In a boost to domestic energy supplies amid disruptions in West Asia, two Indian-flagged LPG carriers safely crossed the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz early Saturday and are now on course for ports in Gujarat. LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi are heading to Mundra and Kandla, respectively, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Shipping, said at a media briefing. The ships are carrying a combined 92,700 tonne of LPG and are expected to dock at Indian ports on March 16 or 17, he said. The two vessels were among 24 ships that had been stranded on the western side of the strategic waterway since the war broke out in the region.

Petrol, diesel stocks adequate

India has sufficient availability of petrol and diesel and refineries are operating at full capacity despite disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict, a senior petroleum ministry official said, urging consumers to avoid panic booking of LPG cylinders.Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery) Sujata Sharma said the country currently has enough crude supplies and domestic production is meeting fuel requirements.“As far as crude oil and refineries are concerned, we have a sufficient supply of crude and our refineries are operating at full capacity. There have been no reports of any dry-out at retail outlets. Adequate petrol and diesel are available,” she said.She added that India does not need to import petrol and diesel at present. “We produce enough petrol and diesel in the country according to our requirements, and therefore there is no need for us to import them,” Sharma said.

LPG supply under watch, PNG push for commercial users

While domestic fuel supplies remain stable, the official flagged concerns about cooking gas availability amid the prevailing geopolitical situation.“Regarding LPG supply, I would like to say that it is still a matter of concern for us in view of the prevailing geopolitical situation. However, no dry-out has been reported,” she said.The government is encouraging commercial consumers facing supply disruptions to switch to piped natural gas (PNG). In this context, the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) has held meetings with city gas distribution operators to facilitate immediate PNG connections wherever feasible.“There was considerable discussion regarding commercial cylinders, and after that it was decided that some LPG should also be supplied to commercial consumers,” Sharma said, adding that distribution has begun in about 29 states and Union territories.

Panic booking spikes, govt appeals for restraint

Sharma also pointed to a sharp increase in LPG bookings, describing the trend as panic-driven.“Panic booking is still happening on a very large scale. Yesterday, we informed you that the number of bookings was around 7.5-7.6 million, and now that number has increased to almost 8.8 million. So this is nothing but panic booking,” she said.Appealing for restraint, she urged consumers to place orders only when required. “I would like to appeal to the citizens of the country to avoid panic booking and to make bookings only when there is an actual need. This will be good for everyone,” Sharma added.Highlighting the progress in digital adoption, the official said most LPG bookings are already being made online. “Online booking is currently about 84 per cent, but it needs to improve to almost 100 per cent,” she said.(With inputs from agencies)

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) while addressing a mega rally at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground, accusing the state government of “protecting rapists”, undermining constitutional institutions and insulting President Droupadi Murmu.Bringing up Sandeshkhali and the brutality faced by a woman at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, PM said, “Here, the insensitive government openly protects rapists and makes every effort to shield criminals. The images from Sandeshkhali and the attitude of the TMC, as well as the brutality faced by that daughter at RG Kar Hospital, have not been forgotten by the people of Bengal. The way the TMC was seen openly standing with the accused has not been forgotten. It is the result of this mindset that crimes such as acid attacks against women are happening in large numbers in West Bengal today…I assure the mothers and sisters of Bengal that if you bless the BJP, women will be safe under a BJP government and criminals will be in jail. This is Modi’s guarantee.”The Prime Minister also accused the TMC government of disrespecting the President during her recent visit to north Bengal.

“The TMC has not just insulted the President, but it has insulted the country’s tribals, the people of this country and the Constitution. The TMC has crossed all limits by insulting President Droupadi Murmu,” Modi said.

He said Murmu had travelled to the state to participate in a Santhal tribal festival, but alleged that the programme was mishandled by the state administration. “Just a few days ago, the President of our country, the esteemed daughter of the Adivasi community, Honourable Droupadi Murmu Ji, came to Bengal. She was to participate in the sacred festival of the Santhal Adivasi tradition, but this ruthless government, steeped in arrogance, not only boycotted that programme but handed it over entirely to utter chaos,” he said.“Because a daughter of the Adivasi community holds such a high position, the TMC folks could not accept her honour,” PM Modi further alleged.Stepping up his attack ahead of the assembly elections, PM Modi also accused the TMC of opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to protect “infiltrators”.“The TMC is opposing SIR so that infiltrators can be protected,” he said.Claiming that infiltration had altered the demographic profile of several areas in the state, he said, “Due to unchecked infiltration, the demography of several areas of West Bengal has changed. The TMC is deliberately making Hindus a minority in many areas.”PM further alleged that the ruling party opposed citizenship for Hindu refugees for political reasons. “The TMC opposes granting citizenship to Hindu refugees because they do not consider them their vote bank,” he claimed.He also accused the TMC of attacking constitutional institutions, saying it was shameful that the party was targeting bodies such as the Election Commission of India.

Mumbai: Net FPI selling on Indian exchanges reached around Rs 54,455 crore ($5.9 bn) by 13 Mar 2026 as global risk sentiment turned negative after a brief recovery in foreign flows earlier in the year.The earlier improvement in flows followed the India–US tariff deal, which reduced tariffs on Indian exports to the US and improved investor sentiment toward India’s growth and export outlook. February saw strong foreign buying in equities as market corrections and resilient corporate earnings supported investor confidence.“The weakness in global equity markets following the war in West Asia, the steady depreciation of the rupee and concerns surrounding the impact of high crude price on India’s growth and corporate earnings contributed to the concern of FPIs. The poor returns from India vis a vis other markets – both developed and emerging- during the last eighteen months is the principal reason for FPI’s indifference towards India. If their sustained selling strategy is to change, there should be clear indications of earnings recovery in India. In the present uncertain context, this will take time,” said VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.Geopolitical tensions escalated after US–Israel strikes on Iran at the end of Feb, triggering a global risk-off move. Foreign investors began unwinding positions in Indian equities soon after the conflict intensified. The escalation also triggered outflows from India’s fully accessible Govt bond route as investors reassessed risks in emerging markets.“Now FPIs regard South Korea, Taiwan and China as better markets to invest since they are relatively cheaper than India even after the recent correction. Also, the corporate earnings prospects in these markets appear better than that of India. Therefore, further selling by FPIs in India is likely in the short term. On the positive side, huge selling by FPIs in financials has made their valuations attractive and investable for domestic investors,” added Vijayakumar.Investors cited the risk of higher crude oil prices, pressure on the rupee, and rising bond yields as key concerns. The selling reversed improving flows seen earlier in the year.Domestic institutional investors absorbed much of the selling, which helped limit broader declines in equity markets.The outflows reflect portfolio de-risking and a reassessment of external risks rather than a structural change in India’s growth outlook.

As Team India embarks on a new cycle that will culminate in the ODI World Cup next year, will Sanju and Ishan’s T20 WC heroics be good enough for them to be candidates in the set up?The bubbly of euphoria of the T20 World Cup triumph was still spilling over when Gautam Gambhir was asked whether the current Indian white-ball generation is the best in business. The coach was at his pragmatic best when he said: “I am not so sure when you’ve lost two bilateral ODI series recently.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The indications were quite clear. The T20 World Cup win is all fine but it’s time to look forward because India will be judged in the next one-and-a-half years on its ODI performances. Reason: The ODI World Cup in South Africa in October-November 2027.While the Indian T20 team has been a force of nature in the last couple of years, the ODI team has stuttered a bit. While the Mr Matchwinner for India, Jasprit Bumrah hasn’t played a single ODI since the 2023 World Cup final, the results haven’t always been that convincing.

In 2024, India lost an ODI series in Sri Lanka, one in Australia in 2025 and one at home to New Zealand earlier this year. In between, there was a Champions Trophy triumph in Dubai, but those matches were played in designer spinfriendly conditions which won’t be replicated in South Africa.

That brings us to a pertinent question — is India lacking something in the ODI format?Given the way new-age whiteball cricket is being played, one may be tempted to say it is the explosivity in the batting department that can be an area of discussion. Of course, ODIs are not T20s — which is mostly sixth gear cricket — and you need a little bit of balance in the 50-over format. Still, it won’t be a bad time to ask whether some of the T20 superstars who have the wherewithal to play the longer format should be looked at in ODIs in the lead-up to the World Cup.

The two obvious names that can come up for immediate discussion are that of Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. Sanju made the difference at the most crucial stages of the T20 World Cup while Ishan is a proven player in 50 overs — boasting of a highest score of 210 in ODIs. Sanju, on the other hand, has an impressive ODI average of 56.66 and a strike-rate of 99.60.Former India batter WV Raman feels Sanju has all the elements in his game that can make him a success in ODIs. “He is a terrific player and whatever problems he was having with his temperament, he has addressed that. I am convinced that Sanju has the game to succeed in ODIs,” Raman told TOI.But then, the question begs: Where is the vacancy? Sanju is essentially an opener and India’s two current ODI openers are Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Rohit has been a little up and down in the only format that he plays, while Shubman is team captain. Former national selector Devang Gandhi added the name of Yashasvi Jaiswal to the list. “Next in line is Jaiswal and if a slot opens up, how can you give somebody a go ahead of him? I have nothing against Samson, but let him go back to domestic one-day cricket get runs, and then try for an ODI comeback. That’s how the selectors should think,” Gandhi said.Raman, though, is a believer of backing a player when he is in form. “It’s for the team management to find a place for Sanju. For me, Sanju is good enough for ODIs,” Raman said.Ishan, meanwhile, may have a little more flexibility in finding a place. The Jharkhand left-hander can play in top-three as well as lower down the order. Additionally, like Sanju, he is a keeper as well and can be a deputy to KL Rahul. “But then, there’s Rishabh Pant. What has Pant done wrong to be dropped from the ODI set-up? These are very talented young players we are talking about and they should be handled with care,” Gandhi said.Indian cricket will dive deep into IPL in a couple of weeks’ time and as per the recent trend, performances in the two-month tournament will become a serious benchmark for selection across formats.Ishan, playing at No. 3 for Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Sanju, opening the batting for his new side Chennai Super Kings, will have the opportunity to break every selection door down.Gandhi, though, argues that shouldn’t be the case.“Don’t forget, there are hardly any close-in fielders in T20s. The aim of every bowler is containment. It’s not always the case in ODIs,” the former India opener said.

The Tendulkar family has always stayed close to the hearts of cricket fans, and recently it was Sara Tendulkar who captured everyone’s attention with a heartfelt message for her brother Arjun Tendulkar and his wife Saaniya Chandhok. Just days after the couple’s glamorous wedding in Mumbai, Sara shared emotional moments from the celebrations that quickly went viral on social media.

The wedding itself was a grand affair attended by some of the biggest names in sports, cinema, and business. But it was Sara’s warm and affectionate words for the newlyweds that truly stood out, winning admiration from fans across the internet.

Sara Tendulkar’s heartfelt Instagram post for the newlyweds

Recently, Sara Tendulkar shared a series of unseen photographs from the wedding festivities on Instagram. The images gave followers a rare look at intimate family moments during the celebrations.

Among the photos was a particularly touching moment showing Arjun smiling as he performed the traditional ritual of applying sindoor to Saaniya. The candid images reflected the warmth and closeness of the Tendulkar family.

Sara accompanied the photos with an emotional caption that instantly struck a chord with fans.

“My baby brother now belongs to @saaniyachandhok,” she wrote, playfully acknowledging that her younger brother had started a new chapter of his life.

She followed it with a heartfelt blessing for the couple, wishing them a lifetime of happiness and protection.

“May the universe shower you both with infinite blessings, abundance, everything your heart desires and of course protect you from nazar for the rest of your lives.”

She added: “Love you both immensely. Undoubtedly the happiest day of my life!”

The post quickly gained millions of likes and hundreds of comments, with fans praising the genuine love and warmth between the siblings.

Sara’s emotional speech at Arjun and Saniyaa’s reception goes viral

While the Instagram post touched many hearts, it was Sara’s speech at the wedding reception that truly captured people’s attention online. A video of her emotional address has since gone viral across social media platforms.

Dressed elegantly in a beautiful lehenga, Sara stood on stage and spoke directly to her new sister-in-law, expressing how much Saaniya meant to the family.

“Saaniya, you are the sister that I always wanted but never had.”

Her words drew applause and smiles from the guests gathered at the reception. Sara went on to highlight that Saaniya had already been a part of their lives for years.

“As my mother said, I cannot welcome you to the family because you have already been a part of this family for so many years.”

She added that Saaniya’s transition into the Tendulkar family would be effortless because of the love and affection everyone had for her.

“I am sure your transition is gonna be extremely smooth because everybody loves you and showers you with all the affection in the world.”

Perhaps the most touching moment came when Sara spoke about her brother Arjun and the bond she shares with him.

“My brother is my whole entire heart. And now, my heart belongs to you, Saaniya.”

Turning toward the couple, she gently added a heartfelt request.

“So please look after him, love him, cherish him, take care of him, and I am sure he will do the same for you.”

Sara concluded her speech with a warm message for the newlyweds.

“I love you both. I wish you all the love, abundance, happiness, and everything in the world.”

Sara Tendulkar: “My brother is my whole entire heart. And now, my heart belongs to you, Saaniya.”#ArjunTendulkar #SaaniyaChandhok #SaraTendulkar #reception #cricket pic.twitter.com/yKok4fcSAB

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) March 14, 2026

Also READ: Sara Tendulkar turns heads in saree at Arjun-Saaniya wedding; photos and videos go viral

The wedding, held at the luxurious The St. Regis Mumbai, brought together many well-known personalities. Cricket legends like MS Dhoni, Rahul Dravid Anil Kumble and Yuvraj Singh attended the celebrations, along with Bollywood stars such as Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan.

Sara’s posts also gave fans glimpses of other emotional family moments, including scenes of her father Sachin Tendulkar sharing heartfelt words during the ceremony and warmly welcoming Saaniya into the family.

Fans across social media praised Sara for her sincerity and affection. Many users described her message as “pure”, “beautiful” and “a perfect example of sibling love.”

Also WATCH: Inside Kuldeep Yadav and Vanshika Chaddha’s vibrant mehendi ceremony in Mussoorie

Salman Ali Agha during 2nd ODI (Screengrabs)

NEW DELHI: After the second ODI between Pakistan and Bangladesh at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday, Pakistan batter Salman Ali Agha was officially reprimanded for showing frustration after being run out. The incident happened in the 39th over of Pakistan’s innings when Agha was dismissed following a quick reaction from Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz.The moment unfolded when Mohammad Rizwan pushed a delivery from Miraz toward the bowler. Miraz stopped the ball with his boot while Agha was standing nearby and outside his crease.

As the ball slowed near them, Agha tried to pick it up to return it to the bowler. However, Miraz reacted faster, grabbed the ball and underarmed it into the stumps, catching Agha short of his ground.On-field umpire Tanvir Ahmed sent the decision upstairs, where third umpire Kumar Dharmasena confirmed the ball was still live and that Miraz’s run-out attempt was valid. Agha, who had scored 64 from 62 balls, appeared frustrated with the ruling. As he walked off the field, he exchanged words with Bangladesh wicketkeeper Litton Das and tossed his gloves in anger.That reaction led to disciplinary action. Match referee Neeyamur Rashid charged Agha for abusing cricket equipment. “The specific incident involved abusing cricket equipment on the ground while leaving the field. Regarding Salman Agha, he has no previous history of such behaviour. We have to maintain neutrality when we judge. Consequently, we have issued a reprimand and a demerit point,” Neeyamur told The Daily Star.He also clarified that the verbal exchange with Litton Das would not lead to further punishment, adding, “We also considered the law, our training and playing conditions. We discussed the matter with the ICC before making the final decision. From a neutrality standpoint, we delivered the judgement.”The offence was classified as a Level 1 breach under Article 2.2 of the International Cricket Council Code of Conduct, which covers the misuse of equipment during a match. Despite the controversy, Pakistan won the game by 128 runs via the DLS method, keeping the series alive ahead of the deciding final ODI at the same venue.

Former India batter Suresh Raina believes that Sanju Samson should occupy the No.3 position for Chennai Super Kings in the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season, stating that the move would bring better balance to the team’s batting order.Samson heads into IPL 2026 in excellent form after an impressive campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where he produced a string of strong performances. The wicketkeeper-batter scored back-to-back half-centuries in the Super 8s against West Indies, the semifinal against England, and the final against New Zealand while opening the innings.

Raina suggests reshaping CSK’s top order

Despite Samson’s success as an opener, Raina believes CSK should retain Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ayush Mhatre at the top of the order. According to Raina, Samson at No.3 would provide stability and help connect the top order with the middle order.“He was the captain of the Rajasthan Royals for so many years. I think his role will be clear here. If Sanju plays at number three, it will be good according to me, because then Dewald Brevis will come at number four,” Raina said while speaking on JioHotstar.Raina further explained that such a batting order would strengthen CSK’s lineup.“Shivam Dube will come at number five. At number six, it depends on who you bring — whether it is Prashant Veer, Akhil Hussain or Noor Ahmed. It will also depend on how many overseas fast bowlers they choose to play,” he added.

Samson backed to take wicketkeeping role

Raina also backed Samson to handle the wicketkeeping duties for CSK, suggesting that veteran captain MS Dhoni might only play a finishing role with the bat. “Sanju will be there as a keeper. We saw the atmosphere he created during the World Cup. His role will become very important at number three,” Raina said.He added that allowing Gaikwad and Mhatre to open would give CSK a more experienced middle order.“When Brevis comes in with Sanju and then Shivam Dube after him, it becomes very important to have someone like Sanju who brings experience,” Raina explained.Samson’s blockbuster move to CSKSamson joined CSK ahead of IPL 2026 after being traded from Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran before the auction. The Kerala-born batter brings considerable IPL experience, having played 177 matches and scored 4707 runs at an average of 30.95.

Gold prices have slipped in recent sessions even as geopolitical tensions escalated in West Asia, surprising investors who typically view the precious metal as a safe-haven during periods of uncertainty.It has been 14 days of intense military exchanges involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Over this period, benchmark indices Nifty and Sensex have declined more than 5% each, while crude oil has crossed the $100 mark, unsettling global markets. Traditionally, such conditions tend to support precious metals. However, that pattern has not played out this time. Silver prices on the Multi Commodity Exchange have fallen by more than Rs 14,000, or about 5%, while gold prices have also edged lower, according to an ET report.Market participants say the recent decline, despite the onset of war, may appear counterintuitive because gold is typically viewed as a refuge during geopolitical turmoil. But several overlapping factors are shaping the current trend.Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, said the sharp spike in crude oil prices and rising geopolitical tensions initially triggered a broad risk-off sentiment, prompting investors to raise cash and trim leveraged positions across asset classes. “In such phases, even traditional safe-haven asset like gold can face short-term selling pressure as investors liquidate holdings to meet margin calls or rebalance portfolios,” he said.He added that the strength of the US dollar has also played a key role. In times of global uncertainty, capital often flows into the dollar and US Treasuries, which typically weighs on precious metals because they are priced in dollars. The Indian rupee weakened past the 92.3475 mark against the US dollar, hitting a fresh all-time low on Thursday.Another factor has been profit-booking after the strong rally in gold earlier this year and in 2025. With prices already at elevated levels, some investors chose to lock in gains as volatility increased. Ponmudi said the recent weakness appears to be more of a short-term adjustment rather than a structural shift in long-term demand for precious metals as safe-haven assets.Jigar Trivedi of IndusInd Securities also noted that the current scenario differs because crude oil has a direct relationship with inflation. Higher oil prices tend to push inflation higher, which can negatively affect the economy and force the US Federal Reserve to reassess its policy stance. The Fed is currently monitoring employment and inflation trends closely, with a medium-term target of keeping inflation near 2%.A stronger dollar typically puts pressure on gold prices as it makes the metal more expensive for buyers using other currencies, dampening demand. Trivedi added that once the war premium fades, investors are likely to refocus on underlying fundamentals such as monetary policy, the dollar index and central bank purchases.

What should investors do now?

“We reiterate investing in gold over supportive fundamentals and market uncertainties. Any decline in prices over dollar rally or ease in tensions provides opportunity to accumulate/invest in gold,” Tata Mutual Fund said in a report, ET quoted.The report added that corrections following strong rallies are natural and do not undermine the long-term bullish outlook for precious metals. Structural factors supporting gold remain intact, including geopolitical fragmentation, supply constraints and sustained central bank purchases as countries diversify reserves away from fiat currencies. Global central bank buying of gold has nearly doubled over the past decade.For silver, which has declined about Rs 14,000 or 5% since the conflict erupted, the report said geo-economic conditions along with structural and cyclical fundamentals could continue to support prices. Investors may consider accumulating on declines, especially given the broader supportive backdrop for precious metals. Silver’s outlook, in particular, remains tied to a recovery in industrial demand, and a staggered investment approach may be suitable for medium- to long-term exposure.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

NEW DELHI: American far-right activist and staunch supporter of US President Donald Trump, Laura Loomer on Saturday apologised for some of her earlier “anti-India” social media posts after it sparked backlash online for being racist and derogatory.Speaking at the India Today conclave, Loomer addressed criticism over several posts she had made on the social media platform X. When questioned about the controversy, she acknowledged “I should not have said some of the things I wrote in the tweets.” “I apologise if my remarks offended people. I am here in India this week and will be spending several days in the country, travelling across the country,” she added.

However, Loomer claimed that she would not apologise for her stance against the H-1B visa programme in the United States.“I am not going to apologise for opposing the H-1B visa programme, because my job is to stand up for American interests. Our immigration and labour laws have been exploited and abused. I will continue to fight for American workers who are struggling to find employment,” she said.The controversy erupted after Loomer arrived in India for the conclave, with several social media users highlighting her earlier posts that included crude stereotypes and derogatory remarks about Indians, including comments about hygiene and intelligence.As she posted about her arrival, the comments resurfaced and quickly went viral triggering widespread criticism.Clarifying her position, Loomer said she did not harbour hostility toward India or Hindus. “I do not have hatred in my heart for India or for Hindu people,” she said.“I do not come from a place of hatred; my comments come from a place of love for my people and my country,” she added.Loomer also criticised Pakistan, accusing it of supporting extremist networks. “Pakistan’s biggest export to the world is Islamic terrorism, and I don’t believe the US should be cosying up to the Pakistani government at all,” she said.“Pakistan operates as an openly jihadist and pro-Sharia state, and when you look at many of the Islamist terror attacks around the world, there is often some connection back to Pakistan,” she added.