Scientist Mark Miodownik explores the potential impact of ‘forever chemicals’ present in some cookware. Made in partnership with the Royal Society.
Raducanu to ‘re-evaluate’ AO exit | The Express Tribune
Britain’s Emma Raducanu hits a return to Austria’s Anastasia Potapova. Photo: AFP
MELBOURNE:
Emma Raducanu said she will sit down to “re-evaluate” her game following a flat second-round exit at the Australian Open on Wednesday.
The Briton won a stunning US Open crown as a teenage qualifier in 2021 but has not clinched a tour title since and has struggled for consistency and fitness.
Her latest disappointment came with a sluggish 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 loss to Austria’s Russia-born Anastasia Potapova at Melbourne Park.
The 28th seed Raducanu missed the chance to test herself against world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the third round.
Raducanu admitted that she never felt comfortable on court against the 55th-ranked Potapova, despite being ahead 5-3 in the first set.
“Just one of those days you don’t feel too good on the court,” said the 23-year-old, who has been managing a foot injury.
Raducanu has had a low-key start to the year, bowing out in the quarter-finals of a warm-up tournament in a surprise straight-sets loss to 204th-ranked Taylah Preston.
She also suffered defeat in her only singles match at the United Cup this month.
“I don’t want to give myself too much of a hard time because I know my preparation going into this tournament,” she said.
“I kind of have to leave with my head held high because of the matches I’ve had here.”
Although searching for positives, Raducanu admitted she will take some time now to take stock.
“I don’t think I’m going to get straight back on the practice court,” she said.
“I think I’m going to take a few days, get back, get back home, and try and just re-evaluate my game a bit.”
Pushed by reporters what she meant, and if she was not playing the style of tennis she wants, she said: “Yeah, I would say so.
“I think I want to be playing a different way.
“And I think the misalignment with how I’m playing right now and how I want to be playing is something that I just want to work on.”
No plan to renounce nationality
Grand Slam champion Daniil Medvedev said on Wednesday he had no plans to follow a host of fellow Russian players and switch his nationality amid the war in Ukraine.
Since Moscow’s invasion in February 2022, a number of Russian players have distanced themselves from their homeland.
Former world number eight Daria Kasatkina, now ranked 43, changed allegiance to Australia last March having criticised Russia’s attitude towards LGBTQ people.
She also described the conflict as a “nightmare”.
More recently, Anastasia Potapova announced that her application for Austrian citizenship had been accepted.
But Medvedev, the 2021 US Open winner and Russia’s highest-profile player, said he would not be following suit.
“I 100 percent understand and respect, because, you know, that’s something you can do basically, especially in sports,” he said at the Australian Open.
“It’s even maybe a bit easier than for other people.
“I never really considered this,” added the 29-year-old, who was born in Moscow but lives in Monte Carlo.
“Because I believe in where you are born is important.
“But again, a lot of players change, and I’m friends with them. I’m friends with a lot of players in the locker room, so it’s their choice.”
Russian and Belarusian players currently compete under a neutral white flag.
Along with Kasatkina and Potapova, Russian-born Kamilla Rakhimova has switched allegiance to Ukbekistan, as has Maria Timofeeva.
What Victoria Beckham really did at Brooklyn, Nicola’s wedding revealed
Brooklyn Beckham claimed that his mother, Victoria, danced “very inappropriately on me” at his and Nicola’s wedding, and sources are confirming his claim.
According to insiders who attended the wedding in 2022, Victoria did hijack the couple’s romantic first dance and went on to “grind” and “nuzzle” Brooklyn. The aspiring chef wrote that his mom’s moves left him feeling more “uncomfortable and humiliated than ever.”
An insider told The Sun: “Brooklyn was so embarrassed and his wife so humiliated and furious to have been upstaged.”
“She made her feelings very, very clear on the day. It soured the whole evening,” they added.
However, other sources said that Victoria was just “a tad tipsy and having fun.”
“There was absolutely no malice there; quite the opposite,” said a different mole.
“Nicola didn’t want him to dance with his mum at all – so kicked off about it,” they added.
According to sources that spoke to Page Six, “She [Victoria] was dancing with him very inappropriately. She took that moment from Nicola, that is the god’s truth.”
“Nicola ran out crying. The Beckhams’ side of the room was cheering and the Peltz side was quiet. Her face was swollen. She finally came down and was sad the entire evening, it was so heartbreaking.”
‘My story gave us hope’: Woman conceived by IVF has own miracle baby
A woman who was herself conceived through IVF in the 1990s has now welcomed her own baby, also conceived via IVF, after enduring five years of multiple losses and fertility struggles.
Lauren Gadsby, 33, and her husband Jon, who reside in Derby, celebrated the arrival of their healthy daughter, Hollie, on 8 December 2025.
Their path to parenthood included the heartbreak of three lost pregnancies, alongside chemical pregnancies and abnormal smear test results.
Despite the emotional and physical toll of the process, Ms Gadsby drew significant hope from her own unique beginning. She explained that being an IVF baby herself instilled a “belief that it does work, because I am an example of that”.
The couple first began trying for a family in 2022, soon after their wedding. However, after three years without success, medical tests ultimately revealed male factor infertility, indicating that natural conception was unlikely.
Upon hearing the news, they decided to try IVF, supported by supplements including Impryl® from Fertility Family, which is said to help optimise fertility and support a healthy pregnancy.
Since Ms Gadsby herself was the product of IVF, they felt confident in the process and were willing to do whatever they needed to have a baby of their own.
“It was very challenging,” Ms Gadsby told PA Real Life of the couple’s battle with infertility.
“My husband definitely struggled. I guess he felt a lot of guilt, even though, obviously, he shouldn’t. I think men don’t really talk about it, and because we were told it’s on the male side, I think he was thinking it was all him, and he just felt really guilty.
“It is quite hard on your relationship as well.”
In early 2024, the couple were told that they had qualified for IVF on the NHS. While processes differ across the country, where the Gadsbys are based they could access one round of IVF through the NHS, meaning they thankfully did not need to worry about the financial cost of private treatment.
In April 2024, Ms Gadsby had her egg collection procedure, and they were fortunate to get “quite a few embryos”.
However, it sadly was not plain sailing for the couple. Their first pregnancy was lost at eight weeks, and then Ms Gadsby had two chemical pregnancies – a very early pregnancy loss which usually happens just after the embryo implants, before or around five weeks – and they feared the round of IVF treatment might not work.
During this period of uncertainty, Ms Gadsby decided to document her journey on TikTok, sharing her story with the world in the hope that it would help others who were going through the same.
“I started it when I had the first loss,” she said.
“When I lost at eight weeks, I did a video of the journey so far. The whole time I’d been taking little clips and doing little videos but, to be honest, I was hoping that I would end it with, ‘I’m pregnant, and this is the baby’.
“Then, obviously, I went through miscarriage.
“I was like, ‘Well, I’ve got all this footage, and I’ve done all this, I want to put it out there’.”
After uploading her first video, Lauren said she was surprised to find she had “loads of comments, and loads of people messaging me”.
“It made me feel like I wasn’t alone,” she added.
“So then, I just started doing it, and it actually really helped me.”
Of course, Ms Gadsby could also lean on her parents for advice – they had been through IVF, too, so knew some of what she was going through.
In the middle of baby loss, Ms Gadsby had a regular smear test that returned abnormal results. About seven years ago, Ms Gadsby was diagnosed with HPV (Human Papillomavirus) following a routine cervical smear, and she needed to return for a smear test annually, rather than every five years.
She had her annual smear in the summer of 2024, shortly after losing her first baby. On the day she learned that she had had a chemical pregnancy, her results were returned and she was told they showed abnormal cells.
While an abnormal smear test result is not a cancer diagnosis, it indicates changes in cervical cells that need monitoring or treatment to prevent future cancer.
“I remember being really upset because, obviously, I’d just found out I’d had a chemical pregnancy as well,” Ms Gadsby said.
“It was a lot.”
Ms Gadsby was referred for a colposcopy, a magnified exam that takes a detailed look at the cervix and surrounding organs, which confirmed the presence of abnormal cells which required treatment. There and then, doctors were able to perform the LLETZ procedure – large loop excision of the transformation zone – which targets abnormal cells on the cervix using a heated wire loop under local anaesthetic, removing precancerous growths.
Thankfully, the procedure was successful – all of the abnormal cells were removed, and Ms Gadsby was told she no longer had HPV, either. However, she was instructed to wait six months before she could continue with IVF.
“In a weird way, I feel like everything happens for a reason, because it got rid of it before I then got pregnant with Hollie,” Ms Gadsby said.
“It would have been a bit of a nightmare if I’d found that out while I was pregnant. So, it worked out for the best but, at the time, it was very frustrating to have the delay.”
By April 2025, Ms Gadsby was able to continue with IVF and, shortly afterwards, Hollie was conceived.
The couple found it difficult to relax into the pregnancy after experiencing baby loss, and they paid for several private scans to confirm everything was progressing as it should.
By the time they reached 24 weeks, Ms Gadsby said she felt she could start buying things for the baby and getting their home ready to welcome their new addition, though she still had anxiety about the possibility of issues down the line.
The couple welcomed Hollie into the world on December 8 2025 – 16 days earlier than her due date of Christmas Eve. Ms Gadsby was induced after being diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication characterised by high blood pressure, and Hollie was born via emergency Caesarean section.
She continues to share her motherhood journey on social media.
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Gold crosses Rs500,000 mark for first time in Pakistan’s history
- Price of gold rises sharply by Rs12,700 per tola.
- Price of 10 grammes of gold increases by Rs10,888.
- Gold price at $4,888.41 an ounce in int’l market.
Gold price in Pakistan surged to unprecedented levels on Wednesday, with the precious metal crossing the Rs500,000 mark per tola for the first time in the country’s history, reflecting growing uncertainty in global financial markets.
According to market data, the price of gold rose sharply by Rs12,700, taking it to Rs506,362 per tola.
Similarly, the price of 10 grammes of gold increased by Rs10,888 to settle at Rs444,123.
The sharp rise in domestic prices came in line with trends in global markets, where precious metals hit fresh peaks as investors sought safety. Gold notched yet another record high, topping out at $4,888.41 an ounce in international trade, while silver touched $95.89 an ounce, underscoring strong demand for safe-haven precious metals.
Equities were mixed on Wednesday following a rough start to the week fuelled by Donald Trump’s Greenland-linked tariff threats, while the uncertainty rattling through trading floors saw safe-haven precious metals hit fresh record highs.
Markets have sunk globally this week, and Wall Street’s three main indexes tanked on Tuesday as they reopened after a long weekend.
Concerns that the Greenland crisis could grow saw precious metals, a go-to in times of turmoil, continue to hit new peaks. Gold topped out at $4,888.41 an ounce and silver touched $95.89, highlighting strong investor demand for assets viewed as protection during periods of instability.
The report added that eyes are now on Trump’s visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos later in the day, with traders closely monitoring developments as uncertainty continues to weigh on global markets.
— Additional input from AFP
Sialkot owner unveils name, logo of PSL 11 franchise
Kamil Khan, the owner of Pakistan Super League team, on Wednesday unveiled the name and logo of the franchise, announcing it as “Sialkot Stallionz”.
OZ Developers had purchased the franchise for a whopping Rs1.85 billion during the auction held on January 8. Since then, speculation had been rife that the team would be named Sialkot Stallionz.
Confirming the reports, Khan took to X and wrote: “You guessed it. You waited. Now, I am proud to officially introduce SIALKOT STALLIONZ.”
The franchise owner also expressed his excitement about joining Pakistan’s premier cricket league, saying: “Excited to be part of the Pakistan Super League journey.”
PSL 11 will officially commence on March 26, 2026. Faisalabad has been added an additional venue for hosting the league’s matches, marking the city’s return to the spotlight and further expanding the league’s national footprint.
The new franchise has been named after the former domestic team “Sialkot Stallions”, which holds a special place in Pakistan’s domestic cricket history.
Between 2005 and 2012, the team won six National T20 Cup titles, including a world-record 25-match unbeaten streak, making them the most successful side in Pakistan’s domestic T20 history.
The development came days after the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed player auction mode for the first time in the league’s history, replacing the traditional player draft system
Under the revised player acquisition framework, each franchise may retain a maximum of four players, limited to one player per category. Previously, every franchise was allowed to retain 8 players from their squad, including a mentor, a brand ambassador, and a right to match option to retain a 9th player in the Player Draft.
Could Brooklyn Beckham drop his surname following family feud?
Although Brooklyn Peltz Beckham hasn’t spoken about the possibility of dropping his surname, he made it clear that he has no wish to reconcile with his family.
“I do not want to reconcile with my family. I’m not being controlled, I’m standing up for myself for the first time in my life, ” the eldest son of Beckham family said in a statement shared on social media.
“For my entire life, my parents have controlled narratives in the press about our family,” Brooklyn said of David and Victoria Beckham.
The 26-year-old also alleged that his mother, David, pulled out of designing his wife Nicola Peltz’s wedding dress at the “eleventh hour.”
For those unversed, Brooklyn has already adopted Nicola’s last name, Peltz. However, with all the accusations that the model has made against his family, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he decided to drop the Beckham surname.
Speaking to HELLO! magazine, Simarjot Singh Judge, a solicitor and the founder of Judge Law, detailed how easy it would be for Brooklyn to change its name.
“In England and Wales, an adult can change their surname at any time via deed poll,” he explained. “Brooklyn would not need parental consent to do so, and the process itself is legally straightforward.”
“Changing your legal name does not undo agreements or remove associations that already exist. If someone is publicly known under a particular name, that link doesn’t disappear simply because the surname changes,” added Simarjot.
Rachel McAdams becomes object of jokes at Hollywood Star of Fame event
Director Sam Raimi couldn’t help but roast Send Help star Rachel McAdams.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness dierctor Raimi, who also directed Rachel in the upcoming film Send Help, was there to support the actress at her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.
In his speech about the Doctor Strange actress, he said, “In 2001, Rachel made her film debut in Shotgun Love Dolls.”
“The movie opened to unfortunate circumstances as all the seats faced the screen. Then in 2002, Rachel came to Hollywood, where she starred in the prestigious Hot Chicks, considered by many as the Citizen Kane of Rob Schneider body-swap movies,” he quipped, flubbing the title of Schneider’s masterpiece, The Hot Chick.
In the 2002 comedy film, the About Time star played an attractive teen who gets turned into Schnieder due to a curse. The film stands at a 21% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Raimi went on to praise the actress, who made a name for herself with films like The Notebook, Mean Girls, and Spotlight, saying that the honor was “much deserved,” but he didn’t stop witht the roasting.
“Back then, Hollywood was a tough place to be for a young actress. And for Rachel, it was no different,” he said. “People were mean. They’d walk all over her. But after 25 years of superb performances, she’s risen to great heights. And now, thanks to that star, people will once again walk all over her.”
He didn’t shy away from poking fun at his own latest film, which stars Rachel and Dylan O’Brien.
“Rachel’s latest film is a thriller called Send Help, which is also what Rachel said after she found out I was directing. As her director, I can honestly state that Rachel McAdams is one of the best actors in the movie. There are only two actors in the movie.”
“Congratulations, Rachel,” Raimi said seriously. “You are so kind and considerate. You’re a brilliant collaborator and a good friend and a real movie star, someone to light up this Hollywood Walk of Fame. And you are really deserving of this honor. And we all love you. Thank you, Rachel.”
Send Help follows an employee, Linda Liddle (played by Rachel), and her boss, Bradley Preston (played by O’Brien), who are left stranded on an island after a plane crash. despite being the only two survivors. their workplace tensions follows them there and the two begin a batttle of survival.
ICC rejects Bangladesh’s plea to play T20 WC matches outside India | The Express Tribune
There is no immediate confirmation of whether Bangladesh will buckle to the ICC’s decision.
Cricket’s governing body said on Wednesday it had rejected Bangladesh’s request to shift their T20 World Cup matches out of India, casting doubt on the team’s participation in next month’s tournament.
The T20 World Cup begins in a little over two weeks on February 7, with Bangladesh’s four group matches scheduled to be played in Kolkata and Mumbai.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has repeatedly refused to play its games in India, and the Dhaka government said on Tuesday that they would not be pressured into changing their stance.
The International Cricket Council said in a statement that in the “absence of any independent security findings that … compromise the safety of the Bangladesh team”, the ICC will not relocate the match.
The row between the neighbouring nations erupted on January 3, when the Indian cricket board ordered the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman.
The BCB asked to move their matches to World Cup co-hosts Sri Lanka. There was no immediate confirmation of whether Bangladesh would buckle to the ICC’s decision.
The ICC said it had “engaged with the BCB in sustained and constructive dialogue” to ensure Bangladesh could participate in the tournament, but added that those efforts had been “rebuffed”.
The ICC said in a statement that “independent security assessments, comprehensive venue-level security plans and formal assurances from the host authorities” found there was “no credible or verifiable threat to the safety” of the Bangladesh team.
The council said, despite efforts, that the BCB had maintained its position citing: “a single, isolated and unrelated development concerning one of its player’s involvement in a domestic league.”
Youth and Sports Adviser in Dhaka’s interim government Asif Nazrul told the state-run BSS news agency late on Tuesday that Bangladesh “cannot be forced to play in India”.
Bangladesh Captain Litton Das, speaking to reporters after a domestic match on Tuesday, said he had no idea if the team would take part.
“From where I stand, I’m uncertain, everyone is uncertain,” Das said, asking back: “Are you sure we will play the World Cup?”
“I think at this moment, the whole of Bangladesh is uncertain,” he added in comments reported by Dhaka’s Prothom Alo newspaper.
Sources in Colombo told AFP that Sri Lanka had not been contacted about hosting Bangladesh’s matches.
Earlier, ICC sources told AFP that Bangladesh could be replaced by Scotland, who are the highest-ranked team that did not qualify for the World Cup.
During the World Cup, Bangladesh will hold its first elections since a mass uprising in 2024 toppled then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a close ally of New Delhi.