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Pakistan

The repetition of history and the hidden sciences!

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History repeats itself is common concept, but in Pakistan the example of such notion is hardly found in any other country in the world.

Imran Yaqub Khan Profile Imran Yaqub Khan

In November 2017, Tehreek-e-Libek staged a sit-in in Faizabad. The background of this sit-in was known to all. The PML-N government, which was already under pressure, was under siege. When the party was mobilized against the PML-N government, today's ruling party, the PTI, supported their sit-in. In his judgment, Justice Qazi Faiz Issa also mentioned the local leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) besides Sheikh Rashid and Ejaz-ul-Haq, who continued to support the sit-in, according to intelligence reports.

A conference was held in Golra Sharif in the name of Khatam-e-Nubuwat (SAW) in which Imran Khan participated and tried his best to win the sympathy of Tehreek-e-Libek. Today, it is the responsibility of Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to stop the protest march and possible sit-in. The minister got mentioned Mujahid Khatam-e-Nubawat on posters and used religion for his political campaign.

After this protest against the PML-N government and its support from the PTI, the 'revolutionary anchors' also disguised them as Mujahideen Khatam-e-Nabuwat and walled off the PML-N and its leadership. As a result of this movement, resignations were announced from some members of the PML-N in the National Assembly and an electoral atmosphere was created against the PML-N. Now the Tehreek-e-Libek is once again on strike and the next scenario seems to be peeking out of the pages of the past.

The atmosphere against the PML-N began after the report of a high-level meeting was published in an English newspaper and it was named Dwan Leaks. Now the atmosphere is being created again and the impression of "One Page" has been shattered by the ruling circles. An appointment to a key post was announced on October 6 and the tug-of-war began. The 20-day tug-of-war played a central role in dispelling the one-page impression.

Now the matter seems to have been resolved and the long awaited notification has come to light but the impression of tension remains as no attempt is being made to remove it but a conscious effort is being made by the government to prevail the tension.

Prior to the notification, there was talk of secret science and statistics. Even after the notification came, the machinations of the occult sciences are still rampant and this notification is being viewed in conjunction with the dates of next month's partial lunar eclipse. I have no interest in cognition or numerology, but apart from such factors, it seems that matters are now heading towards confrontation and such confrontations don't last long, only a few weeks are decisive.

When it comes to linking this analysis to another mysterious process, the date of December 4 seems to be important when there will be a total solar eclipse in the world. Eclipses have been associated with solar and lunar eclipses for centuries. A large number of people believe in such superstitions and are convinced to the extent that eclipses bring about great changes. The then government in Pakistan was overthrown within two months after the 1999 eclipse.

Whether the eclipse will do anything or not, but if the situation continues like this, then of course the blame will fall on the December 4 eclipse. Assuming that the December 4 eclipse could be disastrous for the government, the next elections could be in April or May. There will be partial eclipses in these months as well. The partial eclipse of April 30, 2022 will not be visible in or around Pakistan and will be visible in the western, southwestern United States, Pacific, Atlantic and Antarctic regions.

The 2022 partial lunar eclipse will be seen in most parts of the world including Europe, Asia, Africa and this partial lunar eclipse will probably be seen in Pakistan as well. If those who believe in the mysterious sciences are to be believed, then according to this calculation, if the total solar eclipse of December 4 played any role in the overthrow of the government, then April and May will be election months and partial eclipses will also show color in these elections. ۔

Political figures seeking the help of occultists should now worry about December. Thoughts will be of two kinds. Those who believe in the mysterious sciences in the government will hire experts to save the government and the opposition will turn to the 'babus' to drown the government in the crisis. If December is decisive, then the worries of April and May will bother everyone and a new round of operations will be launched to remove the possible misfortunes in their horoscopes and this time, since everyone is worried about power, they will get rid of the misfortunes. Will become the need of all.

Those who believe in the mysterious sciences think that the eclipse is a plague that comes from the sky to destroy human beings and they have no means to stop it but the moon and the sun have blocked its path and sacrificed their lives. Weak believers believe that because it is powerful and has taken the sun and the moon in its mouth, it is necessary to help them.

In the old days, the hill tribes, to whom the light of knowledge had not reached, used to gather in a field at the time of eclipse, dance to the beat of drums, make loud drunken utensils, play tin, etc., in order to somehow get rid of this evil. Some of them used to throw stones so that if they didn't retreat from the noise, they would move away from the fear of these stones. Such scenes are seldom seen now, but the claimants of expertise in the hidden sciences go astray, perform strange acts that frighten the common man, and play with their weakness.

Since I don't believe in these hidden and mysterious sciences, I am only worried about how long our politicians will continue to blackmail or to be blackmailed for the sake of power. How long will history be repeated? Why is democracy in danger after every 10 years?

The ruling party is trying to use the recent controversy to its advantage by hiding behind the slogans of "stand firm, captain". but linking an attempt to keep a person close because of personal friendship to the battle of principles is nothing but mutual deceiving. The same party used to humiliate everyone else by giving the impression of being the enemy of a strong institution of the country.

Until the conflict of interests, the good relations with the institution were displayed like a medal on the chest. Isn't it senselessness and selfishness to confont the same institution for ulterior motives now?

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World

Hezbollah, Israeli troops clash near Ramya village in southern Lebanon

Israeli strikes have shaken the peacekeepers' main base in southern Lebanon

Published by Samiullah Farid

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Beirut (Reuters): Hezbollah said on Sunday it was fighting Israeli forces trying to infiltrate Ramya village in southern Lebanon, as a third U.N. peacekeeper was wounded in Israel's escalating conflict with the Iran-backed Lebanese group.

Israeli strikes have shaken the peacekeepers' main base in southern Lebanon, prompting U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Western countries to condemn the attacks. The UNIFIL force called it a "serious development" and said the security of U.N. personnel and property must be guaranteed.

France summoned Israel's ambassador and issued a statement with Italy and Spain calling such attacks "unjustifiable". U.S. President Joe Biden said he was asking Israel not to hit the UNIFIL forces. Russia said it was "outraged" and demanded Israel refrain from "hostile actions" against peacekeepers.

Israeli military strikes on Gaza on Saturday killed at least 29 Palestinians, medics said, and forces kept pushing deeper into the Jabalia area, where international relief agencies say thousands of people are trapped.

Residents in Jabalia, in the north of the enclave and the largest of its historic refugee camps, said it was being pounded by Israeli forces from the air and ground.

The Israel Defense Force (IDF) said Hezbollah had fired nearly 320 projectiles from Lebanon into Israel on Saturday, without giving further details. It declared areas around some towns in north Israel closed to the public.

Israel issued evacuation orders to residents of 23 southern Lebanese villages to move north of the Awali River, which flows from the western Bekaa Valley into the Mediterranean.

The IDF said evacuations were necessary for the safety of residents due to increased Hezbollah activity, claiming the group is using sites to conceal weapons and launch attacks on Israel. Hezbollah denies concealing weapons among civilians.

The military also published evacuation orders on Saturday for two neighbourhoods on the north edge of Gaza City, saying it was a "dangerous combat zone". In a statement, Gaza's Hamas-run interior ministry urged residents not to relocate.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants erupted one year ago when the Iranian-backed group began launching rockets at northern Israel in support of Hamas, at the start of the Gaza war.

Israel has intensified its military operations in recent weeks, bombing southern Lebanon, Beirut's southern suburbs and the Bekaa Valley, killing many of Hezbollah's top leaders, and sending ground troops across the border. Hezbollah for its part has fired rockets deeper into Israel.

Israel's expanded operation has displaced more than 1.2 million people, according to Lebanon's government, which says more than 2,100 people have been killed and 10,000 wounded in over a year of fighting. The toll does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but includes scores of women and children.

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Pakistan

Chinese Premier Li Qiang to visit Pakistan from Oct 14-17

During the visit, Li Qiang will attend the 23rd meeting SCO

Published by Samiullah Farid

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Islamabad: At the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chinese Premier Li Qiang will visit Pakistan from October 14–17, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning announced here on Sunday.

During the visit, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council will attend the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to be held in Islamabad from October 14-17 and pay an official visit to Pakistan, she said in a statement.

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Sports

The NLCS matchup is set! What Mets, Dodgers need to do to reach World Series

It's East Coast vs. West Coast for a trip to the Fall Classic. Here's your first look at how New York and L.A. stack up.

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The 2024 National League Championship Series matchup is set!

Starting Sunday, the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers will clash with a trip to the World Series on the line.

After the Mets booked their first NLCS trip since 2015 when Francisco Lindor delivered a Game 4 grand slam to knock out the Philadelphia Phillies, the Dodgers eliminated the San Diego Padres with a 2-0 NLDS Game 5 win in Los Angeles.

What have we learned about each of these teams so far? What does each side need to do to punch a ticket to the Fall Classic? And who could be the NLCS difference-makers? ESPN MLB experts Jorge Castillo, Alden Gonzalez and David Schoenfield break it all down.

Jump to: Mets | Dodgers



What's the most impressive thing about the Mets this postseason?

Castillo: The Mets' lineup is relentless. They might not match the Dodgers' star power, but their lineup is as deep as any in baseball. They can beat you 1 through 9. They conduct smart at-bats. They have a knack for huge hits in the clutch. And they pounce on bullpens. Look no further than Game 4 of the NLDS when, after they left the bases loaded in each of the first two innings against Phillies starter Ranger Suarez, Francisco Lindor cracked the go-ahead grand slam off Carlos Estevez, Philadelphia's best reliever, in the sixth. One day it's Lindor. The next it's Mark Vientos or Pete Alonso or Brandon Nimmo or Jose Iglesias. Or someone else. There aren't any holes in the lineup, and that could be an NL pennant-winning recipe.

Schoenfield: The Mets actually have the most starting pitching depth of any team left in the playoffs, with six reasonable options if you include Kodai Senga (who started Game 1 against the Phillies but isn't stretched out yet). Sean Manaea pitched a gem in NLDS Game 3 against the Phillies with seven scoreless innings, and the Mets just win when he pitches -- they're 16-4 in his past 20 starts. Jose Quintana has allowed just one unearned run in 11 innings in two playoff starts, and Luis Severino, David Peterson and Tylor Megill round out the options, although Peterson has also proved to be a valuable relief option. With three days off before Game 1, the Mets can reset, get some much-needed rest and figure out which of the starters will pitch out of the pen.

Why will it (or won't it) work against the Dodgers in the NLCS?

Castillo: The Dodgers' bullpen was impressive in the NLDS, but relying on bullpen games won't be sustainable against the Mets. Chances are New York will grind the Dodgers' relief corps down if Los Angeles doesn't get more innings from its starters. That means Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jack Flaherty, in particular, must pitch deeper into games. If not, the Mets will eventually solve the bullpen over the seven-game series.

Schoenfield: The other advantage the Mets have is three lefties in Manaea, Quintana and Peterson. Shohei Ohtani is actually human against lefties -- .867 OPS compared to 1.128 against righties. Max Muncy hit .172 against lefties. Freddie Freeman, if his ankle allows him to play, was much worse against lefties (.250 average with less power versus .300 against right-handers). Gavin Lux hit .152 against southpaws. That's why we might see Peterson back in the rotation after he pitched in relief against the Brewers and Phillies. The more lefty innings the Mets can throw at the Dodgers, the better.

Who is the one player who must deliver for the Mets to win the NL pennant?

Castillo: The Mets' biggest weakness is the bullpen, which makes closer Edwin Diaz a pivotal character in this series. Díaz is the best reliever the Mets employ. He boasts a triple-digit fastball and a wipeout slider. But this year, after missing all of 2023 with a torn ACL, has been a roller coaster. He briefly lost his job in June. He was suspended for sticky-stuff use in June. He has been bad, and he has been great. He has been uneven recently amid heavy usage, blowing a lead in Game 2 against the Phillies and walking two batters to begin the ninth inning in Game 4 before getting back on track. The Mets need Díaz to dominate every time he's on the mound. That means being efficient and throwing strikes. If he's vintage Díaz, the Mets have a weapon to shrink games.

Schoenfield: Pete Alonso has to keep it going. He didn't have his best season, and the strikeouts really piled up in August and September when he fanned 74 times in 54 games. After he hit just four opposite-field home runs in the regular season, however, all three of his playoff home runs have gone to right field as he has hit .273/.433/.727 -- and you have to love the seven walks against a manageable eight strikeouts in seven games. If he stays in that kind of zone, it gives the Mets the power bat they need in the middle of the lineup behind Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo.



What's the most impressive thing about the Dodgers this postseason?

Gonzalez: Their bullpen. Given the multitude of injuries suffered by their starting pitchers, the Dodgers knew they'd be heavily relying on their relievers in October. And so far, they've answered, most notably by shutting out the Padres to save their season in Game 4. The Dodgers are navigating this postseason with what amounts to a three-man rotation, and all three of their starters -- Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler -- have had their share of struggles. But the Dodgers also have as many as seven high-leverage relievers to deploy in relief of them.

Schoenfield: The Dodgers showing ... resilience? That hasn't exactly been their forte in recent postseasons. Even though the Dodgers won the NL West, most picked the Padres to win the series, especially after San Diego went up two games to one. But Dave Roberts and the relievers executed the bullpen game to perfection in Game 4 to get to Game 5. They didn't let the Padres' antics get to them. They won despite a hobbled Freddie Freeman. They showed they can win games in which Ohtani doesn't have to be Superman. Maybe this will be the year -- in a postseason when few expected the Dodgers to win.

Why will it (or won't it) work against the Mets in the NLCS?

Gonzalez: Just look at how the Mets got here: With Francisco Lindor's sixth-inning grand slam off Carlos Estevez, who had mostly excelled as the Phillies' closer since coming over before the trade deadline. The Mets seem to have something special going on, and a lot of their magic has manifested late. The Mets have won six of nine games dating back to the Sept. 30 doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves that served as their regular-season finale. Five of those wins saw them come from behind, three of them after the seventh inning.

Schoenfield: OK, resiliency is nice, but at some point they're going to need some better results from the starting pitching. Winning a five-game series with two off days while relying extensively on the bullpen is one thing, but it's much harder to do that in a seven-game series (with the same two days off). The Mets have shown their own resiliency as well, with the dramatic comebacks to beat the Braves to clinch a playoff spot, beating the Brewers to advance, and then knocking off the Phillies -- and doing so against three of the closers in the game.

Who is the one player who must deliver for the Dodgers to win the NL pennant?

Gonzalez: I'm going to throw out a name you probably didn't expect: Enrique Hernandez. The Dodgers got him specifically for these moments and he showed why with a huge home run in Friday's Game 5 win. They believe he has an ability to rise to the occasion in October, and he should get quite a bit of playing time in this NLCS. His production at the bottom of the order will be critical to giving Ohtani opportunities with runners on base -- a situation Ohtani has famously excelled in lately.

Schoenfield: Mookie Betts. We saw him break out of his postseason slump with the home runs against the Padres, and he has to keep it going, especially given the left-handed starters the Mets will be able to roll out (and especially if Freeman's availability and production is going to be a concern).
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