Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka celebrates after winning her first round match against France’s Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah. Photo: REUTERS
MELBOURNE:
Aryna Sabalenka came under early pressure as she launched her bid for a third Australian Open title but the Belarusian clicked into gear and overpowered French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6-4 6-1 to reach the second round on Sunday.
The world number one arrived for the match at Rod Laver Arena as the firm favourite but found herself a break down after the opening game and looked troubled throughout the first set by the guile of left-hander Rakotomanga Rajaonah despite getting back on serve.
“I think I didn’t start my best but she showed up, was fired up and she was playing great. It was a tricky start and I’m super happy I found my rhythm at the end of the first set and I felt a bit more confident,” Sabalenka said.
“I didn’t know much about her, I watched her previous games, but it’s always tricky to play against someone you don’t really know and also left-handed but I’m super happy to be able to close this match in straight sets.”
Sabalenka eventually found her rhythm and reasserted control, turning her initial difficulties into little more than a footnote as the 27-year-old settled into her power game to go up 5-4 and wrapped up the set with a huge forehand that her opponent returned long.
An early break in the second set helped Sabalenka to go 3-0 up and there was no stopping the four-times major champion, who closed out the contest on her third matchpoint to book a second-round clash with either Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Bai Zhuoxuan.
Sabalenka celebrated her win by taking a selfie with tennis greats Roger Federer and Rod Laver, who were in the stands.
“I’m a huge fan… I got a little bit tired and I wanted to show great tennis so you guys enjoy watching me play. What a privilege – thank you so much and I really hope you guys enjoyed just a little bit. It was a lot of pressure.”
Williams knocked out
Olga Danilovic beat Venus Williams 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 at the Australian Open on Sunday after the Serbian fought back from 4-0 down in the deciding set to knock the American veteran out of the tournament in the first round.
Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion who returned to tennis last season after a 16-month break, received a wildcard to become the oldest woman ever to compete in the singles main draw on her return to the tournament after five years.
The 45-year-old fed off the crowd early on, racing to a 2–0 lead before Danilovic recovered and broke back to level the set.
The American produced flashes of her trademark brilliance but, after missing an early set point, was pushed into a tiebreak, which she won on her fourth set point with a decisive forehand winner.
Finn Wolfhard took centre stage during Saturday Night Live’s return to TV following a brief holiday break.
The 23-year-old actor and musician made his debut as the show’s host on January 17, with A$AP Rocky joining him as the evening’s musical guest.
However, what was understandably the standout moment of the latest episode was when Wolfhard’s Stranger Things co-stars crashed his opening monologue.
Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo appeared onstage to support the Netflix star’s hosting stint, his first high profile appearance since the popular series ended at the year’s turn.
Following his opening remarks, and a brief cameo by SNL castmate Marcello Hernandez, the It actor introduced “the new me” — a playful attempt at becoming a “man”, with his time as a child star long over.
“Stranger Things is over and I’m not a kid anymore,” Wolfhard made the announcement, which was quickly followed by his co-stars stepping into the camera lens and declaring, “And neither are we!”
The three actors then followed a bit of banter by toasting to Wolfhard’s hosting debut, with the former child star announcing, “And to us, child stars, who are now ready to do adult films,” to great laughter and applause.
Finn Wolfhard first rose to prominence after appearing on Stranger Things, initially released in 2016 and concluded on December 31, 2025. While the actor soon branched out into a successful acting career with appearances in two It films, the Ghostbusters franchise, and more.
He additionally boasts a fledgling musical career, something he said he plans to focus on more after the conclusion of his commitment to the Netflix hit.
Seagulls fly over the old city of Nuuk, Greenland, March 29, 2025. — Reuters
Tariffs will stay until US buys Greenland: Trump.
European nations reiterate support for Denmark.
UK PM Starmer terms US move “completely wrong”.
US President Donald Trump on Saturday vowed to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on European allies until the Washington is allowed to buy Greenland, escalating a row over the future of Denmark’s vast Arctic island.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that an additional 10% import tariffs would take effect on February 1 on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and Great Britain — all already subject to tariffs imposed by Trump.
Those tariffs would increase to 25% on June 1 and would continue until a deal was reached for the US to purchase Greenland, Trump wrote.
Trump has repeatedly insisted he will settle for nothing less than ownership of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. Leaders of both Denmark and Greenland have insisted the island is not for sale and does not want to be part of the US.
Security, minerals
The president has repeatedly said Greenland is vital to US security because of its strategic location and large mineral deposits, and has not ruled out using force to take it. European nations this week sent military personnel to the island at Denmark’s request.
“These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable,” Trump wrote.
Protesters in Denmark and Greenland demonstrated on Saturday against Trump’s demands and called for the territory to be left to determine its own future.
The countries named by Trump on Saturday have backed Denmark, warning that the US military seizure of a territory in NATO could collapse the military alliance that Washington leads.
“The president’s announcement comes as a surprise,” Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a statement.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was unusually blunt in condemning Trump’s threat, saying on X that his country would raise the issue directly with Washington.
“Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is completely wrong,” Starmer said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa said in separate but identical posts on X that the European Union stood in “full solidarity” with Denmark and Greenland.
“Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty,” they said.
Officials from Norway, Sweden, France and Germany reiterated support for Denmark on Saturday and said tariffs should not be part of Greenland discussions.
Cyprus, which currently holds the EU presidency, said it has called for an emergency meeting of ambassadors from the union’s 27 countries on Sunday.
Trade deals under threat?
Saturday’s threat could derail tentative deals Trump struck last year with the European Union and Great Britain. The deals included baseline levies of 15% on imports from Europe and 10% on most British goods.
“The biggest danger, it seems to me, is his decision to treat some EU countries differently from others,” said William Reinsch, a trade expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. “I’m not surprised [….] It may well convince the European Parliament that it is pointless to approve the trade agreement with the US, since Trump is already bypassing it.”
People attend a protest against US President Donald Trump’s demand that the Arctic island be ceded to the US, calling for it to be allowed to determine its own future, in Nuuk, Greenland on January 17, 2026. — Reuters
Trump floated the general idea of tariffs over Greenland on Friday, without citing a legal basis for doing so. Tariffs have become his weapon of choice in seeking to compel American adversaries and allies alike to meet his demands.
He said this week he would put 25% tariffs on any country trading with Iran as that country suppressed anti-government protests, though there has been no official documentation from the White House of the policy on its website, nor information about the legal authority Trump would use.
The US Supreme Court has heard arguments on the legality of Trump’s sweeping tariffs, and any decision by the top US judicial body would have major implications on the global economy and US presidential powers.
The encroaching presence of China and Russia makes Greenland vital to US security interests, Trump has said. Danish and other European officials have pointed out that Greenland is already covered by NATO’s collective security pact.
A US military base, Pituffik Space Base, is already in Greenland, with around 200 personnel, and a 1951 agreement allows the US to deploy as many forces as it wants in the Danish territory.
That has led many European officials to conclude that Trump is motivated more by a desire to expand US territory than by security concerns.
“China and Russia must be having a field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among allies,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on X in response to Trump’s threat.
Some US senators also pushed back. “Continuing down this path is bad for America, bad for American businesses and bad for America’s allies,” Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, bipartisan co-chairs of the Senate Nato Observer Group, said in a statement.
Europeans should not react hastily to Trump’s tariff threat, said Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING Research.
“Just ignore it and wait and see,” Brzeski told Reuters. “Europe has shown that it will not accept everything, and so the tariffs are actually already a step forward compared to the threatened military invasion.”
Sara Foster recalls date with George Clooney: ‘Depressing’
Sara Foster is giving away details of one of “depressing” dates she had with George Clooney.
The Nobody Wants This producer, 44, dished on past event and recalled she was set up by supermodel Cindy Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber with the actor, who is now 64.
The daughter of music producer David Foster, during an appearance on The World’s First Podcast, shared, “I got set up with George Clooney, like, 30 years ago. It was such a blah. Sorry, had to say it.”
Foster claimed she was about 24 at the time and met Clooney along with Crawford and Gerber, but the connection was off right away.
“It was just such a hard no,” she said. “I remember thinking, ‘Oh, he is so old.’”
The actress further gave her opinion on relationships with huge age gaps.
Calling the dynamic unappealing, she noted, “I’ve never understood a 19-year-old that’s into a 40-year-old. I just always thought that was so weird.”
She admitted she felt “offended” by the setup, adding, “He felt so old.”
“I’m sure George Clooney is a nice guy, but I just remember it being the four of us sitting there and thinking like, ‘I’m gonna die,’” she said, noting she was already heartbroken over an ex.
She later clarified that Clooney likely wasn’t behind the setup. “I don’t think it was George being like, ‘Oh, set me up with Sara Foster.’”
The date ended awkwardly when she began crying about her ex. “So I think he was like, ‘This chick’s not OK,’” she joked.
Foster is now happily moved on and enjoying her life with tennis star Tommy Haas.
– Bayern Munich could rival Chelsea for Rennes center back Jérémy Jacquet, Florian Plettenberg reports. While the Blues have stolen a march on their rivals by initiating direct talks with the player, Bayern chiefs continue to hold a very high opinion of him. Jacquet’s transfer valuation, thought to be more than €50 million, could prove to be the biggest stumbling block for the German champions, however, especially if Kim Min-jae stays. A host of other top clubs are thought to be tracking the 20-year-old’s development, who is under contract at Rennes until June 2029.
– Chelsea and Manchester City are leading the race to sign 18-year-old Barcelona sensation Dro Fernández, talkSPORT reports. Sources have told ESPN that the attacking midfielder has informed the club of his desire to leave this January by exercising his €6 million ($7m) release clause. Borussia Dortmund are also keen on signing Fernández, who has made five first-team appearances this season and is highly rated by coach Hansi Flick.
– Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta‘s camp held a meeting with Juventus on Friday, according to Fabrizio Romano. The 28-year-old is also attracting attention from several Premier League clubs, although no formal bids have been made at this stage. Talks between Mateta and Juventus over personal terms are said to have been “positive,” with the Italian side hoping to sign him on an initial loan deal with a future obligation to make the move permanent. The proposed transfer now hinges upon Crystal Palace’s final decision over exit conditions, with sources telling ESPN that Eagles defender Marc Guéhi is set to move to Manchester City this month.
– Fulham have not yet given up on signing PSV Eindhoven forward Ricardo Pepi, despite the United States international recently suffering a broken forearm, Sky Sports reports. Pepi has scored 11 goals for PSV this season, including three in the UEFA Champions League, but he now faces two months on the sidelines following surgery.
– Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is on Manchester United‘s managerial shortlist, according to the Daily Mirror. The Austrian coach, who led Palace to the FA Cup last season and won the Europa League at previous club Eintracht Frankfurt, recently announced he will depart Palace at the end of the season.
EXPERT TAKE
ESPN’s Barcelona correspondent Sam Marsden explains why there will be a long line of top clubs wanting to sign Dro Fernández:
Signing Fernández is a no-brainer for any European club. The €6 million release clause represents a drop in the ocean compared to the spending by some teams, especially in England. The worst-case scenario is his development doesn’t continue as expected, for whatever reason, but even then it’s hard to imagine his value plummeting too much. The potential upsides are huge.
A playmaker who can operate in the advanced midfield roles or wide, Fernández — compared in-house to Thiago Alcantara and Pedri — caught Hansi Flick’s eye playing for the U19s and was take on the preseason tour last summer with the first team, scoring a fine goal against Daegu FC. LaLiga and Champions League debuts have followed, but with Fermín López, Dani Olmo and Raphinha all used in the No.10 role ahead of him, his path to regular first-team football is not clear right now.
However, that is normal for players that are 18 — and Fernández turned 18 this week. The cases of Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí, playing regularly between 16 and 18, are not normal, but they have set a precedent which means other Barça youngsters are itching for more involvement.
Even so, Fernández’s announcement that he plans to leave has shocked the club. Manchester City and Chelsea have tracked him for years, as have Borussia Dortmund, who perhaps offer the best immediate development opportunities, but it’s Paris Saint-Germain who may win the race. PSG coach Luis Enrique’s friendship with Fernández’s agent, Ivan de la Peña, could tip the balance in the French side’s favor.
OTHER RUMORS
Manchester United have rejected several approaches for Harry Maguire this month. (The Sun)
Inter Milan will offer Francesco Pio Esposito a new contract to ward off interest from Premier League clubs in the 20-year-old Italian striker. (Tuttosport)
Celtic are preparing a loan offer for Eintracht Frankfurt defender Auréle Amenda. (Sky Germany)
AFC Bournemouth have agreed a deal to sign Alex Tóth from Ferencvárosi worth a reported €10 million plus add-ons. (Sky Sports)
Burnley are weighing up a loan move for West Ham United midfielder James Ward-Prowse this month. As things stand, no approach has been made. (The Sun)
Leeds United have enquired about the availability of Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Jørgen Strand Larsen. (The Athletic)
Austin FC are close to completing a deal to sign Palmeiras winger Facundo Torres. (Tom Bogert)
Al Saad are ready to submit a bid for Lazio center back Alessio Romagnoli. (Nicolo Schira)
Stoke City have made a move to sign Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi on loan until the end of the season. (Football Insider)
Kevin Seifert is a staff writer who covers the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL at ESPN. Kevin has covered the NFL for over 20 years, joining ESPN in 2008. He was previously a beat reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Washington Times. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia.
When all eyes are on a single NFL playoff game, officiating decisions attract outsized attention. Throw in the stress of overtime, and you’ve got the fierce debate that erupted at the end of the Denver Broncos‘ 33-30 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Saturday’s divisional round.
The outcome turned on three calls in overtime, one an unusual interception that ended a Bills possession and the other two pass interference calls on Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White that generated 47 penalty yards on the Broncos’ winning drive. The coincidence of the two pass interference flags was not lost on longtime observers of Broncos coach Sean Payton, who missed a chance to advance to Super Bowl LIII in 2019 — when he was the coach of the New Orleans Saints — in large part because of a missed pass interference foul in the NFC Championship Game.
Let’s take a closer look at each circumstance from Saturday night’s game.
The situation: The Bills had the ball at their 36-yard line, facing third down with 11 yards to go. Quarterback Josh Allen threw a deep ball over the right hashmark to receiver Brandin Cooks. Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian was in coverage. Cooks made a leaping catch, but the ball moved from his hands to McMillian’s almost immediately after Cooks landed on the ground.
The call: Referee Carl Cheffers’ crew ruled the play an interception.
Analysis: Essentially, Cheffers’ crew was saying that Cooks did not have possession of the ball before it moved into McMillian’s hands. And because the ball didn’t hit the ground, it was still live at that point.
According to the NFL rulebook, Cooks needed to do three things to demonstrate possession and be awarded a catch. First, he needed to have complete control of the ball with his hands or arms, which he did. Then, he needed to be in bounds, which, of course, he was. Third, he needed to perform another act common to the game or maintain control of the ball long enough to do so.
The rulebook also includes this note: “If a player who has completed the first two, but not the third requirement for possession, contacts the ground and loses control of the ball, there is no possession.”
Video of the play shows that is what happened. The ball transferred from Cooks to McMillian when Cooks contacted the ground. So, Cooks didn’t meet the NFL’s definition of possession. McMillian did. He had control of the ball, he was inbounds and he maintained control as he tumbled over Cooks.
The quote: “It’s hard for me to understand why it was ruled the way it was ruled,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said.
The situation: The Broncos had the ball at their 47-yard line, facing second-and-10. Quarterback Bo Nix floated a 17-yard pass toward receiver Courtland Sutton at the sideline, with White in coverage. The ball fell incomplete
The call: White was flagged for pass interference.
Analysis: The NFL rulebook defines pass interference as “any act by a player more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage that significantly hinders an eligible player’s opportunity to catch the ball.” It also lists some specific acts that qualify, including one that, in theory, could be applied to White on this play.
Players are prohibited from “grabbing an opponent’s arm(s) in such a manner that restricts his opportunity to catch a pass.” When watching the replay in slow motion, it appears White briefly grabbed Sutton’s right arm, as Cheffers noted afterward in a pool report.
Despite the instances listed in the rulebook, pass interference often comes down to a judgment call. When is the restriction truly significant?
The Bills are usually good at straddling the line. They were tied for the fewest defensive pass interference flags in the NFL this season (four). And in this case, an argument could be made that White’s contact did not appear significant. These calls are difficult to see in real time, but a reasonable person could watch a replay and not attribute the incompletion to White’s contact.
The situation: The Broncos had the ball at the Bills’ 38-yard line, facing second-and-12. Nix floated a pass downfield to receiver Marvin Mims Jr., with White in coverage. The ball fell incomplete.
The call: Cheffers’ crew flagged White for defensive pass interference, a 30-yard spot foul that put the Broncos in position for a short game-winning field goal.
Analysis: After getting the earlier call, Nix went looking for another just two plays later. This time, White’s contact appeared more significant. He grabbed Mims around the torso and began tackling him before the ball arrived. It does not matter whether Mims would have likely caught the pass absent the contact. White’s contact prevented Mims from having the chance that the rule book insists he should get to catch the ball.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi (centre) speaks during a press conference after the PSL Auction at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad on January 8, 2026. — PSL
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) governing council’s working committee held a late-night meeting to discuss key matters for the upcoming season, including the player auction and retention policies, sources told Geo News on Sunday.
According to insiders, the committee agreed to introduce a player auction for PSL 11 and also finalised the rules for player retention.
The committee’s decisions will be sent to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi for final approval, with the option of convening a full governing council meeting if required.
Sources revealed that the defending champions Lahore Qalandars, along with Quetta Gladiators, Islamabad United, Karachi Kings and Hyderabad, voted in favour of the player auction model.
Peshawar Zalmi and the Sialkot franchise also voted in favour of the ‘drauction’ system, sources said.
It was also confirmed that the five existing franchises agreed on retaining four players each, one in each category, with one player eligible to be brought into a lower category and designated as a brand ambassador, sources said.
The new franchises, meanwhile, will select their remaining players from the general player pool through the auction system. Two new franchises, however, insisted on zero retention.
“The remaining players will be auctioned, and franchises will pick their players in the auction,” sources said.
The final formula for the PSL 11 auction and retention rules will be submitted to Mohsin Naqvi, with an official announcement expected within the next one or two days.
Sources said there is a possibility that it will not be made mandatory to include a player from the Emerging category in the playing XI.
The PSL auction is likely to be held during the first week of February, sources said.
Earlier, Naqvi advised franchise owners to increase the players’ salary cap as the marquee league enters a new era with the addition of two new teams.
Highlighting the rise in franchise market value, he encouraged teams to adopt the auction model.
“Conduct an auction of players in the PSL 11 draft and select players of your choice — they will benefit from it,” Naqvi told franchise owners during the meeting.
PSL 11 is set to begin on March 26, marking a significant milestone as the league expands from six to eight teams with the inclusion of new franchises from Sialkot and Hyderabad.
The historic PSL 2026 auction, held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on January 8 this year, saw FKS Group and OZ Developers secure ownership of the new franchises for Rs 1.75 billion and Rs 1.85 billion, respectively.
Actress Rukmini Vasanth is reportedly dating photographer Siddhant Nag, with an old photo of them together recently resurfacing online. Vasanth, who gained prominence with ‘Sapta Saagaradaache Ello’ and ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’, will next be seen in Yash’s ‘Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups’.
Rukmini Vasanth seems to be everywhere right now. Her work is getting noticed, her performances are landing, and her career is clearly moving in the right direction. But alongside all that, there’s another conversation quietly bubbling online. It’s not loud or dramatic. No announcements, no confirmations. Just a few moments that fans can’t seem to shake off.It started with a photo.An old picture of Rukmini with photographer Siddhant Nag resurfaced recently, and suddenly people were paying attention. The photo dates back to 2023 and shows the two sitting together at a restaurant in Bengaluru. Nothing flashy. No red carpet. Just the two of them, relaxed and close. Rukmini is leaning into him, her hand resting casually on his arm, her head tilted towards his shoulder. It’s subtle. But it’s also intimate in a way that feels very real.What stood out wasn’t the location or what they were wearing. It was the comfort. That easy, unguarded closeness that usually comes from knowing someone well.Naturally, curiosity kicked in.Siddhant Nag is a Bengaluru-based photographer who mostly stays away from the spotlight. And yes, Bengaluru also happens to be Rukmini’s hometown, which only added fuel to the speculation. Online chatter suggests the two may have known each other for years, possibly even dated for a long time. But there’s been no confirmation. No interviews. No posts clearing the air.Just silence.And in celebrity culture, silence often says more than words.What’s interesting is that neither Rukmini nor Siddhant has tried to shut the rumours down. No “just friends” clarification. No awkward explanations. Nothing. Rukmini, especially, seems content letting the focus stay on her work while the speculation hums quietly in the background.
Rukmini Vasanth’s look from Yash’s ‘Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups’ unveiled
For many fans, that feels refreshing. In a time when relationships are often announced with coordinated posts and captions, this kind of privacy feels deliberate. Almost old-fashioned.At the same time, Rukmini’s career is hitting a new high. Since her debut in 2019, she’s slowly built a reputation for choosing roles with depth. Sapta Saagaradaache Ello showed her emotional range, Kantara: Chapter 1 pushed her into mainstream recognition, and with Yash’s Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups coming up, she’s stepping into a much bigger league.And as careers rise, personal lives tend to come under the microscope too.So, are they actually together?Honestly, no one knows for sure. Except, of course, the two of them. But the resurfaced photo, the long-standing connection, and the complete lack of denial have convinced many fans that there’s more to the story.Whether Rukmini ever chooses to talk about it or continues keeping things private is entirely her call. Until then, this remains one of those quiet celebrity mysteries – the kind that doesn’t need loud headlines to stay interesting.
There’s someone you always look for loitering at the corner of all-family gatherings. One person who makes the chaos of being in the same room as every distant relative feel somewhat less anxiety-inducing and judgmental: the cool cousin. In the ages of infancy, they’re the willing co-conspirator to plead for an early-opening of Christmas presents. Come adolescence, the lookout as you sneak a secret swig of booze from the grown-up’s table.
For Harry and William, the Spencers, unsurprisingly, offer this coalescence of calm and cool in the form of blonde twins Eliza and Amelia; the now 33-year-old nieces of Princess Diana, who are increasingly stepping further into the British social scene spotlight after a childhood spent in South Africa alongside their parents, Charles, 9th Earl Spencer and his first wife, Victoria Lockwood.
While the twins’ older sister, Lady Kitty, has long frequented the pages of society magazine Tatler and been the face of fashion campaigns for both Dolce & Gabbana and Bulgari throughout her twenties, Eliza and Amelia have historically had more private lives. Yet, over the past year, they’ve stepped further to the forefront of public life with a walk down the red carpet at Cannes Film Festival last May, an Aspinall of London brand ambassador announcement in June and a sparkling appearance at the Fashion Awards in December.
The twins first fled London when they were three years old to escape the paparazzi that relentlessly hounded the Spencer family at the height of Princess Diana’s fame. This didn’t stop attention following them to the Southern Hemisphere, with the pair telling Tatler how Diana protected them from paparazzi at Western Cape when they were just small children.
“Obviously, it could have been terrifying for us, being so young and not understanding what was happening,” Lady Eliza recalled. “But she turned it into a game of who could get back to the car first. It was amazing how she protected us in a way that made us feel safe and not frightened,” she added of her “incredibly warm, maternal and loving” aunt who “always made an effort to connect with us as children and had a talent for reading children’s hearts”.
This tale is markedly similar to one recounted by the Duke of Sussex in his 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan. “My mum did such a good job of trying to protect us,” Harry said. “She took it upon herself to basically confront these people,” he added, as the scene cut to archival footage of Diana on a 1995 ski trip to Switzerland, where paparazzi were circling her family while they were trying to eat. “Please leave,” Diana tells the photographer, who tells her that if he gets one photo, he’ll leave her alone. “No,” she retorts. “We’ve had 15 cameras following us today. As a parent, I want to protect the children. Thank you.”
Two years on from this incident, Princess Diana was dead. “As a child, I realised the enormity of the loss for my father and family,” Eliza said of her family’s grief. “It was only later that I came to understand the significance of the loss of her as a figure in the world… I really had very little idea of how significant she was in the world until I was much older… She stayed with us, just before she passed away… We were very fortunate to have spent that time with her.”
Lady Eliza Spencer and Lady Amelia Spencer at the Richard Quinn show, February 2025 ((Yui Mok/PA))
Throughout his life, Harry has felt a deep connection with his mother’s side of his family and never more so since he has been living in “exile” with Meghan in California. In 2024, when Harry reportedly made an under-the-radar return trip to Britain to attend the funeral of the late Lord Robert Fellowes, he allegedly spent time with his Spencer cousins and stayed with their father, Earl Spencer, at Althorp, the Spencer family’s ancestral home near Northampton, while he was visiting from California.
“It is a truly special and beautiful place,” Lady Eliza said of the 13,000-acre family seat. “Having spent the first three years of our lives at Althorp, exploring and discovering it as children, and being part of a long heritage of Spencers that have lived there, it has always felt like another home,” she explained to Tatler. “And, of course, it conjures up memories of family Christmases as children, with our extended family all together.”
As Harry prepares to come to the UK this week, for the start of his High Court legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), he will once again be looking for the support of those left in his inner circle in the UK. His allegations against the newspaper group: the hiring of private investigators to place listening devices inside cars; the “blagging” of private records; and the accessing and recording of private phone conversations, which ANL denied, all fundamentally hinge on privacy. Diana and her tragically turbulent relationship with the media will no doubt be at the forefront of Harry’s mind throughout proceedings. For him, this feels personal.
Eliza and Amelia are two people whom he knows he can depend on. The sisters have acted with the neutrality of Switzerland throughout the entire family feud, offering both brothers a safe space when they needed it. This may be down to their sense of not just family, but perspective too. They didn’t return to live in London until 2021. Amelia married personal trainer Greg Mallet, whom she met while studying corporate communications at the University of Cape Town, in 2023. Meanwhile, Eliza told W magazine this June that “marriage is definitely on the cards” with her entrepreneur partner of nine years, Channing Millerd. They opted to live 15 minutes away from each other in West London’s leafy and affluent Fulham.
“I think the last year or two have been some of the best years we’ve ever had,” Amelia told the publication about her life since choosing to settle in the UK. “Since moving to London, we’ve had the most incredible lives and experiences. Life is full and exciting for us right now.”
Of course, the twins’ return to the UK coincided with a deepening rift between their cousins. By 2021, Harry had given his infamous Oprah interview, alongside his wife, Meghan Markle, in which they alleged an unnamed family member had expressed “concerns” about “how dark” their baby’s skin would be. Royal correspondents reported William was “devastated” by the interview. “We are very much not a racist family,” the Prince of Wales later told Sky News.
The pair have since only reunited a smattering of times: at Philip’s funeral in April 2021, to unveil a statue of Diana at Kensington Palace in July 2021, and to attend the thanksgiving for the queen’s platinum jubilee in June 2022, where they sat on opposite sides of the cathedral and were reported to have “spent no private time together” to repair their “broken relationship”.
Following Queen Elizabeth II’s death that September, William and Harry walked side by side in a procession, only for Harry to then make damning claims in his 2022 Netflix documentary, saying he was left terrified by having William “scream and shout” at him during an emergency meeting at the Sandringham Estate about his royal duties in 2020.
Eliza and Amelia Spencer have remained neutral players between the battling brothers ((Jeff Moore/PA))
By 2023, Harry had gone all out and labelled William his “beloved brother” and “archnemesis” in his tell-all book Spare. “There has always been this competition between us, weirdly,” he told ABC News at this time, adding that Diana “would be sad” about the state of his relationship with his older brother. Still, he later conceded to ITV that he would “like to have my brother back” but that William had “shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile”. The pair were last seen together at their father’s coronation in 2023 and reportedly “kept their distance” during Harry’s last visit to the UK this September.
The twins have never shown any sign of taking sides and have publicly displayed support for Prince William, attending the Centrepoint Awards, a youth homelessness charity of which William is a patron, alongside their sister Kitty in October 2024. The twins repeated this show of support for William in November last year, stepping out at the Tusk Awards, a celebration of the conservation and education charity, of which William has also served as a patron since 2005.
“I’m extremely proud of my cousin Prince William,” Kitty told Tatler in an interview alongside Kitty and Eliza this time last year. At the time, the magazine lauded the trio as “funny, frank and charming” and praised their “blonde elegance and can-do attitude”. Could this proactiveness perhaps be enough to bring William and Harry back together?
Experts say that extended family members can provide emotional, social and informational support, helping to alleviate the stressors that contribute to conflict within families. But as speculation grows that William will give Harry the “ultimate snub” during this week’s visit, and again when he travels to the US for the Fifa World Cup this summer, it remains to be seen whether the twins’ can-do charm will be enough to spark the healing that so many close to the Princes hope will one day happen.
Scientists who work on long-term climate patterns usually stay close to Earth. The data is here, the records are clearer, and the risks are immediate. A new study shifts that focus slightly outward. Research published in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific suggests that Mars plays a role in shaping Earth’s climate over very long timescales. The effect is not dramatic or sudden. It unfolds slowly, through gravity and orbital motion. Using simulations of the inner solar system, researchers examined how Earth’s climate rhythms respond to changes in Mars’ mass and position. The results point to a steady influence rather than a dominant one. Earth’s climate, the study suggests, may be less stable without Mars exactly where it is now.
Research points to Mars as a silent partner in Earth’s climate system
Mars is small compared with Earth and far lighter than Jupiter or Saturn. For that reason, it is often treated as background scenery in climate discussions. The study challenges that assumption. In the simulations, Mars acts as a persistent gravitational presence that nudges Earth’s orbital behaviour.These nudges do not rewrite Earth’s climate. They shape its timing. Certain cycles stretch or compress depending on how Mars behaves. When Mars is removed entirely, some of those cycles fade. Others change their rhythm. The effect is subtle enough to be missed in short records but clearer when viewed over millions of years.
Slow orbital cycles are important
Earth’s climate responds to gradual changes in its orbit and rotation. These changes affect how sunlight reaches the surface. Over long periods, they help pace ice ages and warmer intervals. The study focuses on several of these cycles, often grouped under the term Milankovitch cycles. Some are driven by Earth’s tilt. Others depend on how circular its orbit is, or how that orbit shifts in space. Mars does not control these cycles, but it appears to influence their structure. The simulations show that certain patterns only appear when Mars is present with roughly its current mass.
What happens to Earth’s tilt over time
One area of interest is Earth’s axial tilt, known as obliquity. This tilt gives Earth its seasons. It also plays a role in long-term climate balance. According to the simulations, Mars helps keep Earth’s tilt from drifting too far. When Mars is made lighter or removed, Earth’s tilt varies more widely. Over long stretches of time, that wider range could translate into stronger climate swings. The study does not claim this would end life on Earth. It suggests conditions would be harder to predict and possibly less stable.
What exactly did the simulations change
The research team adjusted Mars’ mass across a wide range, from zero to many times its current size. They did not change Earth itself. Instead, they watched how Earth’s orbital features responded. The models tracked variables such as eccentricity, axial tilt, and orbital orientation. Some climate pacing signals remained largely unchanged, especially those linked to Jupiter. Others shifted noticeably as Mars’ mass changed. The results point to sensitivity rather than fragility. Earth’s climate cycles bend more than they break.
Jupiter still dominates the system
Jupiter’s role remains central. Its size and gravity anchor many of the strongest orbital cycles. The study confirms this. Some climate rhythms stay remarkably stable regardless of what happens to Mars.Where Mars seems to matter is in the details. Medium-scale cycles, the ones that shape variability within broader patterns, respond to its presence. This suggests that climate stability is not just about having a giant planet nearby. The spacing and mass of smaller planets also matter.
What does this information suggest about other planets
The findings extend beyond Earth. Astronomers searching for habitable planets often focus on distance from a star. This study points to another factor. A planet may sit in a comfortable temperature zone and still experience extreme long-term swings.A nearby Mars-like planet could help smooth those swings. Without it, a world might remain habitable in theory but unstable in practice. The study offers a way to contemplate these dynamics, rather than a checklist for habitability.
Where the study holds back
The authors are careful about the limits of their work. Only Mars’ mass was varied. Other factors, such as orbital distance or tilt, were left unchanged. Climate models were not directly coupled to the orbital simulations. As a result, the study does not present a complete picture. It isolates one influence and traces its effects. That influence appears real but not decisive.Mars is often discussed as a place humans might visit or once lived on. This research frames it differently. It functions as a silent participant within a larger system. The influence it exerts is slow and indirect. It does not announce itself. Over long periods, though, it seems to shape the background against which Earth’s climate plays out. That role is easy to overlook. The study leaves it there, without pressing the point further.
