Two days after the BJP’s landslide victory in the national poll, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while visiting his home State Gujarat on May 26 said “people voted for development” and added that his return to power was a huge responsibility that the people had bestowed on him. Addressing party workers at a rally in Ahmedabad, his first since the massive victory in the Lok Sabha election, Mr. Modi said, “We have to utilise these five years to solve issues of the common citizens.” According to him, the coming years will be about ‘Jan Bhagidari’ (participation of people in governance) and ‘Jan Chetna’ (Raising awareness) about governance and welfare programmes of the NDA government, which is beginning a second termHe compared the next five years with 1942 to 1947, a a crucial period of the freedom movement from Quit India in 1942 to final independence in 1947. He added that besides working for the people of the country, the next five years will be used to enhance the image of India globally. Expressing his gratitude to the people of his home State, he said “he shares a special bond with the people of Gujarat.” “Last night, the President of India invited me to be the next Prime Minister and today I have come here to take your blessings. The blessings of the State’s citizens have always been very special for me,’ said the Prime Minister, who landed in Ahmedabad on Sunday evening to a grand welcome from the BJP workers.“In 2014, the country got an opportunity to know Gujarat and the development model of the State came in front of everyone. I am coming back to the land that has nurtured me. I am back to a place with which I have a very old bond,” he added, saying Gujarat was a stepping stone for him. Talking about the party’s massive consecutive victory in the Lok Sabha polls, the PM told the party workers that he had repeatedly claimed that the election, instead of an anti-incumbency, had a pro-incumbency wave and immediately after the 6th phase, he claimed to have told the party president that the BJP would cross 300 seats this time. “After the sixth phase of polling, I had said that it’s 300 plus for us. When I said it, people mocked me. But, the results are for everyone to see.”The PM also expressed his grief over the gruesome fire tragedy in Surat in which 22 school students died in a coaching centre that was gutted. “Since yesterday, I was in dilemma whether to attend the programme in Ahmedabad or not. One side it was ‘kartavya’and on the other side it was ‘karuna.’ Families who lost their children, lost their future. I pray that God gives power to the families of those children,” he said, adding he had directed the state government to take all necessary measures. The PM came to Gujarat to meet his mother before he takes oath of office on May 30. read more
Arsenal Complacent Arsenal almost punished in disappointing Carabao Cup final dress rehearsal Chris Wheatley Arsenal Correspondent Last updated 1 year ago 06:25 2/23/18 FacebookTwitterRedditcopy Comments(8) Getty Images Arsenal UEFA Europa League Arsenal v Östersunds FK Östersunds FK The Gunners were shocked by the Swedish side early but managed to progress to the Europa League last-16 after a goal from Sead Kolasinac As dress rehearsals for cup finals go, this almost bordered on a horror show which Arsenal managed to just about escape from.Arsene Wenger’s side struggled to overcome plucky Swedish underdogs Ostersunds in the second leg of their last-32 Europa League clash. Two goals conceded in the space of 70 seconds were unsurprisingly enough to spark a chorus of boos from the under-capacity home crowd when referee Ivan Kruzliak blew his whistle for half-time.There was an air of complacency about Arsenal’s approach to the game at times, but credit should be given to Graham Potter’s side, who showed over two legs that they more than able of competing against the Gunners. Wenger fielded a side made up mostly of fringe players but opted to play the likes of Jack Wilshere, Alex Iwobi and Hector Bellerin despite having Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City only three days away. Article continues below Editors’ Picks Lyon treble & England heartbreak: The full story behind Lucy Bronze’s dramatic 2019 Liverpool v Man City is now the league’s biggest rivalry and the bitterness is growing Megan Rapinoe: Born & brilliant in the U.S.A. A Liverpool legend in the making: Behind Virgil van Dijk’s remarkable rise to world’s best player Rob Holding’s misplaced pass to an Ostersunds player in the opening few minutes provided early evidence that Arsenal were going to have their work cut out on a chilly night in north London. Indeed, his housemate and defensive partner Calum Chambers had a nightmare first half, putting the ball into his own net for the Swedes’ opening goal on 22 minutes. Just 70 seconds later, the England youngster was turned easily by Ken Sema, who finished past David Ospina with aplomb — cutting the Gunners’ aggregate lead to 3-2.The defensive issues in Wenger’s side have been scrutinised in the majority of their away games this season, but there was something particularly impressive about the way Potter’s men took advantage of lapses in concentration to go 2-0 up. Sead Kolasinac eventually gave Arsenal the necessary breathing room, though, scoring just after half-time en route to a 2-1 defeat and 4-2 aggregate win.Only Manchester United have won at the Emirates this season, and in that game Arsenal conjured up more shots and more possession in a dominant performance as they failed to take their chances. On Thursday they struggled to show initiative and their narrow play in midfield prevented them from penetrating in the final third.Wenger will review his position with the Arsenal board at the end of the season. The Frenchman’s contract expires next summer and the widespread view on what constitutes success will rear its head again in the coming days when he takes his side to another Wembley final. What happens on Sunday will almost certainly play a significant part in the decision over the long-serving Arsenal manager’s future.Arsenal reached the Champions League final in 2006. Fast forward to 2018 and the Gunners are failing to assert themselves in matches, gifting simple chances to the opposition and continuously frustrating their supporters by struggling to mount a credible challenge for the Premier League.Despite all of that, Wenger has managed to reach another cup final and could win the only domestic trophy he’s yet to pick up since arriving in England. While a mid-season cup win certainly papers over the visible cracks in the red side of north London, there can be no doubt that silverware success coupled with a run to the latter stages of the Europa League would be considered a successful campaign for Wenger. read more
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesGeorge Springer’s double and later his two-run homer helped the Houston Astros to build up an early lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series.The Houston Astros‘ victorious World Series run has not only given an emotional boost to a city still recovering from Hurricane Harvey. It has provided an economic lift as well.And for one Houston family, the journey to a championship provided them with a way to financially help their grandparents rebuild after the devastating storm.Brianne Bueno’s family had bought two tickets for Game 3 of the World Series in Houston but didn’t use them to watch their beloved Astros. Instead, the family raffled them off last week on Facebook and raised about $10,000 — money that will be used to help repair the Houston-area home of Bueno’s grandparents.“During Game 6, I got a text from one of the ladies who purchased a ticket. She put, ‘Glad it went well with the raffle. Was bummed to not win the tickets but really hope you guys were able to help out your folks,’” Bueno said. “This is like … a whole week since the raffle and people are still showing their support for us, which is pretty amazing.”Local businesses saw increased sales, with people spending more money at restaurants, bars and hotels.“It’s obvious more people were out on the streets, and more people were out spending money that they wouldn’t have spent otherwise,” said Patrick Jankowski, regional economist for the Greater Houston Partnership. “It’s like a shot in the arm for the city.”He said Houston’s economy had been rebounding after bottoming out in August 2016 due to falling oil prices — and then Harvey hit.That recovery will likely be delayed about three months because of the hurricane.Bueno said after Harvey’s torrential rainfall in late August flooded her grandparents’ home about 44 miles (70 kilometers) south of Houston in the city of Angleton, her father bought the World Series tickets with the purpose of raffling them off to raise money. Her grandparents, both 70 years old, lost most of their possessions and now live in the grandfather’s small law office.Bueno said when her father “saw that the tickets for Game 3 were on sale, there was no hesitation for him to buy those and use them for a better purpose rather than fulfilling a desire he had to go to the World Series himself.”She promoted the $20-a-ticket raffle on social media as well as in her classes at the University of Houston. One of her professors bought five tickets.Bueno had hoped to raise maybe $5,000 but was surprised so many people found out about the raffle and wanted to buy a ticket. “I didn’t expect this reaction honestly,” she said.The tickets were given away on Oct. 26.With the raffle being a success, having the Astros win the World Series “was definitely the icing on the cake,” Bueno said.Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Harvey highlighted the “can-do spirit” of the city’s residents.“It almost seems as though the greater the challenge, Houstonians see the greater the opportunity,” Turner said at a news conference Thursday. “So we meet challenges and then we turn around and take advantage of the opportunity.”Marcus Davis, owner of The Breakfast Klub, said the popular restaurant’s sales slowed down because of Harvey. But business picked up a lot when the Astros started their playoff run. The Breakfast Klub even hosted Dodgers fans who traveled to Texas from Los Angeles.“It’s not that our spirits are dampened. We just wanted to communicate to the world how strong Houston is and the Astros winning was just symbolism for us,” Davis said. “It verified and validated that yes we are strong. We’ve gone from underwater to the mountain top.”___Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter at www.twitter.com/juanlozano70 Share read more