Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina upset world number four Coco Gauff to set up a final against Jessica Pegula at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

American Pegula was the first to win her semi-final, fighting back from a disastrous opening set and early break of serve in the second set to defeat compatriot Amanda Anisimova 1-6 6-4 6-3.

Gauff, 21, had a chance to make it an all-American final on Saturday, but Svitolina recorded a 6-4 6-7 (13-15) 6-4 in an epic encounter that lasted three hours and three minutes.

The 31-year-old Svitolina had four match points in the second-set tie-break and could not take them, but still managed to win the decider.

In the men’s Qatar Open, world number one Carlos Alcaraz maintained his perfect start to 2026 with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 victory over Russia’s Andrey Rublev to move into the final.

North Yorkshire Police said officers were called to an address in Micklegate at around 3.20pm yesterday (February 19) after a violent incident had taken place.

They said that a man in his 40s had received wounds consistent with a stabbing and was taken to hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.

As reported by The Press, a cordon was originally put up in the street overnight but was reduced to two properties in Trinity Lane by this morning (Friday).

RECOMMENDED READING:

The one-way entrance to the street from Micklegate was still closed off with police tape and no entry signs at 7am, however the entrance from Bishophill Junior up to the no entry signs was accessible.

A police spokesperson said: “Detectives are leading an investigation, which continues today. There is a police presence in the area as officers carry out enquiries and support the community.”

Two men and three women, aged between 28 and 58, have been arrested in connection with the incident and remain in custody, police said.

Anyone who has information that they have yet to share can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101. Please quote reference NYP-19022026-0285.

Kenworthy retired after the 2022 Olympics in Beijing and completely walked away from skiing.

He then turned his hand to acting, with credits in Will & Grace and American Horror Story, as well as guest-judging on Ru Paul’s Drag Race.

However, the itch to return grew stronger, and last year he announced his return to the sport, though he has had to self-fund his way to the Games given GB Snowsport’s athlete funding had already been allocated.

“I called it quits partly because I’d been doing it a long time and I had burnout and was over it, but I was also having some bad head injuries and so it made it easier to walk away,” said the five-time World Championship medallist.

“Months after, when those symptoms started to subside and I started to feel myself again, I started [thinking] it wasn’t the way I wanted it to finish.

“I kept pushing that feeling away, and finally I was at a point where I was like ‘OK, well if you’re having that feeling, it’s now or never’, and I didn’t want to live to regret it and wonder what if.

“I decided to just give it a push and make it go, and try and get there. It’s been pretty tough, because I didn’t have any funding, I wasn’t on any national team in order to get assistance, so it’s been totally self-funded, myself, my coach, both of our travel, training camps, lift tickets, insurance, all of it, food, lodgings.

“I struggled deciding if it was the right thing to do, but ultimately, money comes and goes, this opportunity won’t.”

Kenworthy will be 38 when the next Winter Olympics take place in the French Alps in 2030.

When asked by BBC Sport if he will be there, he replied: “I hope so. I’m having fun, I’m not done.”

Winter continues to grip the region with dry spells predicted but stubborn rain refusing to quit this weekend

If you’re out and about across Northern Ireland this weekend then – surprise surprise – you might want to consider taking wet weather gear with you.

Despite temperatures being a bit warmer and some dry spells predicted, the Met Office forecast for the next two days still shows a high likelihood of rain.

Saturday will see a generally dry start to the day according to meteorologists. Expected outbreaks of rain will reach the southwest later in the morning with the afternoon likely to be cloudy. Outbreaks of rain are anticipated for most places in the region with a maximum temperature of 12C.

READ MORE: Gallery: Mike Skinner and The Streets performed at the Belfast Telegraph buildingREAD MORE: Two arrested on suspicion of illegal money lending

Sunday will remain unsettled with blustery heavy showers spreading eastwards. At times there will be longer periods of rain according to the Met Office.

However, the good news is there will still be some dry spells with occasional brightness and breezy periods throughout.

Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simply click here.

The town council by-election candidate continued to be listed as a Conservative despite having changed his allegiance

Reform UK has secured victory in a Penarth Town Council by-election, despite the ballot paper listing winner Zak Weaver as a Conservative Party candidate. Mr Weaver, the former deputy chief of staff to Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar, won with 38% of the vote and will now represent the Plymouth ward.

He resigned from the Conservatives a week before the by-election meaning it was too late for the ballot papers to be altered. The results leaves the council with only one Conservative representative.

Speaking to The Cardiffian before the by-election, Mr Weaver said: “While my party may have changed, my dedication to our community has not changed. My focus has been on our town, not party politics.” For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here

The defection was criticised in the run-up to election day by residents who described it as “totally outrageous”.

Penarth resident Conrad Bartlett said: “I really don’t see, if he did win, how he could possibly be allowed to keep his post.”

Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru’s by-election candidate, Aled Thomas, said Mr Weaver had “betrayed the people”.

Returning officer Rob Thomas explained that there was no provision under Welsh law “to amend the ballot or halt the election due to a change in political affiliation”.

The by-election was triggered after former Councillor Ben Gray was automatically disqualified for failing to attend the town council for six months.

Independent Mr Gray had held the seat since 2017, having been elected as a Conservative. He walked away from the party two years later over political infighting on Vale of Glamorgan Council.

Campaign material released ahead of Mr Weaver’s defection described his priorities as campaigning against Penarth’s controversial parking charges, which have been suspended, and the now-defunct aqua park on Cosmeston Lake.

He also pledged to fix the area’s roads, pavements and car parks.

Mr Weaver came first with 546 votes, while the Green Party’s Todd Bailey came second with 452 votes followed by Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru who secured 221 and 204 votes respectively.

The full results can be found here.

Ensure our latest news and sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

North Yorkshire Council has set out plans to increase parking charges by ten per cent from April 1, while fees will also be ‘rebalanced’ to ensure consistency across the county.

Council chiefs estimate the changes will give the authority a £3.563m boost in 2026/27

The changes will affect the council’s 170 car parks, as well as on-street parking and residents’ parking schemes.

The authority says the rebalancing is needed to ensure fairness and consistency, with parking previously overseen by North Yorkshire’s seven former borough and district councils.

The changes will see parking fees introduced on Sundays and evenings in areas of the county where parking is currently free at these times.

An additional cost is planned for second permits in existing residential zones to account for the increasing number of houses with multiple vehicles.

But the council has decided that blue badge parking will be free in all council-run car parks in future.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transport, Councillor Malcolm Taylor, said: “The changes to parking charges are part of our vision for a unified system that is consistent for everyone.

“After positive discussions with disability groups, we are pleased to be able to offer free parking for blue badge holders, meaning some areas will see them removed altogether.

“We have carefully reviewed the charges to ensure they deliver the best possible value while enabling the service to remain financially self-sustaining.

“In many cases, our rates are more affordable than privately managed car parks and are competitive with those set by neighbouring authorities.”

The council says it has committed £2.4m into improving its car parks.

Of this, £2m will be used to replace the existing 430 pay-and-display machines, including new ticketless machines in 150 of its car parks.

Lighting and signage will also be improved.

Cllr Taylor added: “We strive to improve our parking services to provide a better customer experience.

“We are investing in replacing parking machines, which will be more environmentally friendly, to save money and be more reliable.”

But opposition councillors have spoken of their dismay at the proposed changes.

Councillor Peter Lacey, leader of the Liberal Democrats group on the council, said it was “strange” that the changes were implemented in advance of local engagement to develop town investment plans.

He added: “This cart-before-horse centralist approach by the Tory-led administration is becoming tiresome and flies in the face of its claim to aspire to become the most local large unitary.”

Councillor Arnold Warneken, from the Green Party, said: “The Greens don’t support a blanket increase of parking charges because it depends on location.

“In many cases, if you significantly increase car parking charges then it puts pressure on residential streets as we have seen in places like Wetherby.

Councillor Stuart Parsons, leader of the North Yorkshire Independents group, added: “If they’re going to be rebalancing the fees, they should be doing so downwards not upwards.

“They’re supposed to be encouraging people to visit our market towns but this does the opposite.”

North Yorkshire Council’s executive members have recently agreed to adopt a set of parking principles with the aim of ensuring a “consistent, fair, and forward-looking approach to parking”.

The principles would be implemented in stages, with a review of tariffs being the first. This will be followed by developing localised town parking strategies over the next year, recognising that one size doesn’t fit all.

The parking plans will be discussed at a meeting next between Cllr Taylor and the council’s corporate director of environment, Karl Battersby.

Police are appealing for witnesses

A man has been arrested on suspicion of drug driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving after a crash near Cambridge. Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage after a man was left with serious injuries after a collision on the A1307.

Officers and paramedics were called at 5.25am on Friday (February 20) to reports of a crash on Cambridge Road, Babraham. It happened close to the junction with High Street and Chalky Lane.

A red Vauxhall Movano flatbed van was involved in a crash with a black Nissan Qashqai. The Qashqai driver, a 52-year-old man, from Newmarket, was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital with serious injuries.

The Vauxhall van driver, a 45-year-old man, from Tilbury, Essex, was also taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for treatment for minor injuries. He has been arrested on suspicion of drug driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He remains in custody.

A police spokesperson said that anyone who saw what happened or who has footage is asked to contact the force, with reference incident 49 of February 20.

The Only Way Is Essex are losing a popular character from the current series as they admit they have had to make a difficult decision and take a step back from the show

A star of The Only Way Is Essex has revealed they won’t be appearing in the latest series of the reality show. Freddie Bentley flew home from filming in Vietnam earlier in the month. Now, he has revealed he has made the decision to step back from the show for the rest of the current series. He admitted he found “peace” following his shock decision.

Freddie, 27, shared the update in a statement on Instagram. Alongside images of him looking happy with his decision, he wrote: “TOWIE UPDATE: Hey Everyone. A couple of weeks ago I shared that I’d be leaving TOWIE early while we were filming in Vietnam to take some time for myself before heading back to filming in Essex. Since then, I’ve done a lot of reflecting and work on myself, and I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from the rest of this series.

READ MORE: Vernon Kay issues apology after ‘getting emotional’ over family update live on-airREAD MORE: Ruth Langsford ‘cried her eyes out’ during heartbreaking milestone after Eamonn split

Advertisement

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

“It hasn’t been an easy choice, but right now prioritising my peace and wellbeing has to come first. You’ll still see me on screen for most of this series, but I’ll be taking a step back before the end to focus on my own happiness and growth.”

He went on: “Also a huge thanks to the lovely TOWIE production team and ITV for always being so caring and understanding. This isn’t a goodbye forever, just goodbye for now. I’m sure you will see me on your screens again in the future. Thank you everyone for all your love and support. Freddie xxx”

Freddie had previously explained why he left Vietnam. He wrote at the time: “Hi guys, Would rather everyone heard from me first, but just to let you know I’ve left filming in Vietnam a couple of days early.

“Let’s just say a lot has happened already this series and I just needed to get back to Essex and have a breather before everyone else flies home, but don’t worry I’ll be back filming with everyone once they all return.

“As always all will be revealed on the show. Love you all, Freddie xx.” He went on to tag the show’s official Instagram account.

Freddie has been taking this year to focus more on himself and has regularly updated his online followers. In January he wrote: “2026 is the year I choose myself.

“Not out of ego. Not out of spite. But out of respect for the life I want to live. I’m choosing discipline over excuses. Training even when motivation dips.”

He added: “Eating clean because my body deserves fuel, not punishment. Showing up to the gym not just to change how I look – but to change how I feel, how I think, and how I move through the world.” This isn’t about perfection.

“It’s about consistency. About building strength physically and mentally. About being content, grounded, and genuinely happy – not chasing validation, but creating peace.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

Seed now has three locations across Northern Ireland

If you’ve ever made your lunch and thought its so good that people would pay for this, then listen up.

Seed Salads is looking for people who are passionate about food across Northern Ireland to come up with a new menu item.

Seed is a health food restaurant and takeaway that was started in Dungannon in Co Tyrone before opening two locations in Belfast, one on the Lisburn Road in South Belfast and one in the city centre.

READ MORE: Belfast food spots win Deliveroo Restaurant AwardsREAD MORE: NI chef exceeding all his expectations as he prepares for his first live show at Waterfront Hall

In 2025, they were named by Deliveroo as ‘Independent Restaurant of the Year’ across the island of Ireland, the top spot at the annual food awards.

They have launched its ‘Salad Open’ competition to give customers a chance to freshen up their menu and also be in with the chance of winning £2,000.

A spokesperson said: “Ever dreamed of seeing your own dish on a restaurant menu? This is your moment.

“We’re inviting passionate food lovers (home cooks, trained chefs, and everyone in between) to create our next big menu item.

“The selected creation won’t just earn bragging rights! It will be featured on our menu for an entire season and win a £2,000 cash prize.”

Those who make it into the competition will also be part of an exclusive behind-the-scenes mini social series, documenting the journey from concept to final judging.

The competition will take place on March 3 in Belfast, where the competitor will have 1.5 hours to prepare and serve their dish.

Judging criteria includes menu selection, taste, appearance, presentation and judges Q&A after cooking and you must explain the ingredients and a rationale for their use.

Owner Peter Coleman told Belfast Live: “The Salad Open is a fun new campaign from Seed, and we’re buzzing to get everyone involved. Whether you’re a home cook, have a go to signature dish, or just think your salad deserves a spot on our Spring menu, this is your moment.

“It’s something totally different for Belfast, and we’re really excited to see what salads the contestants bring to the table.”

To enter or find out more see here

Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simply click here

A statement from Chelsea read: “Chelsea Football Club today announces a multi-year global partnership with IFS, the world’s leading provider of Industrial AI. As part of this commitment, IFS will be elevated to Principal Partner with immediate effect, featuring on Chelsea’s front of shirt for the remainder of the 25/26 season — marking the beginning of a long-term collaboration that places advanced AI at the heart of football performance, operational excellence and fan engagement.