Bookmakers have placed the Tees Valley town second only to Wrexham, which currently leads the odds at 4/6, giving it a 60 per cent implied chance of winning the title.

Middlesbrough follows closely with odds of 5/4 and a 44.4 per cent probability.

Jake Ashton, current affairs editor at OLBG.com, said: “Wrexham at 4/6 is compelling and the narrative behind their bid is unlike anything this competition has previously seen.

“The global profile generated by Welcome to Wrexham, the runner-up finish in 2025 and the organisational infrastructure already in place from the previous campaign all point to a formidable bid.”

Bradford currently holds the title for 2025.

Middlesbrough’s candidacy has drawn attention for its strong narrative of cultural regeneration, rooted in Tees Valley’s industrial heritage and an emerging creative sector.

Other cities in the running include Blackpool and Sheffield (both 6/4), Milton Keynes (2/1), Swindon (3/1), Inverness-Highland (4/1), Portsmouth (6/1) and Ipswich (6/1).

Experts believe Middlesbrough offers exactly the kind of transformation story that has impressed City of Culture judges in previous years.

It is currently unclear where the gunshots have originated from and what the security incident is in relation to

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Secret Service personnel have launched an urgent response after multiple gunshots were reportedly heard near the White House.

According to one journalist, ‘approximately 20-30’ shots rang out in Washington before Secret Service agents swiftly moved reporters indoors.

Julie Trskin, a correspondent for NBC News, posted on X: “GUNSHOTS heard outside of the White House Approximately 20-30 Secret service told those of us gathered on the north lawn to run inside the press briefing room.”

FOX News’ Chad Pergram reports that Secret Service has taken down the shooter.

The journalist subsequently shared an image of an armed officer stationed outside the entrance, writing: “Outside the press briefing doors right now…USSS officers, gun drawn, told us to run inside. White House now on lockdown.”

Images circulating on social media appear to show snipers positioned on the building’s rooftop, with another armed officer walking across the White House lawn.

The incident follows President Donald Trump’s announcement on Saturday that an agreement with Iran regarding the conflict, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, has been “largely negotiated” following discussions with Israel and other regional allies.

“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump posted on social media, without providing further specifics. He revealed he had held conversations with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, as well as a separate discussion with Israel.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or information about the circumstances.

On X, the Secret Service said it was “aware of reports of shots fired near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW” — one block from the White House — and was “working to corroborate the information with personnel on the ground.” It said it will have an update shortly.

In a social media post, FBI Director Kash Patel said officers were responding to shots fired and said he would “update the public as we’re able.”

President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time.

Emergency services were called to Durham Road, Birtley, at around 11.45am on Friday (May 22), following reports of a road traffic incident.

Police in Birtley (Image: WILLIAM ATKINSON/UGC)

Two ambulances were sent to the scene, and two people were taken to hospital.

One person was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, and another to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead.

Police in Birtley (Image: WILLIAM ATKINSON/UGC)

Police vehicles at the incident (Image: WILLIAM ATKINSON/UGC)

Images from the scene showed police cordoning off the road, while ambulances could be seen working inside the cordon.

A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) said: “We were called to a road traffic incident on Durham Road, Birtley at 11.46am on 22 May.

“We dispatched two double-crewed ambulances and a specialist paramedic.

“One patient was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, and one patient was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.”

Katie Price was reportedly left angry after missing husband Lee Andrews followed another woman online.

Katie Price’s missing husband Lee Andrews has returned to Instagram after nine days offline, with his latest social media activity raising fresh questions.

Andrews, who had only been following Katie on Instagram, added a new account yesterday morning belonging to a US Navy veteran called Marisol. The move has reportedly left Katie angry and confused as she continues to wait for direct contact from her husband, Mirror reports.

The Sun reports Marisol previously used an online matchmaking service for millionaires. Her Instagram account is private, but her public bio reads: “NYRican…Boriqua! HD Biker Babe Navy Veteran Team Rubicon Disaster Response Team Travel & Adventure Seeker Fur-baby mum*Special Event Planner.”

She follows around 1,400 people, although it was not immediately clear whether she follows Andrews back.

A friend of Katie’s reportedly told the newspaper: “Now she’s seen him following this woman, to say she was angry and confused is an understatement.”

Andrews has been missing for more than a week after allegedly travelling to the UK. Katie last heard from him during a FaceTime call on Wednesday, May 13, when he claimed he had been arrested and taken to a “black site”.

The former glamour model told fans Andrews appeared to be in the back of a van with his hands tied, although he was not handcuffed. He initially said he was being detained before later retracting the claim.

He was said to have been travelling to the UK two days after missing his first flight, when he had been due to appear on Good Morning Britain.

Katie has since shared a series of photos of herself with Andrews, who she first met in January, just two days before they married. Posting the images online, she wrote: “Missing my husband so much it breaks my heart knowing he is still missing so I did this song quick as words mean so much to the situation.”

However, Katie has also said she is taking a “step back” from worrying about her husband after being left “appalled” he failed to contact her on her birthday.

Her eldest son Harvey, 23, helped lift her spirits on the day with a handmade card and breakfast. Katie shared a video on Facebook showing Harvey in the kitchen as he prepared her birthday surprise.

Harvey explained he made the card that morning. Inside, the message read: “To mummy Queen Katie Price. Happy birthday, mummy queen Katie Price. Love from Harvey Price xx. Enjoy her breakfast, take your time.”

He later played a recording on his iPad of himself singing Happy Birthday to his “Mummy Queen”, leaving Katie visibly emotional.

“Do you know how amazing you are, seriously,” Katie told Harvey, before giving him a kiss.

Katie said Harvey had also made her a bowl of Corn Flakes, although he ruled out making her a cup of tea. Sharing the video, she captioned the post: “The best birthday gift a mother could ask for!”

Turns out, Taylor Swift likes basketball, too.

The global music superstar sat courtside at Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night along with fiance and Cleveland native Travis Kelce as the Cavaliers hosted the New York Knicks desperately needing a win in the series.

Swift and Kelce, who recently signed a 3-year, $54 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, took their seats in Rocket Arena shortly before the opening tip. Their appearance caused a stir as fans reacted to seeing the power couple together.

Kelce didn’t need long to settle in and was animated while cheering for the Cavs.

Swift became a staple at Chiefs home games when she began dating Kelce a few years ago. She also accompanied him to Game 1 of the AL Championship Series at Yankee Stadium in 2024.

Kelce has attended Cavs games in the past and he and his brother, Jason, were celebrated with a bobblehead giveaway by Cleveland in 2024.

The couple announced their engagement last year and there are reports they’ll get married sometime this summer.

The Knicks have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series after winning twice at Madison Square Garden.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Members of the public are advised not to approach him

A prisoner with links to Cambridgeshire has absconded. Police are asking the public to call 999 if they see him.

Sonny Loveridge, aged 28, was on temporary release. He failed to return to HMP Hollesley Bay in Suffolk on the evening of Tuesday, May 20.

Loveridge, who has connections to Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, is serving an 11 year and eight months sentence for causing death by dangerous driving and attempted robbery. He is described by Suffolk Police as white, of medium build and is approximately 5ft 9ins (175cm) in height.

Members of the public are advised not to approach him and should call police on 999 immediately if they see him, quoting crime reference 37/28856/26. Anyone who has any information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact Suffolk police on 101.

The coastguard, air ambulance and paramedics were called to Seaham around 7.10pm on Friday (May 22).

The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) confirmed one person tas taken to hospital after the coastguard assisted “evacuating” them.

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard added: “Seaham and Sunderland Coastguard Rescue Teams assisted NEAS at Seaham yesterday evening with evacuating a person to hospital.”

A Great North Air Ambulance spokesperson added: “At 7.10pm, our doctor and paramedic team were activated to an incident in Seaham.

“The team flew to the scene and arrived within 11 minutes.

“Upon arrival, our teams’ additional skills were not needed to treat the patient, and so they returned to base.”

Five Italian tourists drowned during a cave dive in the Maldives after reportedly being just 15 minutes from the surface

Five tourists who died during a cave dive in the Maldives were mere minutes away from reaching the surface when disaster struck.

The Italian victims were named as Monica Montefalcone, 52, a marine biologist from the University of Genoa, her daughter Giorgia Sommacal, 20, researcher Muriel Oddenino, 31, recent graduate Federico Gualtieri, 31, and diving instructor Gianluca Benedetti.

They were thought to be approximately 15 minutes from surfacing when they disappeared and were subsequently discovered deceased without appropriate gear, according to the New York Post.

Maldivian rescue diver Staff Sgt Mohamed Mahdhee also lost his life while attempting to locate the bodies, reports the Mirror.

Presidential spokesperson for the Maldives, Mohamed Hussain Sharee, stated the cave’s depth is such that even with top-tier equipment, divers typically avoid attempting to reach it.

“Tragic human error” played a significant role in the 14th May catastrophe, which claimed the group’s lives 200 feet beneath the surface, according to Finnish diver Sami Paakkarinen, among three individuals who assisted in body recovery.

“Unfortunately, in most cave diving accidents, the main cause is always human error,” he told the Sun.

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He noted the group lacked essential cave-diving kit, including a diving reel or guided rope. Four bodies were retrieved together, Paakkarinen confirmed.

Gualtieri’s body was located on the day of the drowning and returned to Italy, while the remaining four victims were recovered on Monday.

Experts suggest the fatalities could also be connected to oxygen toxicity and panic.

Speaking to Italian publication Adnkronos, pulmonologist Claudio Micheletto indicated it’s probable “something went wrong with the tanks.”

Dr Micheletto, director of pulmonology at the University Hospital of Verona, explained: “Death from oxygen toxicity, or hyperoxia, is one of the most dramatic deaths that can occur during a dive – a horrible end.”

Divers typically breathe compressed air containing 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen from their tanks. While nitrox, a higher-oxygen mixture, is commonly employed to minimise decompression sickness risks, descending too deep with this blend can trigger oxygen toxicity.

“When you breathe in too high a concentration of oxygen, the gas becomes toxic to the body,” Micheletto explained. “During the dive, dizziness, pain, altered consciousness and disorientation occur, making it impossible to surface.”

Alfonso Bolognini, president of the Italian Society of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine, noted: “Inside a cave at a depth of 50 meters, all it takes is a problem for a diver or a panic attack for a diver.

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“The agitation will cause the water to become cloudy and can impair visibility,” potentially resulting in “fatal errors.

“It’s not easy to say now what exactly may have happened at the bottom of the sea,” he added.

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He is described a being of a medium build with a shaved head

The police are appealing for information to help find a man who has been missing for eight days. Ghenadie Tanga, 43, was last seen leaving the Buffaload Logistics depot in Ellington, near Huntingdon, at about 9.45pm on Friday, May 15.

He is believed to have left on foot. Searches are being carried out in the Ellington area as part of efforts to locate him.

Ghenadie is described by Cambridgeshire Police as medium build with a shaved head. He was last seen wearing dark coloured trousers and a hi-vis jacket.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “We are becoming increasingly concerned for his welfare.”

Anyone who believes they have seen him or who may have dashcam or doorbell footage from the area at the time he was last seen is urged to call 101 quoting incident 525 of May 18.