12 coaches of train derail in Kerala; no casualties

It was a miraculous escape for hundreds of commuters travelling in the Thiruvanthapuram-Mangalru Express as 12 coaches of the train derailed at Karukutty, around 45 kms from Kochi at 2.20 a.m. on Sunday. A possible major collision was also averted as the Chennai-Trivandrum train coming towards Ernakulam was stopped around 300 metres away from the accident spot. No injuries or casualties were reported. However, train traffic on both the tracks have been severely affected, with railway authorities cancelling and diverting many trains, including express services. The stranded were fed breakfast and a special train carrying them to Mangaluru left Chalakudy at 7.30 a.m. “We were sleeping and woke up by hearing a big sound around 2.20 a.m. and train coming to a halt. It was raining and we smelled of the accident", said one passenger. The 12 coaches tilted over the rails onto the ballast rather than overturn. The repair works is expected to take at least 10 hours as the railway officials, police and rescue workers work together to restore the damaged tracks. The derailment has blocked both lines of the route on Ernakulam-Thrissur route, a Southern Railway spokesman said. "The cause of the accident has to be investigated. The tracks have been damaged for about 200 metres. Passengers panicked as the incident happened in the night hours. However, we managed to launch rescue operations at the earliest," said a senior railway official attached to the Thiruvananthapuram railway division.

Wife & daughter are christian:Pawan Kalyan

"I'm here to speak about Jana Sena party, performance of TDP government and delay in according special status and fulfilling other promises," Pawan Kalyan said while addressing the gathering at Indira Stadium in Tirupati. Pawan Kalyan's electrifying speech at Tirupathi sent out a strong message to the centre and the state on the issue of special status for Andhra Pradesh. Focus on issues like special status to Andhra not Gau Rakshaks he said. The speech wasn't just political, it was personal. "I am above caste, religionand region. My daughter is a Christian. When my wife said she wanted her to be baptised in a church in Russia, I readily agreed. Though I am a Hindu, I have respect for other religions because I believe that all religions lead to the same God," the actor said. He also spoke on how he will not merge his party with any other party. "I like the BJP but there is no commonality between it and Jana Sena on some issues," he pointed out. "A few months after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, I attended his swearing-in ceremony, BJP national president came to Hyderabad and we met. The BJP president told me that regional parties have no future and hence wanted me to join his party. I told him clearly that Jana Sena was born for the Telugu people. It has a nationalist approach though it's a regional party," Kalyan recalled.  "When I campaigned for TDP-BJP Combine, few leaders criticized me for being a sidekick of Modi and Chandrababu.  I'm here for People not for pampering either Narendra Modi or Chandrababu Naidu" Pawan Kalyan 

Pawan Kalyan lashes out at the Central Government

While addressing a public meeting in Tirupati  after a gap of two years, Power star Pawan Kalyan protested against the Centre for not according a special category status  to Andhra Pradesh. The Jana Sena founder announced a three-phase agitation. "We are not begging or asking for alms. Andhra Pradesh is asking for its rights", he said. "I like the BJP but there is no commonality between it and Jana Sena on some issues," he pointed out. Pawan Kalyan displayed varied emotions during his one hour-long address, often cracking jokes on himself. "I am not passionate about films but I will continue to act. I don't have money, so will have to act. Unless you people buy tickets and watch my movies, I don't get money. You people didn't watch my last film Sardar well and I suffered (financially)," Kalyan quipped. He rubbished the criticism that he is a champion of one caste. "They say that when I raise the issue of farmers in Amaravti. And when I show a little bit of appreciation for Chandrababu Naidu, I'm described as a TDP stooge. I am not a stooge of Modi or Naidu. I am a stooge of the people," Pawan Kalyan said.  The speech wasn't just political, it was personal. "I am above caste, religion and region. My daughter is a Christian. When my wife said she wanted her to be baptised in a church in Russia, I readily agreed. Though I am a Hindu, I have respect for other religions because I believe that all religions lead to the same God," the actor said.

Pak appoints 22 special envoys to raise Kashmir issue

  In yet another attempt to interfere in India's internal matters, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has nominated 22 parliamentarians as special envoys to highlight the Kashmir issue. "I have decided to send these parliamentarians for fighting the Kashmir cause in different parts of the world. These special envoys have strength of the people of Pakistan, prayers from the Kashmiri people across the Line of Control, mandate of the Parliament and support from the government", Pakistani news outlets reported the country's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as saying. "I am standing behind these special envoys to ensure their toil for highlighting the Kashmir Cause resonates across the world so that I can shake the collective conscience of the international community during my address at the UN this September", he added.   India has taken an aggressive line against Pakistan in recent weeks, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi telling Islamabad that he would be forced to raise international attention to human rights abuses in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province if Islamabad continued to incite violence and terrorism in Kashmir. Earlier, India had warned Pakistan over its "deplorable meddling" and asked it to "vacate its illegal occupation of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir". After Pakistan observed a 'Black Day' on July 20, following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with Indian security forces, India said that it strongly condemned the "encouragement and support" which "terrorists and their activities receive from Pakistan's state".

Modi sets up task force for better Olympic results

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the setting up of a task force which will help to plan for the “effective participation” of Indian sportspersons in the next three Olympics, to be held in 2020, 2024 and 2028. The task force - which will include experts from both within the country and abroad - will prep an overall strategy for sports facilities, training and selection of athletes for the next three Olympics. India’s gymnastics star Dipa Karmakar has welcomed Prime Minister’s announcement of setting up a task force to prepare an action plan for the next three Olympic Games. “I want to thank (Narendra Modi) sir. I hope we get many medals in the coming Olympics. Results will surely be really good,” Karmakar told media. The 23-year-old, hailing from Agartala, missed the bronze medal at the recently concluded Rio Olympics by 0.150 points.   “Mr. Modi wants the task force in place with a very long-term plan for three Olympics, because he wants to break the myopia with regard to training for a premier sporting event like the Olympics. He is very clear that whatever is required in terms of sports infrastructure from the government is provided well in time. It is clear to him that champions are reared in generational terms,” said an official. The vision was apparent when at the request of Sachin Tendulkar, asking the PM to talk about Indian athletes in his Independence Day speech, Modi did not wait for August 15 and tweeted, “I appreciate the thought of @sachin_rt but I want to add-why wait for 15th August to speak about the subject. I want to do so now.”

PM Modi took an initiative, it's upto Pak to respond

  Shortly after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jammu and Kashmir chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday blamed Pakistan for provoking violence in Kashmir and also said she favoured talks with "only those who want peace" in the Valley. "I am happy that PM Modi not just took intiative and invited Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his oath ceremony, but he went to Lahore himself." she added, "PM Modi took an initiative, our HM took an initiative. They went to Pakistan, but now it's upto Pakistan to respond." She also said, "I appeal to all those protesters. You may be angry with me, I may be angry with you, But please give me one chance. I've been chief minister for only two months now," she said issuing a call for calm in the Valley which has been under curfew for 48 days now. She said the Prime Minister was very concerned about the ongoing bloodshed. "95% of people in Kashmir wants peace," she added.   Sixty-nine people have been killed and thousands injured in the Valley in clashes after Wani’s death on July 8. Pakistani leaders have criticised India over the unrest. For its part, India has accused Islamabad of interfering in New Delhi’s internal affairs and stoking tension in Kashmir. “I want to tell Pakistan, if it has any sympathy for Kashmiris, it shouldn’t provoke them to attack police stations -- and save youth from being killed,” the chief minister said. Earlier this week, the Prime Minister had a meeting with a delegation of opposition parties from the state led by former chief minister Omar Abdullah. The Prime Minister had expressed his deep concern and pain over the situation in the valley and asked all political parties to work together to find a permanent and lasting solution to problems in the state.

US student visas: Hyd 5th in the world

  There are more than 200 US consulates and embassies across the globe. The US consulate general in Hyderabad issues the fifth highest number of student visas in the world and the highest in the country. The number of US Visas issued for business and tourism to Indians has gone up by 81 per cent over visas issued five years ago and in all categories, the number of visas topped one million mark last year. Michele Thoren Bond, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, said the growth in visas has come through across different categories, including student, business and tourists. Addressing a media conference here, she said the growth in issue of visas over the years is a vivid reflection of the people to people interface between the two countries. This can only get further strengthened as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama have decided to consider 2017 as the year of tourism to encourage travel and tourists.   Speaking at a media interaction in the city, Bond reiterated that a large number of Indian students were pursuing their studies at American universities and said that they comprise the second largest community of students in the US with more than 1,32,000 members. According to 2015 data, visas were given to around 60,000 Indian students by the US mission in the country that year with a large number being issued by the US consulate general in Hyderabad. Further, of the 1,38,000 H1-B visas sanctioned per year across the world, Indi ans are issued a majority of them, she said.