NewsBank (Evening Chronicle)

RONNIE O'Sullivan may claim not to care about records but the magnitude of his quest to eclipse Stephen Hendry and claim a record-breaking eighth world snooker title in the modern era cannot be understated.

WITHIN the last week the mood has lifted significantly on Wearside as Sunderland secured four points from a possible six, with two clean sheets to boot, against promotionhopefuls Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion.

PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak has hit out at Labour-run councils across the country, with local election polls predicting widespread defeats for Conservative candidates.

GOLF Matt Fitzpatrick believes his game is heading in the right direction as he bids to defend his RBC Heritage title.

CRYSTAL Palace star Eberechi Eze has revealed that Sunderland have previously turned down the chance to sign him as a youngster before his move to Queens Park Rangers, where his form at Loftus Road saw the Eagles shell out a reported £17 million fee for the attacking midfielder back in 2020.

JEREMY Hunt said the "feelgood factor" of interest rate cuts would be stronger in the autumn, in an apparent hint at the timing of the general election.

SWIMMING Tom Dean insists he has no regrets about making public the extent of his Paris 2024 ambitions despite a setback at this month's British Championship that left his quest to claim five medals in the French capital hanging by a thread.

WITH the weather often unpredictable, it can be tough to know what outfit is best to wear during springtime.

LAST month's Budget highlighted the great number of people on benefits and particularly those in the 18-34 age bracket who were not working or looking for work.

RUGBY UNION Former Wales captain Ken Owens has announced his retirement from the game after failing to recover from a back problem.

JARROD Bowen looks set to be fit for West Ham's bid for an unlikely Europa League comeback against new Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.

UK inflation dropped to a fresh twoand-a-half year low in March on the back of a further easing in food prices, official figures have shown.

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APPLICATIONS to vote jumped sharply yesterday, the last day people were able to register ahead of next month's local, mayoral and police elections.

PRETTY Crystal held off the late surge of Dance Sequence in the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket yesterday.

TWO leisure centres in Blaydon and Dunston are set to receive a cut of an over £4m grant following council approval.

SECURITY will be tight during next month's Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo in southern Sweden, police said, citing demonstrations that could lead to unrest and a heightened threat of terrorism.

NEWCASTLE Vikings men's team fought back for a brilliant 24-32 away win over Tryst 77 in Sunday's Scottish Development League encounter in Glasgow.

A GATESHEAD woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer in her 20s said returning to "normal life" after being ill is incredibly difficult.

STATISTICS Weight watcher Horses which have dropped most from previous winning handicap marks in the last two years.

LEADING Labour figures in the North East have criticised the Government over delays to planned changes on the East Coast Mainline.

TWO leading Tyneside hospice charities have shared "grave concerns" about a national funding squeeze.

A "concerned" friend was pulled over by police after he decided to get behind the wheel of a car and look for his missing flatmate after a night of drinking.

A PENSIONER run over and seriously injured in a hit-and-run was left lying in the road for around 90 minutes with multiple fractures.

ISRAEL is "making the decision to act" in response to Saturday's attack by Iran, the Foreign Secretary has said as he visited the country for talks with its leaders.

A VIOLENT thug who beat up his girlfriend after she returned home from a night out with friends has been freed to live around the corner from her.

LABOUR'S Shadow Chancellor has been campaigning in Prudhoe ahead of the general election.

After weeks of hilarious, head-inyour-hands business blunders, the final is upon us, as pie company owner Phil and fitness entrepreneur Rachel (pictured) go head-to-head.

A WOMAN told a court her boyfriend "just snapped" when he punched her in the face before allegedly killing her brother.