combatting its outbreak.
ewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre to accelerate the production of a COVID-19 antigen vaccine candidate. In Ontario, University of Waterloo researchers are working on a nasal spray vaccine. Last week, Health Canada announced the first authorized use COVID-19 serological tests — better known as antibody tests — in Canada. In a statement released Tuesday, the agency said at least one million Canadian blood samples would be collected and tested over the next two years as the Canadian government tracks the virus in the general population and in specific groups at greater risk of having been infected, including health-care workers and the elderly. Chief public health officer Theresa Tam said serological tests will be rolled out as soon as quickly as possible. “Hopefully this will be quite rapid in terms Flatter lines = slower growth of its rollout, and we are participating with provinces and existing research networks = flatter curves that have already been formed to look at imNRC announced on Tuesday it would begin munity, as well,” she said. working with the University of Saskatch-
Even without a vaccine, some provinces have already begun taking steps towards reopening their economies. In Ontario, for example, provincial parks reopened on Monday. By Tuesday, seasonal businesses and some retailers will reopen, provided they meet criteria laid out by the province and abide by physical-distancing protocols. Certain medical procedures will also get the green light. In accordance with COVID-19 restrictions, retail stores, hair salons, daycares and day camps reopened on Thursday in Alberta, while cafes were allowed to reopen at half capacity. In Quebec — the province hit hardest by COVID-19 — Premier Francois Legault has opted for a more staggered approach that would see various parts of the province reopen while others remain closed. Trudeau also announced $100 million in federal funding for the Canadian Red Cross, which will be spent on the organization’s COVID-19 response, as well as natural disasters such as floods or wildfires. “They’ve been playing a key role in supporting Canadians during this crisis, helping both individuals and communities with their most pressing needs,” he said. “This contribution is a key investment that will enable the Red Cross to adapt to the challenges presented by COVID-19, as well as help to assist Canadians by equipping, recruiting and training people to be better prepared for events that occur during this pandemic and beyond.” Source: globalnews.ca
Canadians can still travel to the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic — just not by car
By: Sophia Harris · CBC News ·
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Posted: Jun 12, 2020 he land border is closed, but the U.S. still allows Canadians to fly to the country After Karel Bennett was turned away at the U.S. land border between B.C. and Washington state last month, she didn’t give up hope of entering the U.S. to see her newborn grandson. The Canada-U.S. land border is closed to non-essential travel to help stop the spread of COVID-19. However, Bennett had heard rumours she may still be able to fly to the U.S. She said she was first tipped off by U.S. border officers at the crossing where she was denied entry. “They said, ‘Have you thought about flying?’ And I said, ‘Well, no,’ and they said, ‘You might want to look at that.’” Bennett was desperate to visit her daughter, who lives just outside Seattle, because her daughter’s one-month-old son was sick with a respiratory problem. So, Bennett took a chance and booked a flight from Vancouver to Seattle on May 22. This time, she had no problems getting through U.S. customs and entering the country. “I just couldn’t believe it,” said Bennett, who lives in Sooke, B.C. “I was so happy.” The Canada-U.S. land border is closed to non-essential travel to help stop the spread of COVID-19. (The Canadian Press) Many Canadians are unaware that, even though they’re currently barred from driving to the U.S. for leisure travel, they can still
fly to the country. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told CBC News that its travel restrictions apply only to Canadians trying to enter the U.S. at land border crossings, which includes travel by car, train, ferry and pleasure boats. However, Canadian air passengers can still enter the country as long as they haven’t visited Brazil, China, Iran, Ireland, the U.K. or 26 European countries in the Schengen Area 14 days prior. Canada-U.S. border closure to be extended beyond June 21, sources say Canadian travellers also likely won’t have to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that international travellers do so, but it’s not a requirement unless specified by a particular region or state. For example, Hawaii requires that air passengers self-isolate for 14 days. When Canadians return home, they must self-isolate for 14 days — as per federal rules. Flying rule not widely known The U.S. air travel rule isn’t widely known on either side of the border. U.S. immigration lawyer Len Saunders said he only became aware of the details when one of his Canadian clients called him in mid-May — from Las Vegas. The client reported that he had managed to fly from Vancouver to visit his fiancée, who lives in Las Vegas. “I was shocked,” said Saunders, whose office sits close to the Canadian border in Blaine, Wash. “Logically, when you look at it, if the
border’s closed, it shouldn’t be any different whether you drive or fly.” Len Saunders, an immigration lawyer in Blaine, Wash., said he was shocked when he first learned that Canadians can still fly to the U.S. (Gabriel Osorio/CBC) Saunders immediately spread the word about flying to the U.S. to his Canadian clients who have loved ones in the country. He said dozens of them have since flown there and experienced no complications or selfisolation requirements. “It’s given them the opportunity to reunite with family members, so it’s definitely a welcome loophole to many Canadians.” Saunders advises people to book their flights online. His clients who have tried to buy a plane ticket to the U.S. by phone have often been rejected by airline agents unaware that it’s allowed, he said. “Don’t talk to an agent, and you’ll have no problem.” Some U.S. airlines currently offer routes between Canada and the U.S., and Air Canada resumed service to the U.S. on May 22. Canada is now allowing some family members separated by temporary COVID-19 travel restrictions to cross the border from the U.S. 3:22 The permission to fly isn’t reciprocal: Canada prohibits U.S. visitors from entering the country via all modes of transport — including by plane. However, this week, the Canadian government loosened its travel restrictions to allow U.S. citizens with immediate family in Canada to enter the country. Last month, Canada and the U.S. agreed to keep their shared land border closed to non-essential traffic until June 21, and, according to sources with direct knowledge of the situation, that date will be extended. But Canadians will still be able to fly to the U.S., unless the country revises its rules. Why let Canadians fly to the U.S.? Bennett spent 10 days in the U.S. and is grateful she had the opportunity to reunite with her daughter and help care for her new
grandson, who has since recovered from his illness. “There’s really no words to express it. I’m very thankful,” she said about her visit. But Bennett said she’s confused about why she was allowed to fly to the U.S. when the Canada-U.S. land border is closed. “It’s very bizarre,” she said. “Why would they do that?” Wondering when Canadians can start travelling again? Here’s what you need to know Provincial border bans during COVID-19 spark lawsuits, anger from Canadians denied entry CBP didn’t provide CBC News with an explanation. Instead, it sent a link to a Department of Homeland Security document that states that “non-essential travel between the United States and Canada poses additional risk of transmission and spread of COVID–19.” However, the document doesn’t state why its travel restrictions for Canadians only apply to land border crossings. Saunders said he’s stumped why the U.S. is still allowing Canadians to fly to the country for non-essential travel. “It makes no sense, but many Canadians are happy to take advantage of this loophole.” A word of caution The Canadian government currently advises its citizens to avoid travelling abroad because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it won’t prevent them from visiting the U.S. or other countries and will allow travellers to return to Canada — as long as they selfisolate for 14 days. However, because of the government’s travel advisory, Canadians will likely face difficulty getting travel insurance that provides medical coverage if they fall ill with COVID-19 while abroad. Total U.S. coronavirus cases surpassed two million on Wednesday. Canada’s cases stood at just over 99,000. Source: cbc.ca/news
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Y O U T H / l i f e styl e
Youth primary care and mental West Vancouver youth has global message health supports coming to Surrey for young adults in era of COVID-19
SURREY – New Democrat MLA Jinny Sims says youth and their families will have faster, easier access to mental health and substance use services, primary care, and wrap-around supports with the announcement of a new Foundry Centre in Surrey. “The announcement of a new Foundry Centre for Surrey is incredible news for our community,” said Sims, MLA for Surrey-Panorama. “Every young person deserves to have a safe space where they can access mental health services, and I’m proud our government is working hard to make sure young people in Surrey will be able to get help when they need it.” Sims says the Foundry Centre is one of eight new facilities announced today, for a total of nineteen centres across the province, and will offer increased access to integrated health and wellness services for young people aged 12 to 24. The centre will of-
fer primary care, youth and family peer supports, walk-in counselling, mental health and substance use services, and social services all under one roof, making it easier for youth to get help when they need it. The BC NDP government is committed to improving access to mental health services across the province, the Foundry Centres are just one part of A Pathway to Hope, a 10-year plan for mental health and addiction care. Media contact: Veeno Dewan
If there’s one thing that many young Canadians are certain of these days, it’s that they’re feeling a lack of certainty when it comes to their immediate futures. But they’re also feeling a lot of hope. Like many people who are just trying to do their best in the era of COVID-19, West Vancouver resident Tanaz Pourkaram has been anxious about a great many things. She’s been filled with equal bouts excitement and apprehension about starting her dietetics program at UBC this fall, even though the online education she’ll be receiving falls short of the in-person instruction she was hoping for. And, naturally, she’s felt fear over the ongoing health crisis which has so far claimed the lives of more than 8,000 people in Canada and more than 400,000 people worldwide. Her most immediate cause for concern, however, has involved her family back home in Iran. “All my family is in Iran also, so we always have to live in that fear of what’s going on there,” Pourkaram, 21, tells the North Shore News. “I’m super grateful that we have this super health-care system [in Canada], that is such a relief. We know that health care covers us.”Iran was one of the countries that was hardest hit by the novel coronavirus, especially early on in the global outbreak. There has been almost 200,000
confirmed cases of the virus in the country, resulting in 9,000 deaths. A few weeks ago, Pourkaram received the news that her uncle in Tehran had been diagnosed with the disease. Even though her uncle and his wife have a newborn at home, he’s had to be hooked up to a ventilator to breathe a little easier with the virus taking its toll. “It’s around the twoweek mark and he’s still sick,” says Pourkaram. “You have to be there for your family – but we can’t be with them right now.” But despite her own feelings of global uncertainty, Pourkaram has been intent on sharing a message of togetherness for other youth the world over who may be feeling trapping in this unprecedented time of isolation. A youth ambassa-
To be continued at page 22
The Portuguese rediscovering their country’s Muslim past another pioneering project is debunking the stereotype of an Arab-Muslim invader and recovering the Islamic past as a foundational element of Portuguese identity and heritage.
Continued from page 16 earlier this year that “the expulsion of Muslims is more related to conquests and battles than [to] religious intolerance.” Because of the supposed background of conflict, politicians argued that the expulsion of Portugal’s Muslims could not be compared to the persecution of Jews, which was based purely on hatred and bigotry. When religious minorities were given three stark choices - convert to Christianity, leave Portugal or face the death penalty - most Muslims fled to North Africa, where they assimilated into local populations. The majority of the Jewish population, however, was not allowed to leave the kingdom, as King Manuel turned the initial edict of expulsion into an edict of forced conversion. Some Jewish children were taken from their parents and adopted by Christian families. The remaining Jews were forcibly baptised. Historians believe that Muslims might have been allowed to leave the kingdom unharmed because the king feared retaliation from Muslim states, while Jews had no such protection. Those who were forcibly converted were only allowed to leave Portugal after the Lisbon massacre of 1506, when between 1,000 and 4,000 “New Christians”, as the Jewish converts were called, were killed, many of them burned at the stake. Many fled to the Ottoman empire, establishing vibrant Jewish communities in cities like Thessaloniki, Istanbul and Dubrovnik. The New Christians who remained in Portugal continued to be persecuted after the establishment of the Portuguese Inquisition in 1536. The restitution laws of 2015 were meant as a way of acknowledging the harm done to Portugal’s Jewish community and the erasure of their legacy.
Historical reparation
Although Muslims were not granted redress in the form of citizenship rights, a growing interest in Portugal’s Islamic past is slowly clearing the way for a different kind of historical reparation. Just like Mustafa Abdulsattar, the Portuguese writer Adalberto Alves made a list of Portuguese words derived from Arabic. What started as mere curiosity turned into a decade-long project that led to the publication in 2013 of a dictionary of more than 19,000 Portuguese words and expressions
A shared Mediterranean
with Arabic origins. “I wanted to overcome the ‘cliche’ of antagonism between Christians and Muslims and the oblivion about Andalusi civilisation,” Alves explains. His goal was to emphasise common heritage and to give visibility to the long-neglected presence of Muslims and their contributions to the country’s identity and history. Alves wanted to show that the “other” was, in fact, part of the self. Alves believes the cultural and intellectual legacy inherited from Islam is yet to be acknowledged in Europe, as Muslims have been written out of European history. To correct this historical erasure, Alves has spent the last 35 years documenting the influences of al-Andalus in Portugal - from poetry and language to music, carpet-weaving and pastries, to minaret-shaped chimneys. His efforts were acknowledged by UNESCO with the Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture in 2008. The legacy left by Muslims is vaster than most imagine, Alves explains, pointing out how the Portuguese empire depended on the navigational sciences developed by Arabs. Even Vasco da Gama, whose epic voyage is so widely celebrated in Portugal, is believed to have relied on a Muslim pilot to reach India. But it was perhaps with poetry that Alves most contributed to changing the way Islamic heritage is perceived in Portugal. With his collection and translation of Arabic poetry from the Andalus period into Portuguese, poets such as al-Mu’tamid, the last Muslim ruler of Seville and one of the most celebrated Andalusian poets, are coming to be known as “local” poets. This year, an exhibition held in Lisbon at the National Library celebrates the work of both Alves and al-Mutamid. “I dedicated a great part of my life to try to do justice to the great poet and King al-Mutamid ibn Abbad,” says Alves, “maybe because we have origins in the same city, Beja.” Close to the southern city of Beja, in a region where the influence of Islam is most evident,
It all started with broken pieces of pottery found under a fig tree in Mertola, a small town by the banks of the Guadiana River. Archaeologist Claudio Torres first visited the whitewashed town in 1976 with the historian Antonio Borges Coelho. Then a lecturer in medieval history at the University of Lisbon, Torres had been invited to Mertola by one of his students. Torres and Coelho stumbled upon some Islamic ceramics near the town’s medieval castle. Torres, who is now 81, decided to start digging. In 1978, he established the archaeological Field of Mertola and moved to the quiet town with his family. “Mertola doesn’t show us the battles,” explains researcher Virgilio Lopes, who has been working at the archaeological site for the past 30 years. “It shows us how people used to live together. Underneath these rocks, there is this extraordinary idea of coexistence.” Next to the medieval castle stands a church with horseshoe arches, a vaulted interior and a mihrab - a semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of prayer - behind the church’s main altar. Archaeologists found traces of a Jewish community and discovered that the church stands on what was once a Roman temple and later a mosque. “Different communities lived together here until the end of the 15th century,” explains Susana Martinez, a researcher at Mertola’s archaeological field and professor of medieval history and archaeology at the University of Evora. “The expulsion of Jews and Muslims breaks the long period of coexistence as Christianity from the north imposes its faith on everyone,” she adds. Archaeologists in Mertola uncovered a past of coexistence that challenged the way history is told in Portugal. Torres believes that Islam spread across the region through centuries of trade and economic relations and not as a result of violent conquest. This might explain why, after the first victory in 711 when an Arab and Amazigh army led by Tariq ibn-Ziyad crossed the Strait of Gibraltar from North Africa and took control of the south of the Iberian Peninsula, Mus-
lims managed to conquer most of the territory with little difficulty. Generous surrender terms also meant there were more peaceful capitulations than violent battles, allowing Muslims to control most of what is now Portugal and Spain within just a few years. “The great ruptures we are taught in school didn’t actually materialise,” explains Lopes. “Mertola is important because it shows us the continuities, the moments when religions coexist, the connections between peoples.” In a time of hardening borders and strict divisions between the north and the south of the Mediterranean, it is hard to imagine that the sea once served as a connector. But this is what archaeologists in Mertola have found. Despite the divides created by nationalism, both shores of the Mediterranean share a common culture and history. “We shouldn’t look at the south of the Mediterranean as if there was a border dividing us,” says Lopes. “Those people are also our people. Genetically and culturally, we are very close.” The focus on continuities across the Mediterranean has helped question the dominant nationalist historiography that depicts Muslims as the “other,” but it takes time to change deeply ingrained ideas about national identity and history. “We need to continue telling the stories of continuities,” says Martinez. “Not the story of elites and their battles, but the stories of common people and the way they interacted, the way they shared similar ways of living. These stories are a powerful way to deconstruct stereotypes and prejudice we might have about the other.” But perhaps nothing tells the story of continuity and a shared Mediterranean as clearly as Claudio Torres’ own experience. In the 1960s, Torres was a student and a dissident who was arrested and tortured by the authoritarian regime. When a letter of conscription to serve in Portugal’s colonial war arrived, he decided to flee. Unable to afford the smugglers’ fee to reach France, he fled Portugal on a small motorboat to Morocco. Carrying other Portuguese fleeing colonial war and dictatorship, his boat nearly sank in a dangerous trip, not unlike Mustafa Abdulsattar’s sea crossing almost 60 years later. “Today, every day, there are trips like that one,” says Lopes. “But we have forgotten that just decades ago we were the ones crossing.” Source: aljazeera.com
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Shawwal 28, 1441H June 19, 2020
By: Najam Sethi
Pak i sta n
For whom the bell tolls
“Naya Pakistan” is a constant reminder of two wise sayings. “He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool; shun him.” “In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve”. Unfortunately, there is no Democracy in Pakistan, only a Selectocracy which the people don’t deserve. The problem is the people cannot shun the fools who preside over this Selectocracy because the people are disempowered, divided and helpless. But the Miltablishment has stopped repeating the “same page” mantra because it is sounding embarrassingly hollow. Indeed, things are so bad that it has also stepped in to take direct charge of sensitive policy areas. Not just Pakistanis but the international community too has noted that Pakistan’s finance advisor, interior minister, interior secretary, national security advisor, heads of NDMA, NCOC, CPEC, etc., are all Selectocrats. In the latest twist, the Foreign Minister has been excluded from Foreign Policy making: he was conspicuous by his absence when the COAS, DGISI and Special Envoy made a strategic trip to Kabul last week for facilitating talks between the Taliban and Afghan regime aimed at smoothing the American exit from Afghanistan. Not to be left out, our gallant PM has tweet-
ed his readiness to help the Indian PM in alleviating poverty-related COVID issues with his brilliant cash transfer program. Never mind that the ownership of the program rests squarely with Benazir Bhutto. Never mind also that only half the cash pledged by the PM to the poor and needy at home has actually been transferred in two agonising months and the proposed budgetary outlay of Rs 71 billion for the next twelve months is peanuts for catering to 40 million in need. It is unprecedented for any government to create or mismanage a sugar, wheat and petrol crisis in the country simultaneously, especially since there are adequate stocks of each commodity at hand. It is unbelievable for a PM to first claim that there is no life threatening COVID19 risk to the people (ghabraana nahin) because it is no more than a common flu and then to turn around and warn the same people to follow impossible SOPs in the face of the most dangerous infection spike in June and July. Worse, when the WHO points out persistent errors in government policy and recommends an urgent course of action, the PTI’s federal and provincial health ministers and advisors are quick to line up and drown out its sane advice. Not to be left out, the PM proudly proclaims his Islamic credentials by taunting the leaders of the Muslim World that he allowed mosques to remain open when they were
shutting them down to stop COVID19 from infecting the masses. It is incredible that the irony was lost on the PM that the opening of the mosques during a general lockdown was one of the main reasons why that lockdown was unsuccessful. In the same vein, the PM has speeded up the repatriation of Pakistanis in foreign lands, despite the fact that over 50% of them are infected when they land and can’t be effectively tested or quarantined, thus spreading the infection far and wide. Best international practices of banning incoming flights during lockdowns were blithely ignored. Unforgivably, the PM has managed to throttle the economy and infected the populace at the same time even as he has constantly portrayed himself as a savior of both. For four months the PM and his cabinet members have beamed before cameras without masks sending out the message of “all is well” when all is definitely not well. Now we are increasingly paying the price for their ignorance, recklessness and callousness. The situation is fraught with peril because the people are squarely pinning responsibility for the chaos in their lives not just on the government but increasingly on the Miltablishment that has brought it to power. This is leading to two developments: members of the cabinet are blaming one another for the various problems that have erupted and
leaking their dissatisfactions to the media; and Miltablishment Big Wigs are silently distancing themselves from the disastrous decisions of the government and scratching their heads for honourable exit strategies. It is time for them to admit that their latest experiment in governing Pakistan has gone awry. It is taking an unprecedented toll of state and society. Propping it up much longer risks irreparably damaging the permanent institutions of the state like NAB, FIA, Judiciary and Bureaucracy, all of which have been railroaded into doing its illegal biddings. Meanwhile, there is no silver lining on the horizon. The outlook for the economy and COVID19 is so bad that it is only a matter of time before the people erupt to demand an end to this unaccountable disaster of a government. On top of it, if India creates a conflict on Pakistan’s borders that we cannot win, the price of failure will trigger the tolling of the bell for many in Pakistan. Source: thefridaytimes.com
Understanding smart lockdowns
In this scenario, Pakistan can opt for a much that the economic cost is huge and perhaps will begin to drop. The model is built on adapted version of the smart lockdown. more than our debt-ridden, IMF-stranguthe basic principle Wearing of gloves and masks has been found lated economy can afford. People are testing of epidemiology that to reduce the transmission of infection, and the lockdown because of their own needs when R0 – the repro- should be made mandatory for everyone every day. The government is finding it hard duction rate defined leaving home. Those who can work remotely to deliver support. Signs of food rations beas the number of in- (from home), should continue to do so, in- ing raided and social unrest are beginning to A model developed by a group of scientists fections an infected cluding online classes. appear. So yes, risks are becoming apparent recommends an intermittent lockdown. person can cause – is below 1, the number of All big firms should plan for a two-week every day. infected people declines exponentially. The work schedule as discussed above. It will al- Covid-19 is an existential war – perhaps, the By: Dr Nadeem Ul Haque cycle provided by the smart lockdown low- low managers and employees to plan ahead worst we have seen in our existence. We are And Dr Durr E Nayab ately, the term ‘smart lockdown’ has ers the reproduction number (R0) through a and stay productive, while minimising the exposed to very large risks. Our approach to beating this must be novel. beenthrown around by many for reduced time of exposure and an “anti-phas- chance of spreading infection. mechanisms that are neither smart nor ing effect in which those infected during There should be extra emphasis on following No strategy can or should remain static. define a lockdown. For a range of reasons, a work-days reach peak infectiousness during strict SOPs at workplace. This strategy needs With experience and evidence all strategies to be adopted not as an alternative but in ad- must change and develop. We are merely complete lockdown is opposite of combat- lockdown days”. dition to all the epidemiological measures, suggesting a lockdown approach that can be To drive R0 below 1, the model proposes a ing the Covid-19 outbreak. This necessitates including hygiene, physical distancing and fine-tuned with experience wilfully rather cyclic schedule with four days of work folthe need to find an alternative that can help testing, tracing and isolating the infected. lowed by 10 days of lockdown. With a stagthe current approach of people developing reduce the pressure on economy, personal Big businesses should be allowed to congered/rotational duty of employees some informal approaches to beat it. and national, without putting lives in danger. tinue with protocols that they preannounce level of productivity can be achieved. The cyThe world is perplexed with this Black Swan This alternative can be a ‘smart lockdown’, and maintain. There should be certain penclic strategies help in reducing the R0 by two event. No one has an advantage over knowlone that is conceptualised well enough to alties if they show up to be a hub of contamechanisms: restriction and anti-phasing. edge and information. There should be a far balance between lives and livelihoods. gion. Same goes for SMEs. Covid-19 has a latent period of three days, more public interface (virtual not physical) Lockdowns cannot continue indefinitely, Local shopping centres can be opened but in which it is non-infectious. The suggested in this effort to combat the problem. People but if they are lifted the existing infections with their associations announcing clear 14-day cycle helps people be away from need to see the guidelines, SOPs and other would cause a surge in the numbers forcing protocols such as neighbouring shops workplace, and hence spreading infection, information that will guide as well as eduanother lockdown. This is the yo-yo effect, as their lockdown days begin when they choosing different days to open; each shop cate them on behaviour and public health. with the number of infected people going up reach the infectious state. Even if someone displaying visibly the number of people that Covid-19 is an existential war – perhaps, the and down with every new lockdown. can enter and ensuring that only that numgets infected on Day 1 of the cycle, their worst we have seen in our existence. We are A model of a smart lockdown developed by ber which can maintain social distance is peak infection period would be during the exposed to very large risks. Our approach to a group of scientists, including molecular allowed entry. Restaurants may be allowed lockdown days, reducing the number of secbeating it has to be novel. It is time to meet cell biologists, economists and health sysonly for take away and delivery. ondary infections, the R0, they can cause. these risks in collaboration with our best tem managers, recommends an intermittent Coming to the situation in Pakistan, in reLocal government and police can develop talent and innovation. Designing a locklockdown: ten days of lockdown and four cent days, the increasing volume of traffic monitoring mechanisms in collaboration with down mechanism that is actually smart, days of work per fortnight. The basic notion on the roads and voices heard on the media reputed civil society enterprises. Electronic fully implemented and diligently monitored is that, “In this way, the virus replication tell us that people want lockdown to end. surveillance will be useful in this regard. The can help us get out of this situation. In its number, the number of people infected by Heavy losses are certain to be incurred on strategy should continuously adapt and fineabsence, a complete lockdown, with all its each infectious person, drops below one – the economy and individuals in the form of tune the number of workdays or rotation of negative consequences, is the only option. the magic number that causes the epidemic loss in GDP through trade disruptions and staff according to the results achieved. Source: thenews.com.pk to decline”. The model suggests that after sevincreasing unemployment and poverty. Risky? Yes, it is risky. Our analysis suggests eral such cycles, the number of those infected eties about the state of the world. era of the pandemic. West Vancouver youth Continued from page 21 “As an Iranian immigrant, seeing my family in Iran struggle Sixty-four per cent of young Canadians think about the imto get basic health care and being so afraid to go out of their pact of the pandemic on people in poor or developing coundor with World Vision Canada, a relief, development and houses has definitely impacted me and made me realize that tries, according to the survey, which explored a variety of advocacy organization that works with vulnerable popula- I’m in such a safe place here and I worry for those who don’t Canadian pandemic perspectives on mental health impacts tions all over the world, Pourkaram recently lent her voice have the same health-care system in other countries,” states of the virus, relationships, job security, and outlooks on the to an outreach video produced by university students from Pourkaram, in the video. future. For Pourkaram participating in World Vision’s video across Canada sharing how their view of the world has A recent survey by Abacus Research, which was commis- was a chance to show that all young people are feeling a lot changed since COVID-19 hit. In the two-and-a-half-min- sioned by World Vision, states that more than half of you of the same things, and there’s a hope in that unity, she says. ute-long video, aerial shots from all around the world are Canadians worry their job could disappear, and more than “I find myself when I keep my feelings inside I get more accompanied by Canadian students, representing World Vi- a quarter of young Canadians feel like their emotional and anxiety,” she says. “Reach out to someone who could help sion Canada, as they narrate their thoughts, fears, and anxi- mental health has been affected more than others during the you.” Source: nsnews.com
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15, 20,,26,30 Coronavirus Cases:
165,062
Deaths:
3,229
Recovered:
61,383
Pakistan Last updated: June 19, 2020, @ 05:37 GMT