Giannis Antetokounmpo (Image via: Getty Images)

The Milwaukee Bucks face the Charlotte Hornets on January 2 with most of the attention on whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will be on the floor. He is listed as probable on the NBA’s official injury report because of right calf injury management, a familiar listing that has followed him in recent weeks.The game tips off at 8:00 PM ET. Milwaukee enters in a strong position, while Charlotte continues to deal with roster limitations. If Giannis plays, the matchup shifts heavily toward the Bucks, especially given the Hornets’ issues in the frontcourt.

Giannis Antetokounmpo injury status vs Charlotte Hornets (January 2, 2026)

The latest injury report, released at 1:30 PM ET on January 2, lists Giannis Antetokounmpo as probable. The calf issue dates back to December, when he was managing a strain. Since then, updates have been steady, and there have been no signs of restrictions on his minutes.Some previews have not listed him as injured at all, pointing to growing confidence in his availability. As usual, final confirmation will come after warm-ups, but there is no indication that Milwaukee expects him to sit. The team has continued to manage his workload carefully to avoid setbacks.

Milwaukee Bucks injury report vs Charlotte Hornets (January 2, 2026)

Outside of Giannis, Milwaukee’s report is light. None of the team’s main rotation players are dealing with injuries.

Damian Lillard and the rest of the core are available, giving the Bucks close to a full lineup if Giannis plays.

Charlotte Hornets injury report vs Bucks (January 2, 2026)

Charlotte enters the game short-handed, particularly among big men, which limits their options on both ends of the floor.

These absences reduce Charlotte’s size and flexibility in the paint.

Why Giannis matters in this matchup

Milwaukee’s offense and defense still run through Giannis. Even while managing the calf issue, he has continued to produce at a high level and control games with his physical presence.Also read: Charlotte Hornets vs Milwaukee Bucks regular season game: Full injury report, who’s out, where to watch, and more (January 2, 2026)Against a Hornets team missing several frontcourt players, his availability could decide the game early. If he plays without limitation, Milwaukee is positioned to control the paint, set the pace, and avoid unnecessary pressure late.

A heated debate sparked in the cricket world about race, culture, and privilege after former England spinner Monty Panesar reacted to Usman Khawaja’s emotional comments about racism in Australian cricket.

Monty Panesar Contradicts Usman Khawaja in Heated Cricket Racism Debate

Recently, the seasoned Australian opener Usman Khawaja opened up about facing stereotypes and harsh treatment. And now, reacting to the Aussie star’s revelations, Panesar has presented a contradictory view, saying that he has not faced any racism during his entire career in England.

The British Asian cricketer, who played 50 Tests for England, reflected on his international journey and quashed the growing narrative of racism in cricket, especially within the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) setup.

Your daily dose of cricket!

Read Also: Usman Khawaja retirement: Pat Cummins, Shikhar Dhawan pay emotional tributes before Sydney Test

Monty Panesar’s Perspective: “A Welcoming Dressing Room”

Panesar shared that he always felt respected and valued within the England setup. The former spinner has noted that the dressing room environment was welcoming, and the support from teammates and the ECB remained consistent throughout his career.

Monty Panesar was quoted as saying by IANS: “Thankfully, I never faced any racial discrimination while playing for England. I always received strong support from the team and the board. They were very supportive.”

Usman Khawaja’s Claims: Stereotypes and “Excessive” Criticism

Recently, Khawaja opened up about the struggles he faced during his time with the Australian cricket team. After announcing he will retire from the game after the final Ashes Test in Sydney, Khawaja has opened up about the challenges he faced throughout his career.

He explained that despite being part of one of the most celebrated national teams in sport, the Australian opener often felt like an outsider. Even after years of consistent performances, the Pakistani-born Australian batter believed he was still seen and treated differently.

Khawaja stated, “I’ve always felt a little bit different, even now. I am a colored cricketer, and the Australian cricket team is, in my opinion, the greatest national team. It’s our pride and joy. But I’ve also felt very different by the way I’ve been treated and by how certain things have happened.”

Read Also: Travis Head to skip BBL ahead of T20 World Cup, blames Ashes schedule for imbalance

Face same racial stereotypes during Ashes 2025-26: Usman Khawaja

He also faced intense criticism ahead of the Perth Test, when he spent time playing golf before suffering sudden back spasms that stopped him from opening in both innings.

The Australian star has further noted that media voices and former players questioned his commitment for several days, and he felt the backlash went far beyond and reflected long-standing stereotypes he had dealt with since his early days in cricket.

Khawaja signed off by saying, “I had back spasms, and it was something I couldn’t control. The way the media and the past players came out and attacked me, I could have copped it for two days, but I copped it for about five days straight.

These are the same racial stereotypes I’ve grown up with my whole life. We obviously haven’t fully moved past them, because I’ve never seen anyone being treated like that in the Australian cricket team before, not for the uncontrollable way you guys went at me.”

“I’m off the leash now guys” 😂

Usman Khawaja is all smiles ahead of his last Test 🥹 pic.twitter.com/Wu0GJuMJck

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 2, 2026

Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, opens up about her pain.(Image via Araya Doheny/Getty, Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty)

Kobe Bryant and his teenage daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant’s deaths in the horrific helicopter crash shocked the world in January 2020.It is soon going to be six years since the fateful day but fans are still mourning the deaths of Kobe Bryant and his daughter. Amid the mess, Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, opened up about the heartbreaking details of what happened immediately after the crash.

Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, opens up about the pain she felt after the tragic passing

In 2021, Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, sued the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after she accused them of taking pictures of the horrific crash.At the deposition, Vanessa Bryant opened up about the pain that followed immediately after.As per The New York Times, Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, said, “I was holding onto my phone, because obviously I was trying to call my husband back, and all these notifications started popping up on my phone, saying ‘RIP Kobe. RIP Kobe. RIP Kobe…’”The popular philanthropist added, “My life will never be the same without my husband and daughter…”Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, also opened up about how she had initially thought that the NBA legend and their daughter, Gianna Bryant, had survived the crash, when she heard of the accident.However, as luck would have it, as per reports, Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant tragically passed away as soon as the crash happened.In February 2023, Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, won the lawsuit she filed against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and was paid a whopping $29 million in settlement.

Vanessa Bryant is focused on her family and carrying forward the legacy of Kobe Bryant

Ever since the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant, Vanessa Bryant has turned her focus towards philanthropic activities and raising their three daughters.Despite the circumstances, Vanessa Bryant has worked on taking forward the legacy of Kobe Bryant as she continues to honor Gianna Bryant.While Vanessa Bryant has been dealing with one of the toughest losses in her life, there have been many rumors of her getting pregnant or dating someone new.However, Vanessa Bryant has been quick to deny such rumors as she continues to focus on her daughters.Also Read: Kobe Bryant’s wife Vanessa Bryant faces a tragic new concern tied to the NBA legend’s legacy as she amps up security

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File Pic: Fred Spofforth (Getty Images)

On this day — January 2 — 147 years ago, Australian fast bowler Fred Spofforth became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in Test cricket history. Spofforth achieved the historic feat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground way back in 1879, helping the hosts bundle out England for 113 in the first innings of the Test match.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!A hat-trick in cricket remains a fascinating achievement for bowlers even today because of its impact on the proceedings of a contest. It can turn the momentum upside down as the batting line-up loses three wickets in three balls, giving the bowling side a clear edge.

Spofforth’s achievement almost one-and-a-half centuries ago was one such turning point in the contest, leaving the opponents struggling to put up a fight as Australia won the match by 10 wickets. It was just the second Test match for Spofforth, and he knocked over three English batters in consecutive deliveries to start one of the most fascinating feats in the game of cricket.Who was Fred Spofforth?The tall pacer was born on September 9, 1853, in Balmain, Sydney. The right-arm fast bowler made his international debut for Australia against England at Melbourne in March 1877.He went on to play 18 matches for Australia in his 10-year international career from 1877 to 1887, taking an impressive 94 wickets at a stunning average of 18.41. He took seven five-wicket hauls in his career and four ten-wicket hauls, with best bowling figures of 7 for 44.

The Sydney Test in January 1887 against England was his last appearance for the Aussies.Even though his Test career lasted just 10 years, Spofforth had a long 23-year first-class career from 1874/75 to 1887/88. He took an astounding 853 wickets in 155 first-class matches, including 84 five-wicket hauls and 32 ten-wicket match hauls. His career-best first-class figures were 9 for 18, and he had a career first-class bowling average of a sub-15 — 14.95.

After making his debut at the same venue in March 1877, Spofforth got the chance to represent Australia again after more than a year, in January 1879. Spofforth took just four wickets in his debut match, but the story was about to turn drastically this time around.England opted to bat first after winning the toss on that fateful day. Spofforth started with a bang, removing England opener George Ulyett for a duck. His bowling partner Frank Allan then dismissed Alexander Webbe and Bunny Lucas, before Spofforth made Monkey Hornby his second victim of the day. England were struggling at 14/4 at that time before slowly reaching 26 for 4.Spofforth then produced the most famous three consecutive deliveries to create Test history. He removed The Revd Vernon Royle, Francis MacKinnon and Tom Emmett to reduce England to 26/7. The burst gave Spofforth his first Test five-wicket haul too.England were in dire straits before captain Lord Harris (33) and Charlie Absolom (52) steadied the ship somewhat with a 63-run stand for the eighth wicket. But the visitors soon folded for 113, with Spofforth taking another wicket to finish with figures of 6 for 48 in 25 overs.Despite Emmett’s 7 for 68, Australia managed to take a solid 143-run first-innings lead, scoring 256. Alec Bannerman was the top-scorer for Australia with 73, as seven more batters scored double-digit knocks in the innings.England failed to improve much in the second innings too, with Spofforth and Allan wreaking havoc once again. In fact, Spofforth bettered his career-best figures from the first innings with 7 for 62 in 35 overs in the second. There was no hat-trick in the second innings, but Spofforth signed off the match with two five-wicket hauls and a match haul of 13 for 110.Six England batters crossed the double-digit mark in their second innings, compared to just two in the first, but they managed to put up only 160 on the board, giving Australia a mere 18-run target. Australia knocked off the target in just 2.3 overs to win the match by a commanding 10 wickets.It was a stunning show from Spofforth — two five-wicket hauls in the match and a historic first hat-trick in Test cricket.

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An 18-year-old from Mint Hill, North Carolina, is accused of plotting a deadly New Year’s Eve attack in support of the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham, before FBI agents moved in to stop him. The suspect was identified as Christian Sturdivant, who planned to stab civilians at public locations using knives, firearms and hammers, with the aim of killing as many people as possible.Sturdivant was arrested on December 31, 2025, and has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation. The criminal complaint was unsealed after he appeared in federal court in Charlotte. He remains in custody.Officials said the alleged plot targeted a grocery store and a fast food restaurant and was in its final stages. Attorney General Pam Bondi said, “This successful collaboration between federal and local law enforcement saved American lives from a horrific terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve.”According to court documents, the FBI became aware of Sturdivant on December 18, 2025, after receiving information about social media posts in which he praised ISIS, a designated terrorist organisation by many countries. Earlier that month, he allegedly shared an image mocking Christianity, accompanied by hateful language similar to ISIS propaganda calling for violence against non-believers.According to the FBI, Sturdivant began communicating online with an undercover federal agent posing as an ISIS supporter. During those conversations, Sturdivant allegedly said, “I will do jihad soon,” and referred to himself as “a soldier of the state,” a phrase linked to ISIS. On December 14, he sent the federal agent an image showing two hammers and a knife. Prosecutors say the image was similar to ISIS propaganda encouraging knife attacks in Western countries. On December 19, he allegedly sent a voice recording pledging loyalty to ISIS.FBI Director Kash Patel said, “The accused allegedly wanted to be a soldier for ISIS and made plans to commit a violent attack on New Year’s Eve in support of that terrorist group, but the FBI and our partners put a stop to that.”A search of Sturdivant’s home on December 29 uncovered handwritten notes, including one titled “New Years Attack 2026”. Prosecutors say the document listed equipment such as a vest, mask, tactical gloves and knives, and described a plan to stab up to 20 or 21 civilians. The note also includes a so-called “martyrdom op” in which Sturdivant intended to attack police responding to the scene so he would die as a martyr.John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, said, “As alleged, Sturdivant aspired to become a ‘martyr’ for ISIS and was in the final stages of planning a mass-casualty attack on New Year’s Eve.”The FBI said they found two butcher knives and two hammers hidden under Sturdivant’s bed, along with a list of targets and tactical gear. Investigators believe these items matched those shown in messages sent to the undercover contact.If convicted, Sturdivant faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Prosecutors said that the charges remain allegations and that he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

AEC chairman Anil Kakodkar (File photo)

NEW DELHI: Former Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) chairman Anil Kakodkar has allayed fears that a nuclear device, lost in an avalanche over 60 years ago after a failed attempt to place it near Nanda Devi peak in the Himalayas as part of a mission to monitor Chinese nuke tests, could cause radiation in Uttarakhand and the Ganga.“Absolutely nil,’’ Kakodkar told TOI on Friday when asked specifically if there was a chance of the lost device later causing an environmental disaster in areas near Nanda Devi. The statement assumes significance as reports have resurfaced — some as recent as last month — suggesting the SNAP-19-C device of Oct 1965 could cause radiation. The top-secret mission to install the portable nuclear generator was a joint operation of India’s Intelligence Bureau and the US spy agency CIA.Kakodkar asserted the device was “very strong and, above all, corrosion-free”. “So, as per my understanding, there was an extremely slim chance of it getting breached. I know that the integrity of the nuclear capsule was very good so there was no cause for alarm.”The former Indian nuclear chief explained the deployment further, saying “there was a need for power supply for the mission and nuclear power was the answer”.Led by well-known Indian mountaineer MS Kohli, the mission was essentially a response to a nuclear test Beijing had carried out on Oct 16, 1964, at Lop Nor in China’s Xinjiang region.The challenging project was conceived at a cocktail party at National Geographic Society’s office in Washington DC during a conversation between General Curtis Le May, former head of the US Air Force, and eminent American mountaineer Barry Bishop.The story was first broken in US magazine Outside in April 1978 by an investigative reporter, Howard Kohn. It was titled “The Nanda Devi Caper”. India came to know about the super-secret operation when former PM Morarji Desai made a disclosure about it in Parliament on April 17, 1978.Recently, the Uttarakhand tourism ministry expressed fears that the lost device could prove an environmental hazard and requested PM Narendra Modi to take up the issue with US officials.BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has also brought up the matter, wondering on social media whether the device “was causing environmental havoc”. A former RAW official, RK Yadav, had expressed similar fears, publishing a book on the subject in 2019 called Nuclear Bomb In Ganga.

SRINAGAR: J&K Police have initiated action against more than 100 people, including teenagers, for violating prohibitory orders on the use of Virtual Private Network (VPN) services.Cops Friday conducted a district-wide verification drive in south Kashmir’s Shopian, during which 15 people were identified using VPN services. According to police, detailed technical scrutiny and background verification did not reveal any terror-related links or adverse antecedents, so no FIR was registered in the matter.“However, as a preventive measure, security proceedings were initiated against 10 individuals, primarily belonging to the younger age group, for violation of the said orders,” a cop said. Under these security measures, they were warned to refrain from using VPN services in the future. “Out of the 15 individuals identified, five were minors who were counselled and advised in the presence of their guardians, with emphasis on awareness, lawful digital conduct, and the consequences of violating lawful orders,” he added.In south Kashmir’s Kulgam and Pulwama districts, cops have identified 101 people who used VPN services in violation of prohibitory orders. In Kulgam, police said security proceedings have been initiated against six persons. In Pulwama, 95 people were identified using VPN, but technical scrutiny of their devices and background verification found no terror-related links or adverse antecedents, so no FIR was registered. However, as a preventive measure, security proceedings have been initiated against 43 individuals, primarily in the 18–40 age group, for violating prohibitory orders.Earlier this week, police imposed a phased ban on VPN services across several districts in Kashmir Valley, issuing district-wise orders. VPN use was prohibited in Srinagar, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Shopian, Budgam, Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag, citing threats to national security and the possibility of their misuse to incite unrest.Following the imposition of restrictions, police have begun acting against violators. “How can I watch my favourite Irish and UK shows now? Is it only banned for illegal activity? I’m sure that The Graham Norton Show is not dodgy!” wrote a Facebook user in Srinagar in response.