During last night’s episode of Question Time on BBC One a debate on the monarchy fit for purpose and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor caused the crowd to erupt into laughter
A live TV debate had to be interupted as the audience erupted into laughter when discussing the latest accusations surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his time as trade envoy.
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Fiona Bruce hosted this evening’sQuestion Time from Birmingham, with politicians, commentators and members of the public. On the panel, from the government, the culture secretary Lisa Nandy; the Conservatives’ shadow home office minister, Alicia Kearns; Jess Brown-Fuller MP from theLiberal Democrats; the chef and television presenter Tom Kerridge and the journalist Esther Krakue.
During the episode a debate on the royal family and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor caused the crowd to erupt into laughter. Audience member, Peter More, asked: “Given the latest accusations surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, is the monarchy fit for purpose in the 21st century?”
Host Fiona Bruce explained that MPs are not generally freely able to scrutinise the royals in parliament, she said: “very little is known about how much money the royals actually have, estimates vary from £650 million to over £1 billion, no-one really knows and they are also exempt from all kinds of laws and taxes as well.
Jess Brown-Fuller MP from theLiberal Democrats said: “Before being elected I had no idea that politicians were unable to scrutinise members of the royal family in parliament.” She went on to say: “I think it is important for all victims in this country to know that nobody is above the law, regardless of birth right, position, friends, bank balance, nobody should be above scrutiny and nobody should be above the law.”
Journalist Esther Krakue didn’t hold back when she spoke about Andrew, saying: “I appreciate the anger around Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor; he is clearly an entitled, arrogant man with no judgement.” Interrupting Esther, host Fiona jumped in to say: “I have to say at this point he denies any wrongdoing, you may all laugh there but this is my duty and I have to say that.”
Esther continued: “This is not fair on the working royals who are looking to just do a good job for the country, and the question is how do we stop this from happening?”
Alicia Kearns chimed in saying: “I think the monarchy is incredibly important in this country, I think we’re incredibly proud of our monarchy in this country.” But she emphasised the bigger issue as: “Women said that they were being treated badly, women said they were being abused, we were not seen they were not heard and actually it’s not just Mountbatten and I think there’s a real risk we focus on him and allow other people to slip away into the dark.” She concluded: “But I’m not done until we get through the list of all those men.”
Next week on March 5 Question Time returns on BBC One live from Kettering.
Fancy a holiday to the most remote destination on earth? (Picture: Getty Images)
A recent survey from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation has found that the remote Pacific island nation of Kiribati is officially the least-visited country in the world.
With turquoise water, pristine strips of golden sand, and incredible marine life, Kiribati isn’t unlike popular tropical destinations in the Pacific.
But in 2024, only 9,504 tourists visited the island country — ironically a record number, considering it welcomed approximately 2,000 foreign visitors in 2022.
Alongside other remote spots such as Montserrat, Niue, and Micronesia, Kiribati has plenty to offer. A tranquil and peaceful place, it’s home to incredible culture and has been described as a ‘completely different planet’.
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In fact, the few visitors that have been to Kiribati have praised the locals’ extreme kindness and generosity, with one tourist sharing that they were treated ‘like family’ during their stay.
So, why are so few people gracing this country’s shores?
Kiribati’s capital, Tarawa, is roughly 4,000 kilometres southwest of Hawaii (Picture: Getty Images)
Why is Kiribati so little-visited?
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Made up of 32 islands, only 20 of which are inhabited, Kiribati is a unique place, positioned in Oceania in such a way that it is the only country in the world to touch all four hemispheres.
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Extremely isolated, the capital, Tarawa, is roughly 4,000 kilometres southwest of Hawaii.
Recent reports state that the population of Kiribati is approximately 135,000. However, some of the islands, such as Kiritimati, have as few as 7,000 year-round residents.
As you might have already guessed, the only way to visit the country is by plane. There are three international gateways: in Tarawa, Kiritimati and on the Kanton Islands.
The flight schedule is also extremely limited. So, if you miss your return flight, you will likely be stuck in Kiribati for another week.
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But if you’re not afraid of travelling somewhere remote, Kiribati could just be the place for you.
Kiribati is home to incredible fishing and birdwatching (Picture: Getty Images/Cavan Images RF)
One of the most stunning sights on Kiribati is the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA), a UNESCO World heritage-listed marine protected area.
Covering 408,250 square kilometres of ocean, coral reefs, and submerged mountains, the site is home to 800 known species of fauna, including 200 coral species, 500 fish species, 18 marine mammals, and 44 bird species.
Kiribati is also bursting with culture, with visitors encouraged to experiencethe eight traditional dances often performed by locals at celebrations and community gatherings.
Other significant tourist destinations include the Te Umanibong museum in South Tarawa and the House of Assembly, the sole chamber of the Parliament of Kiribati.
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Kiribati is the first place to see the New Year
One of the most interesting things about Kiribati is undoubtedly the fact that every year, without fail, this remote country becomes the first place in the world to enter the New Year.
This happens because the country’s easternmost islands are located just west of the International Date Line, in the earliest time zone, UTC+14.
These ‘Line Islands’ subsequently become the first to experience midnight.
So, if you’re someone who likes coming first, maybe you should consider welcoming 2027 in Kiribati.
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‘The people are super welcoming’
Soren Almeida, a travel content creator, visited Kiritimati island, in Kiribati, to experience New Year’s and said that it felt as though he was ‘stepping back in time by a few decades’.
The influencer told his TikTok followers: ‘It feels like a completely different planet. There’s no phone service, everything is cash-only, immigration is even done on paper, and I hitchhiked everywhere’.
The creator did clarify that the country is quite underdeveloped. Kiribati’s infrastructure is very limited, with few employment opportunities, and roughly 22% of its population living in poverty.
However, Soren noted that the people were ‘very friendly and curious and super welcoming’.
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At one point during his trip, Soren actually experienced a serious medical emergency, unexpectedly developing tetany which involves involuntary muscle contractions and overly stimulated peripheral nerves caused by electrolyte deficiency.
Soren shared a video shortly after his ordeal expressing his gratitude to the people of Kiribati, noting: ‘My host and his wife slept on the floor next to me in the hospital, making sure I had food and water. I felt like I was treated like family here’.
@MaretaThreads’ family is from Kiribati and during a recent visit documented her experience ‘off-grid living’.
By sharing videos of her family’s village and island customs, Mareta has received many comments from viewers thanking her for offering a rare glimpse into this small corner of the world.
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@Kimberly wrote: ”This is so interesting! Thanks for sharing such a beautiful place with us!’
While @DavidMike added: ‘This is a very sweet magical place and it have such a serene beautiful landscape’.
How to get to Kiribati from the UK – and what it would cost
To get to Kiribati from the UK, travellers will need to take multiple flights, as there are no direct routes.
One of the most common journeys involves flying to Fiji, which will include at least one stop in either Singapore or Los Angeles, and then transferring onto a Fiji Airways flight to either Tarawa or Kiritimati.
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The entire journey can take upwards of 30 hours in the air. And in most cases, you’ll need to complete at least two layovers.
Another route involves travelling to Honolulu and then making your transfer.
Currently, if you were to travel to Kiribati next month, leaving on May 9 and returning May 19, a return flight would set you back £1,970. This route would involve three stops at Dubai, Sydney, and Fiji, both ways.
However, if you want to bring your arrival time forward, you’ll need to fork out upwards of £4,000.
Trainer: Gordon Elliott (IRE) Jockey: Jordan Gainford
Form: 82127 Age: 9 Weight: 11-0
John: A second attempt at National glory for this guy, also trained by Elliott, who in addition to his two wins with Tiger Roll also triumphed in the race with Silver Birch in 2007.
Last year, he was right up with the pace before slowly but surely weakening away into 11th place.
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Despite a fine run when second to Panic Attack in the Coral Gold Cup in November, he simply doesn’t look well enough handicapped to win.
If you have drawn him in the sweepstake, you have a Pair rather than a Prial, which is the highest hand in three card brag. You may still win, but it’s unlikely.
The create your own pizza counters have long been a popular feature at Asda, allowing shoppers to choose a base, sauce, and toppings.
Prices start at £3.33 for a medium size and rise to £4.93 for the large option, and have often earned praise for their affordability.
However, shoppers are now concerned that Asda is planning to close down its pizza counters following a viral X post.
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Outcry from Asda shoppers amid rumours of axing pizza counter
Rumours of Asda’s pizza counters closing follow a post from one X user, sharing: “Going to need @asda to confirm or deny the rumours that the create your own pizza counters are going from all stores.”
The post has since gained more than 811,000 views and created a lot of stir online.
One concerned shopper said, “The @AsdaServiceTeam @asda pizzas are unreal.
“Best not be getting rid of the pizza counters in stores.”
Another X user wrote: “If true, this is the worst news of 2026.”
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Going to need @asda to confirm or deny the rumours that the create your own pizza counters are going from all stores
Following the viral post, an Asda spokesperson has confirmed they have no plans to remove pizza counters from any stores.
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Sharing: “We know how much our customers love our pizza counters, and they can be reassured that freshly made pizzas will continue to be available in all 464 of our stores as usual.”
Do you like the Asda pizza counter? Let us know in the comments.
A British woman who left the UK for the USA has spoken about how one incident forced her to re-evaluate her whole life in the country
A woman who moved from Yorkshire to the United States at the age of 22 has spoken about how one moment in her new home country caused her to re-evaluate everything.
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Kari Wells, who built a career on the American cable channel Bravo, moved to Aspen, Colorado where she met her now husband Duncan with whom she has two children.
Later, the pair moved to Atlanta, Georgia, which is where things took a turn when she was robbed in October 2019 by two gunmen.
In the ensuing robbery, Wells was knocked out when she was hit on the back of her head by one of the gunmen. Despite surviving, the robbery would have a major impact on her with Kari telling the Telegraph she later received treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that in turn led to her writing her book ‘From Attitude to Gratitude’.
Speaking to the publication, she said that the incident was a “literal way” of being forced to “re-evaluate” her life. She explained: “It’s like I was juggling it all, and I was so busy that I wasn’t really living my life. I was on this treadmill, missing out on a lot of great things.
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“The aftermath was more traumatising than the event because you go into this state… something that I cannot even explain.”
During her recovery, Wells convinced her husband to make several changes to their home including parking their car across their gate that they secured with cable ties.
Furthermore, the pair also moved back to where they’d first met in Aspen, Colorado. The incident also brought into even sharper relief for Wells the “insanity” of gun violence in the USA.
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Although Kari is one of many people who has moved from the UK and Europe to the USA, in recent years there has been a growing trend in the opposite direction with Americans now moving to the UK and Europe.
According to data from the Brookings Institution reported in The Wall Street Journal, the USA saw negative net migration for the first time in nearly a century in 2025 with more people leaving than arriving last year for the first time since 1935 and the peak of the Great Depression.
Although this massive moment has happened during US President Donald Trump’s second term, in a phenomenon some have dubbed ‘The Donald Dash’, others say the situation is more complex than one person becoming leader.
Other examples include economic changes and the rise of remote working meaning more people can work from anywhere on the planet and don’t have to be tethered to their job by geography.
Gun violence is also a factor with Berlin-based employee of a Texas real estate investment firm Chris Ford using an example of active shooter drills, reports the Independent.
This, he said, was one major difference between life in the USA and life in European nations such as Spain and the Netherlands: “You don’t face the prospect of your five-year-old going into a kindergarten and doing an active shooter drill. The wages are higher in the U.S. but the quality of life is higher in Europe.”
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
Hey, I know this guy. He’s the one who knocks! (Picture: AMC)
Endings are difficult. No, that’s not true. Endings are really difficult, and one of the hardest things to end is a good TV series.
After all, viewers have sometimes put years of their lives into watching a show, and if you don’t stick the landing, then people are going to feel like they wasted their time.
They went from two of the most beloved figures in entertainment to personas non grata after they failed to deliver a satisfying conclusion to Jon Snow and Daenerys’ story.
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Yet, not everyone falls at the final hurdle like an incompetent athlete or clumsy horse.
In fact, plenty of shows end on a high note, impressing critics and fans.
Metro writers have their say
So, with this in mind, the Metro TV team thought we’d take a look back on the best endings in TV history.
Don’t agree with us? Send an email, but we think these are the best TV finales of all time
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Breaking Bad
Jesse and Walt went out in a blaze of glory (Picture: Alamy)
Our Deputy TV editor, Tom Percival, thinks Walter White’s final send-off is pretty special…
Widely considered one of the best TV shows ever made, Breaking Bad saw the mild-mannered Walter White transform into the heinous Heisenberg as he sank deeper and deeper into Albuquerque’s criminal underworld.
In the end, it all came crumbling down around Walt as his double life was exposed, and he lost his family and fortune. Yet what I love about Breaking Bad’s finale is that in the final episode, we see the true synthesis of Walter’s two personas.
With nothing left to live for, the barriers between the nebbish Mr White and the narcissistic Heisenberg come down, and the true Walt is born. He’s a ruthless but confident genius entirely dedicated to undoing his biggest mistakes.
Honestly, endings don’t come more thrilling than this. It’s brilliantly cathartic to see Walt get revenge on those who wronged him, save his family, and sacrifice himself for Jesse in a hail of gunfire.
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I know some people say it’s unrealistic, but Breaking Bad more than earned its dramatic and explosive finale.
Lost
They’re stuck on an island, and no one can find them. They’re… (Picture: Channel 4)
Freelance TV writer Rob Oliver, meanwhile, has his own thoughts…
For its very final statement, Lost proudly wore sentimentality and spirituality on its sleeve, and bravely argued that not only is there a place after death, but that we make that place ourselves by loving the people we love. These broken characters fixed each other over the course of the show.
Writers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse also suggested with the finale that, whether it’s a benevolent god, an unknown entity, or a man-made energy, a greater force connects us to those we love. And it saves this argument for the very end.
What other TV show was brave enough to save its big philosophical mission statement for last? What other TV show still had something so valuable to say after almost 100 hours?
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Lost’s finale stands above all others because it shoots for something incomprehensibly huge and sticks the landing. It successfully presents a worthy explanation of the meaning of life, arguing that it’s to make peace with your own death
Friends
(Picture: Reisig & Taylor/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
TV Editor Sabrina Barr prefers a group who are always there for you…
I can’t remember a time when Friends wasn’t in my life. That might partially be down to the fact that I was only a month old when the first episode was released in 1994, but as soon as I was old enough to watch it with my parents, I was hooked.
I might have been too young to understand a lot of what went on throughout its 10-season run, but from an early age, Chandler, Phoebe, Joey, Rachel, Ross and Monica became my friends for life too.
To this day, the sitcom is still my ultimate comfort watch. You could quote any line, show me any still, and I could tell you instantly what episode it was from.
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I remember watching the final ever episode of Friends with amazing clarity. I was 10 years old, sitting on the sofa with my parents as Rachel declared to Ross: ‘I got off the plane.’ We might have been in our lounge at home, but I could almost hear the collective gasps that resounded around the world.
Friends wasn’t just any old sitcom. It touched the hearts of billions around the world, and it couldn’t have delivered a more satisfying ending, both for storytelling purposes and to make fans happy.
Rachel and Ross are back together. Monica and Chandler are parents to twins, and Phoebe and Mike want to start a family of their own. Joey is struggling with everyone moving on, but remains an anchor for the gang. Everything is changing, and yet, everything is still exactly the same as it always was, because their friendship is at the heart of it all.
Succession
And you thought your family dinners were awkward? (Picture: Home Box Office (HBO))
TV reporter Milo Pope wants to get straight to business…
It’s a tale as old as time. You sit down to start a new series. It presents a fascinating set of characters, played by an extremely talented cast, but… it completely messes up the ending.
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For Jesse Armstrong’s Succession, which did all of the above, thankfully, its series finale managed to leave a sweet taste in viewers’ mouths. Impeccably shot and written, every character’s story arc manages to come to a complete conclusion amidst the most high-pressure stakes imaginable.
But right at the end, it still sucker punches you with a truly shocking and unexpected ending. Truly magnificent
The Sopranos
Who doesn’t love a cut to black? (Picture: THA/REX/Shutterstock)
Senior TV reporter Rebecca Cook wants to make you an offer you can’t refuse…
When it comes to The Sopranos, a clear pick for the Mount Rushmore of great TV, it isn’t so much about the show’s finale episode as the final scene.
Set in a diner to Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ (perhaps the most unlikely song choice Tony Soprano could make), James Gandolfini’s indelible mob boss watches his family arrive for a low-key dinner. Outside, Meadow can’t master parallel parking. Inside, there’s a shifty bloke looking at Tony from the bar.
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There’s so much promise in the rousing Journey track and AJ telling his dad to ‘focus on the good times’. Yet, everything suddenly cuts to black in an ending more haunting than if we had seen what many believe happened next.
Did you think your TV was broken? Was the ending a cop-out? The fact that we’re still talking about it nearly two decades later is a testament to its brilliance. So, did the shifty bloke whack Tony? Well, if you were to make me choose once and for all, I’d say – cut to black
Scrubs
I’m no Superman (Picture: Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Deputy TV editor Tom again, with a second pick that he demanded be included on the list…
Scrubs may not be an obvious contender for a list like this, but I stand by the fact that it’s the best ending to a sitcom ever. Set on JD’s final day at Sacred Heart (until the revival at least), the episode ends with the young doctor finally getting the validation he’s always sought from his mentor, Doctor Cox.
As he heads out the door for the last time, we’re treated to a montage of the future showing JD finally marrying Elliott, staying close to Carla and Turk, and their kids falling in love.
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Is it blatant fan service? Yes. But it’s also packed with great jokes (JD collapsing when he realises he’s actually going to be actally related to Turk) and moving moments as well.
For a show like this, which walked the fine line between hilarity and poignancy, I can’t think of a better way to see off the hard-working doctors and nurses at Sacred Heart hospital… let’s just pretend that ninth season never happened.
Six Feet Under
I can’t wait to see how these characters die! Wait… what? (Picture: Reuters)
Tom again. Now you’re just being greedy…
Most people hate when a show kills off its cast in the final episode, but there was no other way for a show set in a mortuary to end. Indeed, it’s the final montage at the end of the show’s sixth series that people remember best about Six Feet Under these days.
If you’ve never seen it, the show ends with a time-skip montage where we see how all the characters we’ve been following for six years die. Some pass away peacefully with their loved ones around them, others are taken far too soon, and some are violently snatched away from their families.
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The only thing these deaths have in common? Well, they all serve to remind us of that horrible universal truth. We all die eventually.
And while you’d be forgiven for thinking that’s a horrible way to end a TV show, it’s also a powerful reminder of one of Six Feet Under’s key themes. The idea that you only get one life and you don’t know how long or short it will be, so you’d best live a good one.
This article was originally published on September 29, 2025.
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In a statement online, GB News said: “Eamonn was taken ill last week and it was later confirmed he had suffered a stroke. He is currently responding well to treatment.
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“Eamonn has asked for privacy as he focuses on getting better.
“His colleagues and everyone at GB News wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to the People’s Channel when he is ready to return.”
Angelos Frangopoulos, the CEO of GB News, added: “Eamonn is a loved member of the GB News family, and we’re with him every step of the way as he recovers.”
Eamonn had been due to return to GB News Breakfast next week – Alex Armstrong will step in to present in his absence.
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Eamonn has been open about his health struggles and battle with chronic pain for years. He underwent major spinal surgery in 2022 to tackle years of pain from slipped discs and subsequent complications, a procedure he has admitted “went wrong” and left him with limited movement.
The pinnacle of the National Hunt racing season is upon us, with the Grand National taking place today at Aintree.
Only three weeks on from the Cheltenham Festival comes another highlight of the British sporting calendar as Liverpool plays host to the world’s most famous steeplechase.
The three-day meeting is headlined by the feature race, which will include 2024 winner I Am Maximus.
The action at Aintree began on Thursday, followed by Ladies’ Day on Friday and then the showpiece comes today at 4pm.
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Here’s everything you need to know…
When is the Grand National 2026?
The 2026 Grand National meeting runs from Thursday, April 9, to Saturday, April 11, with the Grand National steeplechase taking place at 4pm BST on the third day.
A new, earlier time for the feature race of the meeting was introduced in 2024, bringing the race forward by 75 minutes, and remains in place for the 2026 edition.
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As ever, the famous Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool will host the race.
Nick Rockett won last year’s race
Peter Byrne/PA Wire
How to watch the Grand National 2026?
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TV channel: In the UK, the Grand National meeting is being shown live and free-to-air on ITV1, with coverage starting at 12.45pm BST, today, Saturday.
ITV will broadcast every race bar the final of the day, with subscription channel Racing TV the only place to watch all the action across the three days.
Coverage of the National itself is from 3:15pm BST with the race getting underway at 4pm.
Live stream: The race will also be available to watch live and for free online via the ITVX app and website.
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Live blog: You can follow every race live from Grand National Day at Aintree with Standard Sport’s live blog.
Grand National 2026 weather forecast
The UK has been blessed with sunshine of late, but there is expected to be showers across all three days of the meeting.
Hitting a high of just 12C, expect overcast conditions with occasional sun at Aintree.
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Grand National 2026 prize money
The total prize fund for the race is £1 million, the highest amount of money that any race over obstacles is contested for, and it breaks down as follows:
“The Grand National is the main reason I got into the sport, it has always been a great spectacle. It is a dream, it is the most prestigious race, it’s worldwide, it is very exciting to have a ride in the race alone, if you’re not in then you can’t win and it doesn’t matter what price they are, hopefully they have a good chance and I am really looking forward to it.”
The incident happened at the supermarket on the Causeway, in Billingham town centre, around 2.25am this morning (April 11).
Two men in dark clothing were caught on CCTV forcing entry before leaving with a large quantity of goods, including alcohol and scratch cards.
Police launched a search but the suspects had fled the scene.
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Cleveland Police say one of the men was wearing a grey tracksuit with a black gilet and a black face covering, and was carrying a duffle bag.
The second man was wearing all-black clothing.
Enquiries are ongoing and officers are urging anyone who may have captured the two men on doorbell or dash cam footage to get in touch on 101, quoting reference number 067408.
Lebanon experienced one of the deadliest days in its recent history, as widespread Israeli air strikes brought horror and destruction to the country on Wednesday, just hours after a ceasefire was announced in Iran.
The attacks, that came in the middle of the day without warning, killed more than 300 people, a third of them women, children and the elderly, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Some of the attacks hit busy, densely populated neighbourhoods, places that had not been targeted before and where people felt they were safe.
Israel said it carried out more than 100 air strikes in just 10 minutes on what it described as targets linked to the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah.
BBC Middle East correspondent Hugo Bachega has spoken to residents in Beirut, a city that is still in shock.
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