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Death toll in train accident crosses 100

Fourteen coaches of the train travelling with more than 500 passengers rolled off track a little after 3 am in Pukhraya, 100 km from Kanpur, when most passengers were sleeping. At least 100 passengers were killed and 76 seriously injured. Witnesses were jolted awake when they heard a bang and were thrown around. "We heard a deafening noise...I am lucky to be alive and safe," a passenger said. Four coaches of the train, S1, S2, S3, S4 ,were badly damaged in the mishap. Most of the passengers were jolted out of their sleep to find themselves among mangled remains of the bogies. A team of Army doctors and rescue officials have arrived at the spot. Around 250 police officials are also involved in carrying out the rescue and relief operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the train tragedy.  It is feared that the number of deaths will rise because rescuers have not been able to access one of the coaches.

Give Trump time says Obama

U.S. President Barack Obama said that Trump to needs to be given time and not to assume the worst. "My main message to you ... and the message I delivered in Europe is don't just assume the worst," Obama told a group of young people during a question-and-answer session in Peru on Saturday.  "Wait until the administration is in place, it's actually putting its policies together, and then you can make your judgments as to whether or not it's consistent with the international community's interest in living in peace and prosperity together." "It will be important for everybody around the world to not make immediate judgments but give this new president-elect a chance to put their team together, to examine the issues, to determine what their policies will be, because as I've always said, how you campaign isn't always the same as how you govern," Obama said. Donal Trump recently won the presidential elections oner Hillary Clinton.

Jayalalitha to be shifted to private room

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha on Saturday was shifted from Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to a private room in Apollo hospital where she has been undergoing treatment for the last 59 days. Many politicians and celebrities from other walks of life visited the hospital and enquired about the health status of the CM. Many celebrities and people wished her a speedy recovery in Social media platforms. Party cadres of various levels were waiting outside the hospital campus for weeks together. There have been many special prayers conducted by various groups and individuals for the recovery of the charismatic leader. "It's a step down intensive care unit, a kind of bridge between the intensive care unit and special ward or home. Besides ventilation, it is equipped with medicines and equipment for emergency care," the doctor said. She would continue to be on tracheostomy and so visitors would be restricted. In her first public statement since hospitalisation, Jayalalithaa, besides an appeal to voters of the poll-bound four constituencies in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, said she would be back to her routine soon and described her recovery as a rebirth.

PV sindhu creates history!

Rio Olympics silver medalist PV Sindhu lifted her maiden Super Series Premier title by defeating China's Sun Yu in the final of the China Open on Sunday. She lifted the prestigious title after beating Sun 21-11, 17-21, 21-11 in the summit clash that lasted an hour and nine minutes. World No. 11 Sindhu had come into the match with a 2-3 head-to-head record but then statistics counted little when she took the court at the Haixia Olympic Sports Centre. A few errors helped Sun make it 8-10 before Sindhu entered the interval with a 11-8 advantage. Sindhu had reached her maiden Super Series final at the Denmark Open last year but the title eluded her then as she lost in straight games to 2012 Olympic champion China's Li Xuerei. Saina Nehwal had clinched the China Open in 2014 before finishing runners-up last year.

PV Sindhu wins thriller; into China Open final

A game and three match points down, PV Sindhu staged an epic comeback. She will now take on China’s own Sun Yu in Sunday’s final, whom she trails 2-3 in head-to-head. What her China Open semifinal against Korea’s Sung Ji Hyun lacked in grandeur and emotion of the Olympic final of three months ago, it made up in guts and eccentricity that one has come to associate with the 21-year-old. Seventh seed Sindhu edged out Ji Hyun, seeded sixth, 11-21 23-21 21-19 in a thrilling contest that lasted an hour and 24 minutes here. This was Sindhu's sixth win over Ji Hyun in nine encounter. The two-time bronze medallist at World Championship, Sindhu will face local favourite Sun Yu, seeded eighth, in the summit clash. Olympic silver-medallist PV Sindhu advanced to the semifinals of the China Open after defeating local favourite He Bingjiao in straight games at the USD 700,000 Super Series Premier event, on Friday. Sindhu had reached her maiden Super Series final at the Denmark Open last year but the title eluded her as she lost in straight games to 2012 Olympic champion China's Li Xuerui. 

Patna-Indore Train Derails; Over 63 Killed

At least 63 people were killed and more than 100 injured as 14 coaches of the Indore-Patna Express ran off the tracks today near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh this morning. The incident took place at around 3am near Pukhrayan, about 100 kms from Kanpur. The officials are expecting that the death toll to rise as the rescue operations are underway. A DGP-rank officer is monitoring the rescue operations, sources said. "Over 150 injured people have been rushed to nearby hospitals in the area. All hospitals have been asked to be on alert. More than 30 ambulances are pressed into service," the IG said, adding that over 250 police officials are helping carrying out rescue and relief operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had spoken to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu who was monitoring the situation closely. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted about the accident saying an inquiry had been ordered into the incident and announced compensation for the victims. "Strictest possible action will be taken against those who could be responsible," he said.

Man gets Rs 20,000 in coins from bank

  A man from Delhi got Rs 20,000 in denomination of Rs 10 coins from the bank as it ran out of notes for the day. Mr Alam, a PR professional, who stood in line for four hours outside Jamia Cooperative Bank on Friday to exchange his banned Rs. 500 and 1,000 notes, was told by the manager that the funds were insufficient and he could only exchange Rs. 2,000. But, after Mr Alam explained the manager that he needed a larger amount he finally relented to the request but with a rider - that he will get all money in 10 rupee coins. "The manager offered me 10 rupee coins after they ran out of cash," said Alam. "I agreed to take the coins rather than standing in the queue again." he said. He has already used some of the coins to pay for restaurant bills and cab fares. Mr Alam also has offers to exchange 2,000 rupee notes for the coins. The currency ban was announced suddenly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 to check tax evasion and black or untaxed money.

Raj Thackeray questions Modi

  Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray today said that everyone should appreciate the decision of demonetisation. Thackeray said that while the move should be appreciated, the country could face issues if there was no serious thought behind the action. He added that despite the support the move has received, the PM was not telling people how it would help in the future. Thackeray further said that Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes were banned without considering several aspects. He said that the government should have thought about the people and their reaction to this move. "Even the Supreme Court has shown its concern that the situation of demonetisation may turn into riots, I have also shared the same concern a few days back. If this demonetisation on Rs 500 and Rs 1000 rupee notes fails, then the country will go 20-25 years back,” he added.

TDP MP offers kidney to Sushma

  Scores of people have offered to donate kidney to 64-year-old Swaraj, who is undergoing tests for a transplant surgery at AIIMS in Delhi and on the lookout for a suitable donor. One amongst the good samaritans who are coming forward to help Sushma Swaraj Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao. In a letter addressed to the Minister, the Lok Sabha member from Narasaraopet in Andhra Pradesh expressed concern over her illness and offered one of his kidneys for a transplant procedure. “I am very sorry to hear about your health problems and you have been diagnosed with renal failure. As AIIMS doctors have advised you for renal transplant at the earliest. Madam, I shall be very grateful if you could kindly accept my offer of donation of my kidney to you for transplant,” he said in the letter. Swaraj has been flooded with wishes from politicians cutting across party lines as well as from a cross-section of society.

Ulfa attack in Assam;3 Jawans Martyred

  Three jawans of the Army were killed and three others seriously injured in an ambush carried out by a joint group of ULFA and NSCN(K) militants near the oil town of Digboi in Tinsukia district in eastern Assam early Saturday morning. The soldiers were killed while another was injured in an IED blast in Assam's Digboi area, which took place as the soldiers were travelling in an Army vehicle. Another soldier was injured in the IED blast, a Defence spokesperson said. Condenmning the incident Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal asked the security forces to immediately launch a massive operation against the militants. “Nobody should be spared. This is an act of cowardice,” Sonowal, who asked DGP Mukesh Sahay to rush to the spot, said in Guwahati. Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke to Sonowal and took stock of the situation. Officials said that the the injured were airlifted to a nearby army base hospital.

Notes exchange only for Senior Citizens today

  All banks will serve only their respective customers on Saturday and will not exchange the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes from customers of other banks. However, senior citizens are exempted and they can go to any bank branch to exchange notes on Saturday, said the Indian Banks' Association. "All these days our own customers have suffered because we have not been able to do their work. So, we have seen lot of pending work at branches especially for our existing customers. We, from IBA, have taken a view that tomorrow, that is, on Saturday, we shall be exclusively doing work for our own customers. And tomorrow we will not be doing exchange of notes (for outside customers)," IBA chairman Rajeev Rishi said. Since Wednesday, banks have started applying indelible ink mark on the right hand index finger of customers in the select metro cities to stop repeat money exchangers thronging banks with invalid currency notes. "For the last one week, we have been seeing huge rush but for the last two-three days after we introduced the inking of finger we have seen a visible reduction in the rush at branches. The queues have shortened," Rishi said.

Why is Jayalalitha still in ICU

  Today Apollo Hospital Chief said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha has recovered completely.“Right now other systems of her body are being pepped up; her mental functions are fine,” he added.She’s in the ICU to avoid cross infection. Prathap Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospital, where Jayalalithaa has been undergoing treatment, said that her mental functions are fine. "However, tracheostomy tube is still there in the windpipe. It is used once in a day for about 15-20 minutes to inflate her lungs to ensure that her lungs don't collapse," Reddy said. "Though she can live beautifully without ventilator support, still we put her on and off the ventilator to ensure that her lungs won't collapse," he said. "I can confidently say our efforts and people's prayers have produced good results. She can leave hospital any time she wants. We keep her in hospital because her other systems needs to be pepped up," he said. Reddy further added, "I don't see her often but last time we had a good conversation. I can't dictate her to go to work or not. She has a passion for work and she will get back as soon as possible."

EC: Don't Use Indelible Ink in Banks

  The Election Commission has asked the government to stop using indelible ink to check multiple exchanges by people at different branches after the notes ban. As this might create problems in states going to polls. Five states will hold by-polls on Saturday, the Election Commission has said, and the government should ensure that the use of indelible ink on people exchanging banned Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes does not cause a problem when they vote. While Uttar Pradesh and Punjab are headed for assembly polls early next year. The government has said that indelible ink would be used to mark the right hand, not the left, because of elections in states including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. Bottles have been airlifted to cities across India. The government announced the inking on Tuesday after revenue intelligence agencies reported that those with black or untaxed money were making innocent people stand in multiple queues each day to exchange their illegal money, Rs. 4500 at a time.

Now Withdraw Rs. 2,000 at Petrol Pumps

  2,500 select petrol pumps of the country will be dispensing Rs. 2,000 per day per person against debit and credit cards. People can get cash at select petrol pumps with SBI machines by swiping their debit cards, the latest announcement aimed at tackling long queues of people turning up at banks and ATMs to exchange or deposit Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 banknotes that were withdrawn last week. Over the next three days, the facility will be extended to 20,000 outlets that have card swipe machines from HDFC Bank, Citibank and ICICI Bank. The pumps need to have a State Bank of India Point of Sale machine. These are machines that are used for debit or credit card transactions. The cash will be dispensed by the pump attendants after the card is swiped. Petrol pumps are already accepting Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and will continue to do so till November 24, the release said. The move by oil companies is expected to reduce queues at banks, especially for those who need to exchange old notes for new.

Wanted to never leave the house: Hillary

Making her first public appearance after her concession speech following her surprise loss a week ago, the Democratic candidate said she had wanted to "curl up with a good book and never leave the house again". "Now I will admit coming here tonight wasn't the easiest thing for me," she said as she was honoured by the Children's Defense Fund. She continued: "I know many of you are deeply disappointed about the results of the election. I am, too, more than I can ever express. "I know this isn't easy. I know that over the past week a lot of people have asked themselves whether America is the country we thought it was. She continued, "America is still the greatest country in the world. This is still the place where anyone can beat the odds. It's up to each and every one of us to keep working to make America better and stronger and fairer." "I know this isn't easy. I know that over the past week a lot of people have asked themselves whether America is the country we thought it was. The divisions laid bare by this election run deep, but please listen to me when I say this. America is worth it. Our children are worth it. Believe in our country, fight for our values and never, ever give up," she added.

Mamata & Kejriwal Set 3-Day Deadline to Govt

  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee along with her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to demonetise Rs.500 and Rs.1000 currency notes. "Prime Minister Modi has broken constitutional rules...Why did not you (Modi) make a proper plan before the implementation (of demonetisation). The common man is suffering due to it. We are giving you three days. If you do not fix all problems, we will not leave you. We are still alive," vowed Mamata Banerjee, who is West Bengal Chief Minister. Joining her on the stage, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal launched a blistering attack against the Centre. He said that demonetisation is the biggest scam of Independent India. "People will deposit Rs.10 lakh crore and Modiji will waive off loans amounting to Rs.8 lakh crore given to his corporate friends," he claimed. "Take back this decision in three days... Don't test people's patience. Otherwise, there will be a 'bhagawat' (revolt) by people," he said.

22,500 ATMs recalibrated today: Jaitley

  Finance minister Arun Jaitley said 22,500 ATMs will be programmed on Thursday to dispense new currency that have a fresh design and size. The government's demonetization move took out Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes from the system. The government had said that the decommissioned notes would be replaced with Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes, several ATMs are now dispensing the new notes. But even Thursday’s announcement will serve just around 10% of India’s more than 200,000 ATMs. The government has previously admitted that the entire exercise of recalibrating ATMs will take at least three weeks. Meanwhile, there was talk about the government introducing new Rs 1,000 notes also. However, Jaitley said "Rs 1,000 notes will not be reintroduced for now." In a bid to ease crowding outside banks, the government announced on Thursday that the limit for a one-time exchange of old notes was slashed from Rs 4,500 to Rs 2,000. Jaitley said the move was aimed at reducing the misuse of funds.

Cash limits eased for weddings & farmers

  In a huge relief to the farmers and families who have an upcoming wedding to make arrangements for, the government has eased the cash limit in the latest modification and relaxation in the demonetisation drive rules. Families can withdraw Rs. 2.5 lakh in one go for weddings but only from one account, based on self-declaration. In the wedding season, the notes ban has led to a severe crisis for families who had withdrawn cash in bulk just before the demonetisation. The rules have also been changed for farmers who will be able to withdraw Rs 25,000 per week against loans sanctioned to them to buy seeds and fertilizers and credited to their accounts. The time limit for the payment of insurance premium on crop loan has been extended by 15 days. This was announced by Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das on Thursday morning. The limit for swapping notes at banks has been reduced from Rs. 4,500 to Rs. 2,000 for each person from Friday. Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das said this would give more people a chance to exchange banned Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes. Traders in vegetable wholesale markets can withdraw Rs. 50,000 a week to pay for expenses like wages. Das also announced that Central government employees up to group C will be allowed to draw salary advance up to Rs 10,000 in cash that'll be adjusted against their November salaries.

Dog forces Kohli to wait for century in Vizag!

  The second test match between India and England started today at Vizag with India choosing to bat and losing some early wickets, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara steadied the ship for India. The second session of Day 1 was brought to a premature end after a dog entered the field and just refused to leave, which forced the match officials to call for early tea. Making Kohli and Pujara's wait for centuries a little longer. Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Virat Kohli were batting fluently on 97 and 91 respectively, having strung together a solid 188-run unbeaten stand for the third wicket to put the hosts in firm control of the proceedings, before the canine decided to pay the players a little visit at the centre. However, post Tea, with the unexpected visitor choosing to leave the field, play continued as Kohli and Pujara both reached triple-figure marks. This is not the first time that a dog has interrupted play at the venue. A canine had made a appearance during the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) and Delhi Daredevils (DD) in May earlier this year.