Miracle 602-, July 28, 2023

Trudeau overhauls his cabinet, drops 7 ministers and shuffles most portfolios

at a time of heightened tensions overseas and scandals at home.

Two protesters burn Quran outside Iraqi embassy in Denmark

Cabinet shakeup introduces new faces to Trudeau’s front bench.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today dropped seven ministers and changed nearly three-quarters of his cabinet, overhauling his team

Trudeau unveiled a new cabinet team meant to have a renewed focus on economic priorities, such as housing, during a ceremony at Rideau Hall Wednesday morning. The shuffle promotes seven new faces and tasks more than a dozen ministers with new roles, including a new minister of defence and public safety. Reporters asked the prime minister repeatedly whether the shakeup amounts

The incident is the latest in a string of Quran burnings in Sweden and Denmark that prompted protests in the Middle East. Two protesters have set fire to a copy of Islam’s holy book, the Quran, in front of the Iraqi embassy in Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen. The duo from a group that calls itself Danish Patriots stomped on the Quran on Monday and set it alight in a tin foil tray next to the Iraqi flag lying on the ground.

demonstration last week and livestreamed the events on Facebook. After last week’s incident, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen condemned it as an act of “stupidity” by a few individuals, telling national broadcaster DR: “It is a disgraceful act to insult the religion of others.” “This applies to the burning of Qurans and other religious Cont. @ page 5 Cont. @ page 5

Shortly after the incident, Iraq’s foreign ministry called on the authorities of countries in the European Union to “quickly reconsider so-called freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate”, according to the Iraqi state news agency INA. The far-right, ultra-nationalist Danish Patriots held a similar

Surrey RCMP urge public to remain vigilant as Amber Alert for Bolton siblings enters 2nd week

5 killed as more rain, floods batter Balochistan

As the Amber Alert for two B.C. siblings who were allegedly abducted by their mother enters a second week, police say they’re focusing their search within the province while pursuing tips from Alberta and Saskatchewan. Joshuah Bolton, 10, and his sister Aurora Bolton, 8, were supposed to be returned to their father’s home in Surrey on July 17, fol-

lowing a scheduled trip to the Okanagan with their mother, Verity Bolton. An Amber Alert for the siblings was launched two days later—exactly three weeks after the pair left for the camping vacation with their mother. The fact that Verity Bolton had access to her children in the weeks before they were reported missing has made it challenging to put together a timeline for where the siblings were during that time, according to Cpl. Vanessa Munn of Surrey RCMP. Speaking to CTV Morning Live on Wednesday, day eight of the search, Munn said there’s no evidence to suggest the Bolton sib

Cont. @ page 5

QUETTA: Five people, including four girls, lost their lives as torrential rains lashed most districts of Balochistan on Wednesday. Flash floods and downpour also caused property losses in different areas. Balochistan’s road link with Karachi, Punjab and other parts of Sindh could not be restored despite the passage of 48 hours, forcing the authorities concerned to prepare alternative ways on Bolan and Hub Rivers. Quetta and surrounding areas also received heavy rain, suspending power supply and disrupt-

ing internet service. The provincial capital remained without electricity for several hours while there is no power supply in surrounding areas. Officials of the Quetta Electric Supply Company said some grids tripped due to rain. Later, power supply to Quetta was restored while work was underway to restore it in

Cont. @ page 5

Surrey Fusion festival sees record attendance at 16th annual event, July 22-23

What is Ashura?

“This is a blessed day. On this day, Allah saved (Prophet) Musa and drowned the people of Firaun (the pharoah), and so Prophet Musa a.s fasted on this day to give thanks to Allah..” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

day of Ashura, Allah (SWT) will be generous on him for the entire year (Baihaqi)

It’s also important to increase worship on the Day of Ashura, such as reading more Qur’an, sending salutations to the Prophet (PBUH) and offering naffal (optional) prayers. It’s also a good time to reflect on the significant events which took place on the Day of Ashura and to draw important lessons from them which can help us in our lives, for example to rely on the power of Allah to help us in our time of need.

Ziyarat Ashura and other duaas

There are certain days in the year which are more virtuous than others, one such day is the 10th of Muharram which is known as the Day of Ashura. The word Ashura is derived from the word “Asharah”, which means ten in Arabic. The Day of Ashura is the 10th day of Muharram. When is Ashura 2023?

The Day of Ashura is the 10th day of Muharram. In 2023, the Day of Ashura will be on 28th July.

Give Sadaqah or Zakat on this blessed day

One of the most virtuous acts of worship on Ashura is to give charity to our Muslim brothers and sisters suffering across the world.

What is the history and significance of Ashura?

his army.

The Pharaoh was extremely violent and corrupt in his rule, and spread blasphemy as he declared himself as God. The Prophet Musa (AS) refused to follow the Pharaoh and instead encouraged him to worship Allah. The Pharaoh would not accept that there was a power higher than himself, and in response sent a large army to destroy the Prophet and his followers.

On the Day of Ashura, Prophet Musa (AS) and his followers were being chased by the army but trusted Allah alone in protecting them. Prophet Musa (AS) made the following famous Dua which was later revealed in the Holy Quran:

“Truly my Lord is with me, He will guide me through.” (Quran 26:62)

As a result of his patience and firm faith in Allah’s help, Allah parted the Red Sea so that Prophet Musa (AS) and his followers could pass to safety. As punishment, the Pharaoh and his army were then submerged in the sea.

Give Zakat

Then We inspired to Moses, “Strike with your staff the sea,” and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain. And We drew forward the others [i.e., the pursuers]. And We saved Moses and those with him, all together. Then We drowned the others. Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers. And indeed, your Lord – He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful. Qur’an | 26:63-68

The Battle of Karbala

One of the most significant events that occurred in the month of Muharram was the Battle of Karbala, which took place in Iraq in Muharram 61 AH.

It was fought between a small army consisting of the family and companions of Imam Hussain (AS), the grandson of the Prophet (PBUH), and a much larger army sent by Yazid ibn Muawiyah, the Umayyad Caliph at that time.

The battle took place because Imam Hussain (AS) refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid ibn Muawiyah, who had taken it upon himself to assume the Muslim leadership after the death of his father.

On the 10th Muharram, the Day of Ashura, Imam Hussain (AS) was brutally martyred by the enemy camp. This is a very significant day in Islamic history as Imam Hussain (AS) and 72 other martyrs, mainly consisting of the male members of the family of the Prophet (PBUH) all sacrificed their lives as a stand against oppression and to preserve Islam.

The day Allah freed Musa

On the Day of Ashura in the time of Prophet Musa (AS), Allah saved the Prophet and Bani Israel from the tyrannical Pharaoh and

The story of Ashura and other Prophets

The Day of Ashura was also significant in the time of other prophets. For example, in the time of prophet Nuh (AS), some narrations say that on the day of Ashura, Allah returned his arc back to dry land after the flooding stopped. It was a day of relief and celebration for the Prophet and his devoted companions.

Some narrations also say that The Day of Ashura was also the day that Prophet Adam (AS) repented and was forgiven to Allah after eating the forbidden fruit, as well as the day that Prophet Yunus (AS) was released from the belly of the whale and Allah forgave his people.

Commemorating the Day of Ashura

As well as fasting the day of Ashura which is one of the most virtuous acts, there are many other beneficial deeds you can do which can earn great rewards on the blessed day. These include giving Sadaqah and Zakat to help those in need across the world, as well as spending money on one’s family.

Prophet Muhammed (SAW) said, ‘’one who generously spends on his family on the

The Shi‘a Muslim community offer a salutatory prayer to Imam Hussain (AS) and the martyrs of the battle of Karbala called The Ziyarat Ashura.

Do Muslims observe Ashura differently?

For Shi‘a Muslims observing the day of Ashura, the period is marked by mourning, due to the anniversary of the martyring of Imam Hussain (AS), in the Battle of Karbala. For Sunni Muslims, as well as the above, Ashura also commemorates when the Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) and the Children of Israeel were freed from Pharaoh and his pursuing army by Allah (SWT).

Fasting on the Day of Ashura

Muslims are encouraged to fast the Day of Ashura by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

I never saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) so keen to fast any day and give it priority over any other than this day, the day of ‘Ashura’, and this month, meaning Ramadhan.

Hadith | Sahih al-Bukhari

Why did the Prophet (PBUH) fast on Ashura?

Fasting the 9th of Muharram

The scholars of Islam consider it recommended to fast on the 9th of Muharram along with the 10th of Muharram (‘Ashura). This is due to the Hadith:

When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) fasted on the day of ‘Ashura and told the people to fast, they said, “O Messenger of Allah, this is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians.” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “Next year, if Allah wills, we will fast on the ninth day.” But by the time the following year came, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) had passed away. (Muslim)

The Prophet (pbuh) wanted to fast on the

9th, in order to differ from the People of the Book.

Fasting the 11th of Muharram?

Some of the scholars also considered fasting on the 11th of Muharram to be recommended. This could be if one misses the 9th or it could be in order to ensure one catches the 10th of Muharram. Therefore it is virtuous to fast:

Just the day of Ashura or to fast the 9th and 10th, or to fast the 10th and 11th.

Some scholars would even fast the 9th, 10th and 11th of Muharram.

Any one of these options is recommended.

Virtues of Ashura

Here are some recommended actions or Sunnah for Ashura.

Fast: Keep a fast on the 9th and 10th Muharram (the day of Ashura), or on the 10thand 11thMuharram. Fasting expiates sins.

Read the Qur’an: If you are unable to fast, reading the Qur’an or doing Dhikr can help you to feel the blessings of Muharram. Remember, any gathering for the sake of Allah SWT will also be filled with barakah and the Angels will join you.

Give Sadaqah: Helping those in need around the world is one of the most virtuous deeds and doing so on this blessed day can earn great rewards, It is also a Sunnah to spend money on one’s family on the day of Ashura.

Prophet Muhammed (SAW) said, ‘’one who generously spends on his family on the day of Ashura, Allah (SWT) will be generous on him for the entire year (Baihaqi)

Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic New Year, so it’s the perfect time to make resolutions and establish good habits like giving regular charity, so that you can gain blessings all-year round.

On the authority of Abu Qatadah (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saw), was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’, and he said, “It expiates [wipes out the minor sins of] the past year. Hadith | Muslim Scholar Verified

We ensure our content is reviewed and verified by qualified scholars to provide you with the most accurate information. This webpage was last reviewed by Sheikh Saalim Al-Azhaari.

reviewed: 31st January 2023.

Source:islamic-relief.org.uk

Prayer Schedule in Greater Vancouver

British Columbia is facing big social and environmental challenges ahead of Budget 2023: sky high rents, health care under enormous strain, a toxic drugs crisis, climate disruption and the need to build and rebuild crucial but eroded public services

Are people moving out of British Columbia?

More than 55,000 people moved out of B.C. to other provinces between 2021 and 2022, with affordability being a driving factor for many. Data from Statistics Canada shows that nearly 55,000 people moved out of the province in 2021, with more than half of them moving to Alberta.

Source: google.comsearch?q=current+health+issues

What are some issues in Vancouver?

Top 10 issues for residents in Metro

Vancouver:

• Affordable housing: 34%

• Transportation/public transit: 20%

• Crime/public safety: 19%

• Homelessness: 16%

• Transparency/fiscal responsibility: 13%

• Environment/climate change: 13%

What are the big issues in British Columbia?

• Planning/infrastructure: 12%

• Overdevelopment/densification: 11% Does British Columbia have a homeless problem?

Most B.C. residents say homelessness a major problem, governments doing bad job addressing it. Nearly three-quarters of British Columbians say homelessness is a major problem in the province right now, but significantly fewer say it’s a major problem in their neighbourhoods.

Most B.C. residents say homelessness a major problem, governments doing bad job addressing it.

Nearly three-quarters of British Columbians say homelessness is a major problem in the province right now, but significantly fewer say it’s a major problem in their neighbourhoods. These are some of the findings of a recent poll by Research Co., conducted against the backdrop of efforts to dismantle a tent city on Hastings Street in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside that the city’s fire chief says is a significant public safety risk.

The online survey of a representative sample of 800 B.C. residents found substantial frustration with all levels of government when it comes to addressing homelessness in the province. Almost four-in-five survey respondents (79 per cent) said they felt homelessness had increased in B.C. over the last three years, and more than three-in-five (63 per cent) said it was on the rise in their municipality. Similarly, 73 per cent said homelessness is a major problem for the province

and 52 per cent said it’s a major problem for their municipality. A significantly smaller portion of respondents – 27 per cent – said homelessness is a major problem in their immediate neighbourhood, though only about one-third (32 per cent) said it was not a problem at all.

Given these views, it’s perhaps not surprising that 55 per cent of B.C. residents said their local government had done either a “bad” (32 per cent) or “very bad” (23 per cent) job of coming up with solutions to the problem. Source: bc.ctvnews.ca

Province helps better connect patients to primary-care providers

On July 1, 2023, with new family doctors and nurse practitioners ready to accept patients, the Province expanded the Health Connect Registry, hosted by HealthLink BC, from select communities to all communities throughout B.C. People will be connected to a primary-care provider based on their health needs, the provider’s ability to take on those needs, and the region.

The Health Connect Registry is the patientfacing side of the Province’s action plan to strengthen primary care and better connect people to primary-care providers, including: a new family doctor compensation model to attract and retain family doctors that has nearly 3,300 signups; a new-to-practice incentive program that has 156 new family doctors registered; a new provincial rostering registry for individual family doctors and nurse practition-

Doug McCallum and Safe Surrey Coalition Welcome Province’s Decision to Move Forward with Surrey Police Service

SURREY, BC - Today marks a significant milestone for the City of Surrey as Doug McCallum, Councillors Doug Elford, and Mandeep Nagra of the Safe Surrey Coalition express their satisfaction with the Province’s decision to direct the City of Surrey to proceed with the Surrey Police Service (SPS). This decision fulfills a key platform promise made by the Safe Surrey Coalition during the 2018 elections, demonstrating their commitment to delivering on the mandate entrusted to them by the citizens of Surrey.

“For the past five years, the citizens of Surrey have been eagerly anticipating the establishment of the Surrey Police Service. Today’s decision by the Province reaffirms that this is the best choice for public safety in our city,

and it marks a momentous occasion,” stated Doug McCallum. “We are delighted to see our vision become a reality, and we are grateful for the support we have received from the Province throughout this process.” The journey to establish the Surrey Police Service has not been without its challenges. Both the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Surrey Police Service have faced significant pressures during this transition period. Councillor Doug Elford wishes to extend his gratitude to all frontline law enforcement members from both organizations for their dedication and service to the community.

“Today, we call upon the residents of Surrey to join us in expressing our gratitude to all those who have worked tirelessly to ensure

public safety in our city,” emphasized Councillor Doug Elford. “This decision allows us to move forward, heal any divisions, and foster collaboration for the betterment of public safety for all residents and neighborhoods in Surrey.” Councillor Mandeep Nagra added, “This has been a very divisive process in our city since October, and it is now time to come together, heal wounds, and work collaboratively for the best public safety for all of Surrey’s residents and neighborhoods. Today’s decision is a testament to our dedication to serving the people of Surrey.”

The City of Surrey recognizes that the process leading up to this decision has been challenging for the community. However, Doug McCallum, Doug Elford, and Mandeep Nagra

ers to manage their patient panel information and identify when they can accept new patients; a new clinic and provider registry for medical directors and staff to provide information about their clinics, so government can better support practitioner needs; working directly with Doctors of BC, and Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC to support family doctors and nurse practitioners with new registries; adding more co-ordinators who will help connect family doctors and nurse practitioners with patients locally; creating more incentives for clinics, family doctors and nurse practitioners to join, so that more people can connect with them; a broader health human resources strategy to recruit and retain more health professionals to ensure people in B.C. get the health services they need and are cared for by a healthy workforce; and providing more support for new team-based primary care in family practice clinics, urgent and primarycare centres, community health centres, nurse practitioner clinics and First Nations primary-care clinics. Through the registries, B.C. will have a comprehensive list of who is looking for a primary-care provider and who already has one, as well as which providers and clinics can accept new patients. Starting Nov. 30, 2023, and continuing quarterly, the Province will report on progress to add more family doctors and nurse practitioners, and on connecting more patients from the Health Connect Registry to a primary-care provider.

Source: news.gov.bc.ca/releases

believe it is now time for the city to come together, mend wounds, and work collaboratively to achieve the highest standards of public safety for all of Surrey’s residents. The Safe Surrey Coalition wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the Province of British Columbia for their ongoing support. They also acknowledge the citizens of Surrey for their patience and trust in their leadership. For media inquiries, please contact: Doug McCallum, Safe Surrey Coalition

Mother in B.C. Amber Alert case seen in Kamloops last weekend, may be accompanied by 2 men

SURREY, B.C. - Mounties say the suspect in an ongoing B.C. Amber Alert was seen grocery shopping in Kamloops last weekend – and that she may be accompanied by two men.

On Thursday, Surrey RCMP released new images of Verity Bolton and the truck and trailer she is believed to be travelling in. Bolton is the mother of eight-year-old Aurora Bolton and 10-year-old Joshuah Bolton, who are the subjects of an Amber Alert issued Wednesday. In surveillance video from the Kamloops grocery store where Verity Bolton was seen on July 15, the children are not present, police said. Cpl. Vanessa Munn said

the suspect is also “likely travelling with two additional males” – her father, 74-year-old Robert Bolton, and her boyfriend, 53-year-old Abraxas Glazov.“They are believed to be in possession of an additional trailer – a large travel trailer,” Munn told reporters at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

Authorities believe Verity Bolton is driving a “dirty, dark blue” 2012 Dodge Ram 2500 with B.C. licence plate SJ2708, and towing a white bumper pull horse trailer. A man identifying himself as the kids’ father posted on Facebook late Wednesday afternoon, saying the group may also be in possession of three dogs. “Two are about six months old and look similar and one puppy,” wrote Paul Beauregard. Police said they are concerned for the mother’s mental health and her ability to care for the children.

“Through the investigation, police made a determination that there was an imminent risk to the safety and wellbeing of Aurora and Joshuah,” Munn said.

Authorities also shared a statement on behalf of the children’s family on Thursday urging the public to “continue to be vigilant in looking for Josh and Aurora, who we miss greatly and hope … will be returned home safe very soon.”

“Our entire family is devastated by recent events,” the statement said. Mounties say the kids went on a planned vacation to the Okanagan with their mother on June 28. The children were seen two days later at Krafty Kitchen + Bar in Kelowna, then again passing through the Merritt area on July 7 – but have not been spotted since. Munn said they have no reason to suspect the mother and children have left the province, but will be “continuing to follow all investigative avenues.”

Aurora Bolton is described as 55

pounds, 3’11” tall, with brown eyes and brown shoulder-length hair that is likely in braids. She has a chipped front tooth, small freckles on her face, and was last seen wearing a blue dress with coloured flowers on it.

Joshuah Bolton is described as 70 pounds, 4’10” tall, with blue eyes and brown hair that is short-tomedium length, described as a grown out buzz cut. He was last seen wearing shorts and a T-shirt. Their mother, Verity Bolton, is 45 years old. She is described as 119 pounds, 5’2” tall, with brown hair and eyes. Speaking on Wednesday, Munn said police “believe that the mother is actually taking active steps to prevent the return of the children to their primary parents.”

She was supposed to return the children to their father – who’s their primary caregiver – on Monday, but didn’t.

No one has been able to contact her since.

In the photo released Thursday, Bolton is dressed in all black, wearing a black baseball cap and black sunglasses.

Police did not specify where in Kamloops the surveillance photo was taken, but said investigators have been able to confirm the photo is of her.

The Surrey RCMP Serious Crime Unit has taken over the investigation and is working with Kamloops RCMP, police said.

Anyone who spots the family is advised not to approach them, but to instead call 911.

Source: bc.ctvnews.ca/

Why TTP is opening another front in Balochistan

THE recent militant attack in the Zhob town of Balochistan, where the Pakistan military lost nine soldiers, was one of the latest in a string of attacks targeting security forces in areas that were previously considered relatively free of militancy.

This is a separate phenomenon from the insurgency that plagues the Baloch-majority areas of the province; outfits linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its offshoots are now stepping up their attacks against security personnel in the province’s northern parts — traditionally considered Pakhtun-majority areas. Though these areas are closer to the border with Afghanistan and also in close proximity to tribal districts such as South Waziristan, they had remained comparatively less affected by terrorist activities in the past.

Asif Baloch, a Quetta-based newspaper editor, believes that since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, two fronts have been opened against the state, i.e. TTP has stepped

up its attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as the Pakhtun belt of Balochistan.

“The security situation has always been grim in the Baloch parts,” he notes, adding that the Pakhtun belt had not been in the crosshairs of such groups.

In the recent months, the TTP has even been trying to make inroads in the Balochmajority areas of the province, releasing propaganda videos in Balochi.

In some of these videos, the group talks about missing persons and the deprivation faced by the people of the province, an obvious attempt to make inroads among the Baloch by appealing to their sensibilities.

According to analyst Muhammad Amir Rana, the TTP has traditionally had a support base in the Pakhtun belt, which is why they were able to carry out attacks in these parts “Also, their targets are specific. Previously, they would attack the police force, but now they have started targeting FC and military personnel and their camps. Even though the number of

attacks has not increased as such, the TTP has been trying to create a disturbance in the region,” he says. In addition, the TTP has — by its own admission — split the province into two. A statement released by the group some time ago claimed that the Baloch-majority area is part of their Kalat-Makran chapter, while the Pakhtundominated parts fall under the Zhob chapter.

As for the new outfit that claimed the audacious attack on the military installation in Zhob — using the moniker of Tehreek-i-Jihad Pakistan — experts believe that it is a “cover name” for the TTP or one of its affiliated outfits. When asked to explain the change of tactics on part of the TTP, Asif Baloch points out that the western route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor — a flagship project of Beijing — also passes through the Pakhtun-dominated parts of the province. Since China has been trying to consolidate its position in the region, Mr Baloch sees this as one of the possible reasons behind the rise in at-

tacks there. The security of CPEC has been the responsibility of the Pakistan military, which has tasked the special security division with protecting its assets and infrastructure.

A security official Dawn spoke to also pointed out that hostile agencies had been trying to disrupt the peace in Balochistan, attributing such attacks to their intervention in the province.

“But thanks to our security forces, most of the attacks have been averted,” he noted.

Jalal Noorzai, a Quettabased columnist and analyst also notes that the militancy plaguing the Pakhtun-majority parts of the province is a relatively new phenomenon. It shows the banned TTP is trying to consolidate its position in the region, he says, adding: “This does not augur well for peace in the region in general. Unfortunately, if the threat is not contained, it may increase in magnitude in the future.”

Courtesy by: Muhammad Akbar Notezai

Trudeau overhauls his cabinet, drops 7 ministers and shuffles most portfolios

News Coninued from Page 1

to an admission that his nearly eight-year-old government is slumping.

“On the contrary,” he responded. Recent polling indicates the Liberals are trailing the Conservatives. Opposition parties have criticized how the government has addressed

the cost of living crisis. “This is a difficult time right now for millions of people in Canada and around the world, and making sure that we have the best possible team aligned to respond to Canadians’ challenges with the supports necessary, but also show that optimism, that ambition for getting us through these consequential times and building a

brighter future for everyone —that’s what we’re focused on,” Trudeau said. Amid those global challenges, Toronto-area MP Bill Blair takes over the defence portfolio from Anita Anand, who becomes president of the Treasury Board. Blair, a former police chief who was most recently the minister of emergency preparedness, becomes the coun-

try’s point person at NATO and will be responsible for Canada’s response to the war in Ukraine. The Canadian Armed Forces is also reeling from a sexual misconduct scandal; Blair is now responsible for overseeing the military’s attempt to change its culture...

Source: cbc.ca/news

Two protesters burn Quran outside Iraqi embassy in Denmark

News Coninued from Page 1

symbols. It has no other purpose than to provoke and create division,” he said. He noted, however, that burning religious books was not a crime in Denmark.s... The

tension between Muslim countries and the two Scandinavian nations intensified last month after a 37-year-old Christian Iraqi refugee in Sweden, Salwan Momika, burned pages of the Quran on the

Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha.

On Sunday, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, a coalition of 57 Muslim countries, suspended the status of Sweden’s special envoy over the string of Quran burnings,

saying the decision was due to the “granting by the Swedish authorities of licenses that enabled the repeated abuse of the sanctity of the Holy Quran and Islamic symbols”.

Source:aljazeera.com

Surrey RCMP urge public to remain vigilant as Amber Alert for Bolton siblings enters 2nd week

News Coninued from Page 1

lings have left the province.

“We have received some tips from Alberta and Saskatchewan and we’re actively following up on all of them, but at this time none of those tips have been substantiated,” said Munn.

She says the search efforts are mainly

focused on B.C.’s Interior and the area around Kamloops—the city where Verity Bolton was last spotted at a grocery store on July 15.

“Part of the concerning nature of this is the fact that we have actually not seen the children on video since July 7,” Munn said, referring to the last confirmed sighting of the Bolton siblings at a gas station in Merrit.

Surrey RCMP believed the children

are travelling with three adults in a dark blue 2012 Dodge Ram 2500 with B.C. licence plate SJ2708. The vehicle has been seen towing three different trailers.

The other adults besides Verity Bolton, according to police, are her 53-year-old boyfriend Abraxas Glazov and her 74-year-old father Robert Bolton. Investigators believe the alleged abduction was pre-planned,

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Contents

and that the children have been moved “off the grid.”

Many of the tips police have received so far are from people with previous history with the parties involved, according to Munn. “All the information we can get is truly appreciated and it really does help us move forward with the investigation,” she said Wednesday...

Source: bc.ctvnews.ca

5 killed as more rain, floods batter Balochistan

areas..Heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorm continued to lash the northern, central and southern parts of the province causing flash floods in the mountainous areas.

With their catchment areas continuously receiving showers, Bolan, Nai Gaj, Teli, Mola, Lehri and other seasonal rivers were flowing in flood.According to reports,

floodwater entered some villages close to the river in the Sibi area, forcing the residents to leave their houses for safe places. Many mud houses were damaged in Sibi, Nasir-

abad, Mashkel, Washuk, Jhal Magsi and some other areas. The district administration was helping the affected families move to safe places.

Source: dawn.com

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Army chief vows to steer country out of crisis

OTTAWA - The Bank of Canada says it’s trying to not raise interest rates more than it has to, as members of the governing council are mindful of the risks associated with raising rates too much.

The central bank released its summary of deliberations Wednesday, providing insight into its decision to raise interest rates again earlier this month as the economy runs hotter than expected. The central bank hiked its key interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point, bringing it to five per cent, the highest it’s been since 2001.

The summary says the governing council considered whether rate hikes are just taking longer to affect the economy, or whether interest rates have not risen enough to slow the economy and bring inflation down.

“If policy is not restrictive enough to bring inflation to target on a reasonable timetable, there is a risk that rates will have to be increased by even more later. If policy is sim-

ply taking longer to work ... over-tightening risks making economic conditions more painful than necessary,” the summary says. Ultimately, they decided that both factors were partly at play, but that cost of waiting too long to raise rates outweighed the benefits.Canada’s inflation rate has slowed considerably since last summer, reaching 2.8 per cent in June. That’s within the central bank’s target range of one to three per cent.

Source: ctvnews.ca

Man sentenced to 8 years in prison after attacking Mississauga mosque last year

and intended to “harm indiscriminately,” the PPSC said, when he assaulted congregants at Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre in March 2022 with bear spray and a hatchet.

“This was a targeted attack on all the congregants of the Islamic Centre, the worshippers present at the time, and on some of the values held dear by Canadians. Those values include freedom to gather and pray and freedom of religion,” federal prosecutor Sarah Shaikh said in a release.

LAHORE: Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir says it has been decided to steer Pakistan out of the crisis.n Addressing the inauguration ceremony of Khanewal Model Agriculture Farm, the army chief said the armed forces are proud to serve its nation. He said that the army is from the people and the people from the army, and it has been decided that Pakistan will be taken out of the current crisis. He said Pakistanis are a proud and talented nation and through their untiring efforts, they will throw away the begging bowl. Referring to the natural resources of the country, he said Allah Almighty has bestowed Pakistan with all the blessings and no power in the world can stop it from developing.

The army chief said Pakistan will definitely achieve the destination of agricultural revolution and model farms like the one inaugurated in Khanewal will be established all over the country. He said the state is like a mother, the relationship between the people and the

state is one of love and respect. He said national security and economy go hand in hand as an economy without security and security without economy is unimaginable.

Says small farmers will benefit from Green Pakistan Initiative The army chief read a couplet of Allama Iqbal to stress the importance of national development. He said the small farmers would benefit from the Green Initiative, whose scope would be extended throughout Pakistan...

Source:https://www.dawn.com

election Act amended to grant additional powers to interim set-up

lateral or multilateral agreements and projects. The Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was presented by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Murtaza Javed Abbasi. The PML-N had on Sunday announced that an amendment was being introduced to empower the interim setup to have powers similar to that of an elected government.

The man who attacked worshippers at a Mississauga mosque last year has been sentenced to eight years in prison, a week after pleading guilty to three terrorism charges.

Mohammad Moiz Omar’s sentencing was heard in front of an Ontario Superior Court in Brampton on Tuesday.

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) said his sentence is notably higher than “sentences usually received for the substantive offences because of the terrorism component.” Omar was “motivated by hate”

“The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and society’s condemnation for such attacks. It also takes into account the acknowledgment of guilt.”

On July 19, Omar pleaded guilty to three charges, including administering a noxious thing (bear spray) with intent to danger life or cause bodily harm, assault with a weapon (hatchet) and mischief to religious property with the motivation of bias, prejudice, or hate based on religion. After interviewing Omar, the PPSC said he expressed to police “his hatred for Muslims, and his disappointment at having failed to inflict any real harm on the victims.” Source: toronto.ctvnews.ca

A joint session of the Parliament on Wednesday passed amendments to the Election Act 2017, granting the caretaker government powers to take actions or decisions regarding existing bi-

“The interim setup will not be confined to dayto-day affairs of the government till elections are held. An amendment is being brought (to the Constitution) to empower the caretaker setup to take important decisions like an elected government does,” PML-N supreme leader’s spokesperson Muhammad Zubair earlier told Dawn...

Source: dawnnews.com

Somalia Puntland opposition says they will hold a fair election on January 2024

A panel of experts made further calls for an independent inquiry into Canada’s COVID-19 response on Tuesday, stressing that the country’s pandemic response must be reviewed before it’s tested once again. The experts, who penned a series of articles on Canada’s pandemic response that were recently published by the BMJ medical journal, shared their findings at a webinar on Tuesday. Dr. Sharmistha Mishra, one of the authors, and an infectious disease epidemiologist and physician at University of Toronto and Unity Health Toronto, started her presentation with a number. “52,750,” she said in the webinar, referring to the reported deaths in Canada directly related to COVID-19 as of June 2023. Dr. Mishra said an independent, public inquiry into the

country’s COVID-19 response would summarize what happened over the past three years and allow the country to better prepare for the future. “An independent, public inquiry could systematically -- and with scientific humility -- get at why. And getting at the why in a nuanced way has to come with transformative action, implementation, and would also come with evaluations of the changes that are being made and that have been made,” Mishra said.“We are going to be tested again.” Published Monday, the experts’ seven-article series was a collaboration from 13 organizations across the country, including physicians, nurses, researchers, legal experts, and humanitarian specialists, aiming to understand the medical and societal complexities of pandemic responses on a national scale. “Our aim as a journal is to inform and advance the conversation in Canada and abroad,” said Dr. Jacalyn Clark, the international editor of the BMJ. “What lessons can be drawn from Canada’s pandemic response?” she said. “What actions need to be taken in the country? And what can others learn? And how can future health preparedness be improved?” Source:ctvnews.ca

Somalia’s Puntland opposition politicians have threatened to hold special elections on January 8, 2024, if President Deni tries to extend his term. The former Minister of Finance of Puntland, Hassan Shire Abgal, who is one of the main opponents of President Deni, has accused Deni of silencing the Parliament with bribes, so that they can implement his agenda for an extension period. Hassan Shire said that the action taken by the parliament yesterday was a violation of the law and that President Deni wants to make the fate of Puntland something he can manage as he wants, warning of the negative consequences of his actions. The former minister of finance said that their position is 8 January 2024. He said that the opposition will hold a fair election,

if President Deni tries to come with an extension period. Yesterday, the Puntland parliament amended the constitution, adding provisions allowing for the expansion of political parties...

Source: somalitimes.co.uk

BNP moves rally to Friday, so does AL

After much drama and uncertainty, police yesterday denied the BNP permission for holding a rally today, and the opposition party responded by rescheduling its gathering for tomorrow at Nayapaltan or Suhrawardy Udyan. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police did not give the BNP permission, saying a rally on working day would cause immense sufferings to people.

At a press conference late last night, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said people will see hindrance to any democratic activity as an attempt to obstruct democracy and fair polls. “We are urging the authorities concerned [to extend support] to make the

grand rally a success.” Also last night, the party informed the DMP about the change of date. Signed by its Senior Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the letter to the DMP said the grand rally would be held tomorrow at 2:00pm either at the Suhrawardy Udyan or at Nayapaltan. Dhaka police also refused the Awami League’s associate and front organisations permission for their rally at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram citing the same reasons given to the BNP. The Dhaka University unit of Chhatra League then sought permission from the university authorities for a rally either at the Gymnasium Ground or in the Central Shaheed Minar area. Three associate bodies of the AL -- Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, and Chhatra League -- eventually rescheduled their rally for tomorrow. They will hold the rally at the trade fair ground next to the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Agargaon around 3:00pm...

Source: thedailystar.net

‘We are going to be tested again’: experts on Canada’s pandemic response

Bank of Canada mindful of not overdoing rate hikes, summary of deliberations reveals

Premier’s statement on Muharram

Office of the Premier Premier David Eby has issued the following statement marking Muharram: “Tonight, Muslims in British Columbia will join the faithful around the world in marking Muharram, the beginning of a new year.

“As the first month of the Islamic calendar, Muharram is a sacred time of peace. “For many Muslims, Muharram is marked by prayer, contemplation, gathering and mourning Hazrat Imam Hussain ibn Ali, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson.

“During this time, I invite all British Columbians to reflect with gratitude on the contributions of the strong and diverse Muslim communities in our province.

“To all those marking the new year, I wish you a blessed Muharram and a peaceful and prosperous new year.”

Surrey Council approves contract to build new Strawberry hill Community hall

Surrey, BC – During the Regular Council Meeting on Monday, Surrey Council voted in favour of a $2.53M contract to build a new Strawberry Hill Community Hall. In 2021, a fire destroyed the historic Strawberry Hill Hall that was currently under construction as part of a $1.2M rehabilitation project that would have seen areas built for childcare and community rentals. Built in 1909, it was among the oldest community halls in Surrey. “I’m happy to see this beloved community facility being rebuilt,” said Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke. “Losing this building was disappointing to so many people.

While we can never get the original back, I’m pleased we can offer a new space to the Newton community to enjoy for decades to come. I thank staff for their work in moving this project forward and I look forward to the beginning of construction.” The $2.53M contract that Surrey Council has approved was awarded to Jacob Bos Construction Inc. The work consists of the following:

• Construction of the new wood frame building, utilizing existing concrete foundations;

• Construction of new decks, stairs, ramps,

and canopies;

• Fit out and finishing of all interior spaces of the new facility;

• New Landscaping and related site improvements including pathways, site furnishings and a new parking lot; and

• All commissioning, start‐up, and training for operating the new facility.

• Funding for the project is available in the approved 2023 Capital Budget.

By: Amy Jugpal Communications & Media Relations Lead Office of the Mayor

New housing minister says closing door on newcomers is no solution to housing crunch

Sean Fraser served previously as immigration minister.

Canada’s new housing and infrastructure minister says closing the door to newcomers is not the solution to the country’s housing woes, and has instead endorsed building

more homes to accommodate higher immigration flows. Sean Fraser, who previously served as immigration minister, was sworn in Wednesday morning as part of a Liberal government cabinet shuffle aimed at showcasing a fresh team ahead of the next federal election. He comes to the role at a time when strong population growth through immigration is adding pressure to housing demand just as the country struggles with an affordability crisis.“The answer is, at least in part, to continue to build more stock,” Fraser told reporters after being sworn in.

“But I would urge caution to anyone who believes the answer to our housing challenges is to close the door on newcomers.”

Instead, the minister said immigration would be part of the solution to the hous-

ing challenge. “When I talked to developers, in my capacity as a minister of immigration before today, one of the chief obstacles to completing the projects that they want to get done is having access to the labour force to build the houses that they need,” he said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to hand over the federal housing file to the Nova Scotia MP has been praised by experts who say the Liberals need a strong communicator in charge as Canadians deal with an affordability crunch. As part of the shakeup, the housing file has been merged with infrastructure and communities. Fraser said the goal is to look at housing and infrastructure projects together, rather than in isolation.

“If we encourage cities and communities to build more housing where infrastructure al-

ready exists or where it’s planned to be, we’re going to be able to leverage more progress for every public dollar that’s invested,” he said. Ahmed Hussen, who became housing minister in 2021, has faced criticism for his handling of the file as the housing crisis has worsened across the country. Hussen is staying in cabinet as minister of international development.“The selection of Sean, I think, is a recognition that the job requires fundamentally an energy and urgency and a passion in order to be able to effectively compete with the message that (Conservative Leader) Pierre Poilievre has put forward,” said Tyler Meredith, a former head of economic strategy and planning for Trudeau’s government. Source: cbc.ca/news

Increased BC Family Benefit here to stay

have the best start possible.”

The BC Family Benefit is a regular monthly payment from the provincial government. Eligibility is based on income and number of children. The benefit reaches families with yearly earnings below $106,908 with one child and $143,783 with three children.

of Finance. “The increase to the BC Family Benefit, the expanded climate action tax credit, record investments in child care, and free contraception for everyone in B.C. These are just some of the actions we’re taking to put more money in people’s pockets.”

year on top of that.

People will see their increased payments delivered through the Canada Revenue Agency combined with the federal Canada Child Benefit program.

More than 285,000 families throughout B.C. will see bigger payments in their bank accounts starting this month, thanks to the permanently increased BC Family Benefit. “Global inflation and higher interest rates continue to be hard on many families right now,” said Grace Lore, Minister of State for Child Care. “The BC Family Benefit is one way we’re helping families provide the food, clothes and opportunities their kids need to

As of July 2023, the benefit increased by an additional $250 per year for a two-parent family of four and as much as $750 for a single-parent family with two children. Approximately 95% of single-parent families in B.C. get the benefit, with payments averaging $2,254 over the year.

“While we can’t control global forces, we can lower costs for people and take some pressure off families,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister

Other recent measures the Province has delivered to save people money include a new credit for renters coming in 2024, a rent cap below this year’s inflation, and increases to the BC Family Benefit for the first three months of 2023.

Quick Facts:

The BC Family Benefit payment is issued around the 20th day of each month.

The payments are now 10% higher than last year, and single parents can get up to $500 a

Eligibility is determined automatically when families register for the Canada Child Benefit. People who receive the BC Family Benefit also see money back through the Climate Action Tax Credit.

The B.C. government will not contact you about the B.C. Family Benefit by text message. If you get a text about the credit, it may be fraud. If unsure, contact:

ITBTaxQuestions@gov.bc.ca

Source: news.gov.bc.ca/

ontario woman loses $500 sending e-transfer to wrong phone number

A Mississauga, Ont. woman helping her aunt buy a flight to visit family in the Philippines was shocked she lost $500 while sending an e-transfer. “We found out I forgot to change the phone number to her new phone number and she didn’t get the money,” Rowena Jubinal told CTV News Toronto.

When you e-transfer, you can send it to an email address or mobile phone number, and Jubinal said she had her aunt’s phone number saved previously saved from a prior transaction. Jubinal sent a $500 e-transfer, the money was auto deposited, but her aunt said she never received the funds. Jubinal said she realized after that her aunt changed her phone number, so the money went to whoever had her aunt’s old number. So, Jubinal called her bank.

“They said they couldn’t do anything because it had already been deposited to the telephone owner’s number,” said Jubinal.

In 2022, Interac said there were over one billion e-transfers sent across Canada with very few problems. But,if you do happen to send money to the wrong recipient, it’s like you sent cash and it’s difficult to get it back.

“From a financial institution perspective, they try their hardest at stopping and holding the funds, but it’s not usually possible, because if someone received the 500 bucks they took off with it,” Anurag Kar, Associate Vice President of Money Movement with Interac, told CTV News Toronto. Interac said Canadians send about 2.5 million e-transfer each day. When sending e-transfers, the customer should

check information is correct and include an effective security question with passwords that only the recipient would know. Interac also recommends setting up auto deposit, which is now used in 60 per cent of all etransfers, which can benefit the person sending the money as well as receiving it.

“We do recommend auto deposit because you have assurance where the money is ending up, you can see the name and the account, and from an experience perspective the beneficiary doesn’t have to click on anything to deposit the money - it’s deposited automatically” said Kar. If you have a problem with an e-transfer, Interac says you should deal with your financial institution to see if the funds can be recovered. Jubinal banks with TD

Bank, and CTV News Toronto asked TD to look into her case. When they did, Jubinal said the bank decided to refund her $500, which was great news for her. “I feel so happy and I am so thankful to get this back,” said Jubinal. Source: toronto.ctvnews.ca

Waters off the coast of Florida as hot as a hot tub, and more heat news from around the world

The water temperature off southern Florida has been about 38 C two days in a row: that’s as hot as a hot tub, as hot as the maximum recommended heat for a baby’s bath, and hotter than what’s usually recommended for a pregnant woman. It’s also, meteorologists say, possibly the hottest seawater ever measured. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says weather records for sea water temperature

Deadly Mediterranean wildfires kill more than 40

are unofficial and there are certain conditions in this reading that could disqualify it for a top mark, but the initial reading on a buoy at Manatee Bay hit about 38.4 C Monday evening. The night before, it was 37.9 C. “This is a hot tub. I like my hot tub around 100, 101, [37.8, 38.3 C]. That’s what was recorded yesterday,” said Yale Climate Connections meteorologist Jeff Masters. If verified, the Monday reading would break the prior record set in the waters off Kuwait three summers ago, 37.6 C. Bleaching — which doesn’t kill coral, but weakens it and can lead to death — occurs when water temperatures exceed the low 30s. This all comes as sea surface temperatures worldwide have broken monthly records for heat in April, May and June, according to NOAA.

Source: cbc.ca

US says Russian aircraft struck its drone with flare over Syria

Incident is latest in a series of recent encounters involving Russian fighter jets and US drones flying over Syria. The United States has said a Russian fighter jet struck an American drone with a flare over Syria at the weekend, with Washington again accusing Moscow of “unprofessional behaviour” in the skies above the country.

In a statement on Tuesday, US Air Forces Central said a Russian aircraft “flew dangerously close” to a US MQ-9 drone in the early hours of Sunday, “harassing” the drone and “deploying flares from a position overhead”. “One of the Russian flares struck the US MQ-9, severely damaging its propeller. Fortunately, the MQ-9 crew was able to maintain flight and safely recover the aircraft to its home base,” Lieutenant General Alex Grynke-

wich, the head of US Air Forces Central, said. “We call upon the Russian forces in Syria to put an immediate end to this reckless, unprovoked, and unprofessional behavior.”..

Source: aljazeera.com

India’s Modi to face no-confidence vote over Manipur violence

tion parties, to force the Hindu nationalist leader to address in detail concerns about ethnic clashes in a northeastern state. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has a clear majority of 301 members in the 542-seat lower house of parliament, so the no-confidence vote will not affect its stability. The opposition instead wants to trigger a debate about the violence in remote, BJP-ruled Manipur state, in which more than 130 people have been killed and 60,000 displaced since it began in early May.

More than 40 people have died in Algeria, Italy and Greece as Mediterranean wildfires threaten villages and holiday resorts, and tens of thousands have been evacuated. Greece is preparing for more evacuation flights from Rhodes, as fires also rage on the islands of Corfu and Evia.The current long heatwave shows no let-up - temperatures are expected to rise above 44C (111F) in parts of Greece. Fires in Sicily and Puglia have forced thou-

sands of people to flee. High winds and tinderdry vegetation mean firefighters are struggling in many areas to douse the flames and create firebreaks. The heaviest death toll so far is in Algeria, where the 34 victims included 10 soldiers surrounded by flames during an evacuation in the coastal province of Bejaia, east of Algiers. Bejaia is the worst-hit area, accounting for 23 of the deaths, local media report. Algerian authorities said 80% of the blazes had been put out since Sunday, but a massive firefighting effort continues, involving about 8,000 personnel, hundreds of fire trucks and some aircraft. Fires have also raged in neighbouring Tunisia, where 300 people had to be evacuated from the coastal village of Melloula. In Greece, the Civil Protection Ministry warned of an “extreme danger” of fire in six of the country’s 13 regions on Wednesday. Source: thedailystar.net

Mutinous soldiers claim to have overthrown Niger’s president, borders closed and curfew imposed

interfere. The announcement came after a day of uncertainty as members of Niger’s presidential guard surrounded the presidential palace and detained President Mohamed Bazoum.

It was unclear where Bazoum was at the time of the announcement or if he had resigned.

Mutinous soldiers claim to have overthrown Niger’s democratically elected president, announcing on state television late Wednesday that they have put an end to the government over the African country’s deteriorating security.

The soldiers said all institutions had been suspended and security forces were managing the situation. They urged external partners not to

“This is as a result of the continuing degradation of the security situation, the bad economic and social governance,” air force Col. Major Amadou Abdramane said on the video. Seated at a table in front of nine other officers, he said aerial and land borders were closed and a curfew was imposed until the situation stabilized. The group, which is calling itself National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country, said it remained committed to its engagements with the international and national community. Source: cbc.ca

Al Jazeera slams naming of its journalists on egypt ‘terror’ list

Narendra Modi’s BJP has a clear majority in the lower house of parliament, so the vote is unlikely to affect the government’s stability. India’s parliament has authorised a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government by an alliance of opposi-

Approving the opposition motion, lower house speaker Om Birla on Wednesday said he would soon decide when the debate and vote would take place.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/

Fiji: 999-year lease | Government to investigate 710 acres of land deal

a 999-year lease, instead of 99 years, in 1907. The land in question is situated near Toko, towards Vatukoula. Ratu Ovini said he was at the meeting on behalf of his mataqali, as the chairman and trustee of mataqali Tilivasewa, to request that the Government shed light on the issue.

Al Jazeera Media Network denounces the Egyptian move to reinstate a number of its journalists onto a ‘terrorism’ list. Al Jazeera Media Network has condemned a decision by an Egyptian court to reinstitute several of the network’s journalists and TV presenters on its latest “terrorism” list. In a statement on Tuesday, Al Jazeera urged the Egyptian authorities

to “reconsider and refrain from measures that impede journalistic work and restrict freedoms”. The network also called on the United Nations and international human rights organisations to pressure Egypt in halting the arbitrary listing of journalists and oppose such violations of rights and liberties. Egypt’s “terrorist” list operates on a roster that undergoes renewal every five years. Individuals added to the list are subjected to a travel ban, asset freeze and passport cancellation. The latest ruling was issued by the Cairo Criminal Court, and disseminated in the official alWaqai’ al-Masriya newspaper. The Network described the reinstitution of its journalists on the roster as an “unjust categorisation”,..

Source:aljazeera.com

9 people killed in a plane crash in eastern Sudan as the war reaches the 100-day mark

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has assured the people of Tavua’s mataqali Tilivasewa, that Government would look into claims their land had been leased for 999 years, one of the longest leases in Fiji’s history. Mr Rabuka made the commitment at the National Resource Owners Committee on Tuesday after Tavua District and Ba Province resource owner representative, Ratu Ovini Bokini, claimed the Tilivasewa clan was without land since 710 acres were given up on

“From 1907 until today, we have not received any money,” he said.

“I plead with the Prime Minister and other members of the 14 provinces to look into this matter because it is of great importance to the people of Tavua.”

Ratu Ovini said this parcel of land now housed more than 200 homes and the landowners wanted to know how this land was subleased, how much was involved in these transactions and who was collecting the lease payments...

Source: fijitimes.com

CAIRO - A civilian plane crashed after taking off from an airport in eastern Sudan, killing nine people, including four military personnel who were aboard the aircraft, the military said, as the conflict in the northeastern African country reached the 100-day mark on Monday with no sign of abating. The military said in a statement that a child survived late Sunday’s crash in Port Sudan, a city on the Red Sea that so far has been spared from the devastating war between the military and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

The Antonov plane crashed shortly after taking off from the city’s airport, the military said. It blamed a technical failure for the crash. The statement provided no further details. Al-Taher Abdel-Rahman, the secretary of Finance Minister Gebreil Ibrahim, was among the dead, according to the minister, who took to social media to mourn his employee.

Sudan has plunged into chaos since mid-April when months-long tensions between the military and the RSF exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere across the

country. “It’s been 100 days of war in Sudan, with a devastating toll on lives and infrastructure, but worse lies ahead,” said William Carter, Norwegian Refugee Council’s director in Sudan. The fighting has turned Khartoum and other urban areas into battlefields. The sprawling region of Darfur saw some of the worst bouts of violence in the conflict with the fighting turning into ethnic clashes. Source: ctvnews.ca/

The Arab Spring refers to the uprisings that occurred in the Middle East during the Spring and Summer of 2011. These demonstrations occurred in Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, Syria and Jordan. According to most sources the

What is the ARAB SPRING?

Arab Spring began on December 17, 2010 in Tunisia after a fruit vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi self-immolated as a result of conflict with the police and governmental authorities. His frustrations began when Bouazizi’s cart, and his goods were

protest and created commonality with people from all walks of life.

AFTERMATH

The Arab Spring has impacted the world immensely. The Arab Spring resulted in an explosion of political activity in countries which their authoritarian leaders were over thrown in the Middle East. There was an increase in TV stations, online media usage, increase in the number of political parties and civil societies. It also resulted in the people fighting over whether Islam played a role in politics and drafting new constitutions or not. It brought to light a lot of the issues the public was divided over, such as social, religious and political ones. There were also many rising tensions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, which resulted in outbursts of violence. Armed conflict was also a result of the revolution; where old regimes did not want to submit easily to the opposition. Unemployment and poor living conditions were on the rise, especially in war torn areas.

Here are some images which show where the Middle East is today after the Arab Spring begun The Arab Spring, Egypt

lim Brotherhood came to power after the overthrow of President Mubarak, but was ousted in a 2013 coup, and Egypt is now led by Abdel Fatah al-Sissi, a former military officer.. There is still fear of military rule, and the charges against Hosni Mubarak, of corruption and the deaths during the Arab Spring are acquitted in 2015. This causes anger from the people and protests. Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood however is sentenced to 20 years in prison, and in a separate trial he is sentenced to death. Currently in Egypt there are still protests, but now over a proposed sale of two islands to Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea. The government is claiming a bridge over the Red Sea will help support export between Egypt and Saudia Arabia. However, many of the citizens fear this will make them a colony to Saudi Arabia.

tees many fundamental rights and freedoms. According to Amnesty International the constitution now includes rights to citizenship, bodily intergrity and freedom of movement, stronger protection for women’s rights, and also protects rights to health, education and work Tunisia is still in the works of building its fragile democracy in the aftermath of the revolution in 2011. Five years after the revolution, suicide protests persist, with another young Tunisian, Ridha Yahyaoui, electrocuting himself by climbing up a utility pole in frustration after being refused yet another job. There have been increases discussions about topics such as LGBT rights, political and religious orders, artistic expression an national reform, where as topics like this were not discussed very openly. There are still moments of unrest, like when there was the assination of two leftists politicians: Chokri Belaid and Mhuammad Brahmi in 2013.

people to be displaced from their homes. Heading into 2013 the rise of the Al-Nursa front, a radcial Islamist militia allied to Al Qaeda, led to a a period of cool, and international and regional support for their oppostion. This resulted in Hezbollah (Iranian backed Lebanese troops), to form and commit a counter offence with the new support. Other countries then became involved, such as Russia in 2015, saying it was seeking to combat the Islamic State, but others like the West and opposition say they are just trying to attack Assad rebels hardest. Today in 2016 you still see immense conflict and is uncertain if it will eventually calm down.

YEMEN

Yemen’s former president Ali Abdullah Saleh was forced out of office in 2012 in the aftermath of large protests, but the political transition and development since then has faced several challenges. Recently,

confiscated by police, who then begun to berate and harass him. He went to file a complaint at a government building but was met with many clerical roadblocks and later returned to the building and self-immolated outside in protest. Widespread uprisings heightened and continued into 2011 in other countries in the MENA region. Discontent with politics--particularly social and economic conditions-were a shared, primary source of frustration among protesters. As with many global social movements, disenfranchisement was the catalyst that begun widespread

While the Egyptians successfully overthrew President Hassni Mubarak as part of the Egyptian revolution in 2011, statistics show that issues such as poverty remain a challenge, and it was one of the main causes of the uprisings that resulted in a revolution. The Mus-

Western-backed opposition forces captured Muammar Gaddafi, but Libya today is now an uncertain, anarchic state controlled by warring militias in different cities after a revolution which was led and supported by NATO.The National Transition Council (NTC) declared Libya officially liberated, and promised a democractic state. Since the Islamic State has gained a foothold in Libya it has become a major departure point for many migrants trying to reach Europe. There are an estimated 2.5 million people who are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 435,000 displaced peoples. There is current chaos through out Libya after Gaffafi was overthrown, and there is a lack of government transparency, unemployments rates are not going down, and uneven regional development.

Currently their legal system is barely functioning and courts have been shut down because of the dangers. Also many judges and lawyers have been the target of hate crimes and abductions.

TUNISIA

Tunisia is generally the most stable and successful country to come out of the Arab Spring. They have a new constitution, which guaran-

The Human Care BC Society

Thank You, Jazak Allah, Shukran, Vinaka !!

To all Participants in our 2023 Qurbani Project With your generous contribution we have been

In 2015 Tunisia was awarded with the Nobel Peace prize to commemorate how far they have come as a nation, and to congratulate them on their successes of getting through a political crisis.

SYRIA

Following protests and governmental repression in response it wanting greater freedoms and improvements in living standards, Syria has become the site of a civil war between governmental authorities and opposing armed groups with different political aims.

It has that has shattered the original democratic ambitions of protesters and caused a refugee crisis which has been credited as the gravest global humanitarian crisis since War World II. In 2011, the political power long held by the Alawite (Shia Muslim) elite, has been challenged and a civil conflict initially sparked by the Arab Spring. This also led to over 11 million

the country has been caught up in the violence between Houthi rebels backed by Iran and Al-Qaeda-associated militants.After President Saleh’s rule of 33 years, in 2011 his General People’s Congress agreed to work with the Gulf Co-operation Council to negotiate a deal to hand over his power, but he refused o sign. After numerous pressures it was signed and Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi took power and formed a unity government. Under his rule there was even more poverty and malnutrition. Two groups started to lead movements through out Yemen such as the al-Qaeda in the south, and the Zaidi Shia rebels in the north. The process of transition of power between President Saleh and President Saleh was disrupted in 2015 by the Huthi whom are loyal to the Zaidi Shia Islam; they strongly support Saleh. Eventually in 2015 President Hadi steps down, and a Saudi Arabia led military coalition of ten states deploy air strikes, and put in place air strikes and sea blockades against the Huthis. Both groups, the AntiHouthi’s and Houthis have committed serious war crimes and attacks, such as attacking hospitals, using lethal force against protesters, and shelling civilian areas..

Source:cases.open.ubc.ca/arab-spring/

able to feed 70 plus poor villages in Rajasthan and other areas in India.

May Allah swt accept our intentions and Bless all those who organized, contributed, bought animals, slaughtered and distributed meat to the needy.

Your assistance is always appreciated

Hassan Mallam Secretary, July

2023

LIBYA

Bullay Shah Academy, Masjid Auliyah Allah and Fiji Islamic Centre hold conference on sacrifice of Imam Hussain(RA)

Event photographs at Pg 11

By: Tuaha Younas

Bullay Shah Academy, Masjid Auliyah

Allah and Fiji Islamic Center brought the community together to commemorate the lives and sacrifice of Imam Hussain (AS) and Ahl-e-Bayat at Karbala in a spiritual gathering on Saturday, July 22, 2023. The event was attended by a large number of men, women and children, representing a healthy cross section of the community.

The proceedings began with a solemn recitation of the Holy Quran and was marked by nasheed recitations by Br. Salis, Br. Muzammil and Br. Ijaz Hussain who presented trib-

utes to the august household of Ahl-e-Bayat, honouring their sacrifice for Islam. Imran Khan, acting as MC, graciously welcomed the attendants along with Aseem Akhtar, President of Fiji Islamic Centre.

Pir Afzal Ahmed Naqshbandi stirred the love of Ahl-e-Bayt in a moving address. He started by introducing Ahl-e-Bayt to those present. He reminded everyone that the love for the Household of Holy Prophet PBUH, just like the love for Him is the cornerstone of Islam. One cannot purify oneself and rise through the spiritual ranks without the two. Indeed, the love for the Household of the Holy Prophet PBUH is an essential part of the our faith. He said that the easiest way to become a pious Muslim and gain purity of

thought and action is through nurturing the love of Ahl-e-Bayat in one’s heart and emulating their example. He ended his address by paying tribute to their great sacrifice for the ummah Imam Syed Badiuddin Soharwardy spoke about the importance of engaging the youth and children and introducing Imam Hussain A.S. and his noble message to them in terms that they can relate with. He pointed that our youth neither hold the same world view as our elder generation nor do they follow the same lingua franca. It is important, therefore, to connect with them in a way the understand if we want them to follow the message of Imam Hussain A.S. Dr. Syed Ismail Qadri stressed to the partici-

pants that love and respect of Ahl-e-Bayt is a basic requirement of Islam. He urged the attendants to rise above sectarianism and focus on the unifying message of Imam Hussain A.S. He narrated events from the life of Holy Prophet PBUH to highlight his love for his Ahl-e-Bayt, urging everyone to emulate His noble sunnah.

In the end, Bob Ibrahim thanked the participants for attending the event. He said that the events of Karbala are the greatest tragedy in the history of mankind and leave great implications and lessons for us all. Commemorating and remembering these events help us remember as well as pass on these lessons to our youth.

Surrey Fusion festival sees record attendance at 16th annual event, July 22-23

Event photographs at Pg 11

On July 22-23, The Surrey Fusion Festival–Western Canada’s largest multicultural festival at Holland Park with the highest record-breaking attendance in 16 years. What an incredible first and second day from 11 am-10 pm at the Surrey Fusion Festival, the ultimate celebration of food, music, and culture. The 2023 theme was “Dance Around The World” through traditional and contemporary dance demonstrations across 50 cultural pavilions and eight stages. Plus, who can forget about the food?  It was on display at 40 food and art pavilions, where organizers showcased how people come together to celebrate and build

By: Benjamin Shingler, Rukhsar Ali

We’re in ‘uncharted territory’ with heat and extreme weather events models can’t always predict. The heat has been unprecedented, and extreme weather, from wildfires to floods, are ravaging various corners of the world. Data suggests last week was the hottest on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

By: Lori Culbert

n difficult times for attracting doctors to family practice, B.C. has filled all its training slots. The University of B.C. will begin in July to train 186 recent medical school graduates to become family physicians, filling all of its available residency spots at a time when there is a severe shortage of primary-care doctors across Canada.

It’s an important milestone because nearly one million British Columbians do not have a family doctor, and those that do fear they may lose their general practitioner to retirement or burn out.

While training positions for new family physicians have increased in Canada, other provinces were unable to fill all their positions — indicating that not enough new doctors across the country are interested in this type of medicine, despite the demand for their services.

In this province, several factors helped UBC attract enough candidates, including the government’s agreeing back in October to improve how family doctors are paid, said

bridges between cultures. “Surrey Fusion 2023 was the best festival ever successful.

We are so proud to offer a world-class, multicultural event to the community in Surrey,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “On behalf of the Council, I thank all volunteers, pavilion organizers, and attendees for participating in the festival. I would also like to thank our presenting sponsor, Coast Capital, for their continued support over the last 16 years.” Surrey Fusion Festival began on Saturday with the Parade of Cultures, which showcased all pavilion organizers as they marched from the SFU Celebration Stage to the Concord Pacific World Music Stage. Performers included Jessia,  Wesli, DJ,  Shub and Gurnam Bhullar were live at the Surrey Fusion Festival.  The two-day festival featured live performances

Temperatures have soared across much of southern Europe and the southern United States, while powerful rain storms led to flooding in Vermont, India, Japan — and Montreal on Thursday.

At the same time, Canada has already surpassed the record for the total area burned in a wildfire season.

This follows the hottest June on record, with

IDr. Roger Wong, vice-dean of education in the faculty of medicine. But he cautioned all the efforts being made in B.C. to mitigate the primary-care crisis will not produce instant results, as it will take at least two years for these 186 graduates to complete their training. “I remain hopeful that the situation will improve in British Columbia. I recognize that it takes time because medical education and training takes time,” Wong said.

The B.C. College of Family Physicians says being a family doctor is challenging because of the administrative demands of running an office, which takes time away from patients, and the “chronic underfunding of proper, comprehensive” health care. Similar complaints are heard across the country and shed light on the lacklustre recruitment statistics.

The Canadian Resident Matching Service, which matches new med school grads with specialization training, says there were 1,629 family medicine positions available in 2023 across Canada, by far the medical discipline with the highest number of training spaces. In late April, though, the organization announced it was unable to fill 100 of those spots after doing two placement rounds. And that’s a big blow, given that 6.5 million Canadians don’t have a family doctor or nurse practitioner they see regularly. Quebec was unable to fill 73 of its familymedicine training positions, and Alberta

on eight stages, yoga and meditation, dance battles, an Indigenous Village, a sensoryfriendly space, and a Family Fun zone.

Additional activities included Bhangra, powwow and giddha dance lessons, an Indigenous marketplace, and amusement rides. Attendees captured candid moments and had the opportunity to taste food from around the world at almost 30 cultural food pavilions.  Surrey Fusion Festival met health and safety guidelines as set out by the Provincial Health Officer, Worksafe BC, Fraser Health, and appropriate industry associations. This event was possible in part by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia. The Pakistani Food and Pakistani Boutique stalls were also at the Fusion Festival Sur-

unprecedented sea surface temperatures and record low Antarctic sea ice coverage.

“There’s a lot of concern from the scientific community and a lot of catch up in the scientific community trying to understand these incredible changes we’re seeing at the moment,” said Michael Sparrow, head of the WMO’s world climate research program. Sourse:cbc.ca

had 22 openings left, according to data provided to Postmedia by the service. Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia had a small number of spots left vacant, while B.C., Manitoba and Saskatchewan filled theirs.

Birth-to-death care

Dr. Marisa Levesque is one of the 186 new medical school grads who has chosen to pursue family medicine through UBC.

Raised in Vernon, she completed her UBC medical degree in Kelowna and has now been matched with a rural family medicine residency. She will do her first year of training at Kelowna General Hospital and in various family practices in the Okanagan, followed by months-long stints in rural towns in her second year. While she has heard the criticisms about family medicine, she said she was drawn to the work after doing her medical school rotations with different types of physicians.

“I’ve met a lot of family doctors who really enjoy their careers, so I saw a lot of what’s possible to love about your career in family medicine,” Levesque said. “It’s the breadth of birth-to-death care. I want to be able to be involved in caring for neonates, caring for pediatric populations, for adults, for geriatric populations, to palliative care.”

Since her main experience with doctors, before entering medical school, was visiting family physicians while growing up, it felt natural to pursue this discipline.

rey and also participated in Prade. They received an overwhelming response from fresh Chicken, Tikka, Kabab, and in Pakistani cloths, Crafts, Jewellery, etc. Mr. Malik Afzal’s family and his volunteer team did a great job.

The Miracle Media Group congratulates the entire Mayor Brenda Locke team, Surrey Police volunteers,  and Sponsors to make history. Also Thank you, Mayor, Council, and Kwantlen First Nation for contributing words to the Welcome Ceremony at #SurreyFusionFestival.

“My family doctors were wonderful. I always felt like I could turn to them for anything,” Levesque said. “I found my people doing family medicine rotations. I really felt like I was being welcomed into a team and they were really engaged with teaching and really helping me take ownership of patient care.” She is happy, though, that the B.C. government has acknowledged some of the challenges that face family doctors. Now, instead of receiving $30 to $40 a visit regardless of the reason for the patient’s illness, they will be paid based on time spent with patients, the complexity of their issues, how many people they see in a day, and the total number of patients attached to their practices. She also knows there is a desperate need for the work she can do after her two-year training. “When I tell people I’m going into family medicine, (they say), ‘Well in two years I’ll be your patient.’ Because there are so few people here who have steady access to a family doctor,” Levesque said. “I do hear that a lot.” UBC has the highest number of family-medicine training positions of any Canadian university, followed by the University of Toronto with 165 and the Université de Montréal with 163. However, right now, it is the only university in B.C. to do this training, compared to Ontario, which has six schools offering a total of 538 spots, and Quebec with four institutions with 514 openings...Source: vancouversun.com

After earth’s hottest week on record, extreme weather surprises everyone — even climate scientists

Bullay Shah Academy, Masjid Auliyah Allah and Fiji Islamic Centre hold conference on sacrifice of Imam Hussain(RA

Surrey Fusion best festival ever attendance at 16th annual event, July 22-23

INF o T e C h

Are you ready for a digital death?

By: Belén Fernández, Al Jazeera columnist

Who gets your WhatsApp messages, passwords and crypto assets when you pass? It’s getting more complicated to die.

In mid-June, after I had been in Italy for two weeks, I got around to reading the June 4 edition of the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, which I had bought – on June 4, of course –in accordance with my never-fulfilled vision of being one of those people who buys and reads a physical newspaper every day. Prominently featured was coverage of the murder of 29-year-old Giulia Tramontano, who had been stabbed to death outside Milan in May by her boyfriend Alessandro Impagnatiello. She was seven months pregnant. Page 12 of La Repubblica was devoted to the WhatsApp correspondence between Tramontano and Impagnatiello, helpfully colour-coded and divided into categories like “the quarrel about the lipstick”; “the separation announcement”; “the future of the baby”; and “the messages after he killed Giulia”.To be sure, humans have always exhibited a certain fascination with murder. But the digital era has created novel opportunities for morbid voyeurism – while also raising obvious issues of privacy.

I had already heard all about the Tramontano case since arriving back to Puglia, the southern Italian region where, prior to the pandemic, I used to spend a portion of every summer with the mother of an Italian friend in her humble seaside abode.

My Puglian acquaintances, almost exclusively persons over the age of 70, had quickly filled me in on the details of the murder in Milan – or their own version of the details, rather. These often veered significantly from the reported facts but commanded such

impassioned vehemence as to suggest intimate knowledge of all aspects of the crime in addition to the psychologies of both victim and perpetrator. It was the same scene I had witnessed over so many summers of being subjected to nightly Italian homicide TV shows, which had also occasioned much shouting and exaggerated Italo-gesticulation in the direction of the television set and had often caused me to wonder what came first: Italian homicide TV shows or the Italian homicide fetish.

This year, a television glitch at my friend’s mother’s house meant that the homicide shows had been reduced to intermittent bursts of sound and light, but advances in mobile phone competence among the local population meant that everyone could still keep up-to-date on Italy’s killings of interest. Naturally, these killings did not comprise the refugees who regularly drown off the Italian coast as a result of the state’s antimigrant militance. After all, the comprehensive dehumanisation of refugees largely precludes the potential for sensationalising their demise – whether or not they send any pre-death WhatsApp messages that could be made available for public scrutiny. Deaths of interest did include the 26-yearold killed by a bear in April in the northern

province of Trentino, and my companions in Puglia waved their mobile phones in my face such that I might view pre-death photos of the victim and his girlfriend with superimposed bear maw looming in the background. Then there was the 33-year-old nearly killed by a bear in Abruzzo National Park in December, whose frantic near-pre-death audio message to his wife has been preserved online courtesy of Corriere della Sera, another main Italian newspaper. Of course, this sort of digital voyeurism is hardly Italian-specific. I myself am guilty of having perused the Tramontano-Impagnatiello transcripts, despite the fact that I certainly would not want my own WhatsApp communications on posthumous display – if only to avoid being immortalised as frivolous and neurotic. (I can at least take comfort that my notebooks of handwritten musings are almost entirely illegible, often even to me.) Indeed, gone are the days when folks just had to concern themselves with the fate of their physical possessions when they died; now, there’s the digital footprint to worry about, to boot. As if all that were not tiresome enough, the field of “digital inheritance” has arisen to regulate the passing down of everything from passwords to crypto assets.

The Impact of Social Media on Political Discourse

By Khadija Nadeem, 16 years old

n recent years, social media has become an increasingly powerful force in shaping political discourse around the world. From Twitter to Facebook to Instagram, millions of people are using social media platforms to express their political views, engage with others, and stay informed about the latest news and events. While social media has the potential to be a powerful tool for promoting democracy and civic engagement, it also poses significant risks to the quality and integrity of political discourse. In this editorial, we will explore the impact of social media on political discourse, and consider the ways in which it has both helped and hindered our ability to engage in meaningful and productive political dialogue.

One of the most significant ways in which social media has impacted political discourse is by providing a platform for voices that might otherwise be marginalized or ignored. Social media has allowed people from all ways of life to express their opinions, share their stories, and connect with others who share their views. This has been particularly important for groups that have historically been excluded from mainstream political discourse, such as young people or people of color. By providing a platform

Ifor these voices, social media has helped to democratize political discourse and promote greater inclusivity and diversity in our political conversations. However, social media has also given rise to a number of challenges and risks that must be carefully considered if we are to preserve the integrity and quality of the conversations and debates that revolve around our politics. Despite the many benefits of social media for promoting political engagement, there are also significant risks associated with the use of these platforms. One of the most pressing concerns is the spread of misinformation and propaganda through social media channels. With so many people using social media to get their news and information, it can be difficult to distinguish between legitimate sources and false or misleading content. This can lead to a situation in which people are exposed to a wide range of political views and ideas but are unable to discern the accuracy or validity of the information they are receiving. In some cases, this can even lead to the spread of conspiracy theories or other harmful ideas that can have serious consequences for political discourse and our democracy as a whole. In order to address this challenge, it is essential that we work to promote media literacy and critical thinking skills among social media users. By helping people to better understand how to evaluate the credibility of information they encounter online, we can help to promote a more informed and engaged citizenry that is better equipped to participate in meaningful political discourse.

Another challenge associated with social media and political discourse is the tendency for these platforms to foster echo chambers and filter bubbles. Because social media algorithms are designed to show users content that is most likely to keep them engaged,

people are often exposed to a narrow range of political views and perspectives that reinforce their existing beliefs. This can create a situation in which people become more polarized and less willing to engage with people who hold different views. In order to address this challenge, it is important to promote greater diversity and inclusivity on social media platforms. This can be done by encouraging people to follow a wider range of sources and perspectives, and by promoting greater dialogue and engagement across political divides. It is also important to recognize the ways in which social media platforms can be used to perpetuate hate speech and other forms of harmful speech. By working to create safe and inclusive spaces for political discourse on social media platforms, we can help to ensure that these tools are used to promote healthy and productive political conversations, rather than to perpetuate division and hatred.

Finally, social media can have both positive and negative impacts on political participation and engagement. On one hand, social media can help to mobilize people around political issues and causes and can provide a platform for marginalized voices to be heard. On the other hand, social media can also lead to a sense of political apathy and disengagement, as people become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of political content and the negativity that often surrounds political discourse on these platforms. In order to promote greater political participation and engagement, it is important to create spaces for meaningful political dialogue and debate on social media platforms. This can be done by encouraging people to share their opinions and perspectives in a respectful and constructive way, and by promoting greater transparency and accountability in our political institutions. By working together to cre-

Meanwhile, a glance at recent international headlines confirms that the morbid trampling of privacy remains highly marketable across the board. Take this example from the UK media: “Woman said, ‘next time you’ll kill me,’ in secret clip before partner stabbed her to death.” Or this one from India: “Tunisha Sharma ended her life within 15 minutes of chat with Sheezan Khan; here are shocking details of their WhatsApp messages.” Perhaps more broadly disturbing, though, is the trivialisation of death that has inevitably occurred with social media’s conversion into a primary forum for death announcements and condolences. A twist on that old phrase comes to mind: “If you can’t say anything without emojis, don’t say anything at all.” One recalls the days when sympathy was not reduced to a series of yellow crying faces –when people had more time to be human and condolences were not something to be fired off before scrolling on to the next Facebook post. I personally will never forget an occasion some years ago when, in response to a Facebook friend’s post about a death in the family, another Facebook friend – a filmmaker for whom I normally have the utmost esteem – commented: “sorry for ur loss.” Modern communications have so warped our sense of propriety, it seems, that the commenter failed to consider the inherent disrespect, in such circumstances, of only typing half of an already very short word. But as life itself has become irreparably digitised, it’s probably only natural that death has, too.

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

Source: aljazeera.com/opinions

ate a more informed and engaged citizenry, we can help to ensure that social media is used to promote healthy and productive political conversations that help to strengthen our democracy, rather than to undermine it. In conclusion, social media has had a profound impact on political discourse, both positive and negative. While social media has the potential to promote greater political engagement and mobilization, it also has the potential to perpetuate hate speech, misinformation, and political polarization. In order to promote healthy and productive political conversations on social media platforms, it is important to create spaces for meaningful dialogue and debate and to promote greater transparency and accountability in our political institutions. This can be done by encouraging people to share their opinions and perspectives in a respectful and constructive way, and by promoting greater diversity and inclusivity on social media platforms. By working together to create a more informed and engaged citizenry, we can help to ensure that social media is used to promote healthy and productive political conversations that help to strengthen our democracy, rather than to undermine it. Ultimately, the impact of social media on political discourse will depend on how we choose to use these powerful tools, and on our willingness to engage with each other in a spirit of openness, respect, and mutual understanding.

PAKISTAN/SP o RTS

Islamic Unv.Bahawalpur scandal

SHOCKING allegations have emerged after a number of administrative staffers working for Bahawalpur’s Islamia University were apprehended by law enforcers. Police say that drugs were recovered from the varsity’s chief security officer, while obscene media was found on his phone after the individual’s recent arrest. Narcotics and similar material were also reportedly recovered from the university’s treasurer and a transport officer. Moreover, a police report — details of which were published in this paper — claims that a “group of teachers” was involved in the sale of narcotics and the sexual exploitation and blackmail of female teachers and students. These are alarming allegations and cannot

be taken lightly. While the university’s vice chancellor has rejected any wrongdoing, and one of the accused says he is being framed, simple denials are not enough considering the serious nature of the claims. A thorough probe is needed to determine the veracity of the matter, and if there is sufficient proof that crimes have been committed, all involved must be punished under the maximum penalties mandated by law. The sale of narcotics has, unfortunately, been reported from numerous schools, colleges and universities across the country. The fact that varsity staffers may be involved in drug dealing makes the matter even more serious. Equally appalling are charges that female

teachers and students may have been sexually harassed and blackmailed at this university. Institutes of higher learning — and indeed all workplaces and educational facilities — need to be safe spaces where girls and women can learn/work without the fear of sexual predators and harassers. These allegations indicate that the atmosphere at many institutions may be absolutely toxic. The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Education has started probing the matter; the university’s VC was summoned to its meeting on Monday, but the official did not show up. The interim Punjab chief minister has also constituted a committee to look into the affair. These probes must be credible and uncover the truth so that the guilty can be punished. Moreover, university officials need to cooperate with the investigations

to dispel the impression that a cover-up is underway. Beyond the Bahawalpur varsity, a wider reckoning should assess if universities across the country are providing an environment where students, particularly females, can study without the fear of harassment, while drug dealing and other destructive activities need to be curbed.

Source: dawn.com

Bill to punish ‘contempt of parliament’ clears upper house too

six-month jail term, Rs1m for contemners

• PPP, JI senators nearly come to blows amid heated exchange on Karachi mayoral polls

ISLAMABAD: A bill proposing a six-month punishment for contempt of parliament or any of its committees, sailed through the Senate on Monday, as heated debate between PPP lawmakers and a Jamaat-i-Islami senator over the recently-held Karachi mayoral elections nearly led to a physical altercation.

passed by the lawmakers through a voice vote.Now, the proposed law will be sent to the president for his assent to make it an act of parliament. It was moved by four senators from Balochistan and one from Punjab, including Kauda Babar, Naseebullah Bazai, Sarfraz Bugti, Prince Ahmed Umer Ahmedzai, and Rana Mahmoodul Hassan.

• Awaiting presidential assent, law advocates

The ‘Contempt of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) Bill’, passed by the National Assembly in May, was introduced through a supplementary agenda and was not referred to the standing committee either, before being

Soon after the bill landed in the house, State Minister for Law Shahadat Awan told the chair that the National Assembly has already passed the bill unanimously and it should be voted upon without being sent to the standing committee concerned. The bill comes at a time when a battle over supremacy is going

Saud Shakeel sets world record in 2nd Test against Sri Lanka

Batter Saud Shakeel set a world record in the second Test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday by becoming the first player in Test history to score 50+ runs in each of his first seven matches. Before Shakeel, India’s Sunil Gavaskar, Pakistan’s Saeed Ahmed, West Indies’ Basil Butcher and New Zealand’s Bert Sutcliffe scored half-centuries in each of the first six Tests of their

career. Last week, the left-hander hit his maiden double century in Tests and became the first Pakistani batsman to achieve the feat on Sri Lankan soil.

During the third day of the second Test today, Sri Lanka’s Asitha Fernando cut short Shakeel’s knock on 57 in the afternoon session to take his wicket tally to three. The fast bowler came around the wicket to

trap the left-handed Shakeel lbw and end a 109-run partnership with Abdullah Shafique. However, Shafique’s maiden double century and an unbeaten 132 by Agha Salman put Pakistan in the box seat. The tourists subsequently reached 563-5 at stumps, leading Sri Lanka by 397 runs in their first innings at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club. Source: dawn.com

on between the parliament and the judiciary, with lawmakers accusing the judiciary of interfering in the domain of the executive and endorsing military rules in the past. Five-member contempt panel Under the proposed law, the parliamentary contempt committee to be formed by the NA speaker will include five members: three from the NA and two from Senate. The National Assembly secretary will act as the secretary of the contempt committee. The proposed law empowers the speaker to constitute the contempt committee within thirty days of coming into force of this act.

Source: dawn.com/

Hamza Khan becomes first Pakistani to win World Junior Squash Championship since 1986

Pakistan’s Hamza Khan won the World Junior Squash Championship 2023 on Sunday after beating Egypt’s Mohamed Zakaria, becoming the country’s first champion since 1986. Hamza beat Zakaria 3-1 during the tournament that was held in Melbourne, Australia.

According to PTV Sports, the last time a Pakistani made the finals was Amir Atlas in 2008, and the last winner from Pakistan was Jansher Khan in 1986. Reacting to his win, Hamza — who had won the U-15 title at the British Junior Open Squash Championship in 2020 — thanked his coach, his managers and his parents for their support.

Tayyab

Congratulations poured in for Hamza for making the country proud.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the squash player for bringing the title back to Pakistan after 37 years.

The premier hoped that Hamza would make Pakistan “invincible” in the sport in the near future, Radio Pakistan reported. He also congratulated Hamza’s parents, coach and all his team members.

President Arif Alvi said that Pakistan had unprecedented and yet unmatched supremacy in squash in the past. “I had personally watched many finals among our giants. After a long time, a resurgent ray of

stars as Shaheens outclass India A to retain emerging Asia Cup title

COLOMBO: Tayyab Tahir’s sparkling century helped Pakistan Shaheens beat India A by 128 runs in the final of the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday. This was Shaheens’ second successive Emerging Teams Asia Cup title, after the side defeated Bangladesh in the 2019 edition final. After being put into bat, the openers provided a solid 121-run start to the innings. Saim Ayub (59 off 51, seven fours and two sixes) was the first batter to return to the hut. His opening partner Sahibzada Farhan (65 off 62, four fours and four sixes) was the next batter

to be dismissed with 146 runs on the board.

After the departure of the opening batters, Shaheens were in a spot of bother when they lost three wickets in quick succession.

Omair Bin Yousuf (run-a-ball 35, four fours), Qasim Akram and captain Mohammad Haris went back to the pavilion with Shaheens 187 for five in 28.4 overs.

At that crucial juncture of the match, Tayyab was joined by Mubasir Khan and the pair stitched 126 runs for the sixth wicket. Righthanded batter Tayyab brought up his fourth List A century off just 66 balls. He was dismissed for 108 off

71 balls, which included 12 fours and four towering sixes.

Mubasir’s 47-ball 35 and cameos from Mehran Mumtaz (13 off 10) and Mohammad Wasim Jr (17 not out off 10) helped Shaheens post a mammoth 352 for eight in 50 overs.

For India A, Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Riyan Parag bagged two wickets apiece.

Chasing 353, India A openers got off to a decent start, stitching a 64run partnership for the first wicket, but once the opening stand was broken, India A were never in the hunt and were bundled out for 224 in 40 overs.

For Shaheens,

hope. Well done,” he said. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said he was looking forward to more feats from Pakistan’s sportsmen after today’s cricket and squash wins. “Great news for Pakistan. Well done Hamza,” said PML-N’s Mohammad Zubair. “There was a time Pakistan ruled the world of squash. Now we have another star in the making!” said ex-chairman of Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) Dr Umar Saif. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab termed Hamza’s win a “proud moment for all Pakistanis”.

Source: dawn.com/

Opening batter Abhishek Sharma top-scored with a 51-ball 61, hitting five fours and a six.

Sufiyan Muqeem bagged three wickets for 66, while

Arshad Iqbal, Mehran and Wasim Jr took two wickets each. Tayyab, for his century, was named the player of the final. Source: dawn.com/

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