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National News

King and Queen Consort to unveil Eurovision staging

The King and the Queen Consort will unveil the staging for the Eurovision Song Contest and tour the arena in Liverpool. Charles and Camilla will be shown around the M&S Bank Arena and meet Mae Muller, the UK’s contestant, as well as celebrity presenters and creative teams, ahead of the contest next month. The grand final of the competition is due to take place on May 13, a week after the coronation ceremony. Eurovision 2023 will take place in LiverpoolRead More

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National News

1500 items from Freddie Mercurys private collection to go on sale

A month-long exhibition and auction showcasing more than 1,500 items from the private collection of Freddie Mercury is due to take place this summer. Items from the Queen frontman’s beloved home – Garden Lodge in Kensington, west London – will go on display from August 4 until September 5, which would have marked his 77th birthday. The collection includes a vast array of marvellous costumes, paintings, and objects from Mercury’s everyday life. Among the most highly-valued items is a replicaRead More

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National News

Heathrow passengers will fly as normal during coronation

Heathrow airport has insisted passengers will be able to travel “as normal” during the King’s coronation despite further strike action planned next month. The group said “robust contingency plans kept the airport running smoothly” throughout the Easter break in spite of walkouts by members of Unite union. About 1,400 airport security guards are set to stage eight strikes in a dispute over pay, including during the coronation of the King. Heathrow said: “Passengers can expect to travel as normal duringRead More

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National News

Choice of mortgage deals tops 5000

The total number of mortgages on the market has topped 5,000 for the first time since May last year, according to a financial information website. But while the choice of products is widening, mortgage rates have been climbing, pushing up the cost of borrowing. Moneyfacts counted 5,146 residential mortgage options available in April, breaching 5,000 for the first time since there were 5,087 deals in May 2022. It was the highest total recorded by Moneyfacts since 5,356 mortgage products wereRead More

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National News

Bronze knee injury not serious after keyhole surgery

Barcelona’s England defender Lucy Bronze will miss their upcoming Champions League semi-final second leg against Chelsea due to injury. The 31-year-old limped off the pitch during the second half of the first leg on Saturday, which Barcelona won 1-0 thanks to Caroline Graham Hansen’s goal. The Spanish club have now confirmed in a statement on Twitter that Bronze will be unavailable for the return fixture at the Nou Camp on Thursday after undergoing arthroscopy on her right knee. Bronze’s injuryRead More

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National News

Leicester boss Smith delighted to see Vardy on target

Leicester boss Dean Smith has backed Jamie Vardy to finish the season with a flurry of goals after his late equaliser clinched a 1-1 draw at relegation rivals Leeds. Vardy stepped off the bench as a 70th-minute replacement for Tete to earn the Foxes a crucial point after Luis Sinisterra’s first-half header had put Leeds in front. It was Vardy’s first Premier League goal since October – just his second of the season – and kept Smith’s side one placeRead More

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National News

Burnley clinch Championship title at rivals Blackburn

Burnley manager Vincent Kompany described their 1-0 win at Blackburn to seal the title as a “tremendous achievement.” The Clarets were second best for two thirds of the Sky Bet Championship game but Rovers could not take advantage, only carving out half-chances for Tyrhys Dolan and Dominic Hyam. A half-chance was all Burnley needed at Ewood Park, as Manuel Benson curled a sumptuous 66th-minute winner into the far corner – his 12th of the campaign. After completing the double overRead More

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National News

Sudan airlift continues with ceasefire in place

Hundreds of Britons have been evacuated from Sudan as the military races against time to bring people to safety before a ceasefire ends. Flights began landing in Cyprus on Tuesday evening and continued through the night, with more planned on Wednesday. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said on Wednesday morning that 200 to 300 people had been brought out so far. She said: “We are now commencing an extensive operation, working with over 1,000 personnel from the RAF and the armedRead More

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National News

Emergency food bank parcels hit record high

A record near-three million emergency food parcels have been handed out at food banks in the year to March, with the number provided for children topping a million for the first time. The figures from the Trussell Trust charity represent a 37% increase compared to the previous year. A total of 2,986,203 emergency food parcels were given out between April 2022 and March this year – the most parcels food banks in the charity’s UK-wide network have ever distributed inRead More

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