Sri Lanka on Sunday raised fuel prices by around 25 per cent, marking the second increase within a week as the ongoing Middle East conflict continues to disrupt global energy markets, news agency PTI reported.The price revision, effective from midnight, comes as tensions triggered by joint US–Israel strikes on Iran and retaliatory action by Tehran have spread across the Gulf region, leading to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — a key global energy transit route.According to official announcements, the price of auto diesel rose 26.1 per cent from Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) 303 to LKR 382 per litre, while super diesel increased 25.5 per cent from LKR 353 to LKR 443. Petrol 92 octane climbed 25.6 per cent from LKR 317 to LKR 398, petrol 95 octane rose 24.7 per cent from LKR 365 to LKR 455, and kerosene jumped 30.8 per cent from LKR 195 to LKR 255.This is the third fuel price hike since March 1 and comes as the conflict, which has unsettled global oil markets, entered its fourth week.With the latest revision, retail fuel prices in Sri Lanka are set to return close to levels seen during the 2022 economic crisis, when the country declared its first-ever sovereign default since independence in 1948. The unprecedented financial turmoil at the time forced then president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign amid widespread civil unrest.The steep increase has sparked concern among transport operators. Non-state bus owners warned that up to 90 per cent of their fleet could be taken off the roads unless fares are revised.“This is the biggest rise of diesel ever. We will not be able to operate buses without an adequate fare revision. We need a minimum 15 per cent fare hike to stay afloat,” Gamunu Wijeratne, chairman of the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association, told reporters.The association threatened a nationwide strike if authorities fail to announce a scheduled fare revision.Responding to the developments, the National Transport Commission (NTC) said the latest diesel price increase, when applied to its fare formula, translates into a rise of more than 10 per cent in current bus fares. NTC Director General Nilan Miranda said Cabinet approval is expected on Monday to implement revised fares, according to media reports.Private operators account for about 65–75 per cent of the island nation’s public transport fleet, while the state-run share stands at around 25–35 per cent.Three-wheeler taxi operators, many of whom use petrol vehicles dominated by India’s Bajaj brand, said the price of commonly used petrol had risen to nearly LKR 400 per litre.“Who would want to ride with us at this rate?” a three-wheeler driver said, as quoted news agency PTI.Apart from state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), fuel retailing in Sri Lanka is also carried out by Lanka IOC — a subsidiary of IndianOil –as well as China’s Sinopec and Australia’s United Petroleum. Following CPC’s decision, LIOC and Sinopec also revised their retail fuel prices, media reports said.Opposition leaders criticised the government’s tax policy, claiming that authorities collect about LKR 119 per litre of petrol and LKR 93 per litre of diesel in taxes. They demanded that these levies be scrapped to provide relief to consumers.Analysts warned that the fresh fuel price hike could push inflation higher by 5–8 per cent.Earlier, government spokesman and minister Nalinda Jayatissa said that despite the price revisions, the government continues to bear a monthly subsidy burden of around Rs 20 billion by subsidising diesel by Rs 100 per litre and petrol by Rs 20 per litre.He said that without the revision, the state would have faced an additional financial burden of approximately $1.5 billion. Jayatissa urged the public to consume electricity and fuel “mindfully” and warned against hoarding, calling on citizens to report any such attempts.

BJP National Spokesperson Tuhin Sinha

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday said former Pakistani diplomat Abdul Basit’s recent remarks against India showed that Pakistan “cannot survive without terrorism.”Basit, former Pakistani envoy to India, said in an interview that in a hypothetical scenario where the US tried to destroy Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities, Islamabad would have to strike Mumbai or New Delhi.Reacting sharply to the remarks, BJP National Spokesperson Tuhin Sinha told IANS, “Abdul Basit’s threat that Delhi and Mumbai will be blown up with bombs from Pakistan shows that even today, Pakistan is rattled by strikes during Operation Sindoor. It has lost its mental balance.”Terming Pakistan a “terrorist state”, Sinha said, “It is a terrorist state and now we don’t even have to say it. Last year, (Pakistan Army Chief) Asim Munir had told the US that if needed, the oil refineries in Jamnagar would be blown up. Now, the country’s former envoy has used this kind of language. It shows that terrorism is ingrained in their nature. Pakistan can’t survive without terrorism.”Basit had said, “Suppose there is a scenario where the US views our nuclear programme in a negative light or tries to destroy our nuclear capability.It is unlikely, but I am talking about a worst-case scenario. Let’s imagine that the US tries to attack us. Even if the US is not within our nuclear range, what options do we have?”When asked if India would be involved, he replied, “India. We would not have to do anything else. Even if we do not have the range to target the US, we would have to strike India’s Mumbai and New Delhi without thinking. We have no other option, since the US is not within our range, then we would have no choice but to attack India. Then let’s see what happens. We do not want that to happen.”Basit’s comments came amid tensions in the Middle East over Iran’s nuclear programme, following joint US-Israeli strikes on Tehran on 28 February. The attacks triggered a wider conflict in the region, which has now entered its third week. Donald Trump has also warned Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face military action.

Jannik Sinner and Damir Dzumhur (Image Via Getty)

Jannik Sinner started his 2026 Miami Open run with a calm win, but the match did not stay simple for long. On March 21, at the main stadium court in Miami, the Italian beat Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 6-3. The score looked easy, but there was a strange moment in the middle that caught everyone’s attention. A fan from the crowd kept shouting, and it began to affect the players on court.The situation quickly turned tense. Even though the fan seemed to support Jannik Sinner, the way he was shouting disturbed Damir Dzumhur during points. Both players looked uncomfortable. The chair umpire had to step in, and for a few minutes, the match felt more about the crowd than the tennis. After the match ended, Sinner showed respect by apologizing to his opponent for what had happened.

Jannik Sinner and Damir Dzumhur face disruption as crowd incident forces umpire intervention

The incident happened during an important stage of the match. Damir Dzumhur first raised the issue. He pointed out a fan in a green shirt and told chair umpire Renaud Lichtenstein that the shouting was affecting him. Jannik Sinner also agreed that the fan’s behavior was not right, even if it sounded like support.Renaud Lichtenstein then spoke to the match supervisor during the game. He said, “Damir is upset with the guy with the green shirt and Jannik is telling me he’s baiting on the back. I don’t know what we should do. Maybe we could talk to him to relax.” The supervisor replied, “We’ve got security on the way. So… I think he’s just an idiot.”Security was sent to handle the situation, and the match continued without further trouble. Still, the moment stayed in focus. When the match ended and both players met at the net, Jannik Sinner took a moment to say sorry to Damir Dzumhur. It was a small gesture, but it showed his sportsmanship.Apart from the incident, Sinner’s performance was strong. With this win, he reached 24 straight sets won at ATP Masters 1000 events, matching a record once set by Novak Djokovic. Speaking after the match, he said, “I feel like the scoreboard matters at times. For me, I try to improve as a player and put myself in the position to play as many matches as possible. I always treat every opponent in the same way, trying to come on court and do my best with a great attitude and trying to go for it.” Sinner will now face Corentin Moutet in the next round, where he has a chance to break that record.

As the countdown to IPL 2026 gathers momentum, Virat Kohli has found himself at the centre of fresh speculation—this time over alleged travel arrangements during the tournament. However, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star has now reacted to the rumours, calling them nothing more than baseless chatter.

The controversy began when reports surfaced suggesting that Kohli had requested chartered flights to travel between India and London during breaks in the IPL schedule. According to these rumours, the former India captain planned to fly out whenever there was a gap of more than three days between matches.

Kohli responded swiftly and directly. Taking to his Instagram stories, he reshared the claim and reacted with laughing emojis, clearly indicating that the story held no truth. By labeling it as ‘fake news’ without issuing a lengthy statement, Kohli let his reaction do the talking.

His response quickly went viral, with fans appreciating the clarity and straightforward dismissal. In an era where speculation spreads rapidly, Kohli’s light-hearted yet firm rebuttal helped shut down the narrative before it could gain further traction.

London connection continues to spark debate

While this particular rumour has been put to rest, discussions around Kohli’s association with London are not new. In recent years, the star batter has spent significant time in the UK during off-season periods, especially after becoming a father for the second time. For Kohli, London offers something he rarely experiences in India—privacy. Away from the intense spotlight, he has often been spotted doing everyday activities like walking in parks or shopping, blending into a relatively normal routine.

This shift is widely seen as a conscious effort to give his family, especially his children, a more grounded upbringing. The move reflects a personal choice to balance global stardom with a quieter life off the field.

Focus shifts to IPL 2026 with RCB

Amid the noise, Kohli has already returned to India and joined the RCB camp in Bengaluru. The defending champions are gearing up for a high-profile start to their campaign at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB are set to face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening match on March 28, and all eyes will be on Kohli as he begins another crucial IPL season. With expectations running high, the veteran batter will look to lead from the front and silence any distractions with his performances on the field.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) board will meet on Monday to deliberate on a wide-ranging agenda that includes a proposal to ease fund settlement norms for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and changes to regulatory frameworks governing market intermediaries, people familiar with the matter told news agency PTI.A key proposal before the board is to allow FPIs to net funds for same-day cash market trades instead of settling each transaction individually. Under the existing framework, FPIs are required to settle equity cash market trades on a gross basis, funding each purchase transaction independently of sale transactions even if both occur on the same day.Sebi has proposed permitting “netting of funds”, which would enable FPIs to use proceeds from same-day sales to offset purchase obligations, requiring them to meet only the net payable amount. The move is aimed at improving operational efficiency and reducing the cost of funding for FPIs, particularly on index rebalancing days. It is also expected to help minimise forex-related costs arising from timing mismatches between inflows and outflows.The proposal follows concerns that the current gross settlement mechanism imposes additional funding requirements on FPIs for at least one extra day, thereby increasing transaction costs.This will be the fifth board meeting chaired by Sebi Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey since he assumed office on March 1, 2025.Apart from FPI-related reforms, the board will review several governance and regulatory proposals, including a comprehensive overhaul of the “fit and proper person” criteria applicable to market intermediaries. The aim is to enhance procedural clarity and fairness, the people said.As part of the proposed changes, Sebi is considering abolishing the reference to initiation of winding-up proceedings as a disqualification, so that only a final winding-up order is taken into account while assessing whether a person is fit and proper.The regulator is also looking to explicitly include the right to a hearing in the rules. While the practice of providing a reasonable opportunity of being heard already exists, the proposal seeks to formally codify this provision to remove procedural ambiguity.In addition, the board is expected to consider ease-of-doing business proposals relating to real estate investment trusts (REITs) and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs).Another key agenda item is the discussion of a report submitted by a high-level panel on conflict of interest and transparency. The panel has proposed wide-ranging reforms aimed at enhancing disclosure norms and fostering a “zero-tolerance” culture to address potential conflicts of interest involving top Sebi officials, they added.

Sam Konstas, Steve Smith, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins, Sean Abbott and Mitchell Starc of Australia pose for a photo (Photo: Getty Images)

Cricket Australia has revealed its international schedule for the 2026-27 season, outlining a demanding calendar that leaves minimal recovery time ahead of the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India, likely to start in mid or late January.The five-match Test tour of India is expected to be a defining stretch for an experienced Australian side led by Pat Cummins, with several senior players facing one of the toughest assignments of their careers.In total, Australia are scheduled to play 10 Tests within a 14-week span from December to March, making it one of the most intense periods in the team’s history.The home summer begins in August 2026 with a two-Test series against Bangladesh and runs through to March 2027, ending with a landmark day-night Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to celebrate the 150th anniversary Test against England national cricket team.A four-Test home series against New Zealand national cricket team has been squeezed into just over a month, adding further pressure to an already tight schedule. Before that, Australia will tour South Africa national cricket team for a three-Test series that runs until the end of October, followed by an eight-match white-ball series against England in November.According to CA, the India tour represents a significant challenge for senior players such as Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, all of whom are yet to win a Test series in India.“That Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour, a final frontier for the likes of Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, who have never won a series in India, will also be a quick-fire campaign given CA’s anniversary Test begins back in Melbourne on March 11,” CA said in a statement.The board also indicated a cautious approach to workload management, pointing out that the decision to rest key fast bowlers like Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood for the early stages of the Indian Premier League reflects concerns over sustaining them through the packed season.“The call to hold back all three of Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood from at least the first few rounds of the soon-to-begin IPL shows CA is wary of getting their trio to the finishing line of the intense 2026-27 run,” the statement added.Australia’s packed Test itinerary includes:August: Two Tests vs Bangladesh (home)October: Three Tests vs South Africa (away)December-January: Four Tests vs New Zealand (home)January-March: Five Tests vs India (away)March 11-15: 150th anniversary Test vs England (home)Looking further ahead, Australia could feature in the World Test Championship final in June if they qualify, before embarking on a five-Test tour of England between June and August.

RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary with KC Tyagi (PTI photo)

NEW DELHI: Senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi on Sunday pledged to carry forward former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh’s legacy after joining the Rashtriya Lok Dal, after parting way from the Nitish Kumar-led party, which has been at the helm of the Bihar government for the past two decades under chief minister Nitish Kumar.However, Tyagi’s political base lies in western Uttar Pradesh, far from JD(U)’s stronghold in Bihar. Meanwhile, the RLD, also an NDA ally, has been in influence in Uttar Pradesh, especially in the western region, carrying forward the legacy of Chaudhary Charan Singh under the leadership of his grandson, Jayant Chaudhary.Tyagi said his move reflects continuity rather than change, stressing that there is no difference between JD(U) and the RLD, while recalling past efforts by Nitish Kumar and Chaudhary Ajit Singh to come together politically.Speaking to ANI, Tyagi said, “I began my political career with the Lok Dal itself. This is just its original form; there’s nothing new in it… We will help fulfil the dream that Chaudhary Charan Singh left behind… There is no difference between JD(U) and RLD. There was a time when Nitish Kumar and Chaudhary Ajit Singh were set to form a party together. There is no difference between these two.”Tyagi formally joined the RLD in New Delhi in the presence of party president and Union minister Jayant Chaudhary. The veteran socialist leader, a founding member of JD(U), had resigned from the party on March 17.Earlier this week, Tyagi said he did not take part in the party’s latest membership drive, clarifying that there is no personal friction between him and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar over the Rajya Sabha seat allocation.Maintaining that his ties with the party remain intact, Tyagi said his “relationship with Nitish Kumar and the Bihar JDU remains the same”.“I am the founder of Janata Dal (United) alongside George Fernandes, Sharad Yadav, Nitish Kumar, and Digvijay Singh… I have been a member ever since. However, I did not participate in this membership drive,” he said.The senior leader also addressed speculation around his parliamentary ambitions, denying that his exit was linked to any bid for a Rajya Sabha seat. “There is not a single instance of me trying for a Rajya Sabha ticket. Even in 2013, Nitish Kumar called me and offered me a ticket,” said Tyagi.