Mumbai: With Maharashtra fisheries minister Nitesh Rane writing to Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh seeking urgent intervention on rising diesel costs, concerns are mounting over a looming supply crunch in Mumbai’s fish markets and a spike in retail prices.In his letter, Rane highlighted that 7,550 mechanised fishing vessels operated through 136 cooperative societies are facing “severe financial distress” due to escalating fuel costs. He pointed to a sharp price disparity caused by the classification of fishermen co-operatives as “bulk consumers”, forcing them to buy diesel at rates significantly higher than retail prices available at petrol pumps.The minister warned that the rising fuel burden has already led to reduced fishing trips, operational inefficiencies and lower catch volumes, threatening the livelihoods of fishermen, vendors and allied workers. He urged the Centre to reclassify co-operatives for retail pricing, introduce targeted subsidies or DBT support, and formulate a national policy to stabilise fuel costs for the sector.The letter comes amid parallel representations by fishermen unions, which have cautioned that the Rs 22-per-litre gap between retail (Rs 90) and bulk (under Rs 112) diesel rates could force boats to remain docked. The bulk diesel prices were hiked for fishing boats three days back following the Middle-East crisis.
NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia and its impact on energy supplies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday warned of possible attempts by “certain elements” to exploit the situation to endanger India’s internal security. He, however, assured that the security and law-and-order agencies were already in a state of high alert to detect and avert such designs.Drawing the attention of the Rajya Sabha to the internal security dimension of the West Asia crisis, Modi informed the members that security across all domains in the country — coastal, border, cyber and strategic installations — is being further strengthened.
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Amid Hormuz Crisis, PM Modi Promises Fuel From All Sources As Indian Ships Navigate War Zone
“Whether it is coastal security, border security, cyber security, or strategic installations, the security of all is being reinforced,” he said while briefing the House on the developments in West Asia.The home ministry had last week advised all states and Union territories to protect the LPG supply chain by ramping up security of the concerned infrastructure and personnel, monitor LPG supplies on a daily basis and bust rumours in real time to avoid any panic.Sources told TOI that all states/UTs were advised to take strict action against hoarding and black marketing of LPG/gas supplies and undertake awareness drives to allay fears and counter rumours regarding LPG shortage.The states/UTs, said sources, were nudged to closely monitor social media platforms and take prompt action to remove fake news and false narratives about an alleged LPG shortage by circulating old or unrelated material.Incidentally, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has lately detected a cyber scam wherein fraudsters are sending out fake “gas booking updates” APK files via WhatsApp. Installing these files can hack one’s phone and drain their bank account instantly, the I4C warned while instructing LPG subscribers to stick to official booking applications.
India’s sports economy crossed the $2 billion mark for the first time, increasing by 13.4% year-on-year to reach $2.13 billion (Rs 18,864 crore). The industry has doubled in size in four years, accounting for an approximate 19% CAGR. Cricket accounts for 89% of total recorded receipts, up from 85% in 2024. The share of emerging sports has contracted to 11%. Cricket alone (Rs 16,704 crore) is now bigger than total Indian sports industry in 2024 (Rs 16,633 crore).
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Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 2: GroupM’s Vinit Karnik on IPL’s growth and emerging sports
The valuation, as per WPP Media’s ‘Sporting Nation: Building a Legacy’ report, takes into account three principal sources of revenue: Sponsorship (comprising Ground, Team, and Franchise fees), Athlete Endorsements, and Advertising Expenditures.“Sport today sits at the intersection of culture and commerce, and brands are increasingly becoming part of the narrative rather than just sponsors. The evolution of leagues like the Indian Premier League has shown how deeply integrated partnerships can drive both fan engagement and commercial impact,” said Vinit Karnik, managing director – Content, Sports & Entertainment, WPP Media South Asia.“We are seeing a shift from visibility-led associations to more immersive, story-driven collaborations. This is fundamentally changing how brands unlock value in the sports ecosystem,” he continued.The overall Indian sports economy is dominated by media spends — nearly 50% of the total industry — at Rs 9,571 crore with cricket spends alone standing at a staggering Rs 9,026 crore. Sponsorships come second at Rs 7,943 crore with IPL teams crossing Rs 1,000 in team sponsorships. Lastly, celebrity endorsements stand at Rs 1,350 crore, accounting for 7% of the entire economy.The biggest takeaway of the report is cricket’s growth and other sports lagging behind. In absolute terms, cricket has grown 17.9% year-on-year and accounts for 81% of sponsorship spends, 87% of endorsements and 95% of media spends.IPL, India’s Champions Trophy title, India winning the ODI Women’s World Cup and the Women’s Premier League (WPL) all kept the cricket juggernaut growing despite the impact of the Real Money Gaming (RMG) ban.ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta labelled India as the “anchor market” while admitting cricket has become “incontrovertibly” globalised.“India is indeed the anchor market of world cricket. Its enormous fan base, financial strength, and time-tested affinity for the sport provide a platform that benefits the entire ecosystem. What is incontrovertibly evident at ICC events, however, is that the ship is sailing far beyond any single location,” he wrote in a column for the report.Gupta said with India’s triumph at home in the Women’s ODI World Cup, the game can expect to grow rapidly going forward as it has fully unlocked an influential market.“…India’s triumph at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, in the 50-over format and secured on home soil, carried with it enormous value. When a market of India’s scale and influence embraces women’s cricket with such passion, the ripple effects are felt far and wide,” he observed.No ISL hurts other sports
Bengaluru FC player Sunil Chhetri in a file photo. (ANI)
A major contributor to the 12.2% dip for ‘Emerging Sports’ came because of the postponement of India’s top football competition – the Indian Super League (ISL) – getting postponed to February this year. Rest of the competitions and franchise competitions, such as Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), stayed on course.The report noted that considering 2024 witnessed the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, which ignited a surge in fan interest and brand presence across disciplines, that was not the case in 2025.Cricket continues to lead the celebrity endorsement table, but Emerging Sports athletes are slowly gaining commercialcredibility. In terms of digital data and social media conversations, the cricketers and cricket dwarf the non-cricket aspects.If Virat Kohli (10,742,000) and Rohit Sharma (10,341,000) lead the charts among cricketers on social media, the closest on non-cricket side are Neeraj Chopra (445,000) and Sunil Chhetri (149,000).
Palghar: Seventeen workers were affected in a fresh gas leak incident at Tarapur MIDC in Boisar, raising serious concerns over industrial safety in the area. The dimethyl sulphide (DMS) gas leak reportedly occurred on Sunday afternoon at a pharmaceutical unit, Arti Pharma Lab. The affected workers were rushed to a private hospital in Boisar, where they are currently undergoing treatment. Allegations have surfaced that the company failed to inform the police about this leak, but the incident came to light after the workers were admitted to the hospital. Authorities are expected to probe the matter and determine any lapses in safety protocols.Dimethyl sulphide, upon exposure, releases vapours that can affect the eyes, which was the major complaint of those admitted.Incidents of gas leak in Tarapur MIDC have sparked criticism, with activists questioning worker safety and regulatory oversight in the industrial zone.Palghar superintendent of police (SP) Yatish Deshmukh said around 1 pm on Monday, Boisar police registered the offence and the investigation is on. A senior official at Boisar police station said, “We got information from the hospital on Monday morning and accordingly started investigating this case.” They also confirmed that the statements of all the workers have been taken.MIDC sources have confirmed this leak took place while handling the dimethyl sulphide. They said initially there is no impact of this gas but around 4 hours after the leak, the workers began to report irritation in the eyes and a sore throat. All 17 were thereafter admitted at the local hospital.
The Election Commission blamed clerical errors for a letter by the EC being circulated with a BJP seal. Issuing an official clarification, the EC said that the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) submitted a document bearing the party seal as part of a clarification requested regarding the 2019 guidelines on the publication of criminal antecedents of candidates. It said that, due to an oversight by the office, the same document was sent to other parties for the same clarification.The response comes as an affidavit attached to a letter dated March 19, 2019, which was circulated to political parties in Kerala with a BJP seal on it. CPI(M) Kerala shared the images of the letter, as it accused that the EC is controlled by the same political power. It also added a snarky remark stating that the party should at least have the “courtesy to maintain separate desks”The CPI(M), posting on X, said, “Have all pretences been dropped by the BJP? It is no secret that the same power centre seems to control both the Election Commission of India and the BJP. Even then, at least maintain the courtesy of two separate desks. Now, even that seems unnecessary.”It further remarked about the BJP seal on the affidavit and compared the occurrence to an older allegation of EVM tampering, saying, “Seals are being casually swapped. A BJP seal on an Election Commission letter! Just like the old allegation – that no matter which button you press, the lotus appears – here comes another ‘coincidence.’ Shouldn’t someone be paying attention?”It also added a proper verification of the incident and said, “The document has been received by multiple parties. It has been cross-verified with at least two of the recipients. It is also confirmed that the email originated from the official Election Commission source.”In response to the post, the Election Commission issued an official clarification into the matter. It said that it acknowledges the fault in circulation that happened because of a clerical error. It said, ” It has come to our notice that a letter from the Election Commission, bearing the seal of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is being circulated across various Malayalam news channels. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) hereby clarifies that this was purely a clerical error, which was identified and rectified immediately.“It gave a complete account of the incident, stating, “The BJP Kerala Unit had recently approached the CEO’s office seeking clarification on the 2019 guidelines regarding the publication of criminal antecedents of candidates. Along with their request, the party submitted a photocopy of the original 2019 directive. The party’s seal was present on that specific copy provided by them.”“Due to an oversight, the office failed to notice the party symbol on the submitted document and inadvertently redistributed it to other political parties as part of the requested clarification. The guidelines in question have undergone revisions since 2019, which have already been communicated to all political entities,” it added.According to the statement, the deputy CEO had withdrawn the erroneous document along with a formal letter.“The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer acknowledged the lapse as soon as it was detected. Consequently. On March 21, the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer issued a formal letter withdrawing the erroneous document.The withdrawal notice was dispatched to all political parties, District Election Officers, and Returning Officers.”It further urged to refrain from spreading further confusion and claimed that the commission remains free from any external interference. “The public and media are requested to refrain from spreading misleading messages based on this clerical error. The Election Commission maintains a rigorous and foolproof system to ensure that the electoral process remains free from any external interference or influence,” it said.Kerala is set to undergo polling in one phase on April 9, while the counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
Happy news for the couple Madhu Mantena and Ira Trivedi as they have been blessed with a baby boy. The producer and his wife Ira Trivedi welcomed their first child in the early hours of this day (March 22).The development comes after days of anticipation, with the family eagerly waiting for the arrival.
Couple was waiting for the big moment
As per the post shared by Vickey Lalwani on his Instagram page, the couple has been waiting for the delivery, which was expected in March.The arrival of the baby has now brought relief and joy to the family. The couple is said to be “on cloud nine” following the happy news.
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Madhu Mantena – Ira Trivedi’s reception was a starry affair
Pregnancy announcement on Makar Sankranti
The couple had earlier shared their pregnancy news on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, January 15, 2026.Ira Trivedi took to social media to announce the news with a heartfelt message. She wrote, “Our life in bloom Thank you Krishna for this beautiful gift of divine life… seeking your blessings on this auspicious day of Makar Sankranti,”The post featured a series of pictures from a maternity photoshoot. The couple was seen sharing joyful moments together, celebrating the new phase in their lives.
Heartwarming photoshoot wins hearts
The pictures from the announcement quickly caught attention online. In one image, the couple was seen twinning in white outfits.Another picture featured Ira Trivedi in a black dress, cradling her baby bump. The remaining images showcased the couple together, along with their pet dog.
Work front and upcoming projects
On the professional front, Madhu Mantena continues to stay active in the film industry. His production banner has recently collaborated with another company for upcoming projects.The banner is set to develop and produce two feature films. These will be directed by Nikhil Bhat, known for Kill, and Saket Chaudhary, best known for Hindi Medium as reported by Bollywood Hungama.
NEW DELHI: IndiGo Monday appointed Aloke Singh, former MD & CEO of Air India Express, as its chief strategy officer (CSO). Singh had completed his tenure at AI Express on March 19, during which he had overseen the merger of erstwhile AirAsia India into the airline and steered the Tata Group low cost carrier (LCC) to become a force to reckon with. He has previously held senior leadership positions, including in the strategy domain, at Air India and Oman Air.This is the first big hire by IndiGo founder Rahul Bhatia who has recently taken over as the airline’s interim CEO and clearly signals the intention to aggressively scout for the best available talent in India and abroad.Rahul Bhatia said: “Aloke brings an exceptional blend of strategic vision and operational depth. His comprehensive understanding of the aviation ecosystem will be invaluable as we build a more agile, resilient and future-ready organisation, and accelerate our next phase of growth. For now, Aloke will report to me. Once the next CEO assumes office, he will transition to reporting to the new chief executive.”Aloke Singh said: “I am delighted to join IndiGo at such a pivotal moment for the airline and for Indian aviation broadly. Having redefined India’s domestic and short-haul international aviation landscape, IndiGo is taking its ambitions global. I look forward to working with colleagues across the organisation to sharpen our strategic direction, double down on operational excellence and deepen and broaden our markets.”As IndiGo CSO, Singh will lead the LCC’s “long-term strategic planning function and drive enterprise-wide transformation initiatives focused on accelerating growth, enhancing operational efficiency and strengthening competitive positioning in a rapidly evolving global aviation landscape,” the airline said in a statement. He will partner closely with the leadership team on cross-functional priorities designed to improve agility, elevate customer experience and deliver sustainable shareholder value.Singh has over three decades of aviation industry experience spanning strategy, planning, operations and commercial functions with a track record of leading complex operational and cultural transformation, driving rapid growth and managing large-scale expansion programmes.
In the cricket heartlands of Maharashtra, where fast bowlers grind through long domestic seasons to earn their shot, a new name has quietly entered the big stage. Saurabh Dubey, the 28-year-old left-arm medium-fast bowler from Wardha, has become Kolkata Knight Riders’ answer to a pace crisis. With Akash Deep ruled out of IPL 2026 due to a lower-back stress injury, KKR moved fast and signed Dubey as his replacement. The uncapped seamer, who has already joined the camp in Kolkata, now stands on the verge of his long-awaited IPL debut.
Dubey’s path from Vidarbha domestic ranks to one of the most successful franchises in the league is built on steady domestic showings, swing bowling and sheer readiness when the call came. His previous brush with the IPL came back in 2022 with Sunrisers Hyderabad, but an injury cut that short before he could play a game. Now, with KKR facing injuries to key pacers like Akash Deep and others, Dubey gets the chance to prove his worth under lights.
Lesser known facts about Saurabh Dubey
Early life and domestic beginnings
Born on January 23, 1998, in Wardha, Maharashtra, Saurabh Dubey grew up in a state known for producing solid cricketers. Unlike many who burst onto the scene young, Dubey took the slow route. He honed his left-arm swing in local grounds, idolizing the accuracy and seam movement of overseas pacers. Domestic cricket came gradually, and he represented Vidarbha and earned spots in emerging teams setups, including India’s squad for the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup.
His List A record stands out: in 8 matches, he has picked up 16 wickets at an average of 23.31 and an economy of 5.79, showing control with the new ball and in the middle overs. T20 exposure remains limited, with just three matches so far, but his ability to swing it both ways caught eyes in trials and nets.
The road to IPL 2026
Saurabh Dubey playing for KKR in IPL 2026 (Pic Source: X.com)
Dubey first tasted IPL attention in 2022 when Sunrisers Hyderabad signed him, but a back injury sidelined him before his debut. He stayed patient, kept performing for Vidarbha, and worked on his fitness. When KKR needed a left-arm option to balance their attack after the injury of Akash Deep, they turned to Dubey. Reports say he impressed in nets and practice games, leading to the quick signing.
He has already linked up with the Knight Riders camp in Kolkata, ready to slot into a pace unit hit by injuries. For a player with little first-class experience yet, no Ranji Trophy games listed this leap prominently shows faith in his raw talent and left-arm angle.
As IPL 2026 kicks off, Dubey arrives at a critical time for KKR. The team’s pace battery faces questions with multiple injury concerns, and a left-armer brings variety against right-hand heavy lineups. His swing and ability to hit good lengths could make him useful in powerplays or middle overs.
While stats are modest on paper, domestic coaches praise his temperament and work ethic. From borrowing gear in early days to now rubbing shoulders with stars like Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, and Cameron Green, Dubey’s story echoes many unsung domestic heroes who wait for their moment.
Mumbai: The 15 surviving Indian crew of the Marshall Islands US-flagged oil tanker MT Safesea Vishnu, which was attacked on March 12 near Khor Al Zubair Port close to Basra in Iraq, returned to Mumbai on March 20, nine days after the vessel was attacked after it ignored warnings from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The US-owned vessel, the Safesea Vishnu, came under attack after it ignored warnings and failed to comply with orders. Meanwhile, the mortal remains of the chief engineer from Kandivli, Deonandan Prasad Singh (54), serving as the Additional Chief Engineer (Superintendent) aboard the vessel, are yet to arrive as the paperwork is under process and will take a week’s time.Following the incident, all crew members abandoned the vessel and entered the water to ensure their safety. They were subsequently rescued by an STS tug operating in the vicinity. The Iraqi Coast Guard evacuated all 28 crew members, including 16 Indian nationals and 12 Filipino nationals, and transported them towards the Port of Basra. “The 15 crew survived the attack and were rescued and brought back to Mumbai three days ago after completing their travel procedures as they were without documents, which they lost in the attack,” said a DG Shipping source.The crew, after undergoing medical examination and counselling, proceeded to their hometowns. Three of them are from Mumbai. A source from DG Shipping said the crew who lost their documents in the attack have to apply for them through the channel, and it will be processed accordingly. The documents and compensation process will be completed within 3 to 6 months; till then they will be unable to sail.The crew reported a shortage of essentials aboard all stuck vessels. “Essentials are carried according to the voyage duration,” said the official.On March 18, 8 surviving crew of the Skylight attack reached Mumbai. It took 16 days for the crew to get back after they lost their passports and other documents in March 1 attack.
Cristiano Ronaldo has provided an encouraging update on his fitness, telling fans he is “getting better every day” in a post shared on X. The message comes as the football icon continues his recovery from a recent injury setback.
Ronaldo post
The Al-Nassr captain picked up a hamstring injury during a Saudi Pro League clash against Al-Fayha last month. The club later confirmed the diagnosis and revealed that Ronaldo had already begun his rehabilitation process. In an official statement, Al-Nassr said, “Cristiano Ronaldo has been diagnosed with a hamstring injury after the last game against Al Fayha. He started a rehabilitation program and will be under evaluation day by day.” However, no specific timeline has been provided regarding his return. The 41-year-old forward was visibly struggling late in the match against Al-Fayha. Despite Al-Nassr securing victory, it proved to be a frustrating outing for Ronaldo. He had earlier missed a penalty in the 12th minute before eventually signalling to the bench and being substituted in the 81st minute, with Abdullah Al-Hamdan coming on in his place. Ronaldo’s injury has also impacted his international involvement. Portugal manager Roberto Martinez left him out of the squad for the upcoming pre-FIFA World Cup friendlies, citing a “minor muscle injury” as the reason. Bernardo Silva was another notable absentee, although his omission was described as a “technical decision.” Portugal are scheduled to face Mexico national football team on March 28 at the Azteca Banorte Stadium, before taking on the United States men’s national soccer team on March 31 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
