NEW DELHI: In an unusual development, Trinamool Congress MPs had sought an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu to apprise her about the welfare initiatives taken by the West Bengal government. However, the Rashtrapati Bhavan turned down their request, citing “paucity of time”, as per sources.This comes after a political row erupted over allegations of protocol lapses during Murmu’s visit on March 7 to West Bengal. The President had on Saturday expressed displeasure over the change of venue of the Santal conference, which she attended in the state, and the absence of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her ministers during her visit.According to a source, a senior TMC leader wrote to President Murmu on March 9 submitting that a delegation of AITC comprising members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and the ministers of West Bengal want to meet her at a time convenient to her to share with her the many initiatives by the state govt for the inclusive development of all sections of society and special measures taken for upliftment and improvement of quality of like of SC, ST and OBC communities.In the letter, the TMC leader, as per sources, had requested that the President give an appointment for this week itself for a 12-15-member delegation to meet her.However, Rashtrapati Bhavan sent a communication informing the TMC that its request was considered but could not be acceded to due to “paucity of time”, the source claimed and added that the TMC has yet again written to the President’s office, requesting time next week.Besides this, TMC chief whip MP Nadimul Haque has written to Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan seeking expunction of what he has alleged to be “factually incorrect details” raised during zero hour on Wednesday by BJP MP Baburam Nishad on concern over alleged protocol violation during the visit of the President to West Bengal.The TMC MP has cited the rule book on the conduct of business to highlight certain rules applicable to members while speaking in the House. For instance, he has cited Rule 238 (v), which states that a member, while speaking, shall not reflect upon the conduct of persons in high authority unless the discussion is based on a substantive motion drawn in proper terms.Haque also referred to Rule 238 (vi), which states that members shall not use the President’s name for the purpose of influencing the debate.He also added that “making a misleading statement deliberately may be treated as a breach of privilege and contempt of the House”.

Mumbai: In a development that could ease immediate concerns over energy shipments, at least one India-bound crude tanker has safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz, offering tentative relief to the shipping and energy trade amid escalating tensions in West Asia.Sources said two Indian tankers, ‘Pushpak’ and ‘Parimal’, were allowed to pass after diplomatic talks over safe passage for energy cargo. It may be mentioned that an India-bound crude tanker, Shenlong Suezmax, that crossed the war-hit strait has already reached Mumbai at MbPA’s Jawahar Dweep. It is captained by an Indian national.Shenlong Suezmax, carrying approximately 135,335 metric tonnes (or roughly 1 million barrels) of crude oil, had departed from the Saudi port on March 1 and reached Mumbai, becoming the first India-destined vessel to safely navigate the strategic waterway to reach the Indian shores amid the intense fighting in the Gulf.Though there is no official confirmation that the Indian captain activated the “dark mode” and navigated the ship towards Mumbai from the “blocked” Strait of Hormuz by switching off automatic identification system tracking (a radio-based system used by the maritime industry to monitor and track vessel movements in real time), a source told TOI, “GPS signals are pretty erratic in the Strait. In a war-like situation, the AIS tracking system is switched off.”The source also informed that “another ship is also on its way to Mumbai”. As per some reports, the second oil vessel may land in Mumbai on Saturday.As far as the latest attacks on ships are concerned, though sources have confirmed that a Thai cargo vessel was hit by projectiles with crew missing, it is not confirmed that one of the ships hit was Indian-flagged. Sources said insurance and war-risk premiums for ships have surged due to attacks and mines in the strait putting burden on pricing. Reports say dozens of Indian oil and LPG tankers are waiting near Hormuz amid the conflict.Industry sources said the latest vessel’s passage through the Strait of Hormuz indicates that maritime movement through the strategic waterway may not be completely halted, though the situation remains volatile. The Strait of Hormuz, which handles nearly a fifth of global oil trade, has seen heightened security risks following missile and drone attacks on merchant ships in the region.Shipping officials said several vessels have come under attack in recent days, with Indian crew members among the casualties on merchant ships operating near Gulf shipping lanes. Sources said dozens of oil and LPG tankers linked to Indian trade are waiting near Gulf waters amid uncertainty over safe passage.The tensions have also driven global crude prices above $100 per barrel amid fears of prolonged disruption to one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. For India, which imports most of its crude and a substantial portion of LPG from West Asia, any sustained disruption could affect shipping schedules, freight costs and fuel availability.The uncertainty follows earlier disruptions across the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which forced several container lines to divert vessels through the longer Cape of Good Hope route.Sunil Vaswani, executive director of the Container Shipping Lines Association (India), said two Indian ships are currently on their way and the industry hopes they reach safely. Shipping lines have handled similar crises before, he said, though rerouting adds 10–15 days to voyage time and increases operational costs.Exporters say the disruption is already causing congestion at Indian ports as containers pile up amid cancelled sailings, though ports are managing refrigerated cargo to prevent spoilage.Meanwhile, Union petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri told Parliament that India has diversified energy sourcing and is importing gas from countries such as the US and Canada, insisting there is no need for panic over LPG availability.However, LPG dealers have questioned the claim. Kerosene dealer Kedar Chandak said shipments from North America take about 45 days to reach India compared with 10–12 days from West Asia. With India producing only around 40% of its gas needs, he warned that delays could worsen if tensions continue.Shipping and energy officials said the tanker’s safe passage offers some hope, but the coming days will determine whether Gulf trade stabilises or faces prolonged disruption.(Inputs by Surendra Singh)

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Meta, in one of the largest coordinated takedowns of online scam networks, has disabled more than 150,000 accounts across its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, linked to criminal scam centres operating out of Southeast Asia. The social media giant also says that its crackdown has helped put 21 people behind bars.The company announced that the action was the result of a week-long joint operation in Bangkok involving Meta, the Royal Thai Police Anti-Cyber Scam Center (ACSC), the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the US Department of Justice Scam Center Strike Force, alongside law enforcement agencies from more than a dozen countries. “These operations cause real harm — they upend lives, destroy trust, and are deliberately designed to avoid detection and disruption. The work to protect people against scammers is never done, and requires ongoing collaboration with partners across the tech industry and law enforcement to ensure a safer experience for everyone online,” the company said.It marks the second such coordinated crackdown since a pilot operation in December, and represents a significant escalation in the global effort to combat industrialised online fraud.

What these scam networks were doing

Meta says that the accounts removed were connected to large-scale scam centre operations primarily based in Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. These are described as full-scale criminal businesses, complete with staffing structures, scripts, quotas, and systems specifically designed to evade detection. Their targets span multiple continents, with victims identified across the US, the UK, and countries throughout Asia and the Pacific.The company says that throughout the week, partners shared intelligence in real time, allowing investigators to reveal the full picture of criminal networks operating across borders. Based on the intelligence shared during the operation, Meta’s investigators identified and disabled over 150,000 accounts associated with scam centre activity.Meta says that the scale of this operation dwarfs the December pilot which resulted in the removal of 59,000 accounts, Pages, and Groups from Meta’s platforms and led to six arrest warrants. Meta described the December pilot as proving “a powerful and replicable model for partnering with law enforcement to enforce against organised online crime.”

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Arguably the greatest batter the game has ever seen, Sachin Tendulkar spent more than two decades dominating world cricket. But even for a legend of his stature, the year 2012 proved to be one of the most challenging phases of his remarkable career. Just months after realising his lifelong dream of lifting the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Tendulkar suddenly found himself battling poor form and growing questions about his future. India endured disastrous overseas tours in England and Australia, suffering back-to-back 0-4 series defeats. Tendulkar managed 560 runs in eight Tests across the two tours, registering four half-centuries but failing to reach the landmark hundred that the cricketing world was eagerly waiting for. The pressure of achieving his 100th international century grew heavier with each innings.

Things did not improve when England visited India later that year. The hosts lost the series at home, and Tendulkar’s struggles continued. Across four Tests, he scored just 112 runs at an average of 18.6, raising fresh concerns about his future. Around the same time, several of his long-time teammates had already bid farewell to the game. Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman had all retired, leaving Tendulkar as the last remaining pillar of an iconic Indian batting generation. Many believed the next decision might involve the man widely called the “God of Cricket”. It was during this uncertain period that the then chairman of the BCCI selection committee, Sandeep Patil, decided to have a frank discussion with the 39-year-old. “I remember the last day of the Nagpur Test when we lost to England in 2012. My fellow selector, Rajendra Singh Hans, and I went to the ACU (Anti-Corruption Unit) to seek permission to meet Sachin Tendulkar. We obtained the manager’s permission and invited Tendulkar. I asked him, as the chairman, ‘What are your plans?’ The selection committee had decided that his contributions were not helping the team. The entire country turned against me, but we never dropped him. He announced his retirement from ODIs first and then Tests,” Patil said on Vickey Lalwani’s podcast. The conversation took Tendulkar by surprise. “He was surprised and rightfully so. He said Why?’ I said the committee felt we needed to look at your replacement, and he was shocked. He called me again and asked, ‘Are you serious?’ I said, yes. Later, when he decided to retire, he even called me and said, ‘Sandy, I am announcing my retirement.’ I feel sad that we had to take such a harsh decision. But look at the player who came in – Ajinkya Rahane.” Patil also revealed that Tendulkar initially had no intention of stepping aside. According to him, the batting icon had clearly said after their meeting that he wanted to continue playing. However, within a week, Tendulkar announced his retirement from One Day Internationals just days before India were scheduled to face Pakistan in a three-match series. The Mumbai legend carried on in Test cricket for another year, though the magical consistency that had defined his career was no longer there. During the Border–Gavaskar Trophy 2013, which India won 4-0 against Australia, Tendulkar scored 192 runs at an average of 32, with 81 being his highest score. A few months later, he stepped away from the Indian Premier League before eventually announcing his retirement from international cricket after a farewell Test series against the West Indies cricket team at home. When the curtain finally fell on his extraordinary journey, Tendulkar left the game with more than 34,000 international runs and the historic distinction of becoming the first cricketer to play 200 Test matches, bringing an end to one of the greatest careers the sport has ever seen.

Maha Council clears amendment to decentralise lift inspections, ease safety oversightChittaranjan Tembhekar | TNNMumbai: In a move aimed at strengthening elevator safety and speeding up regulatory clearances, the state Legislative Council on Thursday passed an amendment to the Maharashtra Lifts, Escalators and Moving Walks Act, 2017, empowering electrical inspectors at district or inspection division level to carry out inspections of lifts, escalators and moving walks before licences are granted and during periodic checks.The amendment seeks to decentralise powers that were earlier concentrated with the office of the chief electrical inspector, which currently grants licences for operating lifts, escalators and moving walkways across the state. Officials said the growing number of installations—particularly in high-rise cities such as Mumbai—has placed heavy pressure on the centralised system.Under the amendment, electrical inspectors posted in districts or inspection divisions will be authorised to inspect equipment within their jurisdiction prior to the grant of licences and conduct periodic safety inspections. The government said the step is intended to ensure quicker inspections and improve efficiency in public services.The statement of objects and reasons of the bill noted that the 2017 law was enacted to regulate the construction, installation, maintenance and safe operation of lifts, escalators and moving walkways in the state, along with all associated machinery and apparatus. However, with installations increasing rapidly, the existing inspection structure has become overstretched.The amendment also proposes consequential changes replacing references to the Indian Penal Code with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the Factories Act, 1948 with the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.The development comes amid growing concern over elevator safety in Maharashtra. Despite the passage of the 2017 law, the rules required to fully operationalise it are still being finalised, leaving the state largely governed by the decades-old Bombay Lift Rules of 1958.Safety experts have long argued that the older framework is inadequate to regulate modern elevator systems in high-rise buildings, malls and hospitals. Recent incidents—including lift malfunctions, collapses and trapping cases in parts of the Mumbai metropolitan region—have underscored the need for stricter inspection and certification mechanisms.Officials said decentralising inspection powers is expected to help speed up approvals, improve monitoring and strengthen safety oversight as the state continues to build vertically.