In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

By KRISTINA WEMYSS, GENERAL NEWS REPORTER

Published: 13:53 BST, 16 July 2026 | Updated: 14:05 BST, 16 July 2026

But, says Rousell, despite a large body of research into the properties of different colours, the best option for your home is still somewhat contextual, depending on your background, economic upbringing and the climate you live in. “People always ask me, ‘what is the best colour for sleep?’, but that depends not just on the sensory input that’s coming in but also your lived experience, which acts as a filter that all this sensory input has to pass through,” she says.

Pamela Gwinnett, 63, was sentenced in her absence last year after using bullying, coercion, and threats to steal from the elderly Joan Green while acting as an unofficial carer.

The dock was empty at the hearing last October after Gwinnett breached a court order the previous April and fled to Tenerife, purportedly to scatter her brother’s ashes.

The convicted fraudster is believed to have been in Tenerife ever since, until this week reports emerged that she had been arrested by Spanish authorities.

Approached for confirmation by The Bolton News, a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting a British woman who has been arrested in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.”

Last October Judge Michael Maher addressed Gwinnett’s sentencing hearing as if she had been present, saying he hoped she would eventually read his remarks after she was arrested.

Judge Maher said: “To you, Joan Green was simply a cash cow to be milked until she was dry.

“And so having inveigled your way into their lives behind the charade that you were a benevolent friend to Joan, you set about playing the long game to isolate and control a vulnerable woman and thereby enrich yourself.”

Pamela Gwinnett was sentenced in her absence at Preston Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

He added: “When one of the carers overheard Joan asking you why her family didn’t come around anymore, you sought to brainwash her, saying they are not good enough for you.

“You controlled the use of her bank cards, and you prevented her from seeing any banking staff about her money.

“To be blunt, she was under your thumb.”

Judge Maher said there was a “self-assured shamelessness” to her crimes.

He said: “To use the colloquialism, you have some brass neck Ms. Gwinnett.”

Pamela Gwinnett stole nearly £300,000 from an elderly woman (Image: GMP)

Gwinnett stole a total of £296,000 from Mrs Green, spending the proceeds on extravagances like Botox treatments and a £22,500 car.

Last October, Preston Crown Court heard from James Preece, prosecuting, how Gwinnett had posed as Mrs Green’s friend and was originally employed for light cleaning and shopping tasks.

But after getting close to her victim, Gwinnett manipulated her way to getting herself made Mrs Green’s power of attorney.

To heighten her elderly victim’s sense of isolation, Gwinnett changed her landline owner, sacked a long-time gardener, and made false accusations of neglect against Mrs Green’s family.

Pamela Gwinnett has finally been arrested (Image: GMP)

After the Court of Appeal suspended Gwinnett’s power of attorney, she continued to steal from a joint bank account.

She even continued to steal from Mrs Green after her death shortly before her 90th birthday in November 2022.

Gwinnett, formerly of Greenfield Road, Adlington, denied her crimes when brought to court but was convicted by a jury of fraud by abuse of position and theft.

Gerard Doran, defending, said the only point her could make in her favour was that she had no previous convictions.

Officer in charge of the investigation PC Georgia Loughton said: “We are pleased that Pamela Gwinnett will be returned to the UK where she will serve her sentence. 

“Pamela knowingly defrauded a vulnerable woman out of almost £300,000, cutting off all contact with her family and controlling every aspect of her life. 

“She was trusted by Joan, and she used this position of trust to her own financial gain.

“Joan was isolated from her family and denied from seeing her grandchildren and their children. 

“Sadly, Joan passed away in 2022 however we hope that the return of Pamela to the UK to serve her sentence gives Joan’s family a sense of justice as they look to move on with their lives.” 

 District Commander for GMP’s Bolton district, Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley said catching Gwinnett had been made possible thanks to her team working with the National Crime Agency and the Spanish authorities.

She said: “Our teams have worked alongside the National Crime Agency and Spanish authorities to ensure that Pamela is brought back to the UK to face the consequences of her crimes. 

“This arrest highlights our commitment to relentlessly pursue those who commit crimes and exploit vulnerable people in our communities. We will take any necessary action and ensure they face justice. 

“I would like to thank the team for their diligent investigation which led to Gwinnett’s conviction and now her arrest.

“I hope this news offers an element of solace to Joan’s family.” 

She was ordered to pay a confiscation order of £350,180, again in her absence, at a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing earlier this year.

The risk of dementia rises as the brain ages. One reason is that connections between brain cells weaken over time. Diseases of the brain, such as Alzheimer’s and stroke, can speed this up, eventually leading to dementia, a loss of mental abilities and a loss of independence.

Scientists can now estimate a person’s brain age from brain scans, and compare it with their actual age. This difference, known as the brain-age gap, can predict who is more likely to see faster mental decline and go on to develop dementia. One study followed around 39,000 people and found exactly that link. The good news is that lifestyle changes – stopping smoking, drinking less alcohol and exercising regularly – can slow this decline.

But what about learning another language? Could that help keep the brain younger for longer and delay dementia?

Preliminary findings presented at a recent scientific conference suggested that people who speak more languages tend to have younger brains. Speaking two languages was linked to a six-year delay in brain ageing, and speaking four languages was linked to a delay of up to 13 years.

A separate study of more than 86,000 people across 27 European countries found that people who spoke only one language were more than twice as likely to show faster brain ageing. Speaking two languages cut that risk by 30%, according to the findings.

The theory is that learning languages builds what scientists call brain reserve – extra connections between nerve cells that help the brain withstand the damage caused by ageing and disease.

But the picture may not be so simple. It could depend on how the research is done, who is being studied, and why someone speaks more than one language in the first place.

Delayed diagnosis, not lower risk

When researchers combined the results of several studies, they found that speaking more than one language didn’t actually lower a person’s risk of developing dementia. What it did do was delay diagnosis by two to five years.

One explanation is that learning another language builds vocabulary and problem-solving skills, which may help hide the early signs of dementia rather than prevent the disease itself.

There’s another complication. Most studies on this topic have focused on white, middle-class people in the US and Europe – people who often grew up speaking several languages thanks to a good education and supportive parents.

This same group is also more likely to do other things that protect the brain, such as reading for pleasure, playing sport or learning a musical instrument, all of which have been linked to a lower risk of dementia.

There’s also a chicken-and-egg problem. People with good memories for words and language rules – and the support and motivation to use them – may simply be more likely to become multilingual in the first place.

And being middle class generally means a healthier lifestyle: better food, better healthcare, more time for leisure and less stress – all of which reduce dementia risk on their own.

Why migrants don’t fit the pattern

If speaking multiple languages were simply protective, you’d expect migrants – who often need to learn a new language – to have a lower dementia risk. In fact, the opposite is true. Several studies have found migrants face a higher risk.

The reasons are complicated. Poor health, social isolation and depression, particularly among migrant women, may all play a part, sometimes linked to limited language skills stemming from a lack of education.

This suggests that being able to communicate well enough to express your needs and get support may matter more than simply speaking another language.

Indonesia has the largest multilingual population in the world, with more than 200 million people speaking more than one language. Yet dementia rates in some parts of the country are double those in wealthier western nations, according to research my colleagues and I conducted.

This is especially true in poorer rural areas with low levels of education, and among women. But even there, staying socially active and exercising reduced dementia risk.

If the brain reserve theory holds up, learning a language later in life could help the brain form new connections and cope better with ageing. The process also increases blood flow – and with it, oxygen and nutrients – to the parts of the brain being used. This fits with the “use it or lose it” idea, that the brain works a bit like a muscle.

As dementia takes hold, people often lose their weaker, second language first. That would explain why its protective effect on the brain fades and why diagnosis is often delayed rather than prevented.

To really test whether learning a language protects the brain, we need studies that compare older people who learn a new language with those who don’t. So far, this kind of research has produced mixed results. About half of the studies found no effect on cognition.

As with most dementia research, one thing is clear: no single habit – including learning a language – is likely to be the deciding factor in whether someone develops the condition.

Jude Bellingham fought back tears as he was comforted by family and friends after England‘s World Cup campaign came to an end with a defeat to Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Bellingham, arguably England’s standout player of the tournament, was unable to reproduce the heroics that inspired victory over Norway as the Three Lions fell to a 2-1 defeat against the defending world champions.

Anthony Gordon had given England the lead before Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez struck late on to book Argentina’s place in Sunday’s showpiece at the New York-New Jersey Stadium.

Long after the final whistle, and following a feisty confrontation with Argentina substitute Valentin Barco, Bellingham turned to his family for support. 

Footage showed the Real Madrid star embracing his father, Mark Bellingham, and mother, Denise Bellingham, while wiping away tears. His close friend and England team-mate Morgan Rogers was also seen hugging his parents.

The 23-year-old was also spotted sitting alongside his girlfriend, Ashlyn Castro, 28, appearing visibly downcast by the afternoon’s events.

Bellingham was spotted sitting alongside his girlfriend, Ashlyn Castro, 28, appearing visibly downcast by the afternoon’s events

The pair were joined by Bellingham’s father, Mark, and his mother, Denise in the stands after the final whistle

It was a change in mood from what had preceded it, with Bellingham having become embroiled in a heated altercation with Barco in the moments after the final whistle.

Bellingham slapped the young Strasbourg player’s head from behind, sparking a brief melee involving players from both sides.

It remains unclear what triggered the reaction from the Real Madrid midfielder, though footage has circulated showing Barco running onto the pitch after Fernandez’s 85th-minute equaliser and celebrating in front of the England players rather than joining his team-mates by the corner flag.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, described Barco’s actions as ‘probably the worst example of sportsmanship we’ve seen at this World Cup’.

Barco, 21, plays for French side Strasbourg and previously spent time at Brighton. He is reportedly set to join Chelsea ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.

The Argentine has featured just once at the tournament, coming off the bench in the second half of his side’s 3-1 group-stage victory over Jordan.

The match itself was incredibly attritional, with 19 fouls committed in the first half, as American referee Ismail Elfath struggled to keep a lid on things.

In the very first minute, Alexis Mac Allister set the tone for what was about to unfold, flooring Elliot Anderson just 19 seconds after the first whistle. 

A few minutes later, Bellingham appeared to confront Messi for another foul on Anderson.

‘We were really just discussing a foul, actually,’ Bellingham is reported to have said after the match.

‘It wasn’t anything bad. I’m sure everyone will do their thing and make it a big deal, but it was nothing.’

Bellingham became embroiled in a heated altercation with Argentina substitute Valentin Barco in the moments after the final whistle

‘I wish I could say more. I wish I could give one more win or two more wins. But at the moment I’m kind of – my head’s a bit fuzzy with disappointment,’ he said in his post-match interview

As for his post-match assessment, Bellingham said: ‘I think we can take a lot from the experience, but it’s so gutting.

‘I wanted to be a part of an England squad that had finally done it, finally got it over the line. And to be here telling the fans unfortunately the same things that they’ve probably heard for years and years, it’s really gutting.

‘I wish I could say more. I wish I could give one more win or two more wins. But at the moment I’m kind of – my head’s a bit fuzzy with disappointment.’

During the post-match celebrations, Argentina’s stars held aloft a banner that read: ‘The Malvinas (Falklands) are ours.’

That has led to calls for the players involved to face disciplinary action from FIFA.

Despite FIFA’s ban on political flags, Tottenham captain Romero, Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez and ex-Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso celebrated with the controversial sign after the final whistle.

Captain and star player Messi was also seen dancing alongside the banner.

FIFA has yet to comment, but the governing body is under huge pressure to punish Argentina for flouting its rules. Manchester United and Spurs are being urged to punish Romero and Martinez.

Twelve years ago, the team carried the same banner at an international friendly and was fined just £20,000.

But there are growing calls for the players who carried the banner at a match of such magnitude – watched by an estimated 950 million people worldwide – to face tougher sanctions.

How much is David Beckham set to pocket from his World Cup brand deals? Take on our quiz in our newsletter HERE.

Supporters of Argentina in Buenos Aires revelled in their World Cup triumph against England, setting fire to flags and parading a coffin draped with the Union Jack across the capital’s streets.

The Wednesday evening encounter rekindled a long-standing rivalry that had lain quiet for 20 years, yet the reigning world champions pressed forward in their quest for a fourth World Cup title, shattering English hopes – much to their delight.

Building on tournament successes in 1986 and 1998, Argentina secured victory with an injury-time goal against the Three Lions. Lautaro Martinez nodded in the decisive strike after Anthony Gordon had put England ahead in the second period.

The heated fixture carried significant political undertones, with the Falklands War remaining a point of contention amongst South Americans. Argentine players have repeatedly alluded to it throughout the competition, and supporters at home took immense satisfaction in defeating England.

Amid the festivities in Buenos Aires, fans were seen torching English flags while a coffin covered in a Union Jack was paraded as thousands flooded the streets, reports the Mirror.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has faced substantial criticism for his tactical decisions, particularly after the Three Lions took the lead. The side shifted to a considerably more cautious strategy, with his substitutions bringing on several defenders in an attempt to preserve the result.

Lionel Messi’s impact intensified, and following Enzo Fernandez’s equaliser on 85 minutes, they continued to bombard the England goal before securing their winner in added time. The eight-time Ballon d’Or holder has his sights set on a second World Cup triumph, which would further solidify his legendary status.

He made reference to those back home in Argentina who are facing difficult times, expressing his hope that the victory brought them some happiness.

“We are proud and happy to be able to give this to the people, we know that the World Cups are special for us,” he said. “

We forget all the bad things we have to go through, there are people who have a hard time, who don’t have a job, who don’t make ends meet, it’s our life, what we’ve always had to deal with, it’s beautiful to be able to give this joy to them.”

He went on to add: “We Argentinians always demand more. If we had lost to England today, there would have been people saying stupid things, and we didn’t give them the chance… we knew that we were better than them at football, but it’s still special because of everything it means.”

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‘Unforeseen’ issues were found which means that the pool cannot open in 2026

A Cambridgeshire village paddling pool will not open this summer after a “safety risk” was discovered. Papworth Everard Parish Council announced on Tuesday (July 14) that the village paddling pool would not be opening for the 2026 summer season.

After the pool was cleaned and cleared, a full inspection was carried out. The inspector found issues with the base of the pool, after a fibreglass surface refurbishment in 2025.

A parish council spokesperson said the authority was “bitterly disappointed” that the pool couldn’t open for 2026. It added: “The inspection found fundamental issues with the base of the pool, which were unforeseen.

“We are in the process of undertaking a risk assessment and obtaining a second opinion; however, the recommendations from the inspection indicate that the damage presents a safety risk that cannot be remediated within a timeframe that would allow safe use of the pool this summer.”

The council will next conduct a full risk assessment and review the experts’ findings, recommendations, and financial implications. It will then look at the available options and determine the most appropriate long-term course of action.

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