Author: ops566320@gmail.com

Flight operations across 32 airports in North and West India are expected to return to normal, as cross-border military action between India and Pakistan came to a halt over the past few days.

Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu is slated to visit Srinagar and Jammu airports, among the first to be shut after Operation Sindoor was conducted to strike nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir on May 7.

Low-cost carrier IndiGo said that it is resuming flight operations on all routes from Thursday. “Starting 15 May 2025, we are resuming our flight operations across routes that were temporarily suspended in view of recent developments in the northern region of the country. Some of these flights have already operated today, and more are progressively being restored,” the airline said in a statement.

Air India had earlier said that it will progressively resume flights to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot. By Tuesday, the airline cancelled flights to all destinations but Srinagar.

Flight-tracking portal FlightRadar 24, as of 12.30 pm, showed a handful of flights over Jammu, Amritsar and parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Some flights were also seen on the route between Delhi and Srinagar.

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir told IANS that 11 flights had operate on Wednesday from Srinagar International Airport, primarily to facilitate the Hajj pilgrims’ onwards journey to Medina. Authorities said that of these, four SpiceJet (SG) flights, three IndiGo (6E) flights and three IndiGo (IX) flights operated from Delhi to Srinagar and back while one IndiGo (IX) flight operated from Srinagar to Jammu and back.

Following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, in which 22 civilians were killed, India launched Operation Sindoor to strike terror targets in the neighbouring country. Cross-border firing followed in which loss to life and infrastructure was reported. Additionally, civilian flight operations were halted at 32 airports on May 9 – Srinagar, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jaisalmer, Jamnagar, Jodhpur, Adhampur, Ambala, Awantipur, Bathinda, Bhuj, Bikaner, Halwara, Hindon, Jammu, Kandla, Kangra (Gaggal), Keshod, Kishangarh, Kullu Manali (Bhuntar), Leh, Ludhiana, Mundra, Naliya, Pathankot, Patiala, Porbandar, Rajkot (Hirasar), Sarsawa, Shimla, Thoise and Uttarlai.

After a ceasefire was reached between India and Pakistan and a calm along the border areas followed, the Airports Authority of India on Monday announced the resumption of services at the 32 airports.

Indian-origin techie Vishnu Irigireddy was among the three persons killed in a tragic climbing accident in Washington state’s North Cascades Range of western North America.

Vishnu, 48, a resident of Seattle, was attempting to climb North Early Winters Spire area of the Cascades along with his three friends, Tim Nguyen, 63, Oleksander Martynenko, 36 and Anton Tselykh, 38, on Saturday when the accident happened, NBC News reported.

The group noticed a storm coming and started to retreat when at some point during their descent, the team’s anchor point failed and sent the group plunging 200 feet down, Climbing website reported.

Tselykh, the sole surviving climber, miraculously survived the dangerous fall and drove 64 kilometres to inform the authorities about the accident that killed his three friends.

Vishnu’s friends and family describe him as an experienced climber “who found joy and purpose in nature.” “Originally from India and a proud member of Seattle’s vibrant tech and cultural community, Vishnu built a life that reflected his values—integrity, compassion, and a relentless pursuit of growth,” a note by family and friends on remembr.com website said.

According to a notice for his cremation ceremony, to be held on Thursday, his friends and family would be making donations to two non-profits to honour Vishnu, who they said had “developed an intense passion for mountaineering and climbing throughout his life.” They also made an appeal to others to donate to those charitable organisations till May 22.

Vishnu was working as Vice President of Engineering at Fluke Corporation, a test equipment manufacturing company in the Greater Seattle Area.

His company described him as an extraordinary leader in a statement released after his death adding that his loss “felt profoundly” across the organisation.

Tselykh is currently in hospital and is being treated for internal bleeding and a traumatic brain injury.

North Early Winters Spire, a granite peak in the Liberty Bell group of the North Cascades, is popular among experienced climbers. 

As Sikkim celebrates its golden jubilee of statehood on Friday, it has unwrapped a gift from the wild. 

The first-ever Snow Leopard Population Assessment Report, jointly presented by the Forest and Environment Department and WWF-India, has identified 21 endangered snow leopards in the high-altitude zones of north and west Sikkim.

The study involved two years of meticulous scientific tracking, using camera traps, across the Himalayan terrain.

To mark the occasion, the state has also introduced a new mascot, a snow leopard named “Kuzu”, which is meant to symbolise Sikkim’s commitment to wildlife protection and biodiversity.

“This is not just a scientific milestone, but a testament to Sikkim’s deeply rooted conservation policies,” Pradeep Kumar, who is the principal secretary of the Forest and Environment Department, said, emphasising that the state’s focused efforts are allowing forest life to thrive.

Mr Kumar also recalled a rare instance where a Royal Bengal tiger and a snow leopard were captured on the same camera trap, highlighting Sikkim’s unique ecological riches.

50 Years Of Statehood

Sikkim, which enjoyed protectorate status after India’s Independence, became a state in 1975 following a referendum. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the people of Sikkim on the state’s golden jubilee on Friday, highlighting its serene beauty and “strides in diverse sectors”.

“Warm greetings to the people of Sikkim on their Statehood Day! This year, the occasion is even more special as we mark the 50th anniversary of Sikkim’s statehood! Sikkim is associated with serene beauty, rich cultural traditions and industrious people. It has made strides in diverse sectors. May the people of this beautiful state continue to prosper,” he wrote on X. 

S8UL Esports, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, has officially acquired the renowned North American Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) team formerly known as BloodThirstyKings (BTK)

S8UL Esports, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, has officially acquired the renowned North American Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) team formerly known as BloodThirstyKings (BTK). With this move, S8UL makes a historic entry into the MLBB competitive circuit, becoming the first Indian organisation to sign a top-tier international MLBB roster ahead of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 and other major tournaments.

Founded in 2020, BTK rose to international prominence after their third-place finish at the MLBB M3 World Championship, where they notably defeated the Filipino powerhouse Blacklist International, taking home $80,000 (INR 68.4 lakh). Since then, the team has been a consistent force in North America’s MLBB ecosystem, with multiple regional championship wins and strong global performances to their name.

The roster officially qualified for the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) at the upcoming EWC 2025 following a dominant run in the recently concluded North America Challenger Tournament (NACT) Spring Season, where they defeated Area 77 in the Grand Finals with a 4-2 scoreline.

With players who have competed across multiple MLBB world championships, S8UL’s newest roster brings immense experience and proven ability to perform under pressure. This acquisition marks a milestone moment for Indian esports, positioning S8UL at the forefront of global competition in one of the world’s most watched mobile esports titles.

Animesh Agarwal, aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL, commented, “We’re committing to MLBB in a big way – becoming a partnered organization and aligning closely with the S8UL vision, with the legendary Michael ‘MobaZane’ Cosgun leading the charge. As a mobile-first org, MLBB holds a special place for us – it’s the only mobile title among the eight games we’re part of. The game’s growth in India is promising, and we’re excited to contribute to its rise by working closely with key Indian stakeholders. This is just the beginning of what we aim to build with MLBB.”

The team’s previous accolades include a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Gaimin Gladiators in the NACT Spring Finals and an unforgettable reverse sweep against Cloud9 in the NACT Fall 2024 Grand Finals, turning a 0-3 deficit into a thrilling 4-3 win. That comeback secured their place at the M6 World Championship, where they went on to finish in the top 10. Collectively, the roster has earned close to $150,000 (approx. INR 1.2 crore) in prize winnings, establishing themselves as one of the most accomplished MLBB teams in North America.

“We’ve been on a long journey together, from grassroots tournaments to the world stage, and every chapter has shaped who we are as a team. Joining S8UL feels like the beginning of something bigger than just competition. It’s about aligning with an organisation that understands not just the game, but the grind, the setbacks, and the stories that build champions. We’re not here just to play, we’re here to evolve, to represent, and to create a legacy that goes beyond titles and trophies. With S8UL behind us, we now have the platform to take that next big leap.” said team captain Michael Cosgun aka MobaZane. 

According to data from Esports Charts, MLBB is the world’s most popular esports game in 2025, with a peak viewership of 2.7 million. The M6 World Championship held last year recorded an impressive peak viewership of 4.13 million and maintained an average viewership of 709,000 across its 120-hour broadcast, making it one of the largest and most-watched esports tournaments of 2024.

At EWC 2025, 16 of the world’s top MLBB teams will compete in double elimination group stages and best-of-5 knockout rounds which will culminate in a best-of-7 grand final. With a $3,000,000 (approx. INR 25.6 crore) prize pool on the line, this year’s MSC is set to be one of the biggest mobile esports events in history.

S8UL’s MLBB roster brings a balanced mix of experience and synergy across all roles. MobaZane leads as the Jungler, with FwydChickn in the EXP Lane and Hoon anchoring the Mid Lane. ZIA handles the Gold Lane, while Shark plays Roamer, driving team engagements. Bestplayer1 adds depth as a second Jungler, offering strategic flexibility for different matchups.

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