Jill and Bruno D'Amore, and Jill's 97-year-old mother Lucia Arpino, were reportedly stabbed to death on June 25, at their residence in Massachusetts

VIDEO: Tucker Carlson laughing at his own jokes at the Turning Point Conference.

David Zaslav drew criticism during a commencement address at Boston University amid the Writers Guild of America strike

Former Newport defender Fraser Franks faced a difficult “grieving process” when a heart problem cut short his football career at the age of 28. But four years on, as he prepares for surgery that will ultimately save his life, he is “grateful” the condition was picked up early – as many people are not even aware they are at risk. “I’ll be having a mechanical valve fitted and work done on my aorta,” Franks, now 32, told the PA news agency. His surgery is set for September 4. “It is a big operation and I’ll be in hospital for about 10 days. And the recovery after, I won’t be able to lift anything, even a bag of shopping, for two to three months. “With a four-year-old daughter, that’s going to be difficult for me and her,” added Franks, who shares daughter Nellie with his wife, former S Club 8 singer Stacey McClean. “It’s been a lot to get my head around. There will be certain things I can’t do afterwards and a lot of lifestyle adjustments, but I’m really happy and content with it. “I’m grateful that this has been found and that there’s a solution for me, where unfortunately a lot of people haven’t got that. “I’ve had conversations with cardiologists and surgeons (who’ve said) this is going to save my life, I probably wouldn’t live much longer with the heart I’ve currently got. So I’m really grateful for that and it’s only through playing for a professional football club that this was picked up.” Franks was born with a bicuspid valve – meaning his aortic valve – which helps control blood flow in the heart – had two cusps (flaps) instead of the usual three. The condition is believed to affect around one in every 100 people, but it often does not cause symptoms and only becomes serious if the valve begins to leak or develops severe narrowing (aortic stenosis), which is what has happened in Franks’ case. A routine medical at the age of 16 first picked up the defect. Franks, who signed with Chelsea at age eight, had always been fit and healthy, but when he signed with Brentford at 16, like all players joining pro clubs, he was given a heart scan. Further investigations revealed the bicuspid valve, but because it was not causing problems, he was given the green light to continue as normal. Franks carried on, trying not to give it too much thought – until at 28, he suddenly started feeling unwell after a game and was rushed to hospital the next day, worried he was having a heart attack. “I wasn’t having a heart attack or anything like that, but I contracted an infection. While I was in there though, I told them I’d had this heart issue when I was 16, so they scanned me and saw the condition had worsened,” he recalled. “I’d developed aortic stenosis and the valve was leaking a lot more. Then it was deemed unsafe for me to carry on playing football, so I had to stop playing there and then.” London-born Franks has teamed up with the British Heart Foundation for their September Spotlight campaign, which aims to shine a spotlight on hidden heart conditions. His story highlights how heart problems can potentially affect anyone – including those who are young and seemingly very fit and healthy. Even when symptoms are mild or barely noticeable, undetected issues could become serious and even life-threatening, which is why research and awareness is so vital. Plus, as Franks has experienced, there are complex layers and emotional challenges to living with a hidden heart condition too. Being forced to suddenly retire early when he’d previously felt fine – and still looked well on the outside – was tough. “Ever since age eight, I’d been known as ‘the footballer’. It had been my whole identity, so to retire at 28 out of the blue was difficult,” Franks explained. “I think I kidded myself in the first six months, where I was saying, ‘Yeah I’m fine, I’m enjoying retirement and all that good stuff’. But I was really struggling and drinking heavily. “I reached out and got some help and had to do a lot of therapy. It really is a grieving process and I had to figure out who I was and what I enjoyed away from being ‘the athlete’. I do a lot of work around addiction and alcohol now, because I really struggled with those things Fraser Franks “And I didn’t play at the top level, so I didn’t have savings in the bank – I had to pretty much get to work straight away and earn a living. My wife was heavily pregnant then too, so there was a lot of stress and overwhelm at that period.” Yoga and meditation also proved a huge help in coming to terms with everything and Franks has since found a new sense of purpose, channelling his experiences into helping others. He added: “I do a lot of work around addiction and alcohol now, because I really struggled with those things. “That’s become a big part of what I do now, helping people who want to transition away from sport and working with young athletes on addiction and mental health.” He took up yoga as a gentle form of exercise when doctors told him strenuous sport was too risky. “I just completely fell in love with it,” Franks added. “I’ve found a real passion for it. It’s actually a goal of mine now – it’s going to be something I’ll be thinking about when I’m in hospital – when I’m healed, I want to go to India or Bali and actually earn a qualification and get trained as a yoga teacher. “Instead of focusing on all the things I’m unable to do, that’s something I will be able to do. That brings me a lot of comfort.” :: This September, the BHF is shining a spotlight on hidden heart conditions and urging everyone to get involved by supporting the charity however they can, with stories, stuff, time or money. Visit spotlighton.bhf.org.uk Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Brighton to face European giants Ajax and Marseille in Europa League Liverpool turn down £150m offer for Mohamed Salah from Al-Ittihad Man City seal Matheus Nunes deal as Cole Palmer leaves and Man Utd sign keeper

Two programs enjoying offensive success with transfer quarterbacks will match 3-3 overall records when Boston College visits Georgia Tech. The Eagles are led by former UCF quarterback Thomas Castellanos and will put their two-game winning streak on the line

Rep. Matt Gaetz is planning to attempt to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy from the role this week after the House leader worked with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown on Saturday.

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Eskom has extended the suspension of power cuts to 4 p.m. on Monday as the utility enjoys stable

One GB News presenter suffered what can only be described as a breaking news breakdown on Saturday, as news broke that the Metropolitan Police had apprehended and re-arrested escaped fugitive Daniel Khalife in Chiswick. Martin Daubney, the former Brexit Party and Reclaim Party politician who has also worked for the News of the World and out-of-print magazines such as FHM and loaded, was tasked with sharing the news during GB News Saturday. Everything that follows is exactly what Daubney said as he tried to make sense of the news – brace yourself. “But first, it’s the news headlines … No, it’s not, we’re going straight to me, this is breaking news, it’s fast happening. “Because as we’ve just said, the epic- the terror man… it’s all gone wrong,” he said, rushing to grab a sheet of paper to attempt to get a hold of the situation and seemingly muttering the f-word under his breath amid the disaster. He continued: “It’s here. Chip Chapman, we have him coming up soon on the arrest of the terror suspect. He escaped from Wandsworth prison, he has been apprehended, it’s all coming up on GB News, with our first guest. “Here it is, police have escape- have arrested prisoner Daniel Khalife. Beg your pardon, we’ll get the autocue in the right place, this story is just happening. “Joining me now for the latest is GB News home security editor Mark White. Are you there, Mark?” Needless to say, he was not, as Daubney mixed up the order of guests. “It’s Chip Chapman, we have Chip Chapman, army for the army and former head of counter-terrorism, Major-General Chip Chapman,” he clarified. The excruciating minute-long mishap went viral on social media immediately: Daubney is yet to address the blunder, taking to Twitter/X after the programme to tweet about football. Don’t worry, Martin, I don’t think anyone noticed… Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.