“Some people are asking what did the Narendra Modi government do? I want to say, it did in three years what all governments did not do in 70 years.”
IPL 2017 Mumbai Ke Naam
CRICKET// Mumbai Indians won the Indian Premier League for the third time after a heart-stopping win over Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017 IPL final. Rohit Sharma’s men defended their total of 129 for eight as they pulled off a one-run victory in Hyderabad. Mumbai Indians once again showed off their death bowling muscle as they eked out avictory over in dramatic fashion. In one of the closest finals during the 10 editions, the trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Johnson and Lasith Malinga were brilliant at the death defending a lowly total of 129/8 as Supergiant were restricted to 128 for 6 at the end.
It was Johnson, who kept his nerve during the final over where 11 runs were needed. Manoj Tiwary smacked the first one to mid-wicket boundary bringing the eqaution down to 7 from 5 balls.
The next two deliveries turned out to be disaster with both Tiwary and skipper Steve Smith were caught in the deep. With four required off final ball and 3 for a Super Over, Dan Christian went for an impossible 3rd run only to be run out as Mumbai players celebrated like never before.
Credit should also be given to Bumrah and Malinga for giving away only 10 runs between them in the 17th and 18th over which suddenly increased the pressure.
With the win, Rohit Sharma became the most successful IPL captain, who led his side to the third title in the last ten years.
The win was indeed special for Rohit as well as MI, and their joy is evident from the celebratory video of the team.
POLITICS OVER PRESIDENT
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION// A day before opposition parties meet in a big show of strength over lunch hosted by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss a joint candidate to field for President, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has pitched for a consensus candidate one supported by both opposition parties and the government.
It was not a complete surprise. Ms Banerjee had just emerged from a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one that she insisted focused “only on the development of Bengal and not on politics.” Before that meeting, sources close to her said her Trinamool Congress’ support will depend on who the opposition’s candidate is and whether a consensus can emerge around the person’s name.
The President is the custodian of the Constitution and it will be very good for the entire country if we have a consensus candidate much like APJ Abdul Kalam,” said Ms Banerjee, reiterating that she did not discuss the
DAUGHTER WHO STRAYED ACROSS, RETURNS
DIPLOMACY// In a rare instance of mutual understanding, India thanked Pakistan’s diplomats and judiciary after an Indian national returned home. Welcoming the woman from Delhi, Uzma, who had accused a Pakistani man of marrying her forcefully, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India would like to thank Pakistan irrespective of the current status of bilateral political relation. “Today I would like to express our appreciation of Pakistan irrespective of the current state of bilateral ties. If Uzma is here today, that is because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan has helped us a lot. Pakistan’s Home Ministry has also helped us a lot,” said Ms Swaraj, emphasising that the Indian High Commission received humanitarian support from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister, who tracked the case since Ms. Uzma came to the Indian mission in Islamabad in early May and sought help, said the diplomats of the mission acted swiftly in assisting her.
INDIAN ARMY RETALIATES; BLOW UP PAK BUNKERS ACROSS LoC
OPEARATIONS// The Indian Army, in an emergency briefing, announced that it has conducted punitive fire assaults on Pakistani Army posts across the Line of Control. Addressing the media over the counter-insurgency operations in Nowshera sector in Jammu and Kashmir, ADGPI Major General Ashok Narula stated that punitive action is being undertaken by the Indian Army across the LoC.
The Indian Army has inflicted damage to posts across LoC in Naushera sector in response to firing by Pakistan,” Major General Narula said. “The Pakistani Army has been providing support to armed infiltrators. The locations aiding infiltration of terrorists are being targeted and destroyed,” he added. The Army has also released a video of the Pakistani bunkers being destroyed. The Indian Army proactively dominates the LoC, said Major General Narula, adding that the Army wants peace and tranquillity in Jammu and Kashmir.
On May 17, Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) by firing rounds on forward posts in the Balakote sector of Jammu of Kashmir. This was the eighth such violation in less than two weeks. On May 13, two civilians were killed and three were injured in ceasefire violations by Pakistan when it targeted civilian areas in India. Over the past few weeks, a chain of protocol breach was recorded in the tension-ridden Line of Control, leading to the evacuation of over 1,000 villagers from the region. Information also suggested that the violations were largely recorded in Nowshera in Rajouri district. Nearly 1700 people have already been evacuated from the LoC hamlets hit by shelling from Pakistani firing and shifted to relief camps.
Around 10,042 people from over 2,694 families have been affected by the continued shelling from across the border, officials state
MANCHESTER REMAINS UNITED; WINS EUROPA LEAGUE
SOCCER// Manchester United gave its grieving home city a moment to cheer by winning the Europa League on thursday morning, beating Ajax 2-0 in the final thanks to goals by Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Mkhitaryan scored the second goal in the 48th minute, hooking the ball in from close range from a corner - the win earning United the bonus prize of a place in next season’s Champions League.
It also meant coach Jose Mourinho finished his first season at England's biggest club with two trophies after United also won the English League Cup in February.
The game was billed as a clash between the pragmatism of Mourinho's United against the swagger and youthful exuberance of an Ajax side featuring six players aged 21 or under and in the club's first European final in 21 years.
It came as no surprise that United's players were able to impose themselves over such inexperienced opponents, with Pogba - the world’s most expensive player - standing out.
Make In India: PM on expensive medical equipment
APPEAL// Stressing the need to provide affordable health care to the poor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called on start-ups to make medical equipment indigenously to reduce dependence on import. “More than 10 lakh people get detected with cancer every year and around 6.5 lakh die of the disease annually. International Agency for Research on Cancer has expressed apprehensions that the figures will only double in 30 years,” Modi said after launching a book to mark Tata Memorial Centre’s 75 years of social service. He was addressing the event held in Mumbai through video conferencing from New Delhi. The prime minister said that 70 per cent of the equipments used to treat patients are imported from foreign countries, which raises the cost of treatment substantially. “This situation has to change because it makes the treatment very costly,” he said. “I call on the start-up industry to come forward and do research on how can medical devices be manufactured indigenously. We want that devices get manufactured here so that patients can benefit,” he said. The prime minister said the government’s aim is to provide cheapest and best of health facilities to the poor and needy and it has thus, come up with a national health policy using a holistic approach after a span of 15 years
POP CONCERT TURNS BLOODY IN MANCHESTER
ATTACKS// The attack outside an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena killed at least 22 people, including children on May 22 and was carried out by a lone suspect carrying a bomb, Manchester Police said. “The attacker, I can confirm, died at the arena. We believe the attacker was carrying an improvised explosive device, which he detonated, causing this atrocity,” said Chief Constable Ian Hopkins. While police believe the suspect was acting alone, investigations are ongoing to establish if he was part of a network.
As many as 400 police were deployed overnight, Hopkins said early Tuesday. He added that residents should expect to see more armed officers on the streets. It would be the deadliest attack on British soil since the 2005 London bombings, which killed 52 people. The incident happened shortly after Grande had left the stage, according to eyewitnesses. Coral Long, the mother of a 10-year-old concertgoer, told CNN's Hala Gorani that they were getting ready to leave the arena when they heard a loud bang from the left side of the arena.
The city's Manchester Royal Infirmary Hospital was blocked off to all but essential staff due to what the facility called a major incident.
Grande, who had just finished the first of three scheduled UK performances when the blast hit, was not injured. She tweeted several hours later: “broken. from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don't have words.” After the initial incident, police carried out a precautionary controlled explosion nearby but the item turned out to be discarded clothing, not a “suspicious item,” Greater Manchester Police said. British Prime Minister Theresa May issued a statement, confirming that police are treating the incident as a terror attack. She has suspended campaigning for June 8 general election. Universal Music Group, parent company for Grande's record label, Republic Records, posted a statement on Facebook.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of tonight's devastating event in Manchester. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy,” the post says.