The Qatar Football Festival 2026, including the planned Finalissima match between Argentina and Spain, has been cancelled due to ongoing travel disruption and airspace closure, organisers said.In a statement, the Local Organising Committee (LOC), in conjunction with UEFA and CONMEBOL, confirmed that the programme of events scheduled in Qatar would no longer take place as planned. The Finalissima Qatar 2026 match was scheduled to be held at Lusail Stadium in Doha.
Exclusive: Aymeric Laporte previews Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona | La Liga
“The Local Organising Committee, in conjunction with UEFA and CONMEBOL, has taken the decision to cancel the Qatar Football Festival 2026. As a result, the planned programme of events in Qatar, including the Finalissima Qatar 2026 match between Argentina and Spain at Lusail Stadium, will no longer take place in Doha as originally scheduled,” LOC said in a statement.Organisers said the decision was taken because airspace disruption and travel restrictions were affecting the ability of fans, players and officials to travel.“With airspace disruption and travel restrictions still affecting the ability of many fans, players and officials to travel, it has been jointly agreed that relocating the match at this time is the most appropriate course of action. The LOC welcomes the opportunity to host UEFA and CONMEBOL events in the future.”The organisers also said fans who purchased tickets for the Qatar Football Festival will receive refunds automatically.“All fans who purchased tickets for the Qatar Football Festival will automatically receive full refunds within 30 days to the original payment method”The statement added that international fans who bought travel packages through tour operators will be contacted directly regarding refunds.“International fans who purchased travel packages through a Tour Operator will be contacted directly regarding refunds.”
The 98th Academy Awards, held on March 15, 2026, delivered a night of cinematic triumphs while also honouring cinematic legends in the In Memoriam section. The ceremony paid tribute to several icons of world cinema on Monday morning, but veteran Indian star Dharmendra was absent from the televised segment despite being officially acknowledged by the Academy. His wife, Hema Malini, has now reacted to the snub.
Hema Malini on Dharmendra’s Oscar snub
The legendary Bollywood actor, who passed away in November 2025 at the age of 89, was included in the Academy`s official online In Memoriam list released on the day of the ceremony. Meanwhile, the broadcast tribute honoured several well-known names from the global film industry, including Robert Redford, Rob Reiner, Robert Duvall, Catherine O`Hara, and Diane Keaton.
Speaking with Bollywood Hungama, Hema Malini expressed her disappointment, saying, “It is a shame, of course. A shame for them to have overlooked an actor who means so many things to so many people in many parts of the world. Dharamji was known and recognized everywhere,” she said. However, she added that he wouldn’t have cared about the snub. “He never got too many awards during his lifetime. Why should he care about the Oscars? Both of us were happy to be loved in our country. But awards always eluded him. Even I didn’t get any award for my best performances in Lal Patthar and Meera,” she said.
Another iconic Indian actor, Manoj Kumar, who also died last year, was similarly acknowledged by the Academy but omitted from the televised segment.
Dharmendra honoured at BAFTA
Dharmendra remains one of Hindi cinema`s most enduring stars. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he appeared in more than 300 films and delivered memorable performances in classics such as Sholay, Satyakam, and Chupke Chupke.
Earlier this year, the actor received a prominent international tribute at the BAFTA Awards 2026, where he was honoured during the In Memoriam segment. British singer-songwriter Jessie Ware performed an emotional rendition of The Way We Were, accompanied by a montage celebrating the late actor`s life and cinematic legacy.
About Oscars 2026
Meanwhile, the Oscars ceremony concluded with One Battle After Another winning Best Picture. Michael B. Jordan took home the Best Actor award for Sinners, a genre-blending period drama written and directed by Ryan Coogler.
In the Best Actress category, Jessie Buckley won for her performance in Hamnet, while Sentimental Value secured the award for Best International Feature.
The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to begin from March 28. So far, the schedule of only first 20 matches has been released due to state elections.
Ahead of the cash-rich league, former Team India cricketer Harbhajan Singh feels that Mumbai Indians` skipper Hardik Pandya should bring his A game, which in turn will make a huge difference for the franchise.
“I think Hardik Pandya needs to unleash his real Hardik Pandya version. He needs to bring his A game to the table. Once he starts playing his A game, not just as a batter but as a bowler as well, it will make a huge difference,” he said.
The former cricketer also feels Hardik bowled well in the concluded T20 World Cup 2026. He then said that if Hardik and his men start the campaign with an aim of lifting the showpiece, things would change for the Mumbai-based franchise.
“We saw him bowl in the T20 World Cup. He was brilliant with the ball. That is what he needs to do in the IPL as well. When a captain leads from the front and shows the way, everyone follows. It will come down to belief. If Hardik and his men believe from day one that they are not just there to compete, but to lift the trophy for the sixth time, things can change very quickly for MI,” said Harbhajan.
Mumbai Indians (MI) will begin their campaign by playing a clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 29 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
IPL 2026, Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Full Squads
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Trent Boult, Suryakumar Yadav, Quinton de Kock (WK), Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Corbin Bosch, Hardik Pandya (C), Jasprit Bumrah, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Will Jacks, Mayank Rawat, Mayank Markande, Sherfane Rutherford, Raghu Sharma, Atharva Ankolekar, Tilak Varma, Ashwani Kumar, Raj Bawa, Danish Malewar, Robin Minz (WK), Allah Ghazanfar, Naman Dhir, Mohammed Salahuddin Izhar.
The Academy Awards missing out on legendary Indian actor, late Dharmendra‘s mention in the In Memoriam section has not gone down well with his fans. Social media, since Monday morning, has been reacting strongly to the miss on the televised ceremony. His name, along with other Indian greats like late actor Manoj Kumar was added on the website, but it seems it all happened too little too late.
The Academy Awards’ televised ceremony didn’t feature Indian legend Dharmendra
When HT City reaches out to actor-politician Hema Malini, Dharmendra’s wife, she reassures his fans in turn, “Personally Dharam ji never bothered about all this! The love from his fans was above everything. I thank everyone fore their concern, and for remembering him with such affection even now. The love and respect people have for Dharmendra means a great deal to us.”
But she mentions in the same breath, “Oscars should have mentioned Dharam ji’s name certainly.” With a career spanning five decades, Dharmendra was after all one of the biggest stars Indian cinema had ever seen. With multiple hits under his belt, he continued working till a late age. His last release was Ikkis on January 1 this year itself.
NEW DELHI: Sanju Samson has expressed his excitement about finally sharing a dressing room with legendary cricketer MS Dhoni in the upcoming Indian Premier League season. Although Samson has spoken to Dhoni before and met him during national team camps, he says this will be the first time they will actually play together in the same team.“I’ve spoken to Mahi bhai many times over the phone and seen him around during Indian team camps, but this will be the first time I’ll actually play alongside him in a team, so the excitement is very high,” Samson told PTI.
Jay Shah calls 2019 to 2026 as Indian cricket’s golden period
He believes spending time with Dhoni for a full season will be a great learning experience. “Whenever he calls or we meet, there is always something positive to take away. But being with him in a team for two months and seeing first-hand how he approaches cricket and prepares for games will be a huge benefit for me. I’m really happy and see it as a big opportunity to learn from him.”
Still processing India’s T20 World Cup win
Samson also spoke about India’s victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, admitting that the moment still feels surreal. The tournament was held in India, and Samson played a key role in the team’s triumph.“Not yet, I am still like, when I get up in the morning, I’m like, ‘has it really happened’. So honestly, that’s the feeling. But I feel that in the coming years, with the quality of players we have in our country, this is going to be repeated. The number of players who are coming up in India is definitely going to do this more and more often,” he said while speaking to broadcasters at the BCCI Awards in New Delhi.Samson was named Player of the Tournament after scoring 321 runs at a strike rate close to 200 in just five innings. His performances included a match-winning 97 not out against the West Indies national cricket team in the Super Eight stage, followed by scores of 89 in the semi-final against the England national cricket team and another 89 in the final against the New Zealand national cricket team.Reflecting on his journey, Samson described it as unpredictable and emotional. He continued, “You can only dream where you want to go, but you can’t definitely ride the path towards it. So my life or my career has been one of the best examples. I definitely wanted to do this a couple of years ago. I want to win a World Cup for my country, but it had its own plan, its own script. So, it’s more like a movie. I enjoyed it.”He explained that his mindset changed once he focused more on helping the team rather than personal goals. “As I said before, I wanted to do something like this, then I got pulled out of my journey, and then suddenly, the team wanted me to come and contribute, and that’s when I actually mentally flipped a bit… I think, before that, in the New Zealand series, the focus was all about me,” he added.
Mohammed Siraj’s unexpected World Cup story
Samson’s story was not the only surprising one from India’s title win. Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj also experienced an unlikely journey to the trophy. He was not part of the original squad and only joined after Harshit Rana was ruled out with an injury.Reflecting on the moment, Siraj said, “I was not in the initial squad, then I got it, played a game, and now I have been part of two World Cup-winning squads. I would say it’s a miracle for me.”
Actor Rajinikanth, Nana Patekar and Pankaj Tripathi worked together in the 2018 Tamil film Kaala. Now speaking with News18, Nana Patekar revealed he told Pankaj he would beat him after he did a “chota sa role (small role)” in the film. While Pankaj said that he took up the role as he got a chance to work with him and Rajinikanth, Nana replied that he was already a big actor.
Nana Patekar and Pankaj Tripathi’s Kaala was directed by Pa. Ranjith.
Why Nana Patekar told Nana Patekar he would beat him
Nana said he was surprised on seeing Pankaj doing the blink-and-miss role. He said, “Kaala naam ki film kar raha tha Rajinikanth anna ke saath. Pankaj Tripathi ek bahut chhota sa, koi police officer ka role kar raha tha. Maine dekha aur maine kaha, ‘Pankaj, tu yahan kya kar raha hai (We were doing a film called Kaala with Rajinikanth anna. Pankaj Tripathi was playing a very small role, something like a police officer. I saw him and asked, ‘Pankaj, what are you doing here)?'”
“To kehta hai, ‘Ek chhota sa role hai.’ Maine kaha, ‘Tu aisa role kyun karta hai?’ To kehta, ‘Nahi, aap hai, anna hai, aap logo ke saath kaam karna tha.’ Maine kaha, ‘Tu bahut bada actor hai. Hamare saath kaam karke tu bada nahi hoga, tu pehle se hi bada hai. Dobara kabhi aise role kiye na, main maaroonga tujhe ( He said, ‘It’s a small role.’ I asked him, ‘Why are you doing such roles?’ He replied, ‘No, you are here, anna is here… I wanted to work with you people.’ I told him, ‘You are a very big actor. You won’t become big by working with us — you are already big. If you ever take such roles again, I’ll beat you’),” he added.
About Kaala
Kaala, an action drama film, was directed by Pa. Ranjith and produced by Wunderbar Films. The film also stars Eswari Rao, Huma Qureshi, Samuthirakani, Anjali Patil, K Manikandan, Dileepan, Nitish Veera, Sampath Raj and Ravi Kale. In the film, Rajinikanth featured as Karikaalan ‘Kaala’ Vengaiyan. Nana Patekar was seen as the antagonist, politician Haridev Abhyankar. Pankaj was seen as SI Pankaj Patil, a corrupt police official.
About Nana’s recent projects
Nana was recently seen in O Romeo, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. It also starred Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Avinash Tiwary, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Disha Patani. He also had a cameo appearance in Anil Kapoor’s Subedaar.
Nana was also part of the recently released Amazon MX Player series Sankalp. The socio-political drama, directed by Prakash Jha, also featured Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Kubbra Sait, Sanjay Kapoor and Neeraj Kabi.
Swati Pradhan sees about 12 obesity patients a day at her small clinic in southern Mumbai. She expects this number to at least double from this month as Indian drugmakers prepare to launch generic versions of Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster weight-loss drug at half the price.
Mankind Pharma, Ajanta Pharma, Sun Pharma, Dr. Reddy’s and Lupin are gearing up to sell generic versions of Semaglutide, the molecule behind the blockbuster Ozempic weight-loss drug. (AP)
The Danish drugmaker’s key patent on semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy that reshaped the global weight-loss industry, expires in India on 20 March. At least five Indian drugmakers—Mankind Pharma Ltd., Ajanta Pharma Ltd., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., and Lupin Ltd.—are gearing up to sell generic versions of the drug immediately after the expiry, according to their statements and post-earnings calls.
This has prompted hospitals, tele-health firms and clinics across India to expand obesity-focused services in anticipation of a demand surge. The generic versions are expected to be at least 50% cheaper—priced at around ₹5,000 for a weekly dose—than Novo Nordisk’s therapy, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity as pricing information is competitive.
India is the first major country after Canada where Novo is losing patent on semaglutide and will see an onslaught of generic versions. With its large disease burden and an entrenched pharmaceutical industry known for generics, India is set to be the test case for how much the prices of these anti-obesity drugs can plummet.
Metabolic disorders such as thyroid disease, diabetes and fatty liver have surged among India’s 1.4-billion-plus population, largely due to increasingly sedentary urban lifestyles. On the other hand, high-calorie diets, dripping with oil and fat, have contributed to rising weight gain in the country, which has the world’s third-largest overweight population, trailing the US and China.
In a move aimed at curbing aggressive commercial practices as demand booms, India’s drug regulator this week banned advertising and promotional activity related to weight-loss programs. The prohibition also extends to disease-awareness campaigns, social media endorsements and corporate marketing initiatives.
Pradhan, an endocrinologist who runs LiveLight Clinic, charges between ₹21,000 and ₹26,000 a month for a programme that includes services ranging from dietary counseling and blood tests, to side-effect management and weekly check-ins.
The program ensures weightloss of as much as 5 kg a month, which is sometimes not possible if patients take injections without professional support, Pradhan said. Those who opt out of the program at an initial stage “start seeing side effects or their weight loss slows down, and end up contacting the clinic,” she said.
India’s potential GLP‑1 market size is likely to expand nearly five-fold from ₹1,000 crore last year to as much as ₹5,000 rupees by 2030, CareEdge Ratings said in a March 10 note. Ozempic prices could decline by 40% to 50% after the patent expires and then some more next year, as more drugmakers enter the segment.
Obesity Clinics
Hospital chains Apollo Health & Lifestyle Ltd. and Fortis Healthcare Ltd. are either launching or expanding obesity management clinics staffed by physicians, dieticians, fitness trainers and psychologists. Novo has already partnered with Apollo Clinics to set up dedicated obesity centres.
The hospital chain continues to evaluate the weight management space given the large opportunity here, Krishnan Akhileswaran, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.’s chief financial officer, told Bloomberg News.
Diagnostic chains like Tata 1MG Technologies Pvt. Ltd. are rolling out discounted weight check-up packages. Pharmacies including PharmEasy offer home delivery of these drugs after e-consultations, though market researcher Pharmarack says online channels remain a small share of overall sales.
Bengaluru-based Cipun Mishra shelled out ₹65,000 rupees in May last year for a three-month consultancy with an app-based wellness platform HealthifyMe Wellness Pvt. Ltd. The package he bought included a wide array of services—from a monthly consultation with an endocrinologist to round-the-clock access to fitness and diet coaches as well as weight-loss vials and a monthly guided injection, he said.
The 32-year-old, who has lost about 42 kg (92.6 pounds) after 40 weeks of weekly injections, said the structured support provided at the start of the program was “critical”.
“In the beginning, a lot of habitual changes” happen, such as measuring weight daily, taking supplements, and the accountability to a network is encouraging, said Mishra. “I took up this program because I feared I was going to discontinue my journey,” he said.
Dr. Reddy’s, one of India’s largest drugmakers, is in discussions with hospitals and health care providers to roll out patient support programs alongside its generic launch, its Chief Executive Officer for Branded Markets M. V. Ramana said in January after an earnings briefing.
Cipla-Lilly Pact
Cipla Ltd., which markets Eli Lilly & Co.’s tirzepatide drug as Yurpeak in India, is working with clinics in smaller towns. Lilly’s drug is still under patent protection.
Health professionals are “very keen on how to prescribe, how to manage” the category, for which drugmakers like Cipla can work alongside them, said Cipla’s Chief Executive Officer Designate Achin Gupta.
Consultants see significant revenue potential for providers that bundle drugs with diagnostics and follow-up care. Hospitals in major cities offering obesity programs could generate annual revenue of as much as ₹11 crore per facility, compared with about ₹6 crore from a drugs-only model, Kaustav Ganguli, managing director for health care and life sciences at Alvarez & Marsal, told Bloomberg News.
Market expansion driven by patients starting generic therapy would directly benefit health care institutions, Ganguli said.
Startups are also positioning themselves. New Delhi-based Enlighten Now Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., which operates weight management platform Elevate Now, is adding corporate partnerships, tying up with large gym chains and exploring collaborations with drugmakers including Dr. Reddy’s, founder Suryansh Kumar said.
The online company with roughly 30,000 registered patients plans to open eight clinics this year.
Adoption of obesity drugs has taken different routes globally. In the US, telehealth platforms launched by Eli Lilly and Novo have gained popularity, while price cuts and government programs have boosted uptake. In China, online channels such as JD Health have been central to sales strategies.
In India’s largely self-funded healthcare system, patients mostly bear the costs themselves and are a prime constituency for hospitals and clinics providing long-term supervision packages. And every stakeholder is mapping out this opportunity.
“India as a market is very deep and what we are discovering is that therapies have takers in different parts of the country,” said Cipla’s Gupta.
Nana Patekar urged actors to know their worth and pick roles wisely, recalling his shock at seeing Pankaj Tripathi in a tiny cop role in Rajinikanth’s ‘Kaala’. “Pankaj, what are you doing here?” he asked, warning, “You’re already big—don’t do small parts or I’ll beat you!” Pankaj rose to fame via ‘Mirzapur’ and ‘Stree’.
Nana Patekar recently talked about knowing one’s value as an actor and picking roles wisely. In an interview, he shared a story from the set of Rajinikanth’s ‘Kaala’, where he was surprised to see Pankaj Tripathi in a tiny, blink-and-miss-it role. Directed by Pa Ranjith, the film stars Rajinikanth as a strong leader in Mumbai’s Dharavi. Nana played the villain, politician Haridev Abhyankar, while Pankaj had a small part as a police officer.
Nana Patekar scolded Pankaj Tripathi
Nana said he was shocked to see Pankaj on set in such a tiny role, considering the talent he already saw in him. Speaking about it, Nana shared in an interview with News18, “Kaala naam ki film kar raha tha Rajinikanth anna ke saath. Pankaj Tripathi ek bahut chhota sa, koi police officer ka role kar raha tha. Maine dekha aur maine kaha, ‘Pankaj, tu yahan kya kar raha hai?’ To kehta hai, ‘Ek chhota sa role hai.’ Maine kaha, ‘Tu aisa role kyun karta hai?’ To kehta, ‘Nahi, aap hai, anna hai, aap logo ke saath kaam karna tha.’ Maine kaha, ‘Tu bahut bada actor hai. Hamare saath kaam karke tu bada nahi hoga, tu pehle se hi bada hai. Dobara kabhi aise role kiye na, main maaroonga tujhe (We were doing a film called Kaala with Rajinikanth anna. Pankaj Tripathi was playing a very small role, something like a police officer. I saw him and asked, ‘Pankaj, what are you doing here?’ He said, ‘It’s a small role.’ I asked him, ‘Why are you doing such roles?’ He replied, ‘No, you are here, anna is here… I wanted to work with you people.’ I told him, ‘You are a very big actor. You won’t become big by working with us — you are already big. If you ever take such roles again, I’ll beat you’).”
Nana Patekar’s advice to actor
The actor added that performers should trust their skills and not take roles below their level, as it undervalues their talent.
Pankaj Tripathi’s rise in cinema
Pankaj Tripathi has grown into one of Indian cinema’s most admired actors over the years. He’s famous for Kaleen Bhaiya in the web series ‘Mirzapur’, which won him massive fan love. Praise also came for his role as lawyer Madhav Mishra in ‘Criminal Justice’. In movies, he shone in ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, the ‘Stree’ series, ‘Mimi’, ‘Newton’, and ‘Metro… In Dino’.
After a turbulent 2025 that saw two major controversies rock the team — with both the senior and junior coaches being shown the door owing to varied reasons — the Indian women’s hockey team are slowly getting back on track. Under Sjoerd Marijne, they qualified for the FIH Women’s World Cup in what was the Dutch coach’s first assignment in his second stint.
At the heart of the turnaround were reworked strategies, improved fitness and plenty of determination. At the GMC Balayogi Hockey Stadium in Hyderabad, the team gave a good account of themselves, playing with composure and intensity to seal their World Cup berth.
“Qualifying for the World Cup is a huge achievement since it happens once every four years,” Navneet Kaur, who scored a hat-trick against Wales in their 4-1 win to secure qualification, told mid-day. “We had missed out on qualification at the Asia Cup and were determined to not let this opportunity go.”
Navneet Kaur
One of the first things that Marijne focused on was implementing a more structured style of play. Players were assigned clearly defined roles, with a strong emphasis on supporting each other.
Navneet explained: “Once the core group of 29 was finalised, the coaches gave us a clear structure. The message was clear — play as a team and become each other’s strength. Even though we did not win the final, one could see the unity, combination and structure.”
During the tournament, several players stepped up. In the absence of regular goalkeeper Savita Punia, Bansari Solanki, and Bichu Devi Kharibam took responsibility. Up front, Navneet led the forward line beautifully while Neha and Salima Tete controlled the midfield.
India coach Sjoerd Marijne
“The team always has high expectations from me whenever I get the ball,” Navneet said. “Any goal is the result of team effort. I am happy with my performance, including the hat-trick. It’s all teamwork and I think that’s the secret behind our success.
“Now that we have qualified for the World Cup, we want to do much better.”
In his previous stint, Marijne encouraged players to take ownership and grow as leaders, and it is no different this time.
From confidence-building exercises to cultivating a culture where players address each other by names rather than as ‘Didi’, a common term for elder sister in India, the team has evolved both on and off the field.
Marijne has been instrumental in helping the players break mental barriers and realise their potential.
“Having a coach who is familiar with many of us and understands the Indian culture is helpful,” says Navneet.
“Off the field, we try to keep the environment light and conducive so everyone can express themselves freely. We play football and have team-bonding activities so that the same reflects on the field.”
Now that the first hurdle has been crossed, the team must focus on the bigger challenges ahead.
One area that requires immediate attention is finishing. “My job is to demand more and more,” says Marijne. “We want the benchmark to keep getting higher. If you look at the attacks we created and the pace at which we played, that’s the way we want to play. But yes, we have to score goals.”
For a side in rebuilding mode, World Cup qualification is a step in the right direction for ‘Bharat Ki Sherniyan’.
2 No. of clean sheets for India — 4–0 vs Uruguay and 1–0 vs Italy
4 No. of goals scored by Navneet Kaur, the most by an Indian, including a hat-trick against Wales
5 No. of goals conceded by India — the joint second-lowest alongside Scotland
11 No. of goals scored by India in the FIH Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, second only to England (14)
9 No. of FIH Women’s World Cups India will be appearing in
3 Consecutive Women’s World Cup qualifications for India (2018, 2022, and 2026)
9 India’s position in the 2022 Women’s World Cup, held in Spain and the Netherlands
