Author: Derek Silverstone

Coventry City beat Portsmouth 2‑1 at Fratton Park, extending their unbeaten run to 11 games and keeping them atop the Sky Bet Championship.

CoinPoker signs a two‑year deal as regional sponsor of Argentina's national football team, launching Messi‑signed jersey freerolls and crypto‑driven fan events.

From April 1, 2025 the UK halves the stamp‑duty zero‑rate threshold and trims first‑time buyer relief, raising costs for many homebuyers across England and Northern Ireland.

Gary Oldman was knighted by Prince William at Windsor Castle, who revealed his love for the actor’s role in the hit series Slow Horses, highlighting the star’s lasting impact.

Rapidly intensifying to Category 4, Hurricane Gabrielle is barreling east‑northeast across the Atlantic, putting the Azores on high alert. The storm, now packing 140 mph winds, has already rattled Bermuda and whipped up hazardous surf along the U.S. East Coast. Forecast models see it curving toward Europe after a close pass of the islands. Meanwhile, two more tropical waves are nudging development odds higher, keeping the 2025 season active.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé clinched the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or after a historic Champions League win, while Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí secured her third straight Women’s Ballon d’Or, joining a tiny elite of three‑peat winners. The Paris ceremony also handed out Kopa, Yashin, Gerd Müller and other trophies, highlighting a night of record‑breaking achievements across the sport.

Illustrator Edie Medley manages a pub part-time and turns overheard chatter into a drawing series called "I'm Not Listening." From first dates to longtime regulars, she captures the texture of bar talk—those intimate, unguarded moments shaped by low light, close tables, and a drink or two. Her vantage point behind the bar powers a quiet, documentary-style look at how we talk when we think no one’s listening.

Well folks, it seems there's a bit of a hullabaloo brewing around the fashion store SHEIN. Now, you'd think it's because they don't do free returns on Saturdays, but it's actually a bit more complex than that. Many people are crying foul over their fast fashion practices, which are about as sustainable as using a chocolate teapot. There's also a chorus of boos about SHEIN's alleged copyright infringement, with critics accusing them of being more "copycat" than "catwalk". Finally, there's the issue of quality control, or rather lack thereof, with more than a few customers receiving items that make thrift store rejects look like haute couture.

Well, hello there, beauty product world! Now, don't get me wrong, I do admire your creativity, but there are a few things that get my goat. Numero uno on my list has to be the jargon - parabens, sulfates, retinol, oh my! It's like trying to decipher alien code. Also, the fragrance overload! I mean, who wants to smell like a tropical fruit salad with a dash of vanilla? And the packaging, seriously, it's like trying to break into Fort Knox to get to the actual product. Plus, isn't it high time we ditched the plastic and thought about Mother Earth? But hey, despite all this, I still wouldn't trade the joy of discovering a new favorite product. Keep it up, beauty industry, but maybe with a few tweaks here and there!

My journey with the cosmetics industry has been quite a rollercoaster. I've experienced the thrill of discovering new products that work wonders, but also the disappointment when some don't live up to the hype. I've had the chance to engage with amazing brands and understand their passion for beauty. However, I've also seen the darker side of the industry, with unethical practices and a lack of transparency. Overall, it's been a learning experience that has shaped my approach towards beauty and self-care.