The man also claimed to be five years younger than he actually was.
A former teacher who lied about graduating from Cambridge University has been banned from teaching. A professional conduct panel meeting was held by the Teaching Regulation Agency to investigate allegations against Nicholas Martin.
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A meeting on November 11, 2025, heard allegations that Mr Martin, 43, acted in an “unacceptable professional conduct” while head of sixth form at St Edwards School in Cheltenham. The panel also looked at “certain discrepancies” that appeared in his application for a deputy head post at the school.
The application, made on February 14, 2025, said that Mr Martin was born on December 17, 1987, when he was really born on November 17, 1982. It also claimed that Mr Martin achieved a masters from the University of Cambridge, and that he sat as a magistrate once a month.
Mr Martin qualified as a teacher in 2006 and was employed as a teacher at the Cheltenham school in the same year. He was promoted to head of sixth form in 2024 after applying for the role. He applied for the deputy head position, but was not successful.
After this, the school noted that they had a different birth date for Mr Martin on record, compared to his 2025 application. Mr Martin was questioned about the birth date, and he said that there the 1982 date was “incorrect” and he had asked the school to correct it for a “number of years”.
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Further checks were made by the school against his 2024 application for the head of sixth form position. This showed a date of birth of November 17, 2012.
The report said: “Mr Martin’s responses to the date of birth issue caused greater scrutiny and checks to be made against the information he supplied in both the 2025 and 2024 applications.” The school then asked Mr Martin for a copy of his degree certificate for his masters from Cambridge.
The report said that Mr Martin provided a certificate that he “purported” to be a copy of a degree certificate. The school checked with the University of Cambridge, which confirmed he had not attended the university.
The school also checked with the HM Courts and Tribunal Services if Mr Martin sat as a magistrate, but the organisation confirmed it had “no record” of a Nicholas Martin. A disciplinary hearing was held by the school on March 31, 2025, and Mr Martin admitted that he “acted dishonestly”.
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The report added: “He accepted he had provided a false date of birth, had fabricated a certificate to further his earlier false declaration about his qualifications and had not sat as a magistrate for a number of years.”
After the TRA’s investigation, it found that Mr Martin was in breach of teaching standards and that his actions “fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession”. Mr Martin has been banned from teaching, but the decision could be reviewed from February 5, 2028.
A spokesperson for St Edward’s School said it is “aware” of the TRA’s decision. The spokesperson added: “The individual concerned is no longer employed by the school. Once concerns were identified, the school followed its established procedures and referred the matter to the appropriate authorities.
“We fully supported the process that followed. The welfare and education of our pupils is always our highest priority, and we expect the highest standards of professionalism and integrity from all staff.”
Emergency services were called to reports of a collision on Tuesday afternoon
03:06, 18 Feb 2026Updated 03:07, 18 Feb 2026
The driver of a bus carrying 40 schoolchildren that was involved in a serious crashin Co Armagh has died after the tragic incident.
The update comes hours after emergency services were called to reports of a collision on the Tullyah Road in Belleeks, Co Armagh, shortly before 3:45pm after a private coach carrying schoolchldren from St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook flipped over and was left lying on its side on top of a hedge.
Eyewitnesses said children were seen climbing out of the bus through the windows and the roof to escape the wreckage. No students sustained serious injuries in the horror crash.
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Private coach company Quinn Coaches has now sadly confirmed that the driver of the bus died shortly after the crash took place. A spokesperson for the private bus company said: “We are deeply saddened to confirm that one of our drivers was involved in a road traffic accident whilst transporting school children today. Despite immediate emergency response, our dear colleague sadly passed away.
“Our first thoughts are with his family, friends, and fellow colleagues during this incredibly difficult time. He was a respected and experienced member of our team, and he will be greatly missed.”
They added: “We are relieved to confirm that no children were injured during the incident. The safety and wellbeing of our drivers and passengers is always our highest priority.”
Police remain at the scene with crash scene investigators combing the site to make sense of what happened in the lead up to the crash.
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Dáithí Murray, principal of St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook, confirmed that the children were safe and had now returned home.
In a letter to families, he said: “We appreciate that this will have caused a significant shock to pupils who experienced the incident.”
Mr Murray added that members of the Education Authority’s Critical Incident Response Team will be at the school on Wednesday “to support pupils affected by the incident”.
He encouraged pupils “if they feel well enough” to attend school on Wednesday and that “staff will signpost them to the support services available”.
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Mr Murray added: “The thoughts and prayers of the St Paul’s community are extended to everyone affected by this serious incident today.”
The Education Authority has said it is providing “critical incident management support to the school” following the incident.
“Our critical incident team will be in the school tomorrow (Wednesday) to provide emotional support for pupils as required. Our thoughts go out to all of those impacted by the incident,” a spokesperson said.
A spokesperson added: “The call was received at 15:38 and NIAS dispatched multiple resources to the incident. Currently five ambulances, two advanced paramedics, one officer and an ambulance doctor are at the scene treating patients.”
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Road users are advised of a collision in the Tullyah Road area of Belleeks between Newtownhamilton and Camlough. Please avoid the area and seek alternative routes. An update will be issued in due course.”
The City of London Corporation, the trust which owns the park cafes, said the process was “a fair, open, and independently supported process which considered 30 bids, with the Heath Consultative Committee – representing local groups and stakeholders – involved at every stage.”
New analysis from Savills shows that 23,200 acres of farmland (based on farms over 50 acres) were publicly marketed across the North in 2025, compared with 30,300 acres in 2024 – a 24% decrease.
This contrasts with a 13% fall in supply across England as a whole, reflecting a sharper‑than‑average contraction in the region.
Even so, Savills says the North remained a major contributor to national availability, accounting for 19% of all farmland marketed in England during the year.
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The Savills Farmland Value Survey indicates that prime arable land values in the North of England rose by 3.2% in 2025 to an average of £11,600 per acre.
The survey reported the uplift in average values was a reflection of best in class sales of prime land, highlighting the region’s continued appeal to both farming and non‑farming buyers.
County‑level data shows varied but sustained activity across northern counties.
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In 2025, North Yorkshire remained the largest contributor with 5,512 acres brought to market, followed by Cumbria with 3,927 acres, Cheshire with 2,804 acres, and Lancashire with 2,447 acres.
Further supply came from Northumberland (3,693 acres), East Riding of Yorkshire (2,783 acres), with many other northern counties only recording total acres in the hundreds put to the market.
These figures reflect both the structural diversity of the region’s farming landscape and the differing motivations behind sales, including retirement, succession, operational restructuring and shifting policy dynamics – trends echoed across the UK farmland market.
Will Douglas, Director and head of farm agency for Savills across the North of England, said: “Despite a tightening in supply, the North of England farmland market remained remarkably resilient in 2025.
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“We saw strong competition for well‑located commercial farms and high‑quality arable land, which is reflected in the uplift in values.
“Demand continues to come from a wide range of buyers – from progressive farming families to investors and strategic land buyers seeking long‑term opportunities.
“Looking ahead, confidence across the region remains remarkably positive, and we expect the market to stay active as greater clarity continues to emerge around policy and land‑use priorities.”
Across Great Britain, Savills recorded a 12% fall in publicly marketed farmland year on year, with average farmland values dipping by around 1%, and farmers continuing to represent the largest buyer group at 45%, with most buying to expand.
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Despite short‑term fluctuations, Savills anticipates that farmland values will remain broadly firm before returning to steady growth, driven by long‑term demand for land for food production, environmental markets, renewable energy and development potential.
Andrew Teanby, Director Savills Rural Research said of the national picture: “We expect farmland values to remain broadly firm through the next two years before entering a phase of steady growth as policy clarity improves and profitability prospects stabilise.
“This is based on the finite nature of farmland and growing competition for this resource for food production as well as environmental markets, development, and renewable energy.”
Russian athletes set to compete under own flag at Paralympics after a decade-long absence
Russian athletes will compete under their own flag at the Paralympics for the first time in more than a decade, and the country’s national anthem will be played for any gold medalists.
Tuesday’s announcement stands as another indicator that Russia and its national identity will be fully restored in Olympic circles well ahead of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
In a statement, the International Paralympic committee said Russia’s National Paralympic Committee had been awarded six slots for the upcoming Milan Cortina Paralympic Games.
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It will mark the first time a Russian flag has been flown at the Paralympics since the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia. The country’s athletes were initially banned because of a state-sponsored doping program, and the sanctions against Russia have continued since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Arpan Rai18 February 2026 06:22
In photos: Russian and Ukrainian delegations leave hotel after tense peace talks
Russia’s top negotiator Vladimir Medinsky leaves the Intercontinental hotel as a new round of talks between Russian, Ukrainian and US negotiators aimed at finding a solution to four years of fighting in Ukraine, takes place in Geneva (AFP via Getty Images)
Delegations participating in trilateral Ukraine peace talks depart the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva (Getty Images)
Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov (R) leaves the Intercontinental hotel as a new round of talks between Russian, Ukrainian and US negotiators aimed at finding a solution to four years of fighting in Ukraine, takes place in Geneva (AFP via Getty Images)
Officials leave after trilateral Ukraine peace talks held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva (Getty Images)
Arpan Rai18 February 2026 05:55
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Trump exerting ‘unfair’ pressure on Ukraine, says Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky said US president Donald Trump was exerting pressure on Ukraine to reach a ceasefire resolution, and not Russia.
Speaking to Axios, Zelensky said it was “not fair” that the US president kept publicly calling on Ukraine and not Russia to make concessions in the ongoing negotiations for a peace plan.
“I hope it is just his tactics and not the decision,” Zelensky said in an interview conducted as Russian, Ukrainian and US negotiators held talks in Geneva.
Zelensky added that any plan requiring Ukraine to give up territory that Russia had not captured in the eastern Donbas region would be rejected by Ukrainians if put to a referendum.
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On Monday, Trump issued a call for Ukraine to end the war, claiming it was up to the war-hit nation to reach a conclusion.
“Ukraine better come to the table fast. That’s all I’m telling you,” Trump said on Air Force One.
Arpan Rai18 February 2026 05:45
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Russia not using full strike capacity to avoid upsetting Trump, says think tank
Russian forces have been carrying out major strikes in recent months before and after the US-brokered peace talks but are still not utilising its full capacity, a US-based think tank has said.
They are likely refraining from fully maximising Russia’s strike capabilities in order to avoid upsetting US president Donald Trump, the Institute for the Study of War said.
“Russian forces have consistently launched large strike packages of roughly 400 to 700 drones and missiles in the days right before and after major negotiations in recent months, such as the August 2025 US-Russia Alaska summit, the November 2025 US-Ukraine talks in Geneva, the November 2025 US-Russian talks in Moscow, US-Ukrainian-European and US-Russian talks in December 2025, and two rounds of US-Ukrainian-Russian talks in Abu Dhabi in late January and early February 2026,” it noted.
ISW added that Russia may be “deliberately curtailing the size of these strike packages to maintain the facade that the Kremlin is interested in meaningful negotiations and to avoid Trump’s ire”.
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Soldiers patrol an area around an office for recruitment for contract service in the Russian armed forces in St Petersburg, Russia (AP)
Arpan Rai18 February 2026 05:25
How big is Ukraine’s corruption problem? The $100 million energy scheme scandal explained
German Galushchenko, who led the department from 2021 until 2025, was detained by border guards on Monday as he tried to leave the country on a train, officials said.
Investigators said the charges were related to an alleged scheme involving offshore companies benefiting his relatives. Galushchenko – also known as Herman Halushchenko – has denied wrongdoing.
US-brokered peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have resumed this week, as the fourth anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s invasion fast approaches.
There has been little progress in the talks to date, with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky recently sharing his frustration that his country is “too often” asked to make concessions.
Kyiv, however, may well be emboldened by its recent territorial gains. Advancing some 201 sq km between Wednesday and Sunday, Ukraine’s forces have effectively cancelled out Russia’s gains for the entire month of December, according to an analysis of data from the US-based monitor, the Institute for the Study of War.
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Arpan Rai18 February 2026 04:43
Germany turns to Ukraine’s combat-tested troops to learn drone warfare
German Armed Forces have said they will seek battle-hardened Ukrainian soldiers to train their troops in drone operations and defensive tactics.
A spokesperson for the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, confirmed that an agreement has been signed last week between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and German defence minister Boris Pistorius to send Ukraine troops to German military schools, reported Der Spiegel.
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German officials are trusting Ukraine’s hard-earned experience in drone warfare, counter-drone tactics, and rapid deployment of modern command technologies into frontline units.
The Ukrainian troops are expected to travel to Germany soon and will focus on infantry training.
“No one in Nato currently has more war experience than Ukraine, and we must take advantage of that,” an unnamed German officer told Der Spiegel.
Details on the timing and duration of the training were not immediately clear.
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German officials also believe their troops could learn from Ukraine’s experience with modern command-and-control systems.
“In a very short time, [Ukraine’s] armed forces developed relatively simple systems for planning combat operations and managing their own units, most of which can be operated via apps on standard mobile phones,” Der Spiegel wrote.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky and German defence minister Boris Pistorius greet German and Ukrainian soldiers during their visit to a military training area in the German state of Western Pomerania (AP)
Arpan Rai18 February 2026 04:11
Watch: Russian strikes in Ukraine continue as talks begin in Geneva, says Zelensky
Russian strikes in Ukraine continue as talks begin in Geneva, says Zelensky
Arpan Rai18 February 2026 04:01
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Peace talks on Ukraine war settlement were tense but will continue
The US-mediated talks in Geneva with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators were “tense” but are set to continue on Wednesday, Russian news agencies quoted a source as saying yesterday.
“(The talks) were very tense,” the source told the agencies. “They lasted six hours. They agreed to continue tomorrow.”
The source said the talks took place in a combination of different bilateral and trilateral formats.
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Arpan Rai18 February 2026 03:48
Zelensky says 2,000 Ukrainian children rescued from Russia
Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine has managed to bring back 2,000 children from Russian-controlled territory as part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative.
“Today we have an important result – 2,000 Ukrainian children who were successfully returned home from Russian control as part of the Bring Kids Back UA initiative,” Zelensky said.
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The Ukrainian president thanked government officials, civil society groups and international partners for their role in securing each child’s return, but added that the effort is far from over.
“We still have a long and difficult road ahead of us. Thousands of Ukrainian children still remain hostages of Russia, becoming victims of its crimes every day,” he said.
A man has died in a multi-vehicle collision with another man suffering life-threatening injuries as a lorry driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving
A man in his 20s has died following a multi-vehicle crash on a busy UK road with a lorry driver arrested for dangerous driving.
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The crash, involving a lorry, grey Land Rover Defender, black Kia Ceed, blue Volkswagen Sharan and a Volkswagen Transporter, took place on the A46 in Leicestershire on Tuesday evening, February 17.
The driver of the Land Rover – a man in his 20s – was pronounced dead at the scene after the collision occurred before 6pm on the south-west bound carriageway – towards the M1 – just before the Beaumont Leys/Anstey junction.
A man in his 30s, who was a passenger in the Sharan, was taken to hospital and is continuing to receive treatment for life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the lorry – a 53-year-old man – has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in custody.
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The north-east bound carriageway has reopened, but the south-west bound carriageway is expected to remain closed for most of Wednesday to allow for repairs.
Detective Sergeant Jack Cornick, from Leicestershire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU), said: “Our investigation to establish what happened is continuing and I’d like to speak to anyone who can help.
“I’m keen to speak to anyone who was travelling on either carriageway at the time and in particular, anyone with a dashcam. I’d also ask for anyone who witnessed the collision or who saw any of the vehicles involved beforehand to get in touch.
“Any information or footage you’re able to provide could assist with our ongoing enquiries.”
Kai Rooney could make the bench again when Man Utd’s U18s take on Oxford in the FA Youth Cup tonight.
06:00, 18 Feb 2026
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Chants of “Rooooney, Roooney, Roooney,” returned to Old Trafford in December. Kai Rooney made his competitive debut at Old Trafford, and his father proudly watched from the stands.
It was a full-circle moment as Wayne Rooney’s son played at the venue where he rose to become one of the world’s best players. The 40-year-old scored 253 goals for Manchester United, won five Premier League titles and the Champions League to cement himself in the club’s history books.
Kai Rooney will enjoy a brilliant career if he can achieve a fraction of what his father did. There could be added pressure in the future because of the name on his shirt, but right now, he is just a 16-year-old who is learning each week in the academy at Carrington.
Wayne Rooney tried to avoid attention when he arrived at Old Trafford to watch his son in the FA Youth Cup against Derby, but a hood did not succeed in disguising his identity from a few excited supporters outside the ground, who stopped him for photographs as he arrived.
Kai will naturally attract similar attention, but his father and mother have made a deliberate effort to protect him from any noise. They only wanted him to play football if he wished to.
His parents have done a good job of keeping him grounded. Kai Rooney has taken time to pose for photos with young fans, and he recently used shin pads gifted to him by a supporter during an academy game.
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The youngster first had a ball at his feet at four years old, and he was picked up by United’s academy as a boy. Kai supports Everton, like his father, but he has admitted a “love” for United.
For a few years, Kai Rooney has been living like a professional with a view to achieving his dream of reaching United’s first-team. That has meant extra training sessions outside of Carrington and getting his diet right: pasta, chicken, salmon, rice, and oatmeal with honey and protein powder in the morning of a game.
Kai Rooney has attended Manchester Grammar School. He previously described himself as “mainly a striker who scores goals”, but coaches have recently switched him to the right wing.
In 2023, Kai Rooney was asked if his dad gives him advice and said: “It’s a lot about scoring goals because he was pretty good at scoring goals. So it’s mainly tips about that. He is preparing me to get into professional football with the right mentality. He’s helping me a lot.
“He watched the last game and he’s been looking at the fixtures. He says he’s pleased with them all. My dreams are to win the Premier League, Champions League and the World Cup.”
Speaking about his hopes for the future, he said: “Hopefully I will be playing in the Premier League for United, that’s where I see myself, but I’ve got to make it happen with the hard work.
“My dad helped me through some of the hard times and taught me a lot about the game. Even just being in the car listening to him as a manager talking to all the players, that has helped.”
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Kai Rooney is left-footed and drifts in from the right wing after his position switch, and he’s been able to craft his finishing technique under the guidance of one of the best strikers the game has ever seen.
His father has spoken in a handful of interviews about the importance of Kai enjoying playing the sport, but the youngster is slowly approaching the age when football becomes professional.
The earliest age an academy player can sign a professional deal is 17. Kai Rooney recently called out a report that suggested he’d already been offered a pro deal worth £50,000 per year after a scholarship.
Kai Rooney made headlines when he played at Old Trafford in the Youth Cup. The youngster has only made three appearances in the league for the Under-18s this season, but he was given a cameo from off the bench.
He could make the bench again when the U18s play Oxford at the Kassam Stadium in the Youth Cup tonight, but that is not guaranteed, given the strength in Darren Fletcher’s squad.
Fletcher can call upon players who have plenty of Under-21 football experience in the competition, so Kai Rooney did well to make his debut in the Youth Cup just a month after turning 16.
If Kai Rooney isn’t involved much in the Youth Cup for the remainder of this season, the silver lining is that he will still be eligible for the competition for another two campaigns.
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The youngster started in the Under-16 Manchester derby last weekend. Michael Carrick was there to watch his son, Jayce, play in the same game, and it’s heartwarming to see the two players on the same team.
If the U18s beat Oxford in the fifth round of the Youth Cup, they will play either Sunderland or Brighton at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals. If Kai Rooney is involved in that squad, provided the U18s progress, it’s a safe bet there will be further chants of “Rooooney, Roooney, Roooney,” from the stands.
Who knows? He could wear his father’s famous No.10 shirt for United in the Premier League one day.
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Ayaan’s in Astley Bridge is no stranger to awards, winning best in Bolton at the Asian Restaurant Awards back in September.
Owners were again honoured at the Fourth Nation’s Curry Awards in 2026, being crowned the Pakistani Restaurant of the Year.
Ayaan’s at the Asian Restaurant Awards (Image: Mohammed Jabir)
Mohammed Jabir started the restaurant in 2021 with his business partner, Ihsan Ullah, and since then has gone from strength to strength.
Mohammed said: “It’s a great honour to receive this award and we believe that we hold this title because we’re the best in Bolton.”
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The pair have even taken their success beyond the borough – opening a second branch in Bradford.
Mohammed said: “After the success of this restaurant, we have gone further and opened a second branch in Bradford with space for over 100 diners.
“For the month of Ramadan we will also be offering a 15 per cent discount on all of our dishes for our loyal customers.
“May we long continue to keep receiving such awards.”
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The platters on offer (Image: Mohammed Jabir)
Presented by Oceanic Awards, the Nation’s Curry Awards recognise and celebrate the talents and hard work of individuals and businesses within the UK’s curry industry.
The awards celebrate the country’s rich and diverse curry culture and encourage the continued growth and evolution of the industry.
The winners were announced at an elegant ceremony which took place a the Cedar Court Huddersfield Hotel in Huddersfield.
Inside the eatery (Image: Mohammed Jabir)
Yasmin Mahmood, CEO of Oceanic Awards said: “We’re proud to once again celebrate the finest in the UK’s curry scene, recognising the creativity, innovation, and exceptional service that have become synonymous with this beloved cuisine.
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“The UK’s curry industry is a vital part of our culture, and these awards recognised the exceptional talents of the individuals and businesses that make it so special.
“We’d like to congratulate all of our winners on their incredible accomplishments.”
There seems to be a shift within PlayStation (Sony)
GameCentral recaps the current state of PlayStation, following its last showcase, with every newly announced and rumoured PS5 game in the works.
Sony is in a weird place at the moment. Its big live service game ambitions have clearly fallen apart, with multiple cancelled projects resulting in too few exclusives for the PlayStation 5 over the last six years. And yet the console has been selling very well, thanks in part to Xbox no longer offering any real competition.
We also appear to be witnessing something of a resurgence for the PlayStation brand, since there are two traditional single-player exclusives launching this year and the latest State of Play announced a handful more exclsuvies. One of them even released right after the showcase.
That said, most of the showcase was dominated by third party releases, with even exclusives like Kena: Scars Of Kosmora and Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls coming from other studios. A lot of Sony’s own developers, meanwhile, had nothing to show for themselves.
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If you’ve fallen behind on Sony’s future PlayStation 5 plans, we’ve run through all of the internal PlayStation studios to recap what exactly they’re making, what they’re rumoured to be making, and/or if there’s any info about their next games at all.
Bend Studio
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Days Gone developer Bend Studio was previously working on one of Sony’s live service game projects, but it was cancelled before anything was shown. As such, the studio has gone the entire PlayStation 5’s lifecycle so far without releasing anything new (not counting the Days Gone remaster).
The studio was also beset by layoffs last June, with an X post only saying it was moving on to its ‘next project.’ What that project is remains a mystery and is likely very, very early in development.
A now deleted job listing for a new creative director (via MP1st) mentioned that candidates would ideally have ‘experience with multiplayer game development and design,’ so Sony may have moved it onto a different live service project. At the very least, don’t expect a traditional Days Gone sequel.
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Bluepoint Games
Just like Bend, Bluepoint Games was working on a live service game (specifically a God Of War one), but it was canned last year. Unlike Bend, though, it at least got a Demon’s Souls remake out as a PlayStation 5 launch title, but that’s been it so far.
Bluepoint previously said its next game would be entirely original and not another remake or remaster (which is what it’s best known for), but that was in 2021 and those plans may very well have changed.
A job listing from last October did give away that Bluepoint is working on some kind of third person action game and given Sony seems to be walking back its live service ambitions, it’ll hopefully be a traditional single-player experience.
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Bungie
Bungie isn’t officially part of PlayStation Studios, with Sony assuring its staff that it would retain independence following the acquisition, but it may as well be considering all the layoffs and Sony’s tightening grip.
Just last November, Sony admitted it spent far too much on buying Bungie and has yet to reap any real benefits from it. This is one of the big reasons why the studio is hyping up its Marathon live service extraction shooter, which launches as a multiplatform title on March 5. Bungie needs something to justify its continued existence under Sony.
It is rumoured some early work is being done on Destiny 3, but if Marathon underperforms, we fear that could be the final nail in Bungie’s coffin. The game isn’t free-to-play, but Bungie is running a free preview session from February 26 and all through that following weekend, which aims to generate early interest in the game.
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Dark Outlaw Games
Hopefully, this one isn’t shut down before it gets to release anything (Sony)
In 2021, Call Of Duty veterans Dave Anthony and Jason Blundell founded Deviation Games and, though not part of PlayStation Studios, partnered with Sony on a new PlayStation exclusive triple-A game.
The studio shuttered in 2024 without even properly announcing its project, but Blundell has since officially joined Sony to lead the newly formed Dark Outlaw Games.
It too is working on a wholly original triple-A game, but hopefully history doesn’t keep repeating itself and Dark Outlaw actually manages to release a game.
Firesprite
Firesprite was seemingly bought by Sony for its VR experience, but given how rapidly Sony’s interest in VR gaming has dwindled since then, you have to assume the studio doesn’t have a new VR project in the works after Horizon Call Of The Mountain.
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The rumoured Twisted Metal reboot has long been cancelled (even with the TV show proving successful), but it sounds like Firesprite is still working on the new story driven horror game mentioned in job listings from 2022.
You have to assume this is the same project as the ‘dark, story-driven next generation narrative adventure’ mentioned in a now deleted job listing last year (via PlayStation Universe). ‘Next generation,’ though, implies this is aiming for a PlayStation 6 release and that console faces a potential delay to 2029.
Guerrilla Games
Guerrilla Games is one of the few PlayStation studios to have tangible plans, although it’s currently prioritising yet another live service multiplayer game, in Horizon Hunters Gathering.
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Whether this one will have any staying power remains to be seen, but the studio has assured fans that it’ll still work on single-player games too. In fact, a third Horizon game was basically confirmed in 2023 and is likely already in active development.
Unfortunately, most of the team is reportedly working on Hunters Gathering, so progress must be going slow. So, even with a potential console delay, Horizon 3 will probably be pushed back to become a PlayStation 6 title.
Haven Studios
Even with Sony running back a lot of its live service plans, Haven Studios is still trucking along with its multiplayer shooter Fairgame$. It’s easy to be sceptical about it, though, when it’s seen no real updates since its 2023 teaser reveal, which didn’t even feature any gameplay.
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Early impressions were reportedly positive, but the same was said for Highguard and look how that ultimately turned out. Also, six months ago, Haven lost game director Daniel Drapeau to Warner Bros. Montréal, which hardly bodes well for Fairgame$.
Last we heard, the game was pushed into 2026 but if it was due this year, you’d think Sony would have mentioned it during the last State of Play. Instead, Sony’s main live service project for the year is the aforementioned Marathon reboot, so perhaps Fairgame$ has been hit with another delay or even cancellation.
Housemarque
It’s been nearly five years since Returnal and in that time, Housemarque has been working on a spiritual successor in Saros, easily our most anticipated PlayStation 5 game of the year.
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Thankfully, Housemarque hasn’t been waylaid by Sony’s live service plans and was able to focus all its energy on Saros, which remains a single-player roguelike blending third person shooting and bullet hell action.
It launches on April 30 and although there’s no sign of a PC release, we imagine one will follow eventually.
Insomniac Games
While Insomniac’s Wolverine game was announced all the way back in 2021, the studio has managed to maintain a consistent release schedule, since Wolverine will arrive only three years after Spider-Man 2. That makes it Insomniac’s fourth PlayStation 5 title after Spider-Man: Miles Morales (and the remaster of the original) and 2021’s Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.
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You can expect more updates on Wolverine this year, although the real question is whether it will still meet its autumn release window when GTA 6 is coming out around the same time. Don’t be surprised if Sony winds up pushing it back.
A lot of Insomniac’s post-Wolverine plans leaked thanks to the 2023 hacking incident, which mentioned multiple Marvel games and another Ratchet & Clank. Plans have no doubt changed as a result, although the studio remains committed to further Marvel collaborations.
Spider-Man 3 is obviously one of them, but whether those leaked Venom and X-Men games are still planned is anyone’s guess.
Media Molecule
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Game creation tool Dreams remains active, but active support ended in 2023, with Media Molecule saying it had moved onto a new project, without ever porting Dreams to the PlayStation 5.
This means the studio hasn’t released anything for current hardware and unfortunately, there remains no updates or even rumours on what its next project could be.
It’s unlikely the studio will return to LittleBigPlanet, considering the series hasn’t had a proper sequel since 2014’s LittleBigPlanet 3 and has only continued through spin-offs like Sackboy: A Big Adventure. None of which Media Molecule was involved with.
The safest assumption, based on its previous work, is that anything Media Molecule releases next will involve player-generated content of some kind, but who knows what Sony’s intentions with the studio are nowadays.
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Naughty Dog
After what felt like endless Last Of Us re-releases, Naughty Dog has an entirely new game in the works, with Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Only vaguely described as an action adventure game, rumours point to it having an Elden Ring inspired open world.
There seemed to be signs this would be one of Sony’s big 2026 releases, but reliable insiders have said this won’t be the case. Between Saros and Wolverine, Sony can arguably afford to hold Intergalactic back for a 2027 release.
Development doesn’t sound like it’s been running smoothly, though, since Bloomberg reported that the project has missed multiple deadlines, prompting a crunch period just to get an internal demo ready.
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Naughty Dog is supposed to have at least one other game in the pipeline, with a rumour alleging it’s from the director of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, but the studio is unlikely to share any details on that until after Intergalactic comes out.
Polyphony Digital
Polyphony is no doubt working on a Gran Turismo 8, with studio CEO and series producer Kazunori Yamauchi teasing it in 2023, but there remains no sign of it.
Sony may not feel any pressure to push a sequel out until Gran Turismo 7’s microtransactions stop being profitable, but the company has given no indication of how much money it’s still making from those.
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If anything, Gran Turismo 7, which launched in 2022, is perhaps one of Sony’s few live service successes, since it’s clearly still popular enough to be getting new cars and events as recently as last month.
San Diego Studio
There’s not much to say about San Diego Studio, since all it really does nowadays is make annual MLB The Show games for baseball fans.
It wasn’t mentioned in the last State of Play, but this year’s entry – MLB The Show 26 – is launching on March 17 and is available for pre-order. It’s also a rare example of a PlayStation franchise going multiplatform, with it following last year’s example and launching for Xbox and Nintendo Switch… but not Switch 2.
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Santa Monica Studio
After years of silence, Santa Monica Studio dropped quite the bomb during the last State of Play. Not only did it shadow drop a God Of War prequel, in the form of Sons Of Sparta, but it’s remaking all three of the original Greek era games – or at least someone is, it’s not really clear.
While Sons Of Sparta was developed by Mega Cat Studios (Santa Monica just wrote the script), it’s not clear how involved they are with the remake trilogy. Whether they’re doing it all themselves, or co-operating with another studio, it seems to suggest that an entirely new God Of War sequel won’t now see the light of day until the 2030s.
However, rumours point to another Santa Monica game that’s being helmed by God Of War director Cory Barlog; one that could be announced later this year and launch in 2027. Apparently, it’s not a new IP but it ‘might feel like one,’ which doesn’t really narrow down what it could be… unless it’s resurrecting 2001 racing game Kinetica, the first thing Santa Monica ever released.
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Sucker Punch Productions
Sucker Punch only launched Ghost Of Yōtei last year and development hasn’t actually ended yet, since it’s currently planning to add co-op multiplayer to the game on March 10.
Since the studio focuses on only one game at a time, its next project likely won’t launch for another five years and the PlayStation 6 should be out by then. Sucker Punch also doesn’t seem to have committed itself to a third samurai game yet, but Sony higher-ups may push for it since both Ghost Of Yōtei and Ghost Of Tsushima were financial hits.
If not, it’s more likely Sucker Punch will pursue an original IP rather than revisit either of its Sly Cooper or inFamous franchises, having shown no interest in reviving them since the PlayStation 3 era.
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Team Asobi
Considering Team Asobi is the only real remnant of Japan Studio left, it’d be nice to see it crank out a wholly original and inventive game akin to Japan Studio’s past work.
The success of Astro Bot, though, means it’s more likely Sony is pushing for more games starring the robotic mascot, although that’s not necessarily a bad thing as Sony is incentivised to pursue the family market again.
Astro Bot as a character lends himself well to myriad genres geared towards families, but hopefully Sony doesn’t overuse him and make a bunch of homogenous Astro Bot spin-offs. But at the moment, Team Asobi has given no real hints on what it’s working on.
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teamLFG
Between this, Bungie, and Haven, Sony has three dedicated live service game teams (Sony)
teamLFG was only formed last year, having been spun out of Bungie and consisting of developers who’ve worked on successful ongoing games like League Of Legends and Fortnite.
It’s apparent that Sony wants this studio to pump out a new live service hit, with its first project believed to have started under Bungie before being moved over to them. It’s explicitly described as a multiplayer game inspired by ‘fighting games, platformers, MOBAs, life sims, and frog type games.’ And no, we still don’t know what frog type games are.
Perhaps Sony has recognised that it’s better to have dedicated studios for live service games, rather than forcing ones that mostly did single-player games to pivot, but it’s still far too early to tell if teamLFG will find any success with its work. Especially since there’s been no word from the studio since its formation.
Pope Leo XIV has turned down Donald Trump’s invitation to join his so-called “Board of Peace”, a senior Vatican official said.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, told reporters on Tuesday that the Pope had a number of concerns about the initiative and that he “will not participate” as a result.
“For us, there are… some critical issues that should be resolved,” he said. “One concern is that at the international level it should above all be the UN that manages these crisis situations. This is one of the points on which we have insisted.”
Mr Trump has invited a number of world leaders to join the board, originally conceived as a body to supervise the ceasefire in Gaza and coordinate the Strip’s reconstruction following the conflict between Hamas and Israel.
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Its scope has since been expanded, with Mr Trump saying it would be well-placed to address a range of global disputes. Some see it as an effort by the US president to establish and alternative multilateral forum to the United Nations, which he has repeatedly criticised as not being fit for purpose.
It was Cardinal Parolin who earlier confirmed that the Pope had been invited to join the board by Mr Trump. He said in January that “the Pope has received the invitation, and we are considering what to do; we are looking into it.”
He said at the time that the invitation to join the board “requires some time to answer” and that the request “will not be to participate financially” because “we are not in a position to do so”.
Mr Trump claims the Board of Peace has already committed more than $5bn (£3.67bn) to help rebuild Gaza.
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But there have been concerns over the board’s line-up, with European governments expressing surprise that Mr Trump had invited Russia’s Vladimir Putin, who has waged war on Ukraine since February 2022.
Arab states have also expressed anger at the inclusion of Benjamin Netanyahu, citing the Gaza war that has resulted in the deaths of 72,000 Palestinians.
And there have been concerns about the prominent role of former UK prime minister Tony Blair – one of the first names announced by Mr Trump in connection to the initiative. Mr Blair is expected to sit on the board’s founding executive despite longstanding criticism over Britain’s involvement in the Iraq war.
Despite the controversy, dozens of countries – including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Hungary, and the United Arab Emirates – have committed to joining the board.
Roadworks are due to take place on Radcliffe Road, Darcy Lever from today, Tuesday (February 17) until Thursday (February 19) this week.
The roadworks will be in place as United Utilities undertake essential repair works at the junction of Radcliffe Road and Long Lane, Darcy Lever.
The works involve excavating both the footpath and sections of the road in order to repair a water main leak.
The location of the roadworks within Darcy Lever (Image: Google Maps)
Cllr David Meehan said: “I reported an issue here in early February and now it has been assessed by United Utilities.
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“Please allow extra time for your journeys and take care when travelling through the area.
“United Utilities are going to do their best to minimise disruptions.
“Thank you for your patience while these necessary repairs are completed.
A set of temporary traffic lights will be in place to make sure traffic can continue to flow smoothly despite the works, but it is expected that there will be no diversions and bus routes will remain as normal.
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The junction between Long Lane and Radcliffe Road where the roadworks are taking place (Image: Google Maps)
Both sections of the road will need to be excavated as well as the footpath.
The issue came to the attention of United Utilities after Cllr Meehan reported the leak to the council.
The council looked into the issue and decided it would be within the jurisdiction of United Utilities.
The works are considered to be ‘essential’ by United Utilities.
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Cllr Meehan said: “It wasn’t gushing or anything, it was just a sort of wet road.”
The other end of Radcliffe Road was the site of roadworks in January, where emergency works had to be undertaken due to a collapsed culvert.
The work order has been issued for the dates of February 17 to February 19.
This, alongside works on Church Street, left residents concerned that two of the entrance roads into the small town were blocked.
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These works ended up being completed ahead of schedule, however.
