tirupati l monday l june 01, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l anantapur EDITION SATWIK AND CHIRAG CAPTURE SINGAPORE OPEN CROWN India doubles specialists rally to overcome Indonesia pairing of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Fikri in men’s doubles final on Sunday bwf/badminton photo FIRST TITLE IN OVER TWO YEARS The Indian pair, after going behind initially, fought back to win 18-21, 21-17, 21-16. This is massive outcome for the World No 4 combo as they had waited for over two years to come this far. Their last title on BWF World Tour was the Thailand Open, which had arrived in May 19, 2024. They incidentally became first pair from India to clinch the Singapore crown ■ Third happy dance, fitting celebrations ■ As was evident in their celebratory dance, this victory meant the world to them as they had endured many difficult moments, both on and off the court, in the last two years or so One of the highlights of this week was their victory over World No 1 pairing of Seo Seung Jae and Kim Won Ho in the last-four stage | P11 super 750 title bagged by the Indian pair CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Nepal squatting on Indian land, admits PM Shah ball dance: rcb pacers to the fore go m e s h s @ Ahmedabad Says both sides agreed to rope in historians, surveyors and experts to seek resolution P r e ss T r us t o f I n d i a @ Kathmandu Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah was on Sunday quite candid about his country encroaching territories in India, in his response to questions in Parliament on the long-running border dispute. This was his first intervention in Parliament after taking over as prime minister. Shah said both countries have agreed to take the help of historians, surveyors and experts to seek resolution, adding that Kathmandu has also held diplomatic discussions on the issue with China and the UK. Nepal and India have an old boundary dispute over Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura, with both countries claiming sovereignty over them. India maintains that the territories are part of Uttarakhand and has said the issue should be addressed through bilateral dialogue. “The Nepal government has officially sent a diplomatic note to India, mentioning the issue of encroachment of territories by India, including Lipulekh, and we have already received their response,” Shah told Parliament. “Both the countries have agreed to resolve the issue sitting together with the help of historians, surveyors and concerned experts through diplomatic means.” He, however, added that it is not only India that has “encroached” land in Nepal, the latter too had done the same with India. “You will be surprised to know about a fact, which I have learnt recently only after becoming the Prime Minister. India has not only encroached Nepalese territories, but Nepal has also encroached India’s territories in many places,” said Shah. “Now both countries should study the facts and sit together as friends and resolve the issue.” Shah said Kathmandu also held diplomatic discussions on the issue with China — the three places are located near the trijunction of India, Tibet and Nepal — and the United Kingdom. He said he took up the matter with the UK because it dates back to a period when the British Raj ended. Earlier this month, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri said the country is committed to resolving the border issue with India through diplomatic channels. Chhetri’s comments had come days after India firmly rejected Nepal’s objection to the upcoming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via the long-established Lipulekh Pass, dismissing Kathmandu’s territorial claims over the region as an “unilateral artificial enlargement” that New Delhi finds untenable. After becoming prime minister, I came to know that not only has India encroached on Nepal’s land, but Nepal has also encroached on India’s land in multiple places Balendra Shah, Nepal PM Former envoy raps Shah Former Nepalese ambassador to India Nilambara Acharya said Shah has “no information regarding Indian territories being encroached by Nepal”. He added that 97% of the border disputes between the two countries have already been resolved Missing pillars in border areas There are reports about some Nepalese citizens using land in India and some Indians using land in Nepal because of missing border pillars in some areas, but the Nepal government as such has not encroached India’s territory, former Ambassador Acharya said E x p r e s s Re a d Pawan announces ‘Sena Galam’ for social harmony Vijayawada: JSP chief and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Sunday announced the formation of a new committee, ‘Sena Galam’, aimed at promoting social harmony, responsible politics and protection of constitutional values, while amplifying the aspirations of Gen Z youth. Sena Galam should reject divisive political practices, he said | P4 ASI tracks ancient inscriptions in Nallamala Ongole: The Nallamala forest continues to emerge as a rich repository of ancient inscriptions, with experts from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) identifying several historically significant records from the region. To further explore its archaeological significance, the ASI is planning an exclusive field survey in Nallamala in June 2026 | P4 RCB’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar (c) celebrates the wicket of GT’s B Sai Sudharsan during the IPL final in Ahmedabad on Sunday | ap After decades-long wait, SCoR set to begin operations from Vizag today U s h a P e r i @ Visakhapatnam After years of anticipation and nearly four decades of sustained demand, the South Coast Railway (SCoR) Zone will formally commence operations from Visakhapatnam on Monday, marking a major restr ucturing of Indian Railways. The zone, the 18th in the country positions Visakhapat, nam as a key administrative hub for railway operations in Andhra Pradesh. The new zone brings under its jurisdiction the Vijayawada, Guntur and Guntakal divisions, which were earlier part of South Central Railway, along with a restructured Waltair Division of the East Coast Railway (ECoR). The Waltair Division has been bifurcated, with its southern portion forming the Visakhapatnam Division under SCoR, while the northern section becomes the Rayagada Division under ECoR. In total, the SCoR Zone will manage 3,532 route kilometres, covering 6,454 kilometres of track, including multiple lines, and oversee 385 stations across Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring regions. The Visakhapatnam Division will handle key routes, including Ichchapuram-Visakhapatnam-Duvvada, Vizianagaram-Kuneru, Naupada-Paralakhemundi and Bobbili-Salur stretches, all critical to passenger movement and freight connectivity along the eastern corridor. According to reports, the zone will be supported by an estimated workforce of nearly 62,000 employees across its divisions. At the zonal headquarters, around 128 gazetted officers and over 1,100 nongazetted staff will manage administrative and operational functions. The new structure is expected to streamline decision-making, improve coordination between divisions, and accelerate infrastructure planning and execution. The zone is projected to handle close to 100 million tonnes of freight annually, driven by mineral transport, industrial corridors, and port-linked cargo movement. Annual revenue is estimated to be generated through both freight and passenger services including key commodities like coal, iron ore, petroleum products and fertilisers.  P4 RS bypolls TDP likely to take three seats, allot one to JSP S V i s w a n at h @ Vijayawada The race for the four Rajya Sabha seats which fell vacant from Andhra Pradesh, hots up in the NDA as the elections are scheduled for June 18. With the TDP-led NDA government having an absolute majority in the State Assembly with 164 MLAs out of the total 175, all the four seats will be secured by it. Though it is not known whether the TDP will allot one or two seats to its coalition partners BJP and JSP the com, petition within Telugu Desam has intensified with aspirants queuing up before party supremo and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Speculations are rife that the TDP may not allot any Rajya Sabha seat to the BJP this time around going by the talks of State BJP leaders with the TDP supremo.  P4 Bid to strike balance in DKS govt General Raja Subramani R a m a k r i s h n a B a ds e s h i @ Kalaburagi STRESSING the need for caution as Karnataka Assembly elections are two years away, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said the party remains non-committal on composition of the state’s new cabinet under Chief Minister-designate D K Shivakumar, and that all decisions would be taken only after the June 3 swearing-in ceremony . Addressing reporters in Kalaburagi, Kharge said discussions were underway on ministers, deputy chief ministers and key appointments, but nothing formal had been placed before the Congress high command. “No proposal has come yet. Once it comes, discussions will be held on how many ministers and deputy chief ministers should be appointed,” he said. On a phased expansion, Kharge indicated that 8-10 ministers may be swor n in alongside Shivakumar on Wednesday, with remaining slots filled within a fortnight or a month. “We have to think of many things while creating deputy chief minister posts too. The high command is considering all facts and everything will be known by Wednesday .” On the search for a new president of the state unit after Shivakumar vacates the post, Kharge said the party high command was looking for someone who could “work very fast and bring everyone together as well.” 3 killed, 8 injured as APSRTC bus rams into stationary lorry E x p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @ Visakhapatnam The APSRTC super luxury bus, which rammed into a stationary lorry at Gajuwaka in Visakhapatnam district in the early hours of Sunday | Express In a way it seemed inevitable. From the moment , Josh Hazlewood rattled Shubman Gill in the very third over of the IPL final here, Royal Challengers Bengaluru were clear favourites. Perhaps even before they took the field, but that early dismissal of the Gujarat Titans skipper broke the contest. GT, having raced to 22/0 in 2.1 overs, were soon reduced to 115/6 in front of a 90014-strong crowd with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rasikh Salam joining the party . On a pitch that was tailor-made for the Titans’ pace attack, RCB’s quicks thrived. They moved the ball sideways, used the extra bounce and adjusted lengths to rattle the top-heavy Titans. From thereon, despite a fighting Washington Sundar’s fifty that took GT to 155/8, it was RCB’s game to lose. For the first 15 years of the IPL, RCB remained a batting dynasty led by Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle. Over the years, almost every batting superstar, especially overseas, would have turned up for the franchise. They headlined the victories while bowlers got the flak. The last few years, however, are different. Batting stars are still there, but they aren’t the lead protagonists anymore. It was the Kumars, Hazlewoods and Krunals who helped them win their first IPL title. And it is they who set them up for P11 a dominating title defence on Sunday  . Three persons were killed and eight others injured when an APSRTC bus rammed into a stationary lorry at Gajuwaka in the early hours of Sunday . The deceased were identified as Rayaipilli Rambau (50) of Saluru, Rali Radha Madhavi (35) of Rajahmundry and Len, k a E sw a r a m m a ( 5 5 ) o f Vizianagaram. According to the police, the accident occurred around 4 am near Srinagar area under Gajuwaka police station limits on National Highway-16. The super luxury bus, travelling from Rajamahendravaram to Parvathipuram Manyam collided with the lorry that had been parked on the roadside due to a tyre puncture. The police said the bus was carrying around 30-35 passengers at the time of the accident. Two women passengers and a driver died on the spot, while several others sustained injuries. The injured were shifted to King George Hospital (KGH). Officials said at least eight passengers were injured, with one of them reported to be in a serious condition. The remaining injured are stated to be stable. Gajuwaka police and emergency teams reached the spot soon after being alerted by passersby, and carried out rescue and relief operations. A case has been registered. The front portion of the RTC bus was extensively damaged in the collision. State Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy expressed shock over the incident, and conveyed condolences to the families of the deceased. He visited King George Hospital to meet the injured, and the families of the victims.  P4 takes charge as 3rd CDS J a v a r i a R a n a @ New Delhi In a twin change of guard at the helm of India’s defence establishment, China-Pakistan expert General N S Raja Subramani on Sunday took charge as the third Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Admiral Krishna Swaminathan as the 27th Lt Gen NS Raja Admiral Krishna Chief of the Naval Staff. Subramani Swaminathan Gen Subramani succeeds Gen Anil Chauhan, whose ten- Rifles in 1985 and served as ure ended on Saturday He takes Vice Chief of the Army Staff . charge at a time when the from July 2024 to July 2025. Meanwhile, Adm Swamiarmed forces are pushing ahead nathan succeeded Adm with the theatre comDinesh K Tripathi, who mand refor ms, triretired on Sunday. service integration Speaking to reporters and accelerated We will accelerate after taking charge, modernisation. Speaking to report- the development, Adm Swaminathan said induction and ers, Gen Subramani his top priority will be integration of said his primary focus to ensure the Navy indigenous will be transformation maintains the highest weapons in our of the armed forces level of operational armed forces and organisational rereadiness and combat Gen N S Raja for ms to “enhance effectiveness. Subramani, CDS Adm Swaminathan, jointness, synergy and who joined the force on integration”. On modernisation, he said, “Greater July 1, 1987, is a specialist in collaboration between the mili- communication and electronic tary industry academia, start- warfare. He takes charge as the , , ups and the research ecosystem Navy aggressively pursues indigenous warship construcwill be the key enabler.” He had been serving as Mili- tion, submarine induction, tary Adviser at the National carrier battle group operaSecurity Council Secretariat. tions, and unmanned systems He was commissioned into the amid growing tensions in the 8th Battalion of the Garhwal Indo-Pacific region.