Singapore: Indian seniors PV Sindhu and the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty started their Singapore Open campaign on a positive note, advancing to the next round after defeating their respective opponents at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore on Tuesday. Sindhu, the two-time Olympic medallist, overcame Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani 21-17, 21-18 in women’s singles, while Satwik-Chirag defeated Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith 26-28, 21-15, 21-13 in men’s doubles. Sindhu, champion of the 2022 edition, defeated the fifth-seeded Indonesian in straight games to level their head-to-head record at 3-3. The Indian had early control in the opening game with a four-point advantage. Although she faced a brief setback, Sindhu, who won the silver medal in the Rio Olympics and bronze in Tokyo Games played in 2021, quickly recovered to draw level at 16-all before winning five consecutive points to secure the first game. The second game witnessed an intense battle for every point, with Sindhu taking the lead at crucial moments before sealing the match in straight games. She will next face Japan’s Riko Gunji in the pre-quarterfinals. In men’s doubles, World No. 4 Satwik-Chirag dropped the opening game despite saving seven game points in a tightly contested battle. The Indian duo responded strongly to force a decider and then dominated the third game, closing it out 21-13 after one hour and 15 minutes of play. Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan await them in the Round of 16. In men’s singles, Ayush Shetty put up a strong fight against Victor Lai. After taking the opening game comfortably 21-11, the Indians could not maintain the same intensity and eventually went down 14-21, 12-21 in the following games. Other Indian contingents in action on day 1 lost to their respective opponents. –IANS hs/bsk/
Nitin Gadkari approves Rs 1,427 crore for Thiruvarur bypass, additional ROBs in Tamil Nadu
New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday approved the construction of a 4-lane Thiruvarur Bypass on the Nagapattinam–Thanjavur section of NH-83 in Tamil Nadu for Rs 1,427.61 crore. The project spans 14.9 kms and also includes the construction of two additional Road Over Bridges (ROBs) on NH-129A and NH-134A, according to a statement from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. “In Tamil Nadu, we have approved Rs 1,427.61 crore for the construction of a 4-lane Thiruvarur Bypass on the Nagapattinam–Thanjavur section of NH-83, spanning 14.9 km, along with 2 additional ROBs on NH-129A and NH-134A,” the minister posted on X. This strategic project will strengthen connectivity between key industrial hubs like Tiruchirappalli and Coimbatore with the port towns of Karaikal and Nagapattinam, boosting regional economic activity. “The bypass, starting from Adiyakkamangalam–Thandalai, will pass through key locations including Athipuliyur, Andipalayam, Kidaramkondan, Pallivaramangalam, Perumpugalur, Elavangarkudi, and Anaivadapathy Colony, among other,” said Gadkari. “Once completed, it will significantly decongest Thiruvarur town, reduce travel time by approximately 15 minutes, and enhance road safety by diverting traffic away from densely populated and commercial areas,” he added. The alignment will also improve connectivity to SH-23, SH-65, and the revered Thyagaraja Swamy Temple, contributing to both infrastructure development and ease of travel in the region. Meanwhile, Gadkari on Tuesday reviewed the quality and maintenance progress of National Highway projects covering 4,335 km in Punjab and 3,332 km in Delhi and Haryana, based on inputs received through media and social media platforms. Gadkari emphasised the need to accelerate on-ground execution of highway projects and ensure timely completion of works. He directed officials and contractors to strengthen coordination and maintain strict adherence to project timelines. The minister stressed the importance of continuous monitoring of project quality and instructed agencies to adopt modern construction technologies and best engineering practices to enhance asset durability and long-term performance of National Highways. Gadkari instructed concerned agencies to remain vigilant and ensure uninterrupted traffic movement by addressing waterlogging, erosion and other weather-related challenges proactively. –IANS na/
Trump undergoes annual medical exam
Washington: US President Donald Trump underwent a routine annual medical and dental examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre on Tuesday amid continued public attention over his health ahead of his 80th birthday next month. Trump stayed at Walter Reed for more than two-and-a-half hours after his motorcade arrived at the Bethesda, Maryland, facility at 8:51 a.m. The motorcade departed at 12:27 p.m., according to White House pool reports. The White House said the appointment involved “routine annual dental and medical assessments” as part of Trump’s “regular preventative health care”. The visit marked Trump’s third scheduled medical appointment at Walter Reed in the past 13 months. The White House said Trump met military personnel and staff during his visit to the medical centre. Trump, who turns 80 on June 14, has faced growing public scrutiny over his health in recent months. The New York Times reported that attention has focused on visible bruising on his hands and swelling in his legs during recent public appearances. White House attributed the bruises to frequent handshakes, while doctors said swelling in Trump’s legs was linked to chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that affects blood flow in the veins. The Hill reported that Trump underwent a CT scan during an earlier visit to Walter Reed after his medical team sought to “definitely rule out any cardiovascular issues”. According to the report, Trump’s physician, Dr Sean Barbabella, said the scan was “perfectly normal and revealed absolutely no abnormalities”. Trump takes around 325 milligrams of aspirin daily for “cardiac prevention”. Trump told The Wall Street Journal in an earlier interview that aspirin contributed to bruising on his hands. White House doctors are expected to release a summary of the examination, although presidential medical disclosures have historically varied in detail and transparency. Trump has repeatedly pushed back against questions about his age and health and frequently attacked former President Joe Biden over fitness concerns during the 2024 presidential campaign. The issue of age became a major focus in the last election cycle as both Trump and Biden became the oldest major-party presidential candidates in US history. –IANS lkj/dan
Australian Foreign Minister calls on PM Modi, discusses growing strategic ties
New Delhi: Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, holding discussions on the growing India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in various sectors. “Happy to receive Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia. We discussed the growing India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in areas such as defence, trade, technology and ensuring supply chain resilience. India and Australia will continue to work for a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” PM Modi wrote on X after the meeting. Wong arrived in New Delhi on Monday to participate in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and held bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, amid growing focus on regional security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. She stated that Quad is taking several new initiatives, including an energy security initiative, working on critical minerals, and support for port infrastructure in Fiji. In her joint press statement along with Foreign Ministers of India, Japan and the US following the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Wong stated, “At every meeting that we have had, we have been focused on momentum and on making sure we deliver outcomes which are real, which are meaningful for our people and for the people of Indo-Pacific. As Minister Jaishankar has said, we recognise our obligation, our responsibility to provide real choices, particularly as strategic circumstances in our region (Indo-Pacific) are deteriorating. The region is facing acute economic stress.” “We are also today announcing the strongest ever commitment from the Quad to the Pacific through the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership, where we are launching a pilot for port infrastructure in Fiji…In addition, we are focusing on what more we can do to ensure a transparent, more secure maritime domain in the Indo-Pacific,” she added. She also announced that the Quad nations will work together to strengthen cooperation against scam centres, especially in the Southeast Asia. “A point I do also want to emphasise in terms of outcomes we’ve delivered to date is that we are delivering, as a collective, undersea cables to all Pacific Island Forum countries, which enhances economic opportunities. We are also working together to strengthen cooperation against scam centres, particularly in South East Asia, building law enforcement capacity and deepening cyber cooperation. These are just some of the measures, practical measures, the Quad Countries are engaged in. We know we are stronger when we work together. We know we work better in partnership across our region, and we work best by listening to the priorities of our region and delivering practical outcomes to make a difference to our people’s lives,” the Australian Foreign Minister said. –IANS ksk/as
320 tourists rescued after Gulmarg Gondola snag
Forces brave rain, rough terrain: DGP Prabhat
Srinagar: A major rescue operation launched after a technical malfunction in the Gulmarg Gondola cable car system stranded hundreds of tourists mid-air in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district was successfully concluded on Monday evening, with all 320 tourists evacuated safely.
Officials said the rescue operation, jointly carried out by the Indian Army, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Jammu and Kashmir Police, civil administration and other agencies, ended without any casualty or injury.
Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat said the incident occurred at around 1:20 PM when a technical fault forced several gondola cabins carrying tourists to remain suspended mid-air.
He said SHO Gulmarg and SOG teams were the first responders to reach the site immediately after the incident.
The DGP said 14 SDRF teams were initially pressed into service, while an additional team was later deployed, taking the total number of SDRF teams involved in the operation to 15.
Prabhat further said that eight mountain rescue teams and nine Snow Leopard rescue units also joined the operation to evacuate stranded passengers.
He said Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel, SDRF teams, Indian Army and NDRF jointly conducted the rescue mission despite continuous rain and difficult weather conditions in the hilly area.
Officials said all stranded tourists were evacuated safely, while nearly 45 physically weak and unfit persons were shifted using stretchers during the operation.
The malfunction had disrupted Gondola services between the Base Station and Phase-1 (Kongdori), leaving nearly 300 tourists stranded in cable car cabins amid inclement weather conditions.
Confirming the successful completion of the operation, officials said all stranded tourists were evacuated safely after hours of coordinated rescue efforts.
Earlier, the Army said a distress call was received from the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Gondola Management Authority regarding the safety of stranded tourists, following which rescue teams were immediately mobilised.
Troops of the Butapathri Battalion deployed three Casualty Assistance Teams (CATs) between the Gondola Base Station and Phase-1, while All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) were also pressed into service to assist evacuation efforts in difficult terrain and adverse weather.
The Army said 65 cable cars were affected by the malfunction.
Rescue teams initially evacuated 17 cable cars from the Phase-1 side, rescuing 94 tourists, while another 15 cable cars from the Base Station side were cleared, leading to the evacuation of 90 more persons.
“In total, 184 stranded tourists have been safely evacuated so far through the coordinated efforts of the Indian Army, SDRF, Jammu and Kashmir Police and other responding agencies,” General Officer Commanding (GOC) 19 Division, Major General Manoj Joshi, had said during the operation.
Officials said technical teams of the Gondola authorities were assessing the exact nature and extent of the malfunction.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he was personally monitoring the situation and had spoken to Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo regarding the rescue operation. He had directed Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat to proceed to Gulmarg and oversee the mission.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also said the government was closely monitoring the situation and assured that trained rescue teams were on the ground to ensure the safety of tourists.
Meanwhile, on the instructions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary today visited Gulmarg to personally oversee the rescue operations following the temporary stoppage of the Gondola service due to a technical fault.
MLA Gulmarg Pirzada Farooq Ahmed Shah, along with senior administrative and police officers, was also present on the site monitoring the situation closely and coordinating the rescue efforts.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government is closely monitoring the situation at the Gulmarg Gondola after the cable car service was temporarily halted due to a technical issue. Officials informed that all cabins remain intact and trained rescue teams are actively engaged on the ground to safely evacuate the stranded tourists.
The Deputy Chief Minister reviewed the ongoing rescue measures and directed all concerned agencies to ensure swift, coordinated and safe evacuation of the remaining passengers.
Authorities said that the majority of the stranded cabins have already been cleared and every effort is being made to safely evacuate those still awaiting rescue.
The Government has assured that the situation is completely under control and there is no cause for panic.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary also visited Gulmarg to assess the rescue operations launched after a technical snag disrupted the functioning of the Gondola service.
Despite difficult terrain and slippery conditions caused by continuous movement along steep slopes, the Deputy Chief Minister personally visited the rescue sites and appreciated the dedication and professionalism displayed by the rescue teams under the challenging circumstances.
During the visit, the Deputy Chief Minister reviewed the on-ground situation and inspected the Gondola base station, cabins and related infrastructure. He directed the concerned authorities to ensure that all necessary safety protocols are strictly adhered to and stressed the need for early restoration of services for the convenience of tourists and locals.
Interacting with the tourists and officials on the spot, the Deputy Chief Minister lauded the coordinated efforts of the Civil Administration, Police, Army, Disaster Response Force (DRF), local guides and other agencies involved in the rescue operation.
“On the directions of the Chief Minister, I personally supervised the ongoing rescue operation and I am happy to say that all the stranded tourists have been rescued safely,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the prompt response and close coordination among all agencies ensured the safe evacuation of every passenger. He reiterated that the safety and well-being of tourists remains the government’s top priority. “Tourists are our valued guests and every possible effort was made to ensure their safe rescue. I am thankful that all the passengers are safe and the rescue operation has concluded successfully,” he added.
The Deputy Chief Minister further assured that a detailed report regarding the incident would be submitted to the Chief Minister, following which appropriate measures would be taken to ascertain the cause of the technical snag and prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.
Senior officers from Civil, police and army were also present.
Amit Shah lauds rescue teams
Srinagar, May 25: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday praised the disaster response teams for safely rescuing around 300 tourists stranded mid-air after a technical malfunction in the Gulmarg Gondola cable car system in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
In a post on ‘X’, Shah applauded the coordinated efforts of the SDRF, NDRF, Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and civil administration in carrying out the rescue operation, which concluded successfully after nearly six hours.
“Applause to India’s disaster response forces for safely rescuing 300 tourists stranded mid-air in cable cars in Gulmarg, Kashmir,” Shah said.
He said the disaster response teams “swung into action” and rescued all passengers stranded in 65 cable cars during the operation.
“The nation salutes the forces for their valour and skill,” the Home Minister added.
The rescue operation was launched after Gondola services between the Base Station and Phase-1 (Kongdori) were suspended due to a technical fault, leaving hundreds of tourists stranded in cable car cabins amid inclement weather conditions.
Officials said all stranded tourists were evacuated safely and no casualty or injury was reported.
LG applauds bravery
Srinagar, May 25: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has applauded the extraordinary bravery displayed by the disaster response teams in safely rescuing the 300 tourists stranded in Gulmarg’s cable cars.
In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor has said: “The nation stands united in applauding extraordinary bravery of disaster response teams, who safely rescued 300 tourists stranded mid-air in Gulmarg’s cable cars. Army, JKP, SDRF, NDRF, DC, SSPs moved promptly & after a 6-hour operation, rescued all passengers from 65 cable cars. All tourists are safe. I spoke with senior officials and directed them to ensure every necessary support is provided. The nation salutes the disaster response forces, Army, JKP and district administration for their valor and remarkable skill.”
Accountability will be fixed: CM
SRINAGAR, MAY 25: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has appreciated the efforts of all agencies, rescue teams and personnel involved in the successful evacuation of tourists stranded after the Gulmarg Gondola developed a technical fault.
The Chief Minister commended the swift response, coordination and professionalism displayed during the rescue operation, which ensured the safe evacuation of all tourists without any major incident.
He stated that the safety and well-being of tourists and visitors remain the government’s top priority and lauded the coordinated efforts of the administration, police, rescue agencies and technical teams for handling the situation efficiently.
The Chief Minister further said that the incident would be thoroughly examined and an enquiry conducted into the technical fault.
He asserted that responsibility for any lapses would be fixed and appropriate action taken accordingly.
Earlier, on the instructions of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary visited Gulmarg to personally oversee the rescue operations following the temporary stoppage of the Gondola service due to the technical snag.
During his visit, the Deputy Chief Minister reviewed the ongoing rescue measures on the ground and directed all concerned agencies to ensure swift, coordinated and safe evacuation of the remaining passengers.
Gondola to remain closed for 2-days
By: Waris Fayaz
Srinagar, May 25: The Gulmarg Gondola service in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district will remain closed on May 26 and 27 for technical maintenance following Monday’s major disruption that left hundreds of tourists stranded mid-air for several hours.
An official said that all tickets booked for May 25, 26 and 27 will be refunded in full. Authorities also expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to tourists and visitors.
The announcement came hours after a massive rescue operation involving the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, SDRF, NDRF and civil administration safely evacuated around 400 tourists after a technical fault halted the cable car service around 1:20 PM.
Officials said the maintenance work has been initiated as a precautionary measure to inspect and rectify the technical issue before operations resume.
The Gulmarg Gondola, one of Kashmir’s major tourist attractions, witnesses heavy tourist footfall during the summer season. Monday’s incident triggered panic among tourists, though all stranded passengers were rescued safely without injuries.
Authorities said the service will resume only after all safety checks and technical inspections are completed. (KNO)
Haj enters Day of Tarwiyah
Over 1.5 mn Haj pilgrims arrive in Mina
MINA, May 25: More than 1.6 million pilgrims have gathered in Mina as Hajj enters the Day of Tarwiyah, marking the start of the most intensive phase ahead of Arafat Day on May 26.
The number of foreign pilgrims has reached 1,518,153, a 0.8 percent increase from 2025, according to a report.
Following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, pilgrims are spending the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah on Monday in Mina, worshipping and preparing before moving to Arafat, the spiritual climax of Hajj, on Tuesday.
Movement into Mina was carried out under a unified operational system, with authorities reporting smooth flow along key routes, supported by traffic management plans and aerial monitoring to ensure orderly crowd movement.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said its operational plans for the Day of Tarwiyah were part of a broader integrated system designed to ensure smooth movement, efficient crowd management, and high-quality services throughout the pilgrimage.
Officials stressed that coordination across security, health, and service agencies remained central to maintaining safety, comfort, and operational efficiency during Hajj.
Over 1.5 million people have arrived in Mecca for the annual Haj pilgrimage, which this year takes place amid hopes for an end to the war in West Asia.
To protect them, the Saudi Ministry of Defence has strengthened its air defences. The white-clad pilgrims, travelling by bus or on foot, arrived at the vast Mina encampment after performing the “tawaf,” or walking seven times around the Kaaba, the enormous black cube of Mecca’s Great Mosque.
The start of the Hajj coincided with US President Donald Trump sending mixed signals regarding a possible agreement to extend the fragile ceasefire with Iran and a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, reports Adnkronos news agency.
This year’s celebrations, which draw Muslims from around the world, including Iran, follow a series of Iranian attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Gulf countries.
Saudi authorities have worked to keep the conflict away from the Haj, with many Muslims travelling long distances to participate in one of the world’s largest annual pilgrimages.
Despite the uncertainty caused by the conflict, Saudi officials said that more pilgrims from abroad participated in the Haj this year than in 2025.
The Saudi Ministry of Defence showed a video of advanced air defence batteries positioned on the outskirts of Mecca.
“The air defence forces are responsible for protecting the skies above the holy sites and responding to all aerial threats, ensuring the safety and tranquillity of visitors,” the post read.
Last week, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said that it intercepted three drones that entered its airspace from Iraq.
The UAE said Tuesday that its air defence systems had detected six drones coming from Iraq over the previous 48 hours. (Inputs from IANS)
