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Martin Lewis highlights Universal Credit ‘exception’ for savers

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Cambridgeshire Live

The Money Saving Expert highlighted the government’s Help to Save scheme and regular saver accounts offering up to 7.1% interest during his BBC podcast

Martin Lewis has discussed a DWP scheme that savers might wish to consider. The consumer expert offered several tips on building savings during an episode of his BBC podcast.

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He dedicated a significant portion of the programme to examining mortgage overpayments and whether this strategy is more advantageous than placing money into savings accounts.

One listener asked about what to do with a lump sum of £90,000 that they were about to receive. They were paying a relatively high mortgage rate of 5.6 per cent and asked for advice on how to use the money.

Mr Lewis said his general principle is that if your mortgage rate surpasses the highest after-tax savings rate available, it may be more sensible to overpay your mortgage rather than deposit cash into savings. Responding to the question, Mr Lewis initially stated that “you cannot earn 5.6 percent in savings”.

He pointed out certain savings vehicles where this rate can be exceeded. He mentioned briefly: “With the exception of a Help to Save if you’re on Universal Credit or a regular saver where you can put a couple of hundred quid a month in.”

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The Help to Save scheme is worth considering if you’re receiving Universal Credit, as it offers a 50 per cent bonus on deposits. Through the scheme, you receive a 50p bonus for every £1 you deposit into the account over a four-year period, reports the Mirror.

You can contribute between £1 and £50 each month, meaning you can save up to £2,400 over four years, earning up to £1,200 in bonuses. Savers receive their bonuses across two stages, with the first payout arriving after the initial two years, calculated on the highest balance achieved during that period.

The second bonus comes at the conclusion of year four, determined by the highest balance reached in years three and four. When it comes to regular saver accounts, you can get rates of over 7 per cent, but there are restrictions on monthly deposits.

Take Nationwide Building Society’s Flex Regular Saver, for instance, which offers 6.5 per cent but caps monthly contributions at £200. By depositing the maximum amount, savers could pocket £84.50 annually in interest.

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Currently, Zopa leads the market with its Regular Saver offering 7.1 per cent, allowing customers to stash away up to £300 monthly. Financial experts are forecasting further cuts to the Bank of England’s base rate this year.

The rate presently stands at 3.75 per cent. The central bank opted to maintain this level in its most recent announcement.

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Edinburgh bus ‘enveloped in flames’ as firefighters tackle huge city centre blaze

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Daily Record

It is unclear if anyone has been injured as a result of the blaze.

A bus has burst into flames on a busy city centre street in Edinburgh. The huge blaze broke out on South Clerk Street in the capital city at around 7.24pm on Monday February 9.

Firefighters are currently at the scene but it is unclear how the fire started, reports Edinburgh Live. There were no casualties reported.

An image from the scene shows smoke billowing into air with flames covering the back of the vehicle.

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Another picture shows the flames with traffic building up behind the incident. A bystander told our sister title: “I had hopped in the Sainsbury’s and when I left I noticed there were people standing in the street.

“The back right corner of it was on fire and it smelled like burning rubber in the street. I thought, ‘maybe I should get out of here really fast’. When I walked down the street a bit farther and I turned around the whole bus was now enveloped in flames.”

Another eyewitness said residents were ‘running to safety’ from the city centre blaze.

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They said: “I was walking home when I noticed a huge traffic queue and I could smell smoke. When I got closer I could see a bus was on fire and people were running from the scene to get to safety.

“Soon the whole road was shut down as the fire service arrived. There was a lot of smoke and I could smell burning rubber.”

A number of bus lines were diverted from South Clerk Street amid major disruption in the city centre. Lothian Buses has alerted travelers to diversions for the 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 29, 30, 31, 33, 37, and 47 routes.

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A spokesperson from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We received a call at 7.24pm to a bus on fire on South Clerk Street. We are currently in attendance and have sent two appliances. It is not known whether there are any casualties at this time.”

They later added: “Our crews received the stop message around 8.25pm and the last appliance left the scene at 8.48pm. There were no casualties.”

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Survivors of fire at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court await resettlement plans

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Survivors of fire at Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court await resettlement plans

HONG KONG (AP) — The deadliest fire in Hong Kong in decades last year left thousands of residents without some of their friends, family or the place they called home. More than two months later, the occupants of the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex are not only waiting for answers about what happened, but longing for a new place.

Authorities are yet to unveil plans for long-term resettlement after surveying the residents’ preferences. The Lunar New Year on Feb. 17, meanwhile, is stirring recent memories of celebrating the festival in what is now a largely burnt complex.

The massive blaze that engulfed seven apartment buildings killed 168 people on Nov. 26, 2025, shattering a close-knit community. Authorities blamed substandard scaffolding netting and foam boards from the buildings maintenance project for rapidly spreading the fire. Although some arrests were made, an independent committee is still investigating the cause.

The Associated Press talked to four families who lived in the complex or lost their loved ones there. Here’s what they said:

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No place to call home

When flames devoured towers of the Wang Fuk Court complex, Pearl Chow, 87, fled her apartment with essential documents, like her title deed. Her grandson, Dorz Cheung, 33, rushed from his office to find her safe nearby, but the fire was raging.

That night, Chow went to a friend’s home and didn’t sleep, while Cheung watched the flames for hours, crying while clutching his friend. They both miss old photos lost in their home in Tai Po, a suburban district in the city’s north.

Now they are separated into two temporary housing units on separate floors, each around 100 square feet (9.2 square meters). Chow was satisfied, but Cheung couldn’t call it home.

“Only permanent residence is called home. That’s the root,” he said.

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Chow still regularly returns to Tai Po for church and grocery shopping, despite the hourlong journey. They want to be resettled in Tai Po, where they lived for decades, in a unit about the same size as their old apartment.

“I am an elderly person. When they finish building, I may have gone to my heavenly home,” she said with a laugh.

Data from the 2021 population census showed over one-third of some 4,600 residents in the complex were aged 65 or above.

While the government proposed measures to combat bid-rigging in building maintenance and enhance fire safety in January, Cheung feels their resettlement hasn’t been addressed. He said he lost his sense of security with the authorities after the blaze.

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“We can only wait, be tossed around like a ball,” he said.

A temporary refuge

Kit Chan, 74, lived in her 460-square-foot (43-square-meter) apartment for over 40 years and raised her children with her husband in the complex, where neighbors helped look after each other’s children.

Chan had planned to spend the rest of her life there, but the blaze forced the couple into a studio unit at a youth hostel half the size of their apartment. Weeks ago, they heard some fire victims were asked to move out, and that distressed her.

“It’s like being unable to get by in my final years,” she said.

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She hasn’t been asked to leave, but is uncertain how long they can stay.

Chan initially wanted to be resettled in a new home built on the fire site, but the government estimates rebuilding will take about a decade — too long for her to wait. She can compromise on a similar-sized apartment in another district with good transport.

Her husband, Keung Mak, 78, hopes they can return to their old home just to have a look. It has memories like their family and wedding photos. “Many people hope they can at least see how badly it was burned,” Mak said.

Weighing time against place

During past Lunar New Year celebrations, Isaac Tam’s family used to visit neighbors on their floor with gifts. Now, the familiar faces he has known for years are scattered across the city.

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The loss of their two apartments in the fire was heartbreaking. His parents cried, and his 92-year-old grandfather grew thinner. But Tam, 23, said at least all his family members were alive.

Last weekend, they were preparing to move into temporary homes, smaller than their old apartments and farther from the city center. They shelled out money to renovate them.

While he said the government’s handling is not as bad as some say, he still worries about his grandfather adjusting to a new district with temporary housing. Back in Tai Po, the grandfather used to have a morning dim sum routine with his friends.

As they await the government’s resettlement plans, they have been weighing apartments in another district that will be ready sooner than units in Tai Po, which he prefers because he grew up there.

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Time is their priority, given the grandfather’s age, Tam said.

“I also fear he can’t wait until we secure an apartment of about 400 square feet (about 37 square meters),” he said, regardless of the district.

Grieving for mother and hanging on to memories

Phyllis Lo’s mother called her after seeing thick smoke outside her door when the blaze started. On the call, knowing she might not survive, her 74-year-old mother asked Lo, 48, and her brother to live well. Lo immediately rushed to her childhood home and called again minutes later. No one answered. The next morning, police told her they found her mother’s body.

After learning that a mix of issues including substandard materials were used in the building maintenance project and failed fire alarms, Lo wondered if the tragedy could have been avoided if each government department had done a better job. While she couldn’t determine who should bear responsibility, she blamed herself for not monitoring the project for her mother more closely.

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What bothers her most is the lack of transparency — when she can see her burnt apartment, how authorities will use the $589 million relief fund. She hopes to get updates from the nine-month investigation.

She wants her childhood home rebuilt at the fire site, but considers the proposed timeline of about a decade unreasonably long.

As the Lunar New Year neared, Lo made turnip cakes — a tradition she inherited from her mother. “Maybe she is still everywhere and still seeing us now. I really want to be with her,” she said in tears.

Rebuilding community is challenging

In an emailed reply to The Associated Press’ questions, the government said it attached great importance to the residents’ long-term accommodation arrangements and had already received survey replies from over 95% of the homeowners. It did not give a timeline but said its task force is analyzing their preferences and that the government will announce the plans after finalizing them.

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Jack Rozdilsky, professor of disaster and emergency management at York University in Canada, said the city is moving to a disaster recovery phase and noted that concrete plans for continuous mental health and trauma coping aid play a key role in long-term success for any resettlement measure.

Rozdilsky saw the community survey on resettlement as a good sign because a one-size-fits-all proposal will not satisfy the households.

While rebuilding living spaces is complicated, he said, reconstructing a community is much harder. He said understanding what promoted community at the housing complex before the fire and incorporating those features — be it a bus stop or a gathering point in a park — would help.

“Very small things matter,” he said.

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Plans for new homes Ulleskelf near Selby to be approved

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Plans for new homes Ulleskelf near Selby to be approved

North Yorkshire Council’s Selby and Ainsty area planning committee will consider the outline application for land at Highfield House on Church Fenton Lane, Ulleskelf, next week.

The plans propose the demolition of an existing property and its replacement with seven detached houses.

Planning officers acknowledge that most of the site falls within open countryside, where residential development would not normally be allowed.

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Ulleskelf Parish Council raised this as a concern in its response and said this could set a precedent for future, larger-scale applications on adjacent land.

The council received 19 letters of objection from local residents, as well as one in support.

As well as much of the the site being outside the development limits for the village, concerns were raised about highway safety and increased congestion, no affordable homes being proposed and not enough local services to cope with extra residents.

However, the officer’s report concluded that the council’s inability to demonstrate a five-year supply of housing land qualified as exceptional circumstances.

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The report states that while the proposal conflicted with local policy in principle, the site was closely related to the existing settlement and would represent a logical extension to the village.

Officers also noted that Ulleskelf was classed as a designated service village, with access to a range of facilities including a primary school, village hall, post office, pub and public transport links to York, Leeds and surrounding towns.

Officers conclude that the development would make an effective use of land, contribute to housing supply, and deliver economic and social benefits, including support for local services.

Officers recommended that the plans be passed when councillors meet on Monday next week (February 16).

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EastEnders confirms new epilepsy storyline for character

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EastEnders confirms new epilepsy storyline for character

EastEnders has confirmed it will follow the journey of Davinder “Nugget” Gulati, played by Juhaim Rasul Choudhury, who will be diagnosed with the condition after experiencing symptoms linked to a recent head injury.

Monday’s episode saw Nugget experience his first seizure following several spells of disorientation and confusion since returning home from the hospital last month.

The long-running soap will show how Nugget adapts to living with the condition and how it impacts his daily life.

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EastEnders to run epilepsy storyline

Producers are working with the Epilepsy Society to raise awareness and ensure the story is portrayed accurately and as sensitively as possible.

Clare Pelham, chief executive at the Epilepsy Society, said: “One in 100 people has epilepsy, yet many keep it hidden because of stigma.

“That’s why we were delighted when EastEnders asked for our advice on portraying Nugget’s epilepsy story accurately.

“EastEnders has a powerful record of tackling tough issues.

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“By showing what seizures are really like and how to support someone with epilepsy, Nugget’s story can spark conversations, reduce stigma, and help bring the condition out of the shadows.”

EastEnders‘ executive producer, Ben Wadey, said: “We are committed to portraying Nugget’s journey authentically and with sensitivity, so have sought advice from the Epilepsy Society to ensure an accurate representation of the challenges a young person may face following their diagnosis”.


8 most iconic British soap characters of all time


What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and causes seizures, according to the NHS.

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It cannot currently be cured, but treatment can often help manage it.

Symptoms of epilepsy often start in young children and people aged over 50, but can happen at any age.

You can find out more about the neurological disorder via the NHS and Epilepsy Society websites (linked above).

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How much will HBO Max cost in the UK? Launch date revealed

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How much will HBO Max cost in the UK? Launch date revealed

Along with HBO content, the platform will also feature Warner Bros Pictures, Warner Bros Television, DC Studios and Max Originals shows and movies.

HBO Max will premiere on March 26, and will see TNT Sports subscribers access their subscription on the platform.

It will also be available to watch through hbomax.com and its launch partners, which include Sky and Prime Video.

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HBO Max now joins other active streaming services in the UK, such as Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV, but it comes at a cost.

How much will HBO Max cost in the UK?

HBO Max’s UK and Ireland platform will offer four different subscription plans starting at £4.99 per month, with viewers able to access the complete HBO Max entertainment line-up, including recently released movies, from £5.99 per month.

All four HBO Max subscription plans in the UK and Ireland are as follows:

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Basic with ads – £4.99/month

  • Stream on 2 devices at once
  • Full HD video resolution
  • Not all movies included

Standard with ads – £5.99/month

  • All the best HBO Max shows and movies
  • Stream on 2 devices at once
  • Full HD video resolution
  • 30 downloads (limits apply)

Standard – £9.99/month

  • All the best HBO Max shows and movies
  • Stream on 2 devices at once
  • Full HD video resolution
  • 30 downloads (limits apply)

Premium – £14.99/month

  • The ultimate HBO Max experience with all the best HBO Max shows and movies
  • Stream on 4 devices at once
  • 4K UHD & Dolby Atmos as available
  • 100 downloads (limits apply)

TNT Sports – £30.99/month

  • Stream on 2 devices at once
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  • Live football, rugby, tennis, and more in 2026

What films and TV shows will be on HBO Max in the UK?

A range of exclusives will be available to watch on HBO Max in the UK, such as the full first season of award-winning Max Original The Pitt, which will debut on the British and Irish version from launch.

Content on the streaming platform will also include new seasons of Euphoria and House Of The Dragon, and the debut of Lanterns from DC Studios, while films will include Superman, One Battle After Another, Sinners, A Minecraft Movie and Dune: Part One.

Succession, Friends, The Sopranos and Game of Thrones will also be made available exclusively on HBO Max.

Andrew Georgiou, president and managing director at Warner Bros Discovery in the UK and Ireland, commented: “Launching HBO Max in the UK & Ireland marks a significant moment for viewers here.

“HBO Max will offer them their most loved series and movies from HBO, Warner Bros and DC Studios, alongside premium sports from TNT Sports in the UK, within an outstanding single destination for this great content and strong value proposition.

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“Nowhere else will you be able to get The Pitt, House Of The Dragon, Euphoria, Lanterns, Superman, One Battle After Another, as well as the eagerly awaited Harry Potter series, all together.”

HBO Max will be available across all major devices, including select phones, tablets, computers, TVs, streaming players, set-top boxes, and game consoles.


Recommended reading:


Users just need to make sure their devices are updated to the latest version when HBO Max launches.

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Sign up for HBO Max in the UK and Ireland via the platform’s official website (a link to which can be found above) from March 26.

Let us know if you will be subscribing to HBO Max in the UK by leaving a comment below.

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Navy leader touts new strategy that moves away from aircraft carriers

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Navy leader touts new strategy that moves away from aircraft carriers

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Navy’s top uniformed officer wants to convince commanders to use smaller, newer assets for missions instead of consistently turning to huge aircraft carriers — as seen now in the American military buildups off Venezuela and Iran.

Adm. Daryl Caudle’s vision — what he calls his “ Fighting Instructions ” — calls for the Navy to deploy more tailored groups of ships and equipment that would offer the sea service more flexibility to respond to crises as they develop.

The new strategy comes as the Trump administration has moved aircraft carriers and other ships to regions around the world as concerns have cropped up, often disrupting standing deployment plans, scrambling ships to sail thousands of miles and putting increasing strain on vessels and equipment that are already facing mounting maintenance issues.

The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, was redirected late last year from the Mediterranean Sea to the Caribbean Sea, where the crew ultimately supported last month’s operation to capture then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. And two weeks ago, the USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in the Middle East as tensions with Iran rise, having been pulled from the South China Sea.

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In a recent interview with The Associated Press before the document’s rollout, Caudle said his strategy would make the Navy’s presence in regions like the Caribbean much leaner and better tailored to meet actual threats.

Caudle said he’s already spoken with the commander of U.S. Southern Command, which encompasses the Caribbean and Venezuela, “and we’re in negotiation on what his problem set is — I want to be able to convey that I can meet that with a tailored package there.”

Admiral sees a smaller contingent in the Caribbean in the future

Speaking broadly, Caudle said he envisions the mission in the Caribbean focusing more on interdictions and keeping an eye on merchant shipping.

The U.S. military has already seized multiple suspicious and falsely flagged tankers connected with Venezuela that were part of a global shadow fleet of merchant vessels that help governments evade sanctions.

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“That doesn’t really require a carrier strike group to do that,” Caudle said, adding that he believes the mission could be done with some smaller littoral combat ships, Navy helicopters and close coordination with the Coast Guard.

The Navy has had 11 ships, including the Ford and several amphibious assault ships with thousands of Marines, in South American waters for months. It is a major shift for a region that has historically seen deployments of one or two smaller Navy ships.

“I don’t want a lot of destroyers there driving around just to actually operate the radar to get awareness on motor vessels and other tankers coming out of port,” Caudle said. “It’s really not a well-suited match for that mission.”

Turning to drones or robotic systems

To compensate, Caudle envisions leaning more heavily on drones or other robotic systems to offer military commanders the same capabilities but with less investment from Navy ships. He acknowledges this will not be an easy sell.

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Caudle said even if a commander knows about a new capability, the staff “may not know how to ask for that, integrate it, and know how to employ it in an effective way to bring this new niche capability to bear.”

“That requires a bit of an education campaign here,” he later added.

President Donald Trump has favored large and bold responses from the Navy and has leaned heavily toward displays of firepower.

Trump has referred to aircraft carriers and their accompanying destroyers as armadas and flotillas. He also revived the historic battleship title for a planned type of ship that would sport hypersonic missiles, nuclear cruise missiles, rail guns and high-powered lasers.

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If built, the proposed “Trump-class battleship” would be longer and larger than the World War II-era Iowa-class battleships, though the Navy has not only struggled to field some of the technologies that Trump says will be aboard but it has had challenges building even smaller, less sophisticated ships on time and on budget.

Given this trend, Caudle said if the Lincoln’s recent redeployment to the Middle East were to happen under his new plan, he would talk with the Indo-Pacific commander about how to compensate for the loss.

“So, as Abraham Lincoln comes out, I’ve got a three ship (group) that’s going to compensate for that,” Caudle suggested as an example.

Caudle argues that his vision already is in place and working in Europe and North America “for the last four or five years.”

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He said this could apply soon in the Bering Strait, which separates Russia and Alaska, noting that “the importance of the Arctic continues to get more and more prevalent” as China, Russia and the U.S. prioritize the region.

Trump has cited the threat from China and Russia in his demands to take over Greenland, the Arctic island overseen by NATO ally Denmark.

Caudle said he knows he needs to offer the commanders in that region “more solutions” and his “tailored force packages would be a way to get after that.”

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Games Inbox: What games will be in Thursday’s PS5 State of Play?

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Games Inbox: What games will be in Thursday’s PS5 State of Play?
Will the makers of God Of War have anything to announce? (Sony Interactive Entertainment)

The Tuesday letters page discusses the drawbacks of digital downloads, as one reader is unimpressed by the recent leaks concerning Xbox.

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

The big day
So maybe Sony read that Reader’s Feature at the weekend, about them turning things around after Horizon Hunters Gathering, because now we know they’re planning a major State of Play this week, almost as big as a not-E3. I know the advice is never to get too excited about these things but it’s pretty hard not to.

I think they’re definitely hinting at a new game annoucement, so I’m hoping for something new from Santa Monica Studio (God Of War), Bluepoint Games (Demon’s Souls remake) or Bend Studio (Days Gone). But it could be Asobi (Astro Boy) too or maybe Media Molecule (LittleBigPlanet) too.

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I think they’ve got some other studios but I think they’re all live service, so let’s hope it’s not that. Although the internet outrage would be hilarious if the mic drop final annoucement is another generic looking online co-op shooter.

Of course, I hope for Bloodborne news, but who could possibly guess whether that’s possible or not, a decade after it came out and Sony immediately started ignoring it, for no good reason.

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I also hope for surprises. Good surprises of games and announcements we can never guess at, because they’re the best. Although given how accurate rumours have been lately, I’m not sure we’ll get that chance.
Gauntlett

Just according to keikaku
More than an hour of State of Play? That has got to have something good, right? Even by accident you’d have to have some interesting things in that, just by the sheer length of it. To me it sounds like they are getting ready to announce some thing big, maybe the next game from the God Of War guys? I think the rumour was it wasn’t going to be God Of War either, so a new IP would be great.

I do agree with the complaints about Sony’s output this generation but the problem for them is I think they’ve realised their mistake – that was probably why Jim Ryan left – but it’s going to take ages for all their studios to stop what they were doing and making something else. Plus, Sony would never admit they messed up, so they have to pretend this was the plan all along.

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If they start making good from now on though I’m more than happy to forgive them. We all just want to play good games, not moan at publishers all day.
Booner

Curiouser and curiouser
Nintendo is acting really weird at the moment. I know some people have tried to say it’s just their usual attitude, but the lack of news and the choices of Switch 2 games really don’t make any sense to me and I can’t believe they don’t see that.

But now I find out that they’ve done nothing to clamp down on any of the Pokémon leaks and even a lot of the teraleak stuff is still floating around. The Nintendo I know would’ve had that stuff shut down in a microsecond and their lawyers let loose on the culprits.

Not that I want people to get caught, you understand, but it just seems so out of character. Especially as the new leaks do look legit. They don’t give much away, but I’d be surprised if they weren’t real.
Lotus

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Recent development
Just reading through some of the weekend Reader’s Features and noted that Trepsils wrote ‘if there’s no more new live service games announced, or at least an equal number of single-player ones, then maybe the mistakes of the PlayStation 5 era can finally be undone.’

Out of curiosity I had a quick look at Sony’s first party releases this gen, and I can see plenty of single-player titles (admittedly including some remasters and VR games), compared to… two live service games (Concord and Helldivers 2), which surprised me. I appreciate that more were initially planned, but in terms of output, that doesn’t seem to warrant the narrative?
Matt (he_who_runs_away – PSN ID)

GC: Sony’s live service obsession didn’t start until a couple of years into the generation, at which point 12 were planned, tying up almost all their first party studios. Since 2023 they’ve only released one completely new, internally developed, non-VR, non-live service game per year. Two are planned this year: Saros and Marvel’s Wolverine.

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Out of service
I’m just playing Lylat Wars (Star Fox 64) via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack.

Hitting the eight switches on the Forever Train level, to send the enemy train off course and blow up, was always one of my favourite 64-bit gaming memories. The Rumble Pak still rumbles like crazy during the explosion afterwards. I’m sure my fellow GC readers who pulled this off back in the day will remember it fondly.
Adams6legend

No access
To the point others were making about digital games and LeeDappa’s mention of disappearing digital media, my internet was down for three days last weekend and I couldn’t play any of the installed games on my hard drive. Granted that’s not dozens and dozens, when they can exceed 150GB and the smallest may only be a measly 20GB , but of the 10 or so installed, Game Pass games and digital purchases, I could play exactly none of them. ‘This game needs an internet connection to play’ being the joyful message I was faced with time and again.

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Perhaps I could of played Tekken 8, being my last physical purchase, but it wasn’t installed so I’ll never know, but probably not, or only in a reduced capacity.

So the future sucks, media that can be taken down or removed completely, issues out of your control meaning your purchases (rented properties) can’t be accessed and the fear of ever-increasing prices. Great.

Luckily, I had my Mega Drive Mini, which I got at Christmas, plug in and play, no issues at all and now with the added bonus of saves. So I scum-saved my way to six Chaos emeralds on Sonic 2. Ha ha, one more to go for an easy run to the finish!
big boy bent

Messy leak
All these leaks and rumours about Xbox right now and all it does it make them seem like even more of a mess. They are so obviously just throwing things against the wall, seeing what will stick, and so far nothing has.

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They’re making a handheld, and a PC/console hybrid, and beefing up Game Pass, and counting on steaming being the future… it’s just endless stuff and nothing coherent or appealing. As usual, they seem to consider making good games to be a very low priority, behind all this other nonsense.

People say they have their best line-up ever this year, but I’ve never heard that from Microsoft themselves. Their summer not-E3 show better be the best ever or they might as well pack up shop for good.
Cordon

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No shows
State Of Play has been announced for February 12th. An hour long in length, which is the longest presentation ever and the most high risk. They usually run at half that length, but with added length, comes heightened expectations. You never know what to expect from Sony, but people and fans alike continue to buy into hype. Since it is quintessentially a showcase event, perhaps it makes sense to expect heavy hitters and indie delights. But I can absolutely say that Marathon will definitely be there. Since it has an open beta soon, it will be shown for sure.

Not too sure about Marvel’s Wolverine, since it was stated we’d see more in spring. I’ll just say that Kingdom Hearts 4 will not make an appearance. We pray for it time and time again, but Square Enix continues to disappoint. Maybe they could make our night and reveal the third instalment of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy. It would be perfect for me personally, because I’m doing a run of the two games currently, starting with Intergrade and then Rebirth. Absolutely a good next playthrough, after beating Ghost Of Yōtei

But I also hope to see pre-orders go live, for the hotly anticipated Phantom Blade 0. It looks awesome and it’s the perfect event to announce it. I’m not too sure what the final reveal could be, but it’s certainly without a shadow of a doubt, not GTA 6. Many will predict it is, but it is absolutely never happening.

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My guess is Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. We’ve yet to see gameplay, or even a cohesive look at the project. Naughty Dog have kept silent for long enough. Hopefully it shows up, but my expectations are very low. I hope for a memorable event, but I always do and I end up disappointed a majority of the time. But I can just feel the mobile and indie game domination coming. It is inevitable.

A final note. Bloodborne isn’t happening boss. No dice.
Shahzaib Sadiq

GC: Many State of Plays are around 40 minutes long. The longest before this week was 55 minutes.

Inbox also-rans
I take the news about hardly anyone working on Horizon Zero Dawn 3 to mean that it is being planned as a PlayStation 6 launch game. People called it ages ago and it always made sense to me.
Skella

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Am I the only one that wishes they were starting the God Of War TV show in Greece? If it’s super popular they could’ve led up to the Norse stuff. Seems a bit shortsighted.
Benjy Dog

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

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Savannah Guthrie pleads for public’s help finding missing mother

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Savannah Guthrie pleads for public's help finding missing mother

“I just want to share a few thoughts as we enter another week of this nightmare,” Guthrie says, appearing alone in the latest video, in contrast to previous recordings where she has appeared with her siblings. “She was taken, and we don’t know where. And we need your help,” Guthrie says.

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Police officer suspended from driving after getting stuck in car trap

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Cambridgeshire Live

The police officer was responding to an emergency when they drove into the car trap

A police officer has been suspended from driving after getting stuck in the notorious car trap on the Guided Busway in Cambridgeshire. Cambridgeshire Police has confirmed a police car got stuck in the car trap on Station Road in St Ives on Saturday, February 7.

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The police car was responding to an emergency when it became stuck in the car trap at around 12:40am. The police have reported that no one was injured during the incident.

The vehicle was recovered from the area at around 3am. An investigation into the crash is underway.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “A police vehicle was responding to an emergency when it became stuck in a car trap in Station Road, St Ives at about 12.40am on 7 February. No injuries sustained.

“Vehicle was recovered by about 3am. The officer has been suspended from driving while an investigation takes place.”

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NHS gives vitamin D warning amid advice to take it in winter

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Cambridgeshire Live

The NHS has warned that taking too much vitamin D over a long period can damage the body

The NHS has issued a warning for anyone consuming vitamin D, stating that excessive intake over extended periods could lead to a potentially fatal condition. UK health authorities recommend taking vitamin D supplements, especially during the winter.

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The health service has stated: “From October to March we can’t make enough vitamin D from sunlight. To keep bones and muscles healthy, it’s best to take a daily 10 microgram supplement of vitamin D. You can get vitamin D from most pharmacies and retailers.”

Vitamin D supplements are affordable with 400 tablets available for under £8 online, equating to less than 2p daily. Vitamin D has also been linked to a reduced risk of dementia.

Research conducted in France found that individuals with vitamin D levels below 50 nmol/L were almost three times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Those at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency, all children aged between 1 and 4, and all babies (unless they’re consuming more than 500ml of infant formula daily) should take a daily supplement throughout the year.

However, both pharmacists and the NHS have issued warnings about the dangers of overdosing on vitamin D through excessive consumption over extended periods. The NHS has highlighted that this can lead to a condition damaging the kidneys and heart: “Taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can cause too much calcium to build up in the body (hypercalcaemia). This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart.”

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The NHS advises: “If you choose to take vitamin D supplements, 10 micrograms a day will be enough for most people. Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful. This applies to adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and the elderly, and children aged 11 to 17 years.”

For younger children, the guidelines are different: “Youngsters aged 1 to 10 years shouldn’t have more than 50 micrograms (2,000 IU) daily. Babies under 12 months shouldn’t have more than 25 micrograms (1,000 IU) daily.”

The NHS further clarified: “Some people have medical conditions that mean they may not be able to safely take as much. If in doubt, you should consult your doctor.

If your doctor has recommended you take a different amount of vitamin D, you should follow their advice.

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“You cannot overdose on vitamin D through exposure to sunlight. But always remember to cover up or protect your skin if you’re out in the sun for long periods to reduce the risk of skin damage and skin cancer.”

The NHS explains: “Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults.

“Government advice is that everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter. People at high risk of not getting enough vitamin D, all children aged 1 to 4, and all babies (unless they’re having more than 500ml of infant formula a day) should take a daily supplement throughout the year.”

The late health expert Dr Michael Mosley, who died in 2024, was a strong advocate for vitamin D supplementation, reports the Mirror. He said: “I take 25 mcg (1,000 IU), which is within the limits of what’s considered safe (anything under 100 mcg a day for adults or 50 mcg for children, according to the NHS) but closer to the sort of doses studies show you need to take to ward off infections, cancers, and maybe even dementia.”

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