Horror over the Atlantic after airline’s ex-CEO allegedly ignored ban on charging power banks, triggering business class FIREBALL that forced jet to turn back
A flight from the Netherlands to the Caribbean was forced to turn back over the Atlantic after the airline’s ex-CEO’s power bank allegedly caught fire midflight.
A power bank caught fire on board a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Curaçao on Thursday, the airline said in a statement to the Daily Mail.
‘The crew followed the applicable procedures and extinguished the fire. Due to the situation, the decision was made to return the flight to Amsterdam,’ the airline said.
Flight tracking data showed the Boeing 777-300ER was soaring above the Atlantic Ocean five-and-a-half hours into its flight to the Caribbean when it turned around.
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An unnamed passenger told Dutch publication RTL News the power bank belonged to former KLM President and CEO Camiel Eurlings.
‘Suddenly, a bang was heard,’ the passenger said. ‘After that, there was an immediate fire; large flames were coming out above the seat.
‘The bang was the power bank exploding and immediately catching fire. The cabin crew responded very quickly and appropriately, and then spoke to everyone one-on-one and reassured us.’
A photo circulating on social media appears to show the business class seat window cracked and blackened after the explosion.
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A power bank caught fire on board a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Curaçao on Thursday
Passengers identified the power bank user as former KLM President and CEO Camiel Eurlings
Eurlings, who led the company from 2013 to 2014, reportedly sustained minor injuries from the incident.
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The passenger claimed she spoke with Eurlings after the incident and he was ‘extremely shocked.’
‘He feels terrible about the situation and all the inconvenience for everyone. He was very upset,’ she told RTL News.
However, the passenger added that it was ‘incredibly stupid’ for the airline’s former CEO to use the power bank during the flight.
‘Especially when you are supposed to be extra familiar with the rules, and yet you break them,’ she said.
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The airline rebooked the passengers on a flight that departed Friday morning.
KLM policy allows passengers to bring electronic devices with lithium batteries that are 100 watts or less on board; however, they are not allowed to use them during the flight.
‘One more thing about power banks: always keep yours with you. It’s not allowed to put it in the overhead bin, and using or charging it on board is also not allowed,’ the company website states.
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Should airline staff and ex-executives be held to higher safety standards than regular passengers?
The KLM flight (stock image pictured) was forced to turn around over the Atlantic and return to Amsterdam
Eurlings, who led the company from 2013 to 2014, reportedly sustained minor injuries from the incident. Eurlings is pictured here on board a plane in 2013
Virtually all modern power banks use lithium batteries. Lithium batteries pose a greater risk on flights because they can overheat and cause heavy smoke and fire, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
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KLM would not confirm Eurlings’ identity as the power bank user, stating: ‘For privacy reasons, we never disclose who is on board our aircraft or who is involved in specific incidents.’
Eurlings previously served on the executive branch of the Netherlands government from 2007 to 2010.
In 2011, he joined Air France-KLM as executive vice president before becoming President and CEO of KLM in 2013, according to his LinkedIn.
He currently works as a partner at the investment company Knighthood Global Limited.
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The Daily Mail has attempted to contact Eurlings for comment.
The fierce foes go head to head in a lunchtime Championship showdown at The Den on Saturday, meeting for the first time in over a decade.
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The lack of regular games between these rivals has only heightened the sense of anticipation around their reunion, with West Ham eager to increase their lead at the second-tier summit as they seek to earn promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Millwall, meanwhile, head into the game sitting in mid-table after an inconsistent start to the campaign under Alex Neil and would love nothing more than to halt the Hammers’ momentum.
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When was the last time Millwall played West Ham?
Saturday’s meeting between the fierce London rivals will be their first for some 14 years.
They have not crossed paths in any competition since the 2011/12 Championship season, when they faced off twice for the first time since that ugly League Cup second-round clash at Upton Park in August 2009, where there were pitch invasions and a riot.
That was after West Ham were relegated from the Premier League under Avram Grant after six years, losing out to Reading and Southampton in the race for automatic promotion but defeating Cardiff in the play-off semi-finals before then overcoming Blackpool at Wembley with Sam Allardyce at the helm.
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On target: Carlton Cole celebrates scoring for West Ham against Millwall at Upton Park in February 2012
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The first game that season finished 0-0 at The Den in September 2011, with the likes of David Bentley and Henri Lansbury both spurning huge chances for West Ham, who emerged victorious from the return fixture five months later.
In February 2012, Kevin Nolan was sent off early for the hosts at Upton Park following a two-footed lunge on Jack Smith, but goals from Carlton Cole and Winston Reid either side of a Liam Trotter equaliser still saw the Irons earn bragging rights and go four points clear at the summit of the Championship.
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The infamous League Cup tie in 2009 ended 3-1 to West Ham after extra time, with Junior Stanislas notching a brace and Zavon Hines and Neil Harris also on the scoresheet. Millwall’s last win over West Ham was at home in the Championship in November 2004.
The teams have only met seven times this century, with two wins each and three draws. West Ham have never won at the newer Den, with their last away win against Millwall coming all the way back in December 1988, when Paul Ince scored the only goal of the game in the First Division clash at the old Den. Their last away victory at Millwall before that was in March 1939.
Pitch invasion: The 2009 League Cup meeting between West Ham and Millwall was a shameful affair
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Millwall, meanwhile, have never visited West Ham’s current home at the London Stadium and last won at Upton Park in the Full Members Cup in November 1987.
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Saturday’s match will be the 100th competitive clash between them, with the all-time head-to-head record reading 38 wins to 34 in Millwall’s favour, with 27 draws.
When do Millwall play West Ham again?
The return fixture in the Championship at the London Stadium is currently scheduled to take place on Saturday February 21, 2027.
A 50ft-high rollercoaster has divided residents of a newbuild estate living near the attraction, with some calling it an ‘eyesore’ and others preferring it to a block of flats.
The site is a testing area for theme park rides that get built and sent to buyers, but locals in Sandford Lane, Hucknall, Nottingham, say the unfinished structure has been looming over their homes for the past 18 months.
Some locals say they love living a stone’s throw away from the giant ride while others have branded it unsightly.
Residents on the newbuild estate say they regularly see carts whizzing around the track and claim it’s a magnet for urban explorers.
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Jack Welsh, 45, said his family can see the massive structure from his living room and his eight-year-old daughter was a big fan.
He said: ‘We’re actually not bothered by it, it’s been a pleasure to watch it grow over the months.
‘There was a ride there beforehand but it wasn’t on the scale of this one, this one is massive. They get built and get sent to wherever buys them, this is like a testing facility.
‘To us we’d sooner this here than a block of flats with antisocial behaviour and drug addicts hanging about.
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Jack Welsh, 45, said his family can see the massive 50ft-high rollercoaster from his living room and his eight-year-old daughter was a big fan
Some locals say they love living a stone’s throw away from the giant ride while others have branded it unsightly
Neighbours on the 12-house road say the rollercoaster ‘ruins the views’ from their homes
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‘It’s tall, it’s a monster at probably 50ft, but luckily our little girl loves rides, because she loves Alton Towers. She loves to watch it, especially when there’s people up there.’
His wife Kirsty, 43, added: ‘It’s interesting to watch out your window, you can see them whizzing around on occasion and it’s fun. It can be more fun to watch than the TV.’
The couple think the mega-ride – believed to be the first of its kind – is destined for Dubai.
Jack added: ‘They have put a cart on and whizzed them around before and it’s great to see. I can understand why some people have a problem with it, of course.
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‘It’s big and it can see into your gardens, but we love it.
‘The only thing that is a menace is when they leave the straps out overnight. The wind catches them and the straps make a crashing sound, which can be annoying.
‘There was also an issue over the six weeks with the urban explorers and they were going on it.’
But some neighbours on the 12-house road say the rollercoaster ‘ruins the views’ from their homes.
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One man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘I don’t think it’s suitable to keep it there full-time. It’s been there for ages and it just makes you feel like you’re living next to a funfair.
‘When the workmen are repairing it they can see right into your gardens and bedrooms which is a bit intrusive.
‘We shouldn’t feel like we’re being watched in our homes.’
The rollercoaster was built next to a newbuild housing estate in Hucknall, Nottingham
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Residents on the new-build estate say they regularly see carts whizzing around the track and claim it’s a magnet for urban explorers
Another said: ‘It’s huge, it’s there when we wake up and go to bed. We were told it wouldn’t be here as long as it has been.
‘It’s an eyesore and it ruins our views from almost every window from our property.’
James Mellors, director at the family-owned firm, admitted the rollercoaster has been up longer than usual but insisted it was temporary.
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He said: ‘It’s been there a lot longer than we anticipated. It’s temporary, and usually, a ride would not be in position for quite as long as that has been.
‘It’s the first one in the world, and it’s just not quite been going together as well as it should.
‘It’s frustrating for myself how long that coaster has been there. The rides don’t make any money when they’re in storage.
‘Our aim is to be a good neighbour, we’re not there to try and cause a nuisance. It’s not a fairground, it’s a work depot.
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‘We want people to appreciate what we do and we appreciate their concerns.’
But for a growing number of women across Scotland, that convenience has come at a devastating costs. Recent medical studies have confirmed what affected patients have suspected for years: prolonged use of the drug can increase the risk of developing brain tumours.
The tumours are non-cancerous but they can cause serious health problems. Women have been robbed of their sight, suffered debilitating seizures and forced to endure invasive neurosurgery.
Yet thousands of them were kept on this jag for 10, 20, or even 30 years without a single warning. Now doctors have been told to warn women about the risks after dozens left with life-altering injuries spoke out in the Daily Record. This development is welcome, but long overdue.
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It has come too late for Tammy Croston, a 47-year-old from Fife who suffered serious consequences from an operation to remove such a tumour. In today’s Daily Record she tells readers this new guidance should have happened years ago – and no sensible person could disagree.
Contraceptive care relies entirely on informed consent. A woman cannot weigh the risks and benefits of her family planning choices if the most severe risks are hidden from her. It is incredible that patients were left to discover these links through social media or post-operative research rather than from their own doctors.
Warning women about Depo-Provera isn’t about panicking the public or stripping away contraceptive options. It’s about restoring the dignity of choice. Women deserve full transparency over what goes into their bodies.
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Be drink aware
It is freshers’ week at universities around Scotland and thousands of young people will be taking their first steps into independent adult life.
For the vast majority it will be good fun, with many teenagers taking to pubs and clubs to enjoy their new-found freedom. But new figures showing drink spiking incidents on the rise will be a concern for parents and young people.
These attacks are notoriously difficult to police or prosecute, so awareness and sensible precautions are vital. Never leave drinks unattended. And most importantly, look after your pals if you think they are vulnerable on a night out.
There’s no reason for young people to live in fear or mistrust new people. But by taking a few sensible steps they can have a good night out – and get home safely.
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In a glamorous cover shoot for the centenary issue of lifestyle magazine woman&home, Susanna, 55, confessed her concerns over the ‘advent of AI’ and how it will impact the authenticity of breakfast television, which is tailored to entertain and inform millions each morning.
The presenter said: ‘We disappear into our own algorithms – people just want their own interests and it worries me.
‘If we have an AI version of super-highly tailored news, you would lose that sense of ‘I didn’t realise I wanted to know about that’ or ‘That didn’t occur to me.’
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But ever the optimist, Susanna is a key believer in leaning into the challenge of change and making it work whatever the initial setbacks may be.
‘My generation’s time of life is a constant period of flux and change. We have ageing parents and growing children. We’re not stuck. We have to adapt all the time and be flexible.’
Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid has admitted she is ‘savouring every moment in television’ as she revealed her worries that Artificial Intelligence (AI) may replace her role
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In a glamorous cover shoot for the centenary issue of lifestyle magazine woman&home, Susanna confessed her concerns over the ‘advent of AI’
Turning to the future, Susanna is holding on tight to her current role, which she landed in 2014, and doesn’t like to think beyond presenting GMB – other than the prospect of her own podcast one day.
‘I won’t until the moment someone says, “Thanks very much. You can have a lie-in tomorrow!” It’s very important to accept that you’re not going to work forever at a particular job.
‘For whatever reason, things change. There will always be other things.’
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For the shoot, celebrating 100 years of woman&home, Susanna stunned in an array of pink outfits, including a feather dress and a satin gown.
And five years on from her 50th birthday, Susanna has ‘completely reframed’ her body image mindset and said: ‘One of the biggest things I’ve stopped worrying about is my weight.’
Following her time on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013, when training eight hours daily resulted in her feeling ‘fantastic’ at her ‘slimmest and fittest,’ Susanna is no longer hung up on the scales.
Post menopause, Susanna’s mindset now consists of acknowledging that: ‘As long as I am healthy, exercising, walking regularly, and eating fresh fruit and vegetables, I think, “I am what I am.”‘
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In the ITN offices, the TV star can be found snacking on apple slices and sunflower seed butter as an alternative to peanut butter, and she often fuels her morning show with scrambled eggs, avocados, natural yogurt or fruit.
Join the discussion
Would you trust AI to tell you the news, or is the human touch irreplaceable on TV?
For the shoot, celebrating 100 years of woman&home, Susanna stunned in an array of pink outfits, including a feather dress and a satin gown
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And five years on from her 50th birthday, Susanna has ‘completely reframed’ her body image mindset and said: ‘One of the biggest things I’ve stopped worrying about is my weight’
Over the last year, a key lifestyle switch Susanna has made is incorporating ten minutes of exercise into her everyday routine.
Susanna keeps weights in her bedroom and follows a YouTube routine in her pyjamas either after her afternoon nap or in the morning when she isn’t working.
Not only has the change benefitted her mood, and she has adopted a new motto: ‘An object in motion stays in motion. An object at rest stays at rest.’ but it has also stopped her procrastinating.
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‘Once I exercise, I want to do my chores or take something back to the post office that I’ve been delaying for a week.’
Read the fun interview in woman&home
Reflecting on these changes, Susanna added: ‘I listen to my body a lot more than I used to.’
The presenter can ‘totally relate’ to entrepreneur Steven Bartlett’s controversial claim that one drink can set you back three days.
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After she stopped drinking regularly back in 2018, Susanna occasionally indulges in ‘the odd Paloma’.
Recently, after her beloved football team Crystal Palace won the UEFA Conference League final, she celebrated with ‘one small drink’ and regretted it when she ‘felt like poison for a few days’.
‘Ninety-nine per cent of the time I’m not drinking, and I think my body has become conditioned.’
Staying true to her love of a party, Susanna will be celebrating her cover shoot release with a cup of tea and a slice of cake.
I always enjoy getting the main climbing out of the way early, so exit the car park via a gate at its north end and head on a wide track to the steep flanks of Buckden Pike, initially skirting the steepest ground.
After passing through some pleasant woodland the track turns north east and, after a further 200 metres, divides at a small gate. A signpost points uphill to Buckden Pike. From here the path climbs steadily just north of east for one mile until it meets a wall near some steeper ground. Follow the wall (on your left) south east up some rock steps to the summit of Buckden Pike.
Looking up Buckden Beck (Image: Jonathan Smith)
The summit is distinctive; a trig point and a large cairn with a neighbouring, even taller post next to it. The views are superb in all directions, particularly to the west where all of the better known Yorkshire Three Peaks are displayed, and to the north towards the Howgills and the mountains above the valley of Mallerstang.
Buckden Pike walk map (Image: Jonathan Smith)
Buckden Pike is one of the ‘Dales 30’ mountains; a challenge describing every mountain in the Yorkshire Dales over 2,000 feet. It is a satisfying and achievable challenge and to complete all 30 will bring you to wonderful, rarely visited areas such as this.
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Head south along the wide summit ridge for nearly a mile, next to a wall and with a pleasant surprise at its conclusion. Just where the ridge starts to drop away look over the wall for the Polish War Memorial. The cross is dedicated to the six Polish air crew who crashed on Buckden Pike in 1942 on a training exercise in bad winter weather. There was only one survivor, Jo, who was able to crawl to the pub at Cray and later helped commission the memorial. Look closely at the base of the cross – parts of the aircraft are embedded in it.
Buckden Pike cross (Image: Jonathan Smith)
It is possible to carry on south and join a bridleway which winds its way gradually down towards Starbotton, but I prefer returning towards the summit and taking a faint permissive path heading west at the stone wall, just to the south of the summit trig. This leads south west down some steep slopes before arriving at the top of Buckden Gill and the remains of a 19th Century lead mine.
Do not be tempted to head down the gill but cross the little wooden bridge and take the footpath above the stone wall heading just west of south for three quarters of a mile.
Follow the wall to the point it turns steeply downhill. A short cut directly down to the village is possible but it is more sensible to carry on south for a further one third of a mile to a further wall junction and a more obvious path. The path then drops and reverses itself as it heads north back towards the car park at Buckden.
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Walk facts
Distance: Roughly six miles.
Height to climb: 500m (1,640 feet).
Start: SD 942774. There is a large car park at the north end of Buckden. The toilets were open with suitable hygiene last week.
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Difficulty: Medium/hard. A steep climb in places is followed by a descent on intermittent paths. Some of the going is quite rough.
Refreshments: The Buck Inn in Buckden is the most popular place for a drink or snack.
Be prepared: The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk. You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer OL30) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass. You must also wear the correct clothing and footwear for the outdoors. Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers head out at their own risk.
Please observe the Countryside Code and park sensibly.
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Jonathan Smith runs Where2walk, a walking company based in the Yorkshire Dales. He has written four books on walking in the Dales, The Yorkshire 3 Peaks, Walks without Stiles, The Dales 30 mountains a guide to The Bracken Way. Visit Where2walk where you can buy the books. Jonathan runs navigation training courses for all levels. The next beginner/refresher course is at Long Preston on September 26. You can buy Dales 30 guide books, t-shirts and caps from the new Dales 30 website. Start the challenge today. Where2walk.co.uk features hundreds of walks with descriptions across Yorkshire and beyond, from easy strolls to harder climbs. Visit the website for details of all these walks, guiding days and navigation course.
The officer is due to face the misconduct hearing in September
A Cambridgeshire Police Constable is due to face a misconduct hearing over allegations that he misled investigators. ‘PC A’ is accused of breaching the standards of professional behaviour to the level of gross misconduct.
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The officer allegedly claimed to have had no contact with an ex-partner since 2019 during a professional standards conduct interview in July 2023. Several months later, PC A then stated that they had had no contact with an ex-partner since 2019, except for contact initiated by the ex-partner in connection with criminal proceedings against them.
Messages dated February and June 2022 are alleged to demonstrate that contact was initiated by PC A with an ex-partner, resulting in the ex-partner asking PC A to stop contact and subsequently blocking PC A.
PC A also reportedly told the Chief Constable of the police force that they had never associated with the ex-partner’s brother. It is alleged that this was inconsistent with an account PC A had previously provided to investigators from Northamptonshire Police during a criminal interview.
The officer has been accused of committing gross misconduct in honesty and integrity. PC A is due to face a misconduct hearing on Monday (September 21) at 9am.
There are franchises that we grow up with and cherish over many years. In retrospect, we grow to appreciate what they brought to the table.
Over time though, many eventually shift towards becoming stale, overdone, and repetitive, and are essentially only around to generate cash or are safer options, rather than risking new ideas or creative freedom.
With that being said, I’d like to present a list of 15 franchises that I believe need to be wrapped up and hopefully, these studios can focus on innovation instead.
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15. Outlast
In 2013, Red Barrels presented us Outlast. It was a massive success and spawned DLC, a sequel, and a multiplayer title. But it’s been 13 years now. You can only milk this franchise so much, before it becomes tiring. It already has. The formula is stale and I’m hoping very much that it ends after the next title, because we deserve a new IP and a new genre from this talented developer.
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14. Doom
So the general consensus is that The Dark Ages was a disappointment for the franchise. I say good to that, because it’s time to lay the slayer to rest. Id Software need to reset massively, because no matter how you innovate with these games, it is just treading old ground. I’d love them to tackle a new genre. A third person narrative title would be interesting and a fresh perspective would be satisfying.
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13. Amnesia
From one horror series to another, Amnesia: The Dark Descent was fantastic for its time in 2010 but it’s long overdue to put it to rest. Especially after the awful title that was Rebirth. Frictional has to go back to the drawing board and stop just relying on a franchise that should have ended years ago.
12. Five Nights at Freddy’s
It’s a trilogy of horror franchises that need to end. This is quite honestly the most tired, outdated, and bland of the three. It’s long milked to death and just a concept that should have only remained a one title idea. But it has spawned unwanted sequels, two awful films, and horrendous additions. Let it die Scott, for all of our sakes.
11. Every sports franchise
NBA, EA Sports FC, Madden, WWE 2K… it’s just squeezing money out of consumers and it has lasted far too long. The updates are minimal each year, the releases are tiring, the effort is non-existent. I’m just tired, boss.
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10. Call Of Duty
Do I need to say more? I’d say the failure of Black Ops 7 was a wake-up call, but who are we kidding? We’re getting an eighth game, at one point and even more suffering. As long as people keep buying, Activision will continue torturing us. It will never end.
9. Far Cry
Far Cry 6 was released in 2021 and if fortune was kind, it would have been the last instalment. It should have been wrapped up years ago but Ubisoft is already developing a seventh game. By this point it’s just a franchise that peaked with the third game and continues to be churned out. It’s more outdated and tragic than the fact we will likely never see Sam Fisher again.
8. Dragon Age
Mass Effect has one thing going for it: the return of Liara in the next instalment. Dragon Age is the opposite. After the failure of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. It’s time to pull the plug on Varric, Solas, and the entire franchise. Because it should have ended after Inquisition.
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7. Metal Gear Solid
It should have ended with the fourth title; that is the cold truth of Metal Gear Solid. But it refuses to lay down to rest. It was a legendary creation once, in Hideo Kojima. It is just a shell of its former self; a disappointing remake of the third title needs to be the signal that it’s time for Snake to rest for good.
6. The Last Of Us
When you have created more remasters, remakes, ports, and a two season series rather than actually announcing a third title it’s just evidently a fact that it’s time to leave this world behind. A franchise created in 2013, it has left Naughty Dog without a single PlayStation 5 title in this generation so far. Just like Uncharted, it’s time for Ellie’s story to be finished.
5. Assassin’s Creed
Ubisoft’s golden goose, that truly refuses to die. Assassin’s Creed is all Ubisoft has at this point and it shows. But how many times can we repeat old tropes? Assassin’s Creed Hexe is up next. Just what we need. More Templars and Assassins. God help us.
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4. Ninja Gaiden
So it’s a harsh truth that Ninja Gaiden 4 wasn’t a massive commercial success. Which makes sense for a franchise that is honestly overdone and just boring at this point. You can only slaughter enemies so many times, before you realise that it’s just been run into the ground. It’s time to kill this licence off for good. [That was the first new Ninja Gaiden in 13 years; in fact, many of the games you mention haven’t had any sequels for years – GC]
3. Red Dead Redemption
The tale of the west is complete. So why even a possible third title could make sense is beyond me. We’ve had two stories revolving around the death of the outlaws and the modernisation of the world. The stories of two outlaws who achieved redemption through death. That’s more than enough reason to wave goodbye to a special franchise, pardner.
2. Mortal Kombat
It’s long overdue. No matter how innovative the fatalities are or how stellar the graphical prowess is it’s lasted for far too long and the never ending narrative of this tournament needs to definitively end.
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1. Halo
It was a childhood journey, a cherished memory for friends and families, to spend hours in multiplayer, the campaigns, and to grow up playing through a special series of titles. But Halo truly fell when it was no longer Bungie’s creation. It lost the magic and the cinematic flair when 343 took over. It is now a shadow of its former self and it shows massively, with the fact it is no longer Xbox’s exclusive flagship franchise. It is also a PlayStation title as well. Halo was something amazing for fans growing up, but it’s absolutely time for a special soldier to put down his helmet and take his rest, for he has earned his retirement.
I’d also like to include a final mention:
16. Gears Of War
If a sixth game is to be made let it be the end of the Locust War and the end of Marcus Fenix’s story. Just end it all, please. This war is long overdue it’s finality.
By reader Shahzaib Sadiq
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Gears Of War: E-Day – out next month (Xbox Game Studios)
The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.
You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.
Representatives for stand-up comedian Carrot Top, real name Scott Christopher Thompson, have confirmed he has been rushed to hospital and his show at the Luxor has been cancelled
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Stand-up comedian Carrot Top has been rushed to hospital.
The 61-year-old comedian (real name Scott Christopher Thompson) was rushed to hospital on Friday just hours before a scheduled comedy show at Las Vegas’ Luxor Hotel and Casino.
Jami Schlicher, a representative for Thompson, did not confirm the reason for the star’s hospitalisation, but instead shared that he is currently receiving ‘the care and support he needs.’
Mr Schlicher tells The Mirror: “Mr. Thompson is recovering in the hospital and is receiving the care and support he needs. His family and those closest to him are deeply grateful for the concern, prayers and respectfully ask for privacy.”
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Fans have flooded his last Instagram post with messages of support and love, one fan wrote: “Just heard sad news. Hope you’re gonna be OK dude. Saw you last December and plan on bringing another friend next trip to LV to see you again. You are hella adored and hope you really know that. Truth.” Another wrote: “You’re loved more than you know. You’re special & the world is more beautiful with you in it. Sending love & hope your way.”
A third wrote: “Remember how much you are appreciated! The world needs your humor!!!”
Carrot Top is known for his high energy prop comedy, signature red hair and elaborate stage performances. He’s been a longtime headliner at the Luxor, where he has the longest running residency in Vegas. He was due to perform on Friday night at the Luxor but the show was cancelled following his health scare.
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Born in 1965, in Rockledge, Florida he began performing stand-up comedy while attending Florida Atlantic University. He later built a career around his signature red hair, exaggerated props, and visual comedy style.
He gained national attention during the 1990s through appearances on television shows and comedy specials. He became a frequent guest on programs including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show with David Letterman.
Sharron Smith, chief executive of York Carers Centre, said people looking after loved ones increasingly had no lives of their own, with some reporting experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Cllr Jo Coles, Labour ward member for Westfield, said the state of social care was the biggest issue facing York Council as she welcomed national efforts to look into changes.
But opposition Liberal Democrat Cllr Ian Cuthbertson said the council’s record on adult social care was concerning and Conservative Cllr Chris Steward said a Labour call for action lacked substance.
It comes as councillors backed a call to support the Government’s Big Conversion on Care which is looking at the future of services in England.
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Cllr Coles’ motion stated it came amid rising demand for care, a forecast rise in dementia, increasingly complex needs and a high turnover and difficulties recruiting workers.
Ms Smith said action was needed now to deal with the pressures carers and families are facing.
She added they needed help before they reached crisis point.
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Ms Smith said: “The growing need for care is one of the greatest challenges facing us as a nation.
“For many years, carers were described as ‘unsung heroes’, saving the economy billions of pounds and providing support that would otherwise fall on already stretched public services.
The Government is conducting a review into adult social care (Image: Pixabay)
“However, what we are increasingly seeing is something much more troubling.
“We are seeing carers with no life of their own, we hear from carers who are experiencing suicidal thoughts.
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“We hear from carers who are exhausted, isolated and at breaking point.
“This is not sustainable.”
Cllr Coles said the work of unpaid carers was supporting council services which would otherwise collapse under the strain of the pressure facing them.
She added calls to go further with proposals to adopt targets and aims for care in York were not possible without extra funding and counter-productive in some cases.
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Cllr Coles said: “Many receive the care they need from other family members who never never chose a career in care but just chose to look after someone they love.
“The work that carers do isn’t glamourous, it’s low paid, physically demanding but emotionally incredibly skilled.
“It isn’t an abstract line in a budget, it’s dignity, independence and can mean a couple being able to stay together at home in York.”
Cllr Cuthbertson, of Haxby and Wigginton ward, said the rating of the council’s adult social care services as ‘requires improvement’ had to be recognised.
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Cllr Carol Runciman, the opposition group’s health spokesperson, said the call also came as no replacement had yet been brought in for the Dial & Ride service axed in December 2023.
The Liberal Democrat said: “We can’t talk about the importance of abstract principles while cutting the services that make this possible.”
Conservative group leader Cllr Steward said the Labour motion lacked any tangible ideas to improve social care locally.
His group called for guaranteed assessments within 28 days, home adaptations within 10 days, yearly health and wellbeing checks, hospital discharges within 48 hours and digital access to care cases.
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Cllr Steward said: “The Labour motion is empty and does nothing on its own.”
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