One resident said the high street has a ‘lot of nail bars and barbers’
Residents are “sad” to see more nail bars and barbers in a city high street – with some saying it is “missing” a variety of other shops. UK high streets have changed over the years, with many recognisable brands leaving cities and towns.
Advertisement
With rising costs, some independent shops have sadly been forced to close their doors. In Ely, there are several independent shops, cafes, and restaurants that fill the high street, which brings joy to residents. However, some residents feel there are still certain shops “missing” from the high street.
A woman who has lived in Ely for 35 years, and wished to remain anonymous, said Ely is a “beautiful” place to live, but she is “sad” about the high street. She said: “We have a lot of nail bars and barbers.
“We do have some independent cafes and some lovely independent shops, but it could be a lot better. It’s sad to see places boarded up and closed.
“I know that is true of high streets up and down the country. I am happy for people to have thriving businesses, but there needs to be a balance.”
Advertisement
James Smith said: “We do have a good mix of stuff like cafes and restaurants, but we are starting to see more barbers and things like that pop up. It’s not a bad thing as everyone needs a haircut, but we need more of other shops.”
Emma Lebedyeva, who works at Topping and Company Books in the high street, thinks there are a “lot of charity shops” in Ely. She added: “It’s great, as I love charity shop shopping.
“However, I think we’re missing a lot of high street shops that we used to have. I used to live here when I was a teenager and recently moved back. There used to be various high street shops that you could go to and they were sort of better.”
As well as improving the high street, Jack Sanford, who works alongside Emma, thinks Ely could offer more to younger people.
Advertisement
He said: “There’s not much for younger people here. There is some stuff for children, but not young adults or teenagers.
“Other than walking around the countryside, but when you have done that it’s just flat land. So there could be more for younger people to do.”
Just like most places, long-term resident Hayley Armitage also believes facilities such as doctors need to be “better” in Ely. She added: “Ely has a good history and good facilities, except the doctors”.
If Israel and the US hoped their attack on Iran would force the country to capitulate quickly, they were wrong. Despite the death of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and many other senior figures, Iran has managed to continue firing drones and missiles at targets across the Middle East.
This poses a challenge for the US and its allies, including Israel and the Gulf states. The challenge is that they might run out of air defences before Iran runs out of airborne projectiles.
The US and its allies use a number of weapons platforms to knock down incoming missiles and drones. The most important are Thaad interceptors, Patriot systems and SM-family naval missiles, while Israel also uses longer-range Arrow interceptors. However, the supply of these interceptors has been under severe strain in recent years.
Many have been provided to Ukraine, which faces relentless Russian aerial assault. Others have been used in the Red Sea to protect shipping against attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthis. And more still have been stationed in the Indo-Pacific to defend South Korea and Taiwan from possible North Korean and Chinese attacks.
Advertisement
Despite their importance to modern warfare, US stockpiles of these munitions are dangerously low. There are simply too many competing priorities, and production has only recently been increased. The 12-day war the US and Israel fought with Iran in June 2025 is thought to have consumed around a quarter of the entire US inventory of Thaads.
When stocks of these munitions diminish during a war, choices have to be made about which targets to protect – and which not to protect. This usually means focusing on the defence of strategic military installations, allowing some civilian areas to be hit. Israel is widely believed to have made this choice during the 12-day war.
That moment may be approaching again. However, this time it is not just Israel that is at risk, but half a dozen other Middle East countries. The main problem is in the Gulf states, which are in range both of the sort of long-range missile that Iran fires at Israel and its shorter-range projectiles.
These Arab countries can also be hit more easily by Iran’s Shahed exploding drones. The drones are much easier to launch than missiles, require less risk to do so and can reach some targets in the Gulf within minutes. Iran is estimated to have 80,000 of them.
Advertisement
Thick black smoke billows into the air above the Jebel Ali port in Dubai after it was struck by debris from an Iranian intercepted missile on March 1. Stringer / EPA
Ukraine has faced this type of attack mix for years and it has developed complex, multi-layered air defences to counter it. This means using expensive interceptors (each Patriot missile costs US$4 million) to take down ballistic missiles and using a combination of other things – even a machine gun will do – to take down drones.
It’s an effective system that has kept Ukraine in the fight and ensures it does not use too many interceptors. The Gulf states have not done this. Instead, they appear to be using Patriot missiles and other extremely expensive and scarce missiles to take down everything from ballistic missiles to US$20,000 (£15,000) drones.
Missile defence systems are designed to launch several interceptors at each incoming projectile, meaning their stocks can run down quickly. Probably within a few days, the Gulf states are going to have to shift their tactics.
Stocks running low
Even if the Gulf states are the most exposed, the situation is not rosy for Israel or US military forces across the region either. Some US forces are in range of Iran’s Shahed drones and short-range missiles. Others are in range of Iran’s long-range missiles.
Advertisement
The exact size of missile defence stocks is classified. But a look at budgetary and procurement data suggests that US forces will become stretched within a matter of days or several weeks at the very most. At that point, the US will have to begin drawing down missile defence stocks from the rest of the world.
According to South Korean media, discussions are already underway about removing Thaads and Patriot systems from South Korea and sending them to the Middle East. Ukraine will get fewer. And US military readiness will be severely degraded around the world, inviting aggression and the possible opening of a second front.
The other side of the equation is Iran’s capabilities, which are something of an unknown. Long-range missiles are the type of munition it has the least of, and they are also the riskiest to launch. The US and its allies can be fairly confident that over time they will significantly degrade Iran’s ability to launch these missiles. Whether it will be fast enough to happen before a critical interceptor shortage is less certain.
But Iran’s short-range missiles and drones are another matter. The drones, especially, can be launched without large, visible weapons platforms, which make an easy target for US and allied air strikes. Particularly if Gulf air defences become very degraded, there are a host of highly damaging targets for them to hit – ranging from US bases to oil and gas infrastructure to shipping.
Advertisement
Ultimately, the answer to how prepared the US and its allies are for a protracted conflict seems to be “not very”. Even if it runs out of long-range missiles, Iran can probably continue its drone attacks for a very long time, causing chaos throughout the region and spiking energy prices by disrupting production and shipping. Stopping them will not be easy.
A scene has been put in place to preserve any evidence and an investigation has been launched
A man left with serious injuries aftter he was attacked and robbed on a street in Cambridge. Police were called at 1.32am today (March 4) with reports of violence on Chesterton Road in Cambridge.
Advertisement
Cambridgeshire Police and paramedics attended and found a man had been robbed and attacked, suffering serious injuries. The robbery is thought to have taken place between midnight and 1.32am outside Barclays Bank on Chesterton Road (Mitcham’s Corner).
A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “A 52-year-old woman from Cambridge has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and a 22-year-old man, of no fixed address, has been arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm (GBH) and robbery. They both remain in custody at Parkside Police Station.
“A scene has been put in place to preserve any evidence and an investigation has been launched.”
Anyone with any information is urged to contact police online quoting investigation reference 35/16410/26 or call 101 if you do not have internet access.
Cancer Research UK has warned that this sign affects 65 per cent of cancer patients
Fiona Callingham Lifestyle writer
15:00, 04 Mar 2026
A “very common” symptom that “doesn’t go away” even with rest could be a warning sign of cancer. While this symptom typically affects 65 per cent of cancer patients, it could easily be overlooked or mistaken for something far less serious.
Feeling slightly tired in the morning is perfectly normal. Even after a good night’s sleep, you might still feel you need a bit more rest before starting your day.
Advertisement
It’s also typical to experience some tiredness during daytime hours, especially throughout the winter months when chilly weather and reduced daylight hours can leave you feeling lethargic. However, persistent, overwhelming fatigue could indicate something much more serious.
Cancer Research UK has warned that tiredness which “doesn’t go away” despite adequate sleep or rest is a potential cancer warning sign. This type of fatigue may result from both the disease itself and its treatment, leaving patients “feeling very tired, exhausted and lacking energy”.
On its website, the charity explained: “Cancer-related fatigue can affect you physically, emotionally, and mentally. How long it lasts, how severe it is, and how often you might have it is different from person to person.”, reports the Mirror.
If you’re experiencing cancer-related fatigue, you may notice:
Advertisement
Lack of energy – you might just want to stay in bed all day
The need for rest even after minimal or no activity
Feeling as though you simply can’t be bothered to do much
Sleeping issues such as insomnia or disrupted sleep
Struggling to get up in the morning
Feeling anxious, downcast or depressed
Muscle pain – you may find climbing stairs or walking short distances challenging
Feeling out of breath after completing minor tasks, like showering or making your bed
Difficulty concentrating, even on simple activities like watching TV or chatting with a friend
Struggling to think clearly or make decisions easily
Loss of interest in sex
Loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy
Negative feelings about yourself and others
This particular symptom can make everyday life incredibly difficult. Cancer Research UK said: “Fatigue can be very frustrating. You and your relatives might underestimate how much it can affect daily life.
“Everyday life can be difficult and you might not have the energy to cook, clean, bathe or go shopping. You might not even feel up to a chat. Things that you used to find easy to do can feel like hard work.”
The charity warns that this symptom could force you to stop working entirely. Cancer Research UK added: “Some people feel like fatigue is a constant reminder of their cancer and this can be hard to accept.
“You might worry that because you feel so tired all the time your cancer could be getting worse. But it is more likely to be a side effect of treatment, or due to the fact that cancer can cause fatigue.”
When should you consult a GP?
That said, exhaustion doesn’t automatically signal cancer. It might arise from other medical conditions or lifestyle factors, including inadequate sleep, poor nutrition, and insufficient exercise.
Advertisement
Other health problems known for causing tiredness include:
Anaemia
Under or overactive thyroid
Diabetes
Kidney disease
Heart disease
Endometriosis
Long Covid
Mental health issues
Certain medications such as antidepressants, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and pain relief drugs are similarly linked with fatigue. Nevertheless, if you’re experiencing persistent, unexplained tiredness that’s disrupting your daily life, you should consult your GP.
The blockbuster GLP-1 drugs that have reshaped the treatment of diabetes and obesity may help prevent multiple substance use disorders — and reduce the tragic outcomes they cause, a large new study finds.
An analysis published Wednesday in a medical journal looked at electronic health records from more than 600,000 U.S. Veterans Affairs patients with diabetes. It found that those treated with medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro were less likely to develop addictions to alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, opioids and other substances than those treated with a different class of drugs.
In those already addicted, the GLP-1 drugs were linked to lower risks of hospitalization, overdose and death, according to the study.
The new results suggest — but don’t prove — that the weight-loss medications may be able to target the underlying source of cravings that affect the more than 48 million Americans with substance use disorders.
Advertisement
“They’re actually working against the root cause of all these different addictions,” said Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, the study’s lead author and a chief researcher at the VA St. Louis Health Care System.
Here’s what you need to know about the new research published by The BMJ:
How the study was designed
Previous studies have suggested that the drugs known as GLP-1s, or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, could reduce addictions by targeting the brain’s reward pathways. But those studies have been small and often limited to one substance.
For this study, one of the largest to date, Al-Aly and his colleagues analyzed data from the electronic records of more than 600,000 Veterans Affairs patients with diabetes over three years. They compared people who received GLP-1 drugs with those treated with medications that lower blood sugar.
Advertisement
The patients were divided into seven parallel trials that analyzed the risk of developing addictions to multiple substances including alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, nicotine and opioids. Another trial looked at the risk of specific harms among people with existing addictions when they took the different types of medication.
What the researchers found
Al-Aly and his colleagues found that people starting the GLP-1 drugs had lower risks of developing addiction to multiple substances. Compared with the other medications, people taking the GLP-1 drugs had a reduced risk for addiction: 18% for alcohol, 14% for cannabis, 20% for both cocaine and nicotine, and 25% for opioids.
In patients who already had substance use disorders, starting the GLP-1s was linked with a 31% lower risk of emergency department visits, 26% lower risk of hospitalizations, 25% lower risk of suicidal thoughts or attempts, 39% lower risk of overdose — and 50% lower risk of death.
Overall, the study found that using GLP-1 drugs likely prevented about seven cases of substance use disorder and 12 incidents involving serious harm for every 1,000 users over three years, Al-Aly said.
Advertisement
The limits of the study
Among the study’s limitations: It was conducted within the VA health system, which serves a population that is mostly older, white and male, although Al-Aly said the results were consistent in more than 35,000 women. It also includes data only from people with diabetes, not the general population.
The researchers also couldn’t account for some factors, such as socioeconomic status or lifestyle choices, that could affect the results. And the analysis focuses on the effects of using GLP-1s compared with another drug, not compared with no treatment.
As an observational study, the new analysis showed that the GLP-1s are associated with reduced risk of substance use disorders and harms, not that the drugs themselves caused the reduction.
Addiction researchers see a need for new medications
The new findings are striking, said Dr. Lorenzo Leggio, a National Institute on Drug Abuse clinical director who wasn’t involved in the study.
Advertisement
“Even though we don’t fully understand the mechanism, somehow the GLP-1 system is tackling addiction biology and the foundational system that underlies all these disorders,” he said.
Diabetes and weight-loss trials have shown that the GLP-1 drugs target hormones in the gut and the brain that control appetite and feelings of fullness, cutting down on what’s described as “food noise,” or intrusive thoughts of food. In the same way, this study indicates the drugs may tamp down “alcohol or drug noise,” Leggio said.
Growing evidence that GLP-1s might prevent substance use disorders is exciting, said Dr. Anna Lembke, a Stanford University addiction medicine specialist.
“We haven’t really had a new tool in our toolbox from a pharmacotherapy perspective to treat addiction in a long time,” said Lembke, noting that some addiction specialists are already prescribing GLP-1s off-label, especially when other treatments have failed.
Advertisement
She cautioned that the GLP-1 drugs don’t work the same way for all users and that they have risks that must be weighed against potential benefits.
What comes next
The new findings do not, by themselves, justify prescribing GLP-1 drugs to prevent or treat substance use disorders, Al-Aly said. That evidence would need to come from randomized controlled clinical trials that directly compare the use of the drugs against a placebo, or dummy medication. Several such trials are pending, Leggio noted.
The goal is finding a new way to treat addictions, which are a leading cause of sickness and death around the world.
“The consequence in terms of chronic disease of these addictive drugs is actually gigantic in our society,” Leggio said.
Advertisement
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
A federal lawsuit accuses the late pop star Michael Jackson of being a “serial child predator” who “drugged, raped, and sexually assaulted” a group of siblings over the course of years.
The complaint, filed in California federal court on Friday, comes from Edward, Dominic and Aldo Cascio, along with their sister Marie-Nicole Porte. It names the Michael Jackson Company as well as various figures in the Jackson estate.
The suit claims that Jackson, who met the Cascios’ father when he worked at a hotel that Jackson frequented, “groomed and brainwashed” the children from the time they were young, plying them drugs and alcohol and showing them pornography to desensitize them to Jackson’s alleged abuses.
Staff are accused of being aware of and facilitating the abuse, according to the lawsuit, allegedly booking Jackson in hotel rooms near the children when they traveled together.
Advertisement
The Cascios had previously defended Jackson’s reputation in the face of allegations of child abuse, but said they were finally “deprogrammed” about their experience after the release of the bombshell 2019 HBO documentary Leaving Neverland, which aired new allegations.
The suit accuses Jackson and his staff of perpetuating years of child sexual abuse against family friends of the pop staff (Getty)
“Leaving Neverland deprogrammed Plaintiffs and forced them, for the first time, to become conscious of the reality: Jackson’s abuse was wrong and had severely damaged them,” the suit claims.
After the film’s release, Jackson’s estate said the documentary was filled with “falsity” and called its claims “tabloid character assassination” based “on the word of two perjurers.”
After his death, the Jackson estate allegedly deceived the siblings into signing a settlement that released Jackson from liability and forced any future complaints into confidential arbitration, the lawsuit claims.
Martin Singer, who represents the Jackson estate, has called the suit a “desperate money grab.”
Advertisement
The suit accuses Jackson of using drugs, alcohol, and gifts to manipulate his victims (Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
“The family staunchly defended Michael Jackson for more than 25 years, attesting to his innocence of inappropriate conduct,” Singer said in a statement provided to various media outlets. “This new court filing is a transparent forum-shopping tactic in their scheme to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars from Michael’s estate and companies.”
In January, the Cascios were in a Beverly Hills courthouse seeking to void what they called the “purported settlement” agreement with the estate, while the Jackson estate pushed to move the dispute into arbitration.
A judge declined to issue an immediate ruling.
“We categorically dispute these claims,” Singer reportedly told the court at the time.
Advertisement
Aldo Cascio recently detailed the alleged abuses in an interview with The Daily Mail.
“I was just sitting on the bed with him during the day, and I was just playing my Game Boy,” he said. “And I remember he just went to me and pulled down my shorts.”
”Since middle school, it introduced me to hell and my demons,” he added. “I realized that I might want to end my life one day.”
Wegovy and Mounjaro could help to prevent and treat addiction, experts suggest
Weight-loss jabs like Wegovy and Mounjaro could prevent and treat addiction to alcohol, cigarettes and drugs, according to a large study.
Advertisement
Experts believe the way the medicines work on the brain’s reward pathway cuts cravings and could help to save lives from substance abuse.
Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. And don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) help people feel fuller by mimicking the natural hormone released after eating. Common jabs include Wegovy and Mounjaro for weight loss, and Ozempic for diabetes.
Now, a large US study has found the jabs could help in the treatment of addiction to a range of substances including alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, nicotine and opioids.
Advertisement
The research found GLP-1s helped both prevent substance misuse in those who had no addictions and prevented overdoses and A&E visits in people already addicted.
The researchers concluded: “GLP-1 receptor agonists were associated with lower risks of incident alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, nicotine, opioid and other substance use disorders, suggesting potential preventive effects across a broad range of substances.
“In participants with pre-existing SUDs [substance use disorders], GLP-1 receptor agonists were associated with reduced risks of SUD-related emergency department visits, hospital admissions and mortality, and drug overdoses and suicidal behaviours.”
Advertisement
The study looked at more than 600,000 US veterans with type 2 diabetes who were monitored for up to three years. In veterans with no history of substance abuse, starting a GLP-1 drug was linked to an overall 14 per cent reduced risk of substance use disorders.
The drugs were also linked to a reduced risk of problems with alcohol (18 per cent), cannabis (14 per cent), cocaine (20 per cent), nicotine (20 per cent) and opioids (25 per cent), when compared with people on other diabetes drugs.
This meant there were between one and six fewer cases per 1,000 people over three years.
Among those with an existing substance use disorder, starting a GLP-1 was linked to 31 per cent lower risk of SUD-related emergency department visits, 50 per cent lower deaths and 39 per cent fewer overdoses.
Advertisement
This is about one to 10 fewer such things happening per 1,000 people over three years.
While the study, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), was predominantly on older men, similar results were found in women.
Resident Evil Requiem – will Mercenaries be added later? (Capcom)
The Thursday letters page wonders when Pokémon Red and Blue will be remade in 3D, as one reader looks forward to Crimson Desert.
Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk
Mercenary thoughts I wonder why Capcom hasn’t said anything about The Mercenaries yet? Maybe they don’t want people to put off buying the game at launch but personally I’d feel a lot more confident about buying it if they did announce it.
I’m glad to see Resident Evil Requiem doing so well though and will definitely get it at some point this year. I’m also on board with a new Resident Evil 1 remake, as it’s always been inevitable. But you’ve got to wonder what Capcom is going to do after that?
Advertisement
Even if they remake Resident Evil 5 and 6, which I would advise against, they’re still on the verge of running out of anything to remake. We can see that they like a new Resident Evil game coming out every year, or at least two years, so what takes the place of the remakes?
I only see two obvious options: remake obscure games like the Game Boy game or Outbreak or create a new sub-series. I would’ve made this Revelations, as I liked the focus on co-op, but I’m assuming they didn’t sell that well or we’d already have more.
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
Advertisement
Maybe a series of prequels? If the main cast are getting old then maybe some stories of them as younger people? I don’t really understand what anyone in S.T.A.R.S. did before the zombie outbreak, so maybe they could explore that. Why did an ordinary city police force have such a highly trained team of special forces soldiers? Were they just giving out parking tickets before Resident Evil 1 happened? Cranston
Simple explanation I wonder how many cheering the death of Highguard (and all the job losses at the developer) have actually played the game? I played it and I thought it was good. Not mind-blowing or anything but something I enjoyed and which did have some good ideas.
Personally, I don’t think it failed for any reason than it looked and sounded kinda of generic. I really don’t think it was any more complicated than that. People getting upset about it being the mic drop at The Game Awards are the usual loud minority and I don’t think that affected anything.
Advertisement
It just took a bit of time and effort to get to know and appreciate, and I can totally understand that people don’t have much of the first to spare nowadays. Bernie
Second thoughts I completely support Sony’s idea not to release single-player games on the PC. Why they ever thought it would be a good idea I don’t know but, as most people have been saying all along, exclusives sell consoles. It’s why Nintendo is still in business, it’s why Xbox barely is, and it’s why everyone loved the PlayStation 4.
I’m genuinely surprised that they did a U-turn but I’m very glad that they’ve admitted the mistake. Assuming the rumours are true, I suppose, but I guess we’ll see.
It makes me wonder what else Sony might be having second thoughts on though. I imagine they took special note of Highguard’s failure but I wonder what the poor response to God Of War: Sons Of Sparta made them think? More first party games and less stuff farmed out to nobody developers?
Advertisement
I’d be feeling quite optimistic now, if it wasn’t for shutting down Bluepoint, which seems even more stupid given what we’re hearing now. Goldface
Whatever annoucement I’ve got to say you are not exaggerating when you say companies are not putting an effort in anymore. Between Sony tweeting out Wolverine’s release date and whatever that Assassin’s Creed blog was supposed to be, things are being announced with all the enthusiasm of a bored office worker at 4.55pm on a Friday.
We’ve been hearing rumours about a Black Flag remake for years and all we get is a single picture that we’re not even sure is supposed to be there? And it’s not even a good picture, is what makes me laugh!
Advertisement
It’s pointless asking for E3 to come back but please, for pity’s sake, could publishers put some effort into pretending they want to be in the games making business? And by that I do not mean a super slick video were developers are reading things they’d never say in real-life off a board. Scooter
The remake dimension I have no problem with Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen being re-released on Switch, although personally I haven’t bought them. I’m curious, though, as to when the inevitable will happen and Nintendo will remake one of the older games in 3D (no I Choose You, Pikachu! doesn’t count).
I imagine the only reason it hasn’t happened so far is that they’ve been mocked for their bad graphics and bugs. But at some point Red and Blue is going to be remade to look like Winds and Waves, or one of the Legends games. It worked for Resident Evil, after all. MonsterB
Advertisement
Unsatisfied customer RE: Gambon and buying a PlayStation 5. I think it depends, as most of the best games on PlayStation 5 were cross-gen. If you have played the likes of God Of War, The Last Of Us, and Spider-Man 2 already on the PlayStation 4, and really don’t want to play them again, then it would seem a little pointless.
Resident Evil Requiem may run fine on Switch 2 but the PlayStation 5 is going to be a superior experience. Price wise, if you look at second-hand, you could probably get a PlayStation 5 and a PlayStation Portal for the same price as the Switch 2.
Then there is the game prices. For a tenner(-ish) a month you’d have a huge library of games on PlayStation whereas Nintendo you’ll be coughing up £60 a time to play something new. I have to admit I’ve been very disappointed with my Switch 2 so far and I couldn’t recommend it at it’s current price with the games that have been released.
Hated Donkey Kong Bananza (sorry) and I’m surprised Nintendo would release a game with such frequent frame rate and camera issues. Zelda was well worth playing again but not for the £500+ I’ve spent on it so far. P B
Advertisement
Catch up In response to Gambon asking about buying a Switch 2, I’d say that it’s an easy choice to make if you’ve never owned a Switch.
You’ll have instant access to an incredible library of games like Super Mario Odyssey, Zelda: Breath Of The Wild and Tears Of The Kingdom, and a host of amazing indie titles like Into The Breach, Hades etc. that are great for playing handheld. drlowdon
Don’t miss Gaming news! Add us as a Preferred Source
As a loyal GameCentral reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for gaming stories. We have all the latest video games news, reviews, previews, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.
Click here and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.
Advertisement
GameCentral has been delivering unique games news and reviews for over a decade
Better than fine Nice pick up on the Switch 2 version of Resident Evil Requiem. I’m sure it’s something that a lot of buyers were looking at. I remember the ‘impossible ports’ of the OG Switch, like The Witcher 3 and Doom (Eternal) and despite them being amazing technical achievements… well, they were pretty dire compared to their PlayStation 4/Xbox One counterparts.
I haven’t seen the latest Resident Evil running on Switch 2, but my young cousin has Cyberpunk 2077 on his and I have compared it to my playthrough on my PlayStation 5. It’s worth remembering that two things can be true with these ports; If you’re not a big gamer they are good enough and remarkable for a handheld, however they are downgrades across the board on the PlayStation 5 versions.
Even to untrained eyes they are noticeable and whether you can put up with that is only something the individual can answer. I’m reminded of PlayStation 2 ports of Xbox or GameCube titles back in the mid-2000s (Max Payne anyone?), they’re fine as long as someone doesn’t show you the other version, after which it’s tough to go back.
Advertisement
I guess the biggest question was always not whether the Switch 2 could run these games… but whether the consoles primary gamers would actually buy enough third party titles to make the efforts worthwhile? The legacy of the OG Switch is that Nintendo taught its users not to expect good third party ports, so those gamers probably picked up other formats in the intervening years leaving just those who played Nintendo exclusively ready to upgrade to the new machine.
Turning that around will be a slow process and news that third party titles are continuing to sell below publisher expectations is a worry. Marc
GC: Resident Evil Requiem on the Switch 2 seems to have sold well. It’s just difficult to tell, because a lot of people bought the trilogy bundle instead.
Inbox also-rans Will you be reviewing Crimson Desert? LoRd SiNn
Advertisement
GC: Yes. We’re also interested in reviewing crimson dessert. Red velvet cake is delish.
It is so weird to me to see people talk about having a pre-order and then worrying whether the game will be good or not. Why are you pre-ordering it then? Fome
The small print New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.
Advertisement
You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.
You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.
Four games ago at West Ham, Manchester United were “stodgy’” by Carrick’s own admission. It took an injury-time Benjamin Sesko goal to salvage a point.
At Everton, Sesko finished off the only notable passage of play from either side. On Sunday, Manchester United‘s response to going behind early to Crystal Palace was muted until Matheus Cunha won the penalty that also brought the red card that turned the game on its head.
Carrick’s team have been getting results. However, their most-recent performances have not matched those that beat Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham at the start of his time at the helm.
Advertisement
Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have not been a goal threat; Kobbie Mainoo’s performance levels have dipped, while penetration from full-back areas has reduced.
It is a basic reality that they do not have limitless numbers of top-quality players. By the final whistle at St James’ Park, Matthijs de Ligt, Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu were all absent because of injury. Casemiro and Luke Shaw were off the pitch feeling the effects of two hard games in four days. Carrick does not have the squad depth to cover those losses and still keep standards high.
So, embarrassingly, Manchester United lost against 10 men for the second time in just over three months. The damage was done by William Osula – a player who, as an 11-year-old, appeared on the pitch at Old Trafford to collect a Soccer Schools World Skills final victory prize.
His goal came after he got the better of Tyrell Malacia, who was making only his second appearance of a season he started as a member of Amorim’s ‘bomb squad’. The previous one was against Newcastle too.
Advertisement
The damage is not too bad though. Liverpool lost 24 hours earlier against the league’s bottom club before Aston Villa suffered a heavy home loss to Chelsea on Wednesday.
Manchester United remain third. They remain, out of the sides scrapping it out for three Champions League places in addition to the ones Arsenal and Manchester City will claim, the ones with no European or domestic cup distractions.
“We need to learn from this,” said Carrick.
“There is no sense in not learning lessons and understanding how tonight happened.
Advertisement
“We can’t lose sight of the bigger picture though – we have put ourselves into a position that can be really exciting.
“We’ve got to be positive going into the next game and look forward to it because there is a lot to play for.”
Carrick is right about that.
He needs to make sure his team’s response to this defeat is just as sure footed.
Manchester City have dropped seven points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal after they beat Brighton and Hove Albion, while Pep Guardiola’s side drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest
Manchester City have fallen further behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race after drawing 2-2 with Nottingham Forest at Etihad Stadium.
Advertisement
Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring after half an hour, but Morgan Gibbs-White equalised with a deft backheel ten minutes into the second half. Rodri then restored City’s lead soon after, only for Elliot Anderson to level the score again and secure Forest a share of the spoils.
At the same time, an early goal from Bukayo Saka was enough to earn Arsenal three points against Brighton after putting on a solid defensive display to keep another clean sheet and extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points.
Taking all this into account, MEN Sport has carried out a thorough analysis of the upcoming fixtures for the two title contenders.
Manchester City’s next five Premier League fixtures.
Verdict: Further dropped points from City are entirely plausible over the coming weeks, with a resurgent West Ham United awaiting them this weekend at London Stadium. A trip to Chelsea follows before the crucial encounter against Arsenal, a match they now cannot afford to lose. Guardiola and his squad then travel to Burnley and Everton, with both sides struggling on home ground of late, making all six points an absolute requirement.
Arsenal’s next five Premier League fixtures.
Everton (H) – March 14
Bournemouth (H) – April 11
Man City (A) – April 19
Advertisement
Newcastle (H) – April 25
Fulham (H) – May 2/3
Verdict: The FA Cup and Champions League are Arsenal’s immediate priorities, but they return to Premier League action just under 10 days later with Everton visiting Emirates Stadium. The Carabao Cup final and the final international break of the season mean Arsenal’s next league match is not until mid-April, with Bournemouth travelling to north London.
The blockbuster clash against Man City follows, with a victory not currently crucial for Arsenal to retain their advantage in the title race. They then return to home ground with Newcastle United heading south, before Fulham later take on Mikel Arteta’s side.
City of York Council’s executive backed extra Blue Badge parking, rest areas and looking into different opening times and closing on some days to help ease the market’s impact.
Cllr Claire Douglas, the council’s Labour leader, said it was part of efforts to make the city centre open and available for everyone amid remarkably difficult circumstances.
But disabled people told councillors the measures did not go far enough while businesses including pubs and bars warned against changes which could harm them during the lucrative festive period.
Opposition Liberal Democrat deputy leader Cllr Paula Widdowson said traffic restrictions which affected Blue Badge holders during last year’s Christmas Market could be enforced more often.
Advertisement
RECOMMENDED READING:
The executive’s decision on Tuesday, March 3 to look at measures for future Christmas Markets follows a review into the way city centre events operate.
It comes after an Anti-Terror Traffic Regulation Order (ATTRO) brought in during last year’s Christmas Market saw vehicle access to the city centre restricted for Blue Badge holders and others.
The police said it was needed to deter vehicle attacks seen elsewhere but disabled people said it hindered their access to the city centre in the run up to Christmas.
Advertisement
Police officers have now recommended making the ATTRO permanent and the council is set to consult on the proposals.
It would see the restrictions typically lie dormant with the council, police and other emergency services deciding when to enforce them.
A council report stated it could see the measures enforced across a range of events and it would need to be ready to manage the impact on those affected.
Measures costing around £70,000 to help ease the impact are set to come ahead of officials looking into longer-term solutions which will require outside funding.
Advertisement
Last year’s Christmas Market caused problems for Blue Badge holders
Council city development lead Garry Taylor said options for immediate changes were limited but he was confident improvements could be made, though it would take time.
But disability rights activist Flick Williams said making the city centre accessible to all while counter-terror measures become more stringent and public spaces are commercialised was a pipe dream.
Ms Williams said: “I predict that far from lying dormant, a permanent ATTRO will increasingly be used for ever more events including protests, we are staring down the barrel of another permanent Blue Badge ban.”
York Pubwatch said in a statement the Christmas Market was a vital source of income and called for compromise if a permanent ATTRO is implemented.
Advertisement
They said: “This may mean shorter opening times during the day and opening later, these changes would have a negligible effect on our business.
“Ultimately, please don’t take our hugely successful Christmas Market away from the city.”
Andrew Lowson, chief executive of York’s Business Improvement District (BID), said the implementation of similar restrictions in Chester during their Christmas Market had maintained good access for Blue Badge holders.
Green Andy D’Agorne said it was unacceptable that longer-term changes were expected to take three to five years while the city remains without a Dial & Ride service to help.
Advertisement
Liberal Democrat Cllr Widdowson said access decisions should be made solely by the police and Labour now risked breaking its pledge to reverse the previous Blue Badge parking ban.
Labour council Leader Cllr Douglas said alternative opening times and rest days should be among the measures looked at to manage future events.
The leader said: “It’s remarkably difficult and we know it’s tremendously painful for people who feel they can’t access the city centre, its services and the social life they deserve in what is their home town.”
Council deputy leader and economy spokesperson Cllr Pete Kilbane said they wanted to continue putting on events that brought people together in York while maintaining access.
Advertisement
He added Liberal Democrats were in favour of banning Blue Badge holders from the city centre all year.
