Miracle 529-Oct 9, 2020 by Mohammad Naseer Pirzada

Volume 20 Issue 529- Safar 21,1442 H, October 09, 2020 $1 www.miraclenews.com Bringing Harmony To All The Communities ... BC, CANADA First Muslim

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THE

5 Communicating with

07 Dr. Muhammad Tariq

07 Police involved after

07 Muslim Community

6 8

Allah

leaves a legacy

‘totally unacceptable’ Almost half of Arab youth considering

Horgan denies pandemic financial aid for small business is being delayed by B.C. election NDP leader insists process of applying for grants would happen at the same speed regardless of vote DP Leader John Horgan insists the distribution timeline of pandemic recovery dollars promised long ago by his government has not been hampered by the election he just called. “It’s not being delayed,” Horgan told CBC News in an interview. “We made sure in September when we announced the final plan for recovery, that every dollar had been approved; not just by the treasury board but by cabinet as well.” It follows a report in the Globe and Mail that COVID-19 relief money for small businesses won’t get the final green light until after the election. Aside from the $2 billion to be tapped into as part of the province’s economic recovery plan, there’s also

seeking MLA Seats in B.C. Election 2020: Horgan faces attacks

PM directs crackdown against wheat, Sugar ‘There is hope’: COVID-19 vaccine may be BC Liberals promise to resurrect 10-lane bridge

the $50 million waiting to prop up the tourism sector ... but not before a task force files a final report at the end of the year. According to an Oct. 1 document obtained by the newspaper, senior officials confirm final approval of certain projects and funds won’t happen until a new cabinet is sworn in. Those dollars are not delayed, they’re going through due process. - NDP Leader John Horgan Horgan acknowledged it will take time for funds to trickle down to businesses that need to apply for a grant but claimed that process is moving at the same pace whether we go to the polls now or later. “Every single program we announced is going out the door, unTwo of Islam’s holiest sites, Mecca and freeze on pilgrimage due to concerns less it is a grant program — and you can’t just give out the grants, you have to Medina, are now open to Muslims living that it could easily have become a globin Saudi Arabia, after a 7-month Cov- al super-spreader event for the virus. To be Continued at page 7 id-19 pause.. Phases audi Arabian citizens and resi- Last month, state media reported the dents living in the kingdom are kingdom will initially allow 6,000 lonow allowed to perform the cal pilgrims to perform Umrah from Umrah pilgrimage at Islam’s holiest October 4, 2020. sites, Mecca and Medina, after a sev- This figure represents 30 percent of a en-month pause due to coronavirus revised capacity of 20,000 that takes concerns. into account precautionary health Phase one of a three-phase reopen- measures. ing programme, which began at mid- The second phase launches on October night on Sunday, saw 6,000 people 18, and will allow a maximum of 15,000 begin performing the pilgrimage un- pilgrims and 40,000 in for prayer from der strict social distancing measures. among residents and citizens based on Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to allocated times via the app.The final Mecca and Medina undertaken at phase starts in November and will allow visitors from specific countries deemed anytime of the year. safe to perform Umrah at 100 percent of Last year, it attracted over 19 million the revised capacity, until the end of the people.Saudi Arabia had instituted a pandemic. Source: trtworld.com Once approved and available, anyone who wants a “If this challenging year has shown us anything, it’s the positive strides our province can take when we all work together,” vaccine will receive it.

Saudi Arabia reopens Islam’s holiest sites for Umrah pilgrimage

Horgan commits to provide free COVID-19 Vaccine

ANCOUVER — At his Keep BC Moving Forward virtual town hall, John Horgan committed to provide a free COVID-19 vaccine to any British Columbian who wants one—once a vaccine is approved and available. “We have worked hard to keep people healthy and safe through the pandemic,” said Horgan. “The difficult times are not over yet, because the virus will be with us for the foreseeable future. But once there is a safe and approved vaccine, we will ensure every British Columbian can get one.” Horgan’s commitment builds on the BC NDP’s recently announced $1.6 billion pandemic preparedness plan. The plan will boost availability of the flu vaccine and see thousands of health care workers hired to work in long term care, giving new opportunities and training to people who lost their jobs due to COVID-19.

said Horgan. “The last thing we should do now is go back to a government that puts the wealthy and well-connected before the needs of people. Putting people first has been at the heart of our pandemic response and it will continue to be if our team is re-elected.” John Horgan’s pandemic preparedness plan also includes: •2 million doses of flu vaccine doses made available for this influenza season. •45,000 high dose influenza immunizations that will be made available to all long-term care and assisted living residents. •7,000 new front-line health care workers in long-term care and assisted living. •A new Hospital at Home program so patients can get safe care while in the comfort of their homes and take pressure off hospitals. Source: BC NDP Communications announcement

Safar 21,1442 Oct,09, 2020

PAKISTAN

PM directs crackdown against wheat, Pakistan urges world not to be sugar hoarders selective in fighting terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said the government would ensure abundant availability of wheat and sugar in the country and directed the relevant departments for complete crackdown against those involved in hoarding of essential commodities.He said this during a meeting to review wheat and sugar stocks, availability, demand and supply, import to meet future requirements and prices of essential commodities, a press release said. The meeting was attended by Minister for Industries Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar

Imam, PMs Advisers Abdul Razak Dawood and Ishrat Hussain, SAPM Lt Gen (retd) Asim Salim Bajwa and Dr Shahbaz Gill, relevant secretaries and other senior officials. Meanwhile, provincial chief secretaries also attended the meeting through video link. PM Khan was given a detailed briefing over the current stock situation of wheat and sugar and its imports. He was also apprised of the prices of daily use commodities. He directed the provincial governments to further increase supply of wheat, so that its sufficient availability in the market should be ensured. PM also directed for submission of detailed schedule over the imported wheat. He directed provincial chief secretaries to conduct physical feasibility of the current sugar stock in the mills. Punjab chief secretary was also directed to announce sugarcane crushing date in the earliest. Chief secretaries of Punjab and Sindh were directed to announce the official price rate of the sugarcane as early as possible..Source: dawn.com

ISLAMABAD: A bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) was informed on Tuesday that the Indian authorities and Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav seemed unwilling to avail the remedy and consular access opportunities extended to them repeatedly under International Court of Justice (Review and Reconsideration) Ordinance 2020 promulgated in compliance with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) directives. Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan apprised the bench that the Ministry

of Foreign Affairs on September 4 forwarded the IHC order to the Indian Ministry for External Affairs in order to extend yet another opportunity to them to join the legal proceedings pending in this court, but neither the Indian government nor Commander Jadhav of the Indian intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), appear interested in appointing counsel as per Legal Practitioners and Bar Council Act to contest the case or avail relief despite ICJ directives. Source: dawn.com

India not willing to avail remedy in Jadhav case: AG

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan assured the international community on Tuesday that it was committed to fighting terrorism in all its forms because it believed that a selective approach would not work. At a UN meeting on “Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism”, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Ambassador Munir Akram said that the US-Taliban agreement could also help eliminate terrorism. Pakistan supports the Afghan peace process and played a key role in finalising the USTaliban deal in February this year. Now, Islamabad is also backing US efforts to push forward an intra-Afghan dialogue that Washington hopes will end 19 years of war and destruction.“The US-Taliban agreement and the intra-Afghan negotiations initiated recently will hopefully yield a political solution. Peace in Afghanistan will create conditions conducive to eliminating terrorism from our region,” Ambassador Akram said. Underlining Pakistan’s commitment to defeating terrorism, he said: “Terrorism must be defeated comprehensively, everywhere, in all its manifestations. It cannot be addressed selectively.”Pakistan has long emphasised the need to combat state-backed terrorism as well, like in the Indian-occupied Kashmir. Islamabad argues that repressive policies encourage terrorism. In the UN, Pakistan aligned itself with the statements delivered by Saudi Arabia on behalf of the members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and by Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Both stress the need to defeat terrorism in all its forms, without any discrimination. Ambassador Akram told the world body that global cooperation had succeeded in

defeating the “core” of the major terrorist organisations — Al Qaeda and the militant Islamic State group — yet, their associates and affiliates had survived and spread across the world. “Terrorism is manifesting itself in various new and mutated forms which are not being effectively addressed,” the ambassador warned. “We have been the target of cross-border terrorism for decades,” said the Pakistani envoy while referring to terrorist attacks inside Pakistan that had taken almost 70,000 lives and caused $120 billion of economic losses.“It is essential to examine why — despite global strategies, mechanisms and interventions — terrorist violence has proliferated and now appears endemic,” he added. One of the main reasons, he said, was that “an insufficient effort has been made to distinguish terrorism from the legitimate struggle of peoples for self-determination and national liberation”. Ambassador Akram pointed out that legitimate freedom struggles were entitled, under international law, to resort to “all available means” to secure their right to self-determination.Source: dawn.com

20-point ‘code of conduct’ issued to promote inter-sect harmony

ISLAMABAD: Religious leaders belonging to all mainstream schools of thought have endorsed a 20-point ‘code of conduct’ to promote inter-sect harmony and end sectarianism discord in the country. The code of conduct was issued at the Paigham-i-Pakistan conference organised by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Tuesday. It highlights that only courts have the jurisdiction to issue a verdict of infidelity against any group or individual.The code states that all forms of coercion, armed action against the state, violence and anarchy in the name of enforcing Islam should

be considered rebellion. Non-Muslim citizens of Pakistan have the right to practise their religion and religious rites according to their beliefs. The code has been signed by relevant authorities and top leaders belonging to Islam’s four mainstream schools of thought in the country — Barelvi, Shia, Deobandi and Ahle Hadees. Clerics belonging to all schools of thought endorse the code at Paigham-i-Pakistan conference organised by CII Among those who signed the code of conduct are Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri, CII chairman Qibla Ayaz, Mufti Taqi Usmani, Mufti Munee-

bur Rehman, Allama Sajid Mir, Hanif Jalandhari, Dr Mohammad Ragheb Naeemi, Syed Iftikhar Hussain Naqvi, Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen secretary general Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Pir Naqibur Rehman, Allama Arif Wahidi and Syed Ziaullah Shah Bukhari.Talking to the media after the conference, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Religious Harmony Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi lauded the responsible attitude of senior religious leaders of the country and said the difference between previous such efforts and the current code was its future implementation plan. Source: dawn.com

Minister adds to row, says PPP govt handed over twinKeeping islands parliament out of the loop on the

KARACHI: A fresh war of words between the federal government and the Sindh government erupted on Tuesday when the latter declared Islamabad’s move to take over twin islands of Bundal and Buddo through a presidential ordinance ‘unconstitutional’ while the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf at the Centre claimed the islands were handed over by the Pakistan Peoples Party-led Sindh government itself.

issue, President Arif Alvi had recently promulgated the Pakistan Islands Development Authority (PIDA) Ordinance, 2020 to allow the federal government to take control of the two islands to initiate and maintain a continuous process of reclamation, master planning, urban planning, spatial planning and to promote and stimulate the twin islands as trade, investment and logistics centres and hubs, duty-free areas and international tourist destinations. On Tuesday, senior PTI leader and Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi posted on social media a provincial government letter, dated July 6, 2020, through which it had made “available” Bundal Island to the federal government. Without touching on the issue as to who owns the islands, the federal minister, while responding to PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s tweet in which he termed the Centre’s move an “illegal annexation”, said: Source: dawn.com

Sedition case against PML-N leadership sparks lively debate

ISLAMABAD: The filing of a sedition case against a number of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) leaders, including the party’s supreme leader and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, has sparked a lively debate on whether a common citizen can lodge such a case which entails serious consequences. Senior lawyers are of the opinion that a sedition case cannot be filed by a common citizen.Ali Ahmed Kurd, one of the senior lawyers who spearheaded the epic 2007 lawyers’ movement, while talking to reporters here on Tuesday, said that an individual could not lodge a sedition case since this was a very serious matter.When asked to comment on the debate, Pakistan Bar Council vice chairman Abid Saqi recalled that under Section 196 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), a complaint could only be filed by the federal or provincial governments or an authority/officer empowered by either of the two governments.

Section 196 deals with the prosecution for offences against the state and explains that no court should take cognisance of any offence punishable under Chapter VI or IXA of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) unless upon complaint made by order of, or under authority from, the central or the provincial governments concerned, or some officer empowered in this behalf by either of the two governments. Senior lawyers say common citizen cannot file sedition case Source: dawn.com

Safar 21,1442 Oct,09, 2020

e d i t o r i a l

Every Single Vote Matters in 0ct 24, 2020 BC Provincial Election

ritish Columbian has a fixed election date set for October 2021, but Horgan said Monday that waiting for 12 more months would be time wasted. “This pandemic will be with us for a year or more, and that’s why I believe we need to have an election now,” he said.“This pandemic will be with us for a year or more, and that’s why I believe we need to have an election now,” he said. After the snap election, called by BC Premier John Horgan on September 21, 2020, The elections for the formation of the new BC legislature are slated for October 24, 2020. Now what to do, we should participate in elections at any cost in 32 days time frame. In this The good news fro all Muslim Community is this,

n October 24, 2020 BC Election from Muslim Community Mr. Shaukat Khan from Liberal Party (SurreyWhalley) Ms. Mehreen Chaudry(Burnaby-Deer Lake) and Mr. Asad Syed (Surrey-Newton) from Green Party are nominated.

Now it is our responsibilty to play our responsibilty. oting is a right of all eligible voters in any country. It is seen as the normal or typical form of political activity and it remains the primary means of political participation. The goal of any voting system is to establish the intent of each individual voter and translate those intents into a final tally or reality. According to Abraham Lincoln; “No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent” This further explains that in a truly democratic society, governments are instituted among qualified and responsible men who derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. Another ex-American president,

‘Abraham Accord’! By: Gulshan Aalani W

hat a wonderful title that glorifies the name of Prophet Abraham (Ebrahim) (AS) that is most pleasing for Muslims, as their religion Islam is known as the religion of Prophet Abraham (AS) who is known as a ‘Friend’ of GOD, for making peace with HIM the Creator of the Universe and left the Idol worship cult of his Father, whom he explained many times that the worshiping the Idols-human gods is a sin, but the father wouldn’t budge as he was deep into it as most Idol worshipers are, who become wealthiest by selling the religious rituals. Though, Prophet Abraham (AS) moved away from his father and as inspired by his Lord, he remained faithful to HIM and later as commanded by AllahCreator, he with his sacrificial firstborn son Prophet Ismail built the ‘Kaba’ the first House of worship of Allah-Supreme Being Creator of the Universe. ‘Kaba’ was glorified again by the final Messenger Muhammad (SAWS) descendant of Prophet Ismail (AS). “Remember Abraham said: my Lord make this a city of peace and

Lyndon Johnson has this to say in support of Abraham Lincoln that “The right to vote is the most basic right, without which all others are meaningless”. Voting is the first duty of democracy. The government is based on citizens’ votes for representation. In a democracy, your vote is your voice and the act of standing up for what you believe. Voting helps to preserve our way of life. One man. one vote” is the fairest method to choose leaders in any democratic society. Voting is a patriotic right to choose your representative government. A citizen’s vote is a secret ballot. Voting is the most important exercise a citizen will do as a responsible citizen of a democratic nation. In a functioning democracy, being able to vote allows citizens to express their political opinions by voting for a particular policy or candidate that has your best interest in mind. By this, you can decide your very own future by opting for a candidate who might speculate your own aspects and possibly those people who share the same opinion with you. Whereas both of the keys contesting parties (Viz- the Liberals BC or the NDP) are laboring overtime to woo the electorate for the formation of the next government at Victoria, but which of them emerges victorious at the end is yet to be determined. Nonetheless, it is of the essence for every voter to cast his/her vote, for every single vote matters in the elections. So far as the local Muslim populace is concerned, it is of crucial importance for it to go to the designated polling stations of their respective areas to exercise it’s the hard-earned right of a franchise that has been bestowed upon the people being the citizens of the country of its adoption. Every vote matters in the democratic set up of the government, where the people are its real architects. This is the precise reason that the Miracle newspaper is strenuously creating awareness in the Islamic commu-

nity for its positive and energetic participation in the electoral process, may that be at the Federal level or else at the Local or Provincial levels. It is, however, regretted to point out that despite the repeated wake-up calls the local Muslim Ummah does not deem appropriate to pay heed to the wake-up alarms and let the opportunity of sending more of its representatives in the provincial legislature slip out of its hands. Consequently, the representation of this community at all levels of governance is devastatingly much below its proportion. This is an appallingly dismaying picture in comparison to the other ethnic communities around. Now when the time for getting something substantial has practically run out owing to the fault of none other than the community itself, it is futile to cry over the spilled milk. All then can (and ought to) be done at the moment is to work hard for the success of the Muslim candidates (no matter which party they belong to or where to lie the roots of their origin) in the fray by consolidating all the Muslim votes in their respective areas and bringing the voters out of their homes for casting their votes at the polling booths. Putting together of every solitary vote matters for winning the elections in the same way as the little drops of water are required to contribute their might to make an ocean. The youth volunteers of both the sexes can accomplish this productive job conveniently and effectively. Besides, it is equally imperative for all the organizations of the community operating in this area to formulate some tangible plan and educate the people for the future on this issue of crucial importance, as the cycle for the forthcoming general elections at different levels continues to roll ahead on the footing of four years term under the law.

feed its people with fruits such of them as believe in GOD and the last day”. (Quran 2-126). Since 14th.C. Muslims are following his religion Islam and has remained faithful to Allah by following HIS commandments including the 10 commandments given to Prophet Moses (AS) and has kept alive the covenant made with their Creator. No doubt ‘Abraham Accord’ is a most controversial issue but it is pleasing to know that finally the name Abraham is made worldwide known by connecting it to such famous issue of ‘Abraham Accord’ believed to be the peace making accord as per following: “This week the United states helped usher in a new era of peace in the Middle East. In a historic ceremony, the Abraham Accords between Israel, the United Arab Emirates UAE, and Bahrain were signed at the White House. The monumental agreements that President Trump facilitated between these nations will bring them peace, diplomatic relations and economic growth. Israel’s enemies called the agreements a stab in the back: these agreement benefit not only Israel and the U.S.A. but the entire Middle East”. On the other side of the coin, by some it is described as the web of

evil, another catastrophic situation mainly against the Palestinians. The word peace is just used to blind the nations, as usual the power play, as it is just about the ‘economic growth’, which is not a bad idea at all. Though, the tragic issue of Palestinians is completely ignored, they are crushed under the surface fake title of ‘peace’. U.S. President Trump and Israeli P.M. Netanyahu has no idea what peace means. Peace with down trodden Palestinian is completely ignored. Their in-humane treatment continues: ‘No justice no peace’. First step of peace should be with Palestinians, give them back what is taken away from them. Sadly, more is planned for the ‘annexation’ that is like “a final nail in the Coffin”. Netanyahu says: “There is no change in his plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank despite a deal with the UAE: West Bank annexation plans still ‘on the table”. “I am angry because this is history repeating itself ”. Said Zeina Mustafa, a 20 yr old student from Ramallah. “The annexation plan is another Nakba (catastrophe) and Naksa (day of setback), she added, referring to the 1948 Palestinian exodus that saw more than 700,000 Palestinian Arabs expelled from

f You Don’t Vote, DON’T

For everyone that complains that they don’t like how the government is running things now and for everyone that thinks the government is on the right track, today is your day — Election Day. Nobody in this world has the right to complain about how our government is working, how our representatives are voting, or how corrupt our state government is unless he or she has voted. Voting for our representatives is the cornerstone of our democracy, and we do have the power to change how government works through our vote. Voting takes very little time, and if you did not vote for a candidate you should not complain, because you did not even take the time to vote for those people who make the decisions. However, the sad fact of this world is that most people do not vote. They do not think it is worth the time; they don’t think their one vote will matter, and they think that there is nothing that can be done to fix the way politics are now. Those people are wrong. While change is never easy or fast it can be done, and voters have proven they can speak with one very loud voice. The only thing someone can do that is worse than not voting is voting blindly. Voters need to make sure they are sending someone into office they think can do the best job. Read the newspaper today, and get a grasp on the people running for office, and then go into the voting booth. Better yet, take a minute right now to contemplate what issues are the most important to you and your family, and then take a look at what the candidates believe in. If you don’t know what you believe in, don’t complain when someone does it for you. In short, go vote. These are the people that represent you in government and make decisions that directly affect your life. Do the job right, and make sure they are representatives you believe in.

their homes-took control of the West Bank from Jordan and Gaza Strip from Egypt”. It would be so much better if first they make peace with Allah-Creator of the Universe, accept HIM, HIS final Revelation, Messiah Jesus (AS) and the commandments of P. Moses (AS). 33-43-”It is HE who sends blessings on you, as do HIS Angels that HE may bring you out from the depths of darkness into Light: and HE is full of mercy to the believers. LX-5-”Our Lord Make us not a test and trial for the unbelievers, but forgive us, our Lord, for thou are

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Contents

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Letters Pak. News Faith

News N. Int

Politics

Middle East World

Local Women Health Lifestyle Youth Education Urdu

4 4 3 5 6,8, 7,11,12,14 9 10,13 11, 20 21 22 19 19 24-32

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Letters to the editor and Articles do not reflect the opinion of the Miracle media group. We do not publish anonymous letters or the letters of the people who do not disclose their identity to ‘The Miracle.’ A writer can use a pen name or request ‘The Miracle’ to withhold his / her identity. Please include your daytime telephone number for the confirmation of your letter. We regret the inconvenience.

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By: SPAHIC OMER

Safar 21,1442 Oct,09, 2020

f ait h

Narrated `Aisha: Whenever the Prophet (saw) took a bath after Janaba he started by washing his hands and then performed ablution like that for the prayer. After that he would put his fingers in water and move the roots of his hair with them, and then pour three handfuls of water over his head and then pour water all over his body. S.Bukhari: 248).

Communicating with Allah

lmighty Allah as the Creator communicates with His creation He does so in various ways most of which are unknown to man. He informs us through His revealed Word, the Holy Qur’an, for example, that He communicates with the heavens, the earth, mountains, the fire, hellfire, animals, etc. Allah communicates with man, His vicegerent on earth, too. He said: “It is not fitting for a man that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration or from behind a veil or by the sending of a Messenger to reveal with Allah’s permission what Allah wills, for He is Most High Most Wise” (al-Shura, 51). Allah communicates with man through the Qur’an. He conveys to him commands, proscriptions, a guidance and an explanation of a great transcendent truth. He does virtually the same through the sunnah, or the life-pattern, of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), which encompasses his teachings, deeds, sayings and silent permissions or disapprovals, for he did not speak “out of his own desire; that (which he conveys to you) is but (a divine) inspiration with which he is being inspired (sent down to you)” (al-Najm, 3-4). Moreover, Allah communicates with, and conveys various meanings to, man via incalculable signs (ayat) He had embedded in each and every aspect of His creation: from the grandest to the humblest and most ordinary. The signs permeate and dominate not only elements of the multitiered physical creation, but also the whole of man’s existence, his society, civilization and history. Allah says: “And how many signs in the heavens and the earth do they pass by? Yet they turn (their faces) away from them!” (Yusuf, 105). The truth contained in revelation (wahy) is essentially the same truth as contained in the working of Allah’s providence in human history and the history of individual souls, as well as in the physical and metaphysical signs scattered literally throughout creation. Lastly, Allah communicates, to some extent, with man through his fitrah as well. The fitrah is the natural disposition, inclination and sound human nature that Allah instilled in mankind. According to a verse from the Qur’an (al-A’raf, 172), Allah took from the loins of Adam his progeny like tiny particles, and made them testify concerning themselves that He was their Creator and Master. Every newborn in this world is born with this covenant and affirmation. That means that everyone is born with the natural inclination towards Islam as the ultimate truth and so, the only religion with Allah; the natural inclination -- or pure human nature -- which Allah instilled in all people on the day of the covenant. In their capacity as the creation and mere servants, all humans are born with the inclination towards their Creator, Master and Sustainer. Everyone is initially free of any false beliefs, and will always enjoy a disposition towards goodness and sound beliefs -- regardless of his adopted behavioural patterns -- while at the same time innately disliking evil, deceit

and falsehood. However, communication between man and Allah is not to be a one-way model. Just like any other communication type, this type of communication, likewise, ought to be a two-way process, in order that it remains productive, meaningful and strong, insofar as man, the recipient of Allah’s communicated Word and Message, is concerned. Thus, Allah afforded man a number of opportunities to reciprocate both His direct and indirect communication initiatives. Man is asked to pray five times a day, supplicate, remember, praise, glorify and sing praises to Him, at certain appointed and recommended times, or whenever and wherever he feels disposed to do so. Similarly, man can contemplate about Allah: His Holy Attributes and His creation, acknowledging the Master’s infinite power, supremacy and greatness, as opposed to his own insignificance and smallness, prompting his restive soul to scream out: “Our Lord, not for naught have You created (all) this! Glory to You! Give us salvation from the penalty of the fire” (Al-Imran, 191). Certainly, it is no coincidence that these words are preceded by the following: “Men who celebrate the praises of Allah standing sitting and lying down on their sides and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth…” (Al-Imran, 191). Or, man can open up his heart at anytime and anywhere and simply talk to his Creator and Cherisher about any topic and in any language. Allah says: “And if My servants ask you about Me -- behold, I am near; I respond to the call of him who calls, whenever he calls unto Me. Let them, then, respond unto Me, and believe in Me, so that they might follow the right way” (al-Baqarah, 186).

is constant in prayer does not shun lewdness and iniquity, that would mean that there is something seriously wrong with the former, whose complete state and effectiveness will need review and some drastic adjustment measures. While performing all other religious injunctions, and while spurning the possibility of committing sins -- both minor and major -- as much as possible, a person should know that he answers Allah’s divine calls that target directly him and his consciousness. Such a realization lies at the centre of the concept of niyyah (the intention in one’s heart to do an act for the sake of Allah alone), which, in turn, is a prerequisite for acceptance of religious acts. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), therefore, is reported to have said that the reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended (Sahih al-Bukhari). Based on the above, it is incumbent on each and every Muslim to comprehend the meaning of communication with Allah as means of connection between people and their Creator and Master, and as the process of conveying intended meanings and messages from one “side” to the other through the use of prescribed ways and means. Such communication helps man elevate himself from the stifling confines of the body, matter and this world, to the ultimate freedom and endless potential of the soul and its transcendent realm. It sets man on a journey of self-actualization. It makes him genuine and real. It makes him realize that he is not alone in the maze of life where, without Allah’s light and guidance, nothing makes sense, nor appears heartening and uplifting. It saves him from the dreadful prospect of living and dying as nothing and nobody, presenting him, instead, with a wonderful opportunity to become somebody at as high a plane of existential reality as the heavenly scheme of things, and to never really die. Source: .islamicity.org

spiritual presence. It is on account of this that it is said, for instance, that reading the Holy Qur’an means letting Allah speak to a person, a form of communication the content of which should be properly comprehended, reflected on and then, duly acted upon. In other words, a reader, or reciter, of the Qur’an should perceive himself as being instructed, directed and meticulously guided thereby. Performing daily prayers, furthermore, is to be understood as talking to and conversing with Allah, in which case man plays the role of an active participant under the aegis of divine inspiration and guidance. While performing prayers, a person should understand that he in his capacity as mortal servant has the privilege to converse directly with his Eternal Creator, Lord and Master, praising, glorifying, thanking, supplicating, confessing, testifying, imploring, pleading, and seeking His unbounded forgiveness and mercy. It follows that the daily prayers are the most powerful and meaningful experience one can have in his life. They are the best heavenly gift to mankind. They alone are at once a life-changer and life-sustainer. They are also a life-purifier. Allah thus affirms: “… And establish regular prayer: for prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt…” (al-‘Ankabut, 45). Such is the case owing to the rational fact that he who experiences five times a day everything prayer entails, will in no way engage willingly and persistently in any serious loathsome deeds or deeds that run counter to reason. The two prospects are absolutely incompatible in a person. It is unfathomable that a person who most directly The significance of communication communicates with Allah five times a day, will willingly and repeatedly commit a seriwith Allah All things considered, communication is the ous wrongdoing. If, however, a person who lifeblood of the relationship between man and Allah. The two are locked in a causal liaison, the former being the cause and the Oct 9-23, 2020- Safar 21-Rabi ul Awal 5, 1442 H latter the effect. The stronger and more profound the communication, the stronger and ZawalAsar Dhuhr Asar Maghrib Isha Shafi / Hanfi more fruitful the relationship becomes. In Isl. Dt. Day Date Fajar Sunr Dhur the same vein, the weaker and more inef- 21 Fri fectual the communication, the weaker and 22 Sat more deficient the relationship becomes. 23 Sun Indeed, man needs special communication 24 Mon skills to make his relationship with Allah work. This is especially so because man is 25 Tue created but to worship (know and serve) Al- 26 Wed lah (al-Dhariyat, 56); that is to say, the in- 27 Thus nermost purpose of man’s creation is to be28 Fri come cognizant of the existence of Allah and 29 Sat to consciously as well as willingly conform 30 Sun his own existence to Allah’s will and plan. For man, life is all about knowing, worship- 1* Mon ping and serving. However, these, in actual 2 Tue fact, are but different names for man’s in3 Wed cessant and pulsating communication with 4 Thus Allah, which comes to pass with various 5 Fri degrees of meaning and intensity, and at various levels of man’s physical, rational and For such Prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times: Quran ,n 4:103 Source: BCMA

Prayer Schedule in Greater Vancouver

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‘There is hope’: COVID-19 vaccine may be US COVID-19 deaths surpass 210,000 ready by the end of the year, WHO boss says as Trump set to leave hospital Nine experimental vaccines are in the pipeline of the WHO-led COVAX global vaccine facility that aims to distribute 2 billion doses by the end of 2021 GENEVA — A vaccine against COVID-19 may be ready by year-end, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday, without elaborating. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, addressing the end of a twoday meeting of its Executive Board on the pandemic, said: “We will need vaccines and there is hope that by the end of this year we may have a vaccine. There is hope.” Nine experimental vaccines are in the pipeline of the WHO-led COVAX global vaccine facility that aims to distribute 2 billion doses by the end of 2021. On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration told coronavirus vaccine developers that it would need at least two months of safety data after a full vaccination regime to review applications for emergency use authorization of an experimental vaccine. The agency’s advice was released as part of documents posted ahead of a meeting of its expert panel later this month to discuss

US President Donald Trump has frequently downplayed the threat of the pandemic, which has now killed over 210,000 Americans and infected 7.4 million others. Coronavirus deaths in the United States have passed 210,000, as President Donald Trump said he would leave the military hospital where he has been receiving treatment for the disease – four weeks before the US election.Trump said he is feeling good and the nation should not be afraid of the virus. Trump’s physician said the president has met or exceeded all standard hospital criteria to be discharged, and while he was not yet out of the woods, he was able to go home. “Over the past 24 hours … he’s met or exceeded all standard hospital discharge criteria,” Dr Sean Conley told a news conference, saying it had been more than 72 hours since Trump’s last fever and that his oxygen

vaccines under development. Pfizer Inc and BioNTech gave the median patient in their 44,000 volunteer trial the second dose of their vaccine, which is considered a leading candidate in the race for a coronavirus vaccine, in late September. If the FDA follows the advice released on Tuesday, it would not likely authorize the vaccine before sometime in late November. The agency’s staff also wrote that the FDA expects to hold separate meetings of its vaccine advisory committee before issuing an emergency use authorization for any experimental shot. There is no approved vaccine President Trump stages return to White yet for the novel coronavirus in the United House after COVID-19 bout, Biden says US States. Source: nationalpost.com is in a ‘national emergency’ TORONTO -- Thirty-two countries have banned at least some single-use plastics, with many more provinces, states and cities around the world imposing or considering bans of their own on things like grocery bags and straws. Canada announced Wednesday that plastic grocery bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery and food containers made from hard-to-recycle plastics will be eliminated from use by the end of 2021. In the future, stores will be expected to provide alternatives to these plastic products. Canada joins a growing list of countries using bans to confront the problem of excess waste that often ends up littering oceans, the gruesome murder. Earlier this week, Turkey indicted six Saudi lakes and other waterways. suspects in Khashoggi’s murder case. None China announced plans earlier this year to of the suspects are in Turkey and will be phase out most single-use plastics, includtried in absentia. Twenty Saudi nationals ing plastic bags and straws, by 2025, becomare already on trial in an Istanbul court for ing the largest country to commit to such measures. The European Union has also Khashoggi’s killing. The indictment came weeks after a Saudi vowed to ban single-use plastic cutlery, cotcourt overturned five death sentences issued ton swabs, straws and stir sticks by 2021. The after a closed-door trial in Saudi Arabia that list also covers single-use polystyrene cups ended last year, sentencing them to 20 years and those made of oxo-degradable plastics, which fragment into small pieces. in prison instead. Recently, Erdogan also condemned the The EU commitment requires member United Arab Emirates and Bahrain’s deci- states to introduce measures to reduce the sion to normalise ties with Israel. After the use of plastic food containers and plastic lids announcement of normalisation of ties be- for hot drinks. It calls for plastic water bottween UAE and Israel, Erdogan had warned tles to be made of 25 per cent recycled conTurkey could suspend diplomatic relations tent by 2025 and that by 2029, 90 per cent should be recycled. with the Gulf state in response. Turkey has had diplomatic relations with The United Kingdom has made a similar Israel for decades, but under President Er- plastics ban commitment and has targeted dogan, has positioned itself as a champion of 2042 to end needless plastic waste.

levels were normal. “Though he may not entirely be out of the woods yet, the team and I agree that all our evaluations, and most importantly, his clinical status, support the president’s safe return home, where he will be surrounded by world-class medical care 24/7.” Source: aljazeera.com

Banning single-use plastics worldwide: What’s in and what’s out?

Saudi Arabia calls upon citizens to ‘boycott everything Turkish’ following Erdogan’s statement Saudi authorities called upon citizens to “boycott everything Turkish” following a statement by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan where he accused some Gulf countries of pursuing policies that were destabilising the region, Gulf News reported on Saturday. “The boycott of everything Turkish, whether on the level of import, investment or tourism, is the responsibility of every Saudi — trader and consumer — in response to the continued hostility of the Turkish government against our leadership, our country and our citizens,” Saudi Arabia’s Chamber of Commerce head Ajlan Al Ajlan said in a tweet. In addition to accusing some Gulf countries of targeting Turkey and following policies that led to instability, the Turkish president had, during an address to the country’s General Assembly, also said: “It should not be forgotten that the countries in question did not exist yesterday, and probably will not exist tomorrow; however, we will continue to keep our flag flying in this region forever, with the permission of Allah.” Relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey have been thorny especially since the brutal murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi that took place in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. Erdogan has said the order to murder Khashoggi came from “the highest levels” of the Saudi government but has never directly blamed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is widely believed to be behind the Palestinians. Source: dawn.com

Some jurisdictions in the Middle East and Africa are promoting oxo-degradable plastics or even making them mandatory. But it has been shown that the plastic does not biodegrade, but simply breaks down into fragments and then further into troublesome microplastics that pollute air, soil and water. The strictest ban is believed to be in Kenya, where producing, selling or even using plastic bags can net up to four years in jail or a fine of more than $50,000 CAD. Some Canadian jurisdictions already have their own bans in place. Prince Edward Island became the first province to ban plastic bags outright, followed by Newfoundland. Tofino and Ucluelet in B.C. have enacted bans on plastic bags and straws. Vancouver has approved a ban on plastic straws and will enact a plastic bag ban by 2021. Victoria has already banned plastic bags, along with Montreal. During the pandemic, plastic bags became commonplace as many grocery stores refused to allow reusable bags in stores due to safety concerns. The federal government’s plan to ban plastics was delayed due to the pandemic. ”Source: ctvnews.ca

One stillbirth every 16 seconds, and COVID-19 could make it worse UN report finds almost two million babies are stillborn every year, often through the absence of basic ante-natal care. Almost two million babies are stillborn every year – one every 16 seconds – the United Nations said Thursday, warning that the COVID-19 pandemic could add another 200,000 deaths to a toll is described as devastating. Some 84 percent of stillbirths, take place in low- and middle-income countries, as a result of a lack of midwives and poor quality healthcare, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the World Bank Group said in a joint report. Improvements in basic antenatal care could save hundreds of thousands of lives each year, they added. “Losing a child at birth or during pregnancy is a

devastating tragedy for a family, one that is often endured quietly, yet all too frequently, around the world,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “Beyond the loss of life, the psychological and financial costs for women, families and societies are severe and long-lasting. For many of these mothers, it simply didn’t have to be this way.” In 2019, three-quarters of stillbirths – defined in the report as a baby born with no signs of life at 28 weeks of pregnancy or more – occurred in sub-Saharan Africa or Southern Asia. The report warned that the COVID-19 pandemic could result in nearly 200,000 additional stillbirths, assuming that 50 percent of health services in low- and middle-income countries are affected by the COVID-19

response. Mark Hereward, UNICEF’s associate director for data and analytics, told the AFP news agency that infants in many countries would suffer from COVID-19 even if their mothers never contracted the disease. “Firstly, due to the massive increase in poverty because of the global recessions,” he said. “The other way is through an interruption to health services, either because health workers are reassigned to work on COVID or because people are afraid to go to clinic”. Hereward said that without urgent action the world will have suffered 20 million more stillbirths by 2030. Source: ctvnews.ca

7 B C e L E C T I O N Horgan denies pandemic financial aid for small business is being delayed by B.C. election Safar 21,1442 Oct,09, 2020

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in March,” he said. “This is the second half, which is stimulus money ... We’re right on track as far as I’m concerned.” He pointed to aid currently being delivered, including $500 million for municipalities, tax breaks for businesses and projects that have already been approved. ‘This is wrong’ The B.C. Green Party Leader says the news confirms concerns that government support to small businesses and the tourism industry is taking far longer than it should. “I am deeply frustrated by the continued reports that this election is in fact delaying the financial support for businesses that this government promised,” said Sonia Furstenau. “Businesses need help now, they can’t afford months more delays.” She pointed to the warnings from Elections BC that it could a number of weeks to tabu-

have an intake process,” said Horgan. He claimed all grant applications will be vetted and approved at the same speed under the current caretaker government than they would be otherwise. “So those dollars are not delayed, they’re going through due process,” Horgan said. “Those programs that we just initiated in September require people to apply, the applications to come in, they have to be weighed against the criteria that is already in place, and once they meet that criteria, the funds will flow and the projects will be funded.” Regardless of an election pause or not, Horgan was pressed on whether seven months and counting is too long for critical funding to flow to struggling business owners. “It’s not the first financial aid they’ve had; we put $3.5 billion right into the economy back

late mail-in ballots. If you’re a business ... chances are you’re just going to pack it in. - B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson “We may not know who the government is until Nov. 21,” Furstenau said in a statement. “This report today suggests that this money will be on hold until a new cabinet is sworn in, which could take even longer.” She suggested Horgan owes British Columbians and small business owners an explanation, and an answer on when they can expect to see the financial support his government promised. The response from the B.C. Liberals was just as critical, with Leader Andrew Wilkinson calling the whole process ‘wrong.’ “If you’re a business with next to no revenue so far in 2020 and you’re told you’ll maybe get a consultation process in January, chances are you’re just going to pack it in,” Wilkin-

son told reporters Monday. “The NDP has completely failed the tourism and hospitality industry by stringing them along until late September, and then calling an election that blocks any relief for them.” Source: cbc.ca/news

Dr. Muhammad Tariq leaves a legacy as Consul General of Pakistan in Vancouver

r. Muhammad Tariq, Consul General of Pakistan in Vancouver has completed his tenure and is leaving Canada to assume a post in Foreign Affairs in Pakistan. He will be fondly remembered by the community for his open-mindedness, commitment to public interactions and positive demeanour. The Miracle Media Group wishes him all the best in his future endeavours and welcomes the incoming Consul General, Mr. Janbaz Khan. Here is a message from Dr. Tariq:

Dear Compatriot,

would like to inform you that upon completion of my tenure in Vancouver as Consul General, I am leaving fromVancouver on October 7, 2020 and say goodbye to some dear friends which we have made here. My successor Mr. Janbaz Khan will be assuming his duties shortly. I avail this opportunity to thank you for your cooperation without it would not have been possible for me and the officials of the Consulate to effectively carry out our responsibilities. Despite minor hiccup, last

six years have been unprecedented in linking Pakistan and provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, and Yukon Territories, covered by this Consulate. I hope our linkages will remain intact and we continue to stay in touch. If you need any service in Islamabad where I will soon be joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, please do not hesitate to ask. I wish you and your family good health, happiness, peace and prosperity. Dr. Muhammad Tariq Consul General

Muslim Community seeking MLA Seats in 2020 BC Elections

Mehreen Chaudry

sad Syed has been a resident of Surrey for the past 26 years along with Candidate for Burnaby-Deer Lake his wife and three children. He is a community activist and advocate for Green Party interfaith harmony, as well as the founder and past president of The White Rock Muslim Association. He served on the Government Relation Committee FVREB, as well as the BVOR Syrian Refugee Sponsorship and settlement program as a partnership I stand for: between the WRMA and the First United 1. Safe Senior Care 2. Security of our Schools during COVID-19 Church. He volunteers for several charities and not for profit organizations. He is self3. Environmental Protection. employed as a realtor and private business 4. Sustainable Affordable Housing owner. 5. Diversity and Inclusion My passion for He has been nominated for Surrey Newton from Green Party in Oct 24, 2020 ehreen was born in Ottawa, but BC Provincial Election. Candidate for Surrey-Newton grew up in Pakistan. She completed an MBA in International Green Party Business and Economics at the University of Illinois and has extensive professional experience working as a project manager with Candidate for Surrey-Whalley multinational organizations. As a single parBC Liberal Party ent of two boys, she understands the challenges of young families who immigrate to y passion for community and Canada. She is impassioned about the need public service encouraged me for affordable housing, universal childcare, to put my name forward for this and creating a sustainable future for all Caelection under the BC Liberal Party banner. nadians. Mehreen was Green Candidate for This will enable me to continue my journey the Burnaby City Council elections in 2018. of giving back to the community and I am running as the candidate for the BC Green Party because their values and goals represent the kind of world I want for my children. As a single mother of two and being new to Canada, I understand all too well, the challenges and needs of young families beginning a new life in another country. I am impassioned about the need for affordable housing, universal childcare, and creating a sustainable future for all Canadians.

Asad Syed

ensuring Surrey-Whalley is a place to live and work for people of all walks of life for generations to come. I believe in a society where everyone is equal and respected, can live freely, and has an equal chance at the opportunities this great province has to offer. I will champion diversity and that includes the underprivileged and people with disabilities. I want to serve as your MLA, a MLA who listens and connects with the community on a regular basis and works diligently to make Surrey-Whalley a better and safer place for all. I am committed to making our neighborhoods safer and ensuring responsible development in the core. Note: (Mr. Khan full Bio run in Miracle last edition)

Shaukat Khan

Coronavirus infections over 36 million worldwide Coronavirus Cases:

Deaths:

Recovered:

27,428,326

36,419,974

1,060,961

Coronavirus Cases:

Deaths:

Recovered:

Coronavirus Cases:

Deaths:

Recovered:

173,123 9,956

9,541 244

145,666 8,296

Last updated:

October 08, 2020, 08:42 GMT www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?

CANADA Last updated: October 08, 2020, 08:42 GMT

BC;CANADA Last updated: October 08, 2020, 08:42 GMT

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Canada ‘going in the wrong direction’ on COVID-19, Liberals survive throne speech confidence vote, Trudeau says as cases rise through most of country with support of NDP NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said if Canada is heading in the wrong direction on COVID-19, it is Trudeau’s responsibility to change course OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted Monday that efforts to prepare Canada for a second wave of COVID-19 have fallen short and Canadians need to take matters into their own hands to help reduce cases. Monday brought another grim tally with nearly 1,800 new cases in Ontario and Quebec. Hospitalizations are also starting to rise in both provinces and outside of Atlantic Canada, all parts of the country are seeing rising levels of new cases. Predictions of a second wave of the virus in the fall have been made for months, and the federal government gave provinces $19 billion in June to try and get ready, increasing contact tracing and testing resources. At the time, governments at all levels said testing and contact tracing would be essential to keeping the virus in check. The Liberals also launched the COVID-19 Alert app, which was meant to make it easier to follow cases. Trudeau said it is clear these efforts did not dent a second wave the way they had hoped. “Obviously, all of that hasn’t been enough. We are going in the wrong direction now which is why it is so important for Canadians to do what is necessary; to wear a mask, to keep your distance, to understand that each of us has the power to end this by the choices we make.”Ontario’s latest numbers also revealed the province has a backlog of nearly 70,000 tests, with many people waiting several days to get a test result returned. The province is also switching testing centres this week to an appointment system rather than have people wait in lines for hours.

Trudeau said his government could offer some help, but much more testing capacity is needed.“Federal labs are also providing surge support on processing of tests, including for Ontario for 1,000 tests today, and additional federal labs will be added,” he said. In the House of Commons, Conservatives took aim at the government for the slow pace of approvals in rapid testing, as well as for failing to procure the quick tests other countries are purchasing.“When is the prime minister going to take the health of Canadians seriously and roll out a real plan for rapid testing,” asked the party’s leader Erin O’Toole. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said if Canada is heading in the wrong direction on COVID-19, it is Trudeau’s responsibility to change course. “The prime minister is the sole person responsible for steering our country in the right direction, but the prime minister isn’t taking action.”Over the weekend, Toronto Public Health said it was refocusing its contact tracing initiatives and would no longer do contact tracing for every positive test, but would instead focus on the highest-risk cases....... Source: ctvnews.ca

Profits that ICBC generates during the COVID-19 pandemic will be paid back directly to drivers as a rebate if a BC NDP government is re-elected, Vancouver-Point Grey candidate David Eby said today. “Unlike the BC Liberals who raided ICBC of $1.2 billion to make their books look better, we have managed ICBC carefully, which allows us to send profits resulting from COVID back to drivers in a rebate cheque at the end of ICBC’s financial year,” said Eby who passed legislation to prevent governments from padding their budgets with ICBC revenues. “This is a time when every dollar counts for BC families,” he added. The ICBC COVID rebate will be paid at the same time as an average 20% rate reduction ($400) that drivers will see as a result of a shift to the new care-based system on May

1. This system is modelled on Saskatchewan and Manitoba’s systems that deliver some of the best benefits and lowest rates to drivers anywhere in North America. In addition to raiding $1.2 billion from the public auto insurer, the BC Liberals secretly tore pages out of an independent report that provided an early warning of mounting problems at the crown corporation. Accounting tricks, including booking the sale of the corporate headquarters and the url “ICBC.com”, neither of which had been sold, helped conceal the state of the company before the 2017 election. As a result, ICBC faced billion dollar losses. Reforms brought in by the BC NDP reversed these losses and allowed the first 0% rate increase in basic insurance in almost a decade this year. ICBC’s net income in the first quarter of 2020 was $311m. “If Andrew Wilkinson is elected premier, he will roll back all of the work we have done to repair the damage the BC Liberals caused at ICBC,” Eby said. “Wilkinson will either bring in private insurance that will increase rates for countless British Columbians, allow legal costs to continue to drive rates to the highest in Canada, or take money out of ICBC that belongs to drivers to pay for his PST promise.” source: BC NDP Communications announcement

ICBC will rebate COVID profits back to drivers: Eby

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority Liberal government survived a confidence vote Tuesday on its throne speech, with crucial support from New Democrats. The speech was approved by a vote of 177152 in the House of Commons. There was little suspense about the outcome of the vote, which could have plunged the country into an election had the Liberals lost it. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh had said his party would support the speech after winning some key changes to legislation last week setting up new benefits for workers left jobless or underemployed by the COVID-19 pandemic.The Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois had promised, almost immediately after the speech was delivered on Sept. 23, to vote against it. And newly minted Green Leader Annamie Paul announced earlier Tuesday that her party’s three MPs would join them. Paul said there were some very good things in the Liberals’ agenda-setting speech last month but the Green party won’t support it because it lacks a plan to protect those living in long-term care from COVID-19. “I’m not just speaking of seniors. I’m also speaking of people with special needs and with disabilities,” Paul said at a news conference on Parliament Hill.

“Those people are not protected.” Paul was to meet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday. The Greens also faulted the throne speech for failing to promise a guaranteed livable income, which Paul said would make Canadians more resilient against economic shocks. Paul said she was encouraged to hear many Liberal and New Democrat MPs talk about the need for a guaranteed basic income before the throne speech. ”They call it a guaranteed basic income, we call it livable income, because you need to be able to live on it and live in dignity,” she said. “I had been looking for at least an indication that the government was going to be introducing a pilot program.” Source: .ctvnews.ca

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The BC Liberal Party is promising a new 10-lane bridge to replace the Massey Tunnel, but the NDP says a change in plans could cause major delays for the project.The Liberals, if elected in the Oct. 24 provincial election, announced Monday they would immediately scrap the NDP’s plan to replace the tunnel with a 10-lane bridge, including a dedicated transit and HOV lane in each direction.“Under the BC Liberals, drivers stuck in the worst traffic bottleneck in western Canada will finally see a new 10-lane bridge built to replace the George Massey tunnel, the NDP insider scheme will be scrapped and we will add $8 billion over three years to our Rebuild B.C. plan to build more schools, hospitals, transit and roads in every corner of the province,” says a release from the Liberals.“When the NDP does build anything, it costs more because of their insider contract scheme that pays off their donors and friends while discriminating against 85 per cent of construction workers.”Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson claims the NDP, over the past three years, intentionally stalled replacing the George Massey Tunnel.The BC NDP, however, says plans for a new, toll-free crossing at the Massey Tunnel are underway and set for final approval by the end of the year. “Any change of course would risk major delays, risk losing federal financing, and set the project back years,” says the party. Meanwhile, the Liberals are again criticizing Community Benefit Agreements, which are social requirements for public tendering that prioritize proposals that offer local jobs, public space improvement

and are community defined. The NDP, though, says they are similar to Project Labour Agreements, which it claims the Liberals signed when they formed government, including seven dam projects. The Liberals are further promising to create over 35,000 direct and indirect jobs as part of its $8 billion in infrastructure spending. “This three-year commitment represents a 35 per cent increase over current capital spending commitments and will be the biggest infrastructure investment in B.C. history, with a total investment of $30.9 billion over three years,” the Liberals say. The party further commits to further transit expansion in Metro Vancouver, and expansion the Trans Canada Highway corridor, as well as build new schools and upgrade care homes.In May, then transportation minister Claire Trevena said the province will have money for the Massey Tunnel project.The BC Green Party has not yet commented on the Massey Tunnel project.Green party leader Sonia Furstenau expressed concern Monday that government support to small businesses and the tourism industry is being delayed due to the snap election.B.C.Source:.citynews1130.com

BC Liberals promise to resurrect 10-lane bridge replacement for Massey Tunnel

COVID-19 update: 115 more cases recorded, but no new deaths in B.C.

VANCOUVER -- British Columbia has recorded 115 additional cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, health officials said Wednesday.There have been no additional deaths in that time period. The province now has 1,387 active cases of the coronavirus, including 71 people who are in hospital, 15 of whom are in intensive care. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and deputy health minister Stephen Brown shared Wednesday’s numbers in a written state-

ment. Henry is scheduled to hold her next live briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday. Since the pandemic began, B.C. has recorded 9,956 cases of COVID-19 in total and 244 deaths. Given the rate at which the province has been adding to its total caseload in recent days, it’s likely that B.C.’s 10,000th coronavirus case will be recorded in the next 24 hours.Five of the cases added Wednesday are considered epidemiologically linked, meaning the person

who had the virus never tested positive, but health officials are confident the person had COVID-19. There have been no new outbreaks, either in healthcare facilities or in the broader community, Henry and Brown said, adding that the outbreak at Rideau Retirement Centre in Burnaby has been declared over. That leaves 15 outbreaks in long-term care and assisted-living facilities, as well as three in acute-care facilities in B.C.source: bc.ctvnews.ca

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The war in the Caucasus could turn into a regional calamity

Fewer than 13 million people live in the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Yet the war that has broken out between the two countries risks turning into a global conflagration. Since fighting erupted a week ago, hundreds of people have been killed, including civilians. Attitudes are hardening on either side, with both countries invoking full or partial martial law while mobilizing their populations for an almost existential conflict. As battles rage, the clashes could yet draw in regional powers Turkey, Russia and others deeper into the fray. At the heart of the crisis is the long-disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which sits inside Azerbaijan’s borders but has a predominantly ethnic Armenian population and is controlled by factions with close ties to Armenia’s capital Yerevan, as well as a set of other territories that abut the region now emptied of their non-Armenian communities. Periodic skirmishes have broken out over the contested terrain, most re-

cently in July. But the current fighting marks the worst round of violence since the early 1990s, when as many as 30,000 people were killed and thousands more displaced until a 1994 cease fire brought a fragile peace to the Caucasus. Azerbaijani and Armenian officials blame each other for provoking the tensions and targeting civilians. On Sunday, authorities in Azerbaijan reported Armenian missile strikes hit densely-populated areas in Ganja, the country’s second largest city, killing at least one civilian and injuring four others. Arayik Harutyunyan, an Armenian leader in Nagorno-Karabakh, claimed his forces had fired rockets to “neutralize military targets” in the city, a characterization rejected by Azerbaijani officials. Armenian officials said that Stepanakert, the main city in Nagorno-Karabakh, was under heavy bombardment from Azerbaijani forces. Journalists reported that many civilians were hiding in bomb shelters as the city weathered a sustained attack. Elin Suleymanov,

Azerbaijan’s ambassador in Washington, told Today’s WorldView that his country’s forces were not targeting civilians and accused the Armenian side of indiscriminately bombing parts of his country. ........ For Moscow, the situation is even more delicate. It maintains deep ties with — and has sold weaponry to — both countries, but remains closer to Armenia. If the conflict spirals and spreads to flash points far from Nagorno-Karabakh, analysts suggest it raises the possibility of Russia and Turkey pitted in yet another proxy war after backing opposing sides in Syria and Libya. The Russian public, though, is increasingly disapproving of the Kremlin’s foreign adventures and that may limit Russia’s scope for action. “We use our privileges to be a welcomed party by both Armenia and Azerbaijan,” said Sergey Markedonov, senior researcher at the government-run Moscow State Institute of International Relations, to the Wall Street Journal. “Turkey concentrates only

on one side and it creates obstacles for Russia, because it pushes Azerbaijan to make a choice.” The indifference of the West, particularly the United States, to ongoing strife and disagreements may be part of the problem. “Lack of international attention has sent a message to the parties that the conflict matters little outside the region,” noted the International Crisis Group. “In Baku, especially, this has exacerbated frustration with diplomacy.” Source: aljazeera.com

and forth between Istanbul and Dubai, the two main hubs connecting airline passengers in the Middle East with destinations across the globe. But when Turkish Airlines and Emirates began reviving their pandemic-depleted schedules a few weeks ago, that particular route remained closed except for a few scattered cargo operations. Emirates announced in June that the Istanbul flights would resume, but so far hasn’t followed through on that plan. For now, it doesn’t sell tickets to Turkey before Dec. 1, while Turkish Airlines posts the flights on its website — but then cancels bookings a few days prior to For years, passenger jets have darted back the travel date. The Dubai-Istanbul jour-

ney, which takes between 4 and 5 hours, constitutes about 50 weekly flights, ranking among Emirates’ busier routes. For Turkish Airlines, the corridor provided a welcome way to attract budget-minded passengers headed for western Europe or North America through the country’s giant new Istanbul hub. While neither airline has said why the services remain suspended, it comes at a time of worsening relations between the two nations. They are on opposing sides of a proxy war in Libya and disagree on issues ranging from Syria to Iraq and the eastern Mediterranean. The UAE supported a 2013 coup in Egypt that pushed out the country’s first democratically elected president, a

member of the Muslim Brotherhood movement endorsed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey, meanwhile, backed Qatar in the face of a boycott by three of its Gulf neighbors, including the UAE, in 2017. Emirates didn’t provide a reason for not resuming the service. Turkish Airlines and the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn’t respond to emailed requests for comment. “The UAE is in a competitive space with Turkey for what limited tourism there is,” said Ryan Bohl, a Middle East analyst at Stratfor Worldview, a geopolitical intelligence platform. “In Dubai in particular, they don’t want to give Turkish airlines any advantages.” Source: aljazeera.com

The worrying signs were all there: fatigue, high fever, no ability to taste or smell. Still, Ahmed*, a salesman in a hardware shop in the suburbs of Damascus, never considered getting tested for coronavirus or going to the hospital. The first option was unaffordable, he thought; the second, dangerous. “I was afraid to get quarantined and not getting proper medical care,” the 20-year-old said, referring to the Syrian government-run facilities where COVID-19 patients are being sent. Instead, Ahmed confined himself to his room, sought medical advice on Facebook and consulted over the phone with a local doctor. Neither he nor anyone he had been in contact with was tested. “I couldn’t afford it,” he told Al Jazeera by phone, explaining it would have cost him 126,000 Syrian pounds ($246), more than his monthly salary.

‘People prefer to die’

Empty skies: Once busy Dubai-Istanbul route remains quiet

In COVID-hit Syria, people ‘prefer to die than come to hospital’ Ahmed’s presumed coronavirus infection in late July is believed to be among the thousands of cases going undetected across Syria’s government-held areas. Official data put the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections at 4,366, with 205 related deaths, but several doctors, residents and health experts who spoke to Al Jazeera from inside and outside the war-torn country said these figures do not reflect the true extent of the coronavirus outbreak.“There is a huge gap between the actual number [of cases and deaths] and the one announced by the government due to its lack of resources and capacity to receive patients, but also because it wants to mitigate any unexpected impact of the pandemic, like social unrest,” Zaki Mehchy, a Londonbased senior consulting fellow at Chatham House and co-founder of the Syrian Center for Policy Research, told Al Jazeera.

More recipients awarded Fiji Day commemorative medals

Thirty-four people were recognised today for their contribution to the country. President of Fiji Major General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote said those members of the public had contributed to Fiji’s socio-economic and political progress.“This special and historic commemorative medal is presented to deserving members of the public and private sector, civil societies,” Mr Konrote said.

While bestowing the 50th Anniversary of Independence commemorative medal at the special investiture ceremony held at the State House today, he thanked them for their contributions over the years. “We will be celebrating the week-long event to mark our historic progress,” said the President. Source:fijitimes.com

With a collapsed healthcare system, a battered economy and a severe lack of doctors and nurses due to medical providers fleeing Syria’s brutal war, authorities face an uphill battle to control the spread of COVID-19. Chronic shortages of medical equipment and supplies – along with poor conditions at quarantine facilities, the need to earn a living and deep distrust towards state institutions after more than nine years of conflict – have all resulted in many suspected patients not reporting symptoms associated with the respiratory disease.To fill in the gaps, coronavirus-related Facebook groups where doctors offer medical advice have sprung up online – as has happened with businesses renting oxygen tanks to patients for home use. “People prefer to die rather than coming to the hospital,” Moustafa*, a doctor working

in a hospital in Damascus, told Al Jazeera on the phone.He said he is often contacted by people asking for medical advice but cannot afford any protective gear to visit them in person. A high-quality mask that should be changed daily costs about 5,000 Syrian pounds ($10).“This is too much for me,” said Moustafa, who earns 96,000 Syrian pounds ($188) per month. “Can you imagine? A doctor that can’t afford to buy a good mask?” Source: aljazeera.com

Some Gulf countries may seek to test the commitment of Kuwait’s new leadership to speak up for Gulf Cooperation Council. Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad alJaber al-Sabah has passed away at the age of 91 on September 29 in the United States. Sheikh Sabah was regarded as the architect of modern Kuwait’s foreign policy; he served as foreign minister for nearly 40 years between 1963 and 2003, was a fervent defender of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) unity, and was regarded by some as the ‘voice of wisdom’ as he mediated in the Gulf crisis that pitted Qatar against three of its GCC brethren. “It is no longer acceptable nor tolerable to have an ongoing dispute among our brotherly GCC states,” Sheikh Sabah said at the opening session of the Kuwaiti parliament’s new term in 2019, underlining the

urgency of ending a sea, land and air blockade imposed on Qatar since 2017 by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, as well as Egypt. Kuwait’s new emir, 83-yearold Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah who was sworn in on September 30, will face a range of challenges the late, widely respected statesman was dealing with. Analysts say the commitment of Kuwait’s leadership to speaking up for GCC unity could very well be tested. Source: aljazeera.com

How will the death of Kuwait’s Sheikh Sabah affect GCC relations?

Safar 21,1442 Oct,09, 2020

W o r l d / I mmig r ati o n

COVID economy: This ‘calamity is far from over’, IMF chief warns

All countries face ‘the long ascent’ and risk leaving an entire generation behind, IMF’s Georgieva says. The global economy is in “less dire” shape than it was in June but risks crashing again if governments end fiscal and monetary support too soon, fail to control the coronavirus and ignore emerging market debt problems, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Tuesday. Georgieva told an online London School of Economics event that the IMF will make a small upward revision to its global economic output forecasts next week, adding: “My key message is this: The global economy is coming back from the depths of this crisis.” “But this calamity is far from over. All countries are now facing what I would call ‘the long ascent’ – a difficult climb that will be long, uneven, and uncertain. And prone to setbacks,” she added in a speech billed as her “curtainraiser” for next week’s IMF and World Bank annual meetings.

In June, the IMF forecast that coronavirusrelated shutdowns would shrink global gross domestic product by 4.9 percent, marking the sharpest contraction since the Great Depression of the 1930s, and called for more policy support from governments and central banks. The IMF will publish its revised forecasts next week as member countries participate in the meetings, which will be held largely in an online format. Georgieva said the IMF was continuing to project a “partial and uneven” recovery in 2021. In June, it forecast 2021 global growth of 5.4 percent. But $12 trillion in fiscal support, coupled with unprecedented monetary easing, has allowed many advanced economies, including the United States and the eurozone, to escape the worst damage of the pandemic, and some business sectors proved more able to operate amid it, Georgieva said. China also has recovered faster than expected. This provided some positive spillovers for emerging markets, but Georgieva urged

countries to maintain support for their economies, warning that global growth would stay subdued for the medium term and the risk of “severe economic scarring” was high. “We are very clear in the message we are communicating to not withdraw support prematurely,” Georgieva said. “If we do so, then we risk massive bankruptcies and massive unemployment.” ‘Lost generation’ Emerging markets and low-income countries face a precarious situation with weak health systems, high external debt and dependency on sectors most exposed to the pandemic such as tourism and commodities, she said. “In low-income countries, the shocks are so profound that we face the risk of a ‘lost generation’,” Georgieva said, signalling that the IMF and World Bank will press hard for more debt relief for low-income countries next week. She called for rapid, additional debt help for low-income countries, beyond a moratorium on official bilateral debt payment until the end

of 2020. She said development gains could be reversed without access to more grants, concessional credit and debt relief. “In some cases, global coordination to restructure sovereign debt will be necessary, with full participation of public and private creditors,” Georgieva added. Georgieva also urged highly indebted countries not to wait to seek debt restructurings and said tax reform was necessary to collect needed revenues. Source: aljazeera.com

Don’t come across a lot of friends willing to share their love of TV shows and books? Don’t worry, the Prime Minister’s got you covered!After recommending the youth in Pakistan to watch Ertugrul, and we all know how that’s turned out, Imran Khan now wants you to read The Forty Rules of Love - a novel that narrates the tales of Maulana Jalal-Ud-Din (Rumi) and his companion Shams Tabrizi. Taking to Instagram, the PTI

chairman shared his recommendation with young readers in the nation: “This October, I suggest our youth to read The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak. An inspirational book about divine love, Sufism, Rumi and his Murshid Shams Tabriz. I read it a few years back and was deeply inspired,” Khan suggested the audiences. Written by the Turkish author in 2009, the novel is set in the 13th century and revolves

around the life of Ella, who soon begins to question the many ways she has settled for a conventional life devoid of passion and real love.Inspired by the whirling dervish, Shams of Tabriz, a mystic provocateur who challenges conventional wisdom and social and religious prejudice wherever he encounters it, Ella’s journey is both, inspirational and mystical - and the Prime Minister hopes the youth takes away something positive from it too.

images.dawn.com/news

Imran Khan recommends you read The Forty Rules of Love

Govt of Canada announces details for opening of 2020 Parents and Grandparents Program October 5, 2020—Ottawa—The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today announced details for the opening of the 2020 Parents and Grandparents (PGP) Program, building further on the government’s commitment to reuniting families. Over a 3-week period, from 12 p.m. EDT on October 13, 2020, to 12 p.m. EST on November 3, 2020, Canadians and permanent residents who wish to sponsor their parents and grandparents to come to Canada will have an opportunity to submit an interest to sponsor form online. In order to ensure a fair, transparent and equal opportunity for applicants, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will randomly select potential sponsors and send them an invitation to submit an application. Selected applicants will have 60 days to submit their application. Accommodation is available to persons with

disabilities who are unable to use the online form. They can request the interest to sponsor form in an alternative format (paper copy, Braille or large print) by contacting the IRCC Client Support Centre at 1-888-2422100 or by email until November 3, 2020. Given that many sponsors may have been financially impacted by the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, IRCC is introducing a temporary public policy that will reduce the income requirement for the 2020 tax year to the minimum necessary income, instead of the minimum necessary income plus 30%. The government knows how important it is for families to be together, particularly during difficult times. The launch of the 2020 Parents and Grandparents Program builds on the government’s initiatives to prioritize the approval of 49,000 family sponsorship applications by December 31, 2020, as well as last week’s announcement of a process to

reunite more families and approve compassionate cases within the current border restrictions. A maximum of 10,000 applications will be accepted for processing as part of the 2020 PGP intake. In 2021, IRCC will open a new intake of interest to sponsor forms to accept a total of 30,000 new applications. Quote “Our government strongly believes in the importance of keeping families together— particularly during difficult times. The Parents and Grandparents Program is a dedicated pathway to reuniting more families in Canada. Our government has strengthened the program by increasing the number of people who can apply, making the intake

process more fair, and steadily increasing the number of families who will be able to reunite. Now, more than ever, family reunification is an important component of Canada’s immigration system. It plays a key role in attracting, retaining and integrating the best and the brightest from around the world.” – The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister’s Office

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Almost half of Arab youth considering emigrating, survey says The Arab Youth Survey 2020 finds the Levant region has the highest number of people aged 18-24 considering emigrating. The Arab Youth Survey 2020 has found that more than four in 10 people aged 1824 have considered emigrating from their home countries. The survey, which interviewed 4,000 Arab youths from 17 countries and was released on Tuesday, found that 42 percent of all Arab youth surveyed had considered emigrating to another country, with 15 percent actively trying to leave. he Levant region had the highest number of youth who wanted to emigrate, at 63 percent. In Leba-

non, the number stood at 77 percent. Youth in the Gulf countries of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were the least likely to emigrate, at three percent, the survey said. The survey found that disappointment with poor leadership, rampant corruption and widespread economic failure were among the reasons that many young people were considering emigrating. A total of 77 percent of all Arab youth said there was corruption in their country. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened economic difficulties, with 20 percent of the youth surveyed saying they or a family

member had lost work since the outbreak began.Overall, 72 percent of Arab youth said they felt it was more difficult to find a job. The highest numbers of young people saying it was hard to find employment were in Lebanon (91 percent) and Jordan (90 percent). Of those surveyed, 35 percent of Arab youth reported being in personal debt, a jump from 21 percent in 2019. The youth surveyed in Lebanon, Algeria, Iraq and Sudan overwhelmingly expressed their support for the 2019 anti-government protests in their countries – all at over 80 percent. Source: aljazeera.com

Safar 21,1442 Oct,09, 2020

l o ca l / B C ELE C T I O N

BC Liberals promise to end ICBC monopoly if elected

VICTORIA -- The BC Liberal Party says it will open up car insurance to the private market if elected in the upcoming provincial election. The Liberals say the current ICBC model will remain available to drivers, but private insurers will also be able to offer coverage for vehicle damage and injuries.“The ICBC monopoly is a failure and it’s time to offer drivers cheaper rates — that’s what competition will do and that’s what the BC Liberals will deliver,” said Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson in a release Tuesday. The Liberals say that under their proposed insurance plan, new drivers would be

given credit for two years of clean driving experience as soon as they are licenced, or four years if they have completed driver education.“When I hear stories of young people with clean driving records stuck with bills of over $5,000, it’s clear the system is failing and needs to be fixed,” said Wilkinson. “Young people face enough pressure these days, so the BC Liberals will make sure they have affordable auto insurance.”

FURTHER PROMISES * B.C. Liberals say they would eliminate PST for a year if elected Andrew Wilkinson argues it’s

needed to stimulate the economy, says tax would go up to 3% after a year * Andrew Wilkinson defends tax cut plan, says would not lead to government service cuts

* B.C. Liberals’ stance on homelessness uninformed, advocates say. * BC Liberals promise to resurrect 10-lane bridge replacement for Massey Tunnel

NDP platform: Horgan promises another $3B a year for B.C. schools & hospitals, if elected

VANCOUVER -- The New Democrats are promising a one-time $1,000 recovery benefit for families and $500 for individuals as part of an election platform that largely banks on voters wishing to stay the course. Leader John Horgan unveiled his party’s platform during an event in Vancouver Tuesday and said it builds on progress already underway during the NDP government’s 3 1/2-year term. Additional pledges include a rent freeze until the end of next year, an expansion of $10-a-day daycare and the creation of British Columbia’s second medical school at a location that has yet to be determined. “Today’s platform includes 154 commitments, 60 of which are brand new, the rest building on the work we’ve already started,” Horgan said.“We have three basic priorities: better health care for you and your family, affordability and security in your home and in your community, and good jobs and livelihoods in a clean-energy future.”

FURTHER PROMISES * COVID-19 campaign promise:

Free vaccines once approved, B.C. NDP, Liberals vow * B.C. NDP platform promises benefit of up to $1,000 to families* Horgan says he will legislate net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 * NDP platform short on promises for BC Ferries * Horgan says B.C.’s Liberals left legacy of ‘runaway’ housing costs

Source: bc.ctvnews.ca

B.C. Green Leader Sonia Furstenau promises to listen to experts in addressing climate crisis and overdose deaths

According to her, it’s time to govern—and campaign—differently than in the past B.C. Greens would spend $1B to fund mental health care under MSP. Over the years, some political leaders have explicitly promised to follow evidence-based policies in responding to society’s most vexing challenges, including the climate crisis. But af-

ter the election, they’ve ignored this pledge. * B.C. election: Party leaders promise

FURTHER PROMISES

funding for students, treatment and * B.C. Green Party platform: 4-day housing Source: citynews * Leader of B.C. Greens wants to phase work week, free child care * B.C. Green Leader Sonia Furstenau out private seniors care operators promises to listen to experts in address- Source: timescolonist.com ing climate crisis and overdose deaths

In B.C., John Horgan’s risky election call is being put to the test

By Mike Smyth Global News October 6, 2020 he third week of British Columbia’s unnecessary election campaign has begun and John Horgan is still taking heat for calling it in the first place. Horgan, Canada’s only NDP premier, had a governing agreement with the third-place Green Party that vaulted him into power in B.C.’s minority parliament in 2017. The deal with the Greens — which deposed the Liberals after 16 years in power — stipulated that Horgan would not call another election before October 2021. But Horgan triggered the snap election one year early, no doubt enticed by opinion polls showing him with a big lead. That lead appears to be holding up for the NDP. Halfway through the campaign, Horgan seems to be cruising for a majoritygovernment victory. But British Columbia is a funny place for politics. The pollsters have been spectacularly wrong in the past. And the only thing you can ever expect in a B.C. election campaign is for the unexpected to occur. Now comes word that Horgan’s snap election call has frozen millions of dollars in emergency relief funds that had been scheduled to flow to small businesses struggling during the pandemic. The funds were held up after Horgan triggered the early election call last month, and it sparked withering new criticism of

Horgan for putting his own political interests ahead of economic victims of the pandemic. “Unconscionable,” fumed B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau, who is still furious after Horgan reneged on their noelection deal. As Furstenau and Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson both ripped Horgan — again — for the early election call, Horgan was busy promising rebate cheques for three million B.C. drivers. British Columbia has public auto insurance administered by the government-owned Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). The New Democrats said ICBC has saved millions of dollars during the pandemic because having fewer drivers on the road have caused fewer costly accidents. Now the NDP says the Crown corporation will cut rebate cheques to drivers after the election. But there are just a few problems with that. The opposition Liberals, fighting fiercely to re-take power in the province, had been calling on the government to issue driver rebate cheques for months and the government did nothing. The Liberals also appear poised to promise increased competition in auto insurance, possibly breaking up ICBC’s monopoly. That could be an enticing promise for weary B.C. drivers who have seen big hikes in

auto-insurance rates while ICBC bled billions of dollars in financial losses. And that’s where that made-in-B.C. political “X factor” comes into play. Horgan’s New Democrats may hold a commanding lead in the polls — a strong 10-point edge over the Liberals in one recent survey — but the horserace always seems to tighten up in the home stretch of any B.C. election. In addition to a possible vote-driving promise to reform auto insurance, the Liberals this week also promised a local referendum in the battleground city of Surrey. The city has been divided over a plan by the local mayor and council to get rid of the RCMP detachment and replace it with a municipal police force. The plan has been approved by the provincial NDP government. But now many residents are campaigning to keep the Mounties after reports said the new local force would cost more money but have fewer cops than the city has now. By seizing on the issue, the Liberals could tilt the outcomes is a handful of tightly-contested ridings, which could be critical in a close election. All three major party leaders, meanwhile, are preparing for next week’s televised debate. With traditional in-person campaigning on hold during the pandemic, the debate could be a crucial moment. Furstenau, the Green Party leader, will be

one to watch closely. Still boiling over the snap-election double-cross, she could turn on Horgan and inflict some serious damage to his credibility and trustworthiness. And Wilkinson, the Liberal leader, could produce a debate surprise, too. Wilkinson bested Horgan in a 2018 debate on electoral reform. He could beat the NDP premier again. Canadian political watchers are closely following this election, wondering if Horgan can parlay his risky broken-promise election call into a brilliant capture of majority power. Halfway to finish line, Horgan seems in good shape to win his bet. But this is British Columbia, where anything can happen, and usually does.

12 aF G H A N W A R Clemency for the Taliban will not lead to peace in Afghanistan Safar 21,1442 Oct,09, 2020

By: Rustam Ali Seerat hen given a choice between security and freedom, people always choose security. That is why so many dictators and demagogues survive by creating a false sense of threat and then presenting themselves as the saviours. The same logic applies when people are given a choice between safety and justice. They would choose safety over justice. In the case of Afghanistan, this has fed a continuous cycle of violence over the past few decades. The absence of any legal consequences for violence and war crimes has only further emboldened armed groups. The release of Taliban fighters as part of an agreement between the United States and the Taliban and the continuing negotiations between the armed group and the Afghan government will not lead to peace. Only a thorough transitional justice process will. A repeat of history The decision to sideline justice to supposedly maintain security and peace is not without precedent in recent Afghan history . During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (19791987), more than 800,000 people lost their lives. The United States and several Muslim countries supported the mujahideen’s fight against Soviet forces. Both sides regularly committed serious human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law throughout the conflict. While the atrocities committed by Soviet forces were widely reported on, war crimes committed by the mujahideen during the same period were largely undocumented. After the withdrawal of Soviet troops, infighting broke out between various mujahideen groups which led to more war crimes being committed. In February 1993, for example, the infighting between mujahideen factions resulted in the Afshar massacre, in which up to 1000 Hazara men, women and children were brutally murdered. Intra-mu-

jahideen fighting lasted from 1992 to 1994 costing up to 50,000 civilian lives. It is this violence and upheaval that gave birth to the Taliban, which took over Kabul in 1996 and established an Islamic emirate. In August 1998, the Taliban executed between 2000 to 5000 civilians from the Hazara ethnic group in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. The 9/11 attacks on the US turned the odds in favour of the same mujahideen as the USled coalition which invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 allied with them against the Taliban. In 2007, after a US-backed government was installed in Kabul, mujahideen leaders involved in the 1990s civil wars passed legislation in parliament granting them amnesty for their war crimes. The justification given for these laws was simple: if the international community and the government of Afghanistan tried to bring them to justice, the mujahideen would provoke more chaos and insecurity. Hence, no transitional justice measures were carried out, thereby sacrificing accountability to maintain an illusory post-2001 peace. Suffering for more than two decades, the people of Afghanistan who were the primary victims of the mujahideen’s war crimes let go of justice in the hope of security. The absence of a transitional justice process against the mujahideen emboldened the Taliban and reassured its members that there would be no consequences for their actions and they continued to commit ever more gruesome violence against the Afghan people. In other words, the impunity the mujahideen enjoyed did not really bring peace to Afghanistan. This approach to war ethics is problematic, not only because it denies justice to the victims of the Taliban atrocities but also because it strengthens the Taliban’s capacity to prolong the war to achieve its goal of establishing a theocracy. Transitional justice in Afghanistan The release of thousands of Taliban fighters

after the armed group concluded an agreement with the US on February 29 this year has been justified as necessary to jumpstart peace negotiations. However, the odds are against any permanent peace in the country. The Taliban will not give up violence because it knows that it is only through violent means that it can have any political power. Even with its enormous corruption scandals and its own track record of violence against civilians, the government in Kabul is still preferred by 92 percent of Afghans, according to a 2015 poll. Any impunity the Taliban enjoys will also motivate other groups to continue committing crimes against the Afghan people. Because of this, calls are growing for the leaders of the Taliban to be tried at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Nevertheless, Taliban leaders are unlikely to face the court soon. Not only the Afghan government and its international backers would be happy to give the members of the group amnesty should they agree to make peace, the US itself is not willing to allow the ICC to investigate the crimes its troops allegedly committed in the country. Moreover, an ICC investigation at this critical junction risks undermining the ongoing Doha peace talks, as it may discourage the Taliban from agreeing to make peace. But there are ways to achieve some transitional justice without insisting on an ICC investigation. The war crimes committed in Afghanistan in the last four decades by all parties can and should be officially documented. This would put an end to widespread attempts to whitewash history and force the perpetra-

tors of these crimes to face some accountability. Following the documentation of these crimes, all political parties, including the communists, the mujahideen factions and the Taliban, should officially apologise to the people of Afghanistan in general and the victims of violence in particular, to officially acknowledge and atone for their past crimes. A public apology by leaders involved in war crimes has a precedent. During his 2013 election campaign, President Ashraf Ghani’s running mate, Abdul Rashid Dostum, issued an apology for being a part of the 1990s civil wars. Dostum’s apology and pledge to never repeat his past mistakes was welcomed by many Afghans. The people of Afghanistan are once again being asked to choose between justice and security. While an acknowledgement of war crimes and a promise by perpetrators to not repeat them would not heal the victims of these crimes, it can be an important step towards healing Afghanistan. If these steps are backed by a commitment by the international community to prevent further human rights violations in the country, Afghanistan can finally leave its painful past behind and turn its face towards the future. Source: Al Jazeera

Trump says US troops in Afghanistan should be ‘home by Christmas’ Trump, who is seeking re-election next month, has made troops’ pullout from the cornerstone of his foreign policy.

All US troops in Afghanistan should be “home by Christmas”, President Donald Trump said, just hours after his national security adviser said Washington would reduce its forces in Afghanistan to 2,500 by early next year. A landmark deal between the United States and the Taliban in February said foreign

forces would leave Afghanistan by May 2021 in exchange for security guarantees by the Afghan armed group. Also, as a result of the deal, negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban started last month in the Qatari capital Doha to achieve lasting peace in the war-torn country. Rival negotiators have been pushing for the reduction of violence and a possible new power-sharing agreement in Kabul. Trump and other officials have said the US will decrease its troops between 4,000 and 5,000 in Afghanistan by November. Beyond

that, officials have said a reduction will depend on conditions in Afghanistan. On Twitter, Trump said: “We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas!”It was unclear whether Trump was giving an order or verbalising a long-held aspiration. Trump, who is seeking re-election next month, has made troops pullout from “ridiculous endless wars” the cornerstone of his foreign policy, even though thousands of troops remain in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Source: Al Jazeera

Interactive map: Here’s a look at how B.C. voted in the last provincial election

No masks, no physical distancing, no bringing a pen from home. The provincial election on May 9, 2017, eventually brought the end of the Christy Clark government, but it was an unusual situation. Clark’s Liberals didn’t get a majority, but won the most seats, meaning she stayed on as premier and delivered a throne speech. But the government was defeated in a confidence motion. At the same time, negotiations were held, and the Greens opted to back the New Democrats, leading to an NDP government after an invitation from the lieutenant governor, which allowed the party to rule as a minority. It was not until mid-July that NDP Leader By: Kendra Mangione John Horgan actually became premier. Producer, CTVNewsVancouver.ca Prior to the election three years ago, the BC VANCOUVER -- When British Columbi- Liberals had governed the province since ans went to the polls last time, it was a very 2001. different situation. This year, voters will decide their next lead-

er during a pandemic. A snap election was called in late September, with Horgan arguing it was necessary and safe to do so. But the risk of spreading COVID-19 means Election Day will look different. Voters are asked to wear masks, keep their distance from others and follow other protocols in place at polling stations, and hundreds of thousands have requested packages allowing them to vote by mail instead of in person. Ahead of the Oct. 24 vote, CTVNewsVancouver.ca is looking back at what happened last time. For example, among the ridings with the highest margins of victory are Peace River North and South, where Liberals Dan Davies and Mike Bernier won 47 and 52 percentage points, respectively. The NDP’s Melanie Mark was among those with the widest margins at 48 percentage points, and about two-thirds of the total vote

in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant. Narrower victories include in the CourtenayComox riding, where the NDP’s Ronna-Rae Leonard eked out a win with a margin of just 0.4 percentage points. Then-Green leader Andrew Weaver was marked on nearly half the ballots in Oak Bay-Gordon Head, and won the riding with a margin of victory of 28.45 points. More than half the voters in the riding of Christy Clark, then leader of the Liberals, voted for the former premier. She won with a margin of 33.7 points. Horgan, still at the helm of the NDP in 2020, won his seat with a margin of 26.65 percentage points, and about half the vote. Click through the map to view more margins of victory, as well as voter turnout, top four candidates in each riding last time around, and how many electors live in each riding. Source: bc.ctvnews.ca

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I nt . D I S P U T E S

Armenia and Azerbaijan fight over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh

ne of the world’s oldest conflicts, a territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, has re-erupted with the heaviest clashes in years. At least 23 people were reported to have been killed on Sunday as the two ex-Soviet republics battled over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.The region is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but controlled by ethnic Armenians.When it broke away in the early 1990s, tens of thousands died in fighting. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Sunday he was confident of regaining control over the region. Martial law has been declared amid the violence in some parts of Azerbaijan, as well as in Armenia and NagornoKarabakh. The conflict in the Caucasus Mountains has remained unresolved for more than three decades, with periodic bouts of fighting. Border clashes in July killed at least 16 people, prompting the largest demonstration in years in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, where there were calls for the region’s recapture. Any upsurge in violence could unsettle markets as the South Caucasus is a corridor for pipelines carrying oil and natural gas from the Caspian Sea to world markets. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged support for Azerbaijan, urging the world to stand with the country in its “battle against invasion and cruelty”. Azerbaijanis are a predominantly Turkic people with whom Turkey has close ties. Russia, traditionally seen as an ally of Armenia, called

for an immediate ceasefire and talks to stabilise the situation. In other reaction: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “extremely concerned” over and called for both sides to stop fighting France, which has a large Armenian community, called for an immediate ceasefire and dialogue Iran, which borders both Azerbaijan and Armenia, offered to broker peace talks President Donald Trump said the US was seeking to stop the violence Sunday’s fighting with the use of heavy weaponry along the line of control is the most serious escalation in recent years. It is common in this decades-long conflict for both sides to accuse the other of firing the first shots and what we are seeing is not just military action but also an information war. It is difficult to in-

morning. The separatist authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh said 18 people were killed - 16 of their troops, a woman and a child - and 100 wounded. Azerbaijan said five members of the same family were killed by Armenian shelling. Martial law is an emergency measure under which the military takes over the authority and functions of the civilian government. “Get ready to defend our sacred homeland,” Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said after accusing Azerbaijan of “planned aggression”. Warning that the region was on the brink of a “large-scale war”, he urged the international community to unite to prevent any further destabilization. Armenia said it had shot down two helidependently verify official information. copters and three drones, and destroyed Azerbaijan’s claim to have “liberated” three tanks during Sunday’s clashes. territory controlled by Armenians has been denied by the Armenian authori- Azerbaijan’s defense ministry conties. Similarly, Armenia’s claims to firmed the loss of one helicopter but said have inflicted heavy losses on Azer- the crew had survived, and reported that baijani forces have been dismissed by 12 Armenian air defense systems had Baku. Moreover, the Azerbaijani au- been destroyed. It denied other losses thorities have restricted internet use reported by Armenia. President Aliyev inside the country, in particular access said he had ordered a large-scale counto social media. Turkey’s emphatic sup- ter-offensive operation in response to port may embolden Azerbaijan. Back in Armenian army attacks. August, the Azerbaijani defense minis- “I am confident that our successful ter said that with the help of the Turkish counter-offensive operation will put an military Azerbaijan would fulfil its “sa- end to the occupation, to the injustice, cred duty” - in other words, take back to the 30-year-long occupation,” he its lost territories. said. After initial denials by the ArmeArmenia’s defence ministry said an nian military, Nagorno-Karabakh’s unattack on civilian settlements in Na- recognized president, Arayik Harutyungorno-Karabakh, including the regional yan, confirmed some positions had been capital Stepanakert, began on Sunday lost to Azerbaijani forces.

Lebanon and Israel to hold ‘historic’ maritime border talks

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) naval ship is pictured in the Mediterranean Sea off the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura, close to border with Israel (19 March 2018) Lebanon and Israel are to hold talks to end a long-running maritime border dispute between the two countries, which remain formally at war. The speaker of the Lebanese parliament said a “framework” had been agreed for the negotiations, which will take place under the auspices of the UN. Israel’s energy minister said the talks would begin after mid-October. The US welcomed what it called an “historic agreement” following almost three

years of mediation. “This offers the potential for greater stability, security, and prosperity for citizens in both nations,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted. Lebanon and Israel have declared overlapping boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, and a resolution of the dispute would allow them to exploit offshore natural gas fields. The neighbouring states have technically remained at war since the Arab-Israeli conflict of 1948-49. While there is no agreed land border between them, they are committed to a ceasefire along the so-called Blue Line. The boundary was drawn up by the UN after Israeli forces withdrew from southern

Lebanon in 2000, ending 22 years of occupation. It is one of the region’s tensest frontiers, where Israel forces face those of the Lebanese army and the Shia militant group, Hezbollah, and peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force In Lebanon (Unifil) attempt to maintain calm. In 2006, Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war that killed some 1,190 Lebanese and 163 Israelis. The conflict ended in a UN-brokered ceasefire. Mr Berri read out a copy of the framework agreement, which he stressed was “not a final one”. “This framework agreement draws the way for the Lebanese negotiator, which will be the Lebanese army with its efficient leadership and its specialised officers, sponsored by the Lebanese president and any future government.” Mr Berri said the agreement was reached before the US imposed sanctions on several Lebanese politicians. They included one of his senior aides, outgoing Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, who the US accused of providing material support to Hezbollah and engaging in corruption. Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, who will lead the Israeli delegation, said the “direct negotiations” were expected to start after the Jewish festival of Sukkot ends on 10 October.”Our goal is to

bring an end to the dispute over the demarcation of economic water between Israel and Lebanon in order to assist in the development of natural resources for the benefit of all the peoples of the region,” he added. The announcement comes only weeks after Israel and two Gulf Arab states signed US-brokered agreements to normalise their relations. It also follows a massive explosion in Lebanon’s capital in August that killed almost 200 people and caused as much as $4.6bn (£3.6bn) of physical damage to buildings and infrastructure. The disaster, which is still under investigation, happened when a fire triggered the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been stored unsafely at the city’s port. Lebanon was already reeling from an economic crisis that had caused its currency to collapse, driven up unemployment and plunged many into poverty. The government resigned in the wake of the Beirut blast and Western powers are demanding that its replacement implement reforms to unlock financial aid. On Saturday, Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib stepped aside after failing to agree a cabinet line-up. His difficulties reportedly centred on Amal and Hezbollah, who demanded the right to nominate some ministers.

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3-12120 189A Street 21663 Exeter Avenue Pitt Meadows BC V3Y 1V3 Maple Ridge BC V2X 4M9

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E d ucati o n / Y O U T H

Impact of the COVID-19 virus outbreak on movement and play behaviours of Canadian children and youth: a national survey

Background

ealthy childhood development is fostered through sufficient physical activity (PA; including time outdoors), limiting sedentary behaviours (SB), and adequate sleep; collectively known as movement behaviours. Though the COVID-19 virus outbreak has changed the daily lives of children and youth, it is unknown to what extent related restrictions may compromise the ability to play and meet movement behaviour recommendations. This secondary data analysis examined the immediate impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on movement and play behaviours in children and youth.

Methods

A national sample of Canadian parents (n = 1472) of children (5–11 years) or youth (12–17 years) (54% girls) completed an online survey that assessed immediate changes in child movement and play behaviours during the COVID-19 outbreak. Behaviours included PA and play, SB, and sleep. Family demographics and parental factors that may influence movement behaviours were assessed. Correlations between behaviours and demographic and parental factors were determined. For open-ended questions, word frequency distributions were reported.

Results

Only 4.8% (2.8% girls, 6.5% boys) of children and 0.6% (0.8% girls, 0.5% boys) of youth were meeting combined movement behaviour guidelines during COVID-19 restrictions. Children and youth had lower PA levels, less outside time, higher SB (including leisure screen time), and more sleep during the outbreak. Parental encouragement and support, parental engagement in PA, and family dog ownership were positively associated with healthy movement be-

haviours. Although families spent less time in PA and more time in SB, several parents reported adopting new hobbies or accessing new resources.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence of immediate collateral consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak, demonstrating an adverse impact on the movement and play behaviours of Canadian children and youth. These findings can guide efforts to preserve and promote child health during the COVID-19 outbreak and crisis recovery period, and to inform strategies to mitigate potential harm during future pandemics.

Introduction

Healthy movement behaviours contribute to the physical and mental health of children and youth [1] including a more robust immune system [2]. The evidence of movement behaviours for healthy growth and development is sufficiently compelling that many countries, including Canada [3], and the World Health Organization (WHO) [4] have released 24-h integrated movement behaviour guidelines for children and youth. These guidelines recommend age-specific physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep thresholds for school-aged children and youth [3]. Children and youth who meet movement recommendations have better cardiometabolic, musculoskeletal, cognitive, and mental health, and immune function compared with their less active peers [1,2,3,4]. Despite the evidence indicating the benefits of increased physical activity, reduced sedentary behaviours, and adequate sleep, the prevalence of Canadian children and youth meeting the 24-h movement recommendations was recently reported to be only 12.7% [5]. Notwithstanding the notion that indoor physical activity

can contribute to overall levels, the additional benefits of playing outside [6] and in nature are clear [7]. Spending time outside and in nature provides a critical venue for healthy movement behaviours, permitting children and youth to accumulate more daily physical activity, less sedentary behaviour, and sleep better [6]. On March 11, 2020, the WHO characterized the COVID-19 virus outbreak as a global pandemic [8]. COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus which can result in acute respiratory distress in humans and is transmitted through respiratory droplets and contact routes [9]. Current estimates suggest a 1–2% case fatality rate, which varies by age and health of the patient [10]. Though healthy children and youth are less vulnerable to COVID-19 [11], there remains genuine concern about transmission of the virus, especially the spread to older people and those with underlying medical conditions. Consequently, the COVID-19 virus outbreak has led to significant changes in daily life for children, youth, and their families, with specific recommendations and restrictions varying within and between countries. Like many countries, Canada imposed restrictions requiring physical distancing (two metres), and limited community and social gatherings and interactions, sport, and playground and park use [12]. Most children and youth are no longer attending school, with classroom lessons replaced by home-schooling and online learning activities. During the initial response to the COVID-19 outbreak and recommendations for physical distancing, behaviour restrictions, and overall instructions to ‘stay home’, families are seeking guidance and solutions to preserve healthy routines, including healthy movement behaviours and opportunities to spend time outdoors [13, 14].

Although differences exist in the number of COVID-19 cases across geographic jurisdictions [15], preliminary data demonstrate that Canada is moving towards ‘flattening the curve’. [16] Federal and provincial politicians and Medical Officers of Health have continued to encourage Canadian families to get active and outdoors [17]. Yet, how the ‘stay home’ versus ‘get active and outdoors’ paradox is interpreted is unknown. Like the number of cases, COVID-19 restrictions and recommendations vary between jurisdictions [15]. It is timely to assess whether COVID-19 and related behavioural requirements have impacted the movement and play behaviours of Canadian children and youth, and to identify strategies that families are taking to stay healthy during this pandemic. Accordingly, the purpose of this secondary data analysis was to provide a rapid and large-scale assessment of the immediate changes in physical activity, play, sedentary behaviours, leisure screen time, and sleep in children and youth across Canada during the initial period of the COVID-19 crisis. We anticipate these finding will inform efforts to preserve and promote child health behaviours and establish priorities for postCOVID-19 public health initiatives. Source: ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com

“The Stories in Her Eyes” – A chat with Mariam Gadala

ast week, I had the opportunity to read “The Stories in Her Eyes”, a book of reflections from a Muslim North American woman’s point of view. Mariam Gadala, the author of the book, has beautifully woven her observations and experiences while she grew up in Vancouver as a practicing Muslim and later as a mother. While our circumstances may have been quite different, Mariam’s writing struck a special chord with me, in particular the first part “The Teenager”. I have had many of these conversations , often in my head, while I was growing up in Canada and felt many of the emotions conveyed in Mariam’s writing. I asked Mariam to share a little bit more about herself for our readers. You can contact Mariam on Facebook (Mariam M. Gadala) or through Instagram @mariam.m.gadala. Tell us a little about yourself. y name is Mariam M. Gadala; born in Detroit, USA, and brought up in Vancouver, Canada. I have a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and English Language from the University of Brit-

ish Columbia; and a Masters of Education in Educational Administration from Acacia University. I taught Language Arts and History for the past decade to high school and university students in various cities around the world covering three different continents. I am a proud wife and mother of Aya, Ibrahim and Jumana.

When did you start writing?

English writing essays were my favourite, ever since high school. The nature of my education involved a lot of writing; however, I only started free verse poetry writing about 6 years ago.

What was your inspiration?

I believe writing free verse poetry began as a form of therapy and developed into empathy. I experienced unique challenges in my twenties and hope to voice some of the lessons I learned through simple and concise reflections.

What is your writing process?

When I feel a stir of emotions from a specific topic, current event or an experience, I start

*The Recipe*

Level out every cup, Add that pinch and this dash. Sauté before the oven, Don’t add too much lemon. …Voila! What a meal.

Hold on to how you feel, After following that recipe. So when your soul remind you, To follow Quran and Sunnah, In every kind of detail, to jot down notes. I find that these sparks can You don’t argue. interrupt my daily routine at anytime and anywhere. This is why there are notes on my Don’t give excuse, phone, fridge or notepad. As soon as I get a To not add that cup, pinch or dash. peaceful moment, I light my candle, pour my Don’t let the world take you, tea and type my heart out. I then revise, edit, And make you forget why you are here. revise, edit, revise, edit… and share. What advice do you have for others If you want the same satisfaction, You felt during devouring that meal, who wish to write? Wouldn’t you say following life’s recipe, Be honest and express from your heart. Would be a good way to persevere? Be patient and trust your writing style. By: Misbah Naseer Be clear and have a meaningful vision.

Safar 21,1442 Oct,09, 2020

women

What is Meditation?

By: Asma Shums, editation is the delicate art of doing nothing and letting go of all the efforts to relax into your true nature which is love, joy, and peace. Meditation is that which relieves you from day to stress quickly and gives you deep rest. The benefits of meditation are observed even in scientific researches conducted worldwide. A calm mind, good concentration, clarity of perception, improvement in communication, inner strength, and relaxation are all-natural results of regular meditation. In today’s world of stress and a host of other negative emotions, meditation is not a luxury, but a necessity for positive & peaceful life. It is said the root of an illness is in the mind/ consciousness. So, by attending to the mind, clearing it of any disturbances, the recovery speeds up. Illnesses can develop from: •violation of natural law: for example, overeating •imposed by nature: for example, common cold, or an epidemic •release of past impressions or karma. Nature itself provides a cure for these illnesses. Health and illness are part of physical nature. Meditation helps to let go of stress, worries, and anxieties. This results in a positive state of mind, which in turn has a positive impact on the physical body, brain, and nervous system. Consequently, illness decreases. One of the secret understanding of illness is that when you worry about illness, you give

more power to it. You must remember that you are a combination of health and illness. When you know this and have a ppositive state of mind then illnesses gradually disappear. Prana (life energy) is the basis of health and well-being for both, the body and mind. You can gain prana through meditation. When your body is alive with more prana, you feel alert, energetic, and full of life. Lack of prana results in lethargy, dullness, and low enthusiasm levels. Meditation is essentially relaxation, so it should be done entirely at your convenience. Choose a time when you know you are not likely to be disturbed and have the freedom to relax and enjoy. The hours of sunrise and sunset are also ideal for meditation. These hours are the time when there is a serene calm at home too, which will help you to meditate easily. info at: asmashums@gmail.com

Shabnam Khan – Family Counsellor Grief is a somewhat complicated and misunderstood emotion. Yet, grief is something that, unfortunately, we must all experience at some time or other. We will all inevitably experience loss. Whether it is a loss through death, divorce or some other loss, the stages of grieving are somewhat the same. There are five stages of grief. If we get stuck in one stage or the other, the process of grieving is not complete, and cannot be complete. Thus there will be no healing. A person most likely goes through five stages to be well again, to heal. Not everyone goes through the stages at the same time. It is different for each person. You cannot force a person through the stages, they have to go at their own pace, and you may go one step forward then take two steps backward, but this is all part of the process, and individual to each person. The following five stages must be completed for healing to occur: 1-Denial-”this can’t be happening to me”, looking for the former spouse in familiar places, or if it is death, setting the table for the person or acting as if they are still in living there. No crying. Not accepting or even acknowledging the loss. 2-Anger-”why me?” feelings of wanting to fight back or get even with spouse of divorce, for

death, anger at the deceased, blaming them for leaving. 3-Bargaining-bargaining often takes place before the loss. Attempting to make deals with the spouse who is leaving, or attempting to make deals with God to stop or change the loss. Begging, wishing and praying for them to come back. 4-Depression-overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, frustration, bitterness, self-pity, mourning loss of person as well as the hopes, dreams and plans for the future. Feeling lack of control, feeling numb. Perhaps feeling suicidal. 5-Acceptance-there is a difference between resignation and acceptance. You have to accept the loss, not just try to bear it quietly. Realization that it takes two to make or break a marriage. Realization that the person is gone (in death) that it is not their fault; they didn’t leave you on purpose. (even in cases of suicide, often the deceased person, was not in their right frame of mind) Finding the good that can come out of the pain of loss, finding comfort and healing. Our goals turn toward personal growth. Stay with fond memories of person. Get help. You will survive. You will heal, even if you cannot believe that now, just know that it is true. To feel pain after loss is normal. It proves that we are alive, human. But we can’t stop living. We have to become stronger, while not shutting off our feelings for the hope of one day being healed and finding love and/or happiness again. Helping others through something we have experienced is a wonderful way to facilitate our healing and bring good out of something tragic. For any inquiries please email at shabnam@skcounselling.ca

Fraser Health Provides Information On How To Support People With Mental Health And Substance Use Return To Work

Loss and Grief!

URREY – During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fraser Health has seen the numbers of overdose deaths increase in the region. We know many of these people currently work or have worked in the construction industry. We would like to share with people in the industry what resources are available to support them when they are ready to return to work. A Fraser Health Medical Health Officer report, Supporting Recovery Through Return to Work, looks at new ways to support people with mental health and substance use concerns in B.C.’s construction industry when they return to work. The findings generated by the report have led to actions taken to support them. Most overdose deaths are occurring in private residences, primarily among men 19 to 59 years of age. The majority of those employed at the time of their death due to overdose worked in the trades and transport sectors, which includes construction. Fraser Health consulted with more than 60 industry stakeholders across Canada, such as construction employers, workers, unions, and industry associations, to learn what the challenges may be to return to work while managing a substance use disorder. These interviews identified a number of issues that can present challenges to employers, including: •Prevalence of substance use in men working in the construction industry •Stigma faced by workers with mental illness, substance use disorders and concurrent disorders •Lack of awareness of treatment services among employers, unions, and workers •Significant negative financial impact when workers are unable to work while accessing support and have limited options for treatment outside of work hours •Lack of structured Return to Work programs •Lack of specialized training for managerial staff about mental illness or substance use •Unions and employers unaware when their members are in treatment and therefore cannot support workers when they are returning to work To respond to these findings, a number of actions have been taken to expand care options for people. With a patient-centred approach we have helped remove noted barriers to someone seeking services. We have: •Expanded hours of operation for services such as our Substance Use Service Access Team and the Roshni Clinic, to enable access on evenings and weekends.

•Started a Virtual Health Addictions Clinic to provide virtual services seven days a week, for people wanting to access care. •Coordinated substance use care in Surrey through the Rapid Access Addiction Clinic at Creekside Withdrawal Management to provide one access point for people wishing to learn more about their care options and access medication and treatment. •Enhanced our distribution of educationbased materials for opioid agonist treatment clinics for all of our communities and with Divisions of Family Practice partners and physician offices. •Conducted webinars with physicians on addiction medicine and substance use care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic for clinical leaders in our communities. To create Supporting Recovery Through Return to Work, Fraser Health worked closely with the Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan (CIRP) to better understand and promote supportive Return to Work policies because workplaces play a crucial role in people’s recovery journey. This partnership is ongoing. CIRP is a joint union and employer-funded program that provides bed-based treatment, 1:1 counselling services and mental health and substance use education and training for the industry. It is through unique partnerships, like the one with CIRP, that Fraser Health is able to continue to make new strides in supporting those who use substances and reach those susceptible to overdose in settings, such as workplaces. Fraser Health has taken a comprehensive approach to addressing the public health overdose emergency in the region, including distribution of naloxone and training, overdose prevention and supervised consumption services, and fast-tracking pathways to substance use treatment and care. Fraser Health has established unique partnership with those in the construction industry to find new and innovative ways to help reach those at risk of overdose in this community. Source: Fraser Health media

October is Islamic History Month Islamic History Month Canada is an educational and cultural project originated, developed and sponsored by the Canadian Islamic Congress. The objective of IHMC is to motivate and inspire Canadian Muslims to annually share their history, heritage and culture with fellow Canadians during one month, to be called the Islamic History Month Canada (IHMC). This goal is to be achieved through community and public events such as; exhibitions, lectures, celebrity tours, book fairs, and other complementary activities. This will be a month in which Canadian Muslims celebrate and share our diverse civilization, including our contributions to the arts, sciences, medicine, architecture, humanities, music, spirituality, and every area of human knowledge. It will become a permanent part of Canada’s multicultural calendar with similar events across the country and will build bridges of understanding and appreciation

between Muslims and all other Canadians. Moreover, IHMC will enhance Canada’s ties, both economically and culturally, with other Muslim countries. The IHMC Advisory Board includes senators, public figures, academics, inter-faith activists and Muslim community leaders.

Safar 21,1442 Oct,09, 2020

health

Looking after our mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic World Health Organization

ctober is Mental Health Awareness Month As countries introduce measures to restrict movement as part of efforts to reduce the number of people infected with COVID-19, more and more of us are making huge changes to our daily routines. The new realities of working from home, temporary unemployment, home-schooling of children, and lack of physical contact with other family members, friends and colleagues take time to get used to. Adapting to lifestyle changes such as these, and managing the fear of contracting the virus and worry about people close to us who are particularly vulnerable, are challenging for all of us. They can be particularly difficult for people with mental health conditions. Fortunately, there are lots of things that we can do to look after our own mental health and to help others who may need some extra support and care.

Here are tips and advice that we

ments are restricted, keep in regular contact with people close to you by telephone and online channels. • Screen time. Be aware of how much time you spend in front of a screen every day. Make sure that you take regular breaks from on-screen activities. • Video games. While video games can be a way to relax, it can be tempting to spend much more time on them than usual when at home for long periods. Be sure to keep the right balance with off-line activities in your daily routine. • Social media. Use your social media accounts to promote positive and hopeful stories. Correct misinformation wherever you see it. • Help others. If you are able to, offer support to people in your community who may need it, such as helping them with food shopping. • Support health workers. Take opportunities online or through your community to thank your country’s health-care workers hope you will find useful. and all those working to respond to COV• Keep informed. Listen to advice and rec- ID-19. ommendations from your national and local Don’t discriminate authorities. Follow trusted news channels, Fear is a normal reaction in situations of such as local and national TV and radio, and uncertainty. But sometimes fear is expressed keep up-to-date with the latest news from in ways which are hurtful to other people. WHO on social media. Remember: • Have a routine. Keep up with daily rou• Be kind. Don’t discriminate against peotines as far as possible, or make new ones. ple because of your fears of the spread of • Get up and go to bed at similar times every COVID-19. day. • Don’t discriminate against people who you • Keep up with personal hygiene. think may have coronavirus. • Eat healthy meals at regular times. • Don’t discriminate against health work• Exercise regularly. ers. Health workers deserve our respect and • Allocate time for working and time for gratitude. resting. • COVID-19 has affected people from many •Make time for doing things you enjoy. countries. Don’t attribute it to any specific • Minimize newsfeeds. Try to reduce how group. much you watch, read or listen to news that makes you feel anxious or distressed. Seek If you are an older adult the latest information at specific times of the • Keep in regular contact with loved ones, for example by telephone, e-mail, social meday, once or twice a day if needed. • Social contact is important. If your move- dia or video conference.

• Keep regular routines and schedules as much as possible for eating, sleeping, and activities you enjoy. • Learn simple daily physical exercises to do at home when in quarantine so you can maintain mobility. • Find out how to get practical help if needed, like calling a taxi, having food delivered or asking for medical care. Make sure you have a one-month supply or longer of your regular medicines. Ask family members, friends or neighbours for support, if needed. If you have a mental health condition • If you are being treated for a mental health condition, make sure that you continue to take medication as prescribed, and that you have a way of re-stocking your medication. If you are see a mental health specialist, find out how to continue with that support during the outbreak. • Keep in touch with people who care for you and know who you can contact for support if your mental health declines. • If you are being treated for an alcohol or drug use disorder, be aware that the COVID-19 outbreak may lead to increased feelings of fear, anxiety and isolation that can increase the risk of relapse, substance use, disengagement from treatment or noncompliance with treatment regimens. Make sure that you continue to take medication as prescribed, particularly if you receive treatment with opioid medicines such as methadone or buprenorphine, and that you have a way of obtaining a regular supply of your medication. If you are receiving support through a psychologist or support group, find out how to continue that support during the outbreak. • If you are being treated for gaming or gambling disorder, continue with your treatment if possible. Check with your therapist or health-care provider about the best way of continuing with therapy during confinement at home.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

ctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; this month is dedicated to restoring hope to those living with the disease or who have survived it. Through awareness initiatives, research, and fundraising, we can continue to support our grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and daughters in their fight against breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer to affect Canadian women.1 Research shows that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.1 Breast cancer tends to occur in women between the ages of 50 and 69, but it can also occur in men (though less common).2 Fortunately, as a result of research and advancements in technology, the outcome of the disease has substantially improved. Since the 1980s the breast cancer mortality rate has been decreasing,3 with 85% of women and 75% of men surviving more than 5 years after their breast cancer diagnosis.3

What is Breast Cancer?

Abnormal growth and behaviour of cells in the breast can cause non-cancerous conditions such as hyperplasia, cysts and tumors. However, these cellular changes can also cause breast cancer.

Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer

In the early stages of the disease, women may experience no obvious signs or symptoms. However, if they do, then typically these are the symptoms they will experience: * a lump in the armpit

*changes in the shape or size of the breast *changes to the nipple, such as an inverted nipple *discharge or blood that comes out of the nipple without squeezing it In later stages of the disease, women may experience the following symptoms:4

bone pain weight loss nausea loss of appetite jaundice shortness of breath cough headache double vision muscle weakness How to Prevent Breast Cancer Regular breast cancer screenings

Breast cancer screenings occur when a woman shows no signs or symptoms of the disease.5 A mammograph is a low-dose xray used to see if cancer is developing in the body.5 Women should begin getting mammograms at age 40, unless otherwise specified by their physician.5 When breast cancer is discovered in a woman’s body and treated early, treatment has a better chance of being successful.5

at home to check for lumps at least once a month.6 While 8 out of 10 lumps are noncancerous, this allows women to communicate any breast abnormalities they may feel to their health care physician.6 Here are steps for completing a self-exam at home.

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

There are several risk factors for breast cancer, each with varying degrees of research to support the link to the disease. The most common and highly researched breast cancer risk factors include:

History of breast cancer

Women who previously had breast cancer, are at an increased risk of developing the disease again. The risk of recurrence of the disease depends on several factors. Family history of breast cancer Having blood relatives who have been diagnosed with breast cancer can increase the chance that a woman will be diagnosed with the disease in her lifetime.2 For women who have a first-degree relative (mother, sister Self-exams at home or daughter) with breast cancer, it approxiWhile regular screenings are important to mately doubles their risk.2 detect breast cancer before it can be felt, it BRCA gene mutations is recommended to perform a self-exam Women who have inherited the BRCA1

(breast cancer gene 1) or BRCA2 (breast cancer gene 2) gene mutations from their mother or father are at an increased risk of breast cancer.2 These genes are supposed to control cell growth in the breast, however if they do not function adequately then they may cause breast cancer.2 While these gene mutations are rare, many women choose to get tested since those that have either the BRCA1 or BRCA2, have an 85% change of developing breast cancer.2 Treatment Options for Breast Cancer For those living with breast cancer there are a number of treatment options available. An oncologist will decide which are most appropriate depending on the stage of the disease, if you have reached menopause, and other factors. These treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, hormonal therapy, along with others. See a full list here. If the breast is removed as a result of the cancer, some women opt to have breast reconstruction or prosthesis surgery. this financial protection can help yourself or loved ones during a difficult time. www.cpp.ca/breast-cancer-awareness-month/

Safar 21,1442 Oct,09, 2020

By Humble Muslim

l i f e sty l e

Life Hacks – Money Management

oney management is an important topic across the board and not surprisingly even qualifies as a business. In Islam, prudent financial management is something that is highly encouraged. And [they are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate Al-Quran 25:67 The topic of wealth surfaces quite a number of times in the Quran as well as the hadiths. In Surah al-Kahf verse 46, the term wealth was placed along with offsprings which is another of the ‘gifts’ that mankind may be presented with and held accountable for on this earth. Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one’s] hope. Al-Quran 18:46 Wealth has and always will be a source of test for Muslims and it will be one of the things that a Muslim will be held accountable for on the day of judgement. “The son of Adam will not pass away from Allah until he is asked about five things: how he lived his life, and how he utilized his youth, with what means did he earn his wealth, how did he spend his wealth, and what did he do with his knowledge.” Tirmidhi Man will be questioned as to how he obtained his wealth as well as how he spent it. As such, money management in Islam is in fact very important. A Muslim must be careful as to how he earn

his wealth. Therefore he must select his occupation carefully to ensure it complies with the teachings of Islam. Occupations which deal with non halal sources of income must be avoided where possible unless there are no other available choices. Money management is not just about income. Many people have a narrow minded approach when it comes to money management. They only see the amount coming in but somehow ignore the amount being spent or how it is spent. Imagine a bucket being filled with water. If the tap is gushing water but the bucket has a gaping hole, no matter how much water is being put in, water will keep draining. The bigger the hole, the more water is needed to keep the bucket full. It is quite common in social gatherings that the topic of work gets brought up during small talk and a question that often crops up (depending on how close or how comfortable the conversers are) is “So how much you earning?”. That somehow becomes a gauge or measure of success and this has sadly been the case in our ever increasingly

materialistic society. No one asks “So how much is your household budget?” Or “What are your monthly expenses?”. Too boring or mundane perhaps. But the truth of the matter is stark. You may earn hundreds of thousands per month but if you spend exorbitantly, your net might not be much. And that is not wise money management. In Islam, a Muslim is adviced to take a middle path. Not too stingy and not too extravagant. We have to keep a mind on the future also and save up for emergency purposes. This enables us to not be a burden to others as well as be useful Muslims who are able to help others. Abu Dawood (1564) narrated from Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:“That which reaches the level where zakaah is to be paid and its zakaah is paid, is not kanz (hoarded wealth).” Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

marry them off to them. The wives responded by retracting their demand for money and goods and chose to stay married to him. There is also the example of Khadijah who was a very wealthy lady and the Prophet’s wife she spent her money generously on the Prophet and the cause of Islam. There is also example of Hazret Aisha and other wives of the Prophet who went without food for days but remained steadfast partners for the Prophet. There is also the example of Hazret Asiya (Prophet Ayoub’s wife) she shared a rich prosperous life with Prophet Ayoub but when difficult times struck in the form of poverty and sickness she worked in people’s houses and supported Prophet Ayoub in every way, mean and manner she could. But in the face of adversary not all women respond like Hazret Khadijah and Hazret Asiya. Prophet Ayoub had several wives when difficult times came namely poverty and sickness they all left him except Hazret Asiya who was a very pious lady. Life has its ups and downs when looking for a spouse husband or wife in my opinion one should keep this in mind and look for a spouse on the basis of their religiosity not for someone who is only going to be there for the good times and is nowhere to be found when difficulties arise. Or turns into a hideous monster when poverty or sickness strike.Living in this day and age where social ills are rampant I strongly urge everyone whether single or married to read Prophet Muhammed’s biography and biographies of other Prophets such as Ayoub and Yusuf and Yaqub to gain insight and inspiration from their lives and how to deal with various difficulties in life especially marital life. Please Note: The article though meant for both men and women focuses more on the role of women in marriage and monetary issues http://www.islamicity.org/

By: Asma Ayyaz, Mortgage Broker

Marriage: A Safe Haven

By: Naima Shaikh fter witnessing countless unsuccessful or tumultuous marriages amongst family and friends I decided to write an article about marriage. What is marriage? On the Facebook site: Lessons learned in life Inc. It states the following quote: “A relationship should be a safe haven not a battle zone.” That is my definition of marriage a safe haven. A good example of this definition comes from Prophet Muhammed’s marriage with hazret Khadijah when the prophet first received wahi the first person he confided what he had witnessed was to his wife Khadijah who comforted him and reassured him that he wasn’t going crazy and that he had in fact been chosen by God to carry out his work. In western media one of the main frictions in marriage is cited as money. In Islam it says in the Qur’an 4:34 “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means…” But what happens when the husband does not have money or has very little money. Again we turn to the Prophet’s life for example. On one occasion the Prophet’s wives demanded money and goods to which the Prophet responded by saying if they want money and goods he is willing to divorce them and will personally find rich men and

Abu Dawood There are those who misconstrue Islamic values as those that reject wealth or world desires. The Islam religion has never ask that a Muslim abandon the world. Rather in Islam, a Muslim is encouraged to attain success in both the world and hereafter. This world is after all a ticket to the hereafter. In fact, many companions of the Prophet himself are successful merchants as well as wealthy. Hence it is not proper and correct to shun wealth in the name of Islam. Wealth as do many of the other blessings that Allah has granted us is a form of rizq and trust and we should use them in a responsible way. Money management is as such essential in Islam. We need to use the wealth we have wisely as what we do with it will be questioned by Allah. Hence it is our duty as Muslims to ensure that not only do we take care where our wealth comes from but also how we spend it and what we do with it.

Money Management Tips

1.Ask yourself what is your source of wealth 2.How do you spend it? 3.Create a list of Needs versus Wants 4.Scrutinise the list and categorise those as essentials versus those as not necessary 5.Streamline your finances by weeding out unnecessary expenses 6.Now look at how you shop for necessities 7.Are you getting them at the best deals? 8.Have you considered and compared prices with online retailers such as amazon and the likes? 9.Have you set aside a sum for zakat? Courtesy: www.humblemuslim.com/lifehacks-money-management Source: Fraser Health media

THANKSGIVING!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of us! Oct 12, 2020

ope all of you have really happy thanksgiving weekend celebrated in your respective ways.This is such a beautiful concept. I enjoyed it so much so that I would love to extend it throughout the year. Thank you!!!!!!!!! That’s what everybody likes to hear, isn’t it? Even God loves to hear it. It’s free, easy to give, rewarding.

Then WHY don’t we?

We say thank you most of the time in courtesy, as one of the magic words we are taught as a good behavior. These words should come from our heart. This is possible when we actually feel it understand its true meaning in deeper sense.

ARE we the original creator?

We earn lots of money, design or create something great, we are engineers, architects, artists, chefs….list is endless. Have we ever thought about who gives original resources? We can make high rise buildings, bridges, infrastructure….but who produces basic material iron? A chef can cook amazing tasty dishes but can he produce basic wheat or vegetables seeds? We should be thankful to the creator of this amazing universe first. Secondly, we should be thankful to our parents for putting our needs first and then the dreams of their own life. Our teachers, friends, neighbors, relatives, any person doing our work well, and going out of way to help us…..the list is endless. It is very important to acknowledge that universe runs better with everybody helping each other by the balance of giving and taking.

This awareness makes us feel grateful thus makes us kind, polite and teaches us tolerance and humbleness. When we value the people, things and circumstances, we are better human beings. We respect others and ourselves more. When we understand the importance and value of time and people, we learn to prioritize, we learn to progress with rightfulness. This feeling of thankfulness clears the dust of ego, selfishness, self-centeredness in ourselves.

This helps relationships better.

When parents feel thankful for being blessed with children, they will pay more attention to their children with awareness, not just be a parent. When children feel thankful for their parents, love, care and sacrifices they will be working more hard to be worthy of it.

Thankful citizen.

When we feel thankful for rights and favors, we enjoy as citizens. We will be more aware of our duties towards a country, the place we are living. We will strive to make it a better place, better environment for our future generations and exactly that is the reason to vote. Please vote and choose your representatives. For any inquiries please email at :asmashums@gmail.com

Safar 21,1442 Oct,09, 2020

P A K I S T A N / S P OR T S

IHC issues proclamation against Nawaz in two cases

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday issued a proclamation against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Al-Azizia and Avenfield references and directed that it be published in two leading newspapers. The court asked Additional Attorney General Tariq Mehmood Khokhar to deposit the proclamation’s publishing cost with daily Dawn and Jang. Through the proclamation, the court asked Mr Sharif to surrender himself in 30 days to avoid further adverse process. In case the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader remains absent even after the expiry of the given period, the court would declare him a proclaimed offender and order attachment of his properties. During Wednesday’s hearing, the IHC

bench, comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, recorded the statement of Director Europe at the Foreign Office Mohammad Mubashir in the courtroom and of First Secretary Dildar Ali Abro and Consular Rao Abdul Hanan through video link from the Pakistani High Commission in London. They apprised the court of the efforts made to serve non-bailable arrest warrants on Mr Sharif. National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Additional Prosecutor General Jahanzeb Khan Bharwana informed the court that the process to serve warrants had been completed and it could now issue the proclamation of the accused. The IHC’s proclamation was issued to inform Mr Sharif to join the appeals against his conviction in Al-Azizia and Avenfield references. The court had granted bail of eight weeks to Mr Sharif last year in Al-Azizia reference on medical grounds which lapsed in February. The reference pertains to the Sharifs being unable to justify the source of funds used for setting up Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment in Saudi Arabia, making it a case of owning assets beyond means. Arshad Malik, the accountability court judge who was removed for misconduct on Dec 24, had convicted Nawaz Sharif in Al-

Azizia Steel Mills reference and imposed a fine of Rs1.5 billion and $25 million on him. A 10-year disqualification from holding a public office was also part of the sentence. The disqualification would go into effect following Mr Sharif ’s release from jail after serving the seven-year sentence. Days before the 2018 elections, Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir sentenced Nawaz Sharif to 10 years, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, seven years and retired Capt Safdar to two years in the Avenfield properties case. The reference, which pertains to the purchase of four flats in Avenfield House, Park Lane, London, was among three cases filed by NAB against Mr Sharif and his children on the Supreme Court’s order in the July 28 Panamagate verdict. Accountability Court Judge Azam Khan has already declared Nawaz Sharif a proclaimed offender and attached both his movable and immovable properties for absconding in the Toshakhana case. According to NAB’s report, Mr Sharif owns more than Rs200,000 in four active bank accounts and a small amount of foreign currency in three other accounts. Besides these seven active accounts, he has a dormant account in Allied Bank, New Garden Town branch, Lahore, in which Rs397,810 is deposited.

BUDDOO and Bundal, two islands lying off the Karachi coastline are the subject of a heated back-and-forth between the federal and Sindh governments. The controversy is a telling example of the leadership’s misplaced priorities, lack of transparency and callous indifference towards ‘ordinary’ citizens. A few days ago it came to light that on Aug 31 President Alvi, keeping parliament out of the loop, had promulgated the Pakistan Islands Development Authority Ordinance whose first schedule specifically mentions Buddoo and Bundal. The Sindh government reacted fiercely, asserting its ownership over the islands and describing any attempt to develop them without the provincial cabinet’s approval as unconstitutional. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari likened the move to India’s illegal annexation of Kashmir. On Tuesday, there was another twist to the tale when Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi

posted on social media a letter from the Sindh government dated July 6, making Bundal island “available” to the federal government. Real estate developers and their cronies among the ruling elite have long had an eye on the two islands in question. The area is an ecologically important site: it is part of the Indus delta where the mangrove forest cover is a breeding ground for shrimp and other shellfish. Thousands of fisherfolk depend on these islands for various fishing-related activities that make up their livelihood. However, for those holding the reins of power, the prospect of multibillion-rupee fortunes clearly trumps these ‘trivial’ human and ecological concerns. In 2006, during Gen Musharraf ’s government, a deal was struck between Port Qasim Authority and a Dubai-based construction company to build a model city over 12,000 acres, complete with a 1.5km long bridge — costing $50m — to connect it with DHA phase 8. The

project never materialised. Then in 2013, talk of an ‘Island City’ to be developed by Bahria Town Ltd on the same site began doing the rounds, which also did not see the light of day. Given the ecological and human cost involved, the matter is one of considerable public interest, and calls for far more transparency than thus far on display. The centre has conducted itself in an unseemly and opaque manner by bypassing parliament over an issue that was bound to invite allegations that it is usurping provincial rights. Sindh already nurses historical grievances on that score, and these events have not helped the situation — although the PPP chairman’s analogy with India-held Kashmir was uncalled for. However, in light of Mr Zaidi’s revelation, one must ask whether the Sindh government has colluded with the centre; after all, elements within it have facilitated land grabbing of state land in a particularly ruthless manner. If so, it

The report says that Mr Sharif has Rs88,150 in MCB Bank, New Garden Town branch, Lahore; Rs16,917 in Standard Chartered Bank, Gulberg branch, Lahore; Rs20,431 in Standard Chartered Bank, Wapda Town branch, Lahore, and Rs88,704 in Al-Falah Bank, Defence branch, Lahore, besides EUR566 in a euro currency account, $658 in a dollar currency account and £498 in a pound currency account in another bank. It further states: “The reports received from Lahore Development Authority Additional Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sheikhu pura, Assistant Commissioner Murree and Galiyat Development Authority revealed that the accused Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif owns following immovable properties in his name and in the name of his dependents.” These properties include 135, Upper Mall, Lahore; agriculture land in Mouza Manak, Badokisani, Mall Raiwind, Sultankay Lahore, Mouza Mandiali Ferozwala and Ferozwattan in Sheikhupura district; a bungalow on Hall Road, Murree and a house in Chhangla Gali in Abbottabad district. As per the NAB record, Mr Sharif owns a 2010 model Toyota Land Cruiser, two Mercedes cars of models 1973 and 1991 and two tractors of models 2011 and 2015 in his name. Source: dawn.com

The Buddoo and Bundal islands matter calls for far more transparency than currently on display

is a shameless surrender. The caveat that development on the islands would take place while protecting the interests of the local fishermen is an old chestnut that no one is likely to believe. Source: dawn.com

PPP announces opposition’s power show in Karachi on 18th KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party on Wednesday announced that it would stage a “massive power show” in the metropolis on Oct 18 from the platform of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) saying the event would be the “beginning of the end” for the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government.The

announcement came after the meeting of the PPP’s executive committee chaired by president of the party’s Sindh chapter Nisar Khuhro here at the Chief Minister House. Briefing the media after the meeting, he said that Karachi would host the second public meeting of the PDM on Oct 18.The party will host PDM

leaders on the 13th death anniversary of victims of Karsaz blasts The day, he said, would mark the death anniversary of more than 200 victims of the twin Karsaz blasts at the homecoming procession of slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007. Source: dawn.com

Misbah aims to pick pool of 22 for Zimbabwe ties

LAHORE: Chief selector-cum-head coach Misbah-ul-Haq is planning to name a pool of 22 players during the second phase of the ongoing National T20 Cup in Rawalpindi for the One-day International and Twenty20 International series against Zimbabwe in Oct-Nov this year. In a video message released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Misbah said though he had held an initial meeting with the panel of selectors — comprising of six coaches of the National T20 Cup participating teams — the second round of discussion would be held in Rawalpindi as by then the performances of maximum players would have

given a clear indication. “We have a plan to select 22 players for both formats [ODI and T20] for the Zimbabwe series. Further we are going release some of the players after the one-day series to enable them participate in the domestic season,” Misbah said.The head coach hoped the National T20 Cup and the Zimbabwe matches would provide a perfect platform for the selectors to pick the best talent for the tour of New Zealand and two mega events next year, which includes the T20 World Cup and T20 Asia Cup. Misbah said for the series against Zimbabwe, it will also be important that Pakistan

win to raise the confidence level of the players, besides to test the best youngsters. “It is our first priority to build a match-winning combination as victory against Zimbabwe will also raise the morale of the boys so we have to consider carefully how many youngsters can be tried,” he said. Misbah added since Pakistan would be playing a One-day International after a long time, intra-squad matches would also be held to prepare the squad for that format. Pakistan last played three ODI matches series against Sri Lanka in Karachi in September last year, winning it 2-0 after opening fixture was washed out.Source: dawn.com

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DEWAN-E-KHASS Pakistani & Indian Cuisine King of the Grill

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Dewan-e-Khass specializes in exotic Pakistani, Indian Grill and Karahi dishes made by our experienced cook from Pakistan. We invite you to come and taste one of our authentic dishes. We are sure once you taste, you will come again. Owner: Siraj Khan 11am to 10:30 pm. Open 7 Days a Week

604.327.4800

5750 Fraser Street, Vancouver

604.498.4293 shaukat.khan@bcliberals.com shaukatkhan.ca 101 - 13638 Grosvenor Road Surrey, BC V3R 5C9

SURREY - WHALLEY

@shaukatkhansurrey @shaukatkhan1969 @shaukatkhanforsurrey

NOTARY PUBLIC (604) 596 1861 # .220-13711

72 Ave. Surrey, BC (Opp. Newton Wave Pool)

Shoaib.surrey@gmail.com

Shoaib Rauf

Notary Public Immigration Consultant

Mohamed Salim Contractor Unit #219-7928, 128 St.

(York Business Centre) Surrey. BC V3W 4E8 C: 604.817.3022 O: 604.503.5025 Fax: 604.503.5045

http://www.salimnotary.com/ http://cwics.ca/ www.cwics.team Emails:salim@salimnotary.com

&:cwics.team@yahoo.ca

NOOR JAHAN

4,7,11

Grocery&Meat Store

5989-Fraser St.(E 44th St.) Vancouver

BCMA Approved Hand Slaughter

Chicken, Meat Beef, Veal & Fish and much more Grocery available

Mohammad Lablu

Coronavirus Cases:

316,934

Deaths:

6,544

Recovered:

302,375

604-301-9090

Pakistan Last updated:

October 08, 2020, 08:42 GMT