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Winter activity and political turmoil!

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When the Supreme Court of Pakistan summoned Prime Minister Imran Khan during the hearing of the APS suo motu case, the tide of national politics began to turn.

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The Honorable Court first reprimanded the Attorney General and then summoned the Prime Minister in person. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed and the esteemed judges of the bench Justice Ijaz-ul-Hassan and Justice Qazi Amin made strong remarks during the hearing. According to political pundits, the summons of the Prime Minister to the Supreme Court seems to be adding to the growing worries for the present government that always claims "change".

Opposition groups called for a boycott of the assembly. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mian Shahbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto have once again stood in the same line. In today's joint sitting of the parliament, a joint strategy has been formulated to prevent the government from enacting legislation. The opposition is calling the NAB legislation and government legislation for electronic voting machines one-sided and illegal. The opposition believes that the Imran Khan government is trying to give itself NRO by changing the NAB rules. Attempts will be made to steal the next election through electronic voting machine.

On Tuesday night, PML-N President and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif had invited the opposition MPs for dinner. Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto also attended the dinner. According to newspaper reports, 180 members of parliament attended the dinner. On this occasion, it was decided that all members of the opposition would ensure attendance in the House. The people who are in the throes of inflation will want the opposition to be their voice.

It's welcoming to see the opposition together. The people may also see a glimmer of hope in their gathering. The purpose of uniting this long-divided opposition is to prevent legislation from gaining a numerical majority. Talking to media persons after the dinner, Shahbaz Sharif said that the country could not move forward without transparent elections. Bilawal Bhutto also assured that the opposition is united under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif. Prior to the dinner, the legal team of the opposition parties also sat together and agreed that the government's efforts to bulldoze the parliament would be thwarted. This commitment of the opposition is commendable.

In the National Assembly on Tuesday, the government had to give up trying to get a vote on two bills. The government couldn't present its bill. The bill introduced by the opposition could not be stopped. This could be seen as a significant development ahead of the joint sitting of Parliament. In such a scenario, the question arises as to whether the opposition is really united and how serious it is to stop the government. Are old grievances gone? Until recently, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was on the ground in opposition to the government alone, taking the wound of separation from the PDM to heart. Young leaders are also going to be emotional, so while opposing the government, they have been opposing the opposition. Now that he is again standing by the side of Shehbaz Sharif, it is hoped that Shehbaz may have ignored Bilawal's statements.

Qamar Zaman Kaira is a seasoned politician and holds a prominent position among the central leaders of the PPP. Kaira Sahib had opened a front against PML-N on the day when the opposition parties in Islamabad were uniting and formulating a plan of action against the government. He accused the PML-N of having backdoor contacts with the Establishment and made it clear that if the statement of respecting the vote was to be respected then backdoor contacts should be terminated. The incumbant government is intact because of PML-N and these people want the government to complete five years.

There are two statements going on in his party. First unite in your party. Nawaz Sharif should clarify whether his statement is resistance or compromise. Kaira's questions must be answered. Now it remains to be seen whether Shehbaz Sharif's tolerance comes to the fore in response or whether there is shelling from PML-N as well. However, PDM spokesman Hafiz Hamdullah did respond to Kaira. In his statement, he said that the PPP had stabbed the PDM in the back for the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. By criticizing the PDM, the PPP is opposing the opposition, not the government. PPP please, it is not appropriate to make a hole in the plate in which you have eaten. If you want to return to PDM, then consult Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the leadership of PDM.

The fate of the people of Pakistan always hangs in balance because of the Opposition's tactics favouring the government. Perhaps that is why Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry has termed the opposition as Bhanmati's family. He also advised the Opposition to wait for the first two years and the next five years. Every time the winter season comes, the political tension mounts. On this, Fawad Chaudhry mockingly called PDM a winter activity and said that these people just go out in winter and then leave. Given the past performance of the Opposition, this confidence of the government is not unreasonable. Now the question is whether the Opposition will be able to surprise the government in the joint sitting of the Parliament. If you look at the number of members of both the houses, the government has a lead of two members in the number game.

There are currently 440 MPs in both houses. The PTI and its allies have 221 members in the National Assembly and Senate. Opposition parties have 219 members in the National Assembly and Senate. There are 156 members of PTI, 7 members of MQM and 5 members of BAP in the National Assembly. PML-Q has 5 members and GDA has 3 members. Awami Muslim League, JWP and Azad are one member each. If you look at the opposition, there are 83 members of PML-N, 56 members of PPP, 15 members of MMA and 4 members of BNP in the National Assembly. The ANP has one member and the opposition has the support of three independents. The government and allies have 42 seats in the Senate. PTI 27, BAP 9 and MQM 3 are members of the Senate. The government also has the support of the Functional League, the Q League and an independent candidate. The Senate has 57 opposition members. PPP has 21 members, PML-N has 9, JUI-5 and National Party has 2 members. Jamaat-e-Islami One, PK Map 2, ANP 2 and BNP also have 2 members. The opposition also has the support of six members of the Dilawar Khan group in the Senate.

It seems that the joint sitting of the parliament is going to be tumultuous no matter what else happens.

Imran Yaqub Khan

Imran Yaqub is senior journalist and analyst

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Amorim: Not weighed down by Man Utd's history

New Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim has said he does not feel the weight of the club's history, speaking publicly for the first time since taking charge at Old Trafford.

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Rúben Amorim has said he doesn't feel "the weight" of Manchester United's history as he prepares to start his reign as the club's new head coach.

Amorim arrived in Manchester on Monday after being appointed as Erik ten Hag's successor on a two-and-a-half year contract.

The 39-year-old and his staff are still awaiting their visas before formally starting work. But ahead of his first game in charge -- set to be against Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Nov. 24 -- he has insisted he's calm about the challenge ahead.

"I feel very relaxed," Amorim told United's in-house TV channel MUTV.

"Maybe because it's not game day. When we have a game I'm a different guy. But I really don't feel the weight. I'm really excited and I'm quite relaxed. I think I'm where I'm supposed to be. That's the feeling."

Amorim left Sporting CP to take the job following a successful stint in Portugal which saw him lift two Primeira Liga titles.

Sporting had not won the Portuguese title since 2002 when he won it for the first time in 2021. He's facing a similar task at United, who have gone 11 years without winning the Premier League.

"You can feel the history," said Amorim. "I'm really, really proud to be a Manchester United coach. It's amazing, it's a real honour."
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USC unveils custom Kobe-inspired cleats to be worn against UCLA

The look is modeled after the pair Kobe Bryant debuted on Christmas Day 2010 and is exclusively customized for the USC Trojans.

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The USC Trojans are donning special cleats against the UCLA Bruins on Saturday inspired by an iconic Kobe Bryant shoe.

The program unveiled the exclusively customized Nike Vapor Edge Kobe 6 "USC" cleat on Tuesday. It's a nod to the Kobe 6 Grinch sneakers the Los Angeles Lakers legend wore on Christmas Day 2010.

The all-black look is paired with a cardinal and gold Nike swoosh. Kobe's logo appears in gold on the tongues of the cleats, as well as his signature on the heel, no different than the basketball sneaker.

In 2010, Bryant wore the now famous Grinches against LeBron James and the Miami Heat on Christmas. It included a snakeskin like texture, a nod to Bryant's "Black Mamba" moniker.

Lakers star Anthony Davis wore a pair of the Grinch colorway on Dec. 25, 2020, the 10-year anniversary of its debut.

"Playing for the Lakers, it's the 10th anniversary, it only just lines up for me to be able to wear those shoes," Davis said in 2020. "It's definitely an honor."

Bryant-inspired cleats are nothing new to the gridiron. Earlier in the 2024 season, Houston Texans receiver Stefon Diggs wore cleats inspired by Nike Kobe 5s. The Grinch cleats are set to be officially released in football cleat form by Nike on Friday, according to Nice Kicks.

The Trojans will wear their version of the cleats against the Bruins in the 92nd annual Crosstown Rivalry game.
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Bengals' Zac Taylor has no issue with Ja'Marr Chase's postgame comments

Taylor knows things can be said in the heat of battle that don't reflect lingering problems.

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CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor had no hard feelings toward wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase after comments made following the team's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night.

Cincinnati had chances to complete the biggest road comeback in franchise history but ultimately lost 34-27. It was the team's sixth defeat by seven points or less this season. After the game, Chase was asked about the team's inability to close games and he redirected towards Taylor, citing the coach's dual status as the Bengals' offensive playcaller.

In Taylor's news conference on Tuesday, he didn't take any exception to what Chase said in the locker room after the game and lauded the three-time Pro Bowler.

"I don't ever hold it against a player when they're after a game having an emotional response," Taylor said. "We'll just continue to move forward as a team, but love working with him. Thankful that he's on our team."

Cincinnati (4-7) has been unable to close out games this season. In four of the team's losses, the Bengals have either held a lead or been in a tied game in the fourth quarter. Against the Chargers, Cincinnati clawed back from a 21-point deficit but couldn't find the go-ahead score.

Chase, when asked about not being able to finish contests this season, reflected back at Taylor.

"I play football on the field," Chase said in the visiting locker room after the game. "I don't call plays for us."

Chase and quarterback Joe Burrow are in the midst of career years. Chase currently leads the league in catches (73), receiving yards (1,056) and receiving touchdowns (12). Burrow has the NFL's best Total QBR (76.1).

Against the Chargers, Chase had seven catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns. In his news conference on Tuesday, Taylor alluded to Chase's production throughout this season.

"I feel very confident we put Ja'Marr in the best position possible to succeed," Taylor said. "He's first in every category there is. We make a conscious effort to involve him and make sure he's always a big part of that."

This year, Cincinnati has moved Chase across the formation in order to free him from defensive matchups aimed at keeping his impact on a game to a minimum. That strategy has worked, even if it hasn't produced wins.

"[Burrow and Chase] are our two best players," Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said Tuesday. "So we are always trying to create opportunities for them to impact the game in a positive way. We are going to keep doing that."

It's been an unique year specifically for Taylor and Chase. Chase was present at training camp but did not practice amid a contract dispute. Taylor, when asked on multiple occasions about Chase's absence, indicated that it was part of a vague plan in an apparent attempt to shield Chase throughout the negotiation. Chase ended the hold-in before the season started.

It isn't the first time that players have been critical of Taylor in the press. In 2019, Taylor's first season with Cincinnati, former wide receiver Tyler Boyd made similar comments after losses in what eventually matched the worst season in franchise history. But Boyd eventually became a cornerstone of a transformed Bengals team under Taylor that won the AFC North in 2021 and 2022 and went to the Super Bowl.

Taylor cited his relationship with his players that has pacified such situations. And in this case, Taylor said he loved everything Chase brings to the team and the energy he provides.

"We all want to win," Taylor said. "You put a lot of pressure on yourself. And when you don't [win], it can lead to frustration. But, feel very confident we're on the same page and we'll be good going forward."
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