LIVE: Cyclone Biparjoy may intensify into extremely severe storm in 12 hrs
Catch live updates from across the globe here
 "Cyclone Biparjoy")
WTC Final: Kohli-Rahane's unbeaten 71-run stand keeps India alive in a daunting chase of 444
Australia looked to be in a prime position to win the World Test Championship (WTC) Final when they declared on 270/8 and set India a daunting target of 444, something which has never happened in the successful fourth innings chase in history of Test cricket
But Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane put together a solid unbeaten 71-run partnership on yet another day of gripping Test cricket action and took India to 164/3 at stumps on Day Four, keeping India alive in the chase with 280 runs needed on the final day of the match on Sunday.
On a pitch that has flattened out and looks devoid of demons in terms of movement and bounce, Kohli was in fantastic touch to be 44 not out off just 60 balls. On the other hand, Rahane is unconquered on 20 as the duo set up the match towards an exciting finish, while Australia will be aiming to get seven right balls to bowl out India quickly.
PM Modi speaks to South African President Ramaphosa, reviews progress in bilateral ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday as they reviewed progress in their bilateral cooperation, anchored in historical and strong people-to-people ties.
Modi also thanked him for the relocation of 12 cheetahs to India earlier this year, according to a statement.
They also exchanged views on a number of regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in BRICS in the context of South Africa's chairmanship this year, it added.
Ukraine's long-awaited counter-offensive against Russia has started
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have confirmed that his country's long-awaited counter-offensive against Russia has started, according to a media report.
"Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place," Zelensky said on Saturday, BBC reported.
But he added that he would not talk in detail about which stage or state the counter-offensive was in.
The comments come after an escalation of fighting in the south and east of Ukraine and speculation about progress of the widely anticipated push, BBC reported.
Assam: Opposition parties meet Guv, raises 'deteriorating' law and order situation
A delegation of 12 opposition parties in Assam submitted a memorandum to Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Saturday, alleging deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
The delegation, led by Congress Legislature Party leader Debabrata Saikia, also raised the "mysterious death" of police personnel Junmoni Rabha in the meeting, and demanded the immediate intervention of the governor in the matter.
The governor assured the delegation that he will ask Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to take necessary steps in the matter, Saikia said.
"The delegation apprised the governor that though the police department is trying to project it as an accident, there is every reason to believe from the circumstantial evidence that it is a case of murder," he claimed.
Railways orders double-locking of signalling assets; bolsters train movement protocol after maintenance work
The Railway Board on Saturday ordered a double-locking arrangement for all its signalling assets and also issued directions to bolster the protocol for the commencement of train movement after maintenance work, officials said.
In the latest of its series of missives sent to railway zones after the June 2 Odisha train tragedy that killed more than 280 people, the Railway Board ordered a double-locking arrangement for all relay rooms with train controlling mechanisms, relay huts housing signalling and telecommunications equipment of level-crossings, and point and track circuit signals.
The order indicates that the "access to the relay room" was key to the "signalling interference" that caused the Coromandel Express to take the loop line at Balasore and crash into a stationary goods train.
With enough evidence to show that some kind of tampering was done with the interlocking system, the job now is to make it "tamper-proof", senior officials said.
PM Modi to inaugurate maiden 'National Training Conclave'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first 'National Training Conclave' here on Sunday and will address its more than 1,500 participants drawn from training and research institutes across the country.
An official statement said Modi has been a proponent of improving the governance process and policy implementation in the country through capacity building of civil service.
As part of this vision, the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) -- 'Mission Karmayogi' -- was launched to prepare a future-ready civil service with the right attitude, skills and knowledge. This conclave is yet another step in this direction, it said.
Unemployment rate falls to 7.7 pc in May on decline in labour participation: CMIE
The unemployment rate in India fell to 7.7 per cent in May due to a decline in the labour participation at 441.9 million, according to a data released by private economic think tank CMIE.
Unemployment rate in India among people aged 15 years and above fell to 7.7 per cent in May 2023, from 8.5 per cent in the previous month, CMIE's Natasha Somayya K said in an analysis on its website.
The unemployment rate inched down as a consequence of a fall in the labour participation, which implies a fall in the number of people who entered the labour market in search of work.
Compared to April, labour participation rate (LPR) fell by 1.1 percentage point to 39.6 per cent in May, she said.
Odisha train tragedy: Trains won't stop at Bahanaga station till CBI's green signal
For the purpose of investigation being conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), trains will not stop at the Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Odisha where the triple train tragedy took place on June 2 evening.
The CBI, which is probing the horrific train accident that claimed 288 lives, has sealed the equipment and records room at the Bahanaga Bazar railway station. So, the station will remain sealed till the investigation is complete.
No train will stop at the station till the CBI gives the green signal to the railway authorities, said Aditya Kumar Chaudhary, chief PRO, South Eastern Railway.
Chaudhary said the CBI has sealed the station after seizing the log book, relay panel and other equipment.
Vedanta Ltd wins bid for iron ore block in Goa
Vedanta Ltd on Saturday said it has been declared as "preferred bidder" for an iron ore mine in Goa.
The government of Goa had invited tenders to participate in electronic auction for grant of mining lease in respect of iron ore mines in the state, the company said in a regulatory statement.
The company said it had submitted its bid for grant of mining lease.
India-Bangladesh border talks to begin in Delhi from Sunday
India and Bangladesh will hold biannual talks between their border guarding forces in Delhi from June 11 during which the two sides are expected to discuss a host of issues related to combating cross-frontier crimes and measures to create better synergy.
A 15-member delegation of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), led by its director general (DG) Major General AKM Nazmul Hasan, landed in Delhi on Saturday. Border Security Force (BSF) DG Sujoy Lal Thaosen and senior officers of the force welcomed them at the airport, officials said.
The four-day talks will conclude on June 14 at a BSF camp in southwest Delhi's Chhawla area.
Will resume our protest after June 15 If our demands are not fulfilled: Wrestler Bajrang Punia
Sri Lanka lifts import restrictions on 286 items as economic woes eases
Sri Lanka has lifted import restrictions on nearly 300 items with immediate effect, the Finance Ministry announced on Saturday, in a clear sign that the island nation is slowly but surely emerging from its worst economic crisis in decades.
Last year, Sri Lanka plunged into its worst economic crisis since its independence in 1948 due to plummeting foreign exchange reserves that caused severe shortages of essential items and triggered massive public protests.
In April 2022, Sri Lanka declared its international debt default due to the forex crisis.
Will report Manipur situation to Shah: Assam CM after meeting Biren Singh
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday called on his Manipur counterpart N Biren Singh here and said he will report to Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the ongoing situation in the trouble-torn state.
Sarma flew down from Guwahati earlier this morning for this meeting to discuss the situation in Manipur where sporadic violence continues a month after ethnic clashes began in this northeastern state.
During my stay here, I met the honourable chief minister, his cabinet colleagues, our party leaders and civil society organisations. For us, peace and stability in Manipur are very very important. Whatever I have learnt during the day, I will report the same to the honourable Union Home Minister for further necessary actions, Sarma told reporters.
Shah had visited Manipur from May 29 to June 1 to take stock of the situation.
INS Trishul leaves from Durban after three days of community activities in S Africa
Indian Navy frigate INS Trishul departed from the South African port city of Durban on Saturday after impressing the local community with a range of activities designed to showcase India's role in assisting the countries spanning the Indian Ocean.
The three-day goodwill tour marked several historic events, including the 30th anniversary of India-South Africa relations after a break of almost four decades due to apartheid.
The visit is also part of India's Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence.
Punjab Cabinet approves job regularisation of 14,239 teachers
In a major pro-people decision aimed at strengthening the education sector, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday approved to regularise the services of 14,239 teachers.
A decision to this effect was taken by the Council of Ministers at a meeting held in Mansa on Saturday.
A spokesperson for the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said the Cabinet decided to regularise the jobs of 14,239 teachers who have completed 10 years or more in service, along with those who have some gap in regular service of 10 years due to one or the other reason.
Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel
First Published: Jun 10 2023 | 9:45 AM IST
