Marvel’s Wolverine – will it review better than GTA 6? (Sony Interactive Entertainment)
The Monday letters page is not convinced that physical game sales are dead yet, as one reader discovers the joys of Thank Goodness You’re Here!
Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk
Game of the years We all know what the best-selling game of 2026 is going to be, but will GTA 6 be the most critically acclaimed? It probably will be, just because fans will go crazy against any reviewer that dares to say it’s bad, but somehow I doubt it’ll actually be the best. GTA 5 may have been a phenomenon, but I wouldn’t put it on any kind of best ever list and I can’t see Rockstar changing their approach, including bad combat and racing, because they know what they did last time sells.
So what will the be 2026’s critical darling? The equivalent of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? Normally it’s hard to say because we don’t know what’s coming out later in the year, but thanks to GTA 6 probably not very much.
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Resident Evil Requiem seems like a good contender and maybe Saros if it’s as good as Returnal (I guess, I didn’t play that). But how do you predict the impact of Marvel’s Wolverine, The Duskbloods, Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Control: Resonant? And what if Valve really do release Half-Life 3 this year?
People have been understandably down about the games industry this year, and I’m sure we’ll all be sick of hearing about GTA 6 soon enough, but there is a lot of interesting stuff on the horizon that could make 2026 a classic year. Gorf
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GTA 6 money I am very curious as to what Sony and Microsoft are playing at with GTA 6. I would imagine that Microsoft is actually thinking early September for Fable and Gears Of War: E-Day, which shouldn’t be too much trouble. Although you’ve got the obvious problem that people have only got limited money to spend on games, and you can bet neither of those are going to get it over GTA 6.
I guess Microsoft is thinking that most people have already put aside their GTA 6 money but I’m not sure it’s something I’d bet on if I was them. As for Sony… they really do seem like they’re ignoring the problem and putting Wolverine out as their big Christmas game.
Maybe they figure that if there’s literally nothing else out then they can still do well. But this would mean that it’s something like the third time they’ve ignored GTA 6 when talking about games coming out this year. If they do know something that we don’t they’re not being very subtle about hiding it. Tacle
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Stick your neck out I am fascinated by the idea of the Resident Evil Requiem neck speaker, especially the fact that apparently this is a thing that already exists and wasn’t just made for the game. What on earth benefit would that have above just wearing normal headphones?
I don’t see how it would help with immersion, because the sound would presumably be coming from your shoulders. I’d be very interested to hear from anyone that has used one of these and could explain why it exists. I guess it allows you to hear other things in the room better but isn’t that definitely less immersive? Campbell
Retro console I’ve finally purchased a Switch 2 and have been enjoying playing Mario Kart World with my better half, especially in the tough online Knockout Tour mode.
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Surprisingly though, considering the age of the game, my main enjoyment has come from revisiting GoldenEye 007 via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, played with the official N64 wireless controller I purchased. The visuals have been sharpened up, plus it runs at a noticeably higher frame rate (it needed too!). For me it’s by far the first person shooter ever.
Just need to wait a few weeks for the hotly anticipated Resident Evil Requiem now. Hopefully it has a good Mercenaries mode included. Adams6legend
GC: If it has, they haven’t mentioned it yet.
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Northern goodness Just played through Thanks Goodness You’re Here! as it was free with PlayStation Plus Extra. I don’t think I’ve ever said, ‘What the hell?!’, while laughing incredulously as much before while playing a game.
Always nice to play something a bit different. Matt (he_who_runs_away – PSN ID)
Touch only I read the Reader’s Feature with the argument that digitally-downloaded games are better, linked with the demise of GAME.
Well, as most gamers would know, GAME went wrong when they closed as independent shopping units and went in-store with Sports Direct. The gaming section was then normally found right on the top floor, in a corner right at the back. If you are looking for games you don’t want to go traipsing past rows of trainers and tracksuits.
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Secondly, GAME is highly overpriced. They want people to stop buying online but charge £10+ more per game compared with online outlets. Plus, there must be a high percentage of gamers that miss the old enjoyment of picking up used game bargains; GAME used to do 3 for £10, for instance. Who remembers those deals? Not every gamer can afford £30-60 for a new game.
And there it is, yes, let’s imagine just a digital download arena for purchasing games. No more bargains then, like Nintendo. Everything will just keep rising in price because gamers will be forced into this only way of purchasing. Buy it at that price or give up gaming near enough, is what we will be told.
Plus, just the general joy of letting your other family members mooch around the shops for an hour or so, looking at clothes while you can have that hour to yourself to look through shelves of bargain games. Games which you can also then sell on again, if you wish, to the delight of another fellow.
Looks like CeX will still be my only place to go now. How long will they last before they too are pushed out by government taxes or corporate muscle? I will enjoy my little weekend jaunts while I can. Long live the physical touch. Jools
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Physical existence While I agreed with the sentiment of Gannet’s Reader’s Feature, regarding the so-called business of GAME, I completely disagree with what he said about physical games being dead too.
If that was true, why are CeX queues always full of people with second-hand games in hand?
No doubt these very gamers could easily and knowingly not have to tramp out in the UK’s current rainy weather and simply download the game from the comfort of their home.
Regardless of what ‘the industry’ says, physical media will never leave us.
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There is a thing (trend?) on TikTok now where people are starting to re-buy DVDs and even CDs because they are fed up of streaming services removing media they’ve prepaid for, and quite rightly so.
A friend of mine has even complained about this, saying certain songs from her Spotify playlists have simply disappeared.
I’ve always seen Spotify as an utterly complete waste of money, as all my music is ripped from my CDs of yore (and some are MP3 files from BandCamp).
I am currently holding off on buying certain games (Marvel Cosmic Invasion being one of them) as I’ll wait for the physical release, as I did with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind.
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I just think paying more than £15 for a game you don’t own, and can’t sell or trade if you don’t like it, is crazy. LeeDappa
The smell of gaming It is a definite shame about the final GAME shops closing down, although not surprising. It’s still an achievement to have survived as long as they did in the ever-usurping digital world of gaming.
I had many enjoyable conversations with staff members over the years, finding out about games I may not had heard of and getting them from that shop. It was not only at GAME retailers but other local high street gaming shops, where if you know and get on well with a member of staff.
I was not one to exchange games or get a previously purchased second-hand game, as I am one of those folks who likes that cellophane-wrapped brand new game feeling. But I have purchased rare games that you couldn’t get anywhere at all anywhere, as no new versions of these games were being made anymore!
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But for me it’s watching new games on their TV screens and being in a shop with like-minded fans of gaming. Also, I miss that sweaty type of smell at some of their locations, which was always very invigorating to breathe in!
It’s that less interaction with our fellow humans that’ll be missed, especially as I work from home! But I do go to places like Waterstones, HMV, hobbyist shops, and city or town markets to support them. I’m hoping the future for these retail businesses will survive in some form or another into the near and far future. Alucard
Inbox also-rans Any news on Days Gone 2? Tony
GC:None at all. At this point it’d be very surprising if it ever happened.
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I have Wrestlemaina 21 and is the next gen Xbox played that game. Barry
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.
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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.
You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.
A tame display in some horrendous weather in Rome as Italy picked up a famous 18-15 win has left some calling for a change.
Former Scotland forward John Barclay told Rugby Special: “I thought before the Six Nations that Scotland had to finish third or above.
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“If they don’t, which is now going to be very hard, I think it becomes a necessity to see a change.
“It’s a good group of players and if you are not seeing an improvement there is an option for change. That might be the best thing for Gregor and for Scotland.”
The conditions made the going tough, but it was Scotland’s heart, not hands, that were questioned.
“Italy were more aggressive and that’s down to desire, not the rain,” former Scotland and British and Irish Lions prop Peter Wright told BBC Scotland.
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“Townsend is an experienced coach and should have known they couldn’t play the rugby they wanted to play in those conditions. Scotland lost the war in the set-pieces.”
The defeat was a fifth away loss in a row in the Six Nations for Scotland and their beleaguered coach.
Before the match, Townsend – who is contracted as head coach until the end of the 2027 World Cup – dismissed a report that he has agreed to take over at Newcastle Red Bulls after the World Cup as “pure speculation”.
More displays like this may make that contract end date a moot point. Scotland need to dig deep and find another level of performance against England.
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Expect recalls for Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham to provide energy and – Scotland will hope – ammunition.
As the government prepares to introduce a strategy to boost fostering in England, Amol speaks to foster carer and author Louise Allen about the crisis in the system and what it will take to fix it.
At the end of March 2024 there were 83,630 children in care in England, of whom 56,390 were being fostered, but there is a shortfall of around 6,000 foster carers nationwide.
In this episode Louise explains why we need to be more honest about the realities of caring for often vulnerable kids and focus on retaining foster carers rather than recruiting new ones.
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She also explains why there needs to be more practical support like providing a cleaner for every fostering household so that they can focus on emotionally supporting the children in their care.
(00:03:10) Why is there a fostering crisis?
(00:06:20) Why do we have so many children in care?
(00:08:49) Louise’s story: growing up in care
(00:16:13) The effect of smartphones
(00:20:08) Why is there a shortage of foster carers?
(00:23:37) Why do people foster?
(00:27:28) The recruitment process
(00:30:33) Foster care v residential care
(00:33:10) What is the fostering allowance?
(00:39:09) Louise’s RADICAL ideas
(00:45:06) The government’s fostering reforms
(00:47:30) The importance of giving children social capital
(00:52:19) Amol’s reflections
Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan
Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent.
Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Dave O’Neill. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.
It was a brutal lesson for Maye and indeed for anybody tuning in expecting to see high-scoring drama. There were no touchdowns until the last quarter as the Seattle “Legion of Boom” blew the Pats apart.
As Maye struggled to lead any counter-attack – and with the Seahawks kicker Jason Myers carving a piece of Super Bowl history for himself with five field goals – this was definitely one for the purists.
In truth, “Yawn in the USA” would have been an appropriate soundtrack for the uninitiated as gridiron became grind-iron, but never mind how tempting it was to call this “The Stupor Bowl” it was impossible not to admire the Seattle resistance.
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This was one of the greatest defence performances ever seen and Durde’s stock should, as a result, soar so majestically that it will surely only be a matter of the time before he becomes the first British head coach in the NFL.
Together with Mike Macdonald they have forged a powerhouse that, if their offence can begin to match the might of their defence, could begin a term of dominance.
Yet, of course in these starlit times, the MVP award went to a member of the offence, and in fairness, Kenneth Walker III was exceptional in helping the Seahawks pull clear of their rivals. The Pats’ defence was also heroic, limiting the Sam Darnold attack to just the four field goals until the clock ticked into its deciding passage.
Walker was a threat throughout, picking up first downs as if they were personal milestones, although it was Arnold’s 16-yard pass to AJ Barner that eventually saw the touchdown deadlock broken.
WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT John Jones, 26, endured what has been described as a horrific death after spending over 24 hours stuck upside down in a minuscule space in Utah’s Nutty Putty Cave
05:00, 09 Feb 2026Updated 05:00, 09 Feb 2026
No one should ever be faced with such a decision, but for the rescuers trying to save a cave explorer, it was a matter of life and death.
John Jones suffered what has been described as the most horrific death imaginable when he became trapped upside down in a tiny, confined cave for over 24 hours.
The rescue team was confronted with a difficult decision: attempt to save his life, knowing it would cause him immense pain.
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Brandon Kowallis was the last person to see the young man before his tragic end after becoming stuck upside down inside a cave. The details of that night continue to haunt him.
At the tender age of 26, John Jones lost his life after being trapped for more than 24 hours in Utah’s Nutty Putty Cave in 2009 – but he wasn’t alone.
A committed team of rescuers, including Brandon, worked relentlessly to try to save him.
As a fellow cave explorer and avid YouTuber, Brandon did everything in his power to free John from his predicament and help him escape the cave, but it was no easy task.
He has since spoken out about the agonising decision he had to make as a last-ditch effort to save John’s life in a blog post.
In a post detailing the incident, the rescuer describes the mission on that tragic day of 15 November 2009. Upon reaching the cave to find an upside-down, unconscious John, he recognised the situation was going “quickly downhill”.
He explained: “It looked like he could only be lifted another foot or two in his current position because of where the webbing was anchored around his knees. After a foot or two, he would hit the ceiling. And then once he reached the ceiling, there was no way to tilt him to a horizontal position.”
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There was no way to change his position, as John would need to haul himself up using his own strength, but by this point, he was unconscious.
In a desperate attempt to save him, the emergency teams considered a horrifying plan involving a jackhammer to widen the tunnel, though it would inflict catastrophic injuries.
During this process, the rescuer acknowledges John would have suffered serious lacerations and numerous fractures but it represented the only opportunity to save his life.
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However, Brandon recalls exactly how difficult this operation proved after hours of hammering and chipping away at the rock.
In his blog, he outlined his predictions, suggesting it could take anywhere from ‘three to seven days’ to free John from the cave, a timeframe they simply didn’t have.
Before this, the caver recalled the dire condition John was in, writing: “He was in and out of consciousness and had started talking about seeing angels and demons around him.”
When he reached into the cave, he found a man making disturbing gurgling noises as fluid built up in his lungs, whilst his legs were twitching uncontrollably.
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Despite their best efforts, Brandon and the other rescuers continued working through the night, knowing they risked breaking his bones, but it wasn’t enough to save him.
When they went in to check on him, he was pronounced dead at around 11:52pm, having died from cardiac arrest and suffocation.
The 26 year old medical student left behind his devoted wife, Emily, who was pregnant at the time of his death. The baby was named in his honour, and went on to become the younger brother to his daughter Lizzie.
Jimmy Lai’s sentence is ‘not justice, it is punishment for dissent’
A statement released by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) said Jimmy Lai’s case has come to symbolise the dismantling of Hong Kong’s freedoms.
The statement, signed by 86 politicians, including US Senator Jeff Merkley and Lord Alton of Liverpool, said:
“This moment did not arise in isolation. It has been made possible by the sustained failure of the international community to enforce the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a binding international treaty registered at the United Nations. As Beijing dismantled Hong Kong’s autonomy, free press and rule of law, governments spoke out, but failed to act.
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“The imposition of a 20-year sentence on a 78-year-old publisher for peaceful political expression is not justice. It is punishment for dissent, enabled by impunity.
“IPAC calls on democratic governments to respond accordingly through coordinated diplomatic pressure, and accountability.
“Jimmy Lai’s persecution serves as irrefutable proof that Hong Kong’s legal system answers to Beijing, and must not be afforded any status to distinguish it from China.”
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 05:35
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Jimmy Lai is the ‘conscience of Hong Kong’, his supporter says
A supporter of Jimmy Lai queued outside the court for days and slept there overnight in order to keep his place in the queue, finally securing a seat in the courtroom.
“I feel that Lai is the conscience of Hong Kong,” said the man named Sum, 64, on the day of sentencing.
“He speaks up for the people of Hong Kong, and also for many wrongful cases in mainland China and for the development of democracy. Spending a few days of my own freedom sleeping out here feels better than seeing him locked up inside.”
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(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 05:08
Hong Kong police say they are examining whether authorities want to appeal for longer sentence for Lai
Steve Li, the head of Hong Kong police’s National Security Department, welcomed the media tycoon Jimmy Lai’s 20-year sentence on three national security charges, saying it was “appropriate”.
He said the claims about his frail health are “exaggerated”.
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He added that the police would be in contact with the Department of Justice to consider whether the authorities wanted to seek longer sentences through appeals.
He added Li that “we are still investigating some matters”, but he does not have the liberty to disclose what those investigations were.
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 04:50
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Lai would be 96 by the time he completes his sentence
Jimmy Lai, 78, would be 96 years old by the time he completes his 20-year prison term in 2044.
In Hong Kong, prisoners are provided one-third remission of their jail term on the grounds of good behaviour.
Even then, Lai would be around 90 if he were to be released in 2037.
He is set to serve another 18 years from today because of time already served during his lengthy trial.
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Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 04:37
Recap: Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison
Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy media mogul who spent decades as a defiant critic of Beijing, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
It marks the harshest sentence he could have possibly received in the national security trial that was closely watched around the world.
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The landmark ruling caps a three-year campaign by Beijing to neutralise a figure it has accused of orchestrating Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.
Lai smiled and waved towards the public gallery after his sentence was handed down, while his wife, Teresa Lai, sat with her arms folded, her expression impassive.
Weeping could be heard from the back of the gallery as the courtroom absorbed the ruling.
The judge said the sentencing was for “Lai’s serious and grave criminal conduct”.
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”..we are satisfied that the total sentence for Lai in the present case should be 20 years’ imprisonment,” the court documents said.
Although Lai was convicted on three separate counts carrying a combined potential sentence of more than 35 years, the court ruled that some of the terms would be served concurrently, resulting in a total prison sentence of 20 years, according to the judgment.
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 04:27
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Jimmy Lai’s sentencing day in pictures
We have more images from outside the court showing supporters, family members and members of the media gathered there.
Jimmy Lai’s wife, Teresa Lai, was visibly in tears as she left the building, surrounded by onlookers and journalists.
Retired bishop Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun and Teresa Lai, wife of Jimmy Lai, leave West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts building after Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was sentenced a total of 20 years in jail on three charges comprising two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials, in Hong Kong, China (REUTERS)
Teresa Lai, wife of Jimmy Lai, leaves West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts building after Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was sentenced a total of 20 years in jail on three charges comprising two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials, in Hong Kong, China (REUTERS)
Chung Pui-kuen, former chief editor of the Stand News, leaves West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts building after Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was sentenced a total of 20 years in jail on three charges comprising two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials, in Hong Kong, China (REUTERS)
Police officers clear the way for retired bishop Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun and Teresa Lai, wife of Jimmy Lai, as they leave West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts building after Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was sentenced a total of 20 years in jail (REUTERS)
A Correctional Services Department vehicle believed to be carrying Hong Kong activist publisher Jimmy Lai, arrives at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts ahead of his sentencing in Hong Kong (AP)
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 04:07
Hong Kong national security police addresses media
Hong Kong national security police chief Steve Li says Jimmy Lai’s case demonstrates the city’s rule of law.
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Li said the case against media tycoon Lai showcased the city’s rule of law and the functioning of its judicial system.
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 03:55
Jimmy Lai’s family say he will ‘die a martyr behind bars’
Jimmy Lai’s son, who has long campaigned for his father’s release, has reacted to his sentencing this morning to 20 years in prison.
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“Today is a dark day for anyone who believes in truth, freedom and justice,” Sebastien Lai said in a statement.
(AFP/Getty)
“It signifies the total destruction of the Hong Kong legal system and the end of justice.”
Jimmy Lai’s daughter Claire Lai called the sentence “heartbreakingly cruel”.
“He will die a martyr behind bars,” she said.
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 03:50
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Sending Lai into exile would be in everyone’s interest, author says
Mark Clifford, the author of The Troublemaker, a book about Jimmy Lai, said the media tycoon’s two-year trial was “just for show” and described the 20-year sentence as exceptionally severe.
“It seems clear they want him to spend the rest of his life in prison,” Clifford, who is also the president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, said.
He added that Lai would do so unless there was a political solution allowing him to leave Hong Kong.
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“Twenty years for a 78-year-old man is effectively a life sentence – or a death sentence.
”He added: “China needs to understand that Lai is more trouble in prison than outside it.”
“His continued imprisonment makes a thawing of relations between the United States and China difficult. Sending him into exile would be in everyone’s interest.”
Shweta Sharma9 February 2026 03:35
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What is Hong Kong’s far-reaching national security law?
Jimmy Lai has been convicted under Hong Kong’s broad national security law.
The law, known as Article 23, is said to crimes including treason, sedition, theft of state secrets, espionage, and “external interference” including from foreign governments.
Butactivists and lawmakers have said the new law criminalises basic human rights such as freedom of expression.
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“Many of these proposed provisions are vague and criminalise people’s peaceful exercises of human rights, including the rights to freedom of association, assembly, expression and the press,” a group of 80 civil society groups, including British-based Hong Kong Watch, wrote in a joint letter in February 2024.
THE Super Bowl has been interrupted by a streaker on the field.
A fan has jumped on the field to cause a break in the action during Super Bowl LX.
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A streaker has interrupted the Super BowlCredit: The U.S. SunSecurity was quick to tackle the intruederCredit: The U.S. Sun
Security was forced to hunt down the topless streaker so the game could continue.
Kyle Williams of the New England Patriots was forced to step in to help tackle the intruder.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
But many people still ask, where specifically did the cast and crew use to film the gritty drama?
The programme, which starred Martin Shaw and ran on BBC One from 2007 to 2017, was initially filmed in Ireland.
Martin Shaw as Inspector George Gently (Image: ARCHIVE)
The first two series were shot largely in County Wicklow, with locations such as Greystones harbour used for exterior scenes and Ardmore Studios providing interior sets.
From Series 3 onwards, production moved almost entirely to the North East of England, where filming continued for the remainder of the show’s run.
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County Durham became the main filming base, with Durham City appearing regularly on screen.
Martin Shaw filming in the region (Image: ARCHIVE)
Landmarks, including Durham Cathedral and Castle, overlooking the River Wear, were frequently used as backdrops.
Other Durham locations included Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels & Gardens and Finchale Abbey.
A significant filming site was the former Whinney Hill School in Durham. From Series 3, the closed secondary school was used as the exterior of the fictional North East Constabulary police station and also served as the production’s base.
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Positioned on a hillside, the building often appeared in shots with Durham Cathedral visible in the background.
Filming of the TV show on the North East coastline (Image: ARCHIVE)
Whinney Hill School closed in 2009 and was later demolished.
A housing development has since been built on the site on Illingworth Road.
The series was also filmed in Newcastle, Middlesbrough, and across Teesside, using city streets, industrial areas and docks to reflect the social and economic backdrop of the stories. In Northumberland, rural locations including Brownrigg Lodges near Bellingham were used.
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Coastal scenes were filmed in Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire, with Saltburn Pier and beach featuring in several episodes.
Cast and crew regularly spoke of the benefits of filming in the North East, praising both the scenery and local support.
Martin Shaw frequently spoke of his affection for the area, singling out Durham Cathedral and Finchale Abbey as standout locations.
“I love the countryside; I think it is absolutely gorgeous. Durham is a very beautiful city, and every time I drive down and see the cathedral and the castle on the river, I find it extremely uplifting,” the actor said in 2017 after the popular series concluded.
Today, the Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson after new files released seemed to suggest he had passed sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein.
Lord Mandelson has resigned from the House of Lords following the latest revelations, though he retains the right to use the title of Lord.
The government say they are moving to draft legislation that will strip him of his title and the opposition are expected to try and force the government to release papers relating to Mandelson’s hiring as US ambassador.
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Adam and Chris are joined by Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent and senior royal correspondent Daniela Relph who has the latest on seeming revelations about Sarah Ferguson.
You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord
Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.
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New episodes released every day. If you’re in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd
Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Anna Harris with Shiler Mahmoudi and Chloe Scannapieco. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Social media is on trial in Los Angeles. What happens next could change the way they operate.
Inside LA’s superior court, a landmark trial is getting under way. Social media companies are being accused of being addictive by design, a bit like tobacco and cigarettes were in the 1980s.
They’ll face around 22 “bellwether” lawsuits, i.e. test cases, with lawyers considering the testimonies of more than 1,500 people when launching the action.
Image: Shares in Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta tumbled after the closing bell. AP file pic
Opening statements for the first lawsuit will start on Monday, with Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg among the tech execs expected to testify.
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Over the years, people have tried to sue the owners of Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat for online harm, but they’ve largely failed.
Often, social media companies will rely on a defence called Section 230 of America’s Communications Act, which protects online platforms publishing third-party content.
It says they’re not responsible for content posted by users on their platforms.
Could Jools’ Law force social media change?
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So what makes this court case so different?
For the first time, social media companies will face a trial by jury.
Those jurors won’t decide whether specific content on the platforms was harmful. Instead, they’ll decide whether social media companies were negligent when they created and tweaked their products to encourage people to spend more time on them.
Image: Social media companies are on trial in Los Angeles over accusations they harmed young people’s mental health.File pic: iStock
A feature expected to come up, for example, is “infinite scrolling”, whereby your social media feed never ends, no matter how long you spend watching it.
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The plaintiffs allege that Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat “have rewired how our kids think, feel, and behave”, according to the class action master complaint.
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TikTok accused of ‘bullying’ and union busting
If the jurors decide the companies were negligent when creating their products, they’ll then also need to decide whether that negligence led to the significant harm of a young person.
In this case, that person is known as KGM, a Californian 19-year-old who says she suffered anxiety, depression and body image issues after using Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube as a child.
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TikTok and Snapchat have already settled out of court with her, leaving just Meta and YouTube on trial.
This is a “bellwether” trial, meaning it is being used as a test case to see how much compensation victims could be due in future litigation against social media companies.
If the tech companies lose, they could be forced to change the designs of their platforms.
Will UK ban social media for under-16s?
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Although TikTok and Snapchat settled for this case, they’ll be involved in the future cases.
The head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, will also testify during the trial.
The tech companies say there’s no clear link between tech use and addiction, and that there needs to be strong proof that they significantly harmed young users.
In a blog post, Meta said this kind of legal action against them “oversimplifies” the “complex issue” of teenage mental health.
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“Narrowing the challenges faced by teens to a single factor ignores the scientific research and the many stressors impacting young people today, like academic pressure, school safety, socio-economic challenges, and substance abuse,” said the post.
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In a statement to Sky News, Google also rebuffed the claims.
“Providing young people with a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work,” said Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda.
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“In collaboration with youth, mental health and parenting experts, we built services and policies to provide young people with age-appropriate experiences, and parents with robust controls.
“The allegations in these complaints are simply not true.”
A leading reviewer said that the chef’s cooking is ‘nothing short of transcendent’
The UK’s finest restaurants have been revealed in a new map – and only one Cambridgeshire venue has made the list.
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SquareMeal has published its Top 100 UK Restaurants for 2026. The reviewer said that each establishment merits its place amongst the country’s leading restaurants, based on “performance, value, and quality”.
Experts at SquareMeal said: “It’s no secret that the UK’s restaurant sector is facing formidable challenges. And yet, with each year that passes, hospitality pros continue to invest everything they have into projects for the love of what they do.”
According to SquareMeal, the finest restaurant in Cambridgeshire and the only one to make its exclusive top 100 list is Restaurant 22, in Cambridge. Run by head chef Sam Carter and his wife Alex, SquareMeal described the Michelin-starred venue as “a charming Victorian townhouse off Chesterton Road”.
The restaurant review said: “Sam’s cooking is nothing short of transcendent. Expect technically precise, endlessly creative tasting menus that showcase the county’s natural larder.”
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Restaurant 22, ranked 12th in the UK, has previously received a Gold Award, SquareMeal’s highest honour. In its review of Restaurant 22, SquareMeal wrote: “It’s not every day that a restaurant fills you with an otherworldly sense of joy.”
All the restaurants listed in the UK top 100 are outside London, with SquareMeal producing a separate ranking exclusively for venues in the capital. You can use our interactive map to find the closest top 100 restaurants near you, as well as a full list below.
The UK’s Top 100 Restaurants (outside London):1. Wilsons (Bristol)2. Skof (Manchester)3. Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms (Nottingham)4. Vraic (Guensey)5. L’Enclume (Westmorland and Furness)6. Grace & Savour (Solihull)7. The Greyhound Beaconsfield (Buckinghamshire)8. JÖRO (Sheffield)9. Pine (Northumberland)10. Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms (West Lancashire)11. Ynyshir (Ceredigion)12. Restaurant 22 (Cambridge)13. Lyla (City of Edinburgh)14. Woven by Adam Smith (Windsor and Maidenhead)15. Upstairs at Landrace (Bath and North East Somerset)16. Myse (North Yorkshire)17. Updown Farmhouse (Dover)18. Osip (Somerset)19. The Little Chartroom (City of Edinburgh)20. The Kinneuchar Inn (Fife)21. Opheem (Birmingham)22. The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant (Perth and Kinross)23. The Old Stamp House (Westmorland and Furness)24. Lark (West Suffolk)25. Tallow (Tunbridge Wells)26. The Angel at Hetton (North Yorkshire)27. Alchemilla Nottingham (Nottingham)28. Dogstar Edinburgh (City of Edinburgh)29. Heft (Westmorland and Furness)30. Argoe Newlyn (Cornwall)31. Stow (Manchester)32. Juliet (Stroud)33. Bavette (Leeds)34. Paul Ainsworth at No 6 (Cornwall)35. Hansom (North Yorkshire)36. Vetch (Liverpool)37. Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall (North Yorkshire)38. The Sportsman (Canterbury)39. The Shed (Swansea)40. The Parkers Arms (Ribble Valley)41. Higher Ground (Manchester)42. Moss (City of Edinburgh)43. Meadowsweet (North Norfolk)44. The Pony Chew Valley (Bath and North East Somerset)45. Dongnae (Bristol)46. Gorse Cardiff (Cardiff)47. The Barn at Moor Hall (West Lancashire)48. Fish Shop Ballater (Aberdeenshire)49. OTHER (Bristol)50. Winsome (Manchester)51. The Wilderness (Birmingham)52. Restaurant Interlude (Horsham)53. The Pass at South Lodge (Horsham)54. Furna (Brighton and Hove)55. Big Counter (Glasgow City)56. Roots York (York)57. The Swine Bistro (Leeds)58. Seasonality (Windsor and Maidenhead)59. The Muddlers Club (Belfast)60. The Abbey Inn Byland (North Yorkshire)61. The Forest Side (Westmorland and Furness)62. The Cottage in the Wood (Cumberland)63. The Greyhound Inn – Pettistree (East Suffolk)64. Root Bath (Bath and North East Somerset)65. Upstairs by Tom Shepherd (Lichfield)66. Forge at Middleton Lodge (North Yorkshire)67. Maré by Rafael Cagali (Brighton and Hove)68. Waterman Bistro (Belfast)69. Gwen (Powys)70. Bybrook Restaurant at The Manor House (Wiltshire)71. Wild at Bull Burford (West Oxfordshire)72. The Black Swan at Oldstead (North Yorkshire)73. Cedar Tree by Hrishikesh Desai (Cumberland)74. Long Friday (Newcastle upon Tyne)75. Aven (Preston)76. Olive Tree Bath (Bath and North East Somerset)77. Emilia (Teignbridge)78. The Jackdaw Conwy (Conwy)79. Manifest (Liverpool)80. Shwen Shwen (Sevenoaks)81. Catch at The Old Fish Market (Dorset)82. Riverine Rabbit (Birmingham)83. Amari (Brighton and Hove)84. Ardfern (City of Edinburgh)85. The Blue Pelican (Dover)86. Skosh (York)87. 670 Grams (Birmingham)88. The Coach Marlow (Buckinghamshire)89. Gloriosa (Glasgow City)90. Cardinal Edinburgh (City of Edinburgh)91. The Victoria Oxshott (Elmbridge)92. Briar (Somerset)93. Bench Sheffield (Sheffield)94. Henrock at Linthwaite House (Westmorland and Furness)95. Lapin Restaurant Bristol (Bristol)96. The Suffolk (East Suffolk)97. Tharavadu (Leeds)98. Belzan Liverpool (Liverpool)99. The Oarsman (Buckinghamshire)100. Legacy at The Grand, York (York)
