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NewsBeat

Games Inbox: Is the EA Sports FC 27 Ultimate Plus Edition worth it?

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Games Inbox: Is the EA Sports FC 27 Ultimate Plus Edition worth it?
EA Sports FC 27 – extra ultimate edition (EA)

The Friday letters page is exasperated at the technical problems in Halo: Campaign Evolved, as one reader is optimistic about the new Resident Evil movie.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Curious coincidence
So there’s an Ultimate Plus Edition of EA Sports FC 27 now, that’s even more expensive? And NBA 2K27 has something called an Ultra Edition that’s also more expensive? Well, that sure is an interesting coincidence, that two games from two completely different companies should come up with the same wallet-gouging idea in the same year, in franchises that have been going on for decades (bar a name change).

The games industry completely hates its customers, it’s been obvious for a long time now. All they want is more money for less and for us to never speak up or complain. Seems to me this is another situation where we can make a difference though.

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Either no one buys it and it never happens again, like NFTs and online passes, or people do buy it and we get a physical media situation where everyone realises they’ve helped to encourage something they hate. We’ll see which it is I guess, but I’m sure not buying it.
Grant

How things work
So another Halo game is a flawed product. An open goal that Microsoft has, as usual, missed. I mean how do you remake a 25-year-old game and still manage to have slowdown in it? It’s ridiculous, insulting even. I look forward to them pretending the problem doesn’t exist, then pretending it’s not as bad as people say (even though I’ve already seen the videos), and then taking far too long to fix it. Anyone that’s played Halo: The Master Chief Collection will know that’s just how things work at Xbox.

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At this point I don’t really care what comes next. Probably just more remakes because all the rumours seem to say they don’t know what to do with the series. Not that you need any insider sources to realise that.

My prediction is that there’s not going to be any quick end to Xbox. They’ll keep plugging away, never getting anything right, and it’ll just get more and more embarrassing. There was a time to bow out of gaming gracefully and they’ve missed it by a long shot.
Spender

Media envy
Interesting proof that GTA 6 is not the unstoppable juggernaut that we think of. It’s bigger than most films, but the very biggest ones… at the end of the day it’s only a video game. I don’t think this matters but maybe it explains why developers, including Rockstar, always have a chip on their shoulder about being more ‘cinematic’, because they’re all frustrated movie directors and secretly think it’s a more important thing than games.

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I’d much rather play a good game than watch a good movie but to me they’re very different things. I don’t want my games to keep trying to turn into a movie and I certainly don’t want my movies to start acting like a video game. Unfortunately, you don’t always get what you want in life though.
Mentalist

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Mood piece
Just seen the new trailer for the Resident Evil movie and while it doesn’t show much that wasn’t in the first one, I do think it’s going to be a good movie. It’s a completely different approach to other video game movies in that it’s just taking the tone and detail from the game and making it its own thing.

The first Resident Evil film and the newer one both had similar settings and even some of the same characters as the games but they didn’t feel anything like them, they weren’t scary and they were just dumb without being funny-cheesy dumb.

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This movie is different because all the details are right on: the typewriter, finding the bullets for the empty shotgun, searching through drawers… it feels like Resident Evil without trying to copy the game. Because really, the game story makes no sense. Why does a city have this weird military-like division in an ordinary police station? What was Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine doing before the zombies arrived? Giving out parking tickets?

The genius of a film like this is you can still say all that is going on someplace else, it’s just this story is focused on some ordinary guy just trying to get through it. I think it’s going to be great.
Zeiss

Non-acquired taste
I never finished Shenmue, either because I didn’t like it or because my Dreamcast bought from GAME broke and I dumped it. I played it for maybe five hours and couldn’t see the appeal of it. I’ve never thought back on it with any nostalgia. The only bit that was any good was the arcade games. Everything else was a chore.

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On another note, is Sony losing money because they don’t/aren’t releasing their films on Blu-ray? Surely there are still hardcore movie buffs that want to collect these things? Or would this be a third party thing?
Bobwallett

GC: It’s only games they’ve said they’re not releasing on disc. Sony Pictures is quite separate to the PlayStation division.

Blame me
I am a complete hypocrite because I have complained and moaned about the physical disc situation, but I am going to buy the Halo remake anyway. What is worse, apart from being download-only (even with the disc), is that you need a Microsoft account to get the game to work as well.

This game is literally the worst of all situations with modern gaming, so I am part of the problem and why gaming is in the state it is in.

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The Halo franchise is still my favourite so I will pick up anything Halo. I know the franchise has been butchered but this looks like the last hurrah considering no other games are in production, so I’ll take the hit and get it.
Simon

GC: As a word of warning the game is really obnoxious about linking your Microsoft account to your PlayStation one, insisting that once it’s linked it cannot be unlinked.

Non-stop complaining
I think it’s already pretty obvious that Sony has told no one to talk about the physical games issue but how long exactly are they going to keep it up? If I know anything about gamers it’s that they are willing to keep a joke, or grudge, going for basically forever.

They’re not going to stop filling the comments on social media ever. Why would they? It’s getting them lots of attention and Sony isn’t going to do anything to stop them. It’s just going to go on and on forever. Good on ‘em I say.
Cranston

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50 or less
Interesting last line to your summing up of the Halo: Campaign Evolved review (PS5 version reviewed). Genuine question; any idea what the frame rate is like on Xbox Series X? Or is this a general thing that happens on PlayStation 5? A few vids on YouTube showing the PlayStation 5 dropping frames when the going gets a bit tough, or locking the frame rate at 60, but dumbing down the resolution to 1800 or 1440. I never seem to have this problem on Xbox Series X.

Is that why the PS5 Pro exists, do you think? So that it can cope with the games that Series X is already coping perfectly well with. They couldn’t very well charge £500 for the Pro, otherwise they’d have had to drop the price of the ever so slightly underpowered, relative to Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5 to around £300. Might as well charge £700 and fleece their customers just a little bit more.

Recent sales of Xbox Series X are up in the US (price rise coming soon, though). A bit of advice to any Xbox newbies (come on, they must have sold at least 50 consoles in the UK during June/July) and who haven’t played any Halo games before. Get The Master Chief Collection but wait until it turns up in the sale. Five cracking remastered Halo games in there, and Halo 4, for about a tenner.
Paul C.

GC: We haven’t played the Xbox version, but the problem is clearly the game, not the console. As you say, the power difference between the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 is negligible; the only possible excuse is that the developer isn’t used to working on PlayStation hardware.

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Inbox also-rans
Much like X/Twitter, does anyone really call the new EA football game EA FC?
Bobwallett

GC: What do you call it?

I see Ubisoft is all in favour of Sony’s all-digital future. Their excuse is that it means consoles don’t have to have a disc drive, therefore making them cheaper. Yep, that’s definitely worth £20 off a £1,000 PlayStation 6.
Corsair

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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.

You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

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NewsBeat

The smug photos of Bradley Dack and new woman that will infuriate Olivia Attwood… and bring up those cheating claims again: Insiders reveal latest toxic twist to KATIE HIND – and his new flame’s awkward link to Pete Wicks

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Footballer Bradley Dack and Emily Moloney during their 'Sunday funday' in south-east London

Emily Moloney, who was once seeing reality TV star Olivia Attwood’s ex-boyfriend Bradley Dack, suffered trolling on social media four months ago after a red-top newspaper alleged that she was dating him again.

She put out a statement furiously denying the accusations, claiming to be the victim of a vicious briefing campaign.

‘This is absolutely out of hand now,’ wrote the self-styled influencer. ‘So, I will say this clearly for you. I am categorically not in a relationship with Brad, nor have I actually ever been.’

Fast-forward to today, and it seems that either Emily was telling porkies in her TikTok post or she has now rekindled her romance with footballer Dack.

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Because I hear that he has been spending quite a lot time at her flat in south-east London and, as my exclusive pictures show, they have certainly become very close again.

In fact, last Sunday afternoon they appeared to be inseparable as they drove to her local petrol station in a Land Rover Defender. Dack, dressed in an Adidas football kit, was seen holding a Marks & Spencer food bag as they returned to her car before heading off to enjoy what observers said was a ‘Sunday funday’.

Emily was seen grinning rather smugly as she walked alongside former Blackburn Rovers star Dack, 32.

Sources close to the couple say he has been spending ‘more and more time’ at Emily’s in recent weeks. The couple appear to have quietly reunited following Dack’s shock split from Olivia, 35, in January, amid her secret romance with former The Only Way Is Essex and Strictly Come Dancing star, Pete Wicks.

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Footballer Bradley Dack and Emily Moloney during their ‘Sunday funday’ in south-east London

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As well as enjoying cosy nights in, Dack and Emily went to a Lewis Capaldi gig at London’s Hyde Park a fortnight ago. They both shared images from the show, but didn’t say they were together.

My source says: ‘Olivia clearly had a hunch that Bradley was back with Emily back in March and, of course – in keeping with her carefully orchestrated publicity campaign to get her off the hook for growing close to Pete while still with Bradley – her friends told a newspaper about them.

‘Emily really hit back. She went hard. Maybe they weren’t together at the time, but they really seem to be now. Bradley has been a regular visitor at Emily’s and they certainly had a Sunday funday.

‘Word has got round that they have grown close again – something Emily profusely denied a few months ago. While I’m sure Olivia will be delighted that Bradley has moved on, surely she will now question when he started seeing Emily again. That will surely infuriate her.’

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Olivia briefed her split from Dack to a red-top newspaper earlier this year after pictures of her canoodling with Pete in Ibiza emerged last summer. What seemed to be a vicious PR campaign to lay the blame for the split at Dack’s door followed, with sources telling me it was an attempt to save Olivia’s clean-cut reputation as a growing number of people believed her relationships with the men had overlapped.

Friends say that it would have been a ‘travesty’ if she had been portrayed as a two-timer as she continues her bid to be ITV’s replacement for former This Morning host Holly Willoughby.

One accusation which formed part of the smear campaign was that Dack was dating Emily.

The couple are said to have spent 'more and more time' with one another in recent weeks

The couple are said to have spent ‘more and more time’ with one another in recent weeks

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‘Olivia was very much trying to save her own skin,’ says my source. ‘She wanted the world to think she was the one who had been hard done by, and that Bradley was in the wrong. Maybe she was right with Emily, maybe she wasn’t.

‘But she was furious Emily insisted she wasn’t with Bradley. Now she will absolutely feel vindicated.’

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And if these pictures won’t be enough to rile Olivia, her new man Pete also shares an agent with Emily. ‘That will make for some interesting conversations,’ says my snitch.

Olivia began dating Dack in 2015, before she appeared on Love Island. But they split ahead of her going on the show.

On the programme, she met Chris Hughes, who she went on to have a long-term romance with while also making several ITV reality shows.

Yet when they parted ways in 2018, Olivia rekindled her romance with Dack and they got engaged a year later.

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Olivia Attwood wants to be former This Morning host Holly Willoughby's replacement on ITV

Olivia Attwood wants to be former This Morning host Holly Willoughby’s replacement on ITV

Then, in July 2023, they claimed to have got married in a lavish ceremony at the Bvlgari hotel in Knightsbridge and made an ITV show, Olivia Marries Her Match, to feature her big day. In May, the Daily Mail revealed that it wasn’t a legal wedding – and, in fact, they were not married at all.

Dack and Olivia have since left their flash apartment overlooking the Thames in Battersea, south-west London. He has moved back in with his parents – which is close to where Emily lives.

And three months ago pictures of Olivia and Pete kissing in a Soho bar found their way to her preferred tabloid newspaper, which appeared to confirm their romance. They were also spotted sharing a hotel room at the Brit awards in Manchester in late February.

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Dack didn’t ever address whether or not he had cheated on Olivia, leaving their fans to make their own minds up.

‘Bradley and Olivia certainly went through some mess,’ says one source. ‘It was pretty toxic at the end. Maybe now they can have their happy ever afters.’

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Ukraine-Russia war live: Trump aide says Putin is suffering ‘staggering’ losses of 5,000 troops a week

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Ukraine-Russia war live: Trump aide says Putin is suffering ‘staggering’ losses of 5,000 troops a week

Rubio says Putin losing over 5,000 troops each week in Ukraine

Russia is losing upwards of 5,000 to 6,000 troops each week in its war on Ukraine, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said, called in a “staggering number”.

Rubio said the Russian war in Ukraine is one of the only wars in history where the number of troops killed in combat is exceeding the number of troops injured.

Reiterating president Donald Trump’s central objective, Rubio said the US wants “that people stop dying, that people stop being slaughtered.”

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Trump, Rubio said, wants Ukraine to be able to “go on and live in peace,” allowing Ukrainians to return home and rebuild, while ensuring that “young Russians aren’t being killed at the tune of 5,000 a week in the battlefield.”

“We are prepared to play a constructive role in bringing about an end to a senseless war, we’re ready to do that, and we of course expressed that,” Rubio said, referring to a meeting he held yesterday with his Russian counterpart.

(PA)

Arpan Rai24 July 2026 04:15

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US is ready to help end the ‘senseless war’ in Ukraine but no quick deal ahead, Rubio says

US secretary of state Marco Rubio said that the Trump administration is poised to help end the “senseless war” in Ukraine but acknowledged there is no quick path to a deal, saying diplomacy will require sustained effort and new ideas.

Rubio, who held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in the Philippine capital, alluded to how US-mediated talks have stalled.

He called them “unsuccessful or at least unfruitful” in the past but insisted that president Donald Trump was committed to the work “if conditions and factors have changed to make that possible.”

“That’s been the challenge — an end that both sides can accept,” Rubio told reporters.

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“We’ve tried and we’ll continue to try to see if we can, you know, find a middle ground that brings this about. And we’re prepared to play that role if the opportunity presents itself.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio waves from the top of the steps to his plane as he departs at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio waves from the top of the steps to his plane as he departs at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila (Reuters)

Arpan Rai24 July 2026 04:08

Rubio meets Russia’s Lavrov as US bid to help end war in Ukraine

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for talks where he was expected to renew the prospect of the US trying to broker an end to the war in Ukraine.

The US State Department offered few details about the meeting on Thursday in the Philippines.

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“They discussed the US-Russia relationship and the need to end the Russia-Ukraine war,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement.

Russia did not immediately offer a readout and Lavrov largely ignored shouted questions by reporters after he left the room.

Read the full article here:

Holly Evans24 July 2026 03:00

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Zelensky thanks EU for sanctions package against Russia

Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked the European Union for implementing the 21st sanctions package against Russia.

According to Ursula von der Leyen, the EU added 32 more Russian banks, crypto firms, and oil trading platforms to its transaction ban list.

The Ukrainian president said: “It is very important that pressure on Russia over the war it started – and refuses to end – continues.

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“This package includes strong measures to curb Russia’s revenues, including Ukrainian proposals that have been taken into account. It is crucial to preserve our unity and keep up this pressure.”

Holly Evans24 July 2026 02:00

Venice Biennale chief calls EU funding cut ‘political’

The Venice Biennale would undermine its autonomy ​and freedom of expression if it bowed to European Union pressure to shut Russia out of its events, the foundation’s chairman said on Thursday, criticising the EU’s recent ⁠decision to cut funding.

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Earlier this week, the EU said it had decided to withdraw a €2 million ($2.3 million) grant in response to the return of Russia to the Biennale’s arts exhibition this year ⁠for the first time since the ​2022 ⁠invasion of Ukraine.

“(The EU) was a fellow traveler with whom we shared part of a journey, and ⁠who is now leaving us for reasons that are entirely ​political, ⁠certainly not legal, and ‌still less cultural,” chairman Pietrangelo Buttafuoco said at the presentation of the 2026 Venice Film Festival.

The European Commission said the grant ‌was withdrawn because EU taxpayers’ money should ‌support initiatives that uphold the values of democracy and freedom, which it said Russia does not currently embody.

The Biennale, an international cultural exhibition hosted ⁠by Venice every two years, rejected that argument, saying art should remain a neutral space for dialogue. It also said the EU funding co-financed projects run by its cinema division that were unrelated to Russia’s participation in the art exhibition.

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Holly Evans24 July 2026 01:00

Boris Johnson claims Ed Miliband is to blame for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine

Boris Johnson has hit out at Andy Burnham’s decision to appoint Ed Miliband as foreign secretary, boldly claiming that the former Labour leader is to blame for Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

The former Conservative prime minister claimed Mr Miliband’s “failure to stand up to Assad” led “directly” to Putin’s first invasion of Ukraine, and said the Kremlin will be “delighted” with Mr Burnham’s appointment.

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Sharing a Telegraph article criticising Mr Miliband’s new appointment, Mr Johnson wrote on X: “This is spot on. The failure to stand up to Bashar al-Assad – for which Miliband bears much guilt – led directly to Putin’s first invasion of Ukraine. An appalling choice for foreign secretary. The Kremlin will be delighted.”

Read the full article here:

Holly Evans24 July 2026 00:00

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No ‘definitive’ evidence Irish alumina exports used in Russian weapons, Irish PM says

An Irish probe into a major alumina ​plant has found no “concrete or definitive” evidence its exports to Russia are used to make aluminium for weapons, but it has also been unable to ⁠rule it out, prime minister Micheal Martin said on Thursday.

Ireland is under mounting pressure over the Aughinish Alumina plant, Europe’s largest refinery of the aluminium feedstock alumina, which the facility continues to ⁠export to Russia.

Dublin commissioned the ​investigation, even ⁠as it defends a European Union decision to leave the plant, which is owned by Russia’s Rusal , ⁠off Russian sanctions packages. The government argues the refinery ​in ⁠southwest Ireland is strategically important ‌to EU supply chains.

“The investigation has not found concrete or definitive evidence linking the alumina to a weapons manufacturer ‌in Russia,” Martin told a joint press ‌conference with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky during a visit to Kyiv.

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“That said, neither has it found definitive evidence that alumina may not be ⁠going to weapons manufacturers.”

Martin said the investigation is almost complete and would be shared with the European Commission once it is finalised.

Holly Evans23 July 2026 23:00

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Dismissal of Ukraine’s defence minister started a sudden transformation of the military

In the span of a single week, the dismissal of a Ukrainian defence minister set in motion a transformation of the country’s armed forces that replaced the old guard with a new generation of leadership.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to fire his popular defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, triggered days of public protest that quickly shifted toward the country’s commander-in-chief and highlighted the growing rift over the future of Ukraine’s military.

Demonstrators denounced the commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, and overwhelmingly rallied behind the departed defense minister, who has emerged as one of the country’s most influential wartime reformers with support from Ukrainians hungry for change.

Protesters demanded his reinstatement. Fedorov’s dismissal followed months of increasingly bitter disagreements between the two men.

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Read the full article here:

Holly Evans23 July 2026 22:00

Ukraine’s acting foreign minister, ‌Andrii Sybiha, called Russian strikes on grain vessels at peak harvest a “deliberate economic and humanitarian terror”.

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Ukraine has requested ​an urgent UN Security Council meeting for July 27 to address the matter, he ‌added on X.

Vysotskyi called on producers and ⁠traders not to rush sales, saying the situation could be rapidly changing.

He also ⁠pointed to alternative routes for exports via the Danube ports and so-called dry ports of the railway, saying both options have not been ‌fully utilized.

“A single day ​in our market has no impact on total ‌export volumes for the year. Neither does a ​week. A month has no impact either. But several months – that does have an impact,” he said.

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Holly Evans23 July 2026 21:00

I have visited Russia every year since the Ukraine war began. The mood has changed

The hope is that an economic crisis in Russia leads to social unrest and political instability, possibly resulting in the collapse of the ruling regime. This would not be an unprecedented event in Russian history. The Soviet Union rapidly unravelled amid economic and political crisis in 1991. But how likely is this scenario for Russia today?

I have travelled to Russia yearly since 2022 and there has been a clear change in the mood. In 2022, it was all about survival and adapting to the new reality of sanctions and war. Over the next couple of years, there was stabilisation and growing optimism about the economy’s ability to adapt. However, by 2026 there was talk of an economic recession, even before the current fuel shortages hit.

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Read the full analysis here:

Holly Evans23 July 2026 20:00

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Echo Comment on day three of the new Burnham government

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Echo Comment on day three of the new Burnham government

Just like with the previous days’ VAT cut on electricity and £2 cap on bus fares, it was greeted positively although there was again the feeling that this was small beer. It will save a pub about £21-a-week, which, sadly, will not prevent many closures.

The measure will cost the government £100m, but it is not immediately clear where this is coming from – the new prime minister talks of targeting vape shops and on-line retailers.

The other big day three announcement was the pausing of the prisoner release scheme. Good. Most people want to see tougher sentences, not prisoners being released halfway through, certainly not nasty killers like those involved in the manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper.

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Perhaps Mr Burnham’s review will find a few non-violent offenders who can be let out instead of the killers and rapists, but even if it does, it will not alter the fundamental problem that our prisons are overcrowded.

Between May 2010 and April 2024, just 482 additional prison spaces were added to the estate (the Tories built 13,000 new cells but closed 12,500 old ones). Labour has promised to add 14,000 new spaces by 2031 – but we need them now. If the prisoner release scheme is stopped, our prisons will by full by November, and what will happen then?

It is good that Mr Burnham is in touch with public sentiment in introducing these measures, but the reality is that little baubles of positivity are not going to turn this supertanker around.

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Late World Cup pub closures behind rise in violence as more than 2,300 football-related incidents recorded

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The government's decision to allow pubs to stay open late during the World Cup contributed to an increase in violent incidents

The government’s decision to allow pubs to stay open late during the World Cup contributed to an increase in violent incidents, a police chief has said. 

Sir Keir Starmer decided to allow pubs to stay open until as late as 5am for matches such as England’s Round of 16 clash with Mexico

New statistics have however revealed that some 2,322 football-related incidents were recorded by police forces across England and Wales during the tournament, with 43 per cent of those happening inside licensed premises.   

That was an increase of 78 per cent on the 1,302 incidents during Euro 2024, an event held in Germany which did not affect pubs’ closing times.   

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National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) football lead Chief Constable Mark Roberts has now said that the government’s licensing approach ‘exacerbated’ violent incidents. 

Mr Roberts said: ‘The increased hours did lead to more issues. 

‘The extension of licensing laws needs to be done with some thought, and it needs to take a broad-based view of the consequences as well as the benefits of blanket relaxations in the legislation. Again, the late notice didn’t help in relation to the Mexico game.

‘The draw was made on December 5, 2025. The decision to change licensing laws for that fixture, which was eminently foreseeable, was 48 hours before the game itself, which left forces with no time to re-roster teams, bring people on, give people notice or take other measures.

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The government’s decision to allow pubs to stay open late during the World Cup contributed to an increase in violent incidents

Sir Keir Starmer made the decision to allow pubs to stay open so supporters could watch England games

Sir Keir Starmer made the decision to allow pubs to stay open so supporters could watch England games

‘So again, please give consideration to the rounded point, factor into any threat assessment, the impact, the negative impact, as well as the positive benefits.

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‘And we frankly collectively must do better for the next tournament to have policies laid out in advance, fully consulted, so that we can make plans as can local authorities.’

Incidents of domestic abuse also hit a record high during the World Cup in comparison to previous tournaments, the UKFPU figures show. Some 384 incidents of football-related domestic abuse were reported to police forces across the six-week-long period. 

That was up 9 per cent from the 351 logged during Euro 2024, and marked a 223 per cent increase on the 119 recorded during the 2022 World Cup in figures described as ‘depressing’ by the police chief. 

Mr Roberts said the football-related domestic incidents were counted as those that happened before, during or after World Cup matches, and were ‘clearly’ related to the event.

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He added there was ‘a massive concern’ over rape incidents and spiking allegations at licensed premises reported during the tournament, which he said the NPCC is planning on looking into.

Asked about what the increase in domestic abuse and overall incidents could be attributed to, Mr Roberts added: ‘I try and say that this isn’t a football-specific thing, you know, it’s around events.

‘This is driven largely by alcohol consumption, I would say, and drugs. The football becomes the catalyst for people to go and have excessive alcohol, etc.

‘We see it in night-time economies every week. Police get very used to dealing with it, and alcohol is the principal driver.’

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He added: ‘I think some of the licensing approach exacerbated that, so I think we need to reflect on that, take stock, rely on the procedures that we have to support the hospitality trade, but keep the balance right as well with public safety.’

Pubs were able to stay open until 5am to screen England's 3-2 victory over Mexico in the Round of 16

Pubs were able to stay open until 5am to screen England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico in the Round of 16

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Should public safety come before late-night pub openings during major football tournaments?

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Mr Roberts said there was an increase in both the volume and ‘severity’ of football-related incidents as the England team progressed through the knockout stage, with 575 incidents recorded around the Three Lions’ match against Argentina on July 15.

He said a man was stabbed after leaving a licensed premises after the game against Norway on July 11, and another after the match against Argentina.

A stepfather and stepson were also involved in a strangulation incident after England played Norway.

He said there was also widespread disorder across London following France’s game against Morocco on July 9.

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The UKFPU figures show 391 arrests were made during the tournament, which was again the highest figure recorded when comparing to previous similar tournaments and excluding the Euro 2020, Mr Roberts said.

However, he noted the behaviour of England fans who travelled to the US and Mexico was ‘exemplary’.

Just 22 arrests of England fans who travelled to the two countries were made by local police during the competition, the figures show.

While there were none during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and just three at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, it was down slightly from 24 in Brazil in 2014.

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The UKFPU statistics also show 293 online hate crime incidents were recorded by police forces across England and Wales during this year’s World Cup, with the majority (161) logged during England’s game against Ghana on June 23.

Separate statistics from the UKFPU for the 2025/26 football season show 1,644 incidents were reported to police forces throughout the year, up 4 per cent from 1,580 the previous year.

Mr Roberts said there is a ‘real concern’ over the increasing involvement of young supporters.

The figures show 516 incidents involving young supporters were recorded this past year, up 120 per cent from 235 in 2024/25.

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Vet issues warning to dog owners taking dogs to the beach

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Vet issues warning to dog owners taking dogs to the beach

With the UK hitting record-breaking temperatures this year, it is not surprising the beaches have been packed with dogs.

However, dog owners are being warned to watch out for a common hazard found on the beach that is toxic for dogs.

Dog owners need to be careful when letting their dogs go in the sea and must be cautious when it comes to dogs unconsciously consuming too much seawater.

There are multiple risks that come with taking your dog to the beach. (Image: Getty)

How can seawater harm a dog?

Seawater is extremely salty and can cause your dog harm if they consume too much of it during a trip to the beach.

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Dog owners should keep a close eye on their dogs while they are in the sea and should also make sure they do not eat any sand to avoid a trip to the vet.

Dr Anna Foreman, a vet at Everypaw Pet Insurance, said: “The high salt levels [in sea water] can lead to a gastrointestinal upset, or even ‘salt toxicity’ (neurological signs) if consumed in high enough levels.”

Ingesting large amounts of salt can cause ion poisoning in dogs, with vomiting being the first sign of toxicity.

Other symptoms include diarrhoea, tremors, seizures, disorientation, shortness of breath, and depression.

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Sand can also pose multiple health risks to dogs with Dr Anna saying: “A dog is at risk of an impaction if they eat sand, which usually requires veterinary intervention, most seriously surgery, to resolve.

“Some beaches have quicksand on them which is a massive hazard to both humans and dogs if stepped on.

“Quicksand is often indistinguishable to normal sand.”

You should be vigilant when taking your dog to the beach, as drowning is another risk to your pet’s safety.

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Dogs can drown in the water if they find themselves caught in a riptide or are not strong at swimming.

How can I keep my dog safe at the beach?

You should always keep an eye on your dog in case they get into any danger or keep them on a lead if they tend to explore while unattended.



You should research your beach before setting off to check it is dog-friendly and visit at a time when it is not too hot for your dog.

You should wash your dog when you leave the beach to avoid them licking the seawater off themselves.

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Do you often take your dog to the beach? Let us know in the comments.

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‘Explosion’ at Glasgow electrical substation leaves hundreds of homes without power

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Daily Record

Fire crews raced to the scene after residents reported hearing a loud bang as almost 300 properties lost electricity.

Almost 300 properties were left without power after an apparent explosion at an electrical substation in Glasgow on Thursday evening.

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Emergency services were called to Garriochmill Way, in the Kelvinbridge area, at around 5pm after reports of a fire at the substation.

Firefighters cordoned off the site while tackling the blaze, with concerned residents watching on from nearby. One eyewitness said the incident “sounded like a bomb had gone off”.

They told Glasgow Live : “It sounded like a bomb had gone off… so I phoned the fire brigade, and they came out and attended to it.”

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed two appliances were sent to the scene. The fire was extinguished and crews left the area at around 6.15pm.

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The incident also caused a power outage affecting almost 300 customers across 13 postcodes in the city.

A spokesperson for SP Energy Networks said: “Engineers are currently onsite in Henderson Street in the Maryhill area of Glasgow in response to a network fault, which affected power supplies to almost 300 customers.

“The team are working to get all customers back on supply as quickly as possible and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

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Pictures from the scene showed damage to the electrical substation after the blaze.

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FDA panel votes to loosen restrictions for controversial peptides

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A ward at the District General Hospital in Sri Lanka's Negombo city where dengue patients are getting treated. A nurse in green is seen taking notes in the foreground

A US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel has voted to loosen restrictions on controversial peptides that have become popular online, but have not been well researched for human usage.

The panel narrowly voted to allow specialised pharmacies to produce drugs including BPC-157, TB-500 and KPV, a major regulatory hurdle towards making them available via prescription.

Peptides are small proteins that our bodies normally produce and that have long been used to treat medical conditions, including diabetes.

But unregulated injectable peptides have exploded in the online wellness community – including among many young influencers – since GLP-1s (weight loss drugs) became mainstream.

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The FDA does not have to follow the panel’s recommendations, but often does.

Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy has described himself as a “big fan” of the drugs and has previously vowed to ease restrictions on them after the Biden administration clamped down on the growing industry.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids, or small proteins, which our bodies naturally produce. They act as messengers, telling our cells what to do, and play vital roles in our skin health, immune system and helping to control our hormones.

Online influencers have been marketing peptides in “stacks” for unproven uses, claiming they can be used as a quick way to look younger, help you heal and improve your skin.

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They’ve become popular among teens on TikTok, especially boys, over unproven claims that certain peptides can help with building muscle mass and enhancing your body, with some online using phrases like “biohacking” and “looksmaxxing” to describe the trend.

Health experts have cautioned against use of the drugs, citing a lack of clinical trials for humans and the unknown long-term effects of the substances.

BPC-157 is one of the most popular peptides among wellness influencers.

It is made from stomach protein and is marketed online as being good for gut health, tissue repair and to treat inflammation.

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It has been studied in animals over its potential to help with muscle healing.

The US Anti-Doping Agency (ADA) states that because it has not been extensively studied in humans, “no-one knows if there is a safe dose, or if there is any way to use this compound safely to treat specific medical conditions”.

The peptide is prohibited for use in sports and is considered a banned substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

KPV is also touted as being good for gut health, tissue repair – including skin damage, like acne, and for regulating the immune system.

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Both have been in a grey area when it comes to regulation. They are not illegal to buy or own – and widely available online – but they are not approved for human use, so are not subject to the quality controls that govern pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Panel member Elizabeth Rebello, a pharmacist and anaesthesiologist, told the committee she had voted no on BPC-157 “because of the lack of efficacy data” and “safety concerns”, Reuters news agency reported.

Those who voted yes reportedly cited “the greater good” and “medical freedom” as reasons for their decisions.

Several people who work for clinics or businesses selling peptides are on the panel, which will continue deliberating on Friday.

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BPC-157 and KPV are among seven peptides the panel is considering dropping restrictions on and allowing compound pharmacies, which mix medications that aren’t available from standard drugmakers, to produce.

Peptide restrictions were introduced during the Biden administration, when FDA officials found the drugs did not meet the safety requirements. Kennedy has worked to reverse those curbs.

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Inside Boulmer, the Northumberland village next to RAF base

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How to pronounce Boulmer, 'tiny' Northumberland fishing village

The village next to the RAF

Tucked between Alnmouth and Craster, Boulmer (pronounced “Boomer”) is little more than a row of cottages and a pub facing directly onto the North Sea.

Just inland, RAF Boulmer provides round-the-clock surveillance of UK airspace, making this quiet seaside community an unlikely neighbour to a major air command and control hub.

A smuggling capital turned fishing village

For centuries Boulmer’s reputation was anything but sleepy – in the 18th and 19th centuries it was notorious as the “smuggling capital of Northumberland”, with contraband spirits, salt, and tobacco traded through the Fishing Boat Inn.

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Much of that illicit traffic was linked to figures like William Faa, the so-called King of the Gypsies, who travelled down from Kirk Yetholm on the Scottish border to do business here.

Despite that colourful past, the village has changed very little in more than a hundred years and is now regarded as one of the last true traditional fishing communities on the Northumberland coast.

With no harbour, blue-painted fishing boats are still hauled up onto the beach, bringing in seasonal catches of crab, lobster, and sea salmon.

How RAF Boulmer arrived on the doorstep

The RAF story at Boulmer began during the Second World War, when land near the village was requisitioned as a decoy airfield designed to draw German attacks away from nearby bases such as RAF Acklington.

Complete with grass runways, dummy aircraft, and ammunition stores, the site was hit in Luftwaffe raids in 1940 and 1941 before being upgraded to a full operational airfield in March 1943, housing Spitfire training flights from No. 57 Operational Training Unit.

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The wartime airfield closed in 1945 and reverted to being agricultural land, but the RAF returned in the early 1950s, building a protected underground radar and control centre to monitor the growing Cold War air threat.

By the mid-1950s Boulmer had been designated one of just nine master radar stations, and over subsequent decades its radars fed data into Britain’s air defence network.

A modern air command and control hub

Today RAF Boulmer is part of the RAF’s Air Command and Control Force.

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Its mission is to “generate and sustain an operationally agile air command and control capability”, providing continuous surveillance of UK airspace and tactical control of combat and support aircraft from a base that employs around 1,000 service personnel and civilians.

For decades its distinctive “golf ball” radar dome has been a familiar landmark.

The station has survived several defence reviews and a proposed closure in the 2000s.



A village shaped by the base – but still itself

Despite sharing its name with one of the RAF’s most important radar stations, Boulmer itself remains strikingly low-key: a single street of stone cottages, its pub, and a sweep of sand and rock that attracts walkers, birdwatchers, and anglers more than tourists.

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Occasional TV crews have passed through – the ITV comedy-drama Distant Shores used the village as a key filming location in 2004.

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Emergency services rush to horror plane crash with ’11 casualties’ as smoke fills sky

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Daily Mirror

It is understood that the plane has gone down near the remote Sucia Island near the US and Canada border, with first responders en route and 11 casualties reported so far at the scene

Emergency services have been called to a plane crash with as many as 11 casualties reported as smoke fills the air.

It is understood that the plane has crashed down near the remote Sucia Island on July 23, near the border of the US’ Washington state and the Canadian province of British Columbia.

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The US Coastguard and air medical transport service Airlift North West have been spotted “hovering the area of Shallow Bay”, as per radar.

Reports indicate that a local fireboat has also arrived at the scene.

Further reports indicate the plane may have been a Kenmore Air aircraft, which is understood to have “crashed on the shore of Sucia Island in the San Juan Islands”.

“There were thunderstorms in the vicinity at the time of the crash, which [was] about 5.22pm as per Flight Radar data.”

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NYPD investigates 2 stabbings as possible hate crimes

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Coney Island shooting leaves 8 wounded, including 4 kids

NEW YORK (AP) — A man was arrested Thursday after police said he stabbed two men in separate, nonfatal attacks on Manhattan’s Upper West Side that the New York Police Department is investigating as possible hate crimes.

Raul Morales, 51, allegedly stabbed an Asian man and a Jewish man and yelled the Arabic phrase “Allahu Akbar” during both attacks, witnesses told the police department.

The department was working to determine a motive, Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. There wasn’t immediately any known link between Morales and the victims, and the initial investigation suggested that mental health may have been a factor in the attacks, Tisch said.

Morales remained in custody Thursday evening and it wasn’t immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

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The stabbings happened about two blocks apart in broad daylight, police said. Both victims were taken to a hospital and were expected to survive.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the stabbings “horrifying” and said he was relieved that both victims were in stable condition.

“These hateful and despicable attacks have no place in our city,” Mamdani posted on the social media platform X.

Hate crimes in New York City have been on the rise in recent years, while overall violent crime rates have dropped, according to police data. Tisch said in April that more than half of all confirmed hate crimes in the city so far this year targeted Jewish people.

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Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was disgusted by Thursday’s attacks and emphasized that New York stands with its Jewish and Asian communities.

“Asian New Yorkers, like Jewish New Yorkers, have endured waves of hate-fueled violence in recent years,” she said in a post on X. “Hate rarely stops with one group. New York will continue confronting it wherever it appears.”

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