80 jili casino
Blue Lagoon Iceland by Zu Hao Zhang - K Laser Design Lab Wins Iron A' Design Award in Packaging Design CategoryThe Louisville Cardinals host a ranked team for the second time this week when the No. 9 Duke Blue Devils pay a visit on Sunday, and the Cardinals hope for a better outcome in the teams' Atlantic Coast Conference opener. Louisville (5-3) has lost two straight, including an 86-63 thrashing at home by No. 23 Ole Miss in the SEC/ACC Challenge on Tuesday. The visiting Rebels shot 56.7 percent and dominated inside with a 48-26 edge on points in the paint. Tuesday's game was the first for coach Pat Kelsey's team without Kasean Pryor, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against Oklahoma in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game. The 6-foot-10 senior wing, a transfer from South Florida, was a key player early on for Louisville, averaging 12 points and 6.1 rebounds per game and blocking eight shots in seven games. Pryor is the latest Cardinals player to go down with an injury. Before the season started, the school announced center Aly Khalifa and guard Kobe Rodgers would redshirt due to injuries. Then just two games into the season, Aboubacar Traore broke his arm and Koren Johnson injured his shoulder. Traore is expected back this season, but Johnson announced earlier this week that he would also redshirt this season and undergo surgery. Besides the injuries, the Cardinals are also struggling to hit 3-point shots, a key facet to Kelsey's offense. Louisville entered Saturday 340th nationally in 3-point shooting percentage at 27.3 percent and seventh nationally averaging 31.6 attempts per game. Despite the woes, Kelsey told reporters after the Ole Miss loss that he doesn't plan to change his offense, adding that he believes in his players. "The percentages even themselves out," he said. "This has happened before. I just don't want our guys to lose confidence, because I really, really believe in them. They'll bounce back and be better on Sunday." The Blue Devils (6-2) won their SEC/ACC Challenge game on Wednesday, beating No. 2 Auburn 84-78 in Durham. Duke overcame a 13-2 deficit to get the Quadrant 1 victory on its resume. Coach Jon Scheyer's team shot 50 percent from the field and committed just four turnovers. It was just the 14th time in program history the Blue Devils had four or fewer turnovers in a game. Freshman Cooper Flagg, a preseason All-American and a contender for national player of the year awards, leads the Blue Devils in scoring (16.6 ppg), rebounding (8.6 rpg), assists (4.1 apg) and blocked shots (1.4 per game). He scored 22, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out four assists in the win against the Tigers, but it was another freshman who stole the show. Isaiah Evans came off the bench to score 18 points and hit 6 of 8 3-point shots. The guard averages 9.4 points per game but has only played in five games and has yet to play more than 17 minutes in a contest. Scheyer told reporters after the win that Evans provided a "special moment" when his team needed a lift. "To have that amazing courage to come into this game and do what he did -- I'm not sure if I've ever been a part of something like that in my years here," Scheyer said. --Field Level MediaXavier aims to rebound from a tough week and get one more critical tune-up for a rivalry matchup when it hosts Morgan State on Tuesday night in Cincinnati. The Musketeers (7-2) were ranked No. 22 in the AP poll two weeks ago but fell out after a 25-point loss to Michigan in the Fort Myers Tip-Off tournament final on Nov. 27. Xavier then barely escaped with a 71-68 home win over South Carolina State on Dec. 1 before losing 76-72 at TCU on Thursday. Dante Maddox Jr. came off the bench to score nine points in 20 minutes on three 3-pointers against the Horned Frogs. He also grabbed six rebounds before fouling out. The Musketeers have been waiting for the Toledo transfer to add a punch to an underwhelming bench cast that many thought would be a strength for Xavier coming into the season. "I really feel like you can almost be baited into a false sense of how deep your team is because you're around guys every day and have a good, older group, which we do," Musketeers coach Sean Miller said. "You see the good in a lot of different guys. It's not until you get 8 to 10, 10 to 15 games in when you truly understand how deep your team is." Maddox hit a 3-pointer and started a fastbreak with a steal that gave Xavier a 60-54 lead with 7:28 remaining, but the Musketeers faded down the stretch and lost for the second time in three games. Maddox is averaging 4.7 points per game, while Ryan Conwell leads the team with 16.6. Tuesday's game will be the last chance for Xavier to straighten up before visiting No. 22 Cincinnati on Saturday for the teams' annual intense crosstown showdown. Morgan State (5-7) is coming off a 102-81 road loss at Bowling Green on Saturday. Preseason All-MEAC First Team selection Will Thomas led the Bears with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, while Kameron Hobbs scored 12 points off the bench. Amahrie Simpkins made all five of his field-goal attempts to add 11 points and Wynston Tabbs had 10 points, six rebounds and six assists. Tabbs leads Morgan State in scoring this season at 16.8 points per game, while Simpkins (12.8) and Thomas (12.2) round out the Bears' double-digit scorers. The Bears have struggled away from home, losing all five road contests this season. --Field Level Media
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A businessman with no experience in public office is taking over as mayor of Oregon’s biggest city as it embraces an entirely new system of government — one that’s so different, the City Council chambers had to be completely renovated. Portland voters last month elected Keith Wilson, a trucking company executive and founder of a nonprofit working to increase homeless shelter capacity. He ran on an ambitious pledge to end unsheltered homelessness within a year and will be sworn in Thursday alongside a council expanded from five seats to 12. Portland is contending with homelessness, public drug use and a rising cost of living. Wilson, a Portland native, plans to reach his goal of ending unsheltered homelessness by increasing the number of nighttime walk-in emergency shelters in facilities such as churches and community centers. His message appeared to have resonated in a city where surveys conducted over the past few years have shown that residents view homelessness as a top issue. He ran against three outgoing City Council members. The mayoral race , which featured 19 candidates, was thrown open when Mayor Ted Wheeler decided against seeking reelection after holding the city’s top post since 2017. Wheeler rose to national prominence in 2020 as nightly protests erupted on Portland streets and around the country in response to the police killing of George Floyd . RELATED COVERAGE LeBron James returns to score 18 in Lakers’ win vs Grizzlies after missing 2 games with foot injury Can ordinary citizens solve our toughest problems? John Collins scores 20 points, Jazz snap 5-game skid with 141-99 victory over the Trail Blazers The field of candidates in council races was crowded as well, with nearly 100 running for the new seats that were elected by voters in individual districts rather than citywide. The 130-year-old City Hall was renovated for $8.3 million to accommodate the increase in members. The new dais can now seat 12 people; floor layouts were changed to create more office space; and technology, seismic and accessibility updates were added throughout the building. “Remodeling council chambers is a once-in-a-generation activity,” Maty Sauter, director of Portland’s Bureau of Fleet and Facilities, told the outgoing City Council as it held its last meeting on Wednesday in the new chambers. “We’ve been able to reuse this 1895 facility and make it modern, contemporary and useful.” It’s going to take time for the new government to figure out which of the many changes are working, said Chris Shortell, associate professor of political science at Portland State University. In another first for City Hall, Wilson and the incoming Council members were elected under Portland’s new system of ranked-choice voting . A candidate would win if they were the first choice of more than 50% of voters in the first round. Otherwise, a second round would eliminate the candidate with the fewest votes and their supporters’ votes go to their next choice. The process would repeat until someone emerges with a majority of votes. Some 34% of voters ranked Wilson as their first choice, according to final results. The new City Council will hold its first meeting in January.
Wade Taylor IV helps No. 13 Texas A&M rout Abilene ChristianXavier tries to get right vs. Morgan State before rivalry clash
LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Devin Askew had 28 points in Long Beach State's 76-68 victory over Hawaii on Saturday night. Askew also had six rebounds, seven assists, and seven steals for the Beach (3-8, 2-0 Big West Conference). Austin Johnson scored 14 points and added 10 rebounds. TJ Wainwright went 5 of 9 from the field (2 for 3 from 3-point range) to finish with 14 points. The Rainbow Warriors (5-3, 0-1) were led in scoring by Marcus Greene, who finished with 17 points. Gytis Nemeiksa added 14 points, seven rebounds and two steals for Hawaii. Akira Jacobs also had 11 points. Long Beach State takes on San Diego on the road on Tuesday, and Hawaii hosts Texas A&M-CC on Sunday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
IKO Wraps Up High-Energy Profit Power Events for ROOFPROs in Charlotte, NC, and Austin, TX
Dec 9 (Reuters) - In the end, the big break turned out to be a pair of images at a New York hostel. New York police scoured hundreds of hours of video searching for clues to the identity of the person who shot UnitedHealth (UNH.N) , opens new tab executive Brian Thompson in a brazen killing outside a Manhattan hotel last week, but released only two images to the public that showed the suspect's face. In every other photograph captured from video - of the suspect pedaling away on a bike, standing at a coffee shop counter, riding in a taxi - the man's face was obscured by a mask and hood. But the two crucial images, released the day after the shooting, were captured when the suspect lowered his balaclava at the request of a hostel desk clerk in a flirtatious moment to see his face, according to media reports. They are taken from above, and while he is still wearing a hood, his face can be clearly seen in the pair of pictures. In one he is smiling, in the other he appears straight-faced. On Monday, the suspect, identified as Luigi Mangione, 26, was captured in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after he was spotted eating at McDonald's by an employee of the fast-food restaurant who thought he resembled the gunman from images. "This picture was obtained by the NYPD during one of their extensive video canvasses," New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a press conference. "Hundreds of tips began to pour into our hotline. Each tip was investigated thoroughly, and we began to release additional photographs as they came into our possession," he said. New York has one of the most advanced surveillance systems of any major U.S. city, largely built after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, according to Felipe Rodriguez, a former NYPD detective sergeant and now an adjunct professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. The number of cameras in New York is in the thousands, and all camera feeds can be monitored in real time, as well as reviewed for previous footage, aided by facial-recognition software. Mangione appears to have been well aware of the extensive camera network, and seemingly took steps to shield his identity before, during and after the attack. The first images released by police came from footage of the shooting last Wednesday, with the suspect shown wearing a dark-colored hoodie and a backpack. Other footage showed him running from the scene and then riding a bike into Central Park. Over the weekend, police released a picture on the suspect inside a taxi. In all of them, he was masked. Meanwhile, police searched for the backpack - eventually finding it in Central Park - tested evidence for DNA, pored through tips from the public and, eventually, said they no longer believed he was in New York City. "For just over five days, our NYPD investigators combed through thousands of hours of video, followed up on hundreds of tips and processed every bit of forensic evidence, DNA, fingerprints, IP addresses and so much more to tighten the net," New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at Monday's press conference. But the case turned on a fast-food worker more than 200 miles outside the city recognizing the face of a customer. "In this case, (where) it really came down to technology was the use of drones in Central Park and it really comes down to the video canvass that we did," Kenny said. "We used every source of video that we could collect, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hours from hundreds of sources, and that helped bring this to where we are right now." Sign up here. Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Paul Thomasch and Rod Nickel Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab
Malvern, Pennsylvania (USA), Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rajant Corporation , the pioneer of Kinetic Mesh® wireless networks, and Hader Security and Communication Systems (HSCS), a Kinetic Mesh Partner (KMP) together with Tabbara Electronics, a Kinetic Mesh Distributor (KMD), have secured a key robotic connectivity project using Rajant ES1 BreadCrumb® nodes for a strategic government-owned client in UAE. The UAE client was battling to provide a rapidly deployable, resilient, and secure wireless network to its quadruped Boston Dynamics' Spot robot for remote inspection, monitoring, and critical maintenance tasks in sensitive industrial environments while complying with local regulations. Other traditional and non-traditional networks were considered and failed. Rajant had the solution with continuous connectivity anywhere Spot was required to go. According to Mr. Mohamad Tabbara - CEO at HSCS, "One of the key characteristics of the project was to build a special mounting arrangement on the Spot robot to ensure full maneuverability of its robotic arm. Movement must be robust and offer an unobstructed view of the infrared camera. Rajant, together with HSC, worked to customize a tailor-made solution fulfilling the client requirements from the technical & operational aspects." Ms. Sana Kanaan – VP at Tabbara Electronics adds, "Safe and secure tele-remote operation of Spot is crucial in sensitive and hard-to-reach environments to keep people out of harm's way and improve productivity and safety. Wireless and simple-to-use Rajant BreadCrumb radio nodes are designed from the ground up for such tasks. Moreover, whether it is the ES1 or any of Rajant's BreadCrumbs, these nodes can grow with the capacity needs of the UAE client for future applications and deliver cost-saving efficiencies to the client's operation." "As AI & robotics are evolving industrial operations, Rajant and its local UAE partners continue to support this transformation by providing true M2M AI-powered Kinetic Mesh networks for achieving better operational & business efficiency", shares Waqas Ansar, Rajant Director of Sales ME. Rajant will be represented at Intersec 2025 in Tabarra Electronics' booth SA, A29. Stop by and meet us there, or book an appointment beforehand. ### About Hader Security and Communication Systems (HSCS) Hader Security and Communication Systems (HSCS) is a leading provider of integrated security and communication solutions in the UAE. With a focus on delivering state-of-the-art technologies, HSCS specializes in tailored systems for critical infrastructure, government, and industrial operations. By combining innovation with expertise, HSCS empowers clients to achieve operational excellence and enhance safety across dynamic environments. About Tabbara Electronics Tabbara Electronics is a premier distributor of advanced communication and security solutions, serving the EMEA region. With decades of experience, Tabbara Electronics offers a robust portfolio of products, including mission-critical wireless communication systems, surveillance solutions, and AI-powered analytics. Partnering with global technology leaders, Tabbara Electronics ensures reliable, scalable, and innovative solutions that drive efficiency, safety, and connectivity for their clients. For media, contact Ms. Loubna Tabbara, loubna@tabbara-electronics.com . Rajant Corporation Rajant Corporation is the broadband communications technology company that invented Kinetic Mesh® networking, BreadCrumb® wireless nodes, and InstaMesh® networking software. With Rajant and its family of products, customers can rapidly deploy a highly adaptable and scalable network that leverages the power of real-time data to deliver on-demand, mission-critical business intelligence. A low-latency, high-throughput, and secure solution for a variety of data, voice, video, and autonomous applications, Rajant's Kinetic Mesh networks provide industrial customers with full mobility, allowing them to take their private network applications and data anywhere. With successful deployments in more than 80 countries for customers in military, mining, ports, rail, energy, manufacturing and logistics, municipalities, agriculture, and more, Rajant is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, with additional facilities and offices in Arizona and Kentucky. For more information, visit Rajant.com or follow Rajant on LinkedIn and YouTube. Attachment Rajant Kinetic Mesh BreadCrumb - ES1 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Justin Trudeau suggests Canada will retaliate against Donald Trump's tariffs
OLEAN, N.Y. (AP) — Chance Moore scored 16 points as Saint Bonaventure defeated Buffalo 65-55 on Saturday night. Moore shot 5 of 11 from the field, including 0 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 8 from the line for the Bonnies (9-1). Melvin Council Jr. scored 12 points while shooting 5 for 11, including 2 for 5 from beyond the arc and added three steals. Jonah Hinton had 12 points and shot 3 of 5 from the field, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 4 from the line. Ryan Sabol led the way for the Bulls (5-5) with 14 points. Buffalo also got 14 points from Bryson Wilson. Brayden Jackson had 11 points. Saint Bonaventure took the lead with 19:26 remaining in the first half and did not give it up. Hinton led their team in scoring with 10 points in the first half to help put them ahead 32-22 at the break. Saint Bonaventure closed out the victory in the final half, while Moore led the way with a team-high 10 second-half points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from . The Associated PressIND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 4 Live: Rain to interrupt India vs Australia Match on Day 4? The fourth day of the India vs Australia Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) promises improved playing conditions after the rain disruptions that marred parts of Day 3. As per the forecast by AccuWeather, players and fans can anticipate a pleasant day ahead with minimal chances of rainfall and favourable weather overall. Day 4 Weather: Morning Forecast The morning session is expected to be mild and partly sunny, with temperatures around 23°C. Gentle winds from the WSW will blow at 11 km/h, with gusts reaching 20 km/h. Humidity levels will hover at a moderate 57%, and there’s only a 3% probability of precipitation, signalling little to no risk of rain interruptions. The dew point is forecasted at 10°C, and visibility will remain clear at 10 km. IND vs AUS Melbourne Weather Updates: Afternoon Forecast As the afternoon unfolds, temperatures will rise slightly to 25°C. Winds will shift from the south, blowing at 20 km/h and gusting up to 28 km/h, potentially aiding bowlers relying on crosswinds for swing. Humidity will drop to 46%, and the dew point will inch up to 11°C. While cloud cover will increase to 76%, the probability of rain remains a negligible 3%. Unlike Day 3, Day 4 is expected to see uninterrupted play, offering an ideal platform for India to consolidate and reduce their deficit, currently at 116 runs. With clear visibility, manageable wind conditions, and no significant rain threat, this crucial day is set for some engaging cricket as Nitish Reddy resumes after his maiden Test century. Fans at the MCG can look forward to a partly sunny and enjoyable day of Test cricket, with only minor variations in weather parameters across the sessions. IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 4 Live: 'Nitish Reddy has got pretty much every shot in the book' Australian quick Scott Boland on Saturday praised Nitish Reddy's batting potential after the young Indian smoked an impressive century on the third day of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Reddy cracked a terrific unbeaten 105 to take India to 358 for nine in their first innings in reply to Australia's 474. Boland specifically mentioned the straight drive Reddy hit off his bowling that took him past his first Test hundred. The shot convinced the Australian pacer of Reddy's talent. "Yeah, obviously he's playing really nicely. Coming in down the middle, it's a lower-order, but he's sort of trying to put the pressure back on us. And he's playing nicely," Boland replied to a query from PTI after the day's play. "He played really well. He's been a young guy from India who's come through and strikes the ball really well. It looks like he's got pretty much every shot in the book," he added. Boland first encountered Reddy during a Pink Ball match between India and the Prime Minister's XI in Canberra. The earlier experience further cemented Boland’s impression of Reddy's capabilities. He has followed Reddy's progress in subsequent matches. "I played the 'A' game against him, the PM's game and then a couple of Tests. You see he can score all around the ground. "He's obviously a very nice player and does well in the IPL and he's doing well here in Australian conditions as well," he noted. Boland also commented on the MCG pitch, noting that it lacked the anticipated pace and bounce. He expected the pitch to offer more assistance to the bowlers. "Yeah, I think it started off with a fair bit of nip in it. I think there's still a little bit of nip there at the moment. Not as consistent as I'd like as a bowler, but I think it's going to be a pretty good Test match wicket." Talking about Australia's plan in general against the India batters, the beefy pacer replied: "Coming off that break, we tried to take them a bit wider with the ball. We obviously set a 7-2 field and tried to see if they wanted to flash their hands outside the off stump." IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 4 Live: Andhra Cricket Association announces Rs 25 lakh cash award for Nitish Reddy The Andhra Cricket Association on Saturday announced a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh for rising star Nitish Reddy for his impressive Test century during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. The Nitish ton was instrumental in India's resurgence in the clash on the third day. The 21-year-old's unbeaten 105 runs on Day 3 helped India reach 358 for nine in reply to Australia's first innings total of 474. "It is a fortunate day and a happiest moment for the Andhra Cricket Association. We are very happy that a boy from Andhra has been picked for the Test format and international T20 format. As an honour, on behalf of the Andhra Cricket Association, Rs 25 lakh prize money is being given to Nitish Kumar Reddy," (ACA) President Kesineni Sivanath said. Reddy's performance throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been noteworthy. On Saturday, he forged a crucial 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar, who contributed 50 runs off 162 balls to help India avoid follow-on. Reddy's exceptional performance drew praise from cricket legends, including Sunil Gavaskar, who hailed it as one of the greatest Test innings in India's cricketing history. The century marks Reddy's first in Test cricket. The ACA president expressed pride in Reddy's selection for both Test and international T20I formats. The cash award is a token of appreciation for his achievement. IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 4 Live: 'Nitish Reddy’s first-class average is 22' Team India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy’s maiden Test hundred during the third day of the fourth Test against Australia captivated cricketing circles, with his determined knock earning high praise from former India internationals. Coming into bat at a precarious 191/6, Reddy produced a remarkable unbeaten 105 off 176 deliveries, guiding India to 358/9 by stumps, just 116 runs behind Australia’s formidable first-innings total of 474. Reddy’s partnership with Washington Sundar, worth 127 runs for the eighth wicket, proved instrumental in India not only avoiding the follow-on but also clawing their way back into contention. Speaking on Star Sports, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar expressed his admiration for Reddy’s innings, marvelling at how a player with a modest first-class average of 22 could showcase such maturity and skill on the grand stage. “Both (Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy) play T20 cricket. In fact, Nitish was retained in the IPL by his franchise but the hunger for test cricket is still alive. Today, after the break he scored 22 runs in 16 overs and he knew that he cannot afford to lose his wicket. They way he was leaving the ball, when I see these things in modern day cricketers then I feel that Indian cricket is in safe hands,” Manjrekar noted. "Test cricket always seems like an old-fashioned format and our new-fashioned boys are craving for the test match success. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar and now Nitish Kumar Reddy, the way they have left the deliveries pitching outside off. Nitish Kumar Reddy’s first-class average is 22 but today the depth that he has portrayed in his batting I don’t think I have seen something like this from a player with such an experience.” Irfan Pathan echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the historical significance of the duo's effort. He praised their ability to build a chanceless partnership under pressure, which not only frustrated Australia’s bowlers but also swung momentum in India’s favour. “The biggest thing is that there has never been an instance where the number 8 and 9 batsman in the Indian team have played over 300 deliveries, this has never happened in the history. This brilliant partnership is the reason that India is still alive in this test, because if both of them had not played 300 deliveries then Australia would have been in the dominating position. We would have been talking about how Australia would be looking forward to finish the game in the 4th day itself but these players have changed the situation,” Pathan pointed out. Through intelligent strike rotation and timely boundaries, Reddy and Sundar demonstrated the importance of partnerships in Test cricket. As India head into Day 4, their resilience provides the visitors with hope of salvaging a result, with Nitish Kumar Reddy now a beacon of promise for India’s future in the longest format. IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 4 Live: Nitish Reddy credits India's no.11 for crucial role in maiden Test century Nitish Kumar Reddy earned widespread praise for his maiden Test century against Australia on the third day of the Boxing Day Test, but the milestone was made possible by one crucial contribution. Reddy might have been left stranded on 99 if not for last-man Mohammed Siraj, who held his nerve to survive three deliveries from Australian skipper Pat Cummins. Tensions ran high when Jasprit Bumrah fell in the 114th over, leaving Reddy stranded on 99. The expressions of both Reddy and his father, Muthyala, shifted with every ball as the pressure mounted. However, Siraj held firm, surviving the crucial deliveries and allowing Reddy to relish the moment he had likely dreamed of a thousand times. Reddy expressed his trust in Siraj by taking to social media, saying, "I also believe in Siraj bhai." The young batter also showed his appreciation for his father, sharing a teary-eyed photo with the heartfelt caption, "This one's for you." The moment Reddy reached his century became the defining moment of the series for India. He balanced his helmet with the bat, took a knee, and expressed heartfelt gratitude towards the Indian dugout, which rose in a standing ovation to celebrate his achievement. In the stands near the boundary, Reddy's father couldn't hold back his emotions, breaking down in tears as he watched his son achieve this remarkable milestone. Reddy's unbeaten 105 took India to 358 for nine, still 116 runs short of Australia's first innings score of 474 as rain brought an early end to the third day's play. Reddy's combative spirit and the invaluable 127-run stand he shared with Washington Sundar (50 off 162 balls) proved to be the turning point for the hosts. IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 4 Live: How Rs 15,000 per month helped shape India's new superstar India have a new hero – Nitish Kumar Reddy. The 21-year-old cricketer made history with a defiant maiden century, cheered on by a large contingent of Indian supporters at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Nitish displayed remarkable grit and determination, taking 172 balls to reach the milestone with 10 fours and one six, as he fought to get India back into the fourth Test against Australia. It was Nitish's resilience, coupled with his love for the game and admiration for Virat Kohli, that helped him overcome financial hurdles and fulfill his dream of playing for Team India. Nitish was just 12 when his father, Mutyala Reddy, introduced him to former India wicketkeeper and ex-selector MSK Prasad. Mutyala, who was present at the MCG to witness his son's majestic knock, sought Prasad's guidance to shape Nitish's cricketing journey. Prasad, who represented Andhra Pradesh in domestic cricket, assessed Nitish by asking him a few questions and then observed him in the nets. The young batter impressed with his professional stroke play and disciplined wicket-to-wicket bowling. Recognising his talent, Prasad introduced Nitish to the Andhra Cricket management, which decided to nurture the prodigy. The association provided financial support, investing Rs 15,000 per month, and looked after his cricketing and educational needs. Nitish on Saturday played a pivotal role, rescuing India from a precarious 221/7 by stitching a 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar (50). The partnership narrowly missed the record for India’s highest eighth-wicket stand against Australia, set by Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar in 2008. "It is one of the happiest moments for Nitish, his family, and myself. The entire country and Andhra cricket are proud of this kid. It's a remarkable achievement. He comes from a humble background, rose through the ranks, defied the odds, and now he is a superstar. Nitish has worked incredibly hard to reach this level. I salute his family, who made phenomenal sacrifices to support him," MSK Prasad told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview. Nitish’s moment of glory came when, on 99, he played a lofted drive and then endured a tense over before completing his century with an elegant on-drive to the boundary. The MCG erupted with deafening cheers, including from his father in the stands, who was seen praying continuously for his son's success. "Andhra Cricket has played a significant role in his development. Ever since his father brought him to me, I knew this boy was destined for big things on the bigger stage. Andhra Cricket invested Rs 15,000 per month in him until he reached a certain level. They took care of his cricket and education. He was just 12 when he came to me. I am truly happy for him," said MSK Prasad. "The amount was just for Nitish. We knew this guy had a lot of talent and would reach a certain level. He never looked back. A keen learner, a silent assassin, and a man who loves to play, that's how I would define Nitish," he added. IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 4 Live: Bahubali at the MCG It was an absolute theatre at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Saturday (28 December) when Nitish Kumar Reddy realised his dream. The dream of scoring his maiden Test hundred and it couldn't have come at a better venue. In front of 83,073 fans, including a very emotional father who kept praying with hands folded, the youngster went down on one knee and struck a 'Bahubali' pose. Reddy Sr., meanwhile, had his arms up in the air and took a huge sigh of relief as loud cheers erupted in the stands celebrating what was a sensational knock under pressure. Over 2,50,000 people have already walked through the turnstiles at the MCG in anticipation of a blockbuster clash. They would have hoped to cheer for a Virat Kohli hundred or a Travis Head special but little did they know that the loudest cheer of the match, so far, would be for a young Reddy. It was deafening at the 'G on Saturday when the young gun reached the milestone. There were some nervy moments in the 90s when he saw Washington Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah take the long walk back but Mohammmed Siraj ensured his young teammate wasn't left stranded on 99 and received his loudest cheer on Australian soil when he blocked Pat Cummins' last delivery. Two dots and a boundary later, the wait ended in Scott Boland's over as he deservingly soaked in the rapturous applause from over 80,000. It wasn't easy out there as India were in all sorts of trouble at 191/6. The madness in the last session on Day 2 handed the advantage back to Australia and it continued as Rishabh Pant played a shocking shot during a delicate situation in the match. In walked Reddy, India's crisis man in this series, and went about doing his business with a lot of confidence and clarity. Reddy's game is modelled on balance and the positions he gets into are nearly perfect. He has trigger movements - both forward and backward - but they are very small and that allows him to maintain that exquisite balance even while keeping the weight a bit more on the front foot. The youngster, however, doesn't stick to one trigger movement and keeps switching between forward and backward to different bowlers, and sometimes in the same over. It's the balance which is not compromised during the switch and the body alignment allows him to get into very correct positions while executing a shot or a defence. IND vs AUS 4th Test, Day 4 Live: Hello and welcome! Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of Day 4 of the fourth Test match between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Nitish Kumar Reddy stole the spotlight on day three of the Boxing Day Test, scoring a magnificent maiden Test century to anchor India’s spirited fightback in front of a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground crowd of 83,073. Playing in just his fourth Test, Reddy showcased a masterclass in batting, combining precision in strokeplay with unwavering defence. Partnering with fellow all-rounder Washington Sundar, who contributed a composed half-century, Reddy stitched a vital 127-run stand for the eighth wicket. Their efforts propelled India to 358/9 in 116 overs, trailing Australia by 116 runs at stumps. The moment of Reddy’s triumph came in the 171st delivery he faced, lofting Scott Boland through the on-side for a boundary to bring up his century. With his father, Mutyala, fervently praying and his family cheering from the stands, Reddy dropped to his knees and looked skyward, overwhelmed by the emotion of achieving his milestone at one of cricket’s most iconic venues. Reddy’s remarkable knock also etched his name in history as the first Indian to score a Test century in Australia while batting at number eight or lower. Additionally, he became only the second Indian to record his maiden Test hundred at the MCG, following Vinoo Mankad’s feat in 1948. Rain interruptions had earlier delayed the final session, but once play resumed, Reddy and Sundar displayed exceptional discipline against Australia’s probing bowling attack. Sundar’s patient 146-ball fifty and Reddy’s sweeps and drives frustrated the hosts, with Nathan Lyon eventually breaking the partnership by dismissing Sundar. The drama peaked as Reddy inched towards his century. After Jasprit Bumrah’s dismissal, Mohammed Siraj fended off a few deliveries to give Reddy the strike. The young batter seized the opportunity, completing his landmark hundred in the next over, triggering emotional celebrations from his family and thunderous applause from the crowd. Nine balls later, bad light and a drizzle brought an early end to the day’s play. Reddy walked off unbeaten, his bat raised high, soaking in the admiration from teammates and fans alike. India will look to Reddy and Siraj to add crucial runs on day four, continuing the momentum of their remarkable fightback against Australia. Match Statistics Sam Konstas Usman Khawaja Marnus Labuschagne Yashasvi Jaiswal Rohit Sharma (C) KL Rahul Top Stories Right NowSaint Bonaventure wins 65-55 over Buffalo
NoneNoneThe next PS5 30th Anniversary restock could be next week at these stores - The Shortcut
Lisa Simpson once said during an episode of “The Simpsons:” What could be more exciting than the savage ballet that is pro football? On Monday night, the entire Simpsons universe gets to experience it in a way not many could have imagined. The prime-time matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys will also take place at Springfield’s Atoms Stadium as part of “The Simpsons Funday Football” alternate broadcast. The altcast will be streamed on ESPN+, Disney+, and NFL+ (on mobile devices). ESPN and ABC have the main broadcast, while ESPN2 will carry the final “ManningCast” of the regular season. The replay will be available on Disney+ for 30 days. Globally, more than 145 countries will have access to either live or on replay. “We’re such huge football fans, and the Simpsons audience and the football audience, I feel, are like the same audience of just American families and football. And the Simpsons are so much a part of the DNA of the American family and culture that for us to, like, mush them together in this crazy video game, it’s so fun,” said Matt Selman, executive producer of “The Simpsons.” While the game is the focal point, the alternate broadcast, in some ways, will resemble a three-hour episode of “The Simpsons.” It starts with Homer eating too many hot dogs and having a dream while watching football. Homer joins the Cowboys in the dream while Bart teams up with the Bengals. Lisa and Marge will be sideline reporters. “That’s the beginning of the story, and the story continues through the entire game until Homer wakes up from his dream at the end of the game. It is like a complete story, and the NFL game will happen in between. It’s just going to be an amazing presentation with tons of surprises,” said Michael “Spike” Szykowny, ESPN’s VP of edit and animation. This is the second year ESPN has done an alternate broadcast for an NFL game. It used the characters from “Toy Story” for last year’s Sunday morning game from London between the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars. “The Simpsons” has featured many sports-themed episodes during its 35 seasons. Even though “Homer at the Bat” remains the consensus favorite sports episode for many Simpsons fans, there have been football ones such as “Bart Star” and “Lisa The Greek.” There also was a Super Bowl-themed one after Fox’s broadcast of Super Bowl 33 between Denver and Atlanta in 1999. Even though “The Simpsons” remains a staple on Fox’s prime-time schedule, it is part of the Disney family after their acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019. All 35 seasons are on Disney+. The show’s creators have worked with ESPN and the NFL to make sure the look and sound is definitely Simpsonsesque. The theme song is a mash-up of “The Simpsons” opening and “Monday Night Football’s” iconic “Heavy Action.” There have also been pre-recorded skits and bits to use during the broadcast featuring Simpson’s legendary voices Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, and Yeardley Smith. The telecast will be entirely animated, with the players’ movements in sync with what is happening in real-time on the field. That is done through player-tracking data enabled by the NFL’s Next Gen Stats system and Sony’s Beyond Sports Technology. While Next Gen Stats tracks where players are on the field with a tracking chip in the shoulder pads, there is skeletal data tracking and limb tracking data — which uses 29 points per player — to get closer to the player’s movements. The other data tracking will allow Beyond Sports and Disney to add special characters to the game. For example, there might be a play where Lisa catches the ball and goes 30 yards instead of Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins. “Lisa is much smaller than the rest of the players. So, in real life, the ball would go over her head, but now, with data processing, we can take the ball and make it go exactly into her hands. So for the viewer, it still looks believable, and it all makes sense,” said Beyond Sports co-founder Nicolaas Westerhof. The other major challenge is making “The Simpsons” two-dimensional cartoon characters into 3-D simulations. Szykowny and his team worked to make that a reality over the past couple of months. “That’s a big leap of faith for them to say, hey, we trust you to make our characters 3-D and work with it. Our ESPN creative studio team has done a wonderful job,” Szykowny said. Lisa, Krusty, Nelson, Milhouse and Ralph will be with Bart and the Bengals; while Carl, Barney, Lenny and Moe join up with with Homer and the Cowboys. The broadcast will also feature ESPN personalities Stephen A. Smith, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. ESPN’s Drew Carter, Mina Kimes and Dan Orlovsky will call the game from Bristol, Connecticut, and also be animated. They will wear Meta Quest Pro headsets to experience the game from Springfield using VR technology. For Kimes, being part of the broadcast and being an animated Simpsons character is a dream come true. She is a massive fan of the show and has a framed photo of Lisa Simpson — who she said is a personal hero and icon — as part of her backdrop when she makes appearances on ESPN NFL shows from her home in Los Angeles. “I didn’t have any input, and I didn’t see anything beforehand, so I wasn’t sure if it would look like me, but it kind of does, which is very funny,” said Kimes, who drew Simpsons characters when she was a kid. “To see the actual staff turn me into one was a dream.” Even though the Bengals (4-8) and Cowboys (5-7) have struggled this season, Selman thinks both teams have personalities that appeal to “The Simpsons” universe. “We were just so lucky also that the Cowboys are sort of like a Homer Simpson-type team, American team, and Mike McCarthy might be a Homer-type guy, one might imagine,” he said. ”And then you have Joe Burrow on the other side who is a cool young, spiky-haired, blonde bad boy -- he’s like Bart. And that fits our character archetypes so perfectly. “If Homer is mad at Bart and has a hot dog dream while watching ’Monday Night Football’, and then it’s basically McCarthy versus Burrow, Homer versus Bart, and that’s the simple father versus son strangling — Homer strangling Bart dynamic that has been part of the show for 35 years. I don’t know if that would have worked as well if it was like Titans versus Jacksonville. We would have found something. We would have made it work.” ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Joe Reedy, The Associated Press
Trump sides with Musk in right-wing row over worker visas