India Meteorological Department has said that the cyclonic storm Kyarr is likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours.

The speed of gale wind reaching 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph is prevailing around the system centre over the East-central Arabian Sea. It is very likely to reach 120-130 kmph gusting to 145 kmph on Saturday.

Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places is likely over coastal districts of Karnataka, Goa and south Konkan and isolated heavy rainfall over north Konkan during next 12 hours.

The wind speed may increase, further becoming 170-180 kmph and touching up to 200 kmph by Sunday morning around the system centre. It is very likely to become phenomenal around the system centre over the west-central Arabian Sea from October 28 to 31.

Goa government has issued a warning as heavy rains and strong winds triggered by the cyclone Kyarr in the Arabian Sea disrupted normal life in the state. Goa University has cancelled all exams scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

Karnataka was crowned the 2019-20 Vijay Hazare Champions as they beat Tamil Nadu by nine wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at Bengaluru. Abhimanyu Mithun and Mayank Agarwal put on a masterclass performance as Karnataka won their fourth Vijay Hazare Trophy title with a dominant display against Tamil Nadu via VJD method.

As per VJD method, Karnataka should have been 86/1 in 23 overs. Karnataka were well ahead with 146/1, 23 overs. Mayank Agarwal 69 and K L Rahul 52 not out and Abhimanyu Mithun 5/34 starred for Karnataka in the final in Bengaluru. The final was called off due to persistent rains.

Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Union Minister of State for PMO Dr Jitendra Singh on Thursday attended a ceremony to rename 'Chenani Nashri Tunnel' as 'Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Tunnel'.

The 'Chenani-Nashri Highway Tunnel' is not only India's longest highway tunnel but also Asia's longest bi-directional highway tunnel.

The tunnel is 9 km long officially making it the longest road tunnel in India. It is a two-lane main tunnel with a parallel escape tunnel of the same length located at an elevation of 1200 meters.

It is located in the lower Himalayan mountain range, between Udhampur and Ramban in Jammu & Kashmir.

Gadkari paid tributes to Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Tunnel for his sacrifice for the nation.

Indian Railways has launched ‘One-touch ATVM’ at 42 suburban stations of Central Railway to offer fast ticketing to millions of commuters over Mumbai Suburban Network. Railway passenger can avail the service of this new machine at 42 suburban stations. This new machine will reduce the waiting time of the passengers and allow passengers to avoid standing in long queues.

The new machine is loaded with the user-friendly and uncomplicated procedure which will greatly ease the load on ticketing system of Mumbai Suburban Network. A total of 92 ATVMs has been installed at 42 suburban stations.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted saying, "One touch Automatic Ticket Vending Machines launched at 42 stations over Mumbai Suburban network to render fast ticketing to daily commuters, without the hassle of long queues and waiting time."

ITBP celebrates its 58th Raising Day on Thursday. MoS Home Kishan Reddy attended the function at ITBP's Headquarter in Greater Noida.

The Minister paid his respect to the martyrs of the central armed forces and witnessed the raising day parade celebrations. The parade showcased valour and courage of various contingents and also of the brave four legged soldiers.

The Indo-Tibetian Border Police is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces of India, raised on 24 October 1962, under the CRPF Act in the wake of the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The ITBP was intended for deployment along India's border with Tibet.

Veteran Mumbai all-rounder Abhishek Nayar has retired from all forms of cricket.

“I’m absolutely satisfied... there are so many cricketers out there who would want to be in the position I am today. I can only be grateful and thankful to have had the opportunity to play for this long... absolutely no regrets...I’m a happy man,” Nayar said on Wednesday.

Nayar represented India in only three ODIs but his record as a first-class player is more promising.

Indian football giants Mohun Bagan on Wednesday conferred their Life Membership to Nobel Prize winner Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee after club officials met him at his residence.

"Srinjoy Bose, Asst General Secretary and Debashis Dutta, Finance Secretary met Noble Laureate Abhijit V. Banerjee at his Kolkata residence at 4:00 pm and conferred him with the Life Membership of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club," the club said in a statement.

Besides conferring him with Life Membership, the club also handed him the First Day Cover of 1911 and the maroon green jersey with his name written on it.

He was also given the book titled "Sona e Lekha Itihase" written by Subir Mukherjee on the history of the club.

India will merge its twin state-run telecom companies in an effort to turn around the money-losing firms, which it considers core assets.

The strategy would also see the government look at ways to exploit the vast land assets of the two companies while paring their manpower by offering incentives to employees to avail an early retirement plan.

The 56,000 crore merger and revival plan for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Ltd (MTNL) was approved by the Union cabinet on Wednesday. MTNL operates in Delhi and Mumbai, and BSNL in the rest of India.

Praveen Kumar today became the first Indian man to win a Wushu World Championships gold, beating Russel Diaz of Philippines in the 48kg category in Shanghai. The Indian saw off his Filipino opponent 2-1 in the men's Sanda event of the 15th World Wushu Championships.

Praveen had earlier defeated Uzbekistan's Khasan Ikromov 2-0 in the semi-final on Tuesday to set up the summit clash with Diaz.

Among other Indians in the fray, Poonam (women's 75kg) and Sanathoi Devi (women's 52kg) secured silver medals while Vikrant Baliyan bagged the bronze in the men's 60kg category.

India finished third overall in the championship in event with a gold, two silvers and a bronze.

President Ram Nath Kovind laid the foundation stone for Sri Sathya Sai Sanathana Samskruti Project at Sai no Sato, Kakegawa, Japan today.

Sai no Sato will be developed as a temple on the lines of Akshardham and Swaminarayan Temple to promote Indian traditional culture.  
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that in today’s world, where we are searching for inner peace and happiness, looking to bring communities and cultures together, places like Sai no Sato provide us the right answers.

We need not just one but many more such fonts of peaceful existence, where women and men can contemplate about self and society, individual and community and eliminate the distance between “us and them”.