A US-owned oil tanker Safesea Vishnu, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was attacked near Basra in Iraq on Wednesday, claiming the life of an Indian crew member. Another ship, Malta-flagged ‘Zefyros’ owned by a Greek entity, was also attacked.Safesea Vishnu was chartered by an Iraqi company contracted with the State Organisation for Marketing of Oil (SOMO), Zefyros was loaded with condensate products from Basra Gas Company and was in a ship-to-ship loading area in Iraqi waters. The incident occurred at Iraq’s Umm Qasar anchorage during a fuel cargo transfer with the Safesea Vishnu tanker late on Wednesday, Benetech Shipping SA said.The Indian embassy in Iraq has confirmed that “a US-owned crude oil tanker Safesea Vishnu was attacked near Basra in which one Indian crew member unfortunately lost his life.” In a series of posts on X, the mission said, “The remaining 15 Indian crew have since been evacuated to a safe place”. The mission also noted that the “embassy of India Baghdad is in regular contact with Iraqi authorities and rescued Indian sailors and is offering all possible assistance”. All 23 crew members of tanker Zefyros are safe and accounted for, authorities said.In response to the deteriorating security situation, oil terminals at Iraqi ports on Thursday suspended operations. Farhan al-Fartousi, director general of the state-owned General Company for Ports of Iraq, confirmed to the Iraqi News Agency that “the operation of oil ports has been suspended”, though commercial ports continue to function.Earlier, a Thai vessel bound for the Kandla port in Gujarat was attacked in the Strait on Wednesday, prompting criticism from New Delhi. “India deplores the fact that commercial shipping is being made a target of military attacks in the ongoing conflict,” the foreign ministry said on Wednesday, adding that its citizens had also died.Earlier, the Indian govt said that at present 28 Indian-flagged vessels are operating in the Persian Gulf region. Of these, 24 vessels are located west of the Strait of Hormuz carrying 677 Indian seafarers, while four vessels are east of the Strait with 101 Indian seafarers onboard. The ministry said their safety and security was being actively monitored.

A US-owned oil tanker Safesea Vishnu, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was attacked near Basra in Iraq on Wednesday, claiming the life of an Indian crew member. Another ship, Malta-flagged ‘Zefyros’ owned by a Greek entity, was also attacked.Safesea Vishnu was chartered by an Iraqi company contracted with the State Organisation for Marketing of Oil (SOMO), Zefyros was loaded with condensate products from Basra Gas Company and was in a ship-to-ship loading area in Iraqi waters. The incident occurred at Iraq’s Umm Qasar anchorage during a fuel cargo transfer with the Safesea Vishnu tanker late on Wednesday, Benetech Shipping SA said.The Indian embassy in Iraq has confirmed that “a US-owned crude oil tanker Safesea Vishnu was attacked near Basra in which one Indian crew member unfortunately lost his life.” In a series of posts on X, the mission said, “The remaining 15 Indian crew have since been evacuated to a safe place”. The mission also noted that the “embassy of India Baghdad is in regular contact with Iraqi authorities and rescued Indian sailors and is offering all possible assistance”. All 23 crew members of tanker Zefyros are safe and accounted for, authorities said.In response to the deteriorating security situation, oil terminals at Iraqi ports on Thursday suspended operations. Farhan al-Fartousi, director general of the state-owned General Company for Ports of Iraq, confirmed to the Iraqi News Agency that “the operation of oil ports has been suspended”, though commercial ports continue to function.Earlier, a Thai vessel bound for the Kandla port in Gujarat was attacked in the Strait on Wednesday, prompting criticism from New Delhi. “India deplores the fact that commercial shipping is being made a target of military attacks in the ongoing conflict,” the foreign ministry said on Wednesday, adding that its citizens had also died.Earlier, the Indian govt said that at present 28 Indian-flagged vessels are operating in the Persian Gulf region. Of these, 24 vessels are located west of the Strait of Hormuz carrying 677 Indian seafarers, while four vessels are east of the Strait with 101 Indian seafarers onboard. The ministry said their safety and security was being actively monitored.

NEW DELHI: A Mumbai-headquartered defence company on Thursday laid the stone-breaking ceremony of the world’s first Autonomous Maritime Shipbuilding and Systems Centre at Juvvaladinne fishing harbour in Andhra Pradesh. Sagar Defence Engineering’s project represented a major step forward in strengthening India’s indigenous defence manufacturing and advancing the nation’s maritime technological capabilities.The Andhra govt authorised the allocation of 29.58 acres of land at fishing harbour in Nellore district for the project, enabling direct sea access for vessel construction, launch, testing and deployment for the establishment of the centre. The initiative is aligned with the state govt’s vision to strengthen India’s marine technology ecosystem and build advanced manufacturing capabilities along its coastline.The centre will focus on developing platforms such as unmanned surface vessels (USVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), intelligent navigation systems, maritime sensors and communication networks, and command-and-control platforms for autonomous operations. These technologies will enable maritime systems to operate with minimal human intervention, enhancing efficiency, safety and operational capabilities.The shipyard will also deploy digital twin technology, creating virtual replicas of vessels and shipyard infrastructure to simulate performance, test upgrades, and optimise designs before real-world deployment.Capt Nikunj Parashar, founder & CEO, Sagar Defence, said, “Our vision is to redefine how maritime systems are designed, built, and operated. The autonomous maritime shipbuilding and systems centre represents the next chapter in that journey. As global maritime operations increasingly move toward autonomy, this facility will enable India to design, test, and manufacture next-generation unmanned maritime systems within the country. With the support of the govt of Andhra Pradesh, we are building a platform that will accelerate indigenous innovation, strengthen maritime security, and position India as a global hub for autonomous maritime technologies.”Smart manufacturing technologies will further strengthen the shipyard’s operational capabilities through robotic fabrication systems for automated welding, cutting, painting, and assembly, along with autonomous material handling using robots and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) that transport components across the yard. The facility will also utilise additive manufacturing (3D printing) for the rapid production of specialised components and spare parts.The initiative is also expected to support the development of smart fishing fleet networks, where vessels can connect to satellite and cloud-based systems to access real-time fish location maps, weather alerts, fleet coordination tools, and mechanisms for detecting illegal fishing activities.

NEW DELHI: Kerosene oil, which has made a comeback for household use across several states and UTs, will be primarily made available through ration shops and, in some cases, from retail outlets of public sector oil marketing companies for cooking and lighting purposes. The Centre on Thursday allocated 48,000 kilolitres (kl) of additional kerosene to states on top of the regular quota of 1 lakh kl for use as cooking fuel.Most of the states have phased out kerosene use in the last 10 years, and consumers will have to either dig out their old stoves or hunt for new ones.

Similarly, several eateries that have moved from coal-fired tandoors to gas-based ovens will now have to go back to the old fuel and fix the tandoors.Officials said the provision of increased allocation has been made considering that it’s relatively simple to manufacture the fuel on an industrial scale by refining crude oil and can be used for cooking.“It was found to be an easy additional source for fuel for cooking purposes when we looked at alternative options in the light of reduced availability of LNG due to the conflict in West Asia. There have been demands from some of the coastal states to increase the allocation since a lot of kerosene is used by fishing boats,” said an official.A petroleum ministry circular said that the scale and criteria for distribution of kerosene will be decided by state and UT govts. They will also ensure that the kerosene allocated for PDS isn’t diverted for adulteration of petrol, diesel or for any other “unintended use”. They will also consider prioritising allocation of the fuel to rural households.It added that states and UTs may lift the entire allocation of kerosene within 45 days, and no carry-forward would be allowed for unlifted quantity. The ministry said that in kerosene-free districts, the food and civil supply department can identify 1-2 rural locations in every district for delivery and distribution of PDS kerosene.There are about five lakh ration shops across India. “We are fully prepared to take up this task and had made the request to govt early this week. This will bring some relief to the poor and rural population. The oil marketing companies will provide kerosene to states, and it will then be delivered to ration shops for sale. In most cases, around half a litre per capita per month would be distributed,” said Biswambhar Basu, national general secretary of All India Fair Price Shop Dealers’ Association.

AGRA: A wedding in Muzaffarnagar’s Khatauli area was halted on Tuesday after two grooms arrived with separate baraats at the bride’s house, each claiming he was supposed to marry her. The situation escalated after a villager alerted Child Helpline alleging that the girl was a minor, prompting officials and police to intervene.Police said the dispute began when both grooms — who had travelled from Shamli and Meerut — reached the village with their wedding processions and claimed the marriage had been fixed with them. Arguments broke out between the families and villagers as each side insisted the ceremony was meant for them. “Both sides were claiming that the wedding had been finalised with them and the situation became tense,” a police officer present at the spot said.District Child Helpline coordinator Sachin Kumar said his team reached the village along with supervisor Bhubaneswar after receiving the alert about a possible child marriage. “The family members could not produce any document verifying the girl’s age,” Kumar said. “We took the girl to the one-stop centre and she will be produced before the Child Welfare Committee for further assistance.” Officials added that her age would be determined through a medical examination.

The bride’s father told police that his daughter’s marriage had originally been fixed six months ago with Pradeep Kumar, 20, a resident of Babri village in Shamli district. However, Kumar’s brother died on Monday, a day before the scheduled ceremony, and the groom’s family said they would inform the bride’s side whether the wedding would go ahead. “They told us they would confirm whether the ceremony would take place, but we did not receive any final message,” the father said.

Image Credit: TOI

With preparations already under way, the family fixed another match on Monday evening with Akash, a resident of Diggi village under Medical police station limits in Meerut. On Tuesday, both men arrived with their baraats, leading to arguments between the families and confusion in the village.SHO Dinesh Chand of Khatauli police station said police reached the spot after receiving information about the commotion. “Our team assisted the Child Helpline officials and the girl was sent to the one-stop centre,” he said, adding that further action would follow as per legal procedures.

Following India’s historic title defense at the T20 World Cup 2026, star spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Washington Sundar have traded their cricket spikes for walking shoes. On Wednesday, the Tamil Nadu duo was spotted at the sacred town of Tiruvannamalai, fulfilling a deeply personal spiritual vow (prarthana) by completing the 14 km Girivalam around the holy Arunachala Hill.

The Men in Blue, under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav, recently secured a thumping 96-run victory over New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. While the nation erupted in celebration, Chakravarthy and Sundar headed south to offer gratitude for the triumph. The Girivalam is a centuries-old tradition where devotees walk clockwise around the hill, which is considered a manifestation of Lord Shiva.

Varun Chakravarthy and Washington Sundar undertake 14 km Girivalam pilgrimage after T20 World Cup win

For the two cricketers, this wasn’t just a casual visit but the fulfillment of a promise made before the tournament began. In videos circulating on social media, the athletes were seen blending in with thousands of pilgrims, dressed in simple attire as they navigated the 14 km perimeter of the hill.

The Arunachaleswarar Temple, one of the largest and most significant Shiva temples in India, serves as the spiritual epicenter of this journey. Performing the Girivalam, especially after a career-defining achievement like a World Cup win, is a practice rooted in the Bhakti tradition of Tamil Nadu. Fans and locals who recognized the stars were moved by their humility, noting that despite the glitz of international cricket, the players remained connected to their cultural roots.

After completing the trek in the evening, the duo entered the inner sanctum of the temple to seek the blessings of the deity. The timing of their visit is significant, as India’s victory on March 8 has cemented a new era of dominance in the shortest format of the game, and for Chakravarthy, it marked a personal redemption on the world stage.

Here’s the video:

Indian team cricketers Varun Chakravarthy & Washington Sunder fulfilled their vow of doing Girivalam in Thiruvannamalai

Girivalam is a sacred 14-kilometre circumambulation (walking around) of the Arunachala Hill in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu.The hill itself is considered a… pic.twitter.com/rtEFP9Mnnr

— Sheetal Chopra 🇮🇳 (@SheetalPronamo) March 12, 2026

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From World Cup glory to IPL 2026: What lies ahead for the spin duo?

Chakravarthy’s performance in the 2026 edition was nothing short of sensational. Finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps, his mystery spin proved to be the undoing of many top-tier batting lineups. Although his wicket-taking slowed down during the high-pressure Super 8s, his foundational work in the group stages was instrumental in India’s unbeaten run.

Sundar, while playing a more supporting role in this specific campaign with appearances against the Netherlands and South Africa, remains a vital cog in India’s white-ball setup due to his all-round capabilities.

As the celebrations wind down, the focus shifts immediately to the domestic circuit. Both players are set to join their respective franchises for IPL 2026. Chakravarthy returns to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he remains a cornerstone of their bowling attack after being retained for INR 12 crore. Meanwhile, Washington Sundar will head to the Gujarat Titans (GT) camp, looking to justify his INR 3.2 crore retention with a standout season. Carrying the Prasadam and the momentum of a World Cup win, the duo looks ready to dominate the upcoming T20 summer.

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Sumit Antil in Paris Paralympics 2024. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India enjoyed a dominant day at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix, with Paralympic champion Sumit Antil leading the charge by winning gold in the men’s javelin throw (F43/F44/F64). The double Paralympic gold medallist produced a powerful throw of 69.25 metres to secure the top spot. Fellow Indians Pushpendra Singh and Poonam Ram completed the podium with silver and bronze respectively.Antil admitted that his winning throw was better than he had expected. “This time we have multiple tournaments lined up. I will try to perform well in the upcoming competitions. It is an off-season loading phase for me. I was not expecting such a throw; I expected around 67-68m, but the throw was good today at 69.25m. So I am happy, and my team is happy as well,” he said.The 27-year-old from Sonipat, Haryana, added that he is focusing on improving gradually rather than changing his technique. “I am not changing my technique because we know we are moving in the right direction in our training. Right now, we just need the right conditions where the throw falls perfectly in place. That is why I am participating in tournaments so I can find those conditions somewhere,” he added.Looking ahead, Antil has already set a major target for the season. “I am targeting the Asian Games, and the goal is 75m. I haven’t achieved it yet in practice, and no athlete has done it yet, but I am working on whatever improvements are possible in technique or strength to reach that mark.”India’s success was not limited to javelin, as several athletes delivered medal-winning performances across track and field events. The country dominated multiple races and throwing events, including the 400m races, shot put, long jump, discus throw, and javelin, with Indian athletes frequently sweeping the podium.Overall, it was another impressive outing for India’s para-athletics contingent, showcasing strong depth and momentum ahead of upcoming international competitions.