Existing laws enough, no need to ban late night parties, says Goa CM
Panaji: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday ruled out banning late-night music parties in Goa, because existing laws he said restrict playing loud music beyond 10 p.m.Speaking to reporters at the Raj Bhavan near here after the swearing-in of two new Ministers — Mauvin Godinho and Vishwajit Rane — into the BJP-led coalition government, Mr. Parrikar also said that police have clear instructions to crack down on drugs, prostitution and illegal gambling. “As per law, after 10 p.m. you cannot play loud music. If there is no permission, there is no question of banning it. Law says you can play loud music till 10 p.m., after taking permission. What disturbs people, any activity like this, will not be allowed by law,” Mr. Parrikar said.A few days back Water Resources Minister Vinod Palienkar of Goa Forward Party had said that police were not cracking down enough on late-night rave parties, which are popular in the coastal belt of north Goa. “Wherever there is suspicion, police have clear instructions to crack down on drugs, prostitution and illegal gambling,” Mr. Parrikar said. Portfolios soonMr. Rane, who was sworn in today, will have to get elected in six months as he had resigned as Congress MLA immediately after election, and later joined the BJP. Mr. Godinho had resigned as Congress MLA ahead of the February 4 Assembly elections and has been elected on a BJP ticket from Dabolim constituency. They were administered oath of office and secrecy by Goa Governor Mridula Sinha.None of the Congress MLAs including sitting MLA and former Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane who is father of Vishwajit Rane were present for the swearing in ceremony.The Parrikar-led coalition government now includes five Ministers from the BJP (including CM), three from Goa Forward, two from the MGP and two Independents. Mr. Parrikar will allot portfolios to both the newly-inducted Ministers within this week.The BJP, which won 13 seats in the February 4 Assembly elections, cobbled together a coalition government with its allies last month to form the government. The Congress, which won 17 seats in the 40-member Assembly to emerge as the single largest party, is in the Opposition with 16 MLAs following the exit of Mr. Rane.
Yavatmal: The spate of farmers’ deaths, after spraying toxic pesticides on the genetically modified cotton crop, began towards the end of July this year in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra, however, it took almost two months for the government, the media, and political parties to notice the gravity of the situation.Hundreds of farmers got admitted to various hospitals in the district since July-end, but it was only when the death toll reached double digits in September that the administration swung into action and the media began reporting the issue after the Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Swawalamban Mission (the Maharashtra government’s Taskforce to reduce farm distress) started circulating press notes to journalists based in Nagpur.The first politician to visit the district was BJP MP from Bhandara-Gondia constituency Nana Patole, who interacted with the ailing farmers admitted to the Government Medical College.Ignored by allAs English newspapers began carrying the reports of the farmers’ deaths prominently, the state government sent its minister of state for agriculture Sadabhau Khot to the district.Mr. Khot was followed by Shiv Sena leader and state transport minister Diwakar Raote, and senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Radha Krishna Vikhe Patil.The main opposition parties the Congress and the NCP are still to organise any visible protest and even the Shiv Sena, which has lately been more of an opposition in the state than a coalition partner of the ruling BJP, has remained a mute spectator to the death of the farmers.When this reporter posed some questions to Mr. Vikhe Patil on the Congress party’s “lack of interest and action” even after so many deaths, the leader of opposition had no convincing answers and tried to divert the question by blaming the Shiv Sena and Mr. Patole’s “dual stand”.Until 2014 Assembly elections, Congress had dominated the district’s politics with three senior leaders — Shivajirao Moghe, Manikrao Thakere, and Vasant Purke — holding the posts of cabinet ministers and top party positions during the Congress-NCP’s 15-year rule in the state.However, all these leaders are currently missing. “We don’t have a district chief. We will launch a protest in a couple of days once he is appointed,” was Mr. Purke’s response on the Congress’s silence.Yavatmal has been the centre of farm crisis and is also infamous as “farmers’ suicide capital”, but the only organisation vocal about the issue was the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti. However, many say that after Kishore Tiwari’s appointment as the head of the VNSSM, the ground level protests of his groups are negligible.The only political person, who is raising the issue with some fervour, is the disgruntled Congressman Devanand Pawar.A politician from a backward Banjara community who once contested Assembly elections on a Congress ticket, Mr. Pawar formed his own Shetkari Nyaya Hakka Andolan Samiti (Committee to fight for the just rights of farmers) after he was sidelined in the Congress by senior leaders.When asked about the reason for cold political response to this issue, Mr. Pawar said, “The political leaders and party workers in Yavatmal had only been accompanying the leaders to the hospitals. They are not going there to visit the ailing farmers. A strong political protest would have definitely helped the farmers’ cause but even the Congress is struggling with its own problems which is why I had to fight under a different banner. The affected farmers and their families are still to receive the help announced by the government. Had it not been for the media, the deaths would have gone unnoticed.”When Mr. Pawar and some farmers confronted the Agriculture Minister Pandurang Phundkar in Monoli village last week, the BJP leader and Yavatmal’s guardian minister Madan Yerwar asked the agriculture minister to “ignore it”.When asked about Shiv Sena’s lack of response to the issue, the district president Santosh Dhawle informed that they acted “as per the program” and were “busy” providing medical help to the farmers.“The government took a long time to accept the crisis. The opposition parties are invisible. Our district has really been unlucky,” rued Ramdas Wadai, a contract farmer from Sakhra village of the district.
The single-storey shrine of Baba Farid, a 13th Century Sufi saint revered by Muslims and Sikhs equally on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC), was “extensively” damaged due to lightning in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday.“It’s an unfortunate incident. Apparently, lightning damaged the structure during the intervening night of March 13-14 and early on Wednesday. We are assessing the damage and the exact cause,” Uri Sub-Divisional Magistrate D. Sagar told The Hindu.Local supportThe shrine, a structure made of stone and wood, is located in an uphill area of Uri’s Garkote. The fire gutted the top wooden structure completely and dislodged the stone walls. One estimate suggests the shrine was over 300 years old.“We are seeking the local population’s support to erect the structure as soon as possible,” said Mr. Sagar.Locals said the shrine was an attraction for the people living on both the sides of the LoC.Place for bonding“In pre-1947 era, people from far off regions would visit the shrine. Even after the setting up of the LoC, the shrine became a place of bonding for the divided families. Still, many people from Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir visit the shrine by taking the cross-LoC bus service,” said Niyaz Ahmad, a local.Several shrines dedicated to saint Farid are spread both in India and Pakistan.Farid’s poetry is also believed to be part of the Guru Granth Sahib and is revered equally by Sikhs.Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed concern over the damage caused to the shrine.She directed the official “to visit the shrine complex and take necessary measures for restoration.”
At a time when confusion continued over whether the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) would remain a constituent of the NDA in Bihar or not, a local party leader was gunned down near Patna on Tuesday. RLSP block president of Paliganj in Patna district, Amit Bhushan Verma alias Tuktuk, 35, was gunned down while he was participating in the Chhath festival.RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha on Wednesday visited the family members and later slammed the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government’s “good governance” claim in a tweet.Mr. Kushwaha has been disgruntled over seat-sharing among NDA constituents. “Out of a total 40 Parliamentary seats in Bihar the BJP and JD(U) are now likely to contest in 17 seats each while, another constituent Lok Janshakti Party would get six seats”, a senior State BJP leader told The Hindu, though an official announcement is yet to be made.
BJP leader Giriraj Singh, who apparently went into a sulk upon being asked to contest from a Lok Sabha seat other than the one he held and fell in line after a meeting with party chief Amit Shah, called on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday evening. He will visit Begusarai on Friday where he will take on former JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar. The meeting with Mr. Kumar, of whom he had been a fierce critic since the days he served as a Minister in the State Cabinet, assumed significance as return of the Chief Minister’s JD(U) to the BJP-led coalition had led to circumstances which made Mr. Singh forgo his Nawada seat. The JD(U), which is contesting on 17 seats, the same number as the BJP, had insisted on having the Munger seat from where it is fielding Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan a close aide of Mr. Kumar, who had won the seat in 2009 and was the runner-up five years later. Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP, which held Munger, agreed to give up the seat in exchange for Nawada. Mafia don-turned-politician Suraj Bhan Singhs wife was the MP from Munger and the party has now fielded his brother from Nawada. Mr. Singh was given Begusarai which has a large population of Bhumihars, the community to which he belongs. He also wanted to contest the seat in 2014 but moved to Nawada upon the party’s direction and achieved victory in his first Lok Sabha election. Begusarai fell vacant a few months ago following the death of the incumbent Bhola Singh. However, Giriraj Singh felt slighted as he happened to be the only BJP Union Minister from Bihar, who has been made to give up his sitting seat. Others Ashwini Kumar Choubey, R.K. Singh and Radha Mohan Singh are seeking re-election from their respective seats.Crucial supportThe JD(U)s support would be crucial for Mr. Singh in Begusarai as the party had won the seat in 2004 and 2009. The CPI, which had finished third in 2014 and yet managed to secure close to two lakh votes, has this time fielded Kanhaiya Kumar who belongs to the same caste as Mr. Singh.
Credit: © Istockphoto.com/virtualphoto BRUSSELS—A group of European pro-life organizations is mobilizing against embryonic stem cell research in a way that the European Commission cannot ignore. One of Us, a so-called European citizens’ initiative, has collected 1.7 million signatures from all 28 E.U. member states for a proposal that would block funding for research in which embryos are destroyed; under E.U. rules, the European Commission must now consider turning the proposal into legislation.Research commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn will meet the organizers of the initiative here today; on Thursday, they will defend their case during a public hearing at the European Parliament. The commission has until 28 May to spell out its response.The proposal is a direct attack on a delicate compromise over the use of embryonic cells in research, a topic on which the union is sharply divided. “Any roll back of this agreement would be a major step backwards for research across regenerative medicine, reproductive health and genetic disease, and delay the development of much needed treatments for a host of untreatable conditions,” said a group of 31 research organizations and universities from across Europe today in a statement. 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(One of Us is only the second one to reach that threshold; the first one called on the commission to implement the human right to water and sanitation.)E.U. member states have different regulations in the area of embryonic stem cell research, ranging from very permissive—for example in Belgium, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, where creating embryos for research purposes is allowed—to very restrictive—as in Poland and Lithuania, where research with embryonic stem cells is illegal.As far as E.U. funding is concerned, member states have agreed to disagree. Under the European Union’s 7-year research program Horizon 2020, which started this year, the union does not sponsor research that is illegal in the country where it would take place. In addition, the commission never funds research activities that create human embryos for research purposes. But the proponents of the One of Us initiative say this arrangement is too lax; they argue that no E.U. money at all should go to research activities that destroy human embryos. This would block funding for stem cell research using leftover embryos from in vitro fertilization.“The dogma underlying [the plea] is that as soon as the ovum is [fertilized], there is a person with a soul,” says Charles Susanne, a retired biology and anthropology professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles who now studies bioethical issues. “Based on this principle, it’s natural to reject abortion or research using embryos of no more than 4 or 8 cells.”In its legislative proposal, One of Us refers to the 2011 ruling of the European Court of Justice in a case known as Brüstle v. Greenpeace, which stated that processes and products involving human embryonic stem cells are not patentable in the European Union. The judgment “indicates that fecundation is the beginning of human life and in the name of human dignity excludes the patenting of any procedure that involves or supposes the destruction of a human embryo,” the organizers write. The European Union should apply that principle across the board, they argue.Julian Hitchcock, a life sciences lawyer at the London-based firm Lawford Davies Denoon, says that argument can’t withstand legal scrutiny. The court’s ruling was limited to biotechnology patents and can’t be read as a general statement about where life and human dignity begin, Hitchcock says.Under the previous E.U. research program, from 2007 to 2013, the European Union spent €156.7 million on 27 collaborative projects in health research involving the use of human embryonic stem cells, a commission spokesman says. “Europe is currently a global leader in these competitive research areas, and clinical trials are already underway resulting from stem cell research,” today’s joint statement from the scientific organizations says. “Any move to restrict research using embryos will threaten this position, and prevent researchers developing vital treatments for patients.”Observers say it is hard to predict if the Eropean Commission will reopen discussions on its hard-won agreement. “A priori I would hope not, since the decision has already been made … to keep the compromise” under Horizon 2020, Susanne says.One of Us, which boasted the support of Pope Benedict XVI, says it has received about €160,000 from three pro-life foundations in Spain and Italy in the past 2 years.
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The Shiv Sena on Monday took a swipe at its one-time ally, the BJP, over the “paltry” financial assistance announced by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to the farmers affected by unseasonal rains.Mr. Koshyari had on Saturday granted relief of ₹8,000 per hectare up to two hectares for agricultural Kharif crops and ₹18,000 per hectare up to two hectares for horticulture/perennial crops. In an editorial in the party mouthpiece “Saamana”, the Sena said the BJP, which is in power at the Centre, left the affected farmers in the state “disappointed” with the “meagre” relief.“Farmers in Maharashtra were expecting the governor would announce a major relief package for them. But the ₹8,000 per hectare aid for kharif crops and ₹12,000 for horticulture plantation is very less,” the editorial said. The Sena has demanded a compensation of ₹25,000 per hectare for the Kharif (summer) crops destroyed due to the double whammy of the unseasonal rains and delayed retreat of south-west monsoon in October.Interestingly, the NCP and the Congress with whom the Sena is trying to form a coalition government in the state, had termed the assistance “meagre” too and demanded it be raised to at least ₹25,000 crore. Maharashtra has been under President’s Rule since November 12, as no political party could form a government in the wake of a fractured mandate in the assembly polls that failed to elect a clear winner.“State BJP president Chandrakant Patil admitted that the announced amount was very low, but does it (the BJP) have courage to condemn the same and stand behind farmers? There is a difference between what BJP leaders are saying and their actual action,” it said. Farmers in Marathwada and North Maharashtra regions were worst affected by the unseasonal rains.“The State is under Central Rule at present. Farmers from more than 350 tehsils were expecting some concrete measures from the governor and the Union government like allocation of a revised financial support, but they were left disappointed,” the Sena said. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party further said that crops over approximately 94 lakh hectares were damaged, affecting more than one crore people directly dependent on agriculture.“If crop insurance companies refuse to assess the damage then it would further worsen the situation of farmers because they would not be able to get any compensation,” Sena said. The saffron party has been aggressively demanding that insurance companies expedite the process to pay compensation to the rain-hit farmers.“Untimely rains also affected fishermen who need to be compensated accordingly,” the Sena demanded. The then Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, had on November 2 approved ₹10,000 crore as a special assistance for affected farmers. The Sena feared a cascading effect on sowing of Rabi (winter) crops if the farmers are not paid adequate compensation immediately. Measures like a complete loan waiver for farmers were reportedly discussed ahead of finalising the draft Common Minimum Programme (CMP) for the Shiv Sena, the Congress and the NCP. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar had last week visited the affected farmers in Vidarbha region in east Maharashtra.
Team Lakay’s rough start lights a fire under Danny Kingad PLAY LIST 01:04Team Lakay’s rough start lights a fire under Danny Kingad00:59Sports venues to be ready in time for SEA Games00:50Trending Articles01:37Protesters burn down Iran consulate in Najaf01:47Panelo casts doubts on Robredo’s drug war ‘discoveries’01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games Read Next With thousands of home fans screaming his name, Kingad tried to assert his offense on the Brazilian but it was Moraes who immediately got the upper hand in the opening minute of the first round sending the Team Lakay member to the mat.Moraes (17-2), who was making his first defense of the ONE undisputed flyweight belt, then methodically tired out Kingad on the ground before transitioning to the rear naked choke 15 seconds left in the fight.READ: Danny Kingad: student by day, fighter by night Kingad, though, didn’t leave himself down for too long as he knows he got the valuable experience of fighting in a title fight that would help him in the long run.“I will go back again and train,” said Kingad. “We will have future chances and we will get that belt for the country.”ADVERTISEMENT Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH Kammuri turning to super typhoon less likely but possible — Pagasa QC cops nab robbery gang leader, cohort MOST READ John Lloyd Cruz a dashing guest at Vhong Navarro’s wedding Japan ex-PM Nakasone who boosted ties with US dies at 101 Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. 
Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.netDanny Kingad came into ONE Championship’s Legends of the World card ready to take his shot at destiny.With a five-fight winning streak under his belt, Kingad beamed with confidence and stared at ONE flyweight champion Adriano Moraes with the intent of taking the belt for himself.ADVERTISEMENT UP dumps NU in last elims game, but Final 4 status still in limbo Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC LATEST STORIES Stronger peso trims PH debt value to P7.9 trillion The fight lasted 4:45— with Kingad tapping out to Moraes’ rear naked choke.READ: Kingad fails to take ONE flyweight title as Moraes retains beltFEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSSEA Games: Philippines picks up 1st win in men’s water poloSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutHumbled and beaten, Kingad knew it still wasn’t his chance to become the top flyweight in the promotion.“All I can say is it isn’t my time yet to be a champion,” said Kingad (5-1) in Filipino Friday at Mall of Asia Arena. CPP denies ‘Ka Diego’ arrest caused ‘mass panic’ among S. Tagalog NPA View comments
MOST READ Kammuri turning to super typhoon less likely but possible — Pagasa The Supreme Court said that Pistorius “displays a lack of remorse, and does not appreciate the gravity ofhis actions.”Pistorius’ brother, Carl, wrote on Twitter: “Shattered. Heartbroken. Gutted.” A spokesman for the Pistorius family didn’t answer calls from the AP.Pistorius should have been sentenced to the prescribed minimum of 15 years for murder, Seriti said, as he delivered the verdict of a panel of five judges at the Supreme Court in the central city of Bloemfontein. There is no death penalty in South Africa.The new sentence of 13 years and five months took into account the one year and seven months Pistorius served in prison and under house arrest after his initial manslaughter conviction.The new sentence was backdated to start on the day he began his murder sentence, on July 6 last year.The decision by the five judges was unanimous, Seriti said.ADVERTISEMENT It’s rare for the Supreme Court to change the sentences handed down by trial judges so dramatically.“I did not expect the Supreme Court of Appeal to hand down such a lengthy sentence of imprisonment,” legalanalyst Ulrich Roux said on the eNCA news channel. “But, if one looks at what the law states, and given the fact that murder does carry the minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, I think the decision could be vindicated.”Pistorius must serve at least half of the 13 years and five months — nearly seven years — before he can be considered for parole. He has served a year and five months of his murder sentence.Pistorius, who turned 31 on Wednesday, is being held at the Atteridgeville Correctional Centre on the outskirts of the South African capital, Pretoria.Friday’s Supreme Court decision also has possible consequences for where he is held for the remainder of his sentence. Pistorius was moved from the high security Kgosi Mampuru II Prison in central Pretoria to Atteridgeville, which houses prisoners sentenced to six years or less. Pistorius might now be moved back to a higher security facility.The ruling could also bring an end to a near five-year legal saga surrounding the double-amputee athlete, a multiple Paralympic champion and record-breaker who was the first amputee to run at the Olympics and one of the most celebrated sportsmen in the world.Pistorius’ lawyers have just one avenue open to them if they want to challenge the new sentence handed down by the Supreme Court, and that is to appeal to the Constitutional Court, the highest court in South Africa.Pistorius failed with an appeal to the Constitutional Court last year to challenge his murder conviction. FILE – In this July 6, 2016, file photo, Oscar Pistorius, center, arrives at the High Court in Pretoria, South Africa, for a sentencing hearing for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his home on Valentine’s Day 2013. Pistorius has had his prison sentence extended to 13 years and 5 months in the High Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Shiraaz Mohamed, File)SOMERSET WEST, South Africa — Oscar Pistorius’ prison sentence was increased to 13 years and five months by South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal on Friday, more than doubling the Olympic runner’s jail term for the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.In an announcement that took a matter of minutes, Supreme Court Justice Willie Seriti said the Supreme Court upheld an appeal by prosecutors against Pistorius’ original six-year sentence for shooting Steenkamp multiple times in his home in 2013.ADVERTISEMENT View comments Kris Aquino ‘pretty chill about becoming irrelevant’ LATEST STORIES Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC Terrence Romeo insists injury is main reason for Gilas absence Read Next Steenkamp’s parents were “emotional” as they watched the court proceedings live on television at home, family lawyer Tania Koen said.“They feel there has been justice for Reeva. She can now rest in peace,” Koen told The Associated Press. “But at the same time, people must realize that people think this is the end of the road for them … the fact is they still live with Reeva’s loss every day.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSSEA Games: Philippines picks up 1st win in men’s water poloSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutPistorius killed Steenkamp in the pre-dawn hours of Valentine’s Day 2013 after shooting four times through a closed toilet cubicle door with his 9mm pistol. He claimed he mistook the 29-year-old model and reality TV star for an intruder and was initially convicted of manslaughter by trial judge Thokozile Masipa. That conviction was overturned and replaced with a murder conviction by the Supreme Court in 2015. He was then sentenced to six years for murder by Masipa, a decision also now rejected by the Supreme Court.Prosecutors called the six-year sentence much too lenient and the Supreme Court agreed, saying in a full written ruling released later that “the sentence of six years’ imprisonment is shockingly lenient to a point where it has the effect of trivialising this serious offence.” QC cops nab robbery gang leader, cohort Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. CPP denies ‘Ka Diego’ arrest caused ‘mass panic’ among S. Tagalog NPA Stronger peso trims PH debt value to P7.9 trillion Japan ex-PM Nakasone who boosted ties with US dies at 101 Albayalde endorsed award, promotion for self and 13 Pampanga cops PLAY LIST 03:02Albayalde endorsed award, promotion for self and 13 Pampanga cops02:31Duterte had wanted Albayalde to take terminal leave — Go02:37Albayalde insists: Aquino not influenced on order vs 13 Pampanga cops01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City
View comments Walton said Ball will also miss Sunday’s game at Oklahoma City because the schedule won’t give Ball time to test the knee in training.“Today was our last real practice,” Walton said. “Saturday will be a shootaround and he will not play before he practices, so he is out until at least we get home.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSLillard, Anthony lead Blazers over ThunderSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutBall, sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee on January 13 in a game against the Dallas Mavericks.Through Sunday he will have missed 10 games recovering. Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)New York, United States — Lonzo Ball will miss the last two games of the Los Angeles Lakers’ current road trip as he recovers from a sprained knee ligament, coach Luke Walton said Thursday.Ball is travelling with the team but didn’t practice in Brooklyn on Thursday ahead of Friday’s game against the Nets.ADVERTISEMENT MOST READ Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC Read Next John Lloyd Cruz a dashing guest at Vhong Navarro’s wedding Pelicans acquire Mirotic from Bulls for 3 players and pick LATEST STORIES 2 ‘newbie’ drug pushers fall in Lucena sting
Globe Business launches leading cloud-enabled and hardware-agnostic conferencing platform in PH NEXT BLOCK ASIA 2.0 introduces GURUS AWARDS to recognize and reward industry influencers Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles00:59Sports venues to be ready in time for SEA Games01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH He missed six with a sprained shoulder in December and January.Walton indicated at the weekend that the Lakers won’t rush Ball, the second overall selection in last June’s draft.“He’ll be back when he’s ready to play,” Walton said on Saturday. “Whenever his knee feels good. Once he gets cleared it will be about getting him into practice and seeing how he feels the day after that, and we’ll start going from there.”ADVERTISEMENT Slow and steady hope for near-extinct Bangladesh tortoises AFP official booed out of forum Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. 
Pagasa: Kammuri now a typhoon, may enter PAR by weekend Lacson: SEA Games fund put in foundation like ‘Napoles case’ LOOK: Jane De Leon meets fellow ‘Darna’ Marian Rivera The Jawbreakers suffered their fourth straight defeat and stayed at the cellar with a 1-7 record.The scores:TANDUAY 141 – Martinez 23, Gaco 21, Sanga 20, Varilla 15, Alvarez 11, Villamor 10, Eguilos 9, Vigil 9, Terso 7, Santos 5, Sollano 5, Palma 2, Taganas 2, Tambeling 2.ZARK’S BURGERS 65 – Celiz 13, Ferrer 12, Bautista 11, De Leon 10, Cudal 6, Cariaga 5, Mangahas 5, Nalos 2, Argamino 1, Cayabyab 0, De Ocampo 0.Quarters: 35-6, 58-29, 95-45, 141-65.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Lesnar barely survives Joe at WWE Great Balls of Fire China furious as Trump signs bills in support of Hong Kong Paul Sanga added 20 points and four rebounds, and had the privilege to secure the record-setting basket with an undergoal stab in the dwindling seconds of the game.Paul Varilla added 15 markers and eight boards, as all 14 players were able to log at least two points in the blowout.Chongson attributed the huge conquest to the team’s collective resolve as Tanduay sought to bounce back from its 104-89 loss to Flying V last Thursday.“It just so happened that we started strong. We’re coming from a loss and all we wanted was going on Thursday’s game because we want to have momentum in our game against Batangas,” he said as the Rhum Masters forced a three-way tie at third place with CEU and Batangas, all carrying an identical 4-2 slate.Robby Celiz paced Zark’s Burgers with 13 points, three rebounds, and two assists, while Jerome Ferrer got 12 markers and four boards.ADVERTISEMENT Jerwin Gaco. PBA IMAGESTanduay annihilated Zark’s Burgers in record-setting fashion, 141-65, Monday in the 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.The Rhum Masters set new PBA D-League records for most points scored in a game, eclipsing Racal Motors’ previous 140 against the Jawbreakers last June 8, and the biggest winning margin, topping the 67-point blowout by Cignal over Gamboa Coffee Mix last June 15.ADVERTISEMENT But Tanduay coach Lawrence Chongson downplayed his team’s feat and said what’s important to him and the players is winning.“Those records mean nothing if we don’t make it to the next round. The only record we want is to be a champion,” he said.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSSEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completionSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingSPORTSWin or don’t eat: the Philippines’ poverty-driven, world-beating pool starsJerwin Gaco wasted no time as he set the tone early, uncorking 14 of his 21 points during the Rhum Masters’ 35-6 start. He also had eight rebounds and three assists in the victory.James Martinez also had a hand in the rout as he went 5-of-8 from threes to finish with 23 markers on top of nine assists and two rebounds. El Nido residents told to vacate beach homes
Pagasa: Storm intensifies as it nears PAR MOST READ Ethel Booba on hotel’s clarification that ‘kikiam’ is ‘chicken sausage’: ‘Kung di pa pansinin, baka isipin nila ok lang’ Another vape smoker nabbed in Lucena Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games View comments Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. LATEST STORIES
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The stormy petrel of West Bengal politics, Mamata Banerjee has single handedly wrecked the red bastion in West Bengal ending Left Front’s uninterrupted 34-year-old rule after perfecting the art of the impossible.The feisty 56-year-old Banerjee, who is the founder and chairperson of the Trinamool Congress which she set up in 1998 after falling out with the Congress Party in West Bengal, can now have the satisfaction of a victorious General seeing all the war plans fall into place.For years the face of the Opposition in West Bengal, Banerjee, known to her supporters as ‘Didi’ (sister) has been the nemesis of the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Front over the last 23 years and has earned the reputation of being a street-fighting politician.Maverick and emotional, she first hogged the limelight by blocking Jayaprakash Narayan’s convoy by throwing herself on the ground when he came to Kolkata to organise the masses against Indira Gandhi before Emergency.Banerjee, a firebrand orator, coined a catchy slogan “Ma, Mati o Manush” (Mother, Land and People) before last year’s Lok Sabha polls and played on the anti-incumbency factor after more than three decades of Left rule and the creeping disillusionment among several sections, like Muslims, to decimate the Left in partnership with the Congress.A leader with mass appeal known for her humble lifestyle, the seven-time MP successfully sold a vision of development, cashing in on the deep resentment among the middle classes and unemployed youths, promising jobs and development.Her nondescript residence–a tiled single-storey house in a dingy lane close to the Kalighat temple–and equally simple attire comprising cotton saris, jhola bags and cheap hawai chappals, endeared her to the masses.advertisementBanerjee had to shoulder multiple responsibilities– political strategist, union minister, chief poll campaigner and trouble shooter in her focus to dislodge the world’s longest democratically-elected communist government in a state.It has not been an easy journey though for the current Union Railway Minister who turned her call for ‘Parivartan’ (change) into a reality with ally Congress throwing its full weight behind her. But her energy, charisma and political astutenes made Banerjee one of the few mass leaders in the country.As a 29-year-old, Banerjee shot to limelight by pulling off a stunning victory over CPI-M heavyweight and now expelled party leader Somnath Chatterjee in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections in the Jadavpur constituency to become one of the youngest MPs.Born to a lower middle class family and daughter of freedom fighter Promileswar Banerjee, she entered politics by joining the Chhatra Parishad, the student wing of Congress, while studying at the Jogmaya Debi College in Kolkata in the 1970s. .Graduating to party politics, Mamata was general secretary of the West Bengal Mahila Congress in 1979-80 and subsequently held other posts in Congress.Losing her seat in an anti-Congress wave in 1989, she was back in the Lok Sabha in 1991 from Kolkata South and also won the subsequent elections in 1996, 1998,1999, 2004 and 2009 from the same constituency.Banerjee’s first tryst with the corridors of power came in 1991 when she became became Union Minister of state for Human Resources Development, Youth Affairs and Sports and Women and Child Development in the P V Narasimha Rao government.But in 1996, she fell out with the Congress, calling it a ‘stooge of CPIM’. Two years later, she formed the Trinamool Congress and quickly emerged as the dominant opposition party.In 1998 and 1999, Banerjee’s party won eight and seven seats in the Lok Sabha polls respectively and joined hands with the BJP, seen in party circles as a disastrous move in hindsight.During NDA rule under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, Banerjee was Railway Minister in 1999 and for Coal and Mines in 2004. She was also a union minister without portfolio for a brief period in 2003-4.She quit as railway minister and NDA in early 2001 in the wake of the Tehelka expose into defence deals to ally with Congress for the assembly elections in West Bengal, but could make no headway against the Marxists.Banerjee had to eat humble pie and return to the NDA and the Vajpayee cabinet in January 2004 to become Coal and Mines minister till the 2004 election.In 2004, her party MP tally plummeted to one–just herself.Two years later, in the assembly election, Trinamool was routed, ending up with just 30 seats.A relentless fighter against the CPIM, Banerjee never gave up and bided her time. Her opportunity came when Nandigram and Singur exploded on the national scene. Since then it has been a story of her continuous rise.In November, 2006, Banerjee was stopped on her way to Singur in Hooghly district for a rally against the Tata Motors Nano car project, which was a turning point in the long-drawn agitation there with the Trinamool chief demanding that 400 acre of the around 1000 acre acquired be returned to farmers who were unwilling to part with their land.advertisementBanerjee also went on a fast for 25 days on a makeshift dais at busy Esplanade in Kolkata in protest against land acquisition at Singur, but called it off on December 28 following an appeal from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.But this did not resolve the problem at Singur and the agitation there started with renewed vigour under Banerjee.Ultimately, the Tatas drove out of Singur in 2008.When the agitation against land acquisition was on at Singur, the West Bengal police fired on protestors on March 14, 2007 killing 14 people at Nandigram in East Midnapore district where the state government wanted to set up a Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) on farmland.Banerjee took full advantage of the acquisition scare among the minorities in rural areas and her declared stand against special economic zones endeared her to a section of traditional Left Front supporters, who did not like hobnobbing with big capital.With her ‘Ma-Mati-Manush’ slogan, she hijacked the issues dear to the Left supporters — pension, the insurance and banking sector, privatisation, land acquisition in Nandigram and Singur, Rizwanur Rahman’s death and the Sachar Commission report.Banerjee played her cards so well that she won over certain sections that were gunning for her till the other day.She was wooed by industrialists and even Left parties.A staunch Left-wing party like SUCI, which has bases in pockets of Bengal, is now an ally of Trinamool Congress.They helped give a direction to Banerjee’s brand of politics, which hitherto had a one-point agenda of blind opposition to the CPIM.When Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee with his ‘Brand Buddha’ image started on the slippery path of industrialisation through the private sector, Banerjee checkmated him on every front.This brought her a series of electoral victories in the panchayat elections, municipal polls, Lok Sabha elections and a string of assembly bypolls after that.But her chances in 2011 was largely due to her continuing to project herself as leader of the poor and the rural have-nots, a friend of the minorities, a champion of inclusive growth and one genuinely interested in delivering the goods.For full coverage, click here.