NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday hit back at the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, calling it a “fake news factory” after the West Bengal chief minister accused the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of insulting President Droupadi Murmu.The row erupted after the President expressed displeasure over arrangements during her visit to Bengal to attend an international Tribal conference near Siliguri, including the change of venue and the absence of senior state representatives to receive her at Bagdogra airport.

The BJP’s West Bengal unit responded to Banerjee’s allegation that PM Modi had insulted the President by remaining seated while she stood to present an award to BJP leader LK Adavani, saying in a post on X that the claim was misleading and accusing the TMC of spreading misinformation.

“TMC’s Fake News factory at it again. The truth behind TMC’s manufactured outrage,” the party said.“As per official protocol during the presentation of Bharat Ratna award, others present remain seated while the award is being conferred. There was absolutely no breach of decorum,” the post added.The BJP further said, “It is shameful that TMC is once again trying to twist a dignified moment involving the Hon’ble President Smt Droupadi Murmu, PM Shri Narendra Modi and Bharat Ratna Shri LK Advani for petty politics. Respect the dignity of the highest constitutional office instead of spreading misinformation.”The political exchange intensified after PM Modi earlier on Sunday accused the TMC government of “insulting” a tribal woman President.Responding at a protest in Kolkata, Banerjee rejected the allegations and questioned the timing of the criticism, suggesting it was politically motivated ahead of the state assembly elections.Banerjee also displayed an enlarged photograph of an event showing the Prime Minister seated while the President stood nearby to present the Bharat Ratna award to veteran BJP leader LK Advani, saying it contradicted the BJP’s charge.“The picture shows that the PM is seated when the President is standing. We never do that. It is the BJP which carries the culture of insulting the President, not us,” she claimed while presenting the image as “evidence”.“You are targeting Bengal on the eve of assembly elections by saying whatever pleases you. Why? Why? Why?” she added from the sit-in platform in central Kolkata.She reiterated that the state government had “full respect for the chair of the President and the Constitution of India, which we consider our mother; do not blame us”.The chief minister also denied any breach of protocol during Murmu’s visit and said the state government had not been informed about the details of the programme by the organisers.According to Banerjee, if there had been mismanagement at the venue, including issues such as garbage, problems with the green room and the absence of women’s toilets, the responsibility lay with the private organisers and the Airports Authority of India, on whose premises the event was held.“We did not pick the venue, you did,” she said.Banerjee added that Siliguri mayor Goutam Deb had been present at Bagdogra airport to receive the President and maintained that protocol had been followed. Explaining her own absence, she said, “I am sitting in a dharna to protect people’s rights. How can I leave?”

As the Middle East war continues to cast a shadow over energy supplies, G-7 nations are considering to jointly release strategic oil reserves. According to a report by Financial Times, finance ministers of the Group of Seven are set to discuss a potential joint release of strategic emergency reserves, on Monday, in a bid to calm surging crude prices.The ministers will be holding a call at 8:30 am New York time, and any decision taken will be in coordination with the International Energy Agency, according to sources familiar with the matter. The agency said that till now, three G7 nations, including United States, have already expressed support for the approach.

Historically, coordinated drawdowns of strategic oil stockpiles have been carried out only five times, including twice in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Earlier releases were made to manage supply disruptions in Libya, following Hurricane Katrina, and during the first Gulf War, Bloomberg reported.The crisis has sent Brent crude soaring to nearly $120 a barrel on Monday, up from roughly $72 before the outbreak of the conflict. Brent crude, the global benchmark, surged above $118 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) followed a similar path, jumping nearly 30% from Friday’s close of $90.90.At 0230 GMT, WTI was up 30.04% at $118.21 per barrel before easing slightly, while Brent traded 27.54% higher at $118.22.The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, trapping exports from Persian Gulf producers. Major oil producers, including the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, have already been forced to reduce output due to limited storage, while Saudi Arabia is scrambling to redirect shipments to the Red Sea.Reports of a potential coordinated release have helped temper some of the price gains. Financial Times cited a source saying that some US officials believe a joint release of 300 million to 400 million barrels, roughly 25–30% of the 1.2 billion barrels in reserve, would be appropriate.Consumers worldwide are already feeling the impact of the supply disruptions. Petrol stations are facing long queues, jet fuel prices are rising, and airfares are climbing. Many Asian refineries, dependent on Middle East oil, have been forced to reduce operating rates as they struggle to secure alternative supplies.

OpneAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly thanked Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang after the Nvidia CEO revealed the aggressive efforts to expand computing capacity for ChatGPT-maker OpenAI across multiple cloud platforms. In a post shared on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) Altman wrote, “Very grateful to Jensen for working to expand Nvidia’s capacity at AWS so much for us!” The remakes made by Altman came shortly after Huang confided that Nvidia will invest $30 billion in OpenAI, describing it as one of the last opportunities to back a ‘consequential company’ before it goes public. Huang made the comments earlier this month at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, where he emphasized Nvidia’s role in scaling AI infrastructure.

Expanding across clouds

CEO Jensen Huang also explained that Nvidia has been working ‘like mad’ in order to ramp up OpenAI’s computing power not only on Microsoft Azure, but also on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. This expansion is made is make sure that OpenAI has the GPU resources required to support its rapidly growing AI systems.

Beyond OpenAI, Nvidia is also expanding infrastructure support for other leading AI companies, including Anthropic and Meta Platforms, as competition intensifies to secure the computing backbone for next-generation AI models.

Nvidia is reportedly planning new chip for OpenAI

Nvidia is said to be working on a new processor that will be built specifically for AI inference computing – a type of processing that allows AI models to respond to user queries – specifically for OpenAI. Reportedly, the announcement is expected at Nvidia’s GTC developer conference in San Jose next month, and ChatGPT-maker has already agreed to become one of its largest customers.According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, this essentially marks marking one of the most significant shifts in the Nvidia’s business strategy since the start of the AI boom. This is because Nvidia has long dominated the market for GPUs – specialised chips used for training AI models. These include its Hopper, Blackwell and Rubin GPU series, and reportedly most analysts estimate Nvidia controls over 90% of the GPU market.But GPUs were designed with training in mind, and now the AI industry is shifting from building models to actually running them, essentially limiting their use. The new processor is designed around inference computing rather than training. Nvidia will incorporate technology from Groq, a chip startup it acquired in a roughly $20 billion deal late last year.

India’s dominant win over New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final sparked celebrations across the country. Amid the jubilation, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir stood out for a gesture that reflected humility and respect for those who helped build the team’s success. Instead of taking credit for guiding India to a historic title, Gambhir used the moment to acknowledge the people who laid the foundation for the team’s triumph – most notably his predecessor Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, the head of the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE).

Gambhir’s comments after the final showed that he viewed the victory not as an individual achievement but as the result of years of collective effort within Indian cricket. He made it clear that the success of the current team was built on the systems and culture established before his tenure began.

Gautam Gambhir pays tribute to Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman

For Gambhir, one of the most important contributors to India’s success was Rahul Dravid. The former head coach had overseen a period of stability and development in Indian cricket, ensuring that the team remained competitive across formats. Gambhir felt that the current triumph was a natural continuation of the groundwork laid during Dravid’s tenure.

“I think first of all I should dedicate this trophy to Rahul [Dravid] bhai, and then to VVS Laxman [bhai],” Gambhir said. “Because what Rahul bhai has done to keep Indian cricket in such a good shape during his tenure, I have to thank him for everything.”

Dravid’s influence extended beyond tactical planning or match strategies. He focused heavily on creating a strong team culture, emphasizing discipline, preparation, and belief in young players. That environment allowed the next generation of cricketers to develop with confidence, something Gambhir acknowledged openly after the World Cup win.

Gambhir also paid special tribute to VVS Laxman, who currently oversees the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. According to the head coach, the CoE plays a crucial role in Indian cricket’s long-term success by constantly preparing new talent for the national stage.

“And then VVS Laxman for unconditionally doing so much for Indian cricket behind the doors, because the CoE remains the pipeline for Indian cricket.”

Under Laxman’s leadership, the Centre of Excellence has become a hub for grooming emerging cricketers, offering advanced training facilities, technical guidance, and mentorship. Gambhir acknowledged that the steady supply of talented players coming through this system has strengthened India’s bench strength and ensured that the national team always has quality replacements ready.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026 Awards: Full list of winners – From Jasprit Bumrah to Sanju Samson

Gambhir backs India’s selection panel

Another key figure Gambhir recognized was Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of selectors. Selection decisions in Indian cricket often attract heavy scrutiny, and Agarkar has frequently faced criticism for difficult calls. However, Gambhir praised the selector’s honesty and commitment to building the best possible team.

“And third is obviously Ajit Agarkar, because he does take a lot of flak, but the amount of honesty he has worked with,” said Team India head coach.

Behind every successful squad lies a selection process that balances form, potential and team combinations. Gambhir made it clear that Agarkar’s willingness to make tough decisions played a significant role in shaping the World Cup-winning team.

Also READ: Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and other cricket stars lead congratulatory messages for India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph

MUMBAI: Maharashtra’s push to make tourism more women-led is gathering momentum, with over 900 women entrepreneurs securing loans worth Rs 72.49 crore under the state’s ‘Aai’ tourism policy, aimed at boosting women’s participation in the sector.Launched by the Government of Maharashtra to expand women’s role in tourism businesses and travel services, the policy has already attracted 4,200 applications from across the state. Of these, 3,292 letters of intent have been issued, signalling strong interest among women keen to start ventures ranging from homestays and agro-tourism projects to cafés and travel services.The initiative provides interest-free loans of up to Rs15 lakh, along with an interest reimbursement facility for up to seven years. So far, the government has sanctioned Rs 1.67 crore towards interest reimbursement for beneficiaries.Officials said the scheme has received the strongest response from the Konkan, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Nashik divisions — regions that already attract large numbers of tourists and have significant potential for small tourism enterprises.The policy rests on five pillars: encouraging women’s entrepreneurship in tourism, building women-friendly tourism infrastructure, enhancing safety for women travellers, offering customised services and concessions for women tourists, and promoting tourism growth across the state.Under the scheme, up to 10 tourism-related enterprises run by women in each taluka can receive interest support on bank loans of up to Rs15 lakh. The interest subsidy — capped at 12% and up to Rs4.5 lakh — is transferred directly to the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-linked bank account for a maximum of seven years or until the loan is repaid.To qualify, the tourism business must be owned and operated by a woman and registered with the state Directorate of Tourism. In the case of tour and travel agencies, at least half of the employees must be women.Beyond financial support, the policy also aims to make tourism safer and more inclusive for women travellers. Women employees in tourism businesses — including tour guides, drivers and tour operators — will be covered under government insurance schemes, with the state paying the premium for the first five years.Women tourists will also receive incentives such as a 20% discount on tourism circuits organised by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation. They will also get a 50% discount on online bookings at MTDC resorts on 23 specific days each year, including 1–8 March to mark International Women’s Day.Special packages are also planned for women travellers, including women-only city tours, adventure trips, trekking expeditions, and tours designed for senior women citizens and women with disabilities.The policy also includes provisions to support women’s self-help groups by providing stalls at MTDC properties to sell handicrafts, local artwork and food products. Additional facilities such as childcare services for travellers with young children and rooms closer to lifts for elderly or differently-abled women are also part of the plan.Tourism minister Shambhuraj Desai said the policy goes beyond financial incentives. “Women in tourism are stepping forward not only as participants but also as entrepreneurs creating new employment opportunities,” he said, adding that the initiative would strengthen both rural and urban tourism economies.Principal secretary (tourism) Sanjay Khandare said the scheme is helping bring financial empowerment to women while encouraging more women to travel.Tourism director B. N. Patil said the policy is expected to accelerate growth in the sector by expanding women-led enterprises across tourism value chains.Officials say the programme could significantly reshape Maharashtra’s tourism ecosystem by bringing more women into leadership roles — from running homestays in scenic rural destinations to operating travel services in urban hubs — while also making the state a more welcoming destination for women travellers.

Asian stocks opened sharply lower on Monday, weighed down by surging oil prices and concerns over economies reliant on energy imports from the Middle East. South Korea’s Kospi emerged as the hardest hit, tumbling over 7.8% or 437 points to 5,147. Nikkei plunged 6.6% or 3,683 points to 51, 937. Around 11 am IST, HSI in Hong Kong was down 626 points or 2.4% to reach 25,131. Investors were rattled as Brent crude, the global benchmark, shot above $118 a barrel, with US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also climbing sharply, up around 30% from Friday’s close of $90.90. At 0230 GMT, WTI reached $118.21 per barrel, a 30.04% rise, before retreating slightly, while Brent traded 27.54% higher at $118.22. Oil has now climbed to its highest point in 14 years. The last time prices moved above the $100 mark was shortly after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The latest surge has been driven by worries that the conflict could affect exports from the Persian Gulf, a key route for global oil and gas supplies. The spike in energy prices is adding pressure on the global economy, particularly for countries that depend heavily on imported crude and gas. If the rise in oil and gas costs continues, the impact could spread across economies already adjusting to higher tariffs on exports to the United States under President Donald Trump. Oil prices have risen more than 60% since the conflict began and entered its second week, drawing in countries and locations vital to the production and transportation of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf. According to analysts and investors, sustained oil prices above $100 per barrel could inflict serious harm on the global economy. The unease was already visible on Wall Street at the end of last week. On Friday, the S&P 500 declined 1.3% after data showed US employers cut more jobs last month than they created, while oil prices also climbed above $90 a barrel. Investors see the combination of slowing economic activity and high inflation as particularly troubling, as the Federal Reserve has limited tools to tackle both problems simultaneously. During Friday’s session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by as much as 945 points before closing down 453 points, or 0.9%. The Nasdaq composite finished 1.6% lower. Meanwhile, the US dollar strengthened in early Monday trading as investors sought safe-haven assets amid heightened uncertainty. The dollar rose 0.9% against the Japanese yen to 158.87, while the euro slipped to $1.1513 from $1.1618.