Author: Andrew Rogers

Scientists say the human brain develops through five distinct “eras” across a lifetime, with full adult brain organisation not beginning until the early 30s. In a large study analysing brain scans from nearly 4,000 people aged from infancy to 90, researchers found that brain development follows broad phases separated by four key turning points, occurring at around the ages of nine, 32, 66 and 83. The first phase, childhood, lasts from birth to about age nine. During this time, the brain rapidly grows and refines itself by trimming unused neural connections, while grey and white matter grow and the brain’s…

Idrissa Gueye was met with applause from his Everton teammates after issuing an emotional apology following his red card for striking teammate Michael Keane during Monday’s win over Manchester United. The midfielder was sent off for slapping Keane, becoming the first Premier League player in 17 years to be dismissed for attacking a teammate. Despite playing with 10 men for over 85 minutes, Everton secured a 1–0 victory at Old Trafford, handing David Moyes his first ever away win there. After the match, Gueye asked to address the squad and apologised directly to Keane and the team for putting them…

People who stop using the weight-loss drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) not only tend to regain lost weight but also lose key health improvements, according to new research. The Surmount-4 clinical trial found that participants who stopped taking the drug commonly saw their blood pressure, “bad” cholesterol, blood sugar levels and waist circumference worsen again, particularly if they regained a large amount of weight. Among those who had lost at least 10% of their body weight and then stopped treatment, 82% regained at least a quarter of their lost weight within a year. Experts say the findings are not surprising, as excess…

Virgil van Dijk has launched a furious critique of Liverpool’s form, admitting the reigning champions are “in a mess” after their 3-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest. Speaking after the defeat, which left Liverpool in the bottom half of the Premier League table, the captain said the team had let down new manager Arne Slot and questioned whether everyone in the squad was taking responsibility for the slump. Van Dijk described the team’s start to the second half as “unacceptable” and said “panic kicked in” after Forest scored. He highlighted Liverpool’s poor defending from set pieces, with the side having…

A person in Washington state is believed to be the first human to die from the rare H5N5 strain of bird flu, though health officials say the risk to the general public remains low. The patient, an older adult with underlying health conditions from Grays Harbor County, was hospitalized in early November after developing a high fever, confusion and breathing problems. They were treated for H5N5, a strain not previously known to have infected humans. Health officials said the person had a backyard flock of domestic poultry that had been exposed to wild birds. No other people who were in…

Tottenham are not close to matching Arsenal’s willingness to spend £100m on a single player, according to head coach Frank, who signalled the club will take a more measured approach in the transfer market. Spurs have undergone major changes following Daniel Levy’s removal as chair and the installation of a new leadership team by the Lewis family. While there are ambitions to grow the club’s business and on-field success, Frank believes a long-term strategy built on development and smart investment is more realistic than blockbuster signings. He said Spurs are not currently in a position to spend £100m on one…

Ian Wright has come to the defence of Jude Bellingham, saying the England midfielder is facing unfair criticism and that some people are uncomfortable with his rise to superstar status. Bellingham was criticised in some quarters after reacting visibly when substituted during England’s World Cup qualifying win over Albania, with suggestions he could be a disruptive influence in the squad. Wright rejected those claims, arguing the criticism is driven by fear of Bellingham’s success rather than his attitude. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Wright said Bellingham’s confidence, talent and influence make some people uneasy. He compared the public…

Manchester United’s proposal to sell personal seat licences (PSLs) to help fund a £2bn redevelopment of Old Trafford has been thrown into doubt by the UK government’s latest move against ticket touting. United have been exploring a model where PSL holders could resell their licences – or match tickets tied to them – at a profit. But new legislation planned for next year’s king’s speech would ban any resale of tickets above face value, with government sources signalling they would oppose any attempt by United to create a profitable secondary market. The club recently surveyed hundreds of thousands of season-ticket…

Arsenal fear defender Gabriel Magalhães could be sidelined for a month or longer after suffering a thigh injury while on international duty with Brazil. The 27-year-old limped off during Brazil’s 2-0 win over Senegal at the Emirates and returned to London for further assessment. Tests are ongoing, but early indications suggest he will miss several key fixtures. Gabriel is not expected to feature in Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham or in Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. Depending on the severity, he may also miss league games against Chelsea, Brentford and Aston Villa, as well as the Champions…

Germany stormed into next year’s World Cup with a crushing 6-0 win over Slovakia, sealing top spot in their group and sending Slovakia into the March playoffs. The four-time world champions scored four times in a dominant first half: Nick Woltemade opened the scoring, Serge Gnabry added a second, and Leroy Sané struck twice – both assisted by Florian Wirtz. Second-half goals from Ridle Baku and debutant Assan Ouédraogo, who became Germany’s youngest-ever scorer at 19, capped off the rout. Germany finished three points clear at the top of the group. The Netherlands also secured qualification, topping Group G after…