The singer continued to perform with the popular boyband in spite of his injury

JLS singer Aston Merrygold said that ‘it’s killing me’ as he provided a health update after his recent surgery left him ‘bed-bound’.

The 38-year-old is best known for performing in one of the UK’s biggest boy bands alongside Oritsé Williams, Marvin Humes, and JB Gill. JLS rose to fame after finishing second on ITV singing competition The X Factor in 2008, coming in second to Alexandra Burke.

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After heading out on the road with their The Club Is Alive: 2025 Hits Tour, Aston underwent surgery in December after suffering an ankle injury during rehearsals. Despite his injury, Ason continued with the tour as he used crutches and sat down during the gigs.

Appearing on Channel 4 series Sunday Brunch on Sunday (February 22), Aston sat down with Simon Rimmer and Tim Lovejoy to discuss what actually happened and how he fared with his recovery journey.

“I broke everything in my ankle, apart from the bone. So, I’m still here. Basically, jumping off a platform to end the show, I vanished through the stage and landed on some crash mats.

“Obviously, I got excited and probably jumped a bit too high, trapped my leg between the crash mats and my body kept going. So I had to have full ankle reconstruction surgery,” he said.

With Tim joking if he had a ‘team of lawyers on that’, Aston went on to talk about his football playing days and how his fitness routine has been impacted by his injury.

He noted “It’s killing me. But everything, even in the week, going away with the kids for a few days is lovely.”

Asked if he can ‘do anything’, Aston replied: “I can’t run yet. So that’s kind of the extent of it. Stairs are good now, for the ankle progression.”

Tim replied: “You know what they say, and this is so true, a well man has 10,000 wishes and an ill man has one.”

Saying that he ‘100 percent’ agreed with Tim, Aston said that the ‘worst part of the whole thing’ was that he ‘had to be bed-bound at one point’.

“Then, when I could stand up, it had to be no weight. So no picking up the kids, no kind of running around. Obviously I didn’t listen.

“You can’t have those special moments just taken away fully, so I was a bit like, ‘No, there are some things,” he said.

According to Aston, the operation took place on December 5 and the doctors said it would be ‘over six months’ until he’s fully recovered.

JLS are set to go back on the road this summer, playing at Derby’s Darley Park before headlining the Colchester Castle Park in August. The boys will be provided support from Dreams singer Grabrielle.

Freestyle skier Zoe Atkin has won a bronze medal in the women’s halfpipe final at the Winter Olympics in Italy.

It means a record-equalling medal tally of five for Team GB, which had already secured three golds, more than at any other winter Games, as well as a silver in the men’s curling on Saturday.

The total haul of five medals was also achieved in 2014 and 2018.

Atkin, 23, whose father is British and has held dual UK-American citizenship since birth, came into the Games having won the superpipe competition at last month’s Aspen X Games.

Halfpipe skiing involves an athlete performing tricks on a U-shaped course made of hard-packed snow.

Atkin, from Massachusetts, qualified in first place but fell behind Eileen Gu, the defending champion, and Li Fanghui in the final. The Chinese pair won gold and silver, respectively.

She said she was nervous about the final and “played it a little bit safe on my first run” but then “stepped it up a little bit on my third run”.

“I’ve been working on my run for the past four years, even longer, and to be able to come back to the Olympics and be on the podium means so much to me,” she said.

Last weekend, Team GB made history with two golds: the first for Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale in the mixed team snowboarding, and the second for Matt Weston and Tabby Stoecker in the mixed team skeleton.

It was the first time Team GB had secured two gold medals on a single day of any previous Winter Games.

It is also the second gold at these games for Weston, who separately took the men’s singles skeleton title.

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How it feels to win two golds at Winter Olympics

Team GB missed out on a gold on Saturday after losing to Canada in a tense final in the men’s curling.

The team, led by Bruce Mouat, had to settle for silver, a repeat of their result from the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022.

Team member Bobby Lammie told Sky News: “I think we actually felt good pretty much the majority of the game. We felt in control and felt like we were controlling most of the game… and just unfortunately, there were too many mistakes.”

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Team GB curlers on how gold ‘slipped away’

They had hoped to become the first British men’s team to claim curling gold for 102 years.

Mouat, Lammie, Grant Hardie, Hammy McMillan and Kyle Waddell had come into this event after winning two World Championships.

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Director of performance at UK Sport, Dr Kate Baker, told Sky News: “It’s absolutely been an historic games for Team GB. It’s incredible to come away with so many Olympic champions to that point.

“We’ve never had more than one gold medal at a games before, and so to come home with multiple is absolutely brilliant.”

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‘Historic games’ for Team GB

This evening will see the closing ceremony in Verona as the curtain comes down on the Winter Olympics.

Norway are currently top of the table when ranked by gold medals. It has 18 compared to 11 from the US in second place, and 10 from The Netherlands in third. Italy is ranked fourth, followed by Germany and France.

Accusations of cheating. Swear words being hurled across the ice. Counter-claims of a sting operation with illicit filming. In curling?!

The drama started when Canada’s Marc Kennedy became involved in a heated verbal exchange with Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson towards the end of his side’s 8-6 win.

The Swedes believed Kennedy was repeatedly double-touching some of his stones, an illegal move.

But the cards were signed by both teams at the end, meaning the result would stand in a sport that is proudly self-governed by the players.

And then video footage found its way into circulation post-match. Was it premeditated?

The following day, Switzerland reported Kennedy for the same offence. World Curling then announced they would deploy extra officials for the remainder of the Games to check for double-touching.

Canadian women’s skip Rachel Holman was pinged for a double-touch, as was Team GB’s Bobby Lammie – both incidents not deliberate and the case of a lingering figure falling on to the granite.

World Curling changed its protocol again and teams could now request to have the stone delivery monitored if they had suspicions, and for a minimum of three ends.

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They are appealing for anyone with information to come forward

Police have confirmed a viable device was found during a security alert in Co Derry.

Detectives investigating an incident in the Oakvale Terrace area of Upperlands on February 21 are now appealing for information. Detective Inspector Keon said: “Following a report to police around 5.10pm, officers attended and a number of cordons were put in place. “Ammunition Technical Officers attended the scene and confirmed the discovery of a viable device. “There is still a police presence in the area while enquiries are ongoing and I would appeal to anyone who saw anything unusual, or who may have dashcam, CCTV or other video footage, to contact us on 101, quoting reference 1144 of 21/2/26. “We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who might have seen anything unusual in the area between 10pm on Thursday, February 19 and 2am on Friday, February 20. “You can also submit a report online via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”

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Lino Pizza of Il Barbiere said he has had customers from “all corners of the globe”

Cambridge might be a city in name, but in nature it often feels more like a sleepy town. That doesn’t mean it can’t compete with iconic cities like New York or London as a brilliant place to live and own a business – as one Cambridge barber has proven.

Lino Pizza, 57, is Cambridge born and bred. He now has three barbershops, one in Histon and two in the heart of Cambridge, called Parkers Barber Shop, Histon Barber Shop, and Il Barbiere.

Reminiscing on his first day opening his first shop, he said: “I remember, I decorated the shop on my own, I was painting the walls and I kind of had a fork in the road. In 1990, I visited New York.

“I went to see a friend of mine, and I loved New York so much that I thought I was going to go back, and that’s where I was going to have the life I dreamed of. Going back to the big, bright lights and big city.“

He continued: “That’s the decision I had to make, is either to stay or go. And I stayed, and then had kids here, and my career was here. It was fate really. My birthday is the 22nd of December. Now my shop is number 22 as well.”

Lino knew from a young age that he wanted to own a business, but hadn’t decided what it was going to be. After following his father’s idea to try a barbershop that a family friend had, he realised “that work was not only creative, but socially satisfying in all kinds of conversations, and lots of very funny jokes”.

Lino, whose family is Italian, said: “I remember when I was a child, my dad stopping at the newspaper shop on the corner of the very same street to pick up his pink Italian paper. And I thought to myself, I’d love to one day have a shop down this lovely old street.“

He added: “Magdalene Street is one of the most intact medieval streets in the whole of the UK, and we should be proud of that.” It is where he opened his first barbershop, called Il Barbiere.

He continued: “35 years later, I still turn the key to enter my small barber shop and still feel the same as I did all those years ago, wondering what characters will be visiting me and what conversations I will have with some of the interesting locals, and academics that surround me.”

A decade after opening his first shop, Lino took on Parkers Barber Shop in Regent Street. The business relocated to St Andrews Street nearby in 2025. Here, he has combined three independent businesses in one location.

He said: “Another love of mine is music. So it makes sense that above the barbers, we should have a record shop, which has proven a hit. Excuse the pun. Also in the basement of the shop is a retail outlet called Loft. So, we have created a very unique site with three independents in one location.”

In 2013, he opened up his third shop in Histon. He continues to be an integral part of each shop and actively visits regularly. Lino said he likes to grow his businesses over time, and if he sees something that’s going to work, he goes for it. He said it has “been a very successful business as well”, especially because they are the only barbershop in Histon.

Lino has some great stories to tell. One of his favourite parts of the job is having generations of the same family coming to his businesses. He said: “You have the grandfather coming in, and then the son will come in, and then the grandsons will come in, and you end up getting to know a lot of families, and you sort of grow up with them.”

Comparing present times with when he was growing up in Cambridge, Lino said that he used to go into town and go shopping more often. He said that “there needs to be a more creative and thoughtful process of how businesses can be in harmony with each other, and make it a much more enjoyable experience to visit”.

Lino continued that “people don’t want to sit in front of the computer or phone and order stuff” but they want to “see clothes, feel clothes, try them on and be out and meet their friends like we used to”.

He explained that around 40 per cent of his customers are students during term time and so he offers student rates every day to be unique to other shops, especially because “they are our bread and butter”. His shops also include a rate for seniors and under 12s.

The business owner speaks to people from “all corners of the globe”. He said: “It’s almost like travelling without actually spending any money. You’re getting insight into their world and country, and it’s interesting.”

Café Italia and Tesoro Pizza Napoletana have both been announced as finalists in the Best Restaurant (North West) category at the UK Italian Awards 2026.

They will compete against other top venues from across the region, with the winners set to be revealed at a gala final at the London Marriott Grosvenor Hotel on March 30.

Tesoro Pizza Napoletana, a family-run restaurant based on New Hall Lane in Heaton, specialises in authentic Neapolitan pizza.

Joe Whittaker and Peter Lancaster from Tesoro (Image: Newsquest)

The business says it has focused on quality over quantity since opening, using high-quality ingredients sourced from local suppliers alongside authentic Italian cheeses and cured meats.

Some of the produce used in the restaurant is also available to buy at its neighbouring deli, Provisions by Tesoro.

The restaurant also highlights the traditional approach taken by its team, with pizzas prepared by hand and baked in a traditional Neapolitan oven, visible to diners from the dining room.

Café Italia, which was established in 2014, is owned by Vito Cammarota, who trained as a chef in his native Italy before moving to the UK.

Mr Cammarota, who is originally from Naples, moved to England 17 years ago at the age of 18. After working in a number of Italian restaurants across Bolton, he took ownership of Café Italia in 2017.

Bruschetta from Café Italia (Image: NQ)

He told The Bolton News: “We’ve been going for at least seven years now and we actually won in 2020.

“It’s across the whole of the UK, so it’s a good competition to be a finalist in.

“It would be a great achievement to win, as it shows the hard work we’re putting in.

“We’d like to thank all of our customers because it means they appreciate what we’re doing.

“Hopefully it will be a good night.”

The UK Italian Awards 2026 celebrate Italian cuisine and businesses across the country, with categories including Best Chef, Best Pizza and Best Mixologist.

Regional awards aim to recognise talent nationwide, while London-specific categories are judged by an expert panel including several celebrity chefs.

Both Bolton restaurants will be hoping to bring the title back to the town and further highlight its thriving Italian food scene.

The United States won the men’s Olympic ice hockey gold medal for the first time in 46 years by beating neighbours Canada in a sensational conclusion to the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The final gold medal of the Games was sealed by Jack Hughes in overtime after the USA withstood pressure from the dominant Canadians throughout most of the match, goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck having the game of his life.

It is the first time since the ‘Miracle on Ice’ at Lake Placid in 1980 that the USA’s men have won Olympic gold.

And it is the first time the Americans have won the competition outside of their home country.

After a tight start, USA broke through in brilliant style through some individual magic by Matt Boldy.

Boldy picked up the puck inside his own half, chipped it over two defenders and outmuscled them to collect it before nudging it around a stranded Jordan Binnington.

Canada, as they had in the previous two knockout rounds, needed to come from behind but struggled to build momentum until towards the end of the second period.

USA, inspired by the possibility of a first men’s Olympic ice hockey gold on foreign ice, defended manfully – including a period when they were three against five with two in the penalty box.

But in the 38th minute, a quick switch from Devon Toews found Cale Makar wide open on the right and he drove the puck past Hellebuyck.

Canada continued to dominate in the third period, and in regular time had 41 shots to USA’s 26. But they could not find a winner, meaning three-on-three overtime for the first time in Olympic history.

In the gold medal match, both teams field three players plus a goalkeeper in overtime, and play 20-minute periods until a goal is scored – no shootout.

And after both sides had chances, 101 seconds into overtime Hughes buried his shot to write his name into American sporting folklore.

The statement said it was signed by the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria and the State of Palestine, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Spurs: Vicario, Gray, Dragusin, Van de Ven, Spence, Palhinha, Bissouma, Sarr, Gallagher, Xavi, Kolo Muani

Subs: Austin, Richarlison, Tel, Solanke, Souza, Olusesi, Williams-Barnett, Rowsell, Wilson

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Odegaard, Jesus, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly

Multiple Arab nations have condemned the US ambassador to Israel after he said “it would be fine” if Tel Aviv took control of almost all of the Middle East.

In an interview published on Friday, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson pressed Mike Huckabee on his interpretation of Bible verses, where he said God promised Abraham and his descendants land that would today include “basically the entire Middle East”.

“That would be the Levant, so that would be Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon,” Carlson said. “It would also be big parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.”

The ambassador replied: “I’m not sure we’d go that far. I mean, it would be a big piece of land.”

Carlson then asked if Israel had a right to control that entire area, to which Mr Huckabee responded: “It would be fine if they took it all.”

The Donald Trump-appointed ambassador added, however, that Israel was not looking to expand its territory and that it has a right to security in the land it legitimately holds.

The comments sparked an immediate backlash from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman, as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States.

Egypt‘s foreign ministry called Mr Huckabee’s remarks a “blatant violation” of international law, adding: “Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory or other Arab lands.”

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia‘s foreign ministry labelled the comments as “extremist rhetoric” and “unacceptable”, and has called for the US state department to clarify its position on them.

The League of Arab States, a confederation of 22 countries, said: “Statements of this nature – extremist and lacking any sound basis – serve only to inflame sentiments and stir religious and national emotions.”

There was no immediate comment from Israel or the United States.

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Inside an illegal Israeli outpost

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Since being established in 1948, Israel has not had fully recognised borders, and its frontiers with Arab neighbours have often shifted after wars, annexations, ceasefires and peace agreements.

Israel has encroached on more land since the start of its war in Gaza, which was sparked by the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023.

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Under the current ceasefire, Israel has withdrawn its troops in Gaza to a buffer zone, but it still controls more than half of the enclave. Israeli forces are supposed to withdraw further, but there is currently no timeline for this.

In Syria, Israel’s military seized control of a demilitarised buffer zone after President Bashar al-Assad was ousted from power at the end of 2024. Israel said the move was temporary and meant to secure its border.

It has also attempted to deepen control of the occupied West Bank in recent months by greatly expanding construction in Jewish settlements and legalising outposts.

Mr Huckabee, an evangelical Christian and strong supporter of Israel and the West Bank settlement movement, has long opposed a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian people.

In an interview last year, he said he does not believe in referring to the Arab descendants of people who had lived in British-controlled Palestine as “Palestinians”.