Miracle 621-April 19, 2024

Why Iran attacked Israel and what comes next?

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Budget

In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget(opens in a new tab), the government is targeting Canada’s highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country’s housing supply and social supports.

Aiming to give Canadian millennials and Generation Z “a fair chance at a middle class life,” Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s budget outlines how the Liberals plan to allocate

$39.2 billion in net-new spending, while upholding the intended fiscal guardrails. Framed as pursuing tax fairness, one of the main ways the Liberals are planning to bring in new revenue is by “asking” Canada’s very wealthiest to pay more, with Freeland saying it would be irresponsible to pass on more debt to future generations by ignoring the fiscal anchors Freeland tied government to last fall. However, with still no projected budget balance and bigger deficits forecasted in every year ahead

THezbollah launches missiles and drones at northern Israel’

he Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for an attack on a military facility in northern Israel that wounded at least 14 soldiers, saying it was carried out in retaliation for Israeli strikes that killed Hezbollah members. The Iranaligned group said it launched “a combined attack with guided missiles

Premier

and explosive drones on a new military reconnaissance command centre in Arab al-Aramshe,” an Arab-majority village of northern Israel near the Lebanese border. The Israeli military said 14 of its soldiers were wounded in Wednesday’s attack and six were in serious condition. It added that it had “struck the sources of fire”. Later, the Israeli military said its

2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B

David Eby and NDP MLAs Celebrated Eid with Muslim Community

• Study Visa.

• Visitor Visa.

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Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Allah Almighty said: Spend in charity, O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you. Sahih al-Bukhārī 5352, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

Question: Why do Jews and Arabs / Muslims hate each other?

ANSWER

First, it is important to understand that not all Arabs are Muslims, and not all Muslims are Arabs. While a majority of Arabs are Muslims, there are many non-Muslim Arabs. Further, there are significantly more non-Arab Muslims in areas such as Indonesia and Malaysia than there are Arab Muslims. Second, it is important to remember that not all Arabs hate Jews, not all Muslims hate Jews, and not all Jews hate Arabs and Muslims. We must be careful to avoid stereotyping people. However, generally speaking, Arabs and Muslims have a dislike of and distrust for Jews, and vice-versa.

If there is an explicit biblical explanation for this animosity, it goes all the way back to Abraham. The Jews are descendants of Abraham’s son Isaac. The Arabs are descendants of Abraham’s son Ishmael. With Ishmael being the son of a slave woman (Genesis 16:1–16) and Isaac being the promised son who would inherit the blessings of Abraham (Genesis 21:1–3), obviously there would be some animosity between the two sons. As a result of Ishmael’s mocking Isaac (Genesis 21:9), Sarah talked Abraham into sending Hagar and Ishmael

away (Genesis 21:11–21). Likely, this caused even more contempt in Ishmael’s heart toward Isaac. An angel told Hagar that Ishmael would be the father of a great nation (Genesis 21:18) and, interestingly, that Ishmael would be “a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers” (Genesis 16:12).

However, the ancient root of bitterness between Isaac and Ishmael does not explain all of the hostility between Jews and Arabs today. The religion of Islam, which a majority of Arabs follow, has made the hostility predicted of Ishmael more profound. The Qur’an contains somewhat contradictory instructions for Muslims regarding Jews. At one point it instructs Muslims to treat Jews as brothers and at another point commands Muslims to attack Jews who refuse to convert to Islam. The Qur’an also introduces a conflict as to which son of Abraham was truly the son of promise. The Hebrew Scriptures say it was Isaac. The Qur’an says it was Ishmael. The Qur’an teaches that it was Ishmael whom Abraham almost sacrificed to the Lord, not Isaac (in contradiction to Genesis 22). This debate

Islam is often painted as being a religion of hatred and unrestricted violence. Some politicians at the highest levels of government use fear as a means to mobilize their base and claim that Islam hates us. Islam is not a person and therefore cannot hate. Furthermore, it is unclear who “us” is since Muslims are Americans as well. Such people are guided by preconceived notions that have little to do with reality. Instead of accepting sweeping generalizations of a religion that spans 57 countries with a total population of 1.57 billion people worldwide, it is advisable to examine the Qurʾān and see what it teaches in this regard. Does Islam actually teaches Muslims to hate and commit violence against non-Muslims?

Islam & Violence

Violence has always been a part of human history. There has never been a period of time when no acts of violence took place, be it individual scuffles or all out wars. As humans, violence is part of our existence

Rings for Men???

QUESTION

Is it permissible for men to wear rings? If yes then what types of rings can men wear? Is there any difference of opinion regarding this?

ANSWER

By: Ebrahim Ibn Ahmed Dadan

Respected

brother in Islam,

A male is permitted to wear only a silver ring (not gold, brass, alloy or any other material), which does not exceed 1 Mithqaal (4.35 grams) in weight .

over who was the son of promise further contributes to today’s hostility.

Another root of the conflict between Jews and Arabs is political. After World War II, when the United Nations gave a portion of the land of Israel to the Jewish people, the land was ruled by the British and primarily inhabited by Arabs (although one third of the population was Jewish). Most Arabs protested vehemently against the new Israeli state, even as they refused an Arab Palestinian state offered as part of the UN plan. Arab nations including Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria attacked Israel in an attempt to drive them into the sea, but they were defeated. The defeat of the Arab forces soon became a human tragedy when the surrounding Arab nations refused to absorb the Arab refugees from Israel.

Ever since 1948, there has been great hostility between Israel and its Arab neighbors. The tensions have been stoked by political rhetoric and the existence of groups such

as Hamas with their continuing obsession with wiping out “the Zionist entity” and “reversing the results of 1948.”

Israel exists on one tiny piece of land surrounded by much larger Arab nations such as Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Egypt. It is our viewpoint that, biblically speaking, Israel has a right to exist as a nation in its own land that God gave to the descendants of Jacob, grandson of Abraham (Genesis 12:7). While there is no easy solution to the conflict in the Middle East, Psalm 122:6 declares, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure.”Source:www.gotquestions.org/

Does Islam teach hatred and violence?

and can sometimes be necessary and essential. For most, the term “violence” carries a negative connotation and rightfully so. However, there is legitimate and illegitimate violence. There is violence that we praise and congratulate and there is violence that we condemn and abhor. The former is necessary for our survival and the establishment of a rule of law. For instance, we must resort to violence to subdue a robber or criminal. It is not reasonable that the response to an escaping kidnapper be anything other than pursuing them and rescuing the child. This will often require an act of legitimate violence. The kidnapper also uses violence, but the illegitimate type. Islam as a religion is grounded in reality and allows legitimate force in particular contexts. The Qurʾān and teachings of the Prophet, peace be upon him, provide guidelines and restrictions on the use of force. These instructions are often cherry picked out of context to demonstrate Islam’s alleged coercive nature. However, even an honest cursory examination of the Qurʾān and the life of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, will enable us to conclude that Muslims are not permitted to fight others based on belonging to an-

It is permissible for a male to wear a silver ring (4.35gs) which has some precious stone, for example (the stone of) Aqeeq attached to it.

If there is no need for a male to wear a ring, then it is better not to wear one.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best

Source: askimam.org/public

The Prophet, peace be upon him, had nonMuslim neighbors and family members who he loved, cared for, and had strong bonds and relationships with. If Islam taught Muslims to kill and hate all non-Muslims simply because of their faith, then he should have been the first to do so. However, this was not the case. The Qurʾān clarifies the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims as being one that is based on love and compassion. The Qurʾān states Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity. (Qurʾān 60: 8). This verse makes it clear that the basis for fighting is not religion, but defense against those who attack Muslims for simply being Muslims. Although Islam allows Muslims to fight those who attack them, it requires Muslims to be fair and just even with their enemies.

Does Islam teach Muslims to hate non-Muslims?

The Qurʾān highlights the special place of Christians and Jews by constantly referring to them as “People of the Book.” There are many verses in the Qurʾān that highlight the close relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims. And you will certainly find those who say, ‘We are Christians,’ to be the nearest of them in love to the believers. That is because amongst them are savants and monks and because they are not arrogant (Qurʾān 5:83). Additionally, the Qurʾān even prohibits Muslims from insulting the god’s or idols that are worshiped by other religions. And do not insult those whom they call upon besides Allah (Qurʾān 6:108). Furthermore, the Qurʾān allows Muslims to eat the food of Jews and Christians and permits inter-religious marriages. The Qurʾān states The food of those who have received the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. And so are the vir-

To be Coninued at Page 9

Prayer Schedule in Greater Vancouver

B.C. names builder for Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension stations

South Fraser Station Partners consortium to build 8 stations, with extension set to be complete by late 2028.

The Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension is one step closer to being built after the province chose South Fraser Station Partners as the successful applicant to design and build the stations for the project.

The extension will add 16 kilometres of track, stretching from King George Station in Surrey to downtown Langley. South Fraser Station Partners will build eight new stations, as well as cycling and walking paths around the stations.

“Surrey-Langley SkyTrain is the first major rapid transit project south of the Fraser in 30 years that will provide high-quality, lowcost transportation for tens of thousands

of people across the region,” said the B.C. Ministry of Transportation in a statement.

The extension is expected to be complete by late 2028 and has an estimated price tag of $4.01 billion. South Fraser Station Partners is a consortium comprised of Aecon Constructors, Acciona Infrastructure Canada, Pomerleau B.C. and AECOM Canada. The consortium was chosen following “a competitive procurement process,” according to the province.

“Aecon looks forward to working with our client and partners to provide a more sustainable transit option for one of the fastest growing areas in Metro Vancouver,” said Aecon Group Inc. president and CEO JeanLouis Servranckx.

The Surrey-Langley SkyTrain Extension is

being built through three different contracts.

South Fraser Station Partners will focus on the stations.

SkyLink Guideway Partners was chosen last month to design, build and finance the elevated guideway and other associated work. The province says a selection process is still underway for a contract to design, build and install the electrical systems and trackwork.

Names announced for 8 new stations on SkyTrain extension through Surrey and Langley

The province says some construction work has already begun along the Fraser Highway corridor, including the relocation of power lines. “People who travel the Fraser Highway should plan additional travel time or consider alternative routes, as work is taking place in multiple locations along the corridor,” said the ministry. Source:cbc.ca

Surrey launches Artificial Intelligence tool to simplify permitting process

Surrey, B.C. — The City of Surrey has just launched an artificial intelligence Development Inquiry Assistant (DIA) pilot, intended to more easily and quickly connect applicants to accurate information about the permitting process. This initial release will

focus on providing information for singlefamily dwelling building permits and tenant improvement building permits, with the goal of raising awareness of the process and ultimately, expediting timelines and improving the quality of applications.

“I am so happy that we are able to better connect building permit applicants with the information they need to create a more seamless application process,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “Using artificial intelligence, we are streamlining, simplifying and expediting our processes. We plan to continue making improvements to the Development Inquiry Assistant to reduce wait times to better serve our community and ultimately, speed up the delivery of new homes in the City of Surrey.” DIA is expected to provide the following

benefits for the City and its citizens:

Enhance customer service and information accessibility by providing instant and accurate answers to development inquiries 24/7 using publicly available information from surrey.ca

Increase awareness and understanding of the City’s permitting requirements and development potentials

Improve the response time for staff who handle building and construction inquiries

Raise the quality and completeness of building permit applications, improving the overall efficiency of the permit approval process

DIA is intended to provide customers with a conversational experience as it guides them through the permitting process and provides responses to their single-family

dwelling and tenant improvement inquiries. Moving forward, the City will continue to improve DIA with additional functionality and information.

The project was made possible in part through a grant the City received from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) under the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) program in December 2023. The City’s HAF Action Plan includes researching and implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to enhance customer service and accelerate the permitting process. Click here to learn more about Surrey’s Housing Action Plan.

Amy Jugpal Communications & Media Relations Lead Office of the Mayor

‘They needed people inside Air Canada:’ Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist

Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.

At a news conference Wednesday on the one-year anniversary of the heist, police confirmed that five suspects were arrested and four others are facing charges in connection with the largest gold theft in Canadian history. Police said the suspects face a total of 19 charges and Canada-wide warrants have been issued for the arrest of three of the suspects who have not yet been apprehended. All of the suspects arrested in connection with the heist have been released on bail, police confirmed in a news release issued Wednesday. Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said the heist was “care-

fully planned” by a “well-organized group of criminals.” “This story is a sensational one and one which probably, we jokingly say, belongs in a Netflix series,” he said.

Police said 6,600 gold bars were stolen from Air Canada’s cargo facility on the evening of April 17, 2023 by a suspect who arrived at the warehouse in a five-tonne delivery truck. The gold, along with about $2.5 million in foreign currency, had been shipped to Toronto from Zurich in the hull of an Air Canada plane and was offloaded to an Air Canada cargo facility shortly after the flight landed at Pearson Airport that afternoon. Police allege that the suspect came into possession of the stolen gold and bank notes after presenting Air Canada personnel with a fraudulent airway bill.

“The airway bill was for a legitimate ship-

. Extensive rainfall and storms took over the UAE on Tuesday with work-from-home orders being issued by the government for public sector employees and schools.

The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) warned residents about the heavy rains that started in the early hours of the day. Strong winds and torrential downpours were reported in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman, while videos of golfball-sized hail in Ras Al Khaimah, Al Ain and parts of the UAE capital also circulated online. But what exactly caused the influx of heavy

rainfall and storms?

Rain in the UAE:

Did cloud seeding cause the storms?

GRAZIA Middle East spoke to a meteorology expert from the NCM, who confirmed that cloud seeding operations had been conducted in the last 24 hours. The representative also shared details on how many of the trips took place.

“Whenever there are clouds in the sky, we conduct cloud seeding operations. From yesterday till today [Tuesday afternoon], we carried out six trips,” he said. It was also confirmed but the representative that we will see a drop in temperatures in the UAE due to the cloud seeding.

“There is a significant decrease in temperatures today and on Wednesday, it’s

ment of seafood that was picked up the day before,” Det.-Sgt. Mike Mavity, the major case manager for the joint investigation, dubbed Project 24K, told reporters on Wednesday. “This duplicate airway bill was printed off from a printer within Air Canada cargo.” Mavity said a forklift arrived a short time later and loaded the stolen gold and currency into the back of the truck. The suspect then drove off with the gold bars, which were estimated to be worth about $20 million. Brinks Canada, which was hired to provide security and logistics services for the transportation of the shipment, showed up at the facility a few hours later to pick up the items, police said. According to investigators, when Air Canada employees tried to locate the container, they realized it was missing and quickly launched an internal investigation. Police were notified about the stolen goods shortly before 3 a.m. the following day, Mavity said.

Source:toronto.ctvnews.ca

What Caused The Uae Storms & Torrential Rain? Ncm Confirms There Was Cloud Seeding

a drop of around 10 degrees Celsius,” he added.

However, once the weather stabilises, starting on Wednesday evening, the temperatures are expected to increase. Rainy conditions are expected on April 17 in the eastern and northern parts of the country, such as Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.

What Is Cloud Seeding?

For many years the UAE has spearheaded cloud seeding as a means of addressing the country’s generally dry environment, supplying extra rainfall to boost agriculture and address water security issues.

The method of seeding is intricate with a lot of research being done to determine how effective it is. However, the basic method is to attempt to produce more rain by launching salt flares

or other small materials into clouds. The UAE started its seeding programme in the 90s, and as the 2000s wore on, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) collaborated with international partners like NASA and the National Center for Atmospheric Research in the US.

According to the Minister of Climate Change of Environment, Mariam Al Mheiri, the nation’s rain enhancement initiative is essential to enhancing food and water security. As well as replenishing groundwater reserves and driving tourism.

”Source:https://graziamagazine.com/

Will the clouds of war in the Middle East continue to hover like this?

Whether the Kashmir or Palestine issue has not been resolved since 1948. The bloodshed in Kashmir and Palestine writes a new story of cruelty every little while. Humanity is ashamed and the historian presses his pen and moves forward giving a new bloody story to history. As far as the issue of Kashmir is concerned, many wars were fought in Pakistan and India which resulted in nothing but the loss of precious lives.

However, while saving Kashmir in 1971, they lost half of it, and Quaid-e-Azam’s East Pakistan became Bangladesh. Palestine is a 100-year-old conflict, which was marked by Great Britain. After the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the First World War, Great Britain took control of the Palestinian region. At that time, the Arabs were in the majority here, while the Jews were in the minority. The tension between the two communities began to grow when the international community imposed the responsibility of Great Britain to create a ‘national home’ for the Jewish community in Palestine. It was almost their ancestral home, but the Palestinian Arabs the majority opposed this move. From the 1920s to the 1940s, the number of Jews coming here increased rapidly. Some of them came from Europe during World War II to escape the Holocaust. But during this time, violent incidents

between Jews and Arabs, and against the British government, began to increase. In 1947, the United Nations decided by voting that Palestine be divided into two parts, one Jewish state and one Arab state, while Jerusalem (Beit al-Maqdis) would be an international city. This proposal was accepted by the Jewish leaders, but rejected by the majority of the Arabs and was not implemented. In 1948, the British rulers left the region without solving this problem. On the other hand, the Jewish leaders announced the establishment of the state of Israel. Many Palestinians opposed it and then war broke out. The armies of neighboring Arab countries also took part in this war, forcing millions of Palestinians from their homes They were expelled and had to flee for their lives. This event is remembered as al-Anqaba (the destruction). The following year, when a cease-fire was declared, Israel took control of most of the region. But the Palestinians, who were now refugees, or their descendants now live in the Gaza Strip and West Jordan. Many of his Palestinian relatives live in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Neither the refugees nor their descendants are allowed by Israel to return to their homes. Israel says doing so would be too burdensome for their country and would threaten their status as a Jewish state. In this way, the door of cruelty and brutality was opened for the Palestinians.

On the 7th of October 2024

open the way for the greatest cruelty and genocide of the Palestinians of this century. Millions of Palestinians, most of whom are women and innocent children. This great tragedy has swallowed countless precious lives. People suffering from hunger and thirst do not seem to be a part of this civilization or religion. Neighboring Muslim countries are watching this bloodshed with indifference. In these circumstances, what is wrong with the United Nations and the West? No effort was spared to make Israel stronger and stronger by supplying weapons and defense measures, and on the other hand, the Muslim Ummah wore a cloak of indifference and did nothing for this bloodshed. Jordan embraced Israel. Now the attack of Iran has created a new situation. At that time, according to the world media, the world is rapidly moving towards the third world war. The fear of this was also expressed at the beginning of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Then Russian President Putin. also strengthened this impression and said that the third world war would have two sides: Russia, China, Iran, Yemen, and North Korea would be on one side, while NATO, America, Israel, and Britain would be on the other side. After the Iranian attack on Israel, this news gained momentum. So we can rightly conclude from the statement of the Iranian government that

this attack was not carried out out of love for the Palestinians but as a reaction to the attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria on April 1. However, according to the media, there was no significant damage from the attack. However, it shocked the world. Immediately after the attack, a meeting of the Security Council was called and the United States, Canada, and the European Union also condemned the attack and promised to support Israel. Standing on the side. Israel’s uncle claims that he was not harmed by the Iranian attack, while the Western media says that Israel suffered more than expected. Israel’s threats and America’s advice to keep quiet are in the news. However. America has also promised to support Israel in case of future attacks. It is a double-edged policy. The United States is supplying Israel with weapons for the genocide of Palestinians. Looking at these situations in the hearts of the people, doubts, doubts are coming into the hearts of the people as to whose instructions the attack by Hamas was carried out, it is not the case that the attack carried out by Iran is a continuation of the same action that led to the destruction of Gaza. The problem should be provided an opportunity to be uprooted from the root or to justify more atrocities to Israel. We are not saying, people are saying.

What do you think?

Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B

News Continued from Pg 1

than was previously projected, the budget — titled “Fairness for Every Generation” — notes that federal public debt charges are on track to balloon to $64.3 billion in 2028-29. Aside from the weeks long pre-budget blitz of expected new measures, the 2024 budget includes some additional offerings for small businesses and entrepreneurs – including through a new carbon rebate(opens in a new tab) – and finally puts dollar figures on

the first phase of national pharmacare, as well as the long-promised disability benefit. Overall, the 2024 federal budget includes $52.9 billion in new spending plans – some of which is loan-based and reliant on provincial buy-in – as well as an estimated $20 billion in new tax revenue, including tobacco and vaping taxes.

According to the budget, the federal deficit is projected to be $39.8 billion in 2024-25, $38.9 billion in 2025-26, and declining over the three years following, to $20 billion

by 2028-29.

Freeland did hit her target of maintaining the 2023-24 federal deficit at $40.1 billion, and will be lowering the debt-to-GDP ratio in the current fiscal year. She’s also standing firm on her plans to “refocus” $15.8 billion over five years and $4.8 billion ongoing in government spending “Our renewed focus today is unlocking the door to the middle class for millions of younger Canadians,” Freeland writes in the foreword to the

budget, of which all 416 pages were tabled in the House of Commons on Tuesday. “Because that is what you have earned, and that is what you deserve. And that is what your parents and grandparents want for you, too.” Speaking with reporters inside the budget lockup, Freeland defended her new revenue plan as helping “make life cost less for millions,” while touting that the Canadian economy is outperforming expectations and on track to continue to improve in the year ahead...

Source: ctvnews.ca

Hezbollah launches missiles and drones at northern Israel

News Continued from Pg 1

fighter jets had struck “terrorist infrastructure” of Hezbollah in eastern Lebanon.The attack comes a day after Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed three people, including a Hezbollah field commander identified by the Israeli army as Ismail Yusaf Baz. Israel said its strikes killed two local Hezbollah commanders and another operative while the group said three of its members were killed. Local Israeli authorities also said three people

were wounded in a strike from Lebanon earlier on Tuesday.

On Monday, several Israeli soldiers who crossed into Lebanese territory were wounded when Hezbollah detonated explosive devices, the first such attack in six months of clashes.

In a statement, the Hamas ally said its fighters had planted the explosives in the Tel Ismail area in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire for more than six months in parallel with the Gaza war

in the most serious hostilities since they fought a war in 2006.

The fighting has fuelled concern about the risk of further escalation, which has risen further since Iran carried out an attack on Israel with hun-

Source: aljazeera.com/

dreds of drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles at the weekend.

$3.86B North Shore wastewater project could cost taxpayers across Metro Vancouver

Taxpayers across Metro Vancouver could be footing part of the ballooning bill for a costly wastewater project in North Vancouver. At a Wednesday budget workshop, Metro Vancouver board members discussed The North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant – a $3.86 billion dollar (opens in a new tab)project – and whether its cost should be shared by taxpayers

who don’t live on the North Shore.The plant was initially scheduled for completion by December 2020 at a cost of $500 million. Metro Vancouver fired the original contractor, Acciona Wastewater Solutions, in October 2021, at which point the project’s estimated cost had increased to more than $1 billion. (opens in a new tab) If the taxpayer burden of the project is only borne by people who live on the North Shore, it would cost households an average of an extra $725 annually for the next 30 years. At Wednesday’s meeting, District of North Vancouver Mayor Mike Little, said he doesn’t believe his part of the region should bear the full brunt of the expensive project.“It’s not really fair for the North Shore municipalities to carry such a heavy load,” Little said. “We’re asking for help from our neighbours to carry that.”. Source:bc.ctvnews.ca

Biden urges Congress to end impasse and send aid to Israel and Ukraine

US president’s appeal comes as House Speaker Mike Johnson unveils plans to bring funding bills for a vote.

Citing Iran’s weekend attack against the US ally, President Joe Biden on Wednesday urged lawmakers to pass stalled legislation that would provide billions in military and other aid to Israel. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Biden wrote, “[If] Iran succeeds in significantly escalating its assault on Israel, the US could be drawn in.” “Israel is our strongest partner in the Middle East; it’s unthinkable that we would stand by if its defenses were weakened and Iran was able to carry out the destruction it intended this weekend,” the US president wrote. “We can make that outcome less likely by replenishing Israel’s air defenses and providing military aid now, so its defenses can

remain fully stocked and ready.”

Biden’s appeal has come just days after Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones on Sunday, in retaliation for a deadly Israeli bombing of the Iranian consulate in Syria’s capital, Damascus, earlier this month. Top Israeli officials have said they intend to hit back at Iran after Sunday’s attack, despite calls from the Biden administration and other Western nations to avoid escalation. Source: aljazeera.com/

Why does voting last six weeks in India’s general election?

The size of the country and its electorate is the chief reason why the general election takes so long. India is set to begin the world’s largest general elections on Friday, held in terrain sweeping from the icy Himalayas to humid jungles, with nearly a billion people eligible to choose 543 members of the lower house of parliament.

Opinion polls suggest an easy victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party when the results are announced on June 4. But more than six weeks will

elapse from the time the first vote is cast on April 19 until it is counted. Number of days

The election cycle sprawls over 44 days, long even by India’s standards, as the 2019 vote lasted 39 days.

This year’s elections will be India’s second longest after the first exercise following independence in 1947 from colonial ruler Britain, which ran for four months from October 25, 1951 to February 21, 1952.

There are seven voting days this year, with Friday’s first phase seeing people cast ballots for 102 constituencies nationwide. The last polling date is June 1, covering 57 seats. All votes will be counted together on June 4.

Voter numbers The size of the country and its electorate, India’s eligible voters, at 968.6 million, number. The figure has grown eight per cent since the 2019 elections....

Source:dawn.com

Ukrainian military attacked Russian airfield in occupied Crimea, Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian officials separately report deadly Russian missile attack on Chernihiv on Wednesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that the country’s military had attacked a large Russian airfield in Dzhankoi in Rissian-occupied Crimea and thanked his top military commander for staging the strike. “Thank you, warriors,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. “Thank you for your accuracy. Thank you to commander-inchief (Oleksandr) Syrskyi for organizing this operation.”The president expressed thanks to servicemen for staging what he called “extremely significant” strikes against Russian equipment and combat infrastructure.

Dzhankoi lies in the northern part of the Crimea peninsula and was seized as part of

Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Unofficial sources in both Ukraine and Russia had earlier reported a series of explosions at the base. At least 17 dead in Chernihiv

Also Wednesday, three Russian missiles slammed into the city centre of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine, killing at least 17 people, wounding dozens more and damaging civilian buildings, officials said...Source:cbc.ca

Faizabad commission report silent on question of ‘responsibility’

ISLAMABAD: Although the primary objective of setting up the Faizabad commission was to fix responsibly for the failures that led to the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) 2017 sit-in spiraling out of control, the commission’s report stops short of placing the blame directly on any individual’s shoulders. Its most damning finding, however, seems

to be against the Shehbaz Sharif-led Punjab government, which it says not only failed to prevent protesters from entering the capital, but even prevailed upon then-prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to allow them to hold a demonstration at Faizabad, thinking they would disperse afterwards.

“The government of Punjab remained evasive and weak. Had they acted firmly at the beginning, the situation would not have come to such a pass. Allowing them to proceed to Islamabad was not a proper decision,” the report says, adding that then-Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah remained conspicuous by his refusal to appear before the commission, or answer any of its questions, either in writing or otherwise.

Source: Dawnnews

Iran’s Raisi reiterates warnings as Israel mulls response to air attack

As the world calls for calm, President Raisi vows ‘slightest attack’ will be met with a ‘strong and fierce response’. The “tiniest attack” by Israel would bring a “massive and harsh” response, Iran’s president has reiterated as concern over the threat of full-scale war in the Middle East persists.

President Ebrahim Raisi’s warning came on Wednesday as he spoke at Iran’s annual army parade. The world is braced for potential retaliation to Iran’s attack on Israel which took place over the weekend. Israel has pledged to respond, despite calls for it to hold back persisting on all sides, and the UK’s foreign minister suggested on Wednesday as he visited Israel that it has decided to “act”.

Speaking at the ceremony, Raisi hailed Iran’s direct attack on Israel, dubbed “True Promise”, and reiterated recent threats of a

“strong and fierce response”.Since Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, an attack on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas in October, set off the war in Gaza, Iranian allies in Lebanon and Yemen have been engaged in low-level hostilities with Israel.However, a suspected Israeli strike on Iran’s consulate in Syria on April 1 prompted Iran’s first-ever direct attack against Israel... Source:aljazeera.com/

70 killed as Afghanistan hit by heavy rains

Around 70 people have been killed by heavy rains lashing Afghanistan over the past five days, the government’s disaster management department said on Wednesday. Afghanistan was parched by an unusually dry winter which desiccated the earth, exacerbating flash-flooding caused by spring downpours in most provinces. Disaster management spokesman Janan Sayeq said “approximately 70 people lost their lives” as a result of rains

between Saturday and Wednesday. Giving a smaller death toll last week, Sayeq said most fatalities at that point had been caused by roof collapses resulting from the deluges. Pakistan has also been hammered by spring downpours with people killed in storm-related incidents as rain falls at nearly twice the historical average rate. The United Nations last year warned that “Afghanistan is experiencing major swings in extreme weather conditions”. After four decades of war, the country ranks among the nations least prepared to face extreme weather events, which scientists say are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change.

At least 25 people were killed in a landslide after massive snowfall in eastern Afghanistan in February, while around 60 were killed in a three-week spate of precipitation ending in March. Source:dawn.com/

UN Security Council to vote Friday on Palestinian membership

UNITED NATIONS -- The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote Friday on a Palestinian request for full UN membership, said diplomats, a move that Israel ally the United States is expected to block because it would effectively recognize a Palestinian state. The 15-member council is due to vote at 3 p.m. (1900 GMT) Friday on a draft resolution that recommends to the 193-member UN General Assembly that “the State of Palestine be admitted to membership of the United Nations,” diplomats said. A council resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the U.S., Britain, France, Russia or China to pass. Diplomats say the measure could have the support of up to 13 council members, which would force the U.S. to use its veto. Council member Algeria, which put forward

the draft resolution, had requested a vote for Thursday afternoon to coincide with a Security Council meeting on the Middle East, which is due to be attended by several ministers. The United States has said that establishing an independent Palestinian state should happen through direct negotiations between the parties and not at the United Nations...Source:.dawn.com/

Why Iran attacked Israel and what comes next?

By Rob Picheta, CNN

The wave of drones and missiles that flew towards Israel overnight on Sunday brought with it a new phase of tension, uncertainty and confrontation in the Middle East.

Iran launched the unprecedented attack in response to a suspected Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, earlier this month.It marked a new chapter in a discord between the two states that percolated for years and has spiralled since Israel declared war on Hamas last October. The next steps remain unclear, but Israel is facing pleas from its allies to step back from the brink of open warfare and choose a path of de-escalation.

How did Iran attack Israel?

More than 300 projectiles – including around 170 drones and over 120 ballistic missiles – were fired toward Israel in the immense aerial attack overnight. Approximately 350 rockets were fired from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari.

However, “99%” of the projectiles were intercepted by Israel’s aerial defense systems and its allies, according to the Israeli military, with only a small number reaching Israeli territory. Tehran’s attack targeted the Nevatim airbase, an Iranian army official said on Sunday, alleging that this is where Israel’s early April strike on the Iranian consulate was launched from.

Iranian ballistic missiles that reached Israel fell on the airbase in the south of the country and caused only light structural damage, Hagari said. The base is functioning and continuing its operations following the attack, with planes continuing to use the base, Hagari added.

A senior US military official told reporters Sunday that the US assessed “there’s no significant damage within Israel itself.” US ships in the eastern Mediterranean Sea destroyed between four and six Iranian ballistic missiles during the attack and aircraft in the region shot down more than 70 Iranian one-way UAVs headed toward Israel. The US Army Patriot missile battery shot down one ballistic missile in the vicinity of Erbil, Iraq, the official said.

Why did the attack take place?

Israel and Iran are long-standing rivals and have been engaged in a shadow war for years. Israel’s war on Hamas, waged since the militant group attacked Israel on October 7, has heightened those tensions. Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria have launched attacks aimed at US military positions in those countries and Iran’s leadership has warned that attacks by its allies won’t stop until Israel’s war in Gaza ends.

But fears of a spiralling regional war spiked further in early April, when Iran accused Israel of bombing its diplomatic complex in Syria. That airstrike destroyed the consulate building in the capital Damascus, killing at least seven officials including Mohammed Reza Zahedi, a top commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), and senior commander Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, Iran’s foreign ministry said at the time. Zahedi, a former commander of the IRGC’s ground forces, air force, and the deputy commander of its operations, was the most

high-profile Iranian target killed since thenUS President Donald Trump ordered the assassination of IRGC Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad in 2020.

Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel would be punished for the attack, while President Ebrahim Raisi said it would “not go unanswered,” state news agency IRNA reported. The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said the strike would be met with “punishment and revenge.”

The region has been on edge ever since, with the US and Israel warning of intelligence that an Iranian attack was imminent. How have Israel and its allies responded to the Iranian strike? Israel reacted angrily to the unprecedented strikes, while praising its military’s response. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the attack had been “thwarted this attack in a way that is unparalleled” but added “we must be prepared for every scenario.” In his first comments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “we have intercepted, we have contained. Together we shall win.”

But Israel’s allies in the West urged the country to work to de-escalate the crisis, rather than respond in a way which could tip the situation into open warfare.

US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and made clear that the US would not participate in any offensive operations against Iran, a senior White House administration official told CNN.

Biden told Netanyahu he should consider the events of Saturday night a “win” as Iran’s attacks had been largely unsuccessful, and instead demonstrated Israel’s “remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks.”

After a virtual meeting Sunday, leaders of the G7 condemned in a joint statement the Iranian attack, which it said “risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation.”

“We demand that Iran and its proxies cease their attacks, and we stand ready to take further measures now and in response to further destabilizing initiatives,” they said.

What happens next?

The decisions made by Israel’s War Cabinet

will dictate the immediate next steps. One of the members, Benny Gantz said Israel will “exact a price from Iran in a way and time that suits us.”

Israeli government hardliners have called for firm action. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged a response that “resonates throughout the Middle East,” and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Israel should “go crazy.”

An hours-long war cabinet meeting on Sunday ended without a decision on how Israel will respond, according to an Israeli official. The war cabinet is determined to respond but has yet to decide on the timing and scope, the official said. One of the key dilemmas facing the cabinet is determining how quickly Israel should respond. The official said the Israeli military has been tasked with coming up with additional options for a response.

Israel told the United States that it’s not “looking for a significant escalation with Iran,” a senior Biden administration told reporters Sunday.

“They’re looking to protect themselves and defend themselves,” the official said.

On Sunday, Iran said a “new equation” in its adversarial relationship with Israel had been opened, and warned of a “much bigger” assault on the country should Netanyahu decide on a tit-for-tat attack.

“We have decided to create a new equation, which is that if from now on the Zionist regime attacks our interests, assets, personalities, and citizens, anywhere, and at any point, we will retaliate against them,” the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Hossein Salami told Iranian state TV. The “Zionist regime” is a term Iran uses to refer to Israel.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/

‘There is no joy:’ Palestinians mark Eid in destroyed mosques and homes, as Israel’s war in Gaza rages

By Rob Picheta , CNN

Mohammad sits on the back of a donkey-drawn cart, trundling down what is left of a road, alongside the few belongings he managed to retrieve from his flattened home. Wednesday should have marked the celebration of Eid al-Fitr; instead, it is another reminder of what millions in Gaza have lost.

“We are spending the Eid in the tent – where else will we spend it?” he told CNN. “I never expected in my life to spend Eid like this.”

Mohammad has just returned to Khan Younis, the central Gaza city that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bombarded for months until their withdrawal Sunday.

Nearby, another man has just picked through the belongings in his own destroyed house. He grabbed his daughter’s Eid clothes as he went, even though she won’t be able to wear them. “We are alive for Eid, thank God,” he said. “We were alive for Ramadan, but it was a time of exhaustion and devastation.”

Muslims gather at Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan and show gratitude to Allah. People in Gaza, as across the Muslim world, would typically celebrate the day by meeting with their families and sharing large meals. But this year homes across the enclave lie in ruins, and all 2.2 million people in Gaza do not have enough food to eat, with half of the population on the brink of

starvation, according to a UN-backed report published last month.

Israel’s war in Gaza has killed more than 33,400 Palestinians – the majority of whom are women and children – according to the Ministry of Health in the enclave. More than 76,000 people have been injured.

“Eid right now is basically dead. There is no joy, no delight,” said Ahlam Saleh, who was displaced from northern Gaza in the early stages of Israel’s war with Hamas and has since been living in Deir al Balah, in the center of the strip. “Kids are going to wake up to Eid today without parents,” she told CNN. Saleh has joined with other women in Deir al Balah to bake ka’ak, biscuits traditionally eaten during Eid festivities, for the city’s children. “We are trying to make our kids happy, make those around us happy, remind them of the smell of Eid,” she said. “We

have nothing else to give the kids except this.” This is an Eid unlike most Gazans can remember. A true celebration is virtually impossible anywhere in the enclave, where the UN says more than 70% of homes have been damaged or destroyed since October. There was once hope that a ceasefire could be agreed before Ramadan began. Instead, Muslims fasted throughout the month-long holiday despite the ongoing terrors of war; and now Eid is also taking place under the cloud of a conflict in its seventh month.

But Muslims in Gaza are marking the holiday with a mix of apprehension and defiance. “Our presence here is a message to the enemy and to the world that we will celebrate Eid despite the bloodshed and devastation,” said a man in Jabalya, northern Gaza, where prayers took place in the elements. “We came here to pray outside in the rain for Eid to revitalize the energy within us… and to be with the martyrs,” a woman added.

One tradition that is more palpable than ever is Eid’s custom of commemorating the dead.

Mourning women in Deir al Balah marked the holiday around freshly dug soil, where their husbands and sons, killed in the war, lay. Um Ahmad came with her children to visit her husband’s grave. Nodding towards her son, she said: “This little one was banging on the stone, saying, ‘I want to see Baba. Who is going to celebrate Eid with me like Baba used to?’”

And in Rafah, the city in southern Gaza where many have fled, but where an IDF offensive is anticipated, a father told CNN it was “very far from (an) Eid atmosphere this year, with all the airstrikes and bombing.” With prices for essential goods soaring, he has been unable to buy his children traditional Eid clothing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that “no force in the world” will stop Israeli troops from entering Rafah, where 1.5 million people are sheltering. But Mostafa Alhelou, who was displaced from Gaza City to Rafah, said he and other Muslims “insisted” on praying inside AlFarouq mosque, which was destroyed by Israeli bombardment, “so the world knows that we are holding onto our mosques, to our land, to our country.”

“Hopefully next Eid, we will celebrate it in Gaza City and pray inside the mosques we are used to praying in,” Alhelou said.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/

Western countries urge restraint as Israel war cabinet weighs Iran response

Several allies warn against an escalation after Iran’s weekend attack on Israel increases fears of wider regional war. Several Western countries have urged Israel to avoid an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East as the war cabinet debates how to respond to Iran’s weekend attack on the country. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned his war cabinet for the second time in less than 24 hours on Monday over Iran’s missile and drone attack. “We’re on the edge of the cliff and we have to move away from it,” Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, told Spanish radio station Onda Cero. “We have to step on the brakes and reverse gear.” rench President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron made similar appeals, echoing calls for restraint by Washington and

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.“Neither the region nor the world can afford more war,” Guterres said late on Sunday. “Now is the time to defuse and deescalate.” Russia has refrained from criticising its ally Iran in public over the strikes, but expressed concern about the risk of escalation on Monday and also called for restraint. “Further escalation is in no one’s interests,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Belgium and Germany summoned the Iranian ambassadors over the attack, in which Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles that the Israeli military said were nearly all intercepted. Most of the missiles and drones were shot down by Israel’s Iron Dome defence system and with help from the US, Britain, France and Jordan. The attack came in response to an Israeli air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, which killed seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in-

cluding two generals.

Fears of regional escalation

Tehran’s retaliatory attack on Israel has increased fears of open warfare between Israel and Iran, and heightened concerns that violence will spread further in the region. Wary of the dangers, US President Joe Biden has told Netanyahu that Washington will not take part in any Israeli counteroffensive against Iran.

Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October, clashes have erupted between Israel and Iran-aligned groups in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq.

Israel says it is seeking to destroy the Palestinian group Hamas after it led an attack on Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,139 people, mostly civilians, according to an Al Jazeera tally based on Israeli statistics, and taking around 250 others hostage. More than 33,500 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in the Israeli assault on Gaza, according to Palestinian authorities, and large parts of the territory have been reduced to rubble. Aid agencies have warned that parts of Gaza are facing a looming famine amid severe Israeli restrictions on supplies of food and humanitarian aid.

Source: aljazeera.com/news

China Responds to Iran Military

Strike on Israel

China has responded to Iran’s unprecedented airborne attack on Israel at the weekend

with calls for calm and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Chinese envoy to the United Nations Dai Bing called the attack “the latest spillover” from the Israeli-Gaza conflict and a reminder of the importance of the “Palestinian question to long-term regional stability.”

Iran and allies based in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen fired a total of 350 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, rockets, and “suicide drones,” Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in statement. The assault was “thwarted,” with 99 percent of the projectiles intercepted by Israeli air defenses in coordination with the U.S. and other partners in the region.

The attack, Iran’s first against the U.S. ally after years of on-and-off conflicts between Israel and Iran-backed proxies, was in response to a suspected Israeli airstrike against an Iranian consulate building in the Syrian capital Damascus on April 1. The bombing killed two senior Iranian generals.

Israel’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.

“China calls on relevant parties to exercise maximum calm and restraint and resolve their differences and disputes in accordance with the purposes of the U.N. Charter and international law to prevent further escalations,” Ambassador Dai said during Sunday’s U.N. Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East. Source:newsweek.com/

What’s at stake for Canada after Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel

Following the Iranian missile and drone strikes against Israel over the weekend, Canada should take the threat of Iran and potential escalation of the conflict seriously, one global affairs analyst says.

“We have a larger global interest,” Aurel Braun, professor of international relations and political science at the University of Toronto, said in a video interview with CTVNews.ca. Braun is also an associate at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University. “Iran poses a threat not only to Israel but to the Arab states (and) to the larger international system.”

Now closely allied with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran has supplied thousands of “killer drones” to Russia that have killed both thousands of civilians and troops, Braun said. “So Iran’s tentacles extend over a very large area and we in Canada as a G7 member, as a NATO member, as a supporter of Ukraine, as a fellow democracy, we have an important stake in this,” Braun said. “If (Iran is) able to control the region, they have worldwide ambitions and if they have nuclear weapons, they would present a threat because that would give them new capabilities.” Despite hostile relations since

Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, it was only on Saturday when Iran launched a direct military attack on Israel, The Associated Press reported. Israel said 99 per cent of about 300 drones and missiles were intercepted. It occurred in the wake of a suspected Israeli strike in Syria on April 1. Israel didn’t confirm responsibility for that attack, which killed two Iranian generals in an Iranian consular building. Iran declared the operation over and no one was reported killed in the Saturday attacks. Source: ctvnews.ca

Opposition parties want IRGC named as terrorist group after attack on Israel

Trudeau has said government is looking into ways to make the designation ‘responsibly’

Days after Iran launched an aerial attack on Israel, Canada’s main opposition parties say it’s time for the Government of Canada to officially name Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group.

On Monday morning, Conservative MP Garnett Genuis posted on social media that the party would move a motion to immediately list the IRGC as a terrorist organi-

zation. Hours later, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said the party believes “the IRGC is a terrorist organization and should be thus named.” Singh did not say whether his party would vote in favour of the Conservatives’ motion. The Bloc Québécois said Monday that it would vote in favour of the motion. Once a group is placed on Canada’s terrorist list — which was created in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks — police can charge anyone who financially or materially supports the group and banks can freeze

its assets. The Liberal government has for years resisted calls to designate the IRGC as a terrorist group and has argued that such a blunt-force approach could affect lowlevel people who were compelled to serve in the paramilitary force.On Saturday, Iran attacked Israel with what the Israeli government said was roughly 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles. Israel said very few of the weapons made it past the nation’s air defence systems.”Source:cbc.ca

Qur’anic verses about war between Israel and Palestine

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and

upon all his Family and Companions. Qur’an does not give details of events which will happen. It only mentions them globally, if they are mentioned at all.

We can consider the following verse Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {So, when the promise came for the first of the two, We sent against you slaves of Ours given to terrible warfare. They entered the very innermost parts of your homes. And it was a promise (completely) fulfilled.}[17:5] as an indication to the war that will take place between the Muslims and the Jews. Allah mentioned this after having mentioned what the Romans inflicted on the Jews.

Al Hafiz Ibn Katheer interprets the verse: “…… but if you return (to sins), We shall

return (to Our Punishment). ………”[17:8] by saying whenever you return to dissoluteness and mischief Allah makes you endure punishment in this life along with the punishment He will inflict on you on the Day of Judgement. As for our battle with the Jews it is authentically narrated in the Sunnah. No doubt that the end of the Jews will be by the hands of the Muslims. Al Bukhari and Muslim reported from Abu Hurairah that he narrated that the Prophet said: “The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. “O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him.” (Reported by Imam Bukhari) Allah’s Apostle (peace be upon him) also said: The

Last Hour would not come unless the Muslims will fight against the Jews and the Muslims would kill them until the Jews would hide themselves behind a stone or a tree and a stone or a tree would say: Muslim, or the servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him; but the tree Gharqad would not say so, for it is the tree of the Jews. (Reported by Imam Muslim)

The Hadith does not mention Palestine by the name, so this war will be general, i.e. in Palestine and every where else. But, the time of this battle can not be specified as the Prophet did not specify it. He only said that this war will be before the Day of Judgement and that it is a sign of that Day. Allah knows best. Source: Islamweb.net

Mortgage interest still driving inflation, as overall rate nudges up to 2.9%

Year-over-year inflation is up slightly but dropped when excluding gasoline prices. Canada’s inflation rate went up slightly in March compared to February, with Statistics Canada pointing out gasoline prices are partly behind the increase.

The federal agency’s consumer price index for March 2024 saw a 2.9 per cent increase compared to the year before. In February, that measure was at 2.8 per cent, so while March saw an increase in inflation, the situation would be different if often-volatile gasoline prices are excluded from the calculation. According to Statistics Canada, without gasoline prices, inflation actually went down slightly in March. Economists such as Pedro Antunes point out that “core” inflation, which strips out some of the more volatile and irregular prices, seems to be weaker than expected. “That’s definitely good news,” said Antunes, chief economist with the Conference Board of Canada, who also pointed

out that many inflation numbers are now getting within the Bank of Canada’s targets.

Canada’s central bank had been increasing interest rates since March 2022, with 10 rate hikes in less than two years.

Earlier this month, Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem said that cutting interest rates in June is “within the realm of possibilities,” but that the central bank needed to see a sustained slowdown in inflation before cutting rates. Shelter costs up, clothing costs down. The inflation rate for services, such as air transportation, was up by 4.5 per cent. But goods — the items consumers and businesses purchase, generally speaking — was up at a far lower rate of 1.1 per cent.

Food prices rose three per cent compared with a year ago, while prices for clothing and footwear fell 2.7 per cent. Prices for household operations, furnishings and equipment dropped 2.3 per cent.

The cost to stay sheltered in Canada pushed

the consumer price index upward as well, with Statistics Canada noting it “continued to apply upward pressure in March,” with both the cost of mortgage interest and rent contributing the most to the difference in inflation between March 2023 and 2024.

Shelter prices went up by 6.5 per cent in March compared to the year before, which was the same rate as February. Rent was up by 8.5 per cent year over year.

Antunes pointed out that rent costs may be seeing delayed increases compared to housing prices, which shot up at the height of the pandemic.“Since interest rates have come up, home prices have settled. But I think rent prices in some respects are catching up to the fact that the cost of housing is so high for everyone these days,” said Antunes. Source:cbc.ca

Does Budget 2024 make it easier to buy a first home in Canada?

By Craig Lord, Global News

The Liberal government’s 2024 federal budget tabled Tuesday held a clear focus on “fairness” among generations and efforts to make the housing market more affordable, particularly for younger Canadians feeling frustrated about their homebuying prospects. Experts who spoke to Global News

after the budget’s release said there are signs of “hope” in the new spending plan’s efforts to improve access to Canada’s often unaffordable housing market.

But Canadians hoping for a leg up to buy their first home will largely be kept waiting, market watchers say, and some measures aimed at improving affordability could

inadvertently worsen the situation for prospective buyers. “I wish I could deliver the message that tomorrow everything is going to be better,” says Paul Kershaw, associate professor at the University of British Columbia and founder of Generation Squeeze. Kershaw says that the fundamental barrier facing many young people trying to break into the housing market is that Canada has allowed rising home prices to outpace wage growth for “decades.” Older Canadians have benefited from this wealth accumulation while the younger generation often struggles to get their foot into the market and acquire equity so they, too, can benefit from rising home values, he says. There’s no quick fix that the federal budget could offer to rebalance these generational

divides that he says have been widening for years. But Kershaw says the 2024 budget nonetheless is a “game-changer,” namely because a federal fiscal document now formally recognizes that these generational differences are now driving class dynamics in Canada. “A younger demographic is being acknowledged in this budget explicitly that their hard work isn’t paying off as it did for previous generations. And the first step in solving a problem is acknowledging you have one,” Kershaw says.

“I actually have a lot of hope that, going forward, we will make more urgent progress to restore housing affordability and support people to be able to manage their rent and manage their aspirations to break into the ownership markets.”Source:globalnews.ca/

B.C. to add 240 complex-care housing units throughout province

KELOWNA - British Columbia is planning to add 240 new units to its complexcare housing program, providing homes for people with mental-health and addictions challenges that overlap with other serious conditions. The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions says in a statement 200 of the units will be located in Abbotsford, Burnaby, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, New Westminster, Prince George, Sechelt, Surrey, Vancouver and Victoria. The remaining 40 units will be Indigenous-led and the statement says officials are working with Indigenous groups to identify partners

and “priority communities.” Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside says the complex needs of people dealing with overlapping health challenges, such as brain injuries or developmental disabilities, can lead to “a cycle of evictions, stays in shelters and repeated visits to emergency rooms.”Whiteside’s statement says the housing units will provide people the coordinated care they need in their own home.

In Kelowna, where Monday’s announcement took place, the latest project will include 20 newly built complex-care units and at least 20 more supportive housing

Does Islam teach hatred and violence?

Continued from Pg 3

tuous women of the believers and the virtuous women of those who received the Scripture before you (Qurʾān 5:5). Contrary to popular misperceptions, the Qurʾān notes that Muslims can break bread with people of other faiths. This is intended to foster a friendly and loving relationship across faiths.

The latter part of the verse is even more compelling, the Qurʾān notes that Muslims can marry women who are Jewish or Christian. Marriage involves love, not only toward the non-Muslim spouse, but to her family, parents, and siblings. It is illogical that the Qurʾān would call on Muslims to kill or hate all non-Muslims and simultaneously allow them to marry and break bread with them. In other words, the Qurʾānic instructions about love/hate and violence/ peace between Muslims and non-Muslims is not based on the faith of the other person, but whether or not they violently attack

Muslims or commit oppression.

The Qurʾān is a practical book which allows those who are oppressed to fight against injustice. At the same time, it does not allow Muslims to respond to injustice with injustice. In other words, the Qurʾān demands that Muslims be just even with those who hate and fight them. O you who believe, be persistently standing firm for Allah witnesses for justice and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do (Qurʾān 5: 8).

Conclusion

There are certainly verses in the Qurʾān that permit force, but they are often cherry picked without providing the above context. The logical conclusion one arrives at when reading these verses is that Islam teaches and encourages Muslims to love all people including those of different faiths. In essence, the Qurʾān does not teach Muslims

units.The development will soon enter the design phase along with community engagement, while projects in other communities are expected to proceed in the coming months, the government says.

The City of Kelowna contributed municipal land for the project, Mayor Tom Dyas adds in the statement. B.C. launched complexcare housing services in 2022 and supports are in place for more than 400 people. The program is designed for people whose mental-health and addictions challenges overlap with “significant functional needs or other serious health conditions,” the government says.

to fight non-Muslims, but to fight religious intolerance.

The Qurʾān notes that if people do not stand up to religious intolerance, then this will lead to the destruction of all places of worship. There are those who have been evicted from their homes without right, only because they say, “Our Lord is Allah.” And were it not that Allah driven back people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of God is much mentioned. And God will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might (Qurʾān 22:40).

The above verse makes it clear that the Qurʾān’s permitting of violence is not against people of different faiths, but for the protection of religious freedom for all faiths. If this right of religious freedom is not protected for one religion, then it will lead to the persecution of other religions. Again, Islam is the dominant religion in 57 countries and the largest minority religion in numerous more. Muslims have lived in

Source:www.gotquestions.org/

peace and harmony with their non-Muslim neighbors throughout the centuries. Muslims overwhelmingly reject ISIS or any group that calls for violence against civilians and non-combatants. The Qurʾān clearly declares, If anyone kills one innocent person, it is as if he killed all of humanity. And if anyone saves one person, it is as if he saved all of humanity (Qurʾān 5:32). In 2014, leading Muslim theologians from across the Muslim world issued a Fatwa (religious edict) condemning and denouncing ISIS. Such abhorrent groups belong to no religion and Muslims should not be defined by the actions of the worst segments of society that claim to be Muslim. The victims of ISIS are overwhelmingly Muslims and they are not reflective of Muslim society no more so than the KKK is reflective of all Christians. Gross generalizations lead to violence against innocent people who are patriotic American Muslims. Hate and intolerance is rejected by all faith traditions and is antithetical to the norms and values of any civilized society..

Source: https://isogs.org/

What is emotional intelligence and how does it apply to the workplace?

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to manage both your own emotions and understand the emotions of people around you. There are five key elements to EI: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. People with high EI can identify how they are feeling, what those feelings mean, and how those emotions impact their behavior and in turn, other people. It’s a little harder to “manage” the emotions of other people - you can’t control how someone else feels or behaves. But if you can identify the emotions behind their behavior, you’ll have a better understanding of where they are coming from and how to best interact with them. High EI overlaps with strong interpersonal skills, especially in the areas of conflict management and communication - crucial skills in the workplace. Employees who can self-regulate their emotions are often able to avoid making impulsive decisions - they think objectively before they act. Operating with empathy and understanding is a critical part of teamwork; being able to attribute someone’s behavior to an underlying emotion will help you manage relationships and make others feel heard. On an individual level, being aware of your feelings is the first step in not letting those feelings con-

trol you. Recognizing how you feel and why will help you to sit with those feelings and then move forward in a productive way. Effective leaders are often very emotionally intelligent. In the workplace, it’s important for leaders to be self-aware and able to view things objectively. This translates into understanding your strengths and weaknesses and acting with humility. This has to be balanced with empathy - employees who feel appreciated and valued at work aren’t only happier, but more productive.

Fortunately, you can improve your EI skills with some thoughtfulness and practice: Try to slow down your reactions to emotions - next time you feel angry, try to sit with it before lashing out. Why are you angry? Did

someone upset you? What do you think was the emotion underneath their behavior? Think about your strengths and weaknesses. No one is good at everything, and that’s okay! Know yourself and when to ask foror offer - help.

Put in the effort to understand what people are communicating non-verbally. If you ask someone to help you on a project and they agree, but sound hesitant, recognize that they may feel overwhelmed or confused or they come from a different background and understanding than your own. It’s important to validate and address that before moving forward.

Work on communicating effectively and openly. Make sure your main point is clear,

cut out information that isn’t relevant to the person you’re talking with, and give your full attention when someone else is speaking. Source: mhanational.org

Emotional intelligence or artificial intelligence– an employee perspective

Emotional intelligence as personal intelligence and artificial intelligence as a machine intelligence have been popular in the relevant literature over the last two decades. The current study integrates these two concepts and explores how emotional and artificial intelligence influences employee retention and performance with a focus on service employees in the hotel industry. Employee performance is operationalised into internal and external dimensions that captures employees’ task efficiency over both internal and external service encounters with co-workers and customers respectively. The data were collected from a variety of different ranking hotels. The results show that emotional intelligence has a significant effect on employee retention and performance; whereas artificial intelligence plays a significant moderating role in employee performance. A discussion of the findings and implications concludes this paper. Source:tandfonline.com/

Common Mental Health Myths and Misconceptions

What am I getting wrong about mental health?

While people in Canada are talking about mental health more than ever, misconceptions in the media and elsewhere are keeping the stigma alive. Thankfully, by learning (and unlearning) some of the most common myths and misunderstandings, we can all start to replace stigmatizing attitudes with supportive conversations.

The following myths and misconceptions list (not exhaustive) lets you consider which ones you’ve heard, and which you’ve believed.

1 – Mental health is the same as mental illness.

Mental health and mental illness are related but distinct.

Mental health refers to one’s general state of psychological and emotional well-being. Much like physical health, it exists on a continuum from healthy to ill and can fluctuate based on many factors. Maintaining good mental health is an important aspect of one’s overall well-being.

mental illness (sometimes called a mental health problem) is a condition diagnosed by a qualified health-care professional. The diagnostic criteria often involve a combination of changes in emotions, moods, or behaviours associated with distress, and/or impaired daily functioning. Examples include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental illness.

2 – It’s obvious when someone has mental illness.

Mental illness is largely invisible, especially when someone is managing their symptoms with the support of a health-care provider. Even in new or untreated mental illness, many people are good at hiding their symptoms (often due to stigma, including self-stigma). Courses like Mental Health First Aid train people to recognize the signs of declining mental health and equip them with the tools to respond appropriately.

3 – People with mental illness are often violent.

News headlines about violent crimes by

people with mental illness have contributed to the myth that the two go hand in hand. While this is a complex area of research, experts agree that mental illness alone is not a predictor of violence. Many studies suggest that people with mental illness are actually more likely to be the victims of violent crime.

4 – Mental illness can only be treated with medication.

Hands Together

Medication can be an effective tool for managing the symptoms of some mental illnesses, but it is often one part of a broader treatment plan. In some cases, evidence-based psychotherapy such cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can have similar effects to drug treatments. In others, drug therapy might be the best course of action, even if just to make other forms of therapy more effective.

In either case, working with a qualified health-care professional is essential for determining whether medication is appropriate, which one works best for an individual, and how it fits into a larger treatment plan. There’s no shame in using medication to manage mental illness, just as there’s no prize for going without it.

5 – Some people are immune to mental illness

No one is immune to mental illness, but risk and protective factors can play a big role. Risk factors are things like poverty, childhood trauma, and inadequate housing. Protective factors include strong social connections, meaningful employment, and physical activity. While someone with many

protective factors can still develop a mental illness (and vice versa), they change the likelihood significantly.

6 – Mental illness is a lifelong diagnosis. Mental illness is treatable. It is possible to recover and even thrive following a mental illness. Recovery can involve the complete resolution of a mental health problem, but it can also be about having a renewed focus on personal control, resilience, and day-to-day functioning. Even with mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, which typically require lifelong symptom management, individuals can experience a very high quality of life.

7 – People with mental illness don’t make good employees.

People with mental illness can excel at work, just like anyone else. Many mental illnesses are episodic, meaning a worker may experience highs and lows, not unlike someone with a physical health condition. It’s important that managers look for signs of declining mental health in all employees, as mental illness can affect anyone. With the right treatment, accommodation, and support, meaningful employment can benefit workers with mental illness and their employers.

8 – Mental health support is expensive. While mental health services can be costly without private insurance, help is available. Many provinces and territories offer their own low- or no-cost mental health programs. There may also be community health services available near you. To find out, consider contacting your local CMHA branch or speaking with your health-care provider.

Source:mentalhealthcommission.ca

Half a million seniors had trouble getting specialized health services: StatCan

Anew Statistics Canada report(opens in a new tab) says half a million seniors had trouble getting specialized care.

StatCan estimated more than 4.5 million people 65 and older visited medical specialists, got non-emergency tests or had non-emergency surgeries in 2019 and 2020.

More than 15 per cent of the seniors reported having difficulty while they were trying to access those services. Common barriers included trouble

getting a referral, difficulty getting an appointment, long wait times and services not being available at the time they were needed.

The report says older women were less likely than older men to visit medical specialists and receive tests. It also says seniors with a lower education level weren’t as likely to use specialized health-care services.

The report says that seniors who had ongoing physical illness or mental health issues were more likely to

use specialized health services than older Canadians who were relatively healthy.

StatCan says the study highlights the importance of considering gender, overall physical and mental health, as well as psychosocial factors when assessing the use of specialized health services. The agency used a representative sample of 39,047 Canadians age 65 and older to identify the patterns related to health-care service use.

Source:https://www.ctvnews.ca/

Eid al-Fitr celebrations held across B.C. to mark end of Ramadan

On April 17, The BC Premier and MLA’s Hon. Minister Bruce Ralston, Hon. Minister Harry Bains, MLA Jagrup Brar, MLA Mike Starchuk, Hon. Minister MLA Rachna Singh, MLA Jinny Sims, and MLA Garry Begg hosted an Eid ul Fitr celebration at Bombay Banquet Hall Surrey. Hundreds of Muslim community members joined on this occasion. The program started with the Holy Quran recitation by Shaikh Hafeez Haris, he also summarised the month of Ramadan blessings.

MCs MLA Jinny Sims and MLA Garry Begg did a good job in a very short time. MLA Jinny Sims invited Premier David Eby on

stage to say a few words. a few words. Premier David Eby said “ I want to thank my colleagues for organizing this beautiful event to celebrate the end of Ramadan, you are an amazing diverse Community in such a fast-growing city Surrey. I want to thank Sheikh for the introduction to the spiritual context of today’s event and for the reflections. This is not a typical Eve for the Muslim Community the difficult time you’re a breaking fast. It’s hard not to think about all of the people in Palestine who were so hungry, right now to think about people in the world who are struggling with the lengthening Shadows of war and and the desperate

need for more compassion and love in this world, and I just wanted to say thank you.  Important part of our Province and after a month of Acts of service and charity.

I think it just reinforces for British Columbians how fortunate we are to have a growing and thriving Muslim Community, and the community’s contributions to business, academics, and science. In charities to support there are such remarkable contributions of the Muslim Community worldwide.  It’s communities across British Columbia across North America as we see this Rising tide of intolerance and hate and racism and one of the things that I’m so grateful for the

Muslim Community as we marked together is your willingness to stand up .

Still, some leaders participated in our Antie racism legislation. I wanted to thank you for your remarkable contribution. We’re celebrating with a billion Muslims around the world is a remarkable occasion of Target. Kick-off that kind of number. It’s a massive group around the world marking the end of the whole month of Ramadan thinking my colleagues for pulling together is amazing and I thank you for inviting me and thank you to the Muslim Community, British Columbia, and all the representatives so that you’re tonight for your work.

Muslims across B.C. celebrated Eid al-Fitr on April 10, morning, marking the end of the Holymonth of Ramadan. There was also a large gathering at different public and religious places of Surrey, Richmond and Vancouver. Here is the pictorial views of EID al-Fitr celebrationof different spots. Thanks foe few courtesy pictures.

Premier David Eby and NDP MLAs Celebrated Eid with Muslim Community

At the Minoru Arenas Richmond

At the Minoru Arenas Richmond

B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.

Guildford Islamic Centre at Aria.B.Hall Surrey Jameh Masjid Surrey Jameh Masjid Surrey Jameh Masjid

Guildford Islamic Centre Celebrates at Aria.B.Hall Guildford Islamic Centre Celebrates at Aria.B.Hall

B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver.

By: Asma Ayyaz

While too much isolation can have a negative effect on mental health, being alone at least some of the time can offer an enriching, liberating experience. It can help us learn more about who we are, trust our own instincts, and develop a greater sense of independence.

How happy and comfortable we are spending time alone can also impact the quality of our relationships with ourselves and others.

If you enjoy your own company, chances are you’ll have higher selfesteem, feel more capable and in control, and see yourself in a more positive light. In turn, this can help you form healthier, more loving connections that are underpinned by boundary-setting and mutual respect.

While finding joy in your own company may sound easier said than done, it’s something that can be worked on over time – and the rewards are definitely worth it. Below, is a list of eight tips that can hopefully help you on your journey.

1) Try not to spend time alone

If the idea of spending time alone leaves you feeling nervous or uncomfortable, then it might seem easier to avoid it altogether. For example, by making plans with others whenever you know you’re due to be alone, or getting straight back on the dating scene the minute a relationship ends.

Though, while it might sound obvious, the best way to get comfortable with being by yourself is to

How to enjoy your own company?

make time to be alone.

Often, the reason that people don’t initially enjoy doing so is because they don’t like being confronted by difficult thoughts and feelings that they might have otherwise squashed down and ignored. However, in order to move past these strong emotions, it’s important to acknowledge and accept them.

Some people find it useful to offload uncomfortable thoughts and feelings into a journal during moments alone, to help them more clearly see them for what they are and put things into perspective.

Learning to accept and observe your emotions is a powerful first step in your journey to enjoying your own company – and although it can be challenging and requires courage, studies have shown that doing so can lead to improved mental health and help to eventually bring you some peace.

2) Allow yourself to be present

In the same way that it’s important to allow yourself time alone if you want to start enjoying your company, another key step is to work on being more present (or mindful) –and not simply fill time alone with distractions that don’t give you space to think or feel.

Being truly present is about steering your mind away from the present and future, and instead paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, or surroundings at that particular time.

In today’s world, this may mean unplugging from technology, including smartphones and social media. Spending too much time on social media can increase feelings of loneliness by convincing us that we’re missing out – and technology in general can be distracting and place us in a state of high alert, making it difficult to relax. Like being alone, being more

By: Farkhanda Shamim,

Colors are important. They give meaning, beauty and even purpose to our lives.

Any thing we imagine, we think of colors; an upcoming function, the color of the attire, an area for decoration, color of the decor, a new home to be built, the color scheme of walls and accessories, and if its a new car, then the desired shade of the vehicle in question. All these remain among some very important questions throughout our lives. Colors are just everywhere. They make our day, beautify our lives and Laila just loved them. Like words and phrases colors spoke to her, enchanted her heart and mesmerized her sight. Sometimes whispering and singing, and sometimes calling or inviting her for a thought so fresh and innovative that it would capture her heart and make her smile. Colors were her friends that stayed around and close no matter what. There were dark,

mindful can also be tricky to start with because it encourages us to sit with thoughts and feelings that may feel uncomfortable – but embracing this discomfort can provide us with the clarity needed to begin to heal, break away from unhealthy patterns, and begin to live more authentically by engaging with activities we actually enjoy.

3) Practise Gratitude

If you struggle with negative thoughts when you’re alone – particularly self-limiting ones– then it can be useful to find ways to reframe them.

There are a couple of skills that can help with this: gratitude and optimism. Both feed into one another but gratitude is about focusing on the good things in our life, no matter how small (such as the sight of the sunrise out your bedroom window each morning), while optimism is about learning how we can use every situation to our advantage.

For example, if you didn’t get the job you were going for, then rather than telling yourself that it’s because you’re not good enough, instead, you could remind yourself that it obviously wasn’t the right opportunity for you. Plus, now you have plenty more time and space to focus on finding something even better.

If we can learn to appreciate the little things and see life through a more positive lens, then time spent alone can feel less daunting and more opportunistic – and, in contrast, time spent with others can become even more precious.

4) Make time to learn who you are

It’s possible at any stage of life to face the realisation that you don’t know who you are – for example, what you’re passionate about, what you enjoy, or what’s most important to you. And while this can be

unsettling, it can also be incredibly exciting, as it can lend way to a beautiful journey of self-exploration. Spending time with ourselves can be much more fun and enjoyable when we have a clearer idea about how we’d like to use it. For example, if you’re creative, you could pick up a hobby like painting, writing, or crochet. Or if you’re passionate about helping others, you could explore ways to give back to your community, such as through volunteering.

Learning more about who you are can also help you build a lifestyle that’s more compatible with your core values and beliefs. It could be the catalyst for a big move to the countryside or coast, or give you the nudge you need to start prioritising the things that matter most to you such as diet and exercise, and spending time with family.

Once we start living in a way that’s truer to who we are, things (across all areas of life) tend to start falling into place, and time to ourselves can often become something we relish, rather than something we dread.

5) Arrange a date with yourself

Too often in life, we wait for other people to do things with – and if the opportunity never arises for that, we let opportunities pass us by. But this can lead to feelings of resentment about being alone, because we can start to see it as a limitation, rather than a strength. Therefore, in order to reap the full benefits of spending time with ourselves, we may need to push beyond the limits of our comfort zone and find the courage to take on more solo ventures.

Many of us may do this in small ways already. For example, it’s not unusual for people to prefer going shopping alone so they can take their time and look at all the

When the World had lost colors.....

gray and brown shades when she shut her eyes tight or opened them into the dark night. The steel gray sky in the winter just before the rain began. The orange tinged horizon during the sunrise and sunset. The white floating majestic clouds and oh, the soft white snow flakes floating down delicately embracing the earth. The green vegetation that looked fresh and joyous during rain giving hope for the cool days to come.

Oceans, rivers, mountains, hills, and all the earthly and heavenly existence were in fact all names for varying colors wherein she dwelled, bathed and breathed in, feeling their presence touching her ever so softly, patting her hair and cheeks filling her heart with immense joy and hope and persuading her to live, and struggle on, no matter what the odds were and yet it all changed within that one crucial moment.

“He’s no more,” a much dreaded verdict coming from the doctor attending her terminally ill father had changed it all. Her father who had been, for years, her guiding and nurturing force, a friend, and a powerful ally helping her in translating her dreams and achieving the impossible.

He was a solid rock force to support and encourage her when the time was hard and challenges were overwhelming were the words she heard when the universe had lost all its colors. She was shocked.

She was terrified. She looked up to the sky, the clouds, and then stared hard at the

ground. Her heart jumped and her steps faltered but it was true. The trees, the leaves, the things, the faces had colors no more. They were just haze and smoke. Her own existence just a colorless bubble, a dream. The busy noisy surrounding was nothing but a large mass of dark dreary grayness shades were her last words before the flood of tears tore through her dim cloudy eyes choking her throat, wrenching her grieving heart swirling her down and down in the deep abyss of nothingness but sorrow and grief.

Death is an inevitable journey, a lasting departure from the embrace of loved ones and from the warmth of life itself. Sometimes so many things are remained unsaid, emotions unexpressed and appreciations unshared that the sense of loss deepens further, thrusting the living ones to a deeper grievance.

For a long time, Laila stayed immersed in that cocoon of hurt. Calls, condolences, soft words of solace and encouragements, and finally the funeral had a part reality part dream atmosphere. Nothing could help her. Nothing would help her ever it seemed but the Greatest Force of the universe has not left it unattended, the Great Maker who created the earthly life as a trial, and a test with monumental tribulations but is never absent where His power of heal is wanted.

To the hurting hearts, glistening teary eyes, and the muted pleas, He is always near. He is the Living, ‘Al-Hayee’. He is the Everlasting, ‘Al-Qayyim’ all alert, watching

7

things they want to look at without influence from others. And if we’re prepared to take the leap and recognise the potential and value that time alone can bring, we can extend this feeling to many more experiences in life, such as hobbies, travel, and days out. While sharing meaningful experiences with others is still important for our mental wellbeing, time alone can be a chance to do exactly what we want, when we want, without having to answer to anyone else. This can be incredibly empowering and liberating – plus, we tend to be proudest of the things that we achieve by ourselves!

If the idea of a solo holiday or day out feels overwhelming, why not start small by arranging a lunch or evening date for one? For example, you could commit to going to see a movie by yourself or heading for a bite to eat at your favourite cafe, armed with nothing but a good book for company. Once we let go of the view that we can (or should) only do these things with others, it’s amazing how quickly we can start looking forward to dates with ourselves.

6) Don’t worry what other people think

Something that can sometimes hold us back from truly enjoying our own company – particularly in public – is the idea that people are judging us for being alone or that our self-worth is somehow less when we’re not with others.

Therefore, it’s important to try and let go of any worries about

To be continued at Page 16

over the matters of the heaven and the earth. “Neither dozing nor sleeps overtakes Him.” (2: 255) “He is there wherever you are.” (57:4) Laila reached out for support and there He was, so close, listening to her heart cries in thesad solitude and in the late hours of the dark night. He reached out and ever so gently guided her to the Message of hope.

“Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition of wealth and children- like the example of a rain whose (resulting) plant growth pleases the tillers: then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes (scattered) debris” (57:20) was a message relating facts.

“Every soul will have taste of death” (3 : 185) described a reality so indisputable that even kings and queens of the powerful realms couldn’t fight and relent.

“And be patient over what befalls you” (31:17) was a message of patience in the face of challenges and affliction. The color of perpetual hope, “The life of this world is ephemeral whereas the Hereafter , that is the permanent abode” (49: 30).

Soon Laila found varying colors in such messages, the color of truth, reality, justice and hope and ever so gradually other colors began to return in her life. She comprehended well that the life of this world was just temporary and the everlasting abode was in future with a perfect life of fulfillment, with the loved ones by her side, never to part ever again.

Miracle’s newly contributor from Pakistan

PTI alleges ‘pre-poll’ rigging in lead up to by-polls

ISLAMABAD: With by-elections on vacant seats of the national and provincial assemblies less than a week away, the PTI has accused the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of pre-poll rigging in the run-up to the elections slated to be held on April 21. The former ruling party also decided to organise public gatherings in constituencies where by-polls are slated to be held in which Omar Ayub, Barrister Gohar, and Sher Afzal Marwat will “ensure their presence”.

In a press conference on Tuesday, PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub said the PTI candidate in PP-36 was being harassed by the police which raided and encircled his house and also brought a prison van. The PTI leader claimed that the PTI was not allowed to run its election campaign. He alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the Punjab IG were using “brutal and coercive tactics against PTI leaders and workers in other constituencies” to rig elections. Omar Ayub claimed that the number of

ISLAMABAD: Projecting stagnant taxto-GDP ratios over the next five years, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday estimated Pakistan’s fiscal deficit — the gap between total resources and expenditures — for the current fiscal year at 7.4 per cent of GDP, almost 1pc higher than 6.5pc target set by the federal government.

On the positive side, however, the fund anticipates a gradual decline in debt-to-GDP ratios and general government expenditures over the medium term. Also, the primary fiscal balance has been estimated to remain 0.4 to 0.5pc of GDP over the next five years, compared to a 0.9pc primary deficit in FY23. The centre had estimated the overall fiscal deficit at Rs6.9 trillion for the current fiscal

Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar. Vaisakhi is a spring festival which happens on the 13 or 14 April every year. It is a day to celebrate 1699 - the year when Sikhism was born as a collective faith.

Vaisakhi has been a harvest festival in Punjab - an area of northern India - for a long

polling stations was reduced and they were set up in remote areas to discourage voters in an alleged bid to influence elections.

He claimed that Gujranwala RPO (regional police officer), a relative of the PML-N candidate, was given the charge of Wazirabad. “The officials are instructed that Form-45 should not be given to the PTI nominees,” he alleged.

Judicial inquiry

Speaking about the Bahawalnagar incident, the opposition leader sought a transparent judicial inquiry into the “clash” between the police officials and army personnel to ensure accountability. “The incident is reflects the lack of discipline in the law-enforcement institutions,” he added.

Criticising the economic policies, he said the “economic collapse was followed by the worst food inflation that jumped to 45 per cent coupled by an alarming surge in unemployment and unbearable cost of living”. Talking about the Iran and Israel issue, he

said that Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar should have given a policy statement on the “growing tensions in the Middle East” but unfortunately the foreign minister did not have any time to give any statement in this regard.

The PTI leader, however, welcomed the Saudi delegation’s visit to Pakistan but linked investments with the rule of law. “Why would investors come to such a country where lawlessness and anarchy reign supreme,” he added.Omar Ayub demanded that Bushra Bibi’s medical check-up be done by a doctor from the Shaukat Khanum Hospital, alleging that “secret cameras” were installed in her bedroom, which was condemnable and should be removed.

Glass wall in Adiala Jail

In a separate press conference outside Adiala Jail, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said a glass wall had been erected in the room where PTI founder Imran Khan meets his family members and party leaders.

“Today Imran Khan has directed Sher Afzal Marwat to file a contempt petition in the Islamabad High Court against the erection of the glass wall which is a severe violation of the court’s orders,” he said after meeting Imran Khan in the jail...Source:.dawn.com/

About the opposition alliance, Mr Ayub asserted that the six-party opposition alliance came into being with the sole objective of the restoration of the Constitution and upholding the rule of law in the country. He said the opposition alliance held “historic public gatherings” in Pishin and Chaman and challenged the PML-N and PPP to hold such public meetings in these areas.

Fiscal gap to widen to 7.4pc of GDP

year (6.53pc of GDP) on the anticipation that provinces would offer Rs600bn surplus to scale down the federal deficit otherwise estimated at Rs7.5tr or 7.1pc of GDP. The IMF had previously projected the fiscal deficit at 7.6pc of GDP in October last year but has since revised it to 7.4pc, apparently based on the latest data shared by the government last month as part of a quarterly review.

In its fiscal monitor released on Wednesday as part of spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank currently in progress in Washington, the fund forecast fiscal deficit declining 7.3pc of GDP in FY25 — significantly higher than its 6.9pc forecast made in October last year. In the same direction,

the IMF made upward adjustments in deficit estimates for Pakistan.IMF says revenues to stay stagnant despite falling expenditures in five years

In doing so, the fund forecast a 5.8pc fiscal deficit for FY26, followed by 5.1pc in FY27 and staying at 4.6pc in FY28 and FY29. In October last year, the IMF predicted Pakistan’s fiscal deficit to be 6.9pc in FY25, 5.4pc in FY26, 4.4pc in FY27 and 4.4pc in FY28.

The fiscal monitor for April 2024 also put primary budget surplus — the difference between revenues and expenditures excluding interest payments — at 0.4pc of GDP for FY24, followed by 0.5pc in FY25 and then staying stable at 0.4pc over the next

three consecutive years and again at 0.5pc in FY29. In October last, the IMF had pitched a primary deficit for FY23 at 1.2pc of GDP compared to 0.5pc claimed by the government, which turned out to be a 0.9pc deficit, according to the latest statement of the IMF.

...Source: dawn.com/

What is Vaisakhi, or Baisakhi and how is it celebrated?

time, even before it became so important to Sikhs. In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh chose the festival as the moment to establish the Khalsa - that’s the collective name given to Sikhs who’ve been baptised. The story goes that at the festival, he came out of a tent carrying a sword and said that any Sikh prepared to give his life for his faith should come into the tent.Five men disappeared into the tent, and the Guru came out - alone - with blood on his sword. This worried the crowds. That is until the five men then came out from the tent unharmed and wearing turbans. They became known as Panj Piare or the ‘Beloved Five’ - and they were to be the first members of the Khalsa. They were

How to enjoy your own company?

Continued from Page 15

baptised by the Guru who sprinkled them with Amrit, which is the Sikh word for holy water. He also said prayers. This ritual became the basis of the Sikh baptism ceremony. To celebrate Vaisakhi, Sikhs visit places of worship called Gudwaras. These are also be especially decorated for the occasion. Afterwards, they have a procession through the streets with lots of singing, chanting and colourful clothes. Many people enjoy parades and special processions through the streets called nagar kirtans. ‘Nagar’ means town and ‘kirtan’ means the singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the Sikh holy book.Celebrations traditionally include singing and music, as well as read-

ing scriptures out loud and chanting hymns. Many Sikhs also choose Vaisakhi as the day to be baptised in to the Khalsa brotherhood. Normally big celebrations take place in the city of Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, which is where Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa. Farmers in the Punjab will also use Vaisakhi as an opportunity to give thanks for a plentiful harvest and pray for a good one in the year to come. Celebrations for the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi are set to take place in Surrey on April 20 Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to take part in the all-day procession, which features colourful floats, music and live performers.

Source: CBC.COM

7) Practise Self care

Time alone can also be the perfect opportunity to practise self care and build a more compassionate relationship with yourself – especially if you have a less than positive view of yourself or find meeting your own needs difficult because you’re used to spending your time pleasing others.

Quality time with yourself can be a chance to unwind, recuper-

what other people might think of you stepping out on your own. Nine times out of ten, even though we may feel self-conscious about showing up for a movie alone, no one is looking at us, and if they are, it might not be for the reasons we think. It’s not uncommon for people to look at people on their own with admiration and wish that they too had the confidence or the courage to do exciting things by themselves. So, who knows, you could even inspire someone to take on their own solo venture!

ate, and do things exclusively for you; whether that be cooking your favourite meal, taking an undisturbed nap, making time for exercise, or indulging in your favourite hobby. It’s also important for keeping us happy, healthy, and resilient – so we can be better equipped to take on whatever life throws at us.

Self care is something that many of us overlook when the busyness of life gets in the way. But without it, we can end up stressed, anxious, and exhausted, so it’s important to get in tune with your body’s needs and to learn to recognise when you need some TLC.

If you struggle to prioritise selfcare, then it can help to start small and build up gradually. For example, why not try to spend just 10-15 minutes each day doing something that makes you feel good – even if it’s just reading a chapter of your favourite book? For more inspiration, check out our list of 33 selfcare ideas.

FinallySitting alone with our thoughts isn’t always easy – but it’s a necessary step in learning to enjoy our own company. The aim of this article isn’t to suggest that time alone is better than

time spent with others or that we don’t need meaningful relationships with other people, as these are important for our health and wellbeing too.

Instead, it’s to remind us that a healthy amount of alone time can give us time to relax and recharge, develop our independence, learn more about who we are, and reconnect to our goals. It can also provide opportunities for healing, empowerment, and enrichment, all of which can bring greater meaning and purpose to our lives.

Email: asmashums@gmail.com

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