Author: Liam Porter

Many think that a medium-length haircut is a safe option for anybody who isn’t interested in taking a beauty risk. But just because something is “mid” doesn’t mean it is boring.Mid-length hairstyles are as versatile as they come, presenting an appealing middle ground between more high-maintenance chin-grazing bobs (hello, constant hair trim appointments) or ultra-long lengths. It’s also a stop along the way in a long and winding road if you’re growing out the year’s most popular haircut—the bob. As celebrity hairstylist David von Cannon explains, a medium-length just means that hair will typically fall from the shoulders to mid-back.…

As Britain’s population ages and dementia rates climb, scientists may have found an unexpected ally in the fight against cognitive decline.Cats and dogs may be exercising more than just your patience: they could be keeping parts of your brain ticking over too. In a potential breakthrough for preventive health, researchers have found that owning a four-pawed friend is linked to slower cognitive decline by potentially preserving specific brain functions as we grow older.Interestingly, the associations differ depending on the animal: dog owners were found to retain sharper memory, both immediate and delayed, while cat owners showed slower decline in verbal…

Their place in the last four of the Club World Cup in the bag and the prospect of a £97m windfall still up for grabs, Chelsea found themselves in an unusual position: relieved to have survived a taxing second half, hailing Malo Gusto’s unlikely role as matchwinner and able to delight in the opposition’s goalscorer being named superior player of the match.For a while the story of this entertaining quarter-final looked like it was going to be about Enzo Maresca finding it within himself to forgive Estêvão Willian. Everything had changed when the Brazilian sensation, who joins Chelsea after this…

Hamas on Friday said it had given a positive response to a proposal for a ceasefire with Israel mediated by Egypt and Qatar and that it was ready to start talks “immediately”. Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump said Israel had agreed to the terms of a 60-day truce proposal and urged Hamas to accept the deal. 

Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed he is in discussions about creating a new leftwing political party, hours after the MP Zarah Sultana announced she was quitting Labour to co-lead the project.Sultana, the MP for Coventry South who had the Labour whip suspended last year for voting against the government over the two-child limit on benefits, said on Thursday night she was quitting Labour and would “co-lead the founding of a new party” with Corbyn.Her announcement took some on the left of Labour by surprise and was seen as premature and potentially counterproductive.While Corbyn has long hinted at plans to establish a…

Kevin PeacheyCost of living correspondentJulieDudley the dog is unlikely to feature, but animals are a popular suggestionWhile cash might not be as popular as it once was, the opportunity to fashion the next series of banknotes has got brains whirring and tails wagging.Within a day of reporting on the Bank of England’s public invitation to influence a major redesign of banknotes, there were more than 2,000 responses to Your Voice, Your BBC on the issue.Dudley the British Bulldog, pictured on Cawsand Beach in Cornwall, will be one of the least likely contenders, despite being described as a “national treasure” by…

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, pictured, speaks with SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son at an event in Tokyo on Feb. 3, 2025.Tomohiro Ohsumi | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesOpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted on X Friday, saying he finds himself “politically homeless” as the Democratic party is no longer aligned with encouraging a “culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.”Altman, whose company is a leader in artificial intelligence, made the post in celebration of the Fourth of July, saying he is “extremely proud to be an American” and believes the U.S. “is the greatest country ever on Earth.” He used the post…

Young Noble, a member of Tupac Shakur’s rap group the Outlawz, has died. He was 47.  E.D.I. Mean, a fellow Outlawz member, confirmed his death on Instagram and said he reportedly died by suicide.  “Today I got some of the worst and unexpected news imaginable. My brother and partner for over 30 years took his life this morning,” he wrote on Instagram Friday. “Rest in Power Rufus Young Noble Cooper.”  He added, “I obviously am in no shape to talk about this right now so PLEASE give his family and I some time to process this. Mental illness is a…

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Estevao Willian could hardly have introduced himself to Chelsea in a better way.When the 18-year-old Brazilian smashed home an equaliser for Palmeiras against the Blues from an almost impossible angle on Saturday – Chelsea fans could have been forgiven for feeling a little bit excited.Yes, he had just equalised against their side in the Club World Cup quarter-final but it was also a thrilling glimpse of the talent Chelsea have signed in a deal that could eventually be worth £52m.A late Palmeiras own goal meant it was ultimately Chelsea looking forward to a semi-final against Fluminense, but Estevao’s last game…