LA 2028 Olympic football to kick off four days before the opening ceremony

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March 17, 2026

LA 2028 Olympic football to kick off four days before the opening ceremony

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics` men`s and women`s football competitions will start four days prior to the opening ceremony and take place in seven American locations.

Compared to other Olympics, the IOC-approved early start gives teams two more rest days during the competition. In order to give teams time to travel, the calendar also includes extra rest days following the group stage and quarterfinals.

The LA Olympics football schedule to be spread across seven US cities

The matches will begin on July 10, with the group stage and quarterfinals taking place in New York, Columbus, Ohio, Nashville, Tennessee, and St. Louis.
The knockout rounds will take place in California, with San Jose, San Diego and Pasadena fixed as the venues. The gold medal matches will be held at the Rose Bowl Stadium, which hosted the 1994 men`s World Cup final, the 1999 women`s World Cup final and the 1984 Olympic gold-medal match.

In addition to a men`s quarterfinal on July 20, New York and Columbus will host nine men`s and women`s matches on July 10–11, July 13–14, and July 16–17. Also, nine games will be held in Nashville, including the men`s and women`s quarterfinals on July 20–21 and group-stage matchups on the same dates.

Eight games, including a men`s quarterfinal on July 20, will take place in St. Louis from July 10–17. While seven games will take place in San Jose, including a quarterfinal on July 21 and women`s group-stage matches on July 11, 14, and 17.

Eleven games will take place in San Diego, including the bronze-medal matches on July 27 and 28, the men`s and women`s semifinals on July 24 and 25, and a women`s quarterfinal on July 21.

The Rose Bowl Stadium will host five matches, including a women`s quarterfinal on July 21, men`s and women`s semifinals on July 24 and 25 and the gold-medal matches on July 28 and 29.

The complete schedule will be released later this year. Team Spain won the gold medal in football at the last Olympics in the men`s division, while the USA won the gold for women`s in Paris 2024.

(With AP Input)

Israeli strikes target Beirut, southern Lebanon, one million displaced | US-Israel war on Iran News

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March 17, 2026

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Israeli strikes target Beirut, southern Lebanon, one million displaced | US-Israel war on Iran News

Israeli airstrikes have rained down on three neighbourhoods in Beirut, Lebanese state media reported, as the beleaguered nation says more than one million have been displaced since this punishing front in the wider regional war began more than two weeks ago.

“A series of raids and artillery shelling targeted southern towns at dawn,” Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) said on Tuesday.

One million displaced

Lebanese authorities said more than one million people have registered as displaced since March 2, with more than 130,000 people staying in upwards of 600 collective shelters.

The Israeli military has issued sweeping evacuation warnings for southern Lebanon, extending more than 40 kilometres (around 25 miles) from its border, north of the Litani River.

Defence Minister Israel Katz has threatened displaced Lebanese should not return home “south of the Litani area until the safety of residents in the north (of Israel) is guaranteed”.

The Israeli army announced a “limited and targeted ground operations” against Hezbollah in Lebanon on Monday, with the military’s chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, saying the army is determined to “deepen” the operation until “all of our objectives are achieved”.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah on Monday said it was targeting Israeli forces on the border with Lebanon and in several frontier towns, including “direct clashes” in Khiam, located across from north Israel’s Metula.

Since March 2, Hezbollah has repeatedly announced targeting Israeli forces and vehicles inside Khiam, the first point into which Israeli forces advanced after the war began.

Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim reporting from Ramallah said Hezbollah has been firing an average of 100 rockets into Israel a day, sometimes in tandem with an Iranian salvo, sending hundreds of thousands of Israelis into shelters.

Israel’s position on prospective talks over southern Lebanon remains at best mixed, she added.

“When you talk to the foreign minister, Gideon Sar, he says there is no intention on Israel’s part to continue with these talks,” she said.

“But other sources say the talks are indeed expected to start in the coming few days. At the same time, we can read from military officials speaking to Israeli media that they are looking at these talks as a potential framework for a withdrawal from Lebanon.”

Vir Das reveals why India does not have comedians hosting awards

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March 17, 2026

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Vir Das reveals why India does not have comedians hosting awards

Back in 2009, Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan had collaborated as hosts for the Filmfare Awards. The duo was a hit on stage as they entertained the audience. However, one moment from the night that still resurfaces often is when the hosts mocked Neil Nitin Mukesh’s name. Neil was seated in the audience when the hosts pointed out how long his name is. Now, comedian Vir Das, who wrote the script for the 2009 awards, has revealed the truth behind the viral moment.

Vir Das on Neil Nitin Mukesh joke

After the Oscars 2026 broadcast, Vir Das took to social media to explain why India does not have major comedians hosting awards like Conan O`Brien or Ricky Gervais. He noted that male star egos make roasting tricky on stage during award events. Reacting to his note, a netizen recalled the famous 2009 clip and wrote, “I remember Neil Nitin Mukesh getting offended when SRK (& Saif?) cracked a joke on his name.”

Vir responded to the netizen and clarified that the moment was scripted and Neil was informed well in advance.

“Fun fact. We wrote that bit. It was supposed to come off as silly. Neil was in on the joke and it was scripted. Great sport. It worked in the room. But they added dramatic music underneath it and edited it like a TV serial, so everyone took it seriously,” he wrote.

Vir Das on why Indian comedians don’t host awards like in the West

Vir Das is among the top comedians in India and has performed on global platforms. However, he said several factors prevent comedians from hosting awards in India.

“Why doesn’t India do a Gervais or even a Conan-style hosting of a major film awards show? Well, as someone who wrote the script for many Indian awards for five years, here’s why. The point of having comedians host and roast the Oscars or film awards is that, for a night, a jester would humanise the most celebrated people in the world. That’s when any joke is a punch-up. Here, star egos won’t take a joke from anyone not at their level. Ironically, the bigger the star who hosts, the trickier it’s going to be. Because only a few people are at that level. So, a huge star hosting works for the people in the room, just not always for the audience watching, simply because the power imbalance is off,” he said.

The Neil Nitin Mukesh joke

For the unaware, in 2009, Shah Rukh Khan had asked Neil about his three names. He jokingly said, “I have a question for Neil Nitin Mukesh. Tumhara naam hai Neil Nitin Mukesh, bhaiya surname kahan pe hai? Saare ke saare first names hain (Your name is Neil Nitin Mukesh—you have three names, but where is the surname)? Why don’t you have a surname?”

To this, Neil responded wittily, “Sir, very kind question, thank you so much. But can I take the liberty of saying something?” After SRK gave him the go-ahead, Neil added, “That is an insult for me actually, I feel. My father is sitting here, and I think you guys just need to shut up. I’m sorry.”

Sensex, Nifty open little changed as investors stay wary of crude oil prices| Business News

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March 17, 2026

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Sensex, Nifty open little changed as investors stay wary of crude oil prices| Business News

India’s stock market opened little changed today, with investors remaining wary of the impact of elevated crude oil prices amid a prolonged Iran war.

The National Stock Exchange building in Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai. (Livemint)

At the opening bell, the 30-share S&P BSE Sensex fell 0.08% to 75,435.94 points even as the wider NSE Nifty 50 was down 0.06% at 23,393.10. Nine out of the 16 major sectors were in the red. The broader small-caps and mid-caps were flat.

“Nifty 50’s sharp bounce of 257 points yesterday (Monday, 16 March 2026) was triggered mainly by short-covering from oversold territory. This bounce back is unlikely to sustain, given the massive selling by FIIs…,” V.K. Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Mumbai-based Geojit Investments Ltd., said in an email.

“In the near-term this FII selling will continue since other markets like South Korea and Taiwan are giving better returns to FIIs. More importantly, the earnings growth prospects in these markets look much better compared to India’s. In brief, the sustained FII selling is likely to weigh on markets in the near-term.”

Key Indicators

Brent crude hovered around $103 a barrel on supply concerns, with the Strait of Hormuz mostly shut and US allies refusing to send warships to help tankers navigate the key chokepoint that handles about 20% of global oil supplies.

The Nifty and Sensex have fallen about 7% each so far this month, as investors assess the fallout from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Brokerages Citi and Nomura lowered their year-end Nifty targets on Monday, citing the impact of the surge in crude prices on India’s growth and corporate earnings.

Foreign investors sold shares worth ₹9,366 crore on Monday, provisional data showed, in their twelfth straight session of selling. Outflows this month have reached $6.9 billion.

Stocks to watch today

Reliance Industries signs binding agreement with South Korea’s Samsung C&T to supply green ammonia for 15 years in a deal valued at more than $3 billion.
Tata Motors announces price hikes of up to 1.5% on its commercial vehicles from April 1, citing higher input costs.
Sagar Cements to sell 7.24% stake in Andhra Cements via offer for sale at a floor price of ₹52 per share.
Alkyl Amines suspends manufacturing of methylamines and ethylamines at three sites due to non-availability of ammonia amid Iran war.

Gujarat Titans SWOT analysis and best probable XI: Why GT’s structure makes them one of IPL 2026’s top contenders

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March 17, 2026

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Gujarat Titans SWOT analysis and best probable XI: Why GT’s structure makes them one of IPL 2026’s top contenders

Gujarat Titans head into IPL 2026 looking like a side that knows exactly what it wants to be. This is not a franchise searching for an identity or trying to patch over obvious holes with dramatic auction spending. GT retained 20 players before the auction, had only five slots to fill, and used that room to add Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Luke Wood, Ashok Sharma and Prithviraj Yarra rather than chase a loud rebuild. The shape of that strategy says plenty. GT believe their core is already strong enough to compete.

That confidence is understandable. Shubman Gill remains captain, Ashish Nehra remains coach, and the squad still revolves around a proven top-order core, high-end pace resources and one of the best T20 match-winners in the world in Rashid Khan. Jos Buttler gives them elite batting muscle, Sai Sudharsan adds class and continuity, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna strengthen the Indian seam base, and Holder’s arrival gives them another useful balance option. The central question is whether the lower-middle order is explosive and decisive enough to turn a very good side into the most complete one.

GT squad for IPL 2026

Strengths of GT for IPL 2026

One of the strongest bowling spines in the league

This remains the biggest reason GT should be taken seriously. Rashid Khan gives them control and wicket-taking threat through the middle overs, Siraj and Prasidh bring pace and hard-length menace, Rabada adds another high-quality seam option, and Sai Kishore offers left-arm spin control that changes the texture of the attack. This is not just a bowling group with a reputation. It is a bowling unit with multiple shapes. GT can go pace-heavy, lean into spin, or attack matchups depending on venue and opposition. Over a long season, that kind of flexibility usually separates contenders from merely useful teams.

A top order with both quality and role clarity

Some squads have talent but still look as if they are improvising batting roles. GT do not have that issue at the top. Gill gives them tempo control and stability, Buttler gives them match-breaking power, and Sai Sudharsan offers the sort of clean run-making that keeps innings from becoming chaotic. That is a top three with enough range to set up totals or chase with control. There is also very little confusion about who the innings should revolve around. The best teams usually begin there.

Auction additions that improve options without disturbing the core

Jason Holder, Luke Wood and Tom Banton all make sense in context. Holder is the most important of the three because he adds seam overs and batting depth in one slot. Wood gives GT a left-arm pace angle that the rest of the attack does not naturally offer. Banton is not an automatic starter, but he gives them another wicketkeeping-batting option if they want to alter tempo or respond to an availability issue. This was a tidy, needs-based auction rather than a desperate one.

Weaknesses of GT for IPL 2026

The lower-middle order still has to prove it can dominate

This is the one area where GT look slightly more solid than fearsome. Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, and Holder can all play useful roles, and Washington Sundar provides another balance option. But on paper, this still does not quite feel like the sort of lower-middle order that instantly scares opponents. There is a difference between having players who can finish and having a unit that can repeatedly seize games from awkward positions. GT’s batting still looks more top-order-driven than lower-order-defined.

Too much of the batting ceiling rests on the main three

When Gill, Buttler and Sudharsan click, GT look polished and complete. When two of those three fail in the same game, the innings could begin to feel more dependent on rescue work than ideal construction. Glenn Phillips can help if he plays, and Holder lengthens the side, but the basic point remains: GT’s best batting shape still depends heavily on their first three imposing themselves. That is not a fatal weakness, but it is the main reason this squad does not feel entirely bulletproof.

Opportunities for GT in IPL 2026

Holder can raise the team’s ceiling more than any other new addition

Holder is the x-axis shift in this squad. If he has a strong season, GT gain not just another overseas player but a structural advantage. He gives them more batting depth, can absorb overs when conditions suit seam, and reduces the pressure on the finishers to do all the repair work. That matters because GT do not need wholesale reinvention. They need one or two players to make the balance look more formidable. Holder is the most capable of doing that.

Washington Sundar could become a major balance piece

Washington’s role may decide how adaptable GT become across different surfaces. If he contributes with both bat and ball, GT can shape their XI in far more interesting ways. They can play an extra seamer, go spin-heavier, or strengthen the batting without losing control. Teams that can change mode without losing balance are often the ones that stay near the top through the season. GT have that possibility built into the squad.

Threats for GT in IPL 2026

If Rashid is good rather than game-breaking, the advantage narrows

GT’s bowling remains excellent, but Rashid is still the player who can make it oppressive. If he is merely solid rather than match-defining, opposition sides become more comfortable navigating the middle overs, and GT’s attack begins to look dangerous rather than suffocating. That distinction matters in close games and at the back end of the season.

X-factor player: Jason Holder

Jason Holder is GT’s x-factor because he can change the shape of the side without forcing compromise elsewhere. He gives them batting depth, bowling insurance and greater tactical freedom across conditions. GT already had quality in the top order and enough frontline bowling strength. What they needed was one player who could join those two departments more cleanly. Holder can do exactly that, which is why he may end up being their most significant auction move even in a squad packed with bigger names.

Best probable playing XI of GT for IPL 2026

Shubman Gill (c)

Sai Sudharsan

Jos Buttler✈️ (wk)

Washington Sundar

Shahrukh Khan

Rahul Tewatia

Jason Holder✈️

Rashid Khan✈️

Kagiso Rabada✈️

Mohammed Siraj

Sai Kishore

Impact Player: Prasidh Krishna

Verdict

GT look like one of the more complete squads in IPL 2026. The bowling quality is obvious, the top-order structure is strong, and the auction did not dilute their identity. This is a team with a high floor and a playoff feel from the outset. At the same time, the lower-middle order remains the one area where they still need to prove they are more than simply functional.

The honest reading is that the Gujarat Titans should be in the top-four conversation from the start. They have enough quality to push for more than that, too. But their ceiling may depend on whether the finishing unit becomes a genuine point of difference rather than a support act behind the top three and the bowling attack. If that happens, GT will not just be balanced; they will be seriously dangerous.

Vir Das on why roast-style hosting like the Oscars cannot happen in Indian award shows: ‘Star egos won’t take a joke'

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March 17, 2026

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Vir Das on why roast-style hosting like the Oscars cannot happen in Indian award shows: ‘Star egos won’t take a joke'

Actor and comedian Vir Das has hosted a few award shows in India, and is aware of how they function with so many stars and actors present. Can prominent award shows in India feature roast-style hosting like the Oscars? Vir does not think so, as he noted in a new post on his X account. (Also read: Conan O’Brien addresses ‘frightening times’ in unusually political Oscars monologue; roasts Timothee Chalamet, Netflix)

Vir Das has commented on award shows and how they differ in the West and in India.

What Vir wrote

In a new post, Vir began, “Why doesn’t India do a Gervais or even a Conan-style hosting of a major film awards? Well, as someone who wrote the script for many Indian awards for five years. Here’s why. The point of having comedians host and roast the Oscars or film awards is that for a night, a jester would humanise the most beautiful chosen people in the world, since they were being celebrated already. That’s when any joke is a punch-up.”

‘A huge star hosting works for the people in the room’

He continued, “Here, star egos won’t take a joke from anyone not at their level. Ironically, the bigger the star who hosts, the trickier it’s gonna be. Because like three people are at that level. So a huge star hosting works for the people in the room, just not always funny for the people watching. Simply because the power imbalance is off.”

Conan O’Brien returned to host the Oscars for the second year in a row. During the show, he addressed several issues that have gripped socio-cultural discourse over the last few months, from a reference to the conflict in the Middle East between Iran, Israel, and the US to the growing threat of AI. He also took a shot at Timothee Chalamet for his comments on opera and ballet, that had gone viral on social media. “I hear there are concerns about attacks from both the opera and ballet communities,” he said, getting a big laugh. The camera immediately cut to a laughing Timothee, who took the joke with a laugh.

On the work front, Vir was last seen in Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, which marked his directorial debut. The film also stars Mona Singh, along with special appearances by Aamir Khan and Imran Khan. Vir plays the lead role as an agent sent on a mission in India. He co-directed the film with longtime collaborator Kavi Shastri.

Sneha Ullal says she wasn't bothered by comparisons to Aishwarya Rai: ‘Told her I’m sorry, please don’t hate me’

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March 17, 2026

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Sneha Ullal says she wasn't bothered by comparisons to Aishwarya Rai: ‘Told her I’m sorry, please don’t hate me’

Bollywood actor Sneha Ullal made her debut opposite Salman Khan in Lucky: No Time for Love. She grabbed headlines at the time, as many felt she closely resembled Aishwarya Rai, with some even labelling her a doppelganger. In a recent podcast with AlphaNeon Studioz, Sneha addressed these comparisons, revealing that they never bothered her.

Sneha Ullal says comparisons with Aishwarya Rai never bothered her.

Sneha Ullal recalls her first meeting with Aishwarya Rai

Sneha spoke about her experience working with Salman, sharing that he was supportive and patient throughout the shoot and never displayed any “superstar attitude”. She also addressed speculation that she was cast because of her resemblance to Aishwarya, attributing such rumours to PR activity.

She said, “Obviously, I was coming in with Salman Khan, so people would recognise me like that, but it never bothered me because I was very young and had no ego. I have never been beauty-conscious, so these comparisons didn’t affect me.”

She further shared that when Aishwarya rose to fame after winning Miss World, she, too, became known in her own circle because people said she resembled her. “I met Aishwarya once, and she said, ‘Welcome to the family. Welcome to Bollywood,’ something like that. I told her, ‘I’m sorry, please don’t hate me.’ There was so much comparison in the media at that time, I didn’t know if she took offence,” she added.

About Lucky: No Time for Love

The 2005 romantic drama was directed by Radhika Rao and Vijay Sapru, and told the story of two lovers in war-torn Russia. Apart from Salman and Sneha, the film also starred Mithun Chakraborty, Kader Khan, Navni Parihar, Ravi Baswani and Vikram Gokhale. Made on a budget of ₹14 crore, it was an average grosser, earning ₹27.81 crore worldwide.

Following her debut, Sneha went on to work in several Hindi and Telugu films, including Aryan, Ullasamga Utsahamga, Nenu Meeku Telusa? and Madatha Kaja. Most recently, she was seen in Nilakanta, directed by Rakesh Madhavan, which also featured Master Mahendran, Subhalekha Sudhakar, Ramki and Babloo Prithiveeraj in supporting roles.

About Aishwarya Rai’s recent work

Aishwarya, on the other hand, has been away from the big screen for some time. She was last seen in Mani Ratnam’s 2023 film Ponniyin Selvan II. The film, which also featured Karthi, Vikram, Trisha Krishnan and Sobhita Dhulipala, was well received and earned over ₹344 crore worldwide.

Iran war scare: Pragg-Vaishali-Divya set for Candidates 2026 after Koneru Humpy doubt | Chess News

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March 17, 2026

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Iran war scare: Pragg-Vaishali-Divya set for Candidates 2026 after Koneru Humpy doubt

Koneru Humpy, Divya Deshmukh, and R Praggnanandhaa with sister R Vaishali (Photos by Andrei Anosov and Michal Walusza/FIDE)

NEW DELHI: Even as Koneru Humpy’s potential withdrawal from the Candidates tournament in Cyprus over the Iran war raised concerns, India’s next-gen trio of Divya Deshmukh, R Vaishali and R Praggnanandhaa are set to compete in the prestigious tournament later this month.Concerns of a wider pullout have been put to rest, as TimesofIndia.com can confirm that all three are proceeding with their preparations despite the geopolitical tensions in the region.

Koneru Humpy Exclusive: Why the Chess legend hasn’t played since World Cup loss

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Divya, 20, qualified for Women’s Candidates by clinching the FIDE Women’s World Cup in 2025 in Batumi, defeating Koneru Humpy in a thrilling tiebreak to become the first Indian woman to win the title. The victory also earned her the GM title as she became the fourth female Grandmaster from India. Will Divya Deshmukh, Vaishali, and Praggnanandhaa also skip?Despite the whispers of withdrawal, a source close to Deshmukh told TimesofIndia.com: “As of now, we have decided that Divya will go and play. As these things develop, we will monitor the situation and decide afterwards. But at this moment, she will play.”It is also understood that Deshmukh’s camp is busy planning her travel and stay. Similarly, R Vaishali and R Praggnanandhaa are proceeding with their plans to participate in the Candidates.“Have they told publicly that they are not playing? Since Koneru Humpy is potentially not playing, it doesn’t mean that Pragg and Vaishali are not playing. It means only Koneru Humpy is not playing,” RB Ramesh, long-time mentor to both Vaishali and Praggnanandhaa, told this website.“My position is not to judge anyone’s decision. Everyone is free to make their own decision, and that should be respected. If Humpy’s position is not to play, it is fine.”Koneru Humpy unsure of ParticipationOn Monday, Indian Grandmaster (GM) Humpy had revealed she could potentially skip the Candidates tournament, starting March 28. In an interview with the Hindustan Times, she had said, “It just does not make any sense. It is dangerous to travel anywhere near West Asia at this point when there is so much tension and uncertainty. The war started around a fortnight ago, it is still ongoing, and the tournament is less than two weeks away.”A drone strike on a British air base in Cyprus on March 1 also raised worries about security. With European warships and Turkish fighter jets guarding the island, questions have emerged about whether Cyprus is the right place to host such an important chess event.“Our plans haven’t changed. We are in the final stages of preparing the Candidates’ Tournament. Of course, we are monitoring the situation. Cyprus isn’t too far from, let us say, the war zone or conflict zone, but at the same time, it’s not involved in any way and isn’t in a state of war,” Emil Sutovsky, CEO of FIDE, told ChessBase India.“There is no emergency or anything like that. Of course, about 10 days ago, there was some worrying news, but since then, the situation has appeared quite calm.”The road to Candidates 2026 for Praggnanandhaa-Vishali While Praggnanandhaa qualified for the open section of the Candidates after winning the 2025 FIDE Circuit, his elder sister Vaishali secured her spot by winning the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss last year.After a disastrous run at the Chennai Grand Masters Challengers, where she suffered seven straight losses and managed just two draws, Vaishali nearly pulled out of Grand Swiss.“It might sound funny, but after Chennai, I decided not to play Grand Swiss,” the 24-year-old told ChessBase later in an interview. “I felt so bad. Losing seven games in a row was hard to recover from.”Encouraged by coach RB Ramesh, mentor Karthikeyan Murali, and her brother Praggnanandhaa, she eventually competed in Samarkand, where she defended her Women’s Grand Swiss title to qualify.Reigning world champion D Gukesh recently admitted he would like to have an all-Indian showdown at the World Championship later this year. “Personally, I would like to face Pragg. It would be an Indian clash, and it would be great for the Indian fans,” Gukesh recently told ChessBase India.With the Candidates being the only gateway to the World Championship, skipping the event is a risk these young stars appear unwilling to take.

‘Sinners’ used THIS secret code name while filming

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March 17, 2026

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Oscars 2026 winner ‘Sinners’ used a secret code name while filming: Here’s what it is

Imagine working on a horror movie rooted in blues and Black culture, but calling it something cozy, harmless, and delicious! Something like ‘Grilled Cheese’! That’s exactly what happened with ‘Sinners,’ the 2026 Oscars sensation. Behind the scenes, this haunting, genre-bending film hid under a code name that sounds more like a lunch order than an award-winning thriller.

The secret code and the story behind it

So, why ‘Grilled Cheese’? Turns out, director Ryan Coogler picked it for its pure ordinariness. Per E! New, Academy Award-winning cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw shared on ‘CBS Mornings’ that Coogler wanted something simple; something quick, gritty, and familiar, but still satisfying. All through filming, call sheets, emails, and set chatter, Sinners became “Grilled Cheese.”“Kind of like down and dirty, something you can make quickly but that tastes really good,” Arkapaw said.Even if word got out, nobody would guess it was the most anticipated movie of the year. The ruse worked. Coogler’s team kept the movie’s plot, including its wild take on vampires, completely under wraps until they were ready to reveal it.“That was [Ryan’s] first iteration of the concept of how we were going to do this film,” the 46-year-old continued. “Something that can be quick and fast and gritty.”In the end, Sinners wasn’t just another project: it was a cinematic feast. Arkapaw joked that the film grew from a simple snack to a “Michelin 12-course.” The code name stuck around as a reminder of the crew’s playful spirit and the director’s original vision: make something fast, raw, and unforgettable.Sure, Hollywood loves secret project names, but “Grilled Cheese” really takes the cake, or, well, the sandwich. It was random, sure, but sometimes that’s the best disguise.

‘Sinners’ Oscar run

Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ rolled into the 98th Academy Awards with a jaw-dropping 16 nominations, making history for being the most nominations any film has ever had. By the end of the night, it had grabbed four big wins. Michael B. Jordan took home Best Actor for his powerhouse performance as twin brothers. Coogler snagged Best Original Screenplay, making history as only the second Black writer to win that category. Arkapaw became the first woman, and the first Black woman, to win Best Cinematography. Apart from these headlining wins, ‘Sinners’ also grabbed another trophy for the Best Original Score, thanks to the incredible Ludwig Göransson. Four wins out of sixteen nominations in a fiercely competitive year truly stand in its own league.

‘Sinners’: What is it about?

First and foremost, it’s not just a horror flick. The story weaves together history, music, crime, and the supernatural, set in the Jim Crow-era Mississippi Delta. Michael B. Jordan plays both Smoke and Stack, twin brothers who return home in the 1930s, hoping to start over by opening a juke joint. They use money from their criminal past in Chicago, dreaming of building something good for their community.Of course, nothing’s ever that easy. Almost right away, the brothers and their neighbors face something far worse than their old lives: vampires. The movie shifts from a story about redemption to a fight for survival. However, the real horror in Sinners isn’t just the monsters. The vampires become a stand-in for oppression, exploitation, and cultural erasure.Then there’s the music. Blues pulses through the story, and the juke joint isn’t just a backdrop: it’s a symbol of joy, defiance, and cultural power in a world that keeps trying to stamp it out.

Harshit Rana set to miss most of IPL due to knee injury

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March 17, 2026

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Harshit Rana set to miss most of IPL due to knee injury

Harshit Rana is set to miss the majority of the Indian Premier League 2026 after suffering a ligament strain in his right knee during India`s T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa.

The KKR pacer is still recovering from the knee surgery he had last month and will probably miss a large portion of the next IPL. According to an ESPNCricinfo report, there is `no firm date of return earmarked by the BCCI medical team yet”

Rana was part of India`s T20 World Cup squad but pulled up against South Africa in the warm-up match. Mohammed Siraj was slotted in as a replacement, and India ended up winning the World Cup for a record third time.

During the Naman BCCI awards 2026, Rana was awarded the Best International Debutant for 2024-25. Rana`s absence will be a major setback for KKR, who are already dealing with multiple fitness concerns.

Kolkata Knight Riders` fast bowling conundrum

KKR have been hit with a fast bowling conundrum as fitness issues and injuries have halted their progress.

Matheesha Pathirana, the Sri Lankan pacer, has been recovering from a calf strain he suffered during the T20 World Cup. At first, the injury was not serious, but his participation in the IPL is still in doubt.

Due to tense geopolitical ties between Bangladesh and India earlier this year, the BCCI ordered KKR to release left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman. As a result, KKR is also without Rahman.

Since then, the team has replaced Rahman with Zimbabwean speedster Blessing Muzarabani. Muzarabani chose not to play for Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League because he will be joining the KKR as an injury replacement.

Vaibhav Arora, Akash Deep, Umran Malik, Kartik Tyagi, and all-rounders Cameron Green and Ramandeep Singh are among KKR`s other pace options.

KKR will begin their campaign against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29. KKR have historically struggled against MI but will be keen to change that record. After that, KKR will host Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants in the opening phase of the tournament.

(With PTI input)

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