David Timor celebrates with his FC Goa teammates after doubling the lead against Mumbai at Fatorda

Margao: It wasn’t easy, and it surely wasn’t without its share of drama.FC Goa survived some nervy moments in the second half as they saw off the challenge of Mumbai City 2-1 to seal a place in the final of the Super Cup at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Thursday.Goa will face East Bengal in Sunday’s title clash, with the winners booking a continental spot. It’s the same route that Manolo Marquez’s side took to the AFC Champions League Two playoffs last season. They will now be keen to retain their crown, and a place in Asia.Even before kick off, there was drama in the tunnel. The match was delayed by a few minutes after Goa’s Iker Guarrotxena was shown a straight red card during lineup. According to sources, the Spanish midfielder was asked to change his blue inner shorts since it did not match with the team’s white shorts. He went inside the dressing room, changed, but after rejoining the lineup, the referee showed him a red card, presumably over his choice of words during the disagreement.As per rules, “a player who is sent off after being named on the team list and before kick off, maybe replaced by a named substitute.”Guarrotxena was replaced in the starting 11 by Javier Siverio.Goa seemed distracted with what happened prior to kick off. They were disjointed on the field in the early minutes; Brison Fernandes even picked up a booking. But all that was forgotten as the defending champions scored the opener in the 21st minute through Brison’s half volley. David Timor made it 2-0 two minutes later with a powerful shot that bounced off the goalkeeper’s chest and wobbled into the goal.Whether it’s in the first half or closing minutes of the second, Goa are never comfortable with a 2-0 advantage against Mumbai. The wounds from 2024 when the visitors staged an unbelievable comeback in stoppage time at Fatorda were still fresh in everyone’s mind, so nobody was surprised when the hosts adopted a guarded approach.In fact, Mumbai captain Lallianzuala Chhangte missed a second-half penalty, and even though Brandon Fernandes pulled a goal back – a wonderful drive through inside the box — with more than half an hour left on the clock, Goa showed remarkable composure to ensure there were no more setbacks.In part, that credit should go to Hrithik Tiwari. The Goa goalkeeper needlessly conceded a penalty after clattering into Jorge Pereyra Diaz, but made amends stunning saves to deny Chhangte, Diaz, and Jorge Ortiz from distance.Goa had little to show in the second half and relied on a solid defensive performance from the centreback pairing of Pol Moreno and Ronney Wilson, who had to step in for injured captain Sandesh Jhingan. Timor had a good game too.

South Africa Women are all set to host Ireland Women in the white-ball series, starting with the T20I leg on December 05 at Newlands in Cape Town. The series provides both teams with a crucial opportunity to test their mettle and fine-tune their combinations in the shortest format of the game.

South Africa: The favourites at home

Led by the dynamic opener Laura Wolvaardt, the Proteas enter the series as the clear favourites on their home soil. Their squad is a blend of world-class all-rounders, experienced batters, and a potent bowling attack. The spine of their team is incredibly strong, featuring veterans like Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, and the returning Dane van Niekerk, whose all-round skills will be vital. Nonkululeko Mlaba provides control with spin and wicket-taking ability, complemented by the pace of Ayabonga Khaka and Masabata Klaas.

Ireland: The underdogs seeking an upset

Gaby Lewis takes the reins of the Irish side, which will be looking to challenge the hosts with their brand of fighting cricket. Playing in South Africa offers a steep learning curve, but the squad possesses players capable of delivering match-winning performances. Ireland’s strength lies in their top order, particularly captain Gaby and the experienced Laura Delany and Orla Prendergast. These players will need to lay a solid foundation against the quality South African bowling. The side will rely on the pace of Ava Canning and the spin options from Cara Murray and Leah Paul to contain the powerful Proteas lineup.

SA vs IRE, T20I series, Fixtures

Squads:

South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Seshnie Naidu, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Nondumiso Shangase, Dane van Niekerk, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Karabo Meso (wk), Faye Tunnicliffe (wk), Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba

Ireland: Gaby Lewis (c), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Jane Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell

Broadcast and Live Streaming Details:

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

Joe Root and Grace Hayden

BRISBANE: Joe Root finally broke his long-awaited century jinx in Australia on Thursday, but the loudest sigh of relief didn’t come from England’s dressing room — it came from Matthew Hayden’s house. And more specifically, from his daughter, Grace.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Root’s fluent 135 on Day 1 of the pink-ball Ashes Test at the Gabba not only ended 10 years of Australian heartbreak but also saved Hayden from fulfilling a bizarre promise. The former Australia opener had jokingly vowed to “walk naked around the MCG” if Root failed to score a hundred this series.

The moment Root reached three figures off Scott Boland, social media exploded — and Hayden’s daughter stole the spotlight with a cheeky Instagram story. Posting a selfie, Grace wrote: “Root, thank you, you’ve saved all our eyes.” The hilarious post instantly went viral, turning Root’s milestone into an internet spectacle.

Hayden himself quickly posted a congratulatory video shared by England Cricket on X, laughing at his own wager while praising Root’s perseverance.“Congratulations mate on a hundred here in Australia. Took you a while and there was no one that had more skin in the game than me, literally. I was backing you for a hundred in a good way. So congratulations, ten fifties and finally a hundred. You little ripper mate. Have a beauty and bloody enjoy it,” Hayden joked.A decade-long wait endsRoot’s ton was his first in Australia after 16 matches, 30 innings, and four Ashes tours. He brought calm to a tense English innings and climbed to 40 Test hundreds — just one behind Ricky Ponting (41) and trailing only Sachin Tendulkar (51) and Jacques Kallis (45).At stumps, England were 325/9, with Root unbeaten on 135 and Jofra Archer on 32.While Australia dropped regular captain Pat Cummins again and shockingly benched Nathan Lyon for Michael Neser, it was Root’s history-making innings — and Grace Hayden’s viral punchline — that ruled the day.For Root, it was a career milestone. For the Hayden household? It was a national emergency narrowly avoided.

MUMBAI: Worli is now home to 40% of India’s entire ultra-luxury apartment market, according to a report by Anarock Group released on Thursday.New data from Anarock and 360 One Wealth report, ‘The Pinnacle of Luxury: Worli’, reveals that 30-plus homes priced above Rs 40 crore each have sold in the last 24 months, totalling over Rs 5,500 crore.“Across the entire country – from Bengaluru’s sprawling tech corridors to Delhi’s power pockets – Worli accounts for nearly half of all transactions exceeding Rs 40 crore,” said Anuj Puri, chairman of ANAROCK Group. “2025 alone witnessed one of India’s costliest apartment transactions — two duplexes sold for Rs 700 crore. Over the past three years, Worli has seen over 20 residential deals individually priced above Rs 100 crore each closed.”“Premium tower apartments in Worli now command Rs 65,000 to Rs 1 lakh per sq ft – pricing that positions it as India’s equivalent to New York’s Lower Manhattan, not merely in aspiration, but in hard economics,’’ said the report.There are nearly 4-5 million sq ft of premium residential and retail space currently under construction in Worli.“Residential dominance masks another reality in Worli — commercial office space commands Rs 180-375 per sq ft monthly rents with a razor-thin 8.1% vacancy rate. In India’s commercial real estate context, this is scarcity pricing which signals that institutional capital sees Worli not as a residentialonly play but as Mumbai’s emerging central business district,’’ said the report.Land transactions totalling over Rs 7,600 crore have already closed from 2023 onwards in and around Worli, with revenue potential exceeding more than Rs 36,000 crore. In residential alone, Rs 19,000 crore-Rs 21,000 crore worth of projects are midconstruction. At least 40 acres of real estate projects by top developers are in the pipeline, “denoting a land bank that can potentially generate tens of thousands of crores in future transaction value”, it said.

Mohammed Shami (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Out-of-favour India pacer Mohammed Shami delivered another strong performance in domestic cricket, taking 4 for 13 to help Bengal beat Services by seven wickets in a Group C match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Hyderabad on Thursday. This was Bengal’s fourth win in five matches in the tournament. The team, led by Abhimanyu Easwaran, moved to the top of the points table with 16 points and is in a good position to reach the knockouts.

Easwaran, who is also trying to strengthen his case ahead of the IPL auction, scored 58 off 37 balls. Bengal chased 166 in 15.1 overs. Abhishek Porel, representing Delhi Capitals in the IPL, scored 56 off 29 balls. The pair added 93 runs for the second wicket in 8.2 overs, which set up the chase. The platform was created by Shami, who was named Player of the Match for his figures of 4/13 in 3.2 overs, and India pacer Akash Deep, who took 3/27. Services were bowled out for 165 in 18.2 overs. Shami picked two wickets in his first spell, dismissing openers Gaurav Kocchar (0) and Ravi Chauhan (26 off 9). Mukesh Kumar, on his return, gave away 53 runs in three overs. Writtick Chatterjee (2/32) and Akash Deep removed key middle-order batters before Shami ended the innings by taking the final wickets.

Shami’s strong domestic performance comes when India’s pace-bowling options for the South Africa series are being discussed. Prasidh Krishna conceded 85 runs in the second ODI, even though he took two wickets, which led to debate about Shami’s absence. Harbhajan Singh also questioned the decision.“Where is Shami? I don’t know why Shami is not playing. I get it, you have Prasidh, he is a good bowler, but he still has a lot to learn. You had good bowlers, and you have slowly sidelined them. With Bumrah, this is a different bowling attack, and without Bumrah, it is entirely different attack altogether. We have to learn the art of winning games without Jasprit Bumrah,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel. Shami has not played for India since the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where he finished as India’s joint-highest wicket-taker with nine wickets.

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/feature/cold-moon-the-last-supermoon-of-2025-shines-brightest-over-india-and-beyond-see-viral-pics-9754188” on this server.

Reference #18.acf856b8.1764902905.29eebddc

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.acf856b8.1764902905.29eebddc

Elden Campbell. Image via: Rocky Widner / NBAE via Getty Images

Elden Campbell’s death has left former teammates, organizations, and the wider basketball community mourning a player remembered for his steady presence and generous spirit. Officials confirmed that the longtime NBA center died after a medical emergency while on a fishing trip in Broward County. Authorities ruled the death accidental, noting that Campbell drowned after collapsing soon after returning to shore. His family, teammates, and alma mater have since shared tributes honoring the 57-year-old champion’s impact.Campbell built a 15-year NBA career that earned admiration across several franchises, including the Lakers and Pistons. His passing has reopened memories of his years as a dependable interior anchor, his role in the Pistons’ 2004 championship run, and the relationships he maintained long after his final game.

Family shares details after Elden Campbell’s sudden passing

Elden Campbell’s sister, Sandra, told the New York Post that the former Lakers center had been out on the water when he collapsed shortly after dock­ing. “It was all the sudden,” she said. “He wasn’t sick. He was out fishing.” She added that their family is still processing the loss, noting, “He was such a big pillar and a staple to our family. He’s going to be terribly missed.”His family released a statement remembering Campbell as “a man to whom family meant everything — generous, funny, disciplined and kind, but could shut you down if required.” They emphasized his faith and said, “He passed doing what he loved: fishing out on the ocean, enjoying his idea of an ideal day.”Campbell is survived by his wife, Rosemary, their children Jay Lee, Jael, Ariel and Aaron, his sister, and his brothers Elwayne and Charles Jr.

NBA community honors Elden Campbell’s legacy

Tributes poured in from across the league as news spread. The Detroit Pistons called Campbell’s passing “deeply saddened and heartbroken,” adding that he “patrolled the paint with strength and skill, playing an important role during one of the most memorable chapters in franchise history.”Magic Johnson, who spent multiple seasons alongside him, wrote, “I loved throwing lobs to Elden because he could jump out the gym and had so much talent! Cookie and I are praying for his family and Lakers Nation as they mourn during this difficult time. Rest in peace Big E!”Clemson University, where Campbell remains the program’s all-time leading scorer, also honored him, revealing his long-standing connection to the school and his commitment to returning and supporting the Tigers after retirement.Campbell’s career totaled 1,044 NBA games, more than 10,000 points, and a championship ring.Also Read: Carmelo Anthony sends worrying message for Anthony Davis following Chris Paul’s departure from Clippers

MUMBAI: For more than a century, tuberculosis (TB) has held the world in its grip — a patient, persistent disease that outlives generations. Caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, it defies time and medicine alike. Despite antibiotics, despite vaccines, despite decades of public health campaigns, the numbers refuse to fall where we want them to. In 2023 alone, an estimated 10.8 million people fell ill and 1.25 million died. India, burdened more heavily than any other nation, reported over 2.6 million cases in 2024. In plain terms — TB hasn’t gone anywhere. It continues to thrive, and scientists are still trying to answer the uncomfortable question: why?Part of the answer lies in TB’s shapeshifting nature. Once inside the body, the bacteria can slip into a sleep-like phase — latent or dormant TB — a kind of biological hibernation. Here, they remain alive, yet still. Silent tenants. No cough, no fever, no sign. People carrying latent TB don’t spread the disease, and for years nothing happens. But the quiet doesn’t mean safety. All it takes is a weakened immune system — another illness, HIV, certain medications — and TB can wake up. This is where medicine struggles. Most antibiotics target bacteria that are active and dividing. Dormant ones, barely growing, dodge the blow. They sit through treatment, unbothered, and survive — a phenomenon known as antibiotic tolerance.A research team led by Prof. Shobhna Kapoor (Department of Chemistry, IIT Bombay) and Prof. Marie-Isabel Aguilar (Monash University) decided to probe this stubborn mystery. Why are dormant TB bacteria so unaffected by antibiotics? Their findings, now published in Chemical Science, reveal how TB endures even under treatment — and how dismantling this defence might make existing drugs far more potent.Earlier research hinted that the answer might lie not inside the bacterium, but around it — within the fortress-like membrane made of fats, or lipids. Prof. Kapoor’s team followed that clue. They analysed how bacterial membranes change as TB moves from an active phase into dormancy, and whether those alterations affect the ability of drugs to get in.Working with live TB bacteria would be hazardous, so they turned to its gentler cousin — Mycobacterium smegmatis. Close enough to mimic TB behaviour, but safe for laboratory handling. They cultivated the bacteria under two conditions: one actively dividing, the other mimicking a dormant, slow-growing state.Then came the drugs — four familiar TB warriors: rifabutin, moxifloxacin, amikacin, and clarithromycin. The results were unmissable. Dormant bacteria required two to ten times more drug concentration for the same effect. As Prof. Kapoor puts it, “the same drug that worked well in the early stage of the disease would now be needed at a much higher concentration to kill the dormant/persistent TB cells. This change was not caused by genetic mutations, which usually explain antibiotic resistance.” The strain used showed no resistance-linked mutations. Something else was at play — likely the membrane itself.To understand what changed between the two states, the team mapped the membrane like a molecular census using advanced mass spectrometry. They identified over 270 lipids. Active bacteria brimmed with glycerophospholipids and glycolipids; dormant cells, meanwhile, were thick-skinned — packed with fatty acyls, wax-like and defensive. Lead author Ms. Anjana Menon, PhD scholar at the IITB-Monash Research Academy, explains, “We found clear differences between the lipid profiles of active and dormant cells.”The physical outcome was striking. Using fluorescence-based techniques, the researchers measured membrane fluidity — how tightly the lipids were packed. Active membranes were loose, fluid. Dormant ones felt like armour — rigid and ordered. Even cardiolipin, a lipid that keeps membranes flexible, dipped dramatically. “Cardiolipin helps keep the membrane slightly loose. When its level falls, the membrane becomes tighter and less permeable,” Ms. Menon notes.The team then tracked rifabutin’s journey. It slipped easily into active cells, but stopped at the door of dormant ones. “The rigid outer layer becomes the main barrier. It is the bacterium’s first and strongest line of defence,” says Prof. Kapoor.If the wall is the problem, weakening it might be the key. Instead of crafting brand-new antibiotics, the team suggests boosting old ones. “Even old drugs can work better if combined with a molecule that loosens the outer membrane,” says Prof. Kapoor. Enter antimicrobial peptides — small proteins that gently pry open membranes. They don’t kill bacteria alone, but paired with antibiotics, they help drugs seep through. “These peptides alone don’t kill the bacteria, but when combined with antibiotics, they help the drugs enter and act more effectively,” Prof. Kapoor adds.The next step is to repeat the study with real TB bacteria under high-security lab conditions. “Our lipid analysis is very detailed. It can easily be applied in labs that work with the actual TB strain,” shares Ms. Menon. If successful, this could shorten treatment, improve outcomes, and chip away at a disease that has refused to leave for a hundred years.