In a recent interview, President Donald Trump offered a vague answer when asked about the timing of the $5,000 “Trump Dividend” checks he said his administration would send to Americans after the midterms.

The Republican, who outlined the plan last night at the GOP’s midterm convention in Texas, spoke with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham about the check plan after his speech.

In a preview clip of their interview, which will air on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. Eastern time, Ingraham asked the president why he was promising to send the checks after the midterms if the money was available now.

“Because the Democrats can’t do it. Because with them, it’s negative growth. With us, it’s so positive,” Trump said. “So, we’re taking in $21 trillion. No country has ever taken in anywhere near that. It’s four or five times higher than the next one. All because of that beautiful word you and I love more than most others, tariffs.”

During his speech, the president described the checks as being contingent on voters helping Republicans keep their majority in Congress, a pitch critics said resembled buying votes ahead of the November elections.

“So if the Republicans win, you win with us, and you get $5,000,” Trump said during his remarks.

The White House did not provide additional details about the plan when asked for comment by The Independent.

“President Trump has consistently proven his doubters wrong, drawing a clear contrast with the Democrats’ record of historic inflation, unfettered illegal immigration, skyrocketing crime, and weakness on the world stage,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle told The Independent in a statement.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved back to the UK in late August, and the Duke of Sussex’s first “public engagements” have now been announced

Prince Harry’s first “public engagements” after he moved back to the UK with Meghan Markle and their children have been revealed.

The Duke of Sussex is due to front a series of charity events throughout the month. The announcement is expected to be viewed as Harry launching his plans for his fresh start in Britain, amid what has been perceived as friction between the Sussex circle and the Buckingham Palace.

Harry and Meghan were reportedly “surprised” by the official correspondence dispatched by the Lord Chamberlain on the King’s instruction to senior Government and military figures, which designated them as “private citizens”. The Duke and Duchess, who are awaiting confirmation on whether they will receive taxpayer-funded protection, are understood to favour the description “public figures” instead.

Complete information regarding Harry’s appearances, including specific dates, has not yet been released. The occasions were characterised by his representatives as his “September public engagements”.

His schedule will feature the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards, honouring individuals, organisations, and communities who “embody the resilience, service, and unconquered spirit at the heart of the international Invictus Movement”. During the INSPIRE programme launch, Harry will participate in pickleball with schoolchildren and join an assembly.

Created by educators for students ranging from early years right through to Key Stage 5, the initiative utilises the Invictus Games alongside competitors’ personal journeys to deliver national curriculum-aligned resources in maths, English, Stem, art, performing arts, sport and PSHE (personal, social, health and economic) education.

Harry has served as patron of WellChild – the national charity supporting seriously ill children and their families – since 2007, and is a regular presence at its awards ceremony. The appearance is characterised as “continuing his long association with WellChild as the charity’s patron”, with the awards, which he has now attended 15 times, forming a “significant part of his annual programme”.

He will spend time with this year’s award recipients alongside their families, carers and medical professionals to learn about their journeys in supporting children facing serious and complex health challenges.

The Sussexes are reported to be “happy to be back” in the UK, and getting Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet settled at school “remains their focus”. A source close to Harry and Meghan informed US magazine People: “Everything else will fall into place when the time is right”.

They continued: “There is a lot to do. They have just moved halfway across the world and it’s been really busy getting the kids settled. Their focus has been on that, and will remain on that, for the time being. They are happy to be back.”

A source close to the Sussexes attributed Uganda’s decision to withdraw from the Duke’s 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham to the Lord Chamberlain’s letter. Team Sussex, given approximately an hour’s notice before the letter’s release on Monday, had insufficient time to address any of the points raised.

Uganda’s military chief General Muhoozi Kainerugaba stated the country had pulled out of the sporting competition due to “that Harry-Meghan nonsense”, adding that it would “not participate in anything” lacking the King’s “approval”.

A Sussex source told ITV News: “Intended or unintended, this is clearly a consequence of the Lord Chamberlain’s guidance regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that was rushed out without consultation on Monday. Sadly, the only people who will suffer are the Invictus Games competitors.”

Meanwhile, a new YouGov poll revealed that just 16 per cent of Britons would welcome the Sussexes returning as working members of the Royal Family, while 51 per cent would prefer they did not. Some 33 per cent remain undecided.

Harry’s engagements were announced on Thursday evening – the same day the Prince and Princess of Wales undertook a significant visit to Liverpool, where William launched a suicide prevention toolkit for the sports sector. Kate made an unexpected appearance at Everton Football Club alongside William, demonstrating support for the major On Your Side campaign.

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Harry and Meghan withdrew from royal duties six years ago seeking personal and financial independence in the United States. A fortnight ago, they returned to Britain, enrolling their children Archie and Lili in schools here, with speculation suggesting Meghan may resume her acting career.

In January 2020, the Duke and Duchess had revealed their plans to withdraw as “senior” royals, pursue financial independence, continue supporting Queen Elizabeth II, while dividing their time between Britain and North America.

However, the late Queen determined at the Sandringham Summit, which was called to address the Megxit situation, that the pair could not maintain a partial royal role – with the King recently confirming the arrangement remains unchanged.

The Proclaimers have hit out at the stars of Harry Potter who turned their back on JK Rowling amid her views on transgender and women’s rights. 

The Scottish Band, who have been lifelong liberals, described Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as ‘f***ing bairns who Rowling made fortunes for’ in an explosive new interview. 

It comes on the same day that twins Craig and Charlie Reid, 64, who masterminded the track I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), claimed that the political left is ‘losing their mind’ after withdrawing their support for the SNP. 

The Edinburgh-born brothers also argued that those who campaign for more rights for the trans population are ‘truth-phobic’. 

Harry Potter author Rowling has faced fierce criticism in recent years for her views on women’s rights and single-sex spaces. 

She argues biological sex is foundational to women’s safety, though a host of stars have chosen to distance themselves from such a view.

Craig, from Edinburgh, told The Telegraph: ‘There’s women, actual women, who are threatened with violence and de-platformed because they have the territory to say that a woman is an adult human female.’ 

His brother Charlie later added: ‘Those f***ing bairns who Rowling made massive fortunes for… It was not necessary that each of them stood up and agreed with her, but you would have though someone would stand up and say, “We live in a free country. Thank goodness we have freedrom of speech!” 

‘She is exercising her point of view. I do not necessarily support it, but I support her right to say something. I don’t remember any of them saying that.’  

Rowling has faced criticism over her campaign to protect what she describes as women’s rights

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The author previously said she would never forgive Watson, Grint or Radcliffe for criticising her views

Rowling previously vowed ‘never to forgive’ Harry Potter movie stars Radcliffe, Watson and Grint for criticising her views, accusing the trio of ‘cosying up to a movement intent on eroding women’s hard-won rights’.

Rowling later doubled down on her criticism of Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the films, arguing her views on trans rights were due to her lack of ‘real life’ experience last September.

Just weeks earlier, the actress had blamed a driving ban on being a child movie star, saying it had left her ‘unable to do some pretty basic life things’.

Rowling raged: ‘I wasn’t a multimillionaire at 14. I lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous.  

It came after Watson said during an appearance on On Purpose with Jay Shetty that her support for trans rights did not mean she had turned against the woman who shaped her life.

She added: ‘I really don’t believe that by having had that experience and holding the love and support and views that I have, mean that I can’t and don’t treasure Jo and the person that I, that I had personal experiences with.’

Rowling insisted she did not expect Watson, Radcliffe or Grint to agree with her on everything and they ‘have every right to embrace gender identity ideology’.

The Proclaimers, who shot to fame in the late 1980s, were speaking to the press ahead of the release of their 13th studio album You May Offend tomorrow. 

The project is expected to reflect the twins’ new world view, with certain tracks arguing for the political right to voice controversial views such as the gender debate. 

Charlie and Craig had been lifelong liberals but revealed this week that they no longer support the SNP over Nicola Sturgeon’s policies on self-ID.  

They say that in this year’s Holyrood elections, they could not vote for the party, accusing its leadership of doing ‘real damage to the cause’.

Craig blamed Sturgeon’s 2022 Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill that would have made it more straightforward for people to legally change their gender.

The legislation, supported by Scottish Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens, was ultimately blocked by the Conservative government.

He claimed it was Sturgeon’s support for gender self-ID that he said led to ‘violent men, including convicted rapists, being sent to women’s prisons’.

The Proclaimers, who had been lifelong liberals, say they no longer support the SNP over Nicola Sturgeon’s policies on self-ID

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He said the policy was ‘unforgivable’ and added that gender critical women are ‘shouted down’ by people who ‘are male and who think that because they put on a dress, and they put on make-up, that that makes them female’. 

Meanwhile Charlie pointed to figures with highly controversial views on the transgender community such as Graham Linehan and JK Rowling and claimed those who campaign for more rights for the trans population are ‘truth-phobic’.

Yet he also denied being transphobic, continuing: ‘I’m not against a man identifying as a woman, dressing as a woman… All I’m against is saying that he actually is a woman when he’s not a woman.’

Elsewhere, their views were more in line with their liberal identities. The pair railed against the ‘moron’ Donald Trump, the ‘ignoring of international law’ and even said that children are ‘being groomed’ into joining the military by organisations such as army cadets.

The report said mental health related absences “continue to represent a significant proportion of overall sickness absence levels”.

A “concerning” level of sickness absence among staff of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has been highlighted this week.

A committee report on attendance noted sickness absence at the end of the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, for the period between April 1 and June 30, was an average of 4.21 days which is above a target of 4.13 days lost per employee. The council’s 2026/27 annual target for sickness absence is 16.5 days lost per employee.

The report said mental health related absences “continue to represent a significant proportion of overall sickness absence levels”.

It stated stress associated with non-work-related factors, including bereavement and family or domestic pressures, accounted for 32% of all sickness absence days lost, involving 12 individual cases.

Long-term absences among 24 employees accounted for 31% of all sickness absence days lost during the quarter.

It was noted although fewer in number than short-term absences, long-term cases tend to have a “disproportionate impact on overall absence levels due to their extended duration, contributing significantly to the total number of working days lost”.

Macedon Alliance Councillor Billy Webb MBE questioned the level of absence saying it was “quite concerning”. He went on to say there is “something fundamentally wrong” and he questioned the mental health-related absences.

“Are we looking to see if there is something wrong with this organisation to have that level of sickness absence in that area? Is there anything different we can do in order to try to improve attendance?”

A director told the committee: “I think we have set ourselves an ambitious target and action we want to take.”

She said there is mental ill health that is non-work related adding the council is being “pro-active” in terms of strategy and “benchmarking” against other local councils. She indicated Antrim and Newtownabbey’s sickness rate is “well below” other councils.

The report noted: “To manage attendance within council, an ‘Attendance and Well-being Framework 2026/27’ is in place and aspects of this have already been implemented in Q1 (quarter one). This framework aims to create a workplace culture that promotes employee well-being, resilience and regular attendance through early intervention, supportive management and shared accountability.”

It also said: “The council is committed to reducing sickness absence through proactive attendance management, early intervention and the provision of appropriate support to employees to promote health, well-being, and sustained attendance.”

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is to develop a ‘Managing Attendance Action Plan’ for 2026/27 after an average of 16.92 days were lost per employee.

The Policy and Governance Committee was told previously staff absence at the end of 2025/26 was above the council’s target of 14 days.

The committee was advised mental health-related illness was the most prevalent absence alongside respiratory illnesses, musculoskeletal conditions and digestive health-related absences.

It was noted these absences “remain common absence drivers across the wider public sector workforce”.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

​The NHS should be resilient enough to respond to the health needs created by “extreme events” such as last year’s blaze on Langdale Moor, the Secretary of State for Health, Yvette Cooper, has said.

​Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday (September 9), Ms Cooper added that the Government is also looking at how to ensure rapid advice is given to “people who suffer from asthma or other conditions that might be exacerbated by wildfire smoke”.

Yvette Cooper MP, Health Secretary In House Of Commons. 09.09.26.

​​The fire at Langdale Moor in the North York Moors National Park near RAF Fylingdales broke out in August last year and, at its height, covered nearly 25 sq km. It was the largest wildfire in North Yorkshire’s history.

​Speaking in the House on Wednesday, Alison Hume, the MP for Scarborough and Whitby, highlighted the risks posed by wildfire smoke to people with pre-existing conditions.

​This summer, extreme temperatures resulted in wildfires across the country, including in many areas in southern England.

​The MP, who leads the Wildfires All-Party Parliamentary Group, recently said that the issue of wildfires has only started to receive the attention it deserves after affecting the south of England.

​Ms Hume said: “Last year, a wildfire raged across the North Yorkshire moors near Whitby, releasing 25,000 tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere. Wildfire smoke is a health risk and exacerbates symptoms for those with pre-existing health conditions.

​“With the frequency and severity of wildfires increasing, may I ask what assessment my right hon. Friend has made of the health risks posed by wildfire smoke?

​“How is her Department preparing for these growing public health challenges?”

Alison Hume (centre) At Site Of Langdale Moor Fire. Handout

​Health Secretary, Ms Cooper, said the chief medical officer attended a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister to “look at the wildfires over the summer”.

She added: “We are already looking at how we ensure rapid advice is given to people who suffer from asthma or other conditions that might be exacerbated by wildfire smoke so that public health messages can go out and reach them in those areas.

​“We can do that prevention work, but that is part of ensuring that our NHS is resilient enough to respond to whatever healthcare issues are raised by different extreme events.”

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR

Published: 13:08 BST, 10 September 2026 | Updated: 23:10 BST, 10 September 2026

Andy Burnham has vowed to scrap an ‘archaic’ law banning Catholics from being involved in appointing Church of England bishops.

PMs are usually responsible for advising the monarch on who should get the top posts in the Church, including the Archbishop of Canterbury.

However, Mr Burnham’s status as the first openly Catholic incumbent of Downing Street has raised constitutional challenges. 

The Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829 bans him from carrying out those duties.

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It states that anyone breaking this law shall be ‘deemed guilty of a high misdemeanour, and disabled for ever from holding any office’.

Jews are subject to equivalent restrictions through an 1858 law. 

Andy Burnham has vowed to scrap an ‘archaic’ law banning Catholics from being involved in appointing Church of England bishops

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Mr Burnham’s status as the first openly Catholic incumbent of Downing Street has raised constitutional challenges over his role advising the King (pictured together)

The quirk is a legacy of centuries of tensions following Henry VIII’s split from Rome.

In 1688 Parliament ousted Catholic James II and installed protestant William of Orange in the so-called ‘Glorious Revolution’.

The Bill of Rights the following year banned monarchs from being Catholic – a provision that remains in force to this day. 

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In a written statement to Parliament, Mr Burnham confirmed that he has used the work-around of delegating his duties to the Lord Chancellor, Alex Norris.

But he also announced his intention to change the law, saying it was ‘unacceptable for there to be a legislative bar against people of any faith performing all the functions of my office’.

He added: ‘The Government will therefore introduce a Bill at the earliest possible opportunity to correct this antiquated and archaic anomaly.’

The PM’s role in religious appointments is largely symbolic, with candidates interviewed and selected by a Church committee.

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The King is represented in that process by the ecclesiastical secretary to the Crown and Lord Chancellor.

According to official guidance from the Cabinet Office, approval from the premier and the King is only sought ‘once a candidate has been chosen and accepted the post’.

PMs are usually responsible for advising the monarch on who should get the top posts in the Church, including the Archbishop of Canterbury (pictured)

Stephen Evans, chief executive of the National Secular Society, welcomed the announcement but called for the Government to go further.

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He said: ‘These anomalies exist only because government remains entangled with the Church of England. In a modern democracy, the state should have no role in appointing bishops.

‘The long-term answer is a clear separation of Church and state.’

The world No. 2 had briefly moved to two under before a costly double-bogey at the 13th threatened to derail his round

Rory McIlroy remains within striking distance at the Irish Open after surviving a marathon opening day at Trump International Doonbeg.

The defending champion endured more than six hours on the course as relentless wind and repeated delays made it almost impossible to build any momentum. With darkness eventually halting play for a number of players, McIlroy was among those forced to dig deep simply to stay in the tournament’s early mix.

He emerged with a hard-earned one-under-par 69, leaving him four shots off the pace.

“It’s tough,” McIlroy said. “I can’t recall a round of golf that’s taken that long before.”

The world No. 2 had briefly moved to two under before a costly double-bogey at the 13th threatened to derail his round. Instead, he steadied himself immediately, closing with four pars and a birdie to finish under par.

McIlroy admitted the mistake was typical of a round in which he struggled to find any rhythm.

“It wouldn’t be a round of golf for me if there wasn’t a double-bogey in there somewhere,” he said.

“But I responded well with four pars and a birdie coming in. I just need to keep those stupid mistakes off the card for the rest of the week.”

Despite the frustration, McIlroy believes his game is moving in the right direction after a prolonged search for consistency following his Masters triumph.

He has spent recent weeks working on his swing and arrived at the Irish Open encouraged by the progress he had made.

“It’s definitely better,” he said. “I was obviously working on my swing after the Tour Championship. I put some good work in and felt like I was coming here definitely on the right path.”

But conditions at Doonbeg demanded something different.

With the wind howling and play repeatedly interrupted, McIlroy said technical thoughts had to take a back seat.

“When you play conditions like this, you have to sort of throw all of that out the window and just go on feel and instinct,” he said.

For McIlroy, the bigger picture remains positive. A six-hour slog, a double-bogey and a frustrating lack of rhythm still produced a sub-par score — and, crucially, kept the defending champion firmly in contention with three rounds remaining.

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Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could settle their bitter heavyweight rivalry in Cardiff, with the Principality Stadium now in the running to host the much-anticipated bout

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury’s long-awaited grudge match could be held in Cardiff’s Principality Stadium amid the controversy surrounding the fight. New York’s Madison Square Garden has been touted as a destination for the November 20 bout, however Joshua’s contract contains a stipulation that requires the fight to be held in the UK.

The Gypsy King has embarked on repeated social media tirades against the potential plans. Discussions over England’s Wembley Stadium had been mooted but now Cardiff has emerged as a potential venue. The Principality Stadium has a retractable roof and holds 80,000 spectators.

Criticism has been aimed at the discussion over holding the fight in America, which could see the bout between Britain’s biggest heavyweights, as it could take place in the early hours to accomodate the market in the US.

Meanwhile, Friday night has been touted as a day for the fight in order to prevent clashing with the American football calendar.

Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh and broadcaster Netflix are keen for the fight to occur in the United States. However, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn maintains it should be held on British soil, with the contractual clause supporting his position.

The highly anticipated heavyweight showdown has become embroiled in disputes regarding the fight’s venue. Last week, Hearn threatened legal proceedings against TKO Group Holdings – the parent company of Dana White’s UFC and Zuffa Boxing – for trying to ‘lure’ Joshua to the US.

Wembley’s prospects of staging the contest were dashed by Alalshikh’s demand for a 2am start time, with the national stadium’s curfew only extendable to 1am.

This has brought Cardiff back into the frame, with the Principality Stadium having bid for the event in July.

“We’d be delighted to host this fight,” a spokesperson for Welsh Rugby Union, which own the stadium, told Sky Sports at the time.

“We are very keen to attract more boxing to the stadium which has a rich history in the sport, enhanced by its closable roof, unrivalled sight lines and unique city-centre location.”

The venue previously welcomed Joshua’s victory over Carlos Takam in 2017, drawing a crowd of 78,000, with AJ returning to face Joseph Parker at the same location just a year later.

Although primarily renowned as a rugby venue, the Principality Stadium boasts a distinguished boxing heritage, most notably when Welsh legend Joe Calzaghe took on Mikkel Kessler in 2007. The Welsh capital also made history as the setting for the legendary bout between Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno at the old National Stadium back in 1993.

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The Friday letters page discusses Sony’s terrible Thursday and Hideo Kojima betrayal, as readers get fed up of GTA 6 controller and Zelda console scalpers.

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

A bad day
So in one day Sony announces it’s pulled out of a deal with Hideo Kojima and the reviews for its new Wolverine game were considerably less than you’d expect for a major first party game. It seems Sony can do no right lately and it’s all because of their arrogance and greed.

They’ve been in a downwards spiral ever since the start of the generation, or at least the start of their obsession with live service games, which has gained them absolutely nothing and lost them so much in terms of quality first party games.

They are so lucky that Xbox has lost the plot even more, and yet even then they’re getting outmanoeuvred by Microsoft. I’m sure whatever Physint is it probably won’t be a massive hit, but what were Sony expecting when they made the deal? We all know what Hideo Kojima is like and how he’s getting even more self-indulgent with age, so Sony definitely should’ve known that.

Now they just look like idiots and villains, and I’ve got to the point where I just don’t want to support them anymore. I’ve not got a choice up to a point, especially with GTA 6 coming up, but otherwise, and inspired by the great week Nintendo has had, I think I’m going to get a Switch 2 and start moving my third party purchases over to that.

You won’t get all the games, I realise that, but I’m increasingly impressed by the quality of the ports. And I’d much rather give my money to Nintendo, who don’t seem to actively hate their customers and developers, than I would Sony. As far as I’m concerned, the entire PlayStation brand is tarnished and all for no reason or benefit to Sony.
Zeiss

They do it to themselves, they do
PlayStation’s metaphorical feet must look like Swiss cheese by this point, after all these self-inflicted bullet wounds, the latest being pulling funding for Hideo Kojima’s new game, which has subsequently been snapped up by Xbox. Such a fall from grace for a company that I’d have said at one point were close to Nintendo’s self-sustaining levels in terms of variety and quality of their first party output.

One move to the USA later and listening to the wrong voices within the company and we’ve got just another rubbish American publisher on our hands, cancelling games, shuttering studios and still pursuing the fallacy of infinite growth. I can imagine Hermen Hulst saying, ‘This time next year Hideaki, we’ll be billionaires.’ Except there’s probably not a valuable property hiding in their stable, so they’ll just remain fools forever.
Magnumstache

Swings and roundabouts
I guess the previews made it seem inevitable, but the Wolverine reviews are not what Sony needs right now, especially hot on the heels of the Hideo Kojima blowout. If anything, I think GC liked it more than some other sites, which is unusual, but then they always enjoy character action games, I notice. Although they didn’t like the Spider-Man games as much as most, so I guess it evens out.

Personally, I’ve no interest in superheroes and have never particularly liked any of Insomniac’s stuff, so it’s no big deal to me. It’s interesting to see the fallout though, because if this cost $300 million as well, like the Spider-Man games, then Insomniac could find themselves on the sharp end of more layoffs.

It’s a cutthroat business in gaming right now and I honestly don’t know why developers put up with it. I guess Insomniac are really hoping that Wolverine’s popularity as a character will get them through, but I suspect the Marvel curse is going to claim another victim.
Kimble

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

Backdoor link
Spent a while trying to pre order a white GTA 6 DualSense, but they were scalped within an inch of their life within minutes. Even appearing on eBay for £100+ before the pre-orders were live.

Thankfully managed to bag a black edition from the Sony website, thanks to a link on reddit which took me straight to the controller. Which seemed to be hidden well, and unexpectedly not in plain sight on the web page!
RamboSi (PSN ID)

GC: We think the black one looks better anyway.

Scalper’s paradise
I tried to get onto the Nintendo Store last night and was put in a 45 minute queue. When finally getting into it I found all the new Zelda stuff was already out of stock. The new Zelda arrivals have gone crazy it seems, but I can see clearly now that the scalpers have been at it once again, as I’ve spotted the new Zelda themed Pro Controller on eBay for up to £150 already.

It seems that even with the one per customer purchasing on Nintendo’s site it still isn’t stopping these people buying them up to inflate prices for fans.

I will have to look elsewhere now but I’ll keep looking in the hope that I can the Pro Controller for retail price. Pretty disappointed.
Nick The Greek

GC: Companies don’t do nearly enough to try and combat this, they just don’t seem to care as long as someone’s buying them.

Full circle
Looking forward to your review of Brazilian Drug Dealer Before 4: Demons From The Portal To Hell I Opened Are Still In The Favela And Now I Have To Save The Mamadas From Ronaldo. Candidate for the best title of a video game ever !?

The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time looks incredible. Same game, albeit with a graphical overhaul? Looks like it, unless there are some extra areas in there that haven’t yet been revealed. Newbies who haven’t played any of the previous iterations are in for a real treat.

If 2026 turns out to be as good a year in gaming as 1998, and it looks like it might well be, then Ocarina Of Time will have had a release in each. 28 years; gone in a flash.
Paul C.

Lite praise
Was a little more impressed than most by the Nintendo Direct it seems. If all you have is a Switch 2 you’ll be lapping it up. Alas, I picked up a PlayStation 5 before the first price hike last year, so the idea of playing the Final Fantasy or Resident Evil ports at lower frame rates and graphical fidelities doesn’t appeal (despite the attraction of portable play for genres like Japanese role-players).

I find even the best ones, like Cyberpunk 2077, quite a big step down in a side-by-side. However, if you can’t directly compare these pretty good ports to any other format and don’t mind 30fps, you’ll be happy enough.

Nintendo’s own games, though, I’m still not convinced by. A mostly 1:1 Zelda: Ocarina Of Time? Hmmm, it kind of looked good even if it runs dangerously close to an AI upscaled art design than I’d like. I mean, it obviously isn’t that (before people get the pitchforks) but watching the presentation all I could think of is the old ‘Nintendo hire that man’ meme of YouTube videos where someone recreates Super Mario 64 in Unreal Engine.

Metroid Ravenous looked good but like a few of Nintendo’s titles on Switch 2, only looked a modest update on the old machine. As for Kirby… well ‘Not for me, Clive’. At least as Nintendo builds out its back catalogue of B-list franchises I can keep my wallet intact and hose through the PlayStation backlog. By the time a stone cold classic rolls out, a Switch 2 Lite may be here.
Marc

GC: You don’t sound very impressed. We think most people were generally more positive about it.

Successful hit
Nice to hear that the Switch 2 has finally got VRR. I don’t know what the delay was (does anyone ever understand Nintendo?) but after the two Directs this week it’s suddenly looking like a very appealing console.

If Zelda: Ocarina Of Time reviews well, which I’m sure it will, I may actually try and get one this Christmas. So I guess their marketing worked… on me at least.
Umbar

Growing on you
I found myself appalled, initially, by the opening Kokiri Forest area of the Zelda: Ocarina Of Time gameplay this week. It really did look to me like those soulless Unreal Engine fan remakes, overly detailed and lacking anything distinct in its look.

Like many, I adored Ocarina Of Time on its initial release (whilst never being able to get past the Water Temple – to such an extent, friends who had completed the game could not complete the Water Temple on my cartridge) and enjoyed the 3DS version (which allowed me to finally complete the game with its Water Temple visual guide improvements).

However, I think I came around to the new version when the Great Deku Tree was shown. I got used to the visuals and started appreciating its contrasting styles and fidelity. By the Hyrule Field reveal I was close to dropping €500 on a Switch 2. It looks glorious to me now and I look forward to the reviews.

Between this and Star Fox, I love these restorations of old games that also retaining the essence of the original.
FM

Inbox also-rans
You mentioned that companies don’t usually announce anything big near Christmas but would Nintendo keep a reveal back for The Game Awards in December? I was really looking forward to the idea of Luigi’s Mansion 4.
Kamen

GC: They’ve never used The Game Awards before for anything major before, but there’s a first time for everything.

I see Square Enix are completely ignoring everyone that said the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth open world was too much and full of bloat. I kind of respect that.
Lumpy

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The Duke of Sussex’s first “public engagements” since his return to the UK have been announced, with Prince Harry set to attend a run of charity events

Prince Harry’s first “public engagements” following his return to the UK have been revealed, as the Duke of Sussex is due to front a series of charity events throughout the month.

Harry is set to attend the maiden Invictus Spirit Awards and the unveiling of the Invictus education initiative INSPIRE, while also participating in one of his annual fixtures, the WellChild Awards. The announcement is expected to be viewed as Harry launching his plans for his fresh start in Britain, amid what has been perceived as friction between the Sussex circle and the Royal Household.

Harry and Meghan were reportedly “surprised” by the official correspondence dispatched by the Lord Chamberlain on the King’s instruction to senior Government and military figures, which designated them as “private citizens”. The Duke and Duchess, who are awaiting confirmation on whether they will receive taxpayer-funded protection, are understood to favour the description “public figures” instead.

Complete information regarding Harry’s appearances, including specific dates, has not yet been released. The occasions were characterised by his representatives as his “September public engagements”.

His schedule will feature the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards, honouring individuals, organisations, and communities who “embody the resilience, service, and unconquered spirit at the heart of the international Invictus Movement”. During the INSPIRE programme launch, Harry will participate in pickleball with schoolchildren and join an assembly.

Created by educators for students ranging from early years right through to Key Stage 5, the initiative utilises the Invictus Games alongside competitors’ personal journeys to deliver national curriculum-aligned resources in maths, English, Stem, art, performing arts, sport and PSHE (personal, social, health and economic) education.

Harry has served as patron of WellChild – the national charity supporting seriously ill children and their families – since 2007, and is a regular presence at its awards ceremony. The appearance is characterised as “continuing his long association with WellChild as the charity’s patron”, with the awards, which he has now attended 15 times, forming a “significant part of his annual programme”.

He will spend time with this year’s award recipients alongside their families, carers and medical professionals to learn about their journeys in supporting children facing serious and complex health challenges.

The Sussexes are reported to be “happy to be back” in the UK, and getting Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet settled at school “remains their focus”. A source close to Harry and Meghan informed US magazine People: “Everything else will fall into place when the time is right”.

They continued: “There is a lot to do. They have just moved halfway across the world and it’s been really busy getting the kids settled. Their focus has been on that, and will remain on that, for the time being. They are happy to be back.”

A source close to the Sussexes attributed Uganda’s decision to withdraw from the Duke’s 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham to the Lord Chamberlain’s letter. Team Sussex, given approximately an hour’s notice before the letter’s release on Monday, had insufficient time to address any of the points raised.

Uganda’s military chief General Muhoozi Kainerugaba stated the country had pulled out of the sporting competition due to “that Harry-Meghan nonsense”, adding that it would “not participate in anything” lacking the King’s “approval”.

A Sussex source told ITV News: “Intended or unintended, this is clearly a consequence of the Lord Chamberlain’s guidance regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that was rushed out without consultation on Monday. Sadly, the only people who will suffer are the Invictus Games competitors.”

Meanwhile, a new YouGov poll revealed that just 16 per cent of Britons would welcome the Sussexes returning as working members of the Royal Family, while 51 per cent would prefer they did not. Some 33 per cent remain undecided.

Harry’s engagements were announced on Thursday evening – the same day the Prince and Princess of Wales undertook a significant visit to Liverpool, where William launched a suicide prevention toolkit for the sports sector. Kate made an unexpected appearance at Everton Football Club alongside William, demonstrating support for the major On Your Side campaign.

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Harry and Meghan withdrew from royal duties six years ago seeking personal and financial independence in the United States. A fortnight ago, they returned to Britain, enrolling their children Archie and Lili in schools here, with speculation suggesting Meghan may resume her acting career.

In January 2020, the Duke and Duchess had revealed their plans to withdraw as “senior” royals, pursue financial independence, continue supporting Queen Elizabeth II, while dividing their time between Britain and North America.

However, the late Queen determined at the Sandringham Summit, which was called to address the Megxit situation, that the pair could not maintain a partial royal role – with the King recently confirming the arrangement remains unchanged.