Why the Cannes Film Festival Is the Perfect Setting for ‘The White Lotus’ Season 4
In my experience, the Cannes Film Festival is a place of jarring contradictions. In the…
In my experience, the Cannes Film Festival is a place of jarring contradictions. In the…
The second phase of the Indian Women’s League 2025-26 will kick off on Monday, April 27, in Kolkata, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said on Thursday.
The proceedings will start with East Bengal FC versus Sribhumi FC, a fixture rescheduled from Phase 1, at the East Bengal Ground on April 27.
Phase 1, which was held from December 20, 2025, to January 9, 2026, saw 27 matches. The league took a hiatus of more than three months to allow player availability for the senior and Under-20 women’s national teams camps for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in March and the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup in April.
A further 29 matches will be played in Phase 2 from April 27 to May 18, with the eight teams playing each other in the second leg of the double round-robin format of the league. The matches will be played in two venues — AIFF National Centre of Excellence and the East Bengal Ground. All matches will kick off at 3pm IST and 7pm IST.
East Bengal vs Sribhumi FC – April 27, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST
Nita FA vs Kickstart FC – April 30, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST
Gokulam Kerala vs SESA FA – April 30, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST
East Bengal vs Sethu FC – April 30, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST
Sribhumi FC vs Garhwal United – April 30, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST
SESA FA vs Kickstart FC – May 3, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST
Nita FA vs Garhwal United – May 3, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST
Sethu FC vs Sribhumi FC – May 3, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST
East Bengal vs Gokulam Kerala – May 3, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST
Garhwal United vs Gokulam Kerala – May 6, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST
Nita FA vs Sethu FC – May 6, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST
SESA FA vs Sribhumi FC – May 6, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST
East Bengal vs Kickstart FC – May 6, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST
Kickstart FC vs Gokulam Kerala – May 9, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST
Garhwal United vs Sethu FC – May 9, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST
SESA FA vs East Bengal – May 9, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST
Sribhumi FC vs Nita FA – May 9, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST
Sethu FC vs SESA FA – May 12, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST
Garhwal United vs Kickstart FC – May 12, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST
Sribhumi FC vs Gokulam Kerala – May 12, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST
East Bengal vs Nita FA – May 12, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST
SESA FA vs Nita FA – May 15, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST
Gokulam Kerala vs Sethu FC – May 15, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST
Sribhumi FC vs Kickstart FC – May 15, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST
Garhwal United vs East Bengal – May 15, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST
SESA FA vs Garhwal United – May 18, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST
Kickstart FC vs Sethu FC – May 18, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST
Gokulam Kerala vs Nita FA – May 18, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST
Sribhumi FC vs East Bengal – May 18, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST
Defending champion East Bengal FC is currently at the top of the table with 18 points from six games, while Sesa FA and Kickstart FC occupy the relegation spots with one and six points, respectively.
The team with the most points at the end of the season will be crowned champion. On the other hand, the seventh and eighth-placed sides will be relegated to IWL 2 next season.
The top two teams from IWL 2 2025-26 final round will be promoted to IWL 2026-27.
Published on Apr 16, 2026
The second phase of the Indian Women’s League 2025-26 will kick off on Monday, April 27, in Kolkata, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said on Thursday.
The proceedings will start with East Bengal FC versus Sribhumi FC, a fixture rescheduled from Phase 1, at the East Bengal Ground on April 27.
Phase 1, which was held from December 20, 2025, to January 9, 2026, saw 27 matches. The league took a hiatus of more than three months to allow player availability for the senior and Under-20 women’s national teams camps for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in March and the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup in April.
A further 29 matches will be played in Phase 2 from April 27 to May 18, with the eight teams playing each other in the second leg of the double round-robin format of the league. The matches will be played in two venues — AIFF National Centre of Excellence and the East Bengal Ground. All matches will kick off at 3pm IST and 7pm IST.
East Bengal vs Sribhumi FC – April 27, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST
Nita FA vs Kickstart FC – April 30, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST
Gokulam Kerala vs SESA FA – April 30, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST
East Bengal vs Sethu FC – April 30, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST
Sribhumi FC vs Garhwal United – April 30, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST
SESA FA vs Kickstart FC – May 3, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST
Nita FA vs Garhwal United – May 3, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST
Sethu FC vs Sribhumi FC – May 3, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST
East Bengal vs Gokulam Kerala – May 3, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST
Garhwal United vs Gokulam Kerala – May 6, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST
Nita FA vs Sethu FC – May 6, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST
SESA FA vs Sribhumi FC – May 6, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST
East Bengal vs Kickstart FC – May 6, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST
Kickstart FC vs Gokulam Kerala – May 9, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST
Garhwal United vs Sethu FC – May 9, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST
SESA FA vs East Bengal – May 9, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST
Sribhumi FC vs Nita FA – May 9, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST
Sethu FC vs SESA FA – May 12, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST
Garhwal United vs Kickstart FC – May 12, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST
Sribhumi FC vs Gokulam Kerala – May 12, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST
East Bengal vs Nita FA – May 12, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST
SESA FA vs Nita FA – May 15, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST
Gokulam Kerala vs Sethu FC – May 15, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST
Sribhumi FC vs Kickstart FC – May 15, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST
Garhwal United vs East Bengal – May 15, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST
SESA FA vs Garhwal United – May 18, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST
Kickstart FC vs Sethu FC – May 18, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST
Gokulam Kerala vs Nita FA – May 18, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST
Sribhumi FC vs East Bengal – May 18, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST
Defending champion East Bengal FC is currently at the top of the table with 18 points from six games, while Sesa FA and Kickstart FC occupy the relegation spots with one and six points, respectively.
The team with the most points at the end of the season will be crowned champion. On the other hand, the seventh and eighth-placed sides will be relegated to IWL 2 next season.
The top two teams from IWL 2 2025-26 final round will be promoted to IWL 2026-27.
Published on Apr 16, 2026
The second phase of the Indian Women’s League 2025-26 will kick off on Monday, April…
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Thursday said, “We don’t want that [confrontation] but it is our duty to be ready to avoid it… and if it were unavoidable, to win it.”
Diaz-Canel made the remarks in Cuba‘s capital Havana during a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the US‘s failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion — a CIA-backed operation launched after US-owned properties and businesses on the island were nationalized by Fidel Castro and his fellow revolutionaries.
Diaz-Canel told thousands gathered for the event that the nation is “ready” for another attack as US President Donald Trump continues to threaten the tiny southern neighbor.
The US and Cuba have been archenemies since the country’s 1959 revolution and Trump has breathed new life into the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, a US policy designed to thwart European meddling in the Western Hemisphere.
Late last year, Trump ordered US warships to the Caribbean to sink what the US has described as drug smuggling boats in the region.
In January, Trump cited the policy when the US military arrested Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and extradited him to the US to stand trial on drug trafficking charges.
After Maduro’s abduction, Trump ordered a blockade of oil and gas to Cuba and began threatening that “Cuba’s next.”
After launching a war against Iran on February 28, Trump has again floated the idea of “taking” Cuba, which has also suffered massive nationwide blackouts as a result of the US oil blockade.
In his Thursday remarks, Diaz-Canel called the current situation “very grave,” yet he also drew on the Socialist ideals espoused by Fidel Castro at the start of the Cuban revolution.
Further, he rejected Trump’s claims that Cuba is “a failing nation,” accusing the US of looking for a pretext for action.
“Cuba is not a failed state. Cuba is a besieged state,” said Diaz-Canel. “Cuba is a state facing multidimensional aggression: economic warfare, an intensified blockade and an energy blockade.”
Recently, talks between both sides — designed to reduce tensions — have been ongoing, yet few details have emerged.
The trade embargo that the US placed on Cuba in response to its revolution remains in place nearly 70 years later.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Thursday said, “We don’t want that [confrontation] but it is our duty to be ready to avoid it… and if it were unavoidable, to win it.”
Diaz-Canel made the remarks in Cuba‘s capital Havana during a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the US‘s failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion — a CIA-backed operation launched after US-owned properties and businesses on the island were nationalized by Fidel Castro and his fellow revolutionaries.
Diaz-Canel told thousands gathered for the event that the nation is “ready” for another attack as US President Donald Trump continues to threaten the tiny southern neighbor.
The US and Cuba have been archenemies since the country’s 1959 revolution and Trump has breathed new life into the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, a US policy designed to thwart European meddling in the Western Hemisphere.
Late last year, Trump ordered US warships to the Caribbean to sink what the US has described as drug smuggling boats in the region.
In January, Trump cited the policy when the US military arrested Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and extradited him to the US to stand trial on drug trafficking charges.
After Maduro’s abduction, Trump ordered a blockade of oil and gas to Cuba and began threatening that “Cuba’s next.”
After launching a war against Iran on February 28, Trump has again floated the idea of “taking” Cuba, which has also suffered massive nationwide blackouts as a result of the US oil blockade.
In his Thursday remarks, Diaz-Canel called the current situation “very grave,” yet he also drew on the Socialist ideals espoused by Fidel Castro at the start of the Cuban revolution.
Further, he rejected Trump’s claims that Cuba is “a failing nation,” accusing the US of looking for a pretext for action.
“Cuba is not a failed state. Cuba is a besieged state,” said Diaz-Canel. “Cuba is a state facing multidimensional aggression: economic warfare, an intensified blockade and an energy blockade.”
Recently, talks between both sides — designed to reduce tensions — have been ongoing, yet few details have emerged.
The trade embargo that the US placed on Cuba in response to its revolution remains in place nearly 70 years later.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Thursday said, "We don't want that [confrontation] but it is…
Amazon: Daily deals on a grip of great basics, surprising gems, and solid wrist watches…
“The View” co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin said she “can’t think of a dumber fight to…
Mar 30, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander’s recovery from a hip injury is “going a little slower” than anticipated, manager A.J. Hinch said Thursday.
Verlander, 43, landed on the 15-day injured list on April 5 with left hip inflammation. The three-time Cy Young Award winner pitched a bullpen session on Wednesday.
“I think he’s doing OK. I don’t think he’s necessarily taking a step forward, and he hasn’t taken a step back,” Hinch said. “He had a bullpen yesterday that went OK. It wasn’t quite to the level that I think he wanted or that we wanted, but it wasn’t a setback of some sort of making things worse. We’re going to take it day by day.”
Hinch said Verlander will travel with the team for this weekend’s series at Boston and “will do something there.”
“It’s going a little slower than I think he anticipated or we anticipated, but that’s OK,” Hinch continued. “We’ve got to make sure we get this right, because it’s not quite to 100% yet where we can advance to game activity.”
Making his first start for Detroit since the 2017 season, Verlander gave up five runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings in his only start so far this season on March 30 at Arizona. He took the loss in a 9-6 setback against the Diamondbacks.
Verlander is 266-159 with a 3.33 ERA in 556 career games (all starts) across 21 seasons with the Tigers (2005-17, 2026), Houston Astros (2017-20, 2022-24), New York Mets (2023) and San Francisco Giants (2025). He leads all active pitchers in wins and ranks eighth all-time in strikeouts (3,554).
-Field Level Media
Mar 30, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander’s recovery from a hip injury is “going a little slower” than anticipated, manager A.J. Hinch said Thursday.
Verlander, 43, landed on the 15-day injured list on April 5 with left hip inflammation. The three-time Cy Young Award winner pitched a bullpen session on Wednesday.
“I think he’s doing OK. I don’t think he’s necessarily taking a step forward, and he hasn’t taken a step back,” Hinch said. “He had a bullpen yesterday that went OK. It wasn’t quite to the level that I think he wanted or that we wanted, but it wasn’t a setback of some sort of making things worse. We’re going to take it day by day.”
Hinch said Verlander will travel with the team for this weekend’s series at Boston and “will do something there.”
“It’s going a little slower than I think he anticipated or we anticipated, but that’s OK,” Hinch continued. “We’ve got to make sure we get this right, because it’s not quite to 100% yet where we can advance to game activity.”
Making his first start for Detroit since the 2017 season, Verlander gave up five runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings in his only start so far this season on March 30 at Arizona. He took the loss in a 9-6 setback against the Diamondbacks.
Verlander is 266-159 with a 3.33 ERA in 556 career games (all starts) across 21 seasons with the Tigers (2005-17, 2026), Houston Astros (2017-20, 2022-24), New York Mets (2023) and San Francisco Giants (2025). He leads all active pitchers in wins and ranks eighth all-time in strikeouts (3,554).
-Field Level Media
Mar 30, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws against the…
Top seed Elena Rybakina beat Diana Shnaider in straight sets to qualify for the quarterfinals of the WTA clay-court event in Stuttgart on Thursday.
The 26-year-old Kazakh, who was champion in 2024 but skipped last year’s event, relied on her service game as she won 6-2, 6-4 against the unseeded Russian in one hour and 12 minutes.
Shnaider, ranked 19th in the world, improved in the second set but was undone by double faults at crucial moments, allowing Rybakina to capitalise.
Rybakina capped the match off with her ninth ace and will next take on either Leylah Fernandez or Zeynep Sonmez in the quarters.
Earlier, World No. 9 Mirra Andreeva pushed past American Alycia Parks in straight sets in their last 16 clash to extend her winning streak to six matches.
Czech Karolina Muchova came from a set down to beat Elise Mertens 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 to book her place in the last eight.
Muchova’s compatriot Linda Noskova crushed Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-1, 6-1 to set up a quarterfinal clash with Elina Svitolina, who cruised past German Eva Lys 6-1, 6-0 on Wednesday.
Later on Thursday, World No. 3 Coco Gauff starts her bid for a first Stuttgart title when she takes on Liudmila Samsonova.
Published on Apr 16, 2026
Top seed Elena Rybakina beat Diana Shnaider in straight sets to qualify for the quarterfinals of the WTA clay-court event in Stuttgart on Thursday.
The 26-year-old Kazakh, who was champion in 2024 but skipped last year’s event, relied on her service game as she won 6-2, 6-4 against the unseeded Russian in one hour and 12 minutes.
Shnaider, ranked 19th in the world, improved in the second set but was undone by double faults at crucial moments, allowing Rybakina to capitalise.
Rybakina capped the match off with her ninth ace and will next take on either Leylah Fernandez or Zeynep Sonmez in the quarters.
Earlier, World No. 9 Mirra Andreeva pushed past American Alycia Parks in straight sets in their last 16 clash to extend her winning streak to six matches.
Czech Karolina Muchova came from a set down to beat Elise Mertens 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 to book her place in the last eight.
Muchova’s compatriot Linda Noskova crushed Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-1, 6-1 to set up a quarterfinal clash with Elina Svitolina, who cruised past German Eva Lys 6-1, 6-0 on Wednesday.
Later on Thursday, World No. 3 Coco Gauff starts her bid for a first Stuttgart title when she takes on Liudmila Samsonova.
Published on Apr 16, 2026
Top seed Elena Rybakina beat Diana Shnaider in straight sets to qualify for the quarterfinals…
Mar 22, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness coaches against the New York Islanders during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Rick Bowness has agreed to a contract extension to remain as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, TSN reported Thursday morning.
The Blue Jackets scheduled a news conference for Thursday afternoon with general manager Don Waddell and Bowness.
TSN’s report comes two days after Bowness blasted his own team after it missed out on the playoffs following a 2-7-1 record in its final 10 games.
“These guys, they don’t care. Losing is not important enough to them. It doesn’t bother them. How can you go out and play like that? I should have done this a month ago. But this is why we are where we are,” Bowness said after Columbus dropped a 2-1 decision to the Washington Capitals.
“This is why we’re out of the playoffs. That kind of effort. You have to hate losing. I don’t care if it’s a meaningless game. I don’t care. Show up and compete.”
Bowness, 71, replaced Dean Evason on Jan. 12 and guided Columbus to a 21-11-5 record.
Bowness is 331-419-42 with 48 ties in 840 career games with eight different teams — including both versions of the Winnipeg Jets. His first stint as head coach came in 1988-89 with the original Winnipeg Jets franchise after they fired Dan Maloney; Bowness went 8-17-3 as interim head coach.
Bowness led the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 as interim head coach. The Stars lost to Tampa Bay in six games. He also coached the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders and then-Phoenix Coyotes.
As a forward, Bowness recorded 55 points (18 goals, 37 assists) in 173 NHL games from 1975-81 with the then-Atlanta Flames, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues and Jets.
–Field Level Media
Mar 22, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness coaches against the New York Islanders during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Rick Bowness has agreed to a contract extension to remain as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, TSN reported Thursday morning.
The Blue Jackets scheduled a news conference for Thursday afternoon with general manager Don Waddell and Bowness.
TSN’s report comes two days after Bowness blasted his own team after it missed out on the playoffs following a 2-7-1 record in its final 10 games.
“These guys, they don’t care. Losing is not important enough to them. It doesn’t bother them. How can you go out and play like that? I should have done this a month ago. But this is why we are where we are,” Bowness said after Columbus dropped a 2-1 decision to the Washington Capitals.
“This is why we’re out of the playoffs. That kind of effort. You have to hate losing. I don’t care if it’s a meaningless game. I don’t care. Show up and compete.”
Bowness, 71, replaced Dean Evason on Jan. 12 and guided Columbus to a 21-11-5 record.
Bowness is 331-419-42 with 48 ties in 840 career games with eight different teams — including both versions of the Winnipeg Jets. His first stint as head coach came in 1988-89 with the original Winnipeg Jets franchise after they fired Dan Maloney; Bowness went 8-17-3 as interim head coach.
Bowness led the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 as interim head coach. The Stars lost to Tampa Bay in six games. He also coached the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders and then-Phoenix Coyotes.
As a forward, Bowness recorded 55 points (18 goals, 37 assists) in 173 NHL games from 1975-81 with the then-Atlanta Flames, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues and Jets.
–Field Level Media
Mar 22, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness coaches…
Former Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president N. Ramachandran passed away here on Thursday. He was 77 and is survived by his wife and two children.
Ramachandran, who had a long and distinguished career as a sports administrator, headed the IOA from 2014 to 2017 after previously serving as treasurer.
It was in Squash that he made a lasting impact as the Secretary General of the Squash Rackets Federation of India.
Ramachandran – the younger brother of former BCCI president and ICC chairman N. Srinivasan – was later elected president of the World Squash Federation for two terms, from 2008 to 2016.
During his tenure, he enhanced the sport’s profile and made Chennai the hub of squash in the country. It was through his vision that the India Squash Academy was set up in the city in 2000, which has produced top athletes such as Joshna Chinappa, Dipika Pallikal, and Saurav Goshal, who have brought laurels to the country.
He was also the Patron of the Asian Squash Federation and the SRFI and served as the CEO of the Indian Triathlon Federation.
Ramachandran received the ‘Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar’ from the Government of India in 2011 in the category of ‘Establishment and Management of Sports Academies of Excellence’.
In August 2016, he received the Olympic Order – Silver by the International Olympic Committee at Rio de Janeiro for his services to the Olympic movement.
Published on Apr 16, 2026
Former Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president N. Ramachandran passed away here on Thursday. He was 77 and is survived by his wife and two children.
Ramachandran, who had a long and distinguished career as a sports administrator, headed the IOA from 2014 to 2017 after previously serving as treasurer.
It was in Squash that he made a lasting impact as the Secretary General of the Squash Rackets Federation of India.
Ramachandran – the younger brother of former BCCI president and ICC chairman N. Srinivasan – was later elected president of the World Squash Federation for two terms, from 2008 to 2016.
During his tenure, he enhanced the sport’s profile and made Chennai the hub of squash in the country. It was through his vision that the India Squash Academy was set up in the city in 2000, which has produced top athletes such as Joshna Chinappa, Dipika Pallikal, and Saurav Goshal, who have brought laurels to the country.
He was also the Patron of the Asian Squash Federation and the SRFI and served as the CEO of the Indian Triathlon Federation.
Ramachandran received the ‘Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar’ from the Government of India in 2011 in the category of ‘Establishment and Management of Sports Academies of Excellence’.
In August 2016, he received the Olympic Order – Silver by the International Olympic Committee at Rio de Janeiro for his services to the Olympic movement.
Published on Apr 16, 2026
Former Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president N. Ramachandran passed away here on Thursday. He was…