WASHINGTON (AP) — American employers unexpectedly cut 92,000 jobs last month, a sign that the labor market remains under strain. The unemployment rate blipped up to 4.4%.

Hiring deteriorated from January, when companies, nonprofits and government agencies added a healthy 126,000 jobs, the Labor Department reported Friday. Economists had expected 60,000 new jobs in February.

Revisions also cut 69,000 jobs from December and January payrolls.

The surprisingly weak employment picture in February adds to the economic uncertainty over the war with Iran, which has caused oil prices to surge and saddled business and consumers with unforeseen costs.

“The job market is struggling in the face of so many headwinds,” said Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union. “Companies are going to be even more reluctant to hire this spring until the war ends and they can see consumers still spending. It’s a tense time for the U.S. economy.”

The job market had been expected to rebound this year from a lackluster 2025 when it was buffeted by President Donald Trump’s erratic tariff policies, his purge of the federal workforce and the lingering effects of high interest rates. In 2025, employers added just 15,000 jobs a month. Hopes for a 2026 rebound rose after January hiring came in above expectations.

“Just when it looked like the labor market was stabilizing, this report delivers a knock-down blow to that view,’’ said Olu Sonola, head of U.S. economics at Fitch Ratings. ”It’s bad news whichever way you look at it.’’

The job losses were widespread.

Construction companies cut 11,000 jobs last month, which likely reflects frigid weather. And healthcare firms shed 28,000 jobs after a four-week strike by more than 30,000 nurses and other front-line workers at Kaiser Permanente in California and Hawaii. Health care has been one of the job market’s strong points.

Factories cut 12,000 jobs and have now lost jobs for 14 of the last 15 months. Restaurants and bars lost nearly 30,000 jobs. Administrative and support services firms cut nearly 19,000 jobs and courier and messenger services almost 17,000.

Financial firms added 10,000 jobs, though job cuts continue to hit that sector as well this year.

Average hourly wages rose 0.4% from January and 3.8% from a year earlier.

The outlook for the job market – and the entire economy – is clouded by the war with Iran.

The combination of weak hiring and increasing inflationary pressures arising from the war creates a nightmare for the Federal Reserve, which must decide whether to cut interest rates to help the job market or hold off to help keep a lid on prices. “This is probably the worst scenario for monetary policy,″ said Eugenio Aleman, chief economist at Raymond James.

Employers were reluctant to hire last year because of uncertainty over Trump’s tariffs – and the unpredictable way he rolled them out.

The impact of Trump’s aggressive trade policies may recede in 2026. His import taxes became smaller and less erratic after he reached a trade truce last year with China and deals with leading U.S. trade partners such as Japan and the European Union. A lot of businesses have also learned how to offset the costs of the tariffs, often by passing them along to customers via higher prices.

Brian Bethune, an economist at Boston College, said that Trump’s 2025 tariffs were a shock to companies’ business plans. Now, just as they’ve adjusted to them, “Guess what! All of a sudden their 2026 business plans are upended by an increase in fuel costs’’ caused by the war with Iran.

Jay Foreman, CEO of the toy company Basic Fun, expects to get some relief from Trump’s tariffs after the Supreme Court last month struck down the biggest ones and potentially created a path for importers to get refunds for the levies they paid. The refunds would allow Foreman to invest more in his Boca Raton, Florida, company, which makes Lincoln Logs and Care Bears. He can also hand out more generous raises to employees and hire new people.

“We are expecting a record year,’’ he said.

Yet under new tariffs sought by Trump, Foreman estimates that Basic Fun’s tariff bill will more than double this year to $15 million. That is partly because the firm will be paying for a full year of Trump tariffs in 2026. Tariffs last year were not rolled out until spring or later.

_____

AP Economics Writer Christopher Rugaber contributed to this report.

Anne D’Innocenzio reported from New York.

A woman has sued author and venture capitalist Amy Griffin over her bestselling 2025 memoir “The Tell,” saying that Griffin’s descriptions of childhood sexual abuse in the book were stolen from her experience.

The plaintiff identifies herself only as Jane Doe in the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. An attorney for Griffin called the suit “absurd” and “meritless.”

In “The Tell,” published a year ago, Griffin writes that undergoing therapy using the psychedelic drug MDMA uncovered previously buried childhood memories of being sexually abused by a teacher at her middle school in Amarillo, Texas, in the 1980s.

“I knew that these memories were real,” Griffin writes in the book. “My body knew what had happened to me.”

The memoir was an Oprah’s Book Club selection and was also touted by Reese Witherspoon and Gwyneth Paltrow.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiff says the descriptions match her own sexual assaults by a different teacher at a school dance and in a school bathroom. The lawsuit says Griffin had reason to know about the abuse.

“’The Tell’ constitutes neither a genuine nor harmless memoir,” the lawsuit says, alleging Griffin engaged in intrusion, invasion of privacy, publication of private facts, negligence and infliction of emotional distress. It seeks damages to be determined at trial.

The lawsuit also names Griffin’s publishers and a ghostwriter as defendants.

The New York Times published a story in September raising questions about the book. It included people who expressed doubts about the reliability of the memories. The story also pointed out financial ties between Griffin and the prominent people who helped promote the book.

The plaintiff first learned of the existence of the memoir when the Times reached out to her during its reporting.

“She immediately recognized that the character of Claudia appeared to be based on herself,” the lawsuit says. “She further recognized that a number of stories attributed to the memories of Defendant GRIFFIN that supposedly resurfaced during MDMA therapy were actually her own real life past experiences.”

Griffin’s attorney, Thomas A. Clare, said in an email: “We look forward to exposing these meritless claims in court, as well as the deeply flawed New York Times reporting that is at the center of it.”

“Just like the New York Times manufactured a false narrative about Amy Griffin and ‘The Tell,’ it also engineered the premise for this absurd lawsuit,” Clare said. “After two New York Times reporters instigated this whole situation by bringing the book to her attention, the Plaintiff made her own choice to publicize her narrative to a global audience.” He added, “For its part, the Times took full advantage, publicizing this inaccurate narrative despite receiving many red-flag warnings.”

Danielle Rhoades Ha, a Times spokeswoman, said in response, “We’re confident in the accuracy of our reporting.”

The lawsuit says that when the plaintiff was assaulted at the school dance, she was wearing a dress she had borrowed from Griffin. The lawsuit says the abuse would have been apparent to some people at the dance because of how she left and how she returned. It also says the dress was returned to Griffin with bodily fluids from the assault. The plaintiff also said she asked Jesus for forgiveness for the assault at a church youth group meeting that Griffin attended.

The lawsuit says she met with Griffin for the first time in decades at a California coffee shop in 2019, a meeting that is recounted in the book. But the woman said she did not discuss her sexual assaults during the meeting.

The plaintiff says she did describe the abuse in detail to a talent agent who called her later about her life story. According to the lawsuit, the agent told the plaintiff he learned about her and her stories through an unidentified third party. The lawsuit says the agent stopped contact when she began asking him too many probing questions about him, and that details from the conversations “found their way into ‘The Tell.’ ”

The acrobats from Tanzania appear on the upcoming instalment of the ITV programme

Britain’s Got Talent’s judges are stunned by an acrobatic act that leaves them exclaiming “Oh my God!” in the upcoming episode of the show.

Foursome The Rafikiz try out for Simon Cowell, KSI, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden in Saturday’s (March 7) instalment of the ITV programme.

A sneak peek clip ahead of the episode shows the judges’ jaws dropping as they take in the quartet’s acrobatic act.

The hopefuls, from Tanzania, stripped down to their jeans to show off their skills on the Britain’s Got Talent stage, with the panel gripped as they pulled off intricate balancing feats.

At one point, The Rafikiz arranged themselves into a human tower, with the performer at the top on his head, balancing on his teammate’s head.

“That is some serious strength!” said Alesha as the audience cheered and both Amanda and KSI cried: “Oh my God!”

READ MORE: Britain’s Got Talent hit with complaints over act that left viewers ‘physically sick’READ MORE: Britain’s Got Talent ratings ‘hit all-time low’ as bookies question ITV show future

“What?” asked presenter Dec, who looked gobsmacked as he stood in the wings watching with presenting partner Ant.

“Wow!” exclaimed Ant, as the performers moved to a one-handed lift. “It’s like the Avengers or something!”

There was more to come, as one of the men clutched a stand in his mouth and lifted one of the other Rafikiz members into the air, using his teeth to hold him up.

The act received a huge cheer as they finished, with all the judges rising to their feet for a standing ovation.

“I am impressed!” KSI told them, as Amanda agreed: “It was so thrilling and so dangerous. I literally could not take my eyes off you.

“At the end I was covered in goosebumps. It was just amazing.”

Alesha said she “loved it”, as Simon told them: “It’s a huge yes for me. We saw an act before from Canada. Literally, he was just jumping around on the trampoline. They blamed the size of the trampoline because we said no.

“And you don’t have a particularly big staircase, but it doesn’t matter. Because you put on a show.”

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website

Britain’s Got Talent airs Saturday 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX

Netflix has added the acclaimed thriller series to its collection, eleven years after the TV show finished up, with all seven seasons now available to binge

Netflix has welcomed a gripping thriller to its library, more than a decade after the television series wrapped up. The streaming giant revealed to subscribers that every season of The Mentalist, headlined by Simon Baker, would be landing on the platform.

Having arrived on Netflix on Sunday, March 1, long-time devotees of the programme can now devour all episodes at their leisure. For enthusiasts of police procedurals searching for their next marathon-worthy series, there are seven full seasons to explore.

Should you be new to the programme, viewers follow the journey of independent consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation, Patrick Jane (Baker). Jane has built a name for himself through unorthodox and unusual investigative techniques, combined with a disregard for standard procedure. Oh, and he also claimed to be a psychic.

Whilst the “psychic” element may be bogus, Jane possesses razor-sharp observational abilities and an exceptional understanding of human psychology to crack cases, reports the Express.

Beyond collaborating on investigations with law enforcement, he exploits his connections within the CBI to track down the mysterious serial killer Red John, who brutally killed his wife and daughter – a storyline forming the backbone of much of the series. Yet his quest for justice isn’t always straightforward.

The debut season appeared to split critics, though it’s lauded for featuring “all of the key components of the perfect crime investigation series,” according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The final series, which broadcast in 2015, achieved an 83 per cent overall score on Rotten Tomatoes. Jeff Jensen wrote for Entertainment Weekly about the concluding season: “That hard-working bunch earned their party. I think the show honored the fans who stuck with it and by it. On a personal note:

“My late wife-who loved The Mentalist, who turned me onto the show, who found the show easy to forgive and enjoy after the disappointment of the Red John denouement-would have been very pleased.

“I enjoyed it on her behalf and chose to take the story’s conclusions, as easy and sentimental as they may have been, as a challenge to hope and optimism for a better tomorrow. Jane and Lisbon, thank you for that gift.”

Darragh McManus wrote for The Guardian: “Funny, thoughtful and intricately plotted, The Mentalist is one of the best things to appear on TV in a long time.”

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Soham murderer Ian Huntley had his life support switched off today and is hours away from dying after he was brutally attacked in HMP Frankland, it is claimed

Ian Huntley had his life support switched off today and is just hours from death, new reports claim.

It comes after it was reported that the Soham murderer had been declared blind following an attack in HMP Frankland in County Durham last week.

Huntley, 52, was rushed to hospital last Thursday following the assault at HMP Frankland in County Durham. Sources told how medics “worked miracles” to save him, and how prison staff assumed he was dead when they found him in a pool of blood.

Earlier this week the Mirror revealed that Huntley will not be sent back to the jail known as Monster Mansion if he recovers. His injuries are so horrific that he will instead be sent to Ashworth Hospital on Merseyside.

According to The Sun, medics have now withdrawn the ventilator that was keeping him alive following consultations with his mother Lynda Richards.

Sources told the publication that the decision was taken at around lunchtime after brain tests showed he was in a vegetative state. They also claimed his mum was by his bedside.

A source told the publication: “This is it, this is the end of Huntley. He is effectively dead and, at the best, is drawing his last breaths.

“No one who has dealt with him is shedding a tear. Even his mother has accepted that this is for the best, having seen him and knowing what a state he is in.

“He never really recovered from the beating he took, and never stood much of a chance of doing so. Huntley had been attacked loads of times in prison so the day he was killed was always likely to arrive.” The Ministry of Justice declined to comment.

Previously, Huntley was given just a 5% chance of survival after he was struck multiple times with a metal pole and left with severe head injuries, reports claimed. Emergency services raced to the Category A prison at around 9am on February 26.

In an update on his condition yesterday, a spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “There has been no change in the 52-year-old man’s condition overnight – he remains in hospital in a serious condition.”

After the vicious assault, the double murderer was rushed to hospital in an ambulance, with armed police forming an escort in front and behind. Two prison guards and an armed officer were inside the ambulance during the high-security operation.

A source said: “He was placed in an induced coma because he was so close to death. The team from the helicopter travelled with him but he could not be evacuated by air in case of any complications. He was transported by road because he was in a coma; this helps to keep him stable.

“The helicopter then travels to the hospital to collect the medics. Two armed officers are guarding Huntley around the clock at the hospital.”

Huntley is serving a life sentence after he was convicted of murdering schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in August 2002. He will not be eligible for parole until at least 2042.

A migrant worker who was killed in an aerial attack on the United Arab Emirates on the first day of the Iran war would not have been outside if he had known the conflict had started, his son says.

Saleh Ahmed, 55, from Bangladesh, was delivering drinking water in the emirate of Ajman when he was struck by debris after an Iranian missile attack.

Speaking from Bangladesh, his son Abdul Haque told Sky News that Saleh was a hard-working man and the family’s sole breadwinner, who would have not risked his life had he known the US-Israeli war with Iran had started.

“My father went to deliver water,” Abdul said in tears. “That’s when an Iranian missile landed on him and his car.”

Ten minutes later, Saleh died at the scene, his son said.

Iran war latest – follow live updates

Saleh lived in the UAE as an expat for 25 years, sending under £500 per month in earnings to Bangladesh for his wife and four children.

His family says the attack took them all by surprise.

“No way, he wouldn’t have known,” Abdul said, when asked if his father was aware of the war.

“If he knew he wouldn’t go out like that. We are hungry people, we have nothing and our family is very big. For sure my father didn’t know about the war, or else he wouldn’t have gone outside.

“If I had known, God willing, I would not have let him go outside.”

‘You don’t get friends like my dad’

Five years ago, Abdul joined his father in Ajman to work alongside him at the water company.

“As a child, I’d only spend a month or two here and there with him. But for the last five-and-a-half years we were more like friends. Eating together and everything, we did it all together like friends,” he said.

“You don’t get friends like my dad anywhere in the world.”

Saleh’s life mirrors that of millions of South Asian migrant workers who live and work in the Middle East. Many have roles in construction, hospitality, transport and as domestic help.

With roots in the 1960s oil boom, today the migrant workforce is made up of workers from countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and constitutes a large percentage of the overall population. Their remittances support generations of family back home.

“At the beginning my father really struggled and did a lot of different work. He worked at hotels, he washed cars, cut grass, he did everything,” Abdul said.

“And for the last seven or eight years he had a good position at the water company. He did a good job, it was in the service of people, delivering drinking water to people.

“We never imagined this would suddenly happen.”

Read more from Sky News:
What satellite images reveal about war in Iran
Eyewitness: Panic on the streets of Beirut

Body cannot be flown home for burial

Saleh’s family live in a remote village in Sylhet, in northeastern Bangladesh. With the money he sent to them, they had begun building a house. The site remains incomplete, with a concrete foundation lying bare.

Abdul explains how his father did everything he could for the family to have their own home, right up until he died.

Saleh was not only supporting his family, but Abdul explains his father would gift meat parcels at Eid to friends and neighbours, give money to charity, and donate funds to the local mosques. He last visited his family four months ago.

Airspace closures over the UAE mean Saleh’s body cannot be flown home for burial until commercial flights resume. Abdul says the delay in being next to his father and laying him to rest only prolongs the family’s sadness.

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What happens to Gulf if immigrants want to leave?

Bangladesh’s foreign ministry confirmed Saleh’s death on Monday. It said ensuring the safety and security of more than six million Bangladeshis living in the Middle East remains the government’s top priority.

Meanwhile, there are no plans to evacuate Bangladeshi migrant workers. The government has urged its citizens in the Middle East to “remain vigilant and strictly follow guidance issued by respective host governments”.

“I pray for everyone to come quickly to a resolution,” Abdul said, speaking about the US, Israel and Iran.

“I’m seeing videos of many people dying, and I don’t want someone else to die like my father died. I don’t want any other people to lose their parents like we lost our dad.”

The secrets of two of Coronation Street’s most dangerous residents come under major threat next week.

As Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) turns to Megan Walsh (Beth Nixon), seeking help with how to handle her deeply troubled step son, Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan), the insidious paedophile instantly begins to manipulate her worried roommate.

Elsewhere, Maggie Driscoll’s (Pauline McLynn) constant meddling in grandson Ollie’s (Raphael Akuwudike) love life looks set to pay dividends as she seeks to keep him apart from his (unknowing) cousin, Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney) and install Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton) as his partner.

Meanwhile, it’s a difficult day for Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) as he prepares to say goodbye to his recently-deceased dad. As secret brother Ben Driscoll (Aaron McCusker) approaches to offer his support, a deeply troubled Maggie watches on.

With manipulation, deceit and lies on the menu, may we offer you a sample platter of what’s to come, before the main course?

Bon appétit, mon cheri!

Tuesday, March 10

Leanne suggests a girly film night with Megan complete with ice cream, popcorn and no bras.

Before Megan can go, Leanne asks for her advice regarding Sam, concerned that there’s more to the story than he’s letting on.

Megan springs into manipulating Leanne into not pushing the issue, promising that if Sam needs anything, he’ll approach her. Placated, Leanne heads off to work.

As the door closes, Megan’s saccharine smile falls off her face. Has she managed to shut Leanne down? Or is her true nature about to come to light?

Wednesday, March 11

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As Lauren, quite blatantly, tries to make Ollie jealous with tales of nightclubs and groups of lads, he calls her out.

Dropping her tough exterior, Lauren opens up about her worry over being hurt, especially after her last two relationships. Admitting that this is the reason she ended things and that she regrets it deeply, Ollie is utterly floored.

As the two finally give in to passion, Amy bursts in as Maggie watches on with sinister glee. Withdrawing from the burgeoning love triangle, Amy storms away.

Has Maggie got what she wanted and successfully destroyed any chance of Amy and Ollie?

Thursday, March 12

Steve is buoyed by the support of girlfriend, Cassie Plummer (Claire Sweeney), with daughter Amy by his side, as budding bestie Ben and Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley) arrive to offer their support.

Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine) arrives in a very interesting shirt while Sally (Sally Dynevor) pays her respects, in the most Sally way possible.

As the funeral car arrives, Steve and his family hop in, though Maggie’s conflicted glare at the proceedings remains hidden.

Is the truth of the bond between Steve and Ben about to be revealed?

MORE: On edge Maggie loses it in Coronation Street – and bars three shocked regulars

MORE: Coronation Street fans have the most brutal response to the upcoming death storyline

MORE: Coronation Street drops whopping hints to big twist after major death

Wales were beaten in Dublin by Ireland in a 27-17 scoreline but many players performed well

Wales fell agonisingly short in Dublin, slipping to a 27-17 defeat to Ireland.

Steve Tandy’s side were much improved with tries from Rhys Carre and James Botham.

But despite leaving the hosts rattled they couldn’t get over the line.

Here are your player ratings.

15. Louis Rees-Zammit 6

Kicked well out of hand with one excellent 50/22 in the first half.

The Welsh flyer did not get much opportunity with ball in hand but found it tough going in defence.

14. Ellis Mee 6

Competed well in the air, putting Ireland under pressure and defended well throughout making some good reads.

Solid with ball in hand without setting the world alight.

13. Eddie James 7

Not much chance to show his worth with ball in hand but made some good defensive reads and put in some big hits throughout the game.

12. Joe Hawkins 6

The Scarlets centre had a strong game defending well in the fact of an Irish onslaught in the first half.

Some nice touches in attack as Wales’ attack began to click.

11. Josh Adams 6

Started well, taking winning back possession in the air and defended well.

Adams also made some headway with ball in hand but his poor pass to James Botham cost Wales a try.

10. Dan Edwards 5

Exposed defensively in the first half and missed a tackle on Jacob Stockdale for the first Ireland try.

But grew into the game as his kicking improved as the game wore on.

Did well to cover Joe McCarthy’s kick into the Wales 22.

9. Tomos Williams 6

Williams had a solid game, if not spectacular, and kicked reasonably well from the base of the ruck.

Blotted his copybook when he got sent to the sin bin, meaning Wales had to play the final 10 minutes with 14 men.

8. Aaron Wainwright 7

The Dragons backrower had another strong game carrying well and putting in a huge defensive shift.

Wainwright put in 17 tackles and held his own in the physical confrontations.

7. James Botham 8

This was Botham’s best performance in a Wales shirt, with the Cardiff backrower putting in a huge shift.

Botham made 24 tackles as he smashed Ireland’s ball carriers backwards throughout the game.

Did well to burrow his way over for Wales’ second try.

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6. Alex Mann 8 – star man

The Cardiff backrower put in a huge defensive shift making a remarkable 28 tackles and getting under the skin of the Ireland pack.

Mann has found his feet as an international player as he won a crucial penalty at the breakdown in the first half, while his carry set up James Botham’s try.

5. Ben Carter 7

Another strong performance from the Dragons lock who put in 19 tackles as he fronted up to the powerful Ireland pack.

Carter also marshalled the lineout well as Wales’ set-piece functioned well.

4. Dafydd Jenkins 7

The Exeter Chiefs lock is a work horse who put in a huge shift.

Jenkins gets through a ton of work making 27 tackles and was a key reason the Wales lineout went well.

3. Tomas Francis 6

Scrummaged well and was arguably not rewarded as much as he should have been by the officials.

Also played his part around the park.

2. Dewi Lake 8

Carried extremely well throughout leading from the front.

Won a crucial turnover at the breakdown when Ireland were building up ahead of steam in the Wales 22.

Also, put in a huge defensive shift making 23 tackles and the lineout also functioned well.

1. Rhys Carré 8

The Saracens man is developing into a high-class Test player.

Solid in the scrum and carried well consistently getting over the gainline. The Wales prop scored a terrific try when he brushed aside Balacoune before running in from just outside the Ireland 22.

Replacements

16. Ryan Elias 6

Threw well into the lineout and offered himself as a carrier

17. Nicky Smith 7

Gave Tadhg Furlong a torrid time at the scrum and put in a strong shift around the park.

18. Archie Griffin 7

Scrummaged very well upon entering the fray.

19. Adam Beard 6

Solid after coming back into the team and ensured the lineout continued to function well.

20. Olly Cracknell 7

Carried extremely well getting Wales over the gainline.

21. Kieran Hardy – N/A

Unused

22. Jarrod Evans – N/A

Unused

23. Louie Hennessey 5

A few decent tackles on his first cap.

With the latest Resident Evil game proving to be a major hit once again, a reader explains why they’ve been a fan of the series for three decades now.

Resident Evil is going to turn 30 this month and that worries me because I remember playing the original as a kid (my parents were very lenient) and, well… time certainly does fly. I’ve played almost every Resident Evil game over the last three decades and I love the series more than any other.

Despite all the brain-eating zombies and disgusting mutations, playing Resident Evil is my comfort food. I’m never happier, when playing a video game, than when I’m being scared and thrilled and grossed out by a new Resi.

As I sit down to write this it’s actually kind of hard to explain the appeal of the games, even to another fan. Since Resident Evil 4 they’ve been great action games, but they didn’t start that way. And while some can be very scary at times, especially Requiem, they’re generally more tense than frightening.

They also have an ongoing story that spans that whole 30 years, but it’s complete nonsense and the scripts are always terrible – which is one of the things I love about it the most.

Resi games can be funny, but not always intentionally and they’re not straight up comedies, like something like Army Of Darkness or Shaun Of The Dead. They’re great third person combat games a lot of the time but that never dominates the games and, strangely for a Japanese franchise, the boss battles are often not that memorable.

Despite how often they’re copied, they’re strangely unique games where even today you don’t know how much of what you enjoy of them is intended, when it comes to the camp and corny dialogue. It has been hit and miss in the more modern games, because it’s hard to be bad on purpose and still be entertaining.

Thanks to Resident Evil 4, Leon S. Kennedy has always been the funniest of the main characters, with his bad jokes and one-liners. He’s also the best looking of the men, with his famous hair and manly stubble. He’s meant to be 50 in Requiem, but he barely looks it and certainly doesn’t move like he’s that old. But I guess the idea is that he’s not just aging with the games, he’s aging with his audience too.

Almost everything that comes out of his mouth in Requiem is hilarious, with dad joke after dad joke, and all delivered with the ultra-confidence that comes from being an invincible video game character.

To my great pleasure, Requiem has been a big hit – the fastest-selling entry for the series – and we’ve still got whatever Capcom might announce for the 30th anniversary itself (on March 22) to look forward to. I’ve seen people saying that it’s proof that big budget single-player games can still be successful and I’m glad of that too. It’s good to see Resi still leading the way after all these years.

For me Resident Evil will always be the perfect video game, in that the gameplay is great, the storytelling is entertaining (bad but in a good way), the graphics are top notch, and the whole thing is weird and fantastical in a way only a video game can be.

The Resident Evil movies are shlock, just like the games, and they do have some of the same DNA in the so good it’s bad sense, but it’s only the dialogue that’s like that in the games. Everything else is the best it can be and that’s certainly not true of the films.

The mix of elements that is Resi only works because it’s a video game, where you’re able to put your own spin on things, and read between the lines, while you’re playing. I love it and with Requiem it feels like the future is looking very bright for my favourite video game series.

By reader Cher

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.

Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

MORE: How a video game merch store helped me bond with my daughter – Reader’s Feature

MORE: How the video games industry will finally destroy itself – Reader’s Feature

MORE: My dream narrowboat sim would be the ultimate cosy game – Reader’s Feature

There are three types of people in Dubai right now: those off to play padel, those rushing to the Omani border, and those waiting for house prices to drop.

It’s a joke doing the rounds here, and it neatly captures the mood.

Day seven of this war started with the familiar humdrum of daily life – people out jogging, children off to the park, the malls filling with shoppers.

But the mid-morning air was pierced by the screech of another emergency alarm on mobile phones.

Iran war latest: Trump demands ‘unconditional surrender’

This one warning of incoming missiles, telling people to seek shelter and stay away from windows.

We’ve now had to teach toddlers and childminders to take cover when they hear the warnings or blasts from air defence. I’ve met children in Ukraine who are so familiar with the sounds of war they can tell if it’s incoming or outgoing fire. I never expected to see children enduring this in Dubai.

This is the dual reality the UAE is now living.

Normal life continues while the country is attacked every day.

The UAE is now having to defend its territory, residents and way of life – in a way it never imagined.

It’s understood Iran has fired more drones and missiles at the UAE than anywhere else – even Israel – in these last seven days of war.

If you want to get people’s attention, aim for a global city and its five-star hotels. Create shock, havoc, and headlines.

But no one expected this – not the government, the military, or the millions of people who live here.

The US military base in Abu Dhabi was always known to be a possible target, but fairly low down the list given the far larger American military assets in the region. The UAE also made it clear in a public statement several weeks ago that no attacks on Iran were to come from its territory, airspace or waters. It was thought this would add a layer of protection to Iran’s Gulf neighbour.

We couldn’t have been more wrong.

More than 200 ballistic missiles and nearly 2,000 drones have been fired at the UAE in seven days.

Two missiles and 74 drones have got through. Three people have been killed and dozens injured.

For some residents, it’s been too much, and community WhatsApp groups are in meltdown with people sharing flight information and tips on the journey to Muscat airport.

I’ve heard from many who have crossed into Oman to catch a flight, others who’ve driven to Saudi Arabia to get out.

I’ve also heard from others making the reverse journey – separated from their children and desperate to get back.

For many stranded tourists, it’s been a nightmare holiday. The initial shock of finding themselves caught up in a war has been replaced by a sense of abandonment.

The UK government took nearly a week to organise its first evacuation flight, and there are tens of thousands of British holidaymakers still trying to get home.

We’ve received hundreds of messages from people at a loss as to what to do. One traveller who did get a flight, called on the way to the airport to say they could see incoming fire.

It’s been a surreal and scary week on many levels. The psychological impact has been even greater than any physical harm.

Will this hurt the city? Will this impact the country? For sure. At least for a time. I’ve already spoken to residents who’ve left and don’t want to come back.

Will it impact the sky-high property prices and rents? Probably.

Much depends on how long this war lasts – how long Iran is willing to sabotage its relationship with its neighbours.

But what I do know is that seven days on, a country not used to war has shown it can defend itself.

And a population that chose this city for its lifestyle and security – never expecting to confront war on their doorstep – has shown a quiet resilience they can take pride in.