Arsenal owner Stanley Kroenke has been dubbed ‘Silent Stan’ due to his desire to keep a low profile, but his huge fortune and business empire could not be more public

When British people hear the name Stanley Kroenke, most will immediately think of him as Arsenal’s owner. However, his connection to the North London football club represents just a fraction of his vast empire.

This became abundantly clear earlier this year when he topped Land Report’s annual rankings as the United States’ largest private landowner.

The 78-year-old sports tycoon made headlines in December after acquiring a colossal 937,000-acre ranch in New Mexico — pushing his total land holdings across America and Canada to an astonishing 2.7 million acres.

To put that into perspective, that expanse of land could fit into 79% of Northern Ireland — which spans 3.4 million acres.

The jaw-dropping figure surpassed the previous record held by California’s Emmerson family, who own 2.44 million acres of timberland.

Stan has a particular fondness for ranches, with properties scattered across Montana and Nevada. A decade ago, he also purchased the legendary Waggoner Ranch, the largest contiguous piece of ranchland in Texas, spanning an impressive 535,000 acres.

While he’s invested fortunes in land acquisitions, Forbes estimates his net worth at a remarkable $22.2 billion (£16.3bn). In that context, spending £105m on Arsenal’s signing of Declan Rice appears to be pocket money.

The entrepreneur also controls 60 million square feet of commercial property, and his connection to the world’s wealthiest family runs through his marriage to Ann Walton — a Walmart heiress whose personal fortune, according to Forbes, stands at $14.4billion (£10.7bn). Stan and Ann are parents to two children, Whitney Ann and Josh, with Josh serving as co-chairman of Arsenal alongside his father.

Beyond his role at Arsenal, Stan’s sporting empire extends to ownership of the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Rapids.

The business tycoon is notoriously media-shy and has earned the nickname “silent Stan” due to his preference for keeping out of the spotlight.

In a rare conversation with Mirror Sport, he acknowledged that generating wealth would be far simpler in industries outside of sport.

He said: “There are a lot of easier ways, so many easier ways, to make money, I assure you! You guys talk about the downs, maybe that’s the nature of it, but if you’re just trying to make money there are a lot of easier ways to do it.

“If you look at our history — just go look at our history. We get into these things to try to build them, to try to grow them. You don’t see us selling things. You just don’t. Go and check us. We are committed long-term.”

These remarks from Kroenke came in 2017, when he made it crystal clear he had “absolutely not” any intention of parting with Arsenal, emphasising his ambition to deliver complete success to North London.

He said: “Look, we want to be champions of everything. Premier League, Champions League — we want them all.”

Nearly ten years on, as he achieved the remarkable feat of becoming America’s biggest landowner, his football club appears poised to create its own piece of history on the field, with their first top-flight championship in 22 years now tantalisingly close.

A travel content creator has shared her visit to an enchanting Welsh village with sub-tropical gardens and stunning architecture which is worthy of your staycation ‘bucket list’

Next time you’re contemplating arranging a break close to home, you might want to consider the recommendation of a travel content creator who maintains she’s discovered an idyllic Welsh spot that “feels like you’re in Italy”.

After visiting the destination, Amy Hulley described the stunning village as thoroughly deserving of a place on your holiday “bucket list” as she shared her experience with Instagram followers. “For a moment I genuinely forgot I was in the UK,” she confessed in a video. Visitors can pay an admission charge to explore the village for the day, or book accommodation in one of its quaint hotels and cottages.

The location? Portmeirion in Gwynedd, on the edge of Eryri National Park.

Amy added: “Pastel buildings. Arches and domes. Palm trees overlooking the water. It felt Mediterranean, almost cinematic.”

She disclosed her visit happened to coincide with a steampunk event, with period costumes and music enhancing the “fun atmosphere”.

Noting the village’s sub-tropical gardens and striking architecture, Amy explained: “Sir Clough Williams-Ellis began creating it in 1925 to prove that colourful, theatrical design could sit beautifully within nature rather than damage it. Every building was carefully positioned to frame the estuary and protect the woodland around it.”

Writing in response, a previous visitor commented: “A wonderful place to visit, a little expensive but worth it!” Another person admitted: “Wow I can’t believe this is in the UK, Amy. Stunning Italian vibes.”

A second person exclaimed: “Can’t wait to visit here! So picturesque.” And a third Instagram user enthused: “This is beautiful, it’s definitely on my bucket list now.”

Portmeirion’s tourism website proudly advertises: “Experience the magic of staying in Portmeirion. See the dawn break over the mountains of Meirionnydd; watch the tide fill the Dwyryd estuary from shore to shore.

“Stay in one of two luxury 4-star hotels or in a suite in the middle of the village. Portmeirion also offers self-catering accommodation on the picturesque North Wales coast. Situated on the southern flank of its own private peninsula, Portmeirion is a place apart.”

The village also features several cafes and an Italian-style gelateria offering authentic home-made gelato. “There are three shops in the village The Prisoner Shop with souvenirs of the famous series filmed here in 1966-67, the Rob Piercy Gallery and The Ship Shop with gifts, toys, housewares and Portmeirion Pottery best-ware, Portmeirion Pottery seconds as well as preserves, wines, and confectioneries,” the website details.

It also served as the setting for the 1960’s cult classic series, The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan. “It was probably one of the most influential pieces of television of the 1960’s not only in the UK and USA, but also in France, Australia, and many other countries,” the site states.

The website continues: “The series is rich in imagery and visual impact. The surreal architecture of the village with its Mediterranean atmosphere coupled with the high-tech interiors, tannoys, surveillance cameras and piped music create a bizarre combination.”

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They said the incident took place between 3.30pm and 3.45pm last Sunday (March 1) and two people are thought to have been involved.

The pair were riding a scooter or moped with balaclavas on, one dressed in black clothing and the other in a grey tracksuit jacket with black trousers.

Officers have appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the incident on Stopes Road, near the junction of Countess Lane and Bolton Road, to come forward.

They are also appealing for any CCTV footage or information that could help with their investigation.

A spokesperson for GMP said: “Officers are investigating an attempted robbery that occurred between 3.30pm and 3.45pm on Sunday, March 1, on Stopes Road in Radcliffe, near the junction of Countess Lane and Bolton Road.

“It is believed two people, one wearing black clothing and the second person wearing a grey tracksuit jacket and black trousers with balaclavas and riding a scooter/moped, were involved in the incident.

“Investigators are appealing for any witnesses, information or CCTV footage which could assist their enquiries.”

If you can assist, contact police by calling 101 and quoting CRI/06NN/0003097/26 or alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

From Magpie Cafe (James Martin approved) to Trenchers, which has just been crowned the UK’s best chippy restaurant at the National Fish and Chip Awards 2026, there are so many to visit.

But there’s one fish and chip shop that’s been hailed a “hidden gem” which some might not know about, and it’s been described as a “proper” chippy.

It comes as someone posted on Reddit: “Which Yorkshire town has the best proper chippy, no debate?

“Everyone claims their local is the best, but let’s settle it properly.

“Crispy batter, decent portion size, chips that aren’t soggy, and proper gravy or curry sauce.

“Which Yorkshire town genuinely does it best? No politeness, just honest answers.”

‘Proper’ Whitby chippy is a go-to spot for a ‘taste of the coast’

Riverside Fisheries, tucked away on Church Street, received a notable mention by residents and visitors on the Reddit thread.

Someone replied: “It’s a bit of a hidden gem with it being a bit out of the way, but it’s been my go-to for a while whenever I’m over there.”

The eatery is also said to offer a “quintessential Whitby fish and chip experience” and is a go-to spot for an “authentic taste of the coast”.

Welcome to Yorkshire shares: “Riverside Fisheries offers a quintessential Whitby fish and chip experience, cherished by locals and visitors alike for its traditional charm and exceptional value.

“Nestled on Church Street, this popular takeaway has earned a fantastic reputation, reflected in its impressive 4.6/5 star Google rating based on over 200 reviews.

“Renowned for serving gloriously fresh, often ‘criminally light and crispy’ fish and generous portions of chips, Riverside Fisheries prides itself on classic chip shop fare.

“Customers consistently praise the quality and size of dishes like the huge haddock, alongside tasty options such as scampi and homemade tartar sauce.

“The friendly and efficient team ensures brilliant service in an immaculately clean setting, making it a go-to spot for an authentic taste of the coast.”

On Tripadvisor, Riverside Fisheries currently has a “good” 4.1/5 rating based on 155 reviews – 99 of which are rated as “excellent”.

‘Riverside Fisheries offers a quintessential Whitby fish and chip experience’ (Image: Tripadvisor)

A recent customer commented: “Staying nearby in Whitby, so called in for tea.

“Lovely crispy chips, fish had just the right amount of batter.

“Friendly staff and good prices, will definitely be back.”

Someone else who also praised the batter said: “The haddock was lovely and the batter was light and flaky. Very good price.

“We had this as an evening meal and thoroughly enjoyed it. Would definitely visit again. Highly recommended.”

A third impressed guest wrote: “This is one of the best chippies I’ve been to – had the haddock which was really nice and the curry sauce was nice with a bit of a kick to it. Would highly recommend.”

Have you discovered Riverside Fisheries in Whitby? Let us know in the comments below.

A man has been charged with manslaughter over the death of a woman who killed herself after allegedly being subjected to a campaign of domestic abuse.

Gillian Morand was aged just 36 when she ended her own life in March 2020.

A subsequent inquest ruled her death a suicide, but the Met Police has now charged Seyhan Assaf, 45, with manslaughter and coercive or controlling behaviour.

Scotland Yard said the decision was made after ‘information came to light around allegations of domestic abuse that Gillian had previously suffered’.

A spokesperson said: ‘It is alleged Gillian was abused over a significant period of time, and it is further alleged that this abuse contributed to her death.’

Detective Chief Inspector Dan Whitten, from the Metropolitan Police Service, added: ‘This is a complex investigation with very few charges of this nature authorised across the country.

‘We are supporting Gillian’s family, who ask for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time.

‘I ask that anyone who was in contact with Gillian in the decade prior to her death contact us. Any information, irrespective of how insignificant it may seem, may be of considerable value.’

There are currently only two other men in the country facing manslaughter charges over the deaths of women who killed themselves because of alleged domestic abuse.

Samantha Yelland, Senior Crown Prosecutor in CPS London Homicide Unit, said: ‘We have decided to prosecute Seyhan Assaf with manslaughter and controlling or coercive behaviour.

‘This decision comes after working closely with the Metropolitan Police as they have carried out their investigation into the death of Gillian Morand.

‘Our prosecutors worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring these charges to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.’

Assaf, of Sidcup, southeast London, will appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, March 7.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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Iran immediately responded to US-Israeli strikes on February 28 by launching coordinated missile and drone attacks against US military installations in the Gulf region. Since then, its targeting has expanded to airports, seaports, hotels and oil refineries. The debris from missile interceptions has produced several casualties.

The first official statements from governments in the Gulf, with the exception of Oman, refrained from condemning the US-Israeli strikes. Those strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several senior Iranian officials and nearly 180 civilians. Many of these were schoolgirls killed in an attack on a school in southern Iran.

This lack of condemnation did not go unnoticed. Across social media, a wave of debate broke out, with many Gulf citizens asking how governments that style themselves as voices of measured multilateralism could fail to register the illegality of the US-Israeli aggression against Iran.

However, as the barrage continued and many Gulf citizens and residents found themselves stuck indoors, the initial sympathy for Iran’s position began to give way. For most Gulf citizens, the sound of explosions and aerial interceptions is new. The exception is Kuwait, whose population carries the memory of Iraq’s 1990 invasion and occupation.

Like many anxiously watching from a distance, I have been calling family and friends in the Gulf every day. They send voice notes offering insights on the conflict that rarely make it into official Gulf channels.

Those who had been through war before knew what to do. An Emirati friend described a message from her Lebanese colleague, who had lived through multiple cycles of conflict and passed along a piece of practical advice: “Keep your windows and doors slightly ajar, so that pressure from nearby explosions does not drive the glass to shatter inward.”

She went on to recount how a Serbian woman in Dubai, who had survived two wars and believed she had exhausted her capacity to do so again, had told her she found the sounds so triggering that she spent the night sleeping in her car in the basement of her apartment building.

The sight of a long queue outside an Emirates airline office in a Dubai mall offended at least one Emirati observer. Expatriates rerouting their lives away from a conflict that had not yet become catastrophic, by any measure, was something this person found “cowardly”, she told me in an indignant voice note.

A Qatari friend put the asymmetry differently. Western governments, she remarked, could be relied on to extract their nationals from the consequences of foreign policy decisions they had supported. In contrast, Gulf populations would be left to absorb them – including rising food prices that could strain household budgets if traffic through the strait of Hormuz remains disrupted.

To date, the casualty figures in the Gulf are relatively low. Three people have died in Kuwait, three in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), three in Oman and one in Bahrain. None were Gulf citizens. Two of those killed in Kuwait were members of the Bidoon, a stateless community that has existed in Kuwait for generations without formal legal recognition.

For now, the absence of citizen casualties has softened the psychological impact of the conflict, exposing the racial hierarchies that have long plagued Gulf societies. But it is possible the Gulf governments are managing disclosure carefully, wary of provoking panic.

The information environment there is tightly controlled. The UAE has warned the public against filming or sharing footage of strikes and interceptions, with violations carrying a fine of 100,000 UAE dirhams (roughly £20,000) and potential imprisonment.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar have also issued directives urging citizens and residents to rely only on official sources.

Regional security questions

The conversation has taken on a different register among Gulf scholars and commentators. Despite the narrow space for debate, the war has opened an unexpected aperture for introspective commentary.

Conspicuously absent have been Emirati voices. Scholars and commentators in the UAE operate under tighter constraints than their Gulf counterparts. Views that interrogate state policy also rarely find their way into public circulation.

Saudi analyst Sulaiman al-Oqaily, speaking on Al Jazeera on February 28, gave voice to a frustration that has also appeared in local media. He argued that the US, nominally a security partner to the Gulf, had revealed itself as focused overwhelmingly on Israeli security, with scant regard for the Gulf states.

Omani scholar Abdullah Baabood put it plainly in a social media post on March 3: “The Iran-US war is not the Gulf’s war, yet Gulf states have become sitting ducks – exposed by geography, constrained by alliances, and vulnerable to escalation they neither chose nor control.”

Qatari commentator Abdulrahman Al-Marri offered a more layered analysis. Also in a post on social media, he insisted any serious engagement with the crisis must begin from its most basic fact: this is a war of choice, manufactured by the US and Israel. But he was equally insistent that this should not obscure the Gulf’s own reckoning with Iran.

The US and Israel and also Iran, in Al-Marri’s framing, are respectively engaged in forms of “state terrorism” and “counter-state terrorism” that have cost the region dearly. Iran’s conduct is not absolved by US-Israeli aggression, he writes. Its support for armed proxies and interventions in Iraq and Syria have left a residue of enmity and distrust that are etched in collective memory across the Gulf.

Yet on one point, the commentary has converged: the Gulf states must stay out of the war. Restraint and diplomacy have been the consistent recommendations.

Alongside this, Al-Marri and others have pointed out that US military bases in the Gulf, long presented as guarantors of security, have revealed themselves as liabilities. They have made Gulf territories a target in a confrontation they did not initiate.

Fifty years after independence, the Gulf region has yet to build a security framework that does not depend on outsourcing its defence to external partners whose interests, as this war has shown, do not reliably align with its own.

Ireland starting XV: 15 Jamie Osborne; 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale; 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Tom O’Toole, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 James Ryan, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Jack Conan, 7 Nick Timoney, 8 Caelan Doris (captain).

Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Tom Farrell, 23 Ciaran Frawley.

Wales starting XV: 15 Louis Rees-Zammit, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Eddie James, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Tomos Williams, 1 Rhys Carre, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 3 Tomas Francis, 14 Dafydd Jenkins, 5 Ben Carter, 6 Alex Mann, 7 James Botham, 8 Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Louie Hennessey.

The question has sparked intense debate on Reddit, where users admitted they were completely stumped, even years after leaving school.

One user summed it up perfectly: “The last three questions on Edexcel always left me hopeless.”

A 2025 survey of UK students found that 85% experience exam anxiety, with one in four describing it as nearly unbearable during exams.

Lindsey Wright, Head of Maths Education at Tutors Valley, said: “Exams are designed to challenge students, but parents can make a real difference.

“Understanding how your child learns and providing one-to-one support gives them a safe space to make mistakes, ask questions, and build confidence.

“Research shows 71% of students do not seek any support at all, so this guidance is more important than ever.”

So can you solve this impossible question?

(Image: Tutors Valley)

This video explains how to solve it, and whether or not you found the correct solution.

Fewer than one in five people pass this IQ test, thought to be the shortest in the world at only three questions long.

The Cognitive Reflection Test has a pass rate of just 17 per cent, leaving the majority who attempt it boggled.

It was originally part of a research paper published in 2005 by MIT Professor Shane Frederick, and has recently resurfaced online with many people giving it a go.

As part of his research, Professor Frederick had more than 3,000 participants from a range of educational backgrounds complete the test, but even those attending top American universities such as Yale and Harvard struggled to work out all the answers.

Professor Frederick said: “The three items on the CRT are ‘easy’ in the sense that their solution is easily understood when explained, yet reaching the correct answer often requires the suppression of an erroneous answer that springs ‘impulsively’ to mind.”

So how will you get on?

What are the questions?

1. A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?

2. If it takes five machines five minutes to make five widgets, how long would it take 100 machines to make 100 widgets?

3. In a lake, there is a patch of lily pads. Every day, the patch doubles in size. If it takes 48 days for the patch to cover the entire lake, how long would it take for the patch to cover half of the lake?

What are the answers?

These are the three most common answers that people guess, but they are actually incorrect:

1. 10 cents

2. 100 minutes

3. 24 days

Professor Frederick said: “Anyone who reflects upon it for even a moment would recognise that the difference between $1 and 10 cents is only 90 cents, not $1 as the problem stipulates.

“In this case, catching that error is tantamount to solving the problem, since nearly everyone who does not respond ‘10 cents’ does, in fact, give the correct response.”

The correct answers are:

1. Five cents

2. Five minutes

3. 47 days

Here are the answers explained

Presh Talwalkar, the author of The Hoy of Game Theory: An Introduction to Strategic Thinking, explained how to work out the correct answers for each of the three questions on his blog, Mind Your Decisions.

1. Say the ball costs X. Then the bat costs $1 more, so it is X + 1. So we have bat + ball = X + (X + 1) = 1.1 because together they cost $1.10. This means 2X + 1 = 1.1, then 2X = 0.1, so X = 0.05. This means the ball costs five cents and the bat costs $1.05

2. If it takes five machines five minutes to make five widgets, then it takes one machine five minutes to make one widget (each machine is making a widget in five minutes). If we have 100 machines working together, then each can make a widget in five minutes. So there will be 100 widgets in five minutes.

3. Every day FORWARD the patch doubles in size. So every day BACKWARDS means the patch halves in size. So on day 47 the lake is half full.

Chilling chimp kills it in lean, mean flick that, thankfully, opts for practical costume and effects.

Think Cujo with a chimpanzee instead of a St Bernard dog and a pool in place of a car and you get Primate.

The latest horror from English director Johannes Roberts (The Strangers: Prey at Night, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City) sees a group of friends’ tropical vacation turning into a terrifying fight for survival when adopted chimp Ben (Miguel Torres Umba) contracts rabies.

Primate is one of the best animal attack flicks to come along in quite some time.

It’s short and simple but shines with its taut tension and gnarly kills.

Roberts bathes his film in vibrant visuals, including several close-ups of an increasingly stricken Ben, peaking with a twisted bedroom scene that sees Ben surrounded by devilish red lighting.

Some of the characters are throwaway fodder – Jess Alexander’s vapid Hannah and Benjamin Cheng’s object of affection Nick – but a nice bond is established between sisters Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah) and Erin (Gia Hunter) and Ben.

Oscar winner Troy Kotsur also projects more with facial expressions and actions than many actors could with hundreds of lines of dialogue as Lucy and Erin’s deaf dad Adam.

The real revelation, though, is Umba who portrays Ben while wearing a practical suit; he’s every bit as convincing as a chimp than anything we’ve seen from motion-capture king Andy Serkis.

Practicality, thankfully, rules the day across the board, which leads to several memorable kills.

READ MORE: MOVIE REVIEW: We knock on the door of found-footage horror ‘House on Eden’

Ben shows no mercy as he punches, bites, scratches and tears his way through his stricken victims; bones break, flesh is ripped and blood spatters everywhere.

And rarely will an electronic soundboard evoke this much dread.

Yes, the lead group make a couple of dumb decisions, but they also show bursts of ingenuity amid a perfect pace that never misses a beat.

Primate is lean and mean with the most chilling chimp I’ve seen since the childhood nightmare fuel of 1991 TV mini-series Chimera (if you know, you know).

● Do you have a favourite animal attack horror flick?

Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers.

● Primate is showing in cinemas now.

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