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Handheld versions of the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum are being released later this year, loaded with 25 classic games in each.

Handheld systems are all the rage at the moment, between Valve’s Steam Deck, the ROG Xbox Ally, and the more specialist Analogue Pocket, but now systems from over 40 years ago are getting in on the action.

Retro Games, a company known for miniature and full-sized recreations of systems like the Commodore 64 and Atari 400, as well as the recently unveiled white ZX Spectrum, has joined forces with Evercade developer Blaze Entertainment for two brand new handhelds.

The C64 Handheld and The Spectrum Handheld are set to launch in October, priced at £109.99 each. You can also grab a collector’s edition for £129.99 from Funstock, which includes a hard shell carry case and a specially designed Crash or Zzap!64 magazine from the era, but these are limited to 2,000 units.

Each handheld sports a 4.3 inch IPS screen with 800×480 resolution, and comes complete with a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB port for keyboard or joystick support. At 13.6cm wide it’s bigger than a Game Boy Advance SP but a little smaller than a Nintendo DS.

The two systems emulate their classic console counterparts via their buttons as well, with the C64 rocking plastic fuction keys while the Spectrum sports the trademark rubber.

Like other devices from Retro Games, each system comes with 25 games built in. The C64 has the likes of Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe and Nebulus, while the Spectrum has Manic Miner, Head Over Heels, and Skool Daze. You can find a full list of all the games below.

Speaking about the systems, Blaze Entertainment CEO Andrew Byatt said: ‘The C64 and the Spectrum are two of the most iconic names in gaming history, with generations of players who hold them close to their hearts.

‘Bringing these experiences into a brand-new handheld form feels like a natural next step, and we’re proud to bring these to both longtime fans and a new audience discovering them for the first time. We are delighted to be working with Retro Games Ltd to make this happen.’

While be conducting an interview with Retro Game shortly, about the white Spectrum and their work in general, so we’ll be sure to bring these up then.

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To mark the milestone, new schools have the chance to benefit from special early bird pricing until June 30.

The offer, available from May 1 until June 30, gives new schools the opportunity to secure reduced costs while allocating the expense with the current academic year’s budget.

Alison Cotton, Head of English at Croydon High, who has been involved with the scheme for a number of years, said: “The Young Reporter programme has become a key component of our extra-curricular offer for KS4 & 5 and we have been delighted to celebrate numerous award winners over the years.

“Our pupils have found it both exciting and challenging; an illuminating insight into a career in news journalism.

“Generating ideas, managing their time and producing work of a publishable quality, to monthly deadlines, is no mean feat!

“However, the balance of independence/support enables participants to flourish as writers on this dynamic work experience programme.”

Over the years, the programme has grown significantly, with tens of thousands of students taking part in what schools describe as a unique and engaging opportunity.

The scheme gives students first-hand experience of working in the media industry, with participants writing monthly articles that are published across Newsquest’s wide network of national online newspapers.

Each student will have their work published over an eight-month period, helping them to develop key skills such as meeting deadlines and producing content to a professional standard.

This helps them prepare for university and life beyond school.

If this sounds like it might be of interest to your school or someone you know, spread the word or visit the website youngreporter.co.uk and fill in an information request form.

The scheme is open to all students in Years 10 to 13, regardless of academic ability or future career plans, and continues to be a popular extra-curricular activity for schools across the country.

Organisers say the programme is beneficial even for those not considering a career in journalism, as it encourages students to broaden their horizons, step outside their comfort zones and improve their writing abilities.

Victoria Whitwam from Hampton School said: “We are great fans of the scheme at Hampton School.

“It is well organised whilst also being realistic and understanding the pressures pupils and staff are under.

“Best of all, it fosters independent thinking and organisational skills in the pupils that take part.”

​Three Scarborough properties owned by North Yorkshire Council will be turned into temporary accommodation for homeless households.

​NYC said the properties identified for refurbishment were in a poor state of repair which resulted in them remaining empty.

​They are located within Scarborough, allowing easy access to services, the authority added.

​Eight flats are set to be created from the three properties, according to documents published by the council.

​A spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the authority anticipates that the refurbishment required to bring the properties back into residential use, including any necessary planning permissions, will be completed by the end of 2027.

​“Using council-owned homes for homeless households is one of our strategies to provide appropriate accommodation and reduce the use of B&B and hotels, which is more cost-effective and delivers better outcomes for families and individuals,” the spokesperson added.

​In recent years, Scarborough has faced some of the highest levels of homelessness in North Yorkshire.

​NYC was one of the first authorities in England to introduce a 100 per cent tax on second homes.

​The scheme has raised about £10 million so far, according to North Yorkshire Council, all of which has been ring-fenced for housing projects.

​The authority’s homelessness strategy for 2025-30 states that while North Yorkshire is among the least deprived local authority areas in England, there are “pockets of deprivation, particularly in Scarborough”.

​“Approaches are consistently highest in Scarborough and Harrogate. We are seeing more single homeless people and more people declaring support needs and multiple disadvantages, including mental health, substance use, domestic abuse, and contact with the criminal justice system,” the report states.

​The number of households in temporary accommodation is also increasing, with the council reporting particularly strong demand in Scarborough and Harrogate.

​NYC’s gross spend on emergency accommodation has grown rapidly in recent years, from just over £500,000 in 2019/20 to over £2.1 million in 2022/23 – an increase of 400 per cent. Particular pressures are within the Scarborough area, with more people staying longer in emergency accommodation, according to the report.

Actor Sarah Michelle Gellar, best known for her role as teenage demon slayer Buffy Summers, recently shared in an interview that she uses an “EMS suit” during workouts to stay fit. And she’s not the only one who has made this form of exercising a trend – with celebrities from Tom Holland to Cindy Crawford all using EMS workouts to get fit.

EMS, short for electromyostimulation, uses electrical impulses to support muscle contraction. The idea is that the machine uses electricity to stimulate your muscles to work harder, to help you get more out of your workout without lifting heavy weights.

Some companies even claim that a 20-minute EMS session (roughly half an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer), can deliver the same benefits as hours in the gym. For people who are short on time, dislike traditional exercise or want a novel way to stay motivated, this sounds very tempting.

But while EMS does have some evidence-based benefits, particularly in rehabilitation settings, it’s far from a miracle shortcut to getting fit.

In clinical contexts, EMS works by sending small, electrical impulses through pads placed on the skin. Just like with regular workouts, these impulses stimulate nerves, triggering muscles to contract. Physiotherapists have used EMS for decades to help patients recovering from injury or surgery, especially when regular movement is difficult.

It has even been used in spaceflight simulations, in which participants have to lie in a bed tilted slightly downwards for extended periods to replicate the effects of being in space on the body. This can cause muscles to weaken, and research has explored EMS as a countermeasure loss during these conditions, particularly when combined with resistance exercise.

What is new is the rise of “whole body EMS” in the fitness industry. Instead of placing electrodes on a single muscle group, users wear the suit or vest. It contains multiple electrodes targeting the arms, legs, glutes, back and core. During a session, people perform squats, lunges, arm raises and more, while the suit pulses to intensify muscle activation.

In practice, the benefits depend heavily on who you are and how you train.

Does it work?

Research suggests EMS can help maintain strength and muscle mass after five to six weeks of treatment compared with doing a conventional exercise programme. A meta analysis in 2023 supports this, outlining how between one to three whole-body EMS sessions per week for six to 12 weeks can result in modest improvements in muscle mass, strength and power.

Another separate study also reported strength gains after a similar frequency of use in non-athletic, sedentary adults.

For people who are sedentary, or have joint pain, EMS may offer an alternative to stimulating muscles without the stress of exercise.

However, it is not a substitute for the broad, well established, whole-body health benefits of regular exercise, which extend beyond muscles to the cardiovascular and metabolic systems, among others.

This distinction becomes clearer when we look at regular exercisers. A recent study, which examined EMS use in athletes and trained sportspeople, found little to no benefit on performance measures such as jumping, sprinting or agility.

Furthermore, studies examining strength outcomes report inconsistent findings, with results varying widely depending on the EMS protocol used and how it’s combined with conventional training.

Taken together, these findings suggest that for people who are already active, EMS probably won’t provide a meaningful edge as conventional exercise is already very effective. Lifting weights, sprinting or doing bodyweight exercises all produce strong, natural muscle contractions without the need for electrical stimulation.

Should you try it?

Overall, the research on EMS is promising but far from definitive. Many studies are small, short term, or use differing protocols, making comparisons difficult.

Some combine EMS with exercise, while others compare it to doing nothing at all. This makes it challenging to determine whether improvements come from EMS alone, its combination with exercise or because participants are just being more active.

Because EMS can produce strong, involuntary muscle contractions, overuse can also lead to severe muscle soreness or, in rare cases, a condition called rhabdomyolysis. This occurs when muscle tissue breaks down rapidly and releases proteins into the bloodstream, harming the kidneys.

À lire aussi :
High-intensity workouts may put regular gym goers at risk of rhabdomyolysis, a rare but dangerous condition

Several cases of rhabdomyolysis have been reported after intense EMS sessions, even after a single workout. For this reason, it is recommended to start slowly, stay hydrated and use EMS under professional supervision.

Cost is another factor. Whole body EMS sessions can be expensive, and purchasing a suit for home use can be even more costly. For many people, that money might be better spent on evidence-based, personal training or structured exercise programmes.

For those that can afford it, EMS should be viewed as a supplement, not a substitute, for regular exercise. The strongest evidence for improving health, fitness and body composition still comes from simple, consistent habits: lifting weights a few times a week, walking more, cycling, swimming, jogging or following a gym programme.

There’s no shortcut around the basics. EMS may add a spark, but it can’t replace the benefits of real exercise.

Diego Simeone admits Julian Alvarez is still struggling with his ankle injury ahead of Atletico Madrid’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal next Tuesday.

Alvarez scored a penalty in the second half of Atletico’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Wednesday night but was forced off with 13 minutes remaining after injuring his ankle in a challenge from Eberechi Eze.

Atletico travel to Valencia for their game in La Liga on Saturday and Simeone has revealed that Alvarez will play no part in the fixture.

Simeone is also without his son Giuliano, Alexander Sorloth, Jose Gimenez and Pablo Barrios.

‘If there hadn’t been a match on Tuesday, Julian probably wouldn’t have made it to Saturday either, nor would Sorloth, Giuliano, Barrios or Gimenez,’ Simeone said on Friday.

‘It’s more than clear that we’re going to go with those who are in the best shape to compete tomorrow.

‘The players’ form dictates it [the squad rotation]. We’re going to field fresh legs so we can compete, which is what matters to us.

‘I expect a lot from them. They have the responsibility of being at Atletico Madrid and the opportunity to show why they’re at Atletico Madrid.’

Speaking after Atletico’s draw with Arsenal, Simeone said that he expected Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone and Sorloth to recover for the second leg against Mikel Arteta’s side next week.

Atletico currently sit fourth in La Liga, five points behind third-placed Villarreal with five games remaining.

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Netherlands attacking midfielder Simons has been ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) against Wolves – and joined a lengthy Spurs injury list.

Striker Dominic Solanke also went off at Molineux with a hamstring injury, while goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario will also be unavailable against Villa – with Ben Davies, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert and Cristian Romero among long-term absentees.

“I want to keep the focus on ourselves and the quality of my players,” De Zerbi said.

“We go to play against one of the best teams in this moment Premier League, but if Tottenham win at Villa Park it’s not a miracle. Maybe we lose but we have the quality to win this game. It’s not a miracle. We have to be positive.

“If Xavi and Solanke are injured we can play with [Randal] Kolo Muani, [Mathys] Tel, Richarlison… they are different but very good players. All these things – I don’t have too much time to hear these things.

“We are good enough to win the games and to stay up and then we will see because it’s the unique way. The way I know is to work hard, give my best, to trust in my idea of the players, their confidence and to be realistic.”

However, one player close to returning from a long-term injury is James Maddison.

The England playmaker has not featured this season because of an ACL injury but was named on the bench against both Brighton and Wolves.

“I would like to play with Maddison because he is a special player but we have to consider physical condition, a lot of things. But I think he can be important in the next three games,” De Zerbi said.

Lewis Smith died following a crash on the A1(M) near Chester-le-Street on Sunday evening (April 26).

Lewis was a passenger in a Mercedes A Class which is believed to have struck the central reservation before coming to rest on its roof.

 The 20-year-old, from South Shields, sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, for treatment.

 Sadly, he died the following afternoon.

 Today (May 1), his family have paid a touching tribute to Lewis, describing him as their “beautiful, sparkly blue-eyed boy who had a great respect for everyone”.

They said: “You were the glue that kept our family together with a smile that lit up a thousand skies.”

“We are heartbroken to say that Lewis sadly took his last breath at 3pm on Monday, April 27.

 “Lewis, our beautiful, sparkly blue-eyed boy; you were your dad’s sun, and your mam’s voice of reason.

“You were the glue that kept our family together with a smile that lit up a thousand skies.

 “He was a young lad, only aged 20, and had his whole life ahead of him.

“He already had a holiday booked for his 21st to Ibiza in July and had only been back home for a few days following his first holiday away without family before this tragedy struck.

 “He was the best big brother to his little sister, Ezzy, best aunty Lew to his niece, Revada, and, although the youngest brother of Stephen and Ryan, he was definitely the wisest.

 “Lewis was a handsome young man with great respect for everyone. He had a heart of gold and wouldn’t hesitate to help someone in need and would always put a smile of the faces of the people he was with.

 “He was a well-known lad in South Shields as he had an excellent attitude and was polite and well-mannered around everyone he met.

 “He will be deeply missed by his dad (Smeg), mam, Kristen, his nine-year-old little sister, Esmée, his two older brothers, Stephen and Ryan, his five-year-old niece, Revada, his grandparents, uncles and aunties, cousins, as well as all his friends and the people he knew.

 “We are all heartbroken and totally devastated by this loss. We all love you, son – you will be missed but never forgotten and will stay in our hearts and thoughts forever.

 “Sleep tight our beautiful boy, may you rest in peace.”

 The crash took place at around 10.50pm on the northbound carriageway.

 The driver, 20-year-old Jordan Orrock, sadly died at the scene.

Jordan Orrock (Image: DURHAM POLICE)

 A second passenger, a man also aged 20, sustained serious injuries and was taken hospital for treatment. 

A North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) spokesperson said previously: “We received a call from police on Sunday (April 26) night at 10.53pm to reports of a serious road traffic collision on the A1(M) north near junction 62 at Chester-le-Street.

“We sent six resources to the scene, including a duty officer, hazardous area response team, a doctor and emergency ambulance crews, which began arriving at the scene from 10.59pm onwards.

“We took two male patients to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, one of whom was in a critical condition, for further treatment.”

The road was closed in both directions for several hours while collision investigators worked at the scene.

A spokesperson from Durham Police said: “Officers would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision, or anyone who may have dashcam footage of the vehicle prior to the incident, which happened at around 10.50pm.”

 Anyone with any information should contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit by emailing sciu@durham.police.uk, or call 101 quoting incident number 516 of April 26. 

He will also miss the opening two games of next season after being hit with a suspension

Ospreys wing Daniel Kasende has been banned for four matches after being shown a red card in his side’s United Rugby Championship clash with Cardiff last week.

The 30-year-old was carded in the first half of the Ospreys‘ 24-21 defeat at Cardiff Arms Park after leading with his forearm while in possession and striking opposition fly-half Callum Sheedy in the face. While Kasende was initially shown a yellow card by referee Christopher Allison, this was later updated to a 20-minute red card.

Appearing at a disciplinary hearing earlier this week, the South African back accepted that he had committed an act of foul play warranting a red card.

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An initial six-match suspension was halved due to Kasende’s apology, acceptance of the red card and good conduct throughout the disciplinary process. However, an extra match was then added to his ban due to his previous disciplinary record.

With the Ospreys now out of the URC play-off race, the wing will now miss the final two matches of this season as his side take on Scarlets this weekend before travelling to Leinster seven days later.

He will also miss the first two games of the 2026/27 campaign, which will include pre-season matches.

There were four other yellow cards shown during Friday’s ill-disciplined derby match, with Ospreys’ Dan Edwards and Owen Watkin and Cardiff’s Liam Belcher and Josh McNally all sent to the sin-bin.

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones admitted after the game that was “surprised” Kasende had not been given the same punishment as Belcher, who was shown an early yellow card for a head-on-head collision with Morgan Morris.

“They [match officials] thought his [Kasende] offence was worthy of a red for 20 minutes,” he said. “I’m not adept with the criteria of these things, but I look at the force of the forearm compared to two heads coming together and one looks like it could do more damage than the other.

“I was surprised perhaps they weren’t treated the same, but that’s not for me to comment on.”

A statement from the URC on Friday read: “The disciplinary process related to Daniel Kasende’s red card in the BKT United Rugby Championship Round 16 game against Cardiff Rugby on Friday, April 24 has resulted in a four-game suspension.

“After an act of foul play by player No 14 (Daniel Kasende), referee Christopher Allison showed the player a red card in the 18th minute of the game under Law 9.11 – Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others including leading with the below or forearm.

“In the Player’s responses to the Judicial Officer overseeing the disciplinary process (Rose Alice Murphy), he had accepted that he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a red card. Ms. Murphy found that the incident met the red card threshold, with entry of mid-range warranting six weeks.

“The player received three weeks (50%) mitigation due to his apology, acceptance of the red card and good conduct throughout the disciplinary process, however due to his previous record, a further week was added which results in a four-game suspension.”

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More than 4.2 million people are registered to vote in the Scottish Parliament election in May.

Scotland is gearing up for a major national vote that will determine its political direction for the coming years, with voters set to choose representatives at both local and regional level.

Millions of people across the country are expected to take part in the Scottish Parliament election on Thursday, May 7, marking the biggest democratic event since the 2024 general election. Most postal votes have already been delivered, while in person voting will take place between 7am and 10pm on election day.

All 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament will be elected, shaping the composition of Holyrood and influencing decisions on key areas such as health and education.

Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming elections.

Which elections are taking place in Scotland on May 7?

The Scottish Parliament election will decide who governs across a range of devolved issues. Every MSP seat is up for election, including 73 constituency MSPs and 56 regional MSPs, with seven representatives elected in each region.

Voters are given two ballot papers and cast two separate votes. One vote is used to elect a constituency MSP, while the second is for regional representation.

Constituency MSPs are chosen using a first past the post system, where the candidate with the highest number of votes wins. Regional MSPs are selected through a proportional system, with voters choosing either a political party or an individual candidate. Seats are then allocated using a formula that takes into account both the number of votes received and the number of constituencies already won.

In most cases, the party with the highest number of MSPs goes on to form the Scottish Government, with its leader becoming first minister.

What ID do I need to vote?

Voters do not need to show identification to vote in person in the Scottish Parliament election.

How can I find my polling station?

The deadline to register to vote was midnight on Monday, April 20. Anyone who registered by that date should receive a polling card with details of their local polling station.

Those who have voted previously and have not changed address will already be registered. Polling station locations can also be checked online by entering a postcode here.

What is the difference between the two ballot papers?

At polling stations, voters will receive two ballot papers. The lilac coloured paper is for the constituency vote and lists candidates standing to represent the local area. The candidate with the most votes becomes the constituency MSP.

The peach coloured ballot paper is used for regional voting. Instead of selecting an individual candidate, voters choose a party or a name from a list. This system is designed to balance representation, meaning parties that win fewer constituencies have a greater chance of gaining regional seats.

When will the results be announced?

Unlike some previous elections, ballots will not be counted overnight. Counting will begin on the morning of Friday, May 8, with results expected throughout the afternoon. A full picture of the outcome is likely by early evening.

Who can vote in Scotland?

Anyone aged 16 or over on polling day who is registered to vote and lives in Scotland can take part, provided they are not legally excluded. Eligible voters must be British or Irish citizens, or qualifying foreign nationals with permission to live in the UK.

Ways to vote in Scotland

There are three ways to vote in the election. People can vote in person at polling stations between 7am and 10pm, vote by post, or appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf.

Voting rules and what to expect

Polling stations provide writing materials, although voters can bring their own. Mobile phones can be used for accessibility purposes such as magnification or lighting, but taking photos inside polling stations is strictly prohibited.

Taking selfies or revealing how someone has voted can result in a fine or imprisonment. Photography is allowed outside polling stations.

Other polling station guidance

Children are allowed to accompany voters but cannot mark ballot papers. Assistance dogs are permitted, while other animals may be allowed at the discretion of local authorities.

People who have consumed alcohol can still vote unless their behaviour is disruptive. Staff are available to assist disabled voters, and equipment such as tactile voting devices and large print ballot papers should be provided.