NEW DELHI: Amid fears of a shortage in crude supplies, govt is looking to nudge refiners to divert more auto fuel and LPG to the domestic market by cutting on exports and also increase cooking gas production so that there is no disruption in local supplies.While govt and oil companies insisted there’s no shortage, refiners are looking at alternate sources to partly compensate for crude coming from war-hit West Asia.

The tension has led to a spike in oil and gas prices, and given India’s dependence on imports, inflating the import bill and stoking inflationary pressures. Officials, however, said retail fuel prices may not rise immediately, as oil marketing companies follow a calibrated approach — absorbing losses when global prices are high and recouping them when prices soften. Retail petrol and diesel prices have remained unchanged since April 2022.Mantri meets oil cos to assess availability of crude and gasOn a day when Iranian drones damaged part of Saudi Aramco refinery and Qatar Energy’s facilities, the world’s largest LNG producer, announced an export pause, petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri and his team of officials met oil companies on Monday to assess the availability of crude and gas. “We are continuously monitoring the evolving situation, and all steps will be taken to ensure availability and affordability of major petroleum products in the country,” the oil ministry said in a post on X.India imports nearly 90% of its crude requirement. It also meets 60-65% of its LPG demand and about 60% of its LNG needs through imports, largely from West Asia, with shipments routed via Strait of Hormuz, which risks being choked due to the war.

According to the International Energy Agency, in 2023, 5.9% of the country’s production was being exported. Between April and Dec 2025, India exported petroleum products worth nearly $330 billion, with the Netherlands, UAE, the US, Singapore, Australia and China being the main destinations. In 2024, it also exported petroleum gas worth $454 million, mostly to Nepal, China, and Myanmar. The Reliance refinery in Jamnagar is the largest exporter in the country.An oil company executive said refiners are already in contact with traders to tie up capacities amid fears of the blockade of Strait of Hormuz. By Monday, the global market had caught the jitters from Qatar’s decision to suspend gas shipments.An oil executive said while disruption could cause difficulties in the immediate term, Indian players had a wide portfolio that they can tap for LNG, including the US, with vessels being routed through the Suez Canal.“Even if there is a force majeure, we have other sources of supply, which we can tap. Besides, no one is going to stop supplies indefinitely,” the executive said. While oil and gas prices rose Monday, the focus is on ensuring that supply lines remain open.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, warning that any vessel attempting to pass will be attacked. Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said ships trying to transit the narrow waterway would be “set ablaze”.The strait, which lies between Iran and Oman, is one of the most critical chokepoints in global trade. It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and, beyond that, the Arabian Sea. Though bordered by Iran and Oman, it is regarded as an international shipping lane.

The threat of closure has already rattled energy markets, with oil prices jumping sharply amid fears of prolonged disruption. While there is no formal international confirmation that the strait is completely sealed, tanker traffic has fallen and reports of electronic interference and attacks near the waterway have heightened alarm.

A vital artery for global oil and gas

At its narrowest point, the Strait of Hormuz is just 21 miles (33km) wide, with shipping lanes only two miles wide in each direction. Yet it carries an outsized share of the world’s energy supplies.Key facts underline its importance:

Major producers — including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates — rely heavily on this corridor to export crude, much of it destined for Asian markets.Energy analysts warn that even a short disruption could lift crude prices sharply. A closure lasting weeks rather than days could push oil well above $100 a barrel and send European gas prices back towards the crisis levels seen in 2022.

Limited alternatives and rising risks

Some Gulf producers have partial workarounds:

However, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain remain entirely dependent on the strait. Even with alternative pipelines, analysts say a full shutdown would significantly disrupt global supply.Iran itself produces over 3 million barrels of crude per day and exports most of it — largely to China — via terminals such as Kharg Island in the northern Gulf. Any strike on these facilities would further escalate the crisis.

Echoes of the 1970s energy shock

The current tensions have revived comparisons with the oil crises of the 1970s. In 1973–74, Arab producers imposed an embargo during the Yom Kippur War, triggering fuel shortages and soaring inflation. A second shock followed in 1979 after the Iranian Revolution slashed output.Analysts now warn that a prolonged closure of Hormuz could create a disruption even more severe, given today’s higher global demand and tighter supply chains.Beyond oil, the strait is also crucial for trade in refined fuels, petrochemicals and other commodities. For countries such as India, which exports significant volumes of rice and imports large quantities of Gulf crude, the fallout could extend well beyond energy markets.The central question is duration. A brief flare-up may be absorbed. A sustained blockade, however, would have profound consequences for global inflation, shipping costs and economic stability.

Amid the ongoing controversy between India and Pakistan over the Hundred franchise tournament, a final list of Pakistani cricketers has been released. According to reports, out of 63 players, only 14 players from Pakistan are able to make their place in the auction list.

The Men in Green cricketers like Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Saim Ayub are in the list of final players from the nation. However, Sahibzada Farhan, who scored 383 runs in the ongoing T20 World Cup, is not part of the list. Rauf headlines as he is reportedly among the marquee players in the auction list of England’s franchise tournament.

Hundred franchise owners are not interested in Pakistani cricketers

In the auction for the Women’s tournament of the league, Sadia Iqbal and Fatima Sana can also make a final cut. The auction for the women’s Hundred is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, March 11, and the men’s auction will be held on the following day.

Your daily dose of cricket!

🚨 14 out of 63 Pakistan players shortlisted for The Hundred auction.

– Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq, Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Naseem Shah, Amir, Muhammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Zaman Khan, Usama Mir, Akif Javed & Salman Mirza. pic.twitter.com/kZeyhR5D1L

— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) March 2, 2026

Ahead of the auction, it was widely reported that the Hundred franchises, which have linked with the IPL franchises, were not interested in signing any players from the particularcountry. This report spread on social media rapidly and instantly caused a controversy. MI London, Manchester Super Giants, Sunrisers Leeds, and Southern Brave have links with Indian Premier League (IPL) team owners.

Moeen Ali and Michael Vaughan raised their voices against the potential development

A BBC report described the situation as a potential ‘shadow ban’ on the Pakistani cricketers. Former England cricketers like Moeen Ali and Michael Vaughan raised their voices and urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to look into the matter.

According to a BBC report, the ECB first wrote to the eight hundred franchises to remind them of their responsibilities on matters of discrimination. Later, a joint statement from the board and all eight franchises was issued with the confirmation that no players will be barred from the tournament based on their respective nationalities.

ECB and the Hundred franchises issued a joint statement for the upcoming auction

“All eight teams commit to selection being based solely on cricketing performance, availability, and the needs of each team. The ECB is committed to ensuring there is no place for discrimination, and has regulations in place to take robust action to tackle any such conduct. Players must not be excluded on the grounds of their nationality”, the joint statement reads.

It is now confirmed that there will be Pakistani cricketers in the men’s and Women’s auction of the Hundred league. But will any of these cricketers find any buyers? It will be interesting to see.

List of Pakistani cricketers who will be up for auction in The Hundred tournament:

Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq, Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Zaman Khan, Usama Mir, Akif Javed & Salman Mirza.

Read More: Not Ravindra Jadeja! Krunal Pandya combines a South African legend and a New Zealand star as the ultimate fielder

Image credit: Jonny Bairstow’s Instagram page.

NEW DELHI: England wicket-keeper batter Jonny Bairstow has voiced serious concerns about his family’s safety after being stranded in Dubai amid rising military tensions in the Middle East. Commercial departures from the United Arab Emirates have been halted following missile and drone strikes launched by Iran, leaving thousands unable to travel. The attacks are reportedly in response to joint Israeli and US operations in Tehran that led to the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Saturday.Bairstow, 36, had travelled to Dubai for a family holiday and took to social media to clarify that he is not with the England Lions, contrary to speculation. The wicketkeeper-batter described the distress of trying to ensure his family’s safety while seeking a route back to the UK.

“For those writing that I’m with the England Lions team…I am not. I am with my young family in Dubai…sure the England Lions security staff will be doing all they can to get them out of Abu Dhabi, but I am trying to keep my family safe and get us out of here!!” he wrote on X on Monday.A day earlier, Bairstow had appealed publicly to Emirates airline after his flight was cancelled. “We haven’t had any communication post-flight, getting cancelled. Tried the lines of communication, but nothing. Could someone please be in contact?” he posted.He also responded directly to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer following the government’s statement on the crisis, writing, “Can you get us home???”On Saturday, Britain’s Foreign Office updated its travel advisory for the UAE as the security situation deteriorated. The guidance now reads: “Due to reported missile attacks, British nationals in the UAE should immediately shelter in place. Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel, and follow instructions from the local authorities.”The instability has also disrupted England’s cricketing schedule. The England Lions called off their 50-over fixture against Pakistan Shaheens in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. England women’s cricket team postponed their departure for a training camp in the Emirates, while the England cricket team are closely monitoring developments before travelling home from the T20 World Cup in India, a journey that was due to route through Dubai.In a statement issued on Saturday, the England and Wales Cricket Board said, “The safety and security of our teams and staff is our top priority. We are in contact with security experts and the Government in relation to current events in the Middle East, and are following official advice.“Tomorrow’s second 50-over game between England Men’s Lions and Pakistan Shaheens in Abu Dhabi will no longer go ahead, and we are delaying the departure of England Women for their proposed trip to Abu Dhabi next week.”

The lavish and ultramodern city of Dubai also came under the radar amid the massive unrest in the Arab world, as grief-stricken Iran unleashed strikes on multiple nations in the Middle East following the killing of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other top leaders in a coordinated attack carried out by the United States and Israel.Khamenei’s killing and the large-scale military operation in Iran by the US and Israel pushed Tehran into a state of frenzy. The Khamenei-less Islamic Republic launched heavy retaliatory strikes on American military bases across the Gulf and on Israel, and also targeted the region’s major commercial and tourism hub, Dubai, the city of skyscrapers, along with nearby Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.

Satellite images clearly captured the aftermath of the attacks, comparing pictures taken before and after the strikes launched by Iran.Also read: Half the missiles gone? How vast Iran’s arsenal is — explainedThe images showed thick black fumes rising into the sky, turning the city’s iconic skyline grey after heavy explosions and blasts.Over the years, the scenes and skyline of Dubai rarely reflected the unrest often associated with the Arab world, instead symbolising the glamour and opulence of modern city life.The opulent, sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel, perched along Dubai’s Gulf coast, has long stood as a symbol of the city’s wealth and ambition. Now, after Iranian missiles set parts of it ablaze, the iconic structure has become an emblem of the crisis engulfing the region.Residents looked on in shock as hundreds of drones and missiles targeted the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf allies of the United States, nations that have long served as relative safe havens from the region’s conflicts, over the weekend.In Dubai, a city that has transformed within decades from a modest desert outpost into a cosmopolitan hub of towering skyscrapers and global finance, many of the targets carried strong symbolic value.Along with the Burj Al Arab, a beloved landmark since its opening in 1999, explosions also struck a five-star hotel on the upscale Palm Jumeirah, the man-made island known as a playground for the global elite.Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, and Jebel Ali Port were also hit in the strikes. Together, the two facilities account for roughly 60 percent of Dubai’s revenues, according to official estimates.Dalia, a 33-year-old Lebanese expatriate, was at the popular Kite Beach near the Burj Al Arab on Saturday when interceptor systems began destroying incoming missiles and drones in the sky.Later, debris from an intercepted drone reportedly ignited a fire near the base of the hotel’s facade.

NHL’s Seattle Kraken have signed defenseman Gustav Olofsson to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 (Image via X/Twitter)

Ahead of the trade deadline, the NHL‘s Seattle Kraken have signed defenseman Gustav Olofsson to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000, adding experienced depth to their blue line as they push for a Western Conference playoff spot. On Monday, General Manager Jason Botterill confirmed the deal, which carries an average annual value of $775,000, providing the Kraken with added depth on the blue line.Olofsson happens to be a promising player and would suit the defense line-up of the team, as he was previously under contract with Seattle’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, where he recorded two goals and 14 assists across 29 games played this season. In the 2023-24 season, he has played in just four contests for Seattle since signing with the team in free agency in 2021.

The Seattle Kraken sign Gustav Olofsson to a one-year trade deal to bolster the team’s blue line

The Seattle Kraken have signed defenseman Gustav Olofsson to a one-year trade deal to bolster the team’s blue line. Seattle Kraken General Manager Jason Botterill announced that the team has signed defenseman Gustav Olofsson to a one-year, two-way contract with a $775,000 AAV. According to the NHL, he has posted 16 points (2g/14a) in 29 games this season with the Firebirds, Seattle’s AHL affiliate. The alternate captain has amassed 51 points (7g/44a) in 151 regular-season games over four seasons (2022-26) with Coachella Valley. He also appeared in four NHL games with the Kraken between 2022 and 2024.Speaking about the trade deal, Jason Botterill stated, “We’re happy to have Gustav under contract with our team. He’s been a steady, veteran presence in Coachella and brings depth to our blueline.” (source: TSN)Originally drafted in the second round (46th overall) by the Minnesota Wild in 2013, Olofsson has NHL experience with Minnesota, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Kraken, having appeared in NHL games across three organizations earlier in his career. Olofsson has played in 63 career games at the NHL level, recording no goals and 11 assists in parts of six seasons spent with the Wild, Montreal Canadiens, and Kraken. In 395 games in the AHL, Olofsson has totaled 20 goals and 111 assists to go along with 173 penalty minutes and a plus-47 rating.Meanwhile, the Kraken entered the Western Conference on Monday with a three-point lead over the San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators, and Los Angeles Kings for the final wild-card berth.

Bigg Boss 16 fame Manya Singh, who is currently stuck in Dubai, shared a video on her social media account a few hours ago. She posted the video after her return flight was suspended due to rising tensions in parts of the Middle East.Manya shared a video on her Instagram account to update her fans about the situation she is currently facing. In the video, she said she heard blast-like sounds near her hotel and felt scared, especially because her room is on a higher floor.She said in her video, “Hi guys, so here’s an update. Ever since yesterday, the situation has slightly improved, and people are out. Last night was difficult because I could hear the blasts, and today, around 9 o’clock, I heard another blast near my hotel. It’s scary for me because I am on the 65th floor, and as you can see, it’s a busy city. For now, the airline has not said anything, but the hotel has informed us that there is an evacuation underway. Dubai Airport is shut,” she said in the video.”She also talked about the uncertainty around travel plans, saying that transport services are limited and she doesn’t know where they will be taken next.She added, “Abu Dhabi Airport is also shut, but there are a few flights they are arranging for respective countries. So now we have to check out from here, and the transport vehicles are down. We have to take these vehicles, and I have no idea where they are going to take us. So, let’s hope for the best. I’ve always heard that you just have to hope for the best.”Take a look In an exclusive conversation with Bombay Times, she spoke about the situation and shared, “Manya travelled to the UAE on February 26 to attend a college conference as a keynote speaker. Speaking to us from Dubai, she says, “Everybody else left on the night of the 27th, but I decided to stay back. I had booked a 2.50 pm flight on February 28 from Abu Dhabi.” Her flight was subsequently suspended, leaving her stranded. The situation here is extremely tense.”She also described a close call regarding her accommodation. She says, “I was initially meant to stay at Fairmont The Palm, as the airport authorities were arranging rooms for stranded passengers. However, they couldn’t secure one for me there. About half an hour later, we heard that the hotel had been attacked (reportedly hit by debris from a missile intercepted by the UAE’s defences). It’s right opposite CIEL Dubai Marina, where I’m currently staying.”With inputs from ANI.

NEW DELHI: In a relief to lakhs of people stuck in West Asia since Saturday, UAE’s Emirates, flydubai and Etihad from Monday started operating a few special flights, including some to India.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) too asked Indian operators to resume flights to airspaces that are open like Oman and Saudi Arabia, with the Air India Group and IndiGo starting services from Tuesday. There is a massive demand for both regular flights and charters from Indians stranded in strife-torn West Asia but operations hinge on the situation in the region. IndiGo has planned 10 special relief flights from Jeddah to India on Tuesday “to facilitate the return of stranded passengers, subject to required approvals and prevailing airspace conditions,” a govt statement said.From Tuesday, Air India Express will resume scheduled flights between Muscat and Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Mumbai and Tiruchirappalli. Air India has resumed US, Canada, Europe and UK flights.Emirates said it is “accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority, and those who have been rebooked to travel on these limited flights will be contacted directly by Emirates.”Its Monday flights included one each to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Fifteen passenger aircraft of Etihad also took off, including one each to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kochi, from Abu Dhabi “within a three-hour window” as the airport resumed partial operations.“Special arrangements are being made to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers. Airlines are deploying additional capacity where required and coordinating closely with foreign aviation authorities and Indian missions abroad to ensure safe and orderly passenger movement,” the aviation ministry said in a statement.Air India has contacted Muscat authorities to operate charters (this sector is served by AI Express that has single aisles in its fleet) as the group wants to deploy wide body aircraft to get as many people out as possible. AI also plans to resume regular Jeddah flights from Tuesday using its up to 342-seater Boeing 777s. IndiGo is also planning multiple flights as it is also getting a large number of charter requests. Air India has received a number of requests to operate charters to Muscat, mainly from those stuck in the UAE.“Muscat is served by AI Express and AI does not operate there. AI wants to deploy wide body aircraft as apart from flying more people, they have a longer range for diversion in the region that is currently contained by airspace closures. A wide body can have its diversion airport in Mumbai or Ahmedabad. We are awaiting a word from Muscat authorities,” said a person in the know.Gautam Sahni, a leading Indian charter operator and MD of Subha Aviation, said: “We are getting an unprecedented number of group charter requests from Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and other places for flying to multiple destinations across India. We are looking at windows when the UAE airspace is open to operate these flights and file for permissions accordingly. The indication we are getting is that that may happen in a day or two.”