And finally… Devil worshippers in Iran take a haircut

Spiky haircuts are becoming increasingly popular among young men in Iran, but are often viewed as un-Islamic.

According to the ISNA news agency, Mostafa Govahi, the head of the barbers’ union, said: “Devil worshipping hairstyles are now forbidden. Any shop that cuts hair in the devil worshipping style will be harshly dealt with and their license revoked.”

He added, ominously: “Usually the barber shops who do this do not have a license. They have been identified and will be dealt with.”

Iran has a history of wrangling with popular haircuts, with the country’s culture ministry producing a catalogue in 2010 of haircuts that met government approval.

Among the haircuts censured by the Iranian government were ponytails and mullets - but floppy fringes and quiffs were spared the same disdain.

Similar reports of regulated haircuts in North Korea last year were eventually disproven, leaving Iran isolated in policing the countercultural movement.