The Friday letters page enjoys the madness of the Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream demo, as one reader doesn’t have the time for Crimson Desert.
Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk
Assembling the team Seeing Fox McCloud in the new Mario movie was a genuine shock to me. I know the Pikmin were already in it, but I thought that was just Miyamoto giving his favourite franchise a cameo (they’re also at the Super Nintendo World in L.A.). But Star Fox? That makes a cameo by Samus Aran now very possible, if not probable.
I get that the space setting is being used as an excuse to get them together, but I’ll bet quite a bit of money that the next Mario movie finds an excuse to include Zelda and other fantasy characters like Fire Emblem.
Advertisement
To me, a Super Smash Bros. movie is now inevitable. We are witnessing the build-up to the original Avengers all over again, but this time with Nintendo characters! Now all we need is some new games to go along with them and I would be very happy with a new Star Fox and Smash. Badgerman
Delaying the inevitable I really don’t know why publishers bother holding back review copies when they know the games are going to get reviewed anyway and reviewers are then probably going to go into them assuming there’s a problem from the start.
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
Advertisement
Gamers too, because even if Life Is Strange: Reunion’s good (or more likely okay) the name has already been through the dirt. Starfield never recovered from its initial bad press, for the very good reason that it’s not a very good game. Even if it had someone got good reviews, nothing would’ve changed that. Lumpy
Slow-mo train crash $300 million to make a new video game? That’s more than most movies! And people wonder why the games industry is in trouble. In 40 years we’ve gone from one person making a game in his bedroom as a hobby to bloated ‘epics’ that are so expensive they have to sell tens of millions of copies to turn a profit. Oh, and they take so long to make you can only have one every five years (at best).
I think it’s clear at this point that no publisher is making any attempt to fix this problem and at some point the house of cards is going to collapse in on itself and who knows what will be left after that. It’ll be awful but we all see it coming and as upset as I’ll be I definitely won’t be surprised. Focus
Forbidden love RE: Alex the cousin lover. Is it just me who finds that the Japanese obsession with adopted siblings, (i.e. stepbrother/stepsisters entering relationships) is a whole lot weirder than the second cousin thing?
You may only see your second cousin/extended family once maybe twice a year, at family dos or gatherings, it’s exciting, a thrill ride, something different to the everyday… your stepsis/bro well, they are your sisters and brothers, you see them every day, you love, you hate, you grow together… but ultimately, they’re ya sister or brother!
There’s something to get all keyboard warrior-y about… also, who’s Alex?! big boy bent PS: Loving Pokémon Pokopia. However, I’m a little stuck on Bleak Beach. Prof. Tangly says bring more light; I’ve connected all the street lamps, they’re on, but the story isn’t moving on? Any hints, anyone? Maybe I’ll ask my second cousin!
Advertisement
GC: Have you connected the power cables up to Peakychu’s machine? He’s the key to the end of that quest.
Second thoughts About a week or so ago, I wrote into the Inbox with a photo of my Switch in the bin, after going through my backlog.
Just to let everyone know it has been taken out of the bin since playing the Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream demo and the whole game has now been pre-ordered from MyNintendo.
Advertisement
Looks like there’s still life left in the ol’ hybrid yet… LeeDappa
GC: We hope you didn’t make it say anything rude.
Max closure It’s rather disappointing to see the fact that there won’t be a review of Life Is Strange: Reunion from GC this week. It’s released today and there’s no reviews to be seen anywhere. Which is a personal shame for me, because I’ve actually downloaded all the titles to my Ally X and I’m currently playing through the first title. Essentially the introduction of Max and Chloe, and the beginning of the franchise as a whole.
Maybe it was the negative critical reception to Double Exposure that has scared Square Enix from receiving the same outrage or outcry of disappointment, that they’re being silent over this title’s reception. I don’t really know the facts and I certainly can’t tell the whole story, but if it is another disappointment from Deck Nine that is the final nail in the coffin.
Advertisement
As far as the narrative of Reunion is concerned, I’m hoping it ties into the events of the first game. Especially the events carried out by Mark Jefferson. He was such an important character and I’m really hoping for closure. Maybe he’s dead in his prison cell or even sentenced to life behind bars. We need to know his fate for definite.
Because if Reunion is the end of the franchise, or at least the end of Max and Chloe’s story, it involved Mr Jefferson at the end of the day; even Nathan Prescott played a huge role. It was those events that led to Max and Chloe breaking up, after all. So I’d surely tie the events of the first game into the story of Reunion. Because I’d just like to have that needed closure and hopefully a happy ending for Max and Chloe.
If GC is able to have a review out for the game, could you guys please let me know if Mark Jefferson or Nathan are at least mentioned and there’s some ties to the first game? Or if it has moved on completely and the story is just bland and uninteresting? Maybe not a satisfying conclusion. I look forward to the review. Shahzaib Sadiq
Always one Totally agree with everything the reader said yesterday about the flaws of Metacritic. They really should just do a top critic version because it’s almost useless otherwise. Just take a look at it now and there’s one single review for Life Is Strange: Reunion and, you guessed it, it’s from a no-name site and very positive.
Advertisement
Considering what GC told us about the review copies I think we all know just how reliable that score is. And yet it’s going to be included in the final meta score, which really doesn’t seem fair, whether the game turns out to be good or not. Gorf
Don’t miss Gaming news! Add us as a Preferred Source
As a loyal GameCentral reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for gaming stories. We have all the latest video games news, reviews, previews, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.
Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.
GameCentral has been delivering unique games news and reviews for over a decade
Out of time It’s a shame that Crimson Desert was underwhelming overall, as I can see that it has its fans with some streamers and others not quite so much. It’s hard to see the pull for me and committing the time for the game is not possible, if I believe my confidence is just a little below par for dedicated gaming sessions.
The problem I have is the many hours I’ve had in Dragon’s Dogma, Death Stranding, Dragon Age, and many others with exploration involved. I also will include Assassin’s Creed games, as Valhalla nearly wiped out the passion I had for the series, after enjoying Creed games for many years.
Before I found out the company behind Crimson Desert, I thought it was done by the Assassin’s Creed developers, as I thought I saw so many of its gaming mechanics being used in the game. When I found out I was pretty surprised for sure.
Advertisement
Another game it reminds me of is Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, for again the climbing and of course the cooking. And like Breath Of The Wild, a story not being the most engaging part and the sub-activities being the ones of interest, strengthening your character. I think Crimson is definitely borrowing a few ideas from these other franchises that have been popular.
Like another questionable product by Nvidia and their DLSS 5 technology! What I can’t understand is how DLSS 5 devs can say lighting changes the textures and look of a gaming character! It appears makeup has been applied or a more stylish five o’ clock shadow and skin textures which unfortunately reminds me of AI creations and not a creation from a skilled development team.
Anyways, definitely a lot of heated discussions recently in the gaming industry and I will be keeping my eyes and ears open for further developments into the above topics. Alucard
Inbox also-rans Have you heard about the new FromSoftware sequel featuring its first Colombian protagonist and brutally hard timing? Shakira: Shadows Dance Twice. Bll
Advertisement
It’s a good job I like Bluey, because if it wasn’t for that the Xbox Partner Preview would’ve been a total wash. It was nearly as bad as the recent Nintendo Directs. Cone Dash
The small print New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.
You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.
Advertisement
You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.
Lime bikes – it feels like they are everywhere in London.
Advertisement
But whatever your thoughts about the controversial bikes are, their design is impressive.
Rain or shine, they can take whatever the British weather has in store, and can handle rough riding by cyclists who are not concerned about going over a kerb at full speed.
But even the sturdiest of bikes needs a bit of love every now and again.
A look inside the Lime depot in Tottenham, north London (Picture: Noora Mykkanen/Metro)
The mechanics, who are paid a London living wage, check each bike for any repair needs (Picture: Noora Mykkanen/Metro)
Now Metro has been given a peek behind the curtain of one of Lime’s largest depots, where hordes of bikes are unloaded from vans for repairs.
When entering the warehouse, which is like a chocolate factory for cycling fans, you can hear the signature bell ding as an army of mechanics check if the bikes are roadworthy.
Advertisement
After the TLC, replenishment and wash, the aim is to get bikes back on the road the same day, ideally within 24 hours, Imaan, Lime’s senior operations manager, told Metro.
Most of the parts on a Lime bike can be replenished and replaced, including the baskets, which are often full of muck after being turned into mobile bins.
This bike, which is waiting to be cleaned, had attracted some graffiti scribbles (Picture: Noora Mykkanen/Metro)
The sea of Lime bikes waiting for their turn for a wash and scrub (Picture: Noora Mykkanen/Metro)
Latest London news
To get the latest news from the capital, visit Metro’s London news hub.
Advertisement
All Lime’s hardware and software has been designed in-house, meaning it can reclaim, reuse and recycle specific spare parts, Imaan added.
A dedicated team with a specialist background worked to replenish parts like electronics, saddles, and fenders.
‘The fact that we can swap and change different parts and are able to refurbish them really extends the lifespan,’ Imaan said. ‘Each one lasts about five years.’
Lime bike pedals take the brunt of the use in London, and some of them end up needing TLC (Picture: Noora Mykkanen/Metro)
When asked what happens to bikes that are broken beyond repair, she said parts will recycled but there is a high success rate of being able to use parts again.
Lime said it also has ‘rangers’ who go around boroughs checking on bike presentations on the streets. Lime, like other e-bike rental firms, has been forced to take action after complaints about bad parking blocking pavements.
Advertisement
Some baskets and fenders had also graffiti scribbled on them, which were removed in the wash outside along with final cosmetics checks and filling up the tyres.
Every bike is washed and scrubbed clean after any repairs (Picture: Noora Mykkanen/Metro)
Mechanics working for the Lime contractor running the maintenance are paid the London living wage.
Brooke, who has been a Lime mechanic for a little over a year, checked through a Lime bike with confident moves, including swapping out a broken basket and a phone holder before taking the bike for a test ride.
The chances are that you have never seen Lime bikes being picked up or unloaded from the parking bays.
This is because due to the busy London traffic, the teams typically work at night, Imaan said.
Advertisement
Lime said the majority of the parts on the bikes can be repaired and replenished rather than throwing them away (Picture: Noora Mykkanen/Metro)
However, this modus operandi isn’t without issues, and residents in busy areas like Islington have complained about noisy late Lime bike collections. Overnight operations have since been stopped in some areas in the borough, Metro understands.
Lime said it is committed to minimising nighttime disruption, but ‘some overnight operations are essential’ to have bikes charged and ready for commuters.
The e-bike operator announced last week that it will bring the next-generation Lime to the UK. The new bikes, which Metro tested out, have smaller wheels and a lower frame for easier access.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he would sign an order instructing the Homeland Security secretary to immediately pay Transportation Security Administration agents, while senators worked into early Friday to approve a funding package in hopes of ending a budget impasse that has jammed airports, disrupted travel and imposed financial hardship on workers.
The deal, which the Senate approved unanimously early in the morning without a roll call, would fund much of the Department of Homeland Security, except the immigration enforcement operations that have been central to the standoff. It did not include any of the restraints Democrats demanded as they sought to rein in Trump’s mass deportation agenda.
It next goes to the House, which is expected to consider it Friday.
“We can get at least a lot of the government opened up again and then we’ll go from there,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. “Obviously, we’ll still have some work ahead of us.”
Advertisement
But Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the deal could have been reached weeks ago, and vowed that his party would continue fighting to ensure Trump’s immigration enforcement operation “does not get more funding without serious reform.”
With pressure mounting to resolve the 42-day stalemate over Homeland Security funding, the endgame emerged in the final hours before TSA workers miss another paycheck Friday. Trump announced his decision in a social media post saying he wanted to quickly stop the “Chaos at the Airports.”
The White House had floated the extraordinary move of invoking a national emergency to pay the TSA agents, a politically and legally fraught approach. Instead, Trump’s order will pay TSA agents using money from his 2025 tax bill, according to a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss it publicly.
At the same time, senators worked through the night on the package that would fund much of the rest of the department, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Coast Guard, but without funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection.
Advertisement
Airport lines grow as TSA workers endure hardships
Multiple airports are experiencing greater than 40% callout rates of TSA workers and nearly 500 of its nearly 50,000 transportation security officers have quit during the shutdown. Nationwide on Wednesday, more than 11% of the TSA employees on the schedule missed work, according to DHS. That is more than 3,120 callouts.
Everett Kelley, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said the union is grateful the TSA workers will be paid, but said Congress must stay in session to pass a deal “that funds DHS, pays all DHS workers, and keeps these vital agencies running.”
At George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Melissa Gates said she would not make her flight to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after waiting more than 2½ hours and still not reaching the security checkpoint. She said no other flights were available until Friday.
Advertisement
“I should have just driven, right?” Gates said. “Five hours would have been hilarious next to this.”
Thune did not disclose details of the new framework, but he said it picked up from a previous offer over the weekend, before talks with the White House and Democrats had broken off.
“Enough is enough,” he said.
Advertisement
But as senators retreated to privately discuss the new plan, action stalled out.
Democrats argued the GOP proposals have not gone far enough at putting guardrails on officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and other federal agencies who are engaged in the immigration sweeps, particularly after the deaths of two Americans protesting the actions in Minneapolis.
They want federal agents to wear identification, remove their face masks and refrain from conducting raids around schools, churches or other sensitive places. Democrats have also pushed for an end of administrative warrants, insisting that judges sign off before agents search people’s homes or private spaces — something new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has said he is open to considering, but senators want to see in writing.
Trump had largely left the issue to Congress, but warned he was ready to take action, threatening to send the National Guard to airports in addition to his deployment of ICE agents who are now checking travelers’ IDs.
Advertisement
“They need to end this shutdown immediately or we’ll have to take drastic measures,” Trump said during a Thursday morning Cabinet meeting.
The GOP’s big tax cuts bill that Trump signed into law last year funneled billions to DHS, including $75 billion for ICE operations, ensuring the immigration officers are still being paid during the shutdown.
Any deal almost certainly needs to involve a compromise as lawmakers on the left and right flanks revolt. Conservative Republicans have panned their own party’s proposals, demanding full funding for immigration operations.
___
Advertisement
Associated Press writers Joey Cappelletti, Kevin Freking, Rebecca Santana, Collin Binkley and Ben Finley in Washington, Lekan Oyekanmi in Houston, Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York, Rio Yamat in Las Vegas, Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, and Gabriela Aoun Angueira in San Diego contributed to this report.
FW Capital’s Tees Valley Catalyst Fund delivered £26 million in bond finance to 29 companies across the North East, enabling them to win contracts valued at nearly £330 million.
The fund supported the creation of 588 jobs and safeguarded a further 1,322.
Now fully repaid, the fund was backed by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund through the Tees Valley Combined Authority and offered short-term loans to help companies secure contracts or finance performance bonds and warranties.
Advertisement
Joanne Whitfield, fund director at FW Capital, said: “The Tees Valley Catalyst Fund made a real difference businesses in Teesside, helping them win contracts that wouldn’t have otherwise been possible.
“Our commitment to assisting local businesses doesn’t stop with the realisation of the Fund. We’re currently working with businesses via the Teesside Flexible Investment Fund which we manage alongside backing from the Teesside Pension Fund.
“We want to encourage people to talk to us when looking to access bond finance and take advantage of the fund, which can help businesses successfully tender for contracts.
“This sits alongside our broader range of other funds under management, allowing us to provide flexible capital to back growth and innovation for all types of businesses across the region.”
Advertisement
The fund supported companies in sectors such as manufacturing and construction, including Wilton Engineering and Hambleton Steel.
FW Capital continues to provide short-term loans for contract-related bonds through the Teesside Flexible Investment Fund.
Loans are available from £100,000 to £2 million to finance for example, advance payment guarantees, performance, warranty, highways and water authority bonds.
The first business to benefit from the new fund was Paralloy Group, a Teesside-based stainless steel alloy specialist and manufacturer.
Advertisement
This backing has played a key role in Paralloy’s next stage of growth, facilitating activities that are generating new jobs locally, delivering a significant impact on the Teesside economy while meeting the increased demands from industrial markets and advances in new technologies.
The Teesside Flexible Investment Fund offers a variety of finance options for businesses.
These include loans from £100,000 to £2 million for contract-related bonds, with repayment terms of up to two years.
It also offers loans from £250,000 to £3 million for residential and non-speculative commercial developments, funding up to 100 per cent of build costs with repayment terms of up to three years.
Advertisement
In addition, the fund provides loans and equity investments of between £250,000 and £3 million for management teams aiming to take ownership of businesses, with investment periods ranging from one to seven years.
DWP minister Torsten Bell has discussed the Government’s rationale behind state pension age changes and inheritance tax being extended to pensions
A senior DWP minister has addressed a major new tax affecting pensions. Torsten Bell recently appeared before the Work and Pensions Committee to discuss modifications to the state pension age. The state pension age will increase from the present 66 to 67, rising gradually between April 2026 and April 2028.
Advertisement
Parliament has also approved legislation for the qualifying age to rise again, from 67 to 68, between 2044 and 2046. Mr Bell explored the consequences of requiring people to wait longer before claiming their state pension, alongside the Government’s reasoning behind these changes. He also faced questions about a substantial transformation in pension taxation, as inheritance tax will shortly include pensions. Inheritance tax is a 40 per cent charge applied to the total assets you leave behind when you die. Currently, pensions are excluded from your estate for inheritance tax calculations, but they will come under this tax regime from April 2027.
Labour unveiled this tax modification in its first Autumn Budget, in 2024. Mr Bell outlined the logic behind the alteration: “There is a long-standing understanding that the purpose of pensions, and why we provide exceptionally generous tax relief – which we rightly do, of about £70 billion a year – is because we want people to have a decent income in retirement.
“That is what it is for. That is what it was always for.” He argued that preserving pension exemptions from inheritance tax had generated perverse incentives, prompting individuals to utilise their pensions “not to provide a decent income into retirement but to avoid inheritance tax”.
Causing problems and confusion
Mr Bell said: “That is a very bad idea, because you do not want to see pension vehicles and how they operate getting confused about what the purpose is. We saw that causing real problems and confusion.
Advertisement
“Obviously it needs to be done in the right way. All that the changes are doing is bringing us back to the world that we have always lived in.”
The minister went on to clarify that the tax incentives surrounding pensions are fundamentally designed so individuals can “smooth their income over their life”, reports the Liverpool Echo. He told the committee: “That is what it exists for.
“It is not there for for advisers to make money by saying to some people, ‘Don’t use your pension to provide an income in retirement. Use all your other wealth, maybe even sell your house, and do other things in a contorted fashion, because for some reason we have decided that a pension is not about providing income in retirement but is an inheritance tax avoidance vehicle.’ “
People drifting into the tax net
The Government previously stated that the extended tax will encompass most untouched pension pots and death benefits. Alex Pugh, a chartered financial planner from wealth management firm Saltus, characterised this as a significant shift and cautioned that many individuals may remain oblivious to its impact on them.
Advertisement
She said: “Inheritance tax planning is already complex, but bringing pensions into the tax calculation from April 2027 really shifts the dial. Many people will drift into the tax net without realising it.
“After property, pensions are often someone’s largest asset, and with tax thresholds frozen since 2009, more estates are being pushed over the line. In truth, any individual or couple could now be affected – even those who never considered themselves ‘wealthy’. It’s a perfect storm created by rising asset values and outdated tax limits.”
Teacher Ali Martin, 45, first started taking GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medication to manage herType 2 Diabetes in 2022.
She lost six stone after she was prescribed the drug by her GP, but in June last year she became weak and began to lose the use of her limbs before she suffered two falls and was admitted to hospital.
Medics treated Ali, from Dunfermline, for malnourishment and began to feed her through a tube before she was given a diagnosis of Sensory Ganglionopathy – a chronic illness causing numbness and pain.
She’s been left unable to walk, brush her teeth or use a knife and fork and is confined to a wheelchair.
Advertisement
Ali told the Record: “I want to warn people that losing weight like this is not worth the risk to your health.
“Before I started GLP-1, I was a busy, active mum contributing to society and now I’m completely dependent on other adults to do everything.
“I can’t shower or walk unaided. I can only manage simple personal care at toddler level and I’ve also lost my peripheral vision due to being bed bound for so long.
“The doctors haven’t made a direct link to the fat loss tablets, but I think they have exacerbated this condition because I had nausea and vomiting andother digestive issues.
Advertisement
“My symptoms make sense because the tablets suppress your appetite so I wasn’t eating and I was becoming increasingly more vitamin deficient, which I think has caused the malnutrition.
“I think the lack of nutrients must have affected my nervous system and my mobility.
Ali remains trapped in Cameron Hospital in Fife nine months after she was admitted as specialist teams work to provide intensive rehabilitation to help her rebuild her strength.
The mum-of-two said her was ordeal has been a “nightmare” for husband Graeme, 39, and kids Darcie, nine, and Luca, six as her worry for her family hugely impacts her mental health.
She added: “I’ve missed my kids‘ birthdays, parents nights, and sports games, and I have suffered several panic attacks because I feel so trapped and vulnerable in my own body.
Advertisement
“I have been so down that I even asked my mum to wheel me off a bridge.”
Ali fears she will never return to normal and doctors don’t know what a full recovery will look like because the condition is so rare.
She said: “I hope to be able to regain my mobility and be back to my old self but I don’t know if that will ever be the case.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to walk or work again. Doctors can’t tell me what the future looks like.
Advertisement
“I believe this is all because of the effects of the GLP-1 medication and it will now have a potentially life-long negative impact on me.
“All I’m left with now is a fear of the unknown.”
Ali has now warning others to take great care when using the medication.
Advertisement
“My message to people taking this type of medication is to be very wary.
“I was prescribed it by a GP and still believe I have experienced horrendous results, so make sure you are going through proper channels and never buy medications from online pharmacies.
Ali’s family is now fundraising to have their house adapted for her needs when she gets home. To donate, click here.
Advertisement
GLP-1 for diabetes and weight loss can be used to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. They’re also used as a treatment for obesity as part of long-term weight management.
NHS Scotland advises individuals to speak to a healthcare professional if you’re thinking about taking weight loss medication.
Using these medications without proper medical supervision can worsen existing health problems and lead to serious side effects.
GLP-1s help people feel fuller by mimicking a natural hormone released after eating.
Some newer medicines, also act on a second hormone involved in appetite and blood sugar control.
In the UK, there are several licensed GLP-1 medicines including semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide, which are all sold under various brand names
“Licensed” means they have been assessed carefully by the UK medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and approved as safe and effective for certain uses.
Advertisement
GLP-1s should only be used if you are overweight or diabetic, and not if you want to lose weight for aesthetic or cosmetic purposes.
A spokesperson for the drug’s manufacturer, which we are not naming for legal reasons, said: “Patient safety is of utmost importance, and we take all reports about adverse events from use of our medicines very seriously.
“The information included in the labels of products are agreed with the health authorities and does not include safety concerns about sensory ganglionopathy based on assessment of the totality of evidence from clinical trials and post-marketing report.
Advertisement
“We continue to work with health authorities and regulatory bodies worldwide to monitor the safety of our products.”
A spokesperson for NHS Fife said: “We cannot comment on the care of individuals for reasons of patient confidentiality.
“In Scotland, GP practices are independent contractors and are responsible for their own prescribing decisions, in line with national guidance.
“Where there are concerns about any potential adverse reactions to medicines, this should be reported through the UK’s Yellow Card scheme, which supports ongoing monitoring of medication safety.”
Advertisement
Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.
The Defence Secretary has declined to give a clean assurance that Iran lacks the firepower to hit the UK, even as he sought to calm fears by stressing that no strike on British soil is believed to be in the planning.
Michael D. Carroll and Peter Hennessy UK & World News Editor
05:57, 27 Mar 2026
Britain’s Defence Secretary has stopped short of guaranteeing that Iran doesn’t possess the capability to strike the UK, while attempting to ease concerns by emphasising that no attack on British territory is thought to be under consideration.
John Healey faced persistent questioning during a Sky News interview about whether London itself could fall within the range of Iranian missiles – a subject he addressed cautiously without categorically ruling it out.
Advertisement
“We have no assessment of Iranian plans to strike London,” he said.
The discussion followed Iran launching missiles towards Diego Garcia – the distant Indian Ocean atoll that serves as a joint British and American military base. Healey had earlier informed Parliament the incoming projectiles landed considerably short of the island.
With the Government declining to rule out the threat of Iranian missiles striking the UK, questions about which specific areas could be vulnerable have become increasingly urgent, reports the Express.
Defence experts have offered a less comforting assessment than the Defence Secretary. Both the Israeli Defence Forces and the Institute for the Study of War have positioned London within what they characterise as a theoretical 2,500-mile threat zone – the maximum range of Iran’s most sophisticated modified intermediate-range ballistic missiles, which includes the Khorramshahr-4.
UK sites at elevated risk due to the Iran conflict Analysts have highlighted the following locations as facing an increased threat due to ongoing tensions between the West and Iran in 2026:
RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire – This airbase functions as Britain’s main departure point for US Air Force strategic bombers – including B-1B Lancers and B-52 Stratofortresses – presently striking Iranian missile installations, making it a prime target on any Iranian hit list.
Portsmouth and Devonport, Plymouth – These two critical naval hubs house approximately two-thirds of the Royal Navy’s fleet between them, rendering them clear choices for any assault designed to disable British maritime capability.
Advertisement
GCHQ, Cheltenham – Serving as the hub of Britain’s signals intelligence and cyber defence capabilities, the distinctive circular facility would constitute a valuable target for any opponent aiming to disrupt rather than physically obliterate.
RAF Fylingdales, North Yorkshire – This radar installation on the Yorkshire moors carries out a role that renders it indispensable during any missile confrontation: monitoring incoming ballistic threats from launch. The BBC has flagged it as a key counter-force objective for exactly this reason.
Barrow-in-Furness – The Cumbrian shipyard where Britain’s nuclear submarines are built has been identified by analysts as occupying a precarious spot – important enough to draw scrutiny, yet described as ‘woefully exposed’ to the type of long-range assault Iran now has the capability to consider.
Another cluster of sites derives its risk assessment not from the present conflict alone but from the enduring strategic importance it holds – as the location of Britain’s nuclear arsenal, its main naval facility and its defence manufacturing base:
Faslane, HMNB Clyde – Scotland’s deep-water naval facility on the Clyde serves as the permanent berth for Britain’s Trident-equipped submarines – the physical manifestation of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
Telford, MOD Donnington – Landlocked and unassuming, the Shropshire depot nevertheless anchors the supply network that maintains British armed forces equipped and functioning.
For the time being, Healey’s stance remains firm: no preparations, no immediate danger, no reason for alarm. However, with Iranian missiles already flying over the Indian Ocean and London featured in analyst risk evaluations, the room for comfort is getting tighter.
Nicola unearths huge information about Penny (Picture:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
There’s serious trouble brewing in EastEnders next week, as Nicola’s attention shifts in a big way, and it looks like Penny could be firmly in her sights.
What starts as a happy milestone quickly spirals into chaos when Penny and Vinny head off for their first baby scan. It should be a moment to celebrate, but things don’t quite go to plan.
Before they even get there, Vinny is thrown by a call from a potential investor interested in backing Penny’s business. Keen to make things work, he agrees to meet them, despite warnings from Priya, who overhears and urges him to steer clear of anything dodgy.
With Vinny distracted, Penny ends up going into the scan alone, and what she hears completely shakes her. The baby is further along than expected… a detail she chooses to keep to herself when Vinny eventually turns up.
Advertisement
And it’s not hard to see why.
Later, clearly overwhelmed, Penny confides in Lauren and Oscar Branning, admitting that if the dates don’t add up, then Vinny might not be the father after all, and there’s a real chance the baby could be Harry’s.
It’s a bombshell that threatens to blow everything apart.
Meanwhile, Nicola is dealing with worries of her own. As George gears up for the launch of Knight Fusion, Harry notices that Nicola is on edge.
Advertisement
She admits she hasn’t felt her baby move, but doesn’t want to stress George out ahead of the big day. In the end, Harry and Gina Knight convince her to get checked over, and thankfully, everything is fine.
Harry and Gina have been looking out for Nicola(Picture:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
But Nicola’s focus quickly shifts, and it’s Penny who ends up under the spotlight.
After a tense run-in between Penny and Suki Panesar over Vinny’s risky business decisions, Nicola steps in and offers support, even taking Penny to Harry’s barn to calm down. On the surface, it looks like she’s being kind… but there’s more going on.
Behind the scenes, the pieces are starting to fall into place.
Harry later opens up to Nicola, revealing that he and Penny slept together once last year, and with Gina not wanting children, it’s clearly been playing on his mind. Combined with Penny’s earlier behaviour, it’s enough to make Nicola seriously suspicious.
Advertisement
Don’t miss a Soaps scoop! Add us as a Preferred Source
As a loyal Metro Soaps reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories. We have all the latest soaps news, spoilers, videos, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.
Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.
Now you can ensure you never miss a story from the Soaps team
Advertisement
And she doesn’t waste any time.
Confronting Penny, Nicola lays it all out and demands answers, insisting she takes a DNA test immediately. If she refuses, Nicola threatens to expose everything to both Vinny and Harry.
Suddenly, Penny is completely trapped.
Desperate and emotional, she turns back to Lauren and Oscar for advice before finally confronting Nicola again. But the situation quickly escalates into a heated showdown, and just when it seems like things couldn’t get any worse, Nicola is suddenly hit with waves of pain.
Advertisement
Nicola is nowhere near her due date (Picture:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
It’s a shocking moment that stops everything in its tracks.
Despite Harry urging her to go to the hospital, Nicola stubbornly refuses, insisting she just needs to rest at home. But as the launch of Knight Fusion gets underway, things take another dramatic turn when she’s struck by what feels like contractions.
With tensions at an all-time high and secrets threatening to be exposed, Nicola’s grip on the situation seems stronger than ever, but could her health scare change everything?
And as Penny struggles under the weight of Nicola’s ultimatum, it’s clear this is just the beginning of the drama.
*Astro line horoscopes are updated every Thursday. Calls cost 65p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge and will last approximately five minutes. You must be over 18 and have the bill payer’s permission. Service provided by Spoke. Customer service: 0333 202 3390
Santiago Martínez, who stared on the Netflix reality show “Love Is Blind: Argentina”, was sentenced on Wednesday March 25 for attempted murder, repeated assault, and unlawful detention
06:07, 27 Mar 2026Updated 06:09, 27 Mar 2026
A former “Love is Blind” contestant has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempting to kill his ex, whom he met on the show.
Santiago Martínez was sentenced on Wednesday (25 Mar) for attempted murder, repeated assault, and unlawful detention. Martínez joined the Netflix reality show “Love Is Blind: Argentina”, which premiered in November 2024, when he was 29.
Presenting himself as a young entrepreneur, he became one of 32 participants to successfully form a couple and married Emily Ceco, then 24, in a civil ceremony during the show’s final episodes.
Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
The couple had been planning an intimate wedding with close family and friends. However, in February 2025, Emily reported Martínez for gender-based violence after appearing with a black eye, leading to the cancellation of their engagement.
Advertisement
A court issued a restraining order to prevent Martínez from approaching Emily, and he was removed from streaming programmes once the allegations became public.
The prosecution and plaintiffs had requested a 16-year sentence, but Martínez was handed 15 years after the prosecution rejected a plea deal that would have reduced his term, as reported by creatorzine.com.
Speaking to local media, Emily said: “I can’t believe it. I feel it’s over, I’m finally going to have peace. Justice has been done.” She recalled her first encounter with Martínez after their separation, during the reading of the sentence. “My whole body was shaking. I was terrified,” she said. “During his statement, he apologised and said he still loved me.
Advertisement
“I didn’t respond, but my brother went too far and told him, ‘If you loved her so much, why did you almost kill her? You beat her up – coward.’”
Emily added: “I have 15 years of peace ahead. I don’t know what will happen when he gets out, but I hope the justice system continues to protect me. If he tried to kill me when I gave him everything, I can’t imagine what he might do to me or my family after 15 years of anger.”
Netflix’s Detective Hole has only just been released, but viewers are already eager to know if Jo Nesbø’s crime drama will return for a second season
Neela Debnath Screen Time Reporter
01:01, 27 Mar 2026
Netflix has recently released its gripping new crime drama Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole, yet some viewers are already eager to discover whether another series is on the cards.
The nine-episode detective series, adapted from bestselling crime writer Nesbø’s The Devil’s Star, serves up a compelling journey for Netflix audiences , reports the Mirror.
Advertisement
Detective Hole centres on troubled investigator Harry Hole (Tobias Santelmann) as he battles against time to locate a serial killer before their next attack.
Simultaneously, Harry finds himself embroiled in a perilous cat-and-mouse game with corrupt fellow officer Tom Waaler (Joel Kinnaman).
Will there be another season of Netflix’s Detective Hole?
In an exclusive conversation with Wales Online publishers Reach Plc, creator Nesbø, leading actor Santelmann and Beate Lønn star Ellen Helinder discussed the programme’s future.
Nesbø revealed: “No plans yet [for a season two]. Right now, we’re just concentrating on getting this TV series out to the audience and we’ve been working on this for three years now.
Advertisement
“So, just the thought of starting all over again right now is a bit premature and we’re so exhausted right now that we want a vacation.”
Get Netflix free with Sky
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.
This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.
Nevertheless, Harry Hole star Santelmann remarked: “I’m ready. You might be exhausted.”
Advertisement
Nesbø jokingly responded: “You’re ready? Then I’m ready too for season two.”
The crime writer acknowledged that he hadn’t yet considered the direction he’d prefer to take the programme or which Harry Hole novel a potential second series might explore.
Meanwhile, actress Helinder, who plays the talented forensics officer Beate, expressed her aspirations for a second series of Detective Hole: “Just to keep working with these amazing people and develop the characters even more.
“There’s so much to find in these people, who work within the law enforcement.
Advertisement
“Even more the morality, the ethical dilemmas and how is Harry going to cope with everything? Who is Beate? I would like to explore her backstory.
“I think this ability that she has for facial recognition is so cool, just for her to keep tracking cases and doing her thing.”
As Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole has only recently launched, Netflix will be monitoring audience numbers before making any decisions about continuation.
Advertisement
The Devil’s Star represents just one of 13 Harry Hole novels that Nesbø has penned, meaning there’s abundant material for the production team and indeed the writer, who also worked as screenwriter on the Netflix adaptation, to utilise.
Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole is streaming on Netflix now
You must be logged in to post a comment Login