The £30billion ecommerce firm sells technology, appliances, beauty, home, groceries and other essentials

Chinese online retail giant JD.com has launched its new Joybuy platform in the UK as it seeks to challenge major rivals such as Amazon.

The £30billion ecommerce firm sells technology, appliances, beauty, home, groceries and other essentials. It said it will also offer next-day delivery to about 17 million households across the UK from its launch after establishing its own logistics operations. The group will run distribution sites from Milton Keynes and Luton.

The move comes after US and Hong-Kong listed JD.com – which is the largest retailer in China, and is not related to JD Sports – pulled out of talks to buy major UK retail brands over the past two years.

The group was looking at a possible deal to buy Currys in 2024, and last September it walked away from talks over a potential takeover of Argos from Sainsbury’s.

Bosses said the business plans to establish itself in the UK for “a long time” and believes its product range, value and convenience will attract new customers.

Matthew Nobbs, managing director of Joybuy UK, said the firm was “confident” about its growth prospects in the country.

He told the Press Association: “We are here for a long time, as our CEO has said. We have spent a lot of time working and honing to get our web and app proposition right, making it work in beta testing over the time.

“We have to make sure the customer experience is really great.”

The company is also launching in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Belgium and Luxembourg. The business struck a 2.2 billion euro (£1.9 billion) deal to snap up Germany-based electronics retail group Ceconomy last year.

Brooklyn Beckham has reunited with his godfather Sir Elton John on the same day he snubbed his mum Victoria Beckham.

On Sunday, the eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham decided not to share a post on social media acknowledging Mother’s Day, despite his dad paying tribute to his wife and the mother of their four children.

The cold shoulder from the 27-year-old came after he did manage to honour his wife Nicola Peltz’s mum though, with Claudia Heffner ringing in her birthday this weekend.

Re-sharing a post initially shared by his wife, 31, Brooklyn declared that he ‘loved’ his mother-in-law ‘so much’.

Despite Brooklyn’s ongoing estrangement from his parents, he did catch up with his godfather Sir Elton at the weekend, with the legendary performer hosting an Oscars viewing party event on Sunday night.

Brooklyn and Nicola attended the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 34th Annual Academy Awards viewing party, where they wore matching all-black outfits.

At one point in the evening, Sir Elton could be seen sitting at a table chatting with the couple as others watched on.

Although Sir Elton has not commented publicly on Brooklyn’s feud with his parents since his bombshell social media takedown of them in January, last year, he and husband David Furnish expressed their support for Brooklyn and his wife.

In June, Brooklyn shared a post dedicated to his wife to mark five years since he proposed and declared it the ‘best decision ever’.

Although his parents never commented on the post, Sir Elton tagged Brooklyn and Nicola and wrote: ‘Happy Anniversary to the sweetest, most loving couple.’

Meanwhile, David also shared: ‘Happy Anniversary to the gorgeous couple.’

With a friendship stretching back 30 years, David affectionately calls the musician ‘Uncle Elton’ after they became friends in his football days in the 1990s.

Although Sir Elton was due to perform at the Beckhams wedding in 1999, he suffered a heart attack that prevented him from playing. He later sang at one of the children’s christenings.

Victoria once disclosed it was Sir Elton who inspired her to leave the Spice Girls, writing an emotional letter to her older self where she confessed that watching him perform made her realise that her true calling lay beyond singing.

It’s now been two months since Brooklyn launched a brutal social media take-down of his parents, claiming they had ‘controlled’ him for most of his life and that he ‘did not want to reconcile’ with them after making the decision to cut them off.

Although his parents recently tried to extend a public olive branch when Brooklyn celebrated his 27th birthday earlier this month, their social media posts were ignored, likely because he’s also blocked them.

Brooklyn didn’t acknowledge his mum on Mother’s Day, but David posted a sweet tribute to his wife of 27 years, with whom he also shares children Romeo, 22, Cruz, 21, and Harper, 14.

Posting an old black-and-white snap while Victoria was pregnant with one of their kids, he wrote: ‘Happy Mother’s Day to the most amazing mummy…you are an inspiration in all the ways a mum should be to our 4 amazing children. We love you so much and I’m so thankful for the family we have created 🩷 Have a special Mother’s Day because if there’s one person that deserves it it’s you 🩷 I love you 🩷 @victoriabeckham.

In his bombshell statement shared on Instagram on January 19, Brooklyn began by writing: ‘I have been silent for years and made every effort to keep these matters private. Unfortunately, my parents and their team have continued to go to the press, leaving me with no choice but to speak for myself and tell the truth about only some of the lies that have been printed.

‘I do not want to reconcile with my family. I’m not being controlled, I’m standing up for myself for the first time in my life.’

Brooklyn went on to slam the narrative that his wife ‘controls’ him. ‘I have been controlled by my parents for most my life. I grew up with overwhelming anxiety. For the first time in my life since stepping away from my family, that anxiety has disappeared. I wake up every morning grateful for the life I chose, and have found peace and relief,’ he continued.

Despite Brooklyn making no moves to reconcile with his parents or brothers, his youngest brother Cruz was recently asked about whether he wanted to be back in contact with his brother.

While out in Paris with his girlfriend, Jackie Apostel, 30, Cruz was asked by a TMZ reporter: ‘Any well wishes to your brother? It’s his birthday.’ With a smile, he replied: ‘Happy Birthday.’

The musician, who is currently on tour with his band, put his head down when probed on whether he’s spoken to Brooklyn lately, but had an optimistic response when the reporter quizzed: ‘Any chance you guys will repair the relationship? Are you hopeful for that?’ ‘Hopefully,’ Cruz said back.

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The 2026 Oscars saw Kate Hudson and Emma Stone nominated for Best Actress, but the stars had another thing in common – the styling tool they used to create their Hollywood waves

The 2026 Academy Awards – also known as The Oscars – saw both Emma Stone and Kate Hudson nominated for the Best Actress award, and although they both sadly lost out to Jessie Buckley, there was something else they undeniably won at; their red carpet looks. Both stars opted to style their hair with classic Hollywood-glam waves, and it seems there was only one tool for the job – the ghd Chronos Hair Curler.

The actresses opted for different sized barrels, with Emma styling her short bob using the Chronos Curve Grand Tong- 32mm Hair Curler for looser, more tousled curls. Kate, meanwhile, styled her long, flowing waves using the New Ghd Chronos Curve Classic Tong which has a smaller 26mm barrel, which gave them more definition.

READ MORE: Cat Deeley’s This Morning foundation hailed ‘the best coverage for redness’

READ MORE: This £21 liquid eyeliner is a ‘modern marvel’ that stays on ‘even after crying for 6 hours’

The ghd Chronos Hair Curler creates high definition curls that last all day and night, and is responsive in the way it works on your hair. The barrel adapts as you style your hair, keeping the optimum 185°C temperature from root to tip to make curling even faster.

Every barrel in the Chronos range is finished with an anodised coating which is what gives the curls their precision, but the tip stays cool which makes it easy to manoeuvre it. It also has a built-in safety stand and comes with a styling glove, and switches off after 20 minutes of inactivity so you can avoid the dreaded panic about whether you turned them off when you left the house.

Both models are priced at £189, and when you buy them directly from the ghd website you’ll get a free ghd Advanced Split End Therapy that’s worth £35, which will automatically be applied at checkout. Plus, if you’re not sure which size barrel is best for your hair, you can do a quiz on the ghd website to find the perfect one for your hair type.

However if you want something that gives you more versatility and lets you swap between barrel sizes, there’s some other great options available. The Revamp Multi Style Revolve 3 in 1 Rotating Tong is currently on sale at Boots down from £99.99 to £66.66, and comes with three ceramic barrels of various sizes to give you different looks.

Alternatively, the Beauty Works AERIS Multi-Styler is slightly pricier than the ghd’s at £220, but lets you swap between six different stylers as well as acting like a hair dryer, giving you more flexibility. The attachments include airflow curlers, an XL round brush and a smoothing paddle brush.

The York Chocolate Festival is returning to the city centre with a host of chocolate-themed events, featuring demonstrations, hands-on fun, and family-friendly activities.

Running this Easter, the festival celebrates York’s historic ties to the confectionery industry with a packed programme for visitors of all ages.

Organised by York Food Festival, the event will take place in central locations including Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Centre.

Visitors can browse an artisan chocolate market, take part in tastings, and follow the Chocolate Taste Trail through York’s independent businesses.

There will also be free children’s activities, live demonstrations, and chocolate-making workshops.

Sophie Jewett of York Cocoa Works said: “York Cocoa Works are looking forward to being part of this year’s York Chocolate Festival and sharing more about our chocolate making process and the industry that the city was once famous for.

“It’s wonderful to welcome so many enthusiastic chocolate learners who are excited and passionate to discover more about how chocolate is made.”

Children can get creative at St Sampson’s Centre with educational chocolate-themed activities, while Parliament Street will host a Chocolate Egg Bar Making workshop where they can design and decorate their own chocolate bar.

One of the festival highlights will be the Chocolate & Sugar Sculpture Gallery.

The exhibition will showcase chocolate creations by award-winning chocolatier Ashley McCarthy, who will craft a horse-racing-inspired chocolate sculpture during the event.

The gallery will also feature sugar art by internationally acclaimed pastry chef Florian Poirot, winner of the Best Sugar Showpiece award at the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie.

Sugar work is an intricate form of culinary art where cooked sugar is shaped into decorative forms using moulding, pulling, and blowing techniques.

Live demonstrations at St Sampson’s Centre will include sessions led by Michael Hjort and Sophie Jewett, who will share their expertise with festival-goers.

Visitors can enjoy tastings, learn about chocolate artistry, and explore York’s chocolate-making heritage throughout the festival.

Organisers say the event promises to offer something for everyone, from seasoned chocolate enthusiasts to families looking for Easter holiday activities.

The York Chocolate Festival is free to attend and aims to honour the city’s chocolate legacy while inspiring a new generation of chocolate makers.

Full details of the festival programme and timings are available at yorkchocolatefestival.com.

The Vanity Fair Oscars after-party returned for the biggest night in Hollywood, with some eye-popping looks on what was a grey carpet.

This year’s Los Angeles party saw the guest list slashed in half as part of a bid for increased exclusivity – but several of the most familiar faces were still in attendance.

The event was held at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art after the 98th Academy Awards ceremony, during which One Battle After Another clinched the coveted best picture award, while Michael B Jordan and Jessie Buckley took home the gongs for best leading actors.

Kim Kardashian, 45, was among the stars at the VF bash, tottering before the cameras in mammoth platform heels and an appropriately Oscars gold dress. 

But Kim bafflingly completed the look with coloured contact lenses and distinctly unkempt hair. Perhaps her longtime hair stylist Chris Appleton was given the day off?

Elsewhere on the carpet, her two Jenner sisters were also in attendance, with Kendall, 30, in a baby blue number and Kylie, 28, donning her thrice-Oscar-losing boyfriend Timothee Chalamet, 30, as well as a black gown with a dramatic slit at the waist.

Since the big bash coincided with Mother’s Day, it was only fitting that momager Kris Jenner was there. The 70-year-old wore a tulle prom dress of sorts, arriving with her boyfriend Corey Gamble at the end of a gloved hand.

As far as the eyebrow-raising fits went, Jeff Goldblum’s wife Emilie Livingston, 43, might have taken the night with her bum-baring leotard, paired with sheer tights, which she wore next to her 73-year-old husband, who was dressed for distinctly cooler climes.

Other couples on the carpet together were Dua Lipa and Callum Turner, who beat the James Bond rumours by opting not to wear a classic tuxedo, instead pairing a regular humdrum suit with a grey shirt. 

Elsewhere on the carpet, Julia Fox, 36, rocked up in an apparent take on period dress, with a detailed floral bodice and exaggerated shoulders.

There was also Love Story star Sarah Pidgeon, who is currently playing Calvin Klein publicist Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy on the Disney Plus drama and so fittingly decided to wear…Calvin Klein.

The Vanity Fair bash was once the hottest ticket in town in the 1990s, with a guest list that only granted entry to the upper echelon of Tinseltown. The first ever iteration of the event invited just 100 people, including Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Prince, Robert De Niro and Anthony Hopkins.

Yet, in recent years, the party had become a victim of its own success, with a dwindling sense of exclusivity. 

The magazine’s new editor Mark Guiducci decided to slash the numbers in half, banning social media from inside the event and limiting all press to Vanity Fair journalists alone (the rest have been relegated to the grey carpet outside).

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Dressed in a red wig with heavy white make up, like the antagonist from the film, he could be seen playing table tennis with Chalamet in Marty Supreme, running across the stage of the Globe in Hamnet, in the car with Benicio del Toro in One Battle After Another and trying to get into the juke joint in Sinners.

Martin Parker, 49, of Hewley Avenue, Tang Hall, pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual harm prevention order by not telling police about an internet enabling device he possessed. He was jailed for 20 weeks and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs.

Timothy Thrasher, 31, of no fixed address, denied causing a woman actual bodily harm in Scarborough, but was convicted at trial. He was jailed for 52 weeks, made subject to a two-year restraining order made to protect the woman, and ordered to pay £650 prosecution costs and a £187 statutory surcharge.

Christopher Hodkinson, 41, of The Reeves, Acomb, pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order twice by being at an address he was forbidden to attend and being with a woman he was banned to be with.  He was jailed for 18 weeks and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs.

Philip Pool, 55, of Lowfields Drive, Acomb, pleaded guilty to carrying a knife on the A1237 York Outer Ring Road. He was given a two-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months and must pay £85 prosecution costs and a £154 statutory surcharge.

CHICAGO (AP) — Successive punches of snow and wind were set to impact the eastern half of the United States on Monday as severe weather swept across much of the nation and made roads impassable in the Upper Midwest.

Forecasters said mid-Atlantic states and Washington, D.C., were at greatest risk for high winds and tornadoes. The cold front was expected to move off the East Coast by Tuesday, bringing sharply colder weather in its wake, forecasters said.

The late winter blast comes as Hawaii continued to be affected by a separate storm system that caused severe flooding over the weekend.

Forecasters warn about line of storms, tornadoes

The National Weather Service that warned a line of severe storms with damaging winds would cross much of the Eastern U.S. After firing up Sunday, the storms were crossing the Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio valleys.

The storm threat was expected to enter the Appalachians, then move toward the East Coast, where “severe thunderstorms with widespread damaging winds and several tornadoes” were expected, the service said.

A stretch from parts of South Carolina to Maryland appeared most likely to experience the greatest damaging winds Monday afternoon, the weather service said. That could include Raleigh, North Carolina, Richmond, Virginia, and the nation’s capital.

Officials said schools in Raleigh and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, would be closed Monday. Gov. Josh Stein urged residents to enable emergency alerts on their phones ahead of expected wind gusts of 74 mph (119 kph).

Beyond the threat to lives and property, “whether it’s wind gusts from a squall line, blizzard or snow, or just wind because of the storm, you’re looking at several major airports being impacted,“ said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys.

Big snows in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan

An area from central Wisconsin to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was likely to see over 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow, with higher isolated totals on the peninsula, Roys said. Lower snow accumulations in places such as Chicago and Milwaukee will likely create trouble for commuters on Monday, he added.

Jim Allen, 45, who lives on the Upper Peninsula, said his family stocked up on necessities and he was ready to clear snow several times Sunday with a shovel and snowblower.

“We’re basically prepared to just kind of hunker down for a few days if we need to,” Allen said.

More than 600 flights were canceled at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, according to FlightAware, which tracks flight disruptions. Dozens more through Detroit were scrapped. O’Hare and Midway international airports in Chicago reported more than 850 cancellations.

Power outages remain, some from earlier high winds

More than 210,000 utility customers in six Great Lakes states were without electricity Sunday, according to PowerOutage.us. Some originated on Friday when gusts in the region reached 85 mph (137 km). Widespread outages also were reported in parts of Pennsylvania and Arkansas.

In Nebraska, about 30 National Guard members were deployed to combat multiple wildfires across a broad swath of range and grassland, state officials said. One fire-related fatality was reported.

Landslides, rescues, collapsed home on Maui

Rain continued falling on Sunday in Hawaii, where acres of farmland and homes have been flooded, roads have been closed and shelters opened. Some areas of Maui received more than 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said in a social media post.

Maui County later on Sunday downgraded an evacuation notice and said crews were pumping water from retentions basins to keep them at safe levels.

Resident and real estate broker Jesse Wald, who recorded video of a coastal road’s collapse Saturday, said other parts of the road were flooded out by mud and sediment.

“In the 20 years I’ve been here I’ve never seen this much rain,” he said.

__

Robertson reported from Raleigh, North Carolina. Associated Press writers Julie Walker in New York and Matthew Brown in Billings, Montana, also contributed to this report.

Kizzy David, Ashleigh Jones, and Oluchi Okoroafor, all nurses with Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, have been named finalists at the 2026 Student Nursing Times Awards.

Oluchi Okoroafor, a registered nurse on Ward D3, has been shortlisted in five categories: Student Nurse of the Year: Adult, Most Inspirational Student Nurse of the Year, Student Innovation in Practice, the Mary Seacole Award for Outstanding Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion, and Outstanding Contribution to Student Affairs.

Ms Okoroafor said: “It feels like a powerful recognition not just of my hard work, but of the patients, mentors, colleagues, my family, and fellow students who have shaped my nursing journey.”

Ms Okoroafor is nominated for five awards (Image: NHS)

Originally from Nigeria, Ms Okoroafor moved to the UK in 2016.

She was inspired to pursue nursing after witnessing the care and compassion shown to her family when her daughter was born prematurely in 2018.

She said: “Nursing has challenged me to step outside my comfort zone, think critically outside the box and lead with compassion.

“I’ve especially valued the opportunities to advocate for patients, support fellow students, and contribute to initiatives that improve inclusion and practice.”

Ms Okoroafor completed an international placement in Finland and mentored Dutch nursing students during their international nursing week.

She now works as a registered nurse on D3.

She said: “My time at Royal Bolton Hospital has been inspiring and transformative.

“I have felt highly supported by all team members, encouraged and empowered to grow.

“The culture of teamwork and patient-centred care here has reinforced why I chose nursing in the first place.”

She said: “Excellence is not about perfection, rather it’s about consistency, resilience, hard work, compassion, and courage.

“I want students to know that their voices matter, that innovation can start with a simple idea, and that advocating for inclusion and diversity strengthens our profession.”

Also recognised is Kizzy David, who is a finalist for the Practice Supervisor of the Year award.

“This nomination inspires me to continue working hard.” (Image: NHS)

Ms David said: “As a nurse at Bolton Royal Hospital, this recognition is a humbling validation of my dedication to providing exceptional care and support to my team.

“It fills me with immense pride to be acknowledged for my role in fostering a positive learning environment and nurturing the next generation of nurses.

“This nomination inspires me to continue working hard, striving for excellence, and contributing to the growth and success of our incredible nursing team.

“It’s a privilege to serve the patients and the community, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make a difference every day.”

Ashleigh Jones has also been named a finalist in the Learner of the Year: Post-registration category.

Winners will be revealed on Friday 24 April 2026 at a ceremony in London.

Ms Okoroafor said: “If my journey encourages even one student to believe in themselves, take initiative, and lead with integrity, then I will consider that a true achievement.”

The Student Nursing Times Awards winners and finalists will be celebrated on Friday 24 April 2026 at a ceremony in London, bringing together the nursing community to shine a light on the brightest talent making their way into the profession.

Rev Eric Arthur Ruehorn, 92, died peacefully at Fairfield Hospital on February 28 following a brain haemorrhage.

Eric was the parish vicar at St Mary’s Church in Hawkshaw for 25 years before retiring in 1999.

Born in Openshaw on July 4, 1933, he spent most of his early life in the Manchester suburb. He went on to marry his late wife, Vera Kelshaw, at St Clement’s Church in 1954.

The pair went on to have two children, Paul and Lindsey Ruehorn (now Rigby).

Rev Eric Arthur Ruehorn with his late wife Vera Ruehorn nee Kelshaw (Image: supplied)

Eric was officially ordained into the priesthood in 1961, taking on his first role at a parish in Mosley in 1964.

The family moved to Bury ten years later, where Eric took on his position at St Mary’s Church in Hawkshaw.

He was also involved in the wider community, providing support at the Holcombe Moor Training Camp and as a Chaplain at Fairfield Hospital in Bury, offering pastoral, spiritual and religious guidance to people of all faiths.  

Son Paul Ruehorn, 70, is a retired funeral director.

He said: “When I worked in funerals, people of all regions would ask me if we were related, as they knew him.

“My dad offered advice to churches across the area, would welcome any ministers and was well known in the Diocese of Manchester.

“His brother-in-law moved to the USA and became Bishop of Albuquerque in New Mexico. My dad was ordained as an honorary member of the Church of America when he visited.”

“He never really retired and was heavily involved with the Bible Society and Christ Church in Walshaw, doing family weddings and christenings.”

Daughter Lindsey, a retired paediatric nurse of 40 years, added: “I was delighted to be able to take my dad on holiday to the Cotswolds last September, a trip he very much enjoyed.”

Rev Eric Arthur Ruehorn (Image: supplied)

Eric and his family enjoyed holidays to Cornwall and Devon when the children were younger, before travelling as a couple to Spain, Malta and Morocco once their family had grown up.  

He also played golf and was a member at Rossendale Golf Club in Haslingden.  

Eric was a beloved grandpa to a blended family of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

The funeral service will be held on at 2pm on Monday, March 23 at Christ Church, Walshaw, with the family requesting guests wear ‘bright colours only’ – followed by a private committal at Radcliffe Crematorium.

Family flowers only, donations if desired to The Bible Society, with all enquiries to The Co-op.