NEW DELHI: For the Left, its most crucial battle is in Kerala, as the CPM-led LDF fights for a return to power in the last Communist-governed state, which goes to polls with West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry. In Bengal – where it was once the dominant force and now lacks any presence in terms of MLAs and MPs from the state – it is striving for a revival. And in Tamil Nadu, it is putting up a fight to ensure the return of the DMK-led alliance, of which CPM and CPI are a part. The Left parties, including CPI(ML), are also gearing up for a fight against BJP as part of the Congress-led alliance in Assam. They will focus on reaching the working class, Dalits and other backward classes in all the poll-bound states.

General secretaries of CPM and CPI(ML) Liberation, MA Baby and Dipankar Bhattacharya, respectively, highlighted that the goal is to expand the footprint of the Left, weaken BJP where it is in power and ensure that the latter does not grow stronger in opposition-ruled states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Emphasising the outreach by the Left parties, CPI’s D Raja said BJP stands exposed for its failures on the economy, employment generation, inflation and foreign policy. Baby admitted that while there is a “stiff fight” in Kerala, “we are confident that people will see all that the LDF govt has done and not be swayed by the narratives of UDF and BJP. We are also going to the people and are open to criticism to understand their concerns and address them.” With a resurgent UDF stepping up its attack on the two-term CPM-led govt in Kerala and a BJP seen to be making inroads, the assembly polls in the state will be a critical test for the Left parties. A loss will put a big question mark over the Left’s relevance in the INDIA bloc, nationally. Meanwhile, in a bid to steer a revival in West Bengal and mark its presence as the third force in the contest, the Left front is going to the polls as a broader coalition which has CPI(ML) – unlike in the previous assembly elections – and some non-Left players too.

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh’s sitting TDP MP Putta Mahesh Kumar tested positive Sunday for the banned substance methamphetamine (meth) in a blood test ordered after what investigators allege was an attempt to dodge a drug screening at a farmhouse party raided by Hyderabad Police the previous night, reports Srinath Vudali. The Eluru MP’s test result took the number of high-profile guests failing drug checks at the Moinabad property, owned by former Tandur MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy of BRS, to six out of 11. Delhi-based businessman Namith Sharma, whose urine samples were found to contain traces of cocaine during Saturday’s raid, has also been charged with attempt-to-murder and assault.MP faked drug test with water sample during farmhouse bustHe has been booked under sections 109 and 131 of the BNS for firing at police with a .32 revolver belonging to Rohith’s brother Rithesh Reddy Pajugula. Apart from Rohith and MP Mahesh Kumar, those accused of substance abuse are Rithesh, Namith, businessman Tiruveedula Arjun Reddy and advocate Kaushik Ravi. “All 11 people at the farmhouse party have been charged with violation of the Telangana Prohibition Act. We have invoked the NDPS Act against the six who have tested positive (for meth or cocaine). Three of them — Namith, Rohith and Rithesh — additionally stand accused of violating the Arms Act,” Moinabad DCP Yogesh Gautham said. Rohith, Namith and Rithesh have been arrested while Mahesh Kumar and the other two guests received bail. They have all been asked to visit a deaddiction centre, an official said. During Saturday night’s drug bust, MP Mahesh Kumar cleared the urine test after allegedly filling his sample cup with water from the washroom instead of urine. “A blood test conducted Sunday revealed meth. The same test confirmed substance abuse by the other five who tested positive for cocaine,” said SP R Girdhar of the state’s Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE). CM N Chandrababu Naidu ordered an internal inquiry by TDP, with instructions to Mahesh Kumar to stay away from party events “until the matter is clarified”, sources said. MP has contested the allegations and said he will “come out clean”. BRS working president KT Rama Rao said he was willing to undergo a drug test at any time, responding to Telangana PCC chief Mahesh Kumar Goud’s demand that all public representatives be put through such checks. Saturday night’s raid involved a team from EAGLE and Future City Police scaling the boundary wall of the Moinabad farmhouse — around 30km from Hyderabad — to find the high-profile gathering on couches around a swimming pool, allegedly surrounded by hookah pots, liquor and drugs. Police seized about two grams of a white substance. They suspect a portion of the drugs was flushed. A packet confiscated from Rohith’s driver Sharath Kumar has been sent for forensic examination. Investigators believe both cocaine and meth were used at the party. The seized drug was allegedly brought by Kaushik from Shimla through a contact.

NEW DELHI: Skyrocketing international airfares may lead govt to review its unstated policy of not enhancing flying rights of foreign airlines, in a bid to come to the rescue of the public. Indian carriers’ operating costs are going through the roof due to the sharp spike in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, and the rupee crashing to new lows on a daily basis – along with a drop in the supply of seats offered by Gulf carriers – means international airfares are likely to remain high in the foreseeable future. Against this backdrop, industry sources say there may be a revision in bilaterals of some countries that have remained largely frozen for nearly a decade to increase supply to and from India and help douse the fares on fire. Places that have been seeking an upward revision include Dubai, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Since 2014, the Narendra Modi govt has focused on strengthening Indian carriers through a virtual freeze on bilaterals. That has borne fruit in terms of IndiGo becoming a giant; Air India group’s ghar wapsi to founder Tata Sons and now being flush with funds and fleet orders; and new carriers like Akasa, Star Air and Fly91 taking to the skies. Last year, Indian carriers added 80 additional aircraft to their fleet. “While we continue to bat for rationalising both the base pricing of ATF and the state (VAT) and central (excise) levies on it, there is a thinking now to consider reviewing bilaterals that haven’t been revised for a long time despite the increase in demand. (Except on ATF pricing) Indian carriers have got support in the last one decade. Now the time may have come to help lower fares by considering enhancement of foreign airlines’ capacity and increasing supply,” said an industry executive. With India getting a new airport in Navi Mumbai and the hugely delayed one in Noida likely to open this summer, some airport operators, including Adani Group, have been seeking a revision in bilaterals. The freeze in bilaterals means that new capacity can’t be added to places like Dubai, which was the biggest international destination for Indian globetrotters before the Israel-Iran war. Akasa, for instance, hasn’t been able to fly there as the bilaterals have been fully utilised by airlines of both sides. Indian airlines get cheaper ATF and higher yields for international flights. “Domestic airfares have been capped since the IndiGo crisis last Dec. But our operating cost has skyrocketed. To cap fares, cap costs too. This is what we have told govt,” said an official. On its part, the aviation ministry is trying to reason with the oil ministry to ensure rational ATF pricing as part of the crack spread – the difference between a barrel of crude oil and refined products like petrol, diesel and ATF produced from the same. Globally, ATF accounts for 20%-25% of airlines’ operating cost. In India, that percentage is in the range of 40%-45%. The ministry has asked states like Delhi and Maharashtra to lower VAT for close to two decades now. A revision at 11% excise has been requested too.

Calvin Ridley (Image Via Getty)

The 2026 NFL free agency period is already full of surprises. Teams across the league began making official moves on Wednesday after two days of legal tampering. That is when clubs are allowed to talk with players and agree to deals before they can officially sign contracts. Once the league year opened, those agreements started becoming real deals. Several big stories quickly shaped the early days of free agency. One report said the Tennessee Titans plan to keep wide receiver Calvin Ridley on a restructured contract. At the same time, quarterback Trey Lance reportedly reached an agreement with the Los Angeles Chargers. Other deals, trades, and contract changes are also shaking up rosters as teams prepare for the 2026 season. The news comes during a busy offseason around the league. According to Yahoo Sports’ free agency tracker, many teams are changing key positions while new coaches step in across the NFL. The first few days of free agency are already giving fans a clearer idea of how teams may look next season.

Calvin Ridley stays with Tennessee Titans while Trey Lance joins Los Angeles Chargers as NFL free agency reshapes the league

One of the latest updates involves wide receiver Calvin Ridley and the Tennessee Titans. Reports say the team will keep Ridley but adjust his contract. The new deal structure helps the Titans manage their salary cap while still holding on to one of their top pass catchers.Ridley has remained an important part of Tennessee’s offense. Keeping him on the roster suggests the Titans still see him as a key player for the upcoming season.Another notable move involves quarterback Trey Lance. Reports say Lance has agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Chargers. The former first-round pick now gets another chance to rebuild his career in a new system. The Chargers continue adding depth at quarterback while shaping their roster for the future. Free agency has also produced several other major headlines this week.Earlier, the Las Vegas Raiders announced that their planned trade sending Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens collapsed. The Raiders said the Ravens had “backed out” of the deal. Soon after that news, another report explained what happened next. According to reports, Baltimore reached an agreement with star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson on a four-year contract worth 112 million dollars.Quarterback movement is also drawing attention. Reports say Kyler Murray has signed with the Minnesota Vikings. Murray will now share the quarterback room with J.J. McCarthy as Minnesota reshapes its offense.Several other player moves have also been reported across the league. The Miami Dolphins are expected to release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who is reportedly planning to sign a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons. The Kansas City Chiefs plan to bring back tight end Travis Kelce for the 2026 football season. The reports suggest that Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III will also join the Kansas City team. The Indianapolis Colts re-signed wide receiver Alec Pierce while the Pittsburgh Steelers added running back Rico Dowdle and veteran receiver Mike Evans left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to join a Bay Area team. The league experiences rapid roster changes because multiple teams have hired new head coaches. The upcoming weeks will bring additional player transactions as teams work to finalize their rosters for the upcoming season.

Ships are seen anchored near Fujairah port as smoke from burning oil facility fills the sky in Fujairah (AP photo)

An Indian-flagged crude tanker had a close call when the the UAE’s Fujairah port came under attack on Saturday while it was loading crude at the oil terminal. The vessel sailed out safely the next day with everyone onboard unhurt.The vessel, Jag Laadki, departed Fujairah at 10.30 am IST carrying around 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude oil and is now bound for India, according to the govt statement. Officials confirmed that the ship and all Indian seafarers on board are safe.

“On March 14, 2026, while the Indian-flag vessel Jag Laadki was loading crude oil at the Fujairah Single Point Mooring, the Fujairah oil terminal was attacked. The vessel sailed safely from Fujairah at 1030 hrs IST today (Sunday) carrying about 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude oil and is bound for India,” the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas said in a press release.“The vessel and all Indian seafarers onboard are safe,” it added.Jag Laadki is the fourth Indian-flagged vessel to emerge unharmed from the conflict-hit region. Its safe departure is considered significant as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have affected shipping movements and energy supplies in the region.Earlier on Saturday, two Indian-flag LPG carriers — Shivalik and Nanda Devi — successfully crossed the war-hit Strait of Hormuz while carrying a combined cargo of about 92,712 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Shivalik is expected to reach Mundra port in Gujarat on March 16, while Nanda Devi is scheduled to dock at Kandla port a day later.Both ships were among 24 vessels that had remained stranded on the western side of the strait since hostilities began in the region. Another four ships had been stuck on the eastern side.One of those vessels, the Indian-flagged tanker Jag Prakash, crossed the strait on Friday after loading gasoline from Sohar port in Oman. It is currently heading to Tanga in Tanzania and is expected to arrive there on March 21.Authorities said Indian vessels and seafarers operating in the region remain safe, though the situation continues to be monitored closely. At present, 22 Indian-flagged vessels carrying 611 seafarers remain on the western side of the Persian Gulf region.India remains heavily dependent on energy imports, sourcing about 88 per cent of its crude oil, 50 per cent of its natural gas and 60 per cent of its LPG from overseas markets. Prior to the escalation of the conflict following the US-Israel strikes on Iran on February 28, more than half of India’s crude imports, along with around 30 per cent of gas and up to 90 per cent of LPG, came from Middle East countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.The conflict has disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies. While India has partly offset crude supply disruptions by increasing purchases from countries including Russia, gas supplies to industrial users have been curtailed and LPG availability for commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants has been reduced.The government said maritime authorities remain in constant coordination with stakeholders to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers.“The Directorate General of Shipping continues to monitor the situation in coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies and Indian Missions,” the update said.It added that since the activation of the DG Shipping control room, authorities have handled 2,995 phone calls and more than 5,357 emails from seafarers, their families and other maritime stakeholders seeking information and assistance.So far, 276 Indian seafarers have been safely repatriated from the Gulf region, including 23 in the past 24 hours.Officials said ports across India are also keeping a close watch on vessel movements and cargo operations as the maritime situation evolves, while the Ministry of Shipping continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions and shipping companies to ensure the safety of Indian crews and the continuity of maritime trade.

PM Modi with Om Birla (PTI image)

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla praising him for his composure, impartiality and leadership after a no-confidence motion against him was defeated in the House. PM Modi also lauded him for upholding parliamentary decorum and ensuring the dignity of democratic institutions.In the letter, PM Modi wrote, “The no-confidence motion brought against you in the Lok Sabha has been rejected by the House. Just as the House clearly rejected this political act, I also congratulate the members of the House for this. After the motion was defeated, I carefully listened to the statement you made in the House. The balance, patience, and clarity with which you referred to parliamentary history, the responsibilities of the Speaker, and the supremacy of rules is highly impressive. I commend you for this.”

PM Modi further praised the Speaker for safeguarding democratic norms, emphasizing that “no one in this House is above the rules”. “The responsibility of the Lok Sabha Speaker is not just to conduct proceedings but also to safeguard democratic traditions, rules, and the institutional dignity. Your clear statement that no one in this House is above the rules is a message that reaffirms the core spirit of our democracy,” PM Modi wrote.PM Modi also acknowledged that democratic institutions often face challenges when new voices emerge and said Birla had consistently broadened the spirit of democracy by ensuring equal opportunities for all members, especially young and new MPs. Modi wrote, “The manner in which you have discharged your duties even amid difficult circumstances is truly inspiring.”

‘Heartfelt thanks for your inspiring words’: Om Birla responds to PM Modi’s letter

Om Birla responding to PM Modi’s letter thanked him for his words of courage and said that the message reflected his deep faith in parliamentary rules, traditions and democratic values.Sharing the letter in a post on X, he wrote: “I have received your letter. You have always held an unwavering faith in the rules, procedures, and traditions of India’s parliamentary democracy. Your letter expresses those highest ethical values of public service that you have lived by throughout your long public life; both in your current role as Prime Minister of India and previously as Chief Minister of Gujarat.” Birla further expressed his thanks to PM Modi for his inspiring words. “This message of yours, transcending the boundaries of party lines, will inspire all elected representatives in Parliament, state legislatures, and local bodies, and will further strengthen the robust ethical foundation of the democracy established by our freedom fighters and the members of the Constituent Assembly. Heartfelt thanks for your inspiring words,” he wrote.The no-confidence motion, backed by 118 opposition MPs, was moved against Birla over allegations of partiality. The proceedings against him witnessed nearly 12 hours of intense debate over two days. With Speaker Birla absent during the discussion, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who presided over the House, announced that the motion had been rejected through a voice vote amid protests and sloganeering from opposition members demanding an apology from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.Returning to the Chair on Thursday after the motion was defeated, Birla addressed the House.“This House represents the sovereign will of 1.4 billion citizens of India. Every member comes with the mandate of lakhs of citizens and carries the hope of addressing their problems, deprivations, and aspirations,” he said. Birla emphasized that he had always sought to conduct proceedings with impartiality, discipline and balance, providing opportunities to all members while preserving the dignity of the House.