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The women's tennis landscape has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, with a new generation of players emerging as top contenders. Victoria Mboko and Mirra Andreeva, currently ranked No 9 and No 10 in the world, respectively, are leading the charge. These two teenagers, who are not only fierce rivals but also close friends, recently faced off in a highly anticipated Miami Open fourth-round match.Before their big match, Mboko and Andreeva demonstrated their camaraderie by competing together in doubles on the same side of the net. This lighthearted approach helped them relax and enjoy each other's company, showcasing a refreshing dynamic in professional tennis. Despite their friendly rapport, both players are fiercely competitive and determined to win every match.The emergence of Mboko and Andreeva, along with other young players, marks a departure from previous eras of women's tennis, which often featured tension and rivalry between top players. The current crop of teenagers, including Iva Jovic, Maya Joint, and Alexandra Eala, is steadily rising through the rankings and supporting each other both on and off the court.This new generation of players is characterized by their friendliness and camaraderie, which is a significant shift from the past. Players like Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Elena Rybakina regularly train together, demonstrating that it's possible to maintain friendships while still competing fiercely on the court.In their recent match, Mboko and Andreeva engaged in a tense and bruising tussle, with Mboko ultimately emerging victorious with a 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-0 win. Despite the intensity of the match, the two players showed respect and sportsmanship, with Andreeva apologizing to Mboko after the match and the pair hugging warmly.The evolving dynamics of women's tennis are exciting to watch, with a new generation of players bringing a fresh perspective to the sport. As Mboko and Andreeva continue to compete and grow as players, their friendship and rivalry will undoubtedly be a key part of the sport's future.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the star wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, has secured a monumental contract extension. The deal, valued at $168.6m over four years, includes $120m guaranteed, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history.The annual salary of $42.15m surpasses that of Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase, who averages $40.25m per season on his four-year, $161m deal. This significant increase reflects Smith-Njigba's value to the Seahawks and his impressive performance on the field.In February, Smith-Njigba expressed his expectation of becoming the highest-paid at his position, stating, “I think I deserve to be the highest-paid at my position, just what I give to the game and the community, I give it my all. And I think that’s worth a lot, lot more.” He emphasized his passion for the game, noting, “I would play this game for free, I love this game so much, but you don’t have to. I’m learning to be a good businessman, and we need that check at the end of the day.”Smith-Njigba's achievements include being the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, setting franchise records with 119 receptions and 1,793 receiving yards, and catching 10 scoring passes. His playoff performance was stellar, with 17 catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns, including a strong showing in Super Bowl LX.At 24 years old, Smith-Njigba has accumulated 282 receptions for 3,551 yards and 20 touchdown catches in 51 NFL games. As the 20th overall pick in 2023 out of Ohio State, he is a two-time Pro Bowl selection, solidifying his status as a top player in the league.

The Last Blossom, directed by Baku Kinoshita and written by Kazuya Konomoto, is a quiet, contemplative anime feature that rarely gets a theatrical release. The film opens in a lonely prison cell, where the elderly former yakuza Akutsu finds an unexpected confidant in a talking balsam flower.Over the course of one sleepless night, Akutsu's life story unfolds in bursts. Thirty years prior, another balsam flower grows in the back yard of Akutsu's humble house, which he shares with Nana and her baby son, Kensuke. The relationship between the taciturn man and the bubbly young woman is seemingly platonic; Kensuke is not his son. Yet there are hints of romantic attraction; they share bowls of piping hot ramen noodles, play endless rounds of Reversi, and join in harmonising the Ben E King classic Stand By Me.In contrast to this alternative nuclear family, the yakuza world is still strictly traditional, revolving around machismo and codes of brotherhood. When Kensuke is diagnosed with a heart condition, Akutsu is lured into a criminal plot, which leads to his incarceration. Though encompassing much bloodshed and even a hidden treasure subplot, The Last Blossom is most moving as an exploration of human conscience, where a capacity for violence and kindness coexist.The paradox is reminiscent of Shōhei Imamura’s Palme d’Or winner The Eel, starring Koji Yakusho as a wife-murderer who shelters a pregnant woman after his prison release. With his unassuming buzzcut, in stark contrast to his flamboyant yakuza peers, Akutsu bears a striking resemblance to Yakusho’s protagonist. Though a minor work compared to Imamura’s, The Last Blossom similarly questions conventional notions of justice, and the impossibility of weighing one’s good and bad deeds.The Last Blossom is in UK and Irish cinemas from 27 March, and in Australian cinemas from 23 April.

Satellite images of Tehran have revealed that toxic fires caused by Israeli bombings on oil depots were still burning days after the strikes, posing serious health risks to millions of residents in the Iranian capital.The bombings, which occurred on March 7, caused clouds of smoke to blanket the city with pollutants ranging from soot to oil particles to sulphur dioxide. A passing storm then showered Tehran with poisonous, oil-filled rain.Residents have reported headaches, eye and skin irritation, and difficulty breathing. Experts have warned that these symptoms could be just the beginning, with long-term risks of cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, DNA damage, and cancer.Four fuel facilities in and around the capital were hit, including the Shahran depot in the north-west, the Aqdasieh oil depot in the north-east, the Tehran refinery in the south, and the Shahid Dolati facility in the west.Satellite images taken two days after the strikes showed the Shahran depot and the Tehran refinery were still burning. Another image taken by the European Space Agency satellite on Tuesday – 10 days after the strikes – showed that those two fires had smouldered, but smoke and flames were visible at the Aqdasieh oil depot.Iran has described the attacks as “ecocide”, which is described as wanton acts of environmental destruction.The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has warned that heavy smoke from burning oil was “directly inhaled by people in Iran – including young children – raising serious concerns about long-term impacts on both human and environmental health”.

Moby, the renowned musician, has shared his honest playlist, offering a glimpse into his personal music preferences. He recalls the first song he fell in love with, 'I Fought the Law' by the Clash, which he would record on an old Dictaphone and listen to repeatedly.Moby also shares the first single he bought, 'Convoy' by CW McCall, which he played 40 times in a row, raising concerns for his mother about his future as a musician and addict.He takes pride in never doing the same karaoke song twice, with notable attempts at 'My Way' by Frank Sinatra and 'In Da Club' by 50 Cent. Moby also reveals the song he inexplicably knows every lyric to, 'I Know You Got Soul' by Eric B & Rakim, which he played 8,000 times while DJing in the 80s.Moby discusses the best song to play at a party, 'Been Caught Stealing' by Jane's Addiction, which surprised a crowd of 15 people at a house party in 1989. He also shares the song he can no longer listen to, 'Lola' by the Kinks, due to its gross and transphobic lyrics.Moby confesses to secretly liking 'My Heart Will Go On' by Céline Dion, a song he thought he'd never admit to enjoying. He also shares the best song to have sex to, '4′33″' by John Cage, and the song that changed his life, 'I Feel Love' by Donna Summer.Other songs on Moby's playlist include the song that makes him cry, 'Vincent' by Don McLean, and the song that gets him up in the morning, 'Not to Touch the Earth' by the Doors. He concludes by sharing the song he'd like played in his funeral, 'Last Night' from his 2008 album of the same name.

Have you ever felt like you're racing against the clock, constantly chasing appointments and deadlines? This relentless pursuit of time is a universal experience, but what is time, really? Is it a physical phenomenon or just a tool we use to coordinate our lives? Time is often seen as an independent, physical entity that ticks by relentlessly, but emerging scientific evidence suggests that this isn't the case. Time is more like a mathematical tool, useful for coordinating our interactions, but it doesn't have an independent existence of its own. Just like money, we've become dependent on it, but it's not a physical reality. The pressure to be 'on time' is instilled in us from a young age, and we're constantly surrounded by clocks and digital alerts that divide our day into smaller pieces. This has led to a phenomenon known as 'time famine,' where the more efficient and productive we try to be, the less time we feel we have. Studies have shown that people experiencing time famine are less likely to engage in activities they enjoy, eat healthily, or seek medical attention when needed. Our brains don't have dedicated areas for tracking time, and our experience of it can vary greatly. Time can seem to drag or fly by, depending on our circumstances. For example, people with certain conditions, like akinetopsia, experience time in sudden jumps or frozen moments. The psychedelic drug mescaline can also distort time perception, making it seem like hours or even centuries have passed. Quantum physicists have found that time is not a fixed, physical flow. The famous double-slit experiment shows that a physicist's choice of measurement can influence the behavior of a particle. In a lesser-known variant of this experiment, the physicist's choice at the point of measurement can even influence the particle's past behavior. This suggests that time is not a fixed, linear concept, but rather a flexible and subjective experience. Some indigenous cultures, like the Aymara people of Chile, experience time differently. They see the future as hidden behind them, unseeable and unknowable. The Amondawa people of the Amazon have no clocks or concept of time. Instead, they live in the present, experiencing 'lived time,' which is a personal, malleable experience of change. Lived time is different from clock time, as it's not defined by numerical counters or seconds. Each moment is like a tapestry, woven from changes on multiple timescales. When we focus on lived time, it expands and becomes richer, rather than narrowing or contracting. It's a flow that carries us and connects us with others, rather than something we chase and never catch. To combat time famine, we need to remind ourselves that the clock is a tool, not a master. We should beware of digital alerts and alarms that divide our day into smaller pieces and instead focus on the rich pattern of changing connections that wire us into each moment. By doing so, we can tap into the creative process of lived time and experience a more fulfilling and connected life.

A new and disturbing trend in scams, known as 'friendship fraud,' is on the rise, specifically targeting older people who are lonely or bereaved. This type of scam involves criminals using social media platforms to build relationships with potential victims, often over a long period, before requesting money for various reasons. The scam typically begins with a connection on social media, where the fraudster will research and tailor their initial messages to appear as though they share common interests with the victim. Once a level of trust is established, the scammer will begin to make requests for money, often for small amounts or seemingly urgent needs. According to TSB, the average amount lost by victims of friendship fraud is £3,100. In some cases, victims have lost as much as £4,000 or more over several years. The fraudsters often request payments through bank transfers or gift cards, making it difficult for victims to recover their losses. Experts warn that older people who are lonely or bereaved are particularly vulnerable to these scams, as they may be more desperate for human connection and more likely to trust someone who appears to share their interests. Caroline Abrahams of Age UK describes the fraud as 'especially horrible and insidious,' noting that it can have devastating consequences for victims, including financial loss, health issues, and a breakdown in trust. To avoid falling victim to friendship fraud, experts advise severing contact immediately if someone you met online requests money. If you suspect you or someone you know has been targeted, report it to Report Fraud and discuss it with your bank. Documenting all interactions with the scammer can also help in efforts to recover losses or prosecute the fraudster.

Transitioning from the bright lights of the Stade de France to the familiar surroundings of the Crumbie Stand presents a unique mental challenge for international rugby players. For England's Ollie Chessum, however, the return to domestic competition proved fruitful as he delivered another tireless performance in Leicester's 33-19 victory over Bristol.The result not only elevates the Tigers to third place in the Premiership standings but also secured what could prove to be a crucial bonus point when playoff calculations are finalized. Bristol, who had been seeking bonus points of their own, ultimately left empty-handed and remain in fifth place following a match that maintained intensity from start to finish.The significance of this fixture was evident as Chessum and Joe Heyes were asked to immediately return to action following their Six Nations commitments, with Jack van Poortvliet also coming off the bench. This selection strategy proved effective, bolstered by another influential display from fly-half Billy Searle. The final try exemplified the Tigers' growing confidence under pressure.Even head coach Geoff Parling was urging his players to take calculated risks, shouting at Freddie Steward to kick the ball from deep rather than risk turnovers. When his players backed themselves from their own half, the decision paid dividends."I've been trying for a long time to get them to play what they see and that's what they did," Parling stated afterward, while also praising Chessum's contribution. "The Six Nations is physical but there's also an emotional toll. It's always a challenge for those guys when they come back after being away for eight weeks. Ollie was outstanding. He's a big emotional leader for us."Two decisive tries within a three-minute spell midway through the first half proved pivotal. When Leicester enters the "killing zone," they appear increasingly dangerous, as demonstrated by the close-range power of Joaquín Moro and Hanro Liebenberg, which left the Bears, missing rested Ellis Genge and dealing with injuries, with no answer.Bristol, however, proved difficult to contain for extended periods. Their industrious captain Fitz Harding, the league's top tackler this season, rewarded sustained pressure with a try, while Kalaveti Ravouvou continued his habit of scoring against the Tigers, escaping past Steward and Chessum to touch down down the right wing.The Bears' other first-half highlight came from hooker Gabriel Oghre, whose cultured left boot produced a magnificent 45-metre touchfinder from a defensive lineout. Oghre's versatility raises questions about why he isn't discussed more frequently among England's hooker options.While romantic backstories don't typically secure tight victories, the return of Scotland international flanker Hamish Watson on loan from Edinburgh added emotional significance. After 14 years north of the border, the 34-year-old relished the opportunity to run out to the traditional strains of Smoke on the Water at his boyhood club.Bristol continued to press, with Harding burrowing over for his second try, bringing Jimmy Williams' conversion to make it 20-19. Leicester needed to respond, and almost did when Searle launched an attack that might have yielded a spectacular try had Moro held the final pass.Though Izaia Perese soon crossed for Leicester's third try, the Tigers couldn't fully relax until the final moments. Steward's cross-kick initiated a daring raid up the right touchline, culminating in Hamer-Webb's exuberant dive over the line to seal the victory."We wanted to take Leicester out of their comfort zone and we did that at times," lamented Bristol's director of rugby Pat Lam. "We just need to finish more of our opportunities. You have to be at your best to win here and we weren't at our best."With seven regular-season rounds remaining, the stakes continue to rise. Bristol will host Harlequins at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, while Leicester faces Gloucester at Villa Park in the latest edition of the Slater Cup.

Cooper Lutkenhaus, a 17-year-old high school student from Texas, made history on Sunday by winning gold in the 800m at the world indoor athletics championship. He finished with a time of 1min 44.24sec, 0.14 seconds ahead of Belgium’s Eliott Crestan.Lutkenhaus, who turned 17 in December, broke the previous record for youngest champion held by Ethiopian Mohammed Aman, who was 18 years and 61 days when he won gold in the 800m in 2012.“I came into this knowing I probably wasn’t the favourite, but anytime I step into a final, I believe I have a chance to win,” Lutkenhaus said after his victory. He attributed his win to his youth, saying it gave him the confidence to make a defining move on the third lap.Crestan, who led at the halfway point, praised Lutkenhaus's acceleration, saying he is an incredible talent who could emulate the greats of middle distance running, including David Rudisha.Lutkenhaus's gold was Team USA's fifth of the championships, putting them top of the medal table ahead of Great Britain, who won four.