Former NFL star Alphonso Smith Jr. has reportedly died by suicide at the age of 40.

The former Detroit Lions cornerback passed away at a housing community in Florida on Wednesday, according to TMZ. 

A chilling final Facebook post that appeared on Smith Jr.’s account earlier in the day referenced ‘demons’ and concluded by saying: ‘THIS IS IT!’

‘I tried everything in my power to fight the demons behind the ones that someone put into ME!’ he wrote.

‘To my family, BABY, my MOM, my siblings, things happened to your boy, your brother while I was little that an older lady did onto me,’ he wrote. ‘As a result guys, I did the same onto others!’

Smith did not go into further detail about what happened to him or what he did to others, but did describe himself as someone who ‘needed help & did not get it.’

A chilling Facebook post appeared on Smith Jr.’s account on Wednesday referencing ‘demons’

Smith Jr. played college football at Wake Forest before being drafted by the Denver Broncos

He went on to blast himself as a ‘coward’ while apologizing to his children, parents, and friends. 

‘I am the WORST & I pray my soul rest in heaven for my heart is pure, but my BRAIN & experience is MESSED UP,’ he added. 

A Florida native, Smith Jr. played college football at Wake Forest from 2004 to 2008 before being selected by the Denver Broncos with the 37th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

During his college career at Wake Forest, Smith amassed 188 total tackles over four seasons to go with 21 total interceptions. 

The Broncos traded him to the Lions in 2010 and he went on to play three seasons in Detroit before his NFL career ended after the 2012 season.

In total, Smith Jr. played in 42 NFL games and recorded 88 tackles and eight interceptions. 

His death comes just over a month after Super Bowl champion Jordan Devey also died by suicide at the age of 38.

Devey’s wife, Lindsey, shared the news in an emotional Instagram tribute posted on what would have been the couple’s 15th wedding anniversary.

Former NFL star and Super Bowl champion Jordan Devey has died by suicide at 38 in July

‘We have filled the walls of our homes and hearts with countless memories, joys, struggles, and triumphs,’ Lindsey wrote alongside photos of the couple.

‘We brought 4 beautiful children into this world that have your eyes, freckles, and compassion. You were our hero and our hearts ache in your absence. We love you. We miss you. And as you said in your last words to me, “we’ll talk soon.”‘

A GoFundMe campaign launched on behalf of the family confirmed Devey died by suicide, leaving behind his wife and four young children.

‘Tragically, Jordan took his own life, leaving his family to navigate an incredibly difficult and heartbreaking time,’ the page reads.

‘As they face overwhelming emotional and financial challenges, including mounting medical expenses, the community is coming together to support Lindsey and their children.’

Devey, who went undrafted out of Memphis in 2013, spent eight seasons in the NFL, playing for the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills before retiring in 2021. 

Over the course of his professional career, he appeared in 44 regular-season games and made 21 starts across stints with the Patriots, 49ers, Chiefs and Raiders.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org. 

Thursday’s Inbox is not convinced about the changes in Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis, as a reader hopes for more Commodore retro compilations.

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 next big thing
I hate to be a typical gamer and immediately start asking about the next thing but now that we’ve had the Netflix show do you think we’ll get a Trailer 3 for GTA 6? Whatever you want to call the Netflix thing it definitely wasn’t a trailer, which means the last one we got was a year ago.

We’ve still got over two months until the game’s out, so surely that’s not going to be it in terms of trailers and footage? If this was any other company I’d definitely expect a second proper trailer and maybe even a Netflix follow-up.

But because this is Rockstar Games I really don’t know. It’s not that I’m not already sold on the game but I just like the hype and excitement of it all. Ignore everything else and you’ve got to admit those trailers so far are really well made mini-movies.
Wonader

GC: There’s no way to know for sure, but a third trailer is very likely. We’d be surprised if there was another one like the Netflix show though.

Accidental troll
I don’t think Nintendo is trolling anyone on purpose but their priorities since the very start of the Switch 2 has been absolutely bizarre to me. Eight-player Mario Kart 8 is great and all but, like you said, was that really the most important thing they had to be working on right now?

I mean seriously, DLC for a nine year old (older if you count the Wii U version) Switch 1 game, while you completely ignore making any for the brand new sequel that everyone complains hasn’t got enough combat.

I take it back. They are trolling fans. I can believe they don’t realise they are but the end result is the same, whether they meant to or not.
Trepsils

Too new
I’m not sure I like the idea of the Tomb Raider remake adding all these new features and options that the original didn’t have. Surely the point of doing a remake is that you want to recreate the original game but with modern graphics? I suppose you could argue that you should also add modern gameplay techniques as well, but only to a degree. Adding crafting, especially, is not something I enjoy in most games and I don’t see why it needs to be in a Tomb Raider game.

It all depends on the way it’s handled but the fact that we’ve had two previews now and still nobody’s been allowed to play it is getting me very suspicious. That usually means only one thing. I’m beginning to think that maybe Crystal Dynamics has been working on Tomb Raider for too long and it needs a fresh pair of eyes on it.
Darcy

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

DualSense nonsense
Does anyone else think that the touchpad on the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller is underused?

Apparently Astro Bot made use of the feature but mostly, in the games that I’ve played, the touchpad has served as a big button. You could generate a breeze with the touchpad in Animal Well, but that breeze did nothing much for me personally. I can’t help but think that this widespread touchpad neglect is a missed opportunity.

I detest graffiti in real life, so I’m not going to suggest that the touchpad could be used to put illegal scrawl onto walls in Grand Theft Auto 6, but what about an art creation mission, or the player could use the touchpad to forge signatures? Jason and Lucia could visit a graphologist, and by using their actual handwriting a player could receive interesting feedback on their personality. Maybe the touchpad isn’t that sensitive. I’ve never tried to write on it. No game has ever asked me to.

Mostly, in games, the touchpad just seems to sit there, ready, waiting and capable but broadly ignored. Since every PlayStation 5 owner has access to the feature this situation seems like a waste.
Michael Veal

GC: You’re not wrong but it’s the lack of motion controls that frustrates us. It’s maddening that Onimusha: Way Of The Sword doesn’t use them, as it would work perfectly for the bow.

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Commodore Breed
Great to hear about the return of Alien Breed, even if being 35 years old is a bit depressing for those of us that remember it. I never played any of the 3D games, or Tower Assault, so I’m looking forward to experiencing those, even if the graphics look really rough.

I’m also very excited at the idea of Commodore releasing a bunch of these sort of compilations, especially if they include similar behind the scenes stuff. My picks for next would be Speedball (or just Bitmap Brothers in general), Sensible Software, Worms, and X-COM. But I’d get anything they put out, if they’re decent ports.
Columbo

Identifying Platinum
On the theme of PlatinumGames, it will be interesting to see where they go from here, especially since, unless I’m mistaken, none of their critically acclaimed titles – aside perhaps from the first Bayonetta instalment, which has appeared on various formats – have been commercial successes.

Handling big outsourced projects like Ninja Gaiden 4 and Metal Gear Rising might have sounded exciting on paper but in reality it put them in an impossible position, between a rock and a hard place. Without full reins, they were unable exploit these projects to make them truly their own and yet by taking the games in a new direction they deviated from the formula that made the originals hits with fans.

It’s a studio whose wild creativity would have been ripe for success and thrived in the 90s and 00s when production costs were smaller and the market more forgiving to new ideas. I’d love to see a sequel to Vanquish and Sega team up to give them opportunities to revive some of their older franchises.
Sam

GC: In theory you’re right but we had a reader only the other day complaining, understandably, that Ninja Gaiden 4 is nothing like the other games; Metal Gear Rising is the most Platinum thing ever.

I am not Turok
I’ll be honest, that new Turok game looks rubbish. All these years later and they still can’t just make a normal sequel to the first two games. They were great but everything else has barely had any connection to them.

I don’t mean the story, because who cares about that with Turok, but it just being a fun first person shooter, with a lot of exploration and dinosaurs. This new game doesn’t seem to be anything like that.
Tim Rogers

Disc philosophy
Sony’s argument that nobody really owns a digital game because there is supposedly only ‘one copy’ got me thinking…

Think of it like a human being: the body is the physical vessel – the ‘meat suit’ – while the soul is what makes you you.

A physical game disc is the meat suit. The game itself – its code, world, story, and possibilities – is the soul.

But then there’s the player. The person interacting with that game influences what actually happens within it: the choices they make, where they go, how they play, what they build, win, lose or discover – almost God-like. And there are potentially infinite variations of that experience.

So millions of identical discs can contain the same underlying game, yet no two playthroughs necessarily have to be identical.

The physical vessel isn’t what makes the game the game – and removing that vessel shouldn’t magically turn something you bought into something you can never own.

Digital shouldn’t mean: ‘You paid for it, but it’s still ours.’
Scott Jenkins

Inbox also-rans
If anyone reading is 40+ like myself, get a PlayStation Classic and install Pro Evolution Soccer 2. I brought mine into work and demolished all of the 20+ year olds. Talk about a boost to the ego. Seems to be an issue with no sticks that throws them off.
Bobwallett

GC: That’s a modded PlayStation Classic, presumably.

Sounds about right for Sony that the one thing that would actually make people want to pay for a PS5 Pro comes out and they don’t have enough to sell them. They’re going to kick themselves later, because that’s only going to happen once.
Liger

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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.

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.

MORE: Games Inbox: Has Sony lost the trust of PS5 gamers?

MORE: Games Inbox: Are retro video games becoming more popular?

MORE: Games Inbox: Does GTA 6 have the best video game graphics ever?

Von der Leyen was clear in her statement that the Leipzig attack had involved “military-grade material carried out by Russian operatives on European Union soil”.

“We will not tolerate it,” she said. “We have to step up and that means being ready to respond to Russia’s recklessness faster and better.”

While she was meeting Rutte in Brussels, EU foreign ministers had gathered at Wicklow in Ireland, where France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said action could be taken on a European level against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of ships carrying oil and other cargo aimed at avoiding EU sanctions.

Barrot and fellow ministers from Belgium and the Netherlands said they had summoned Russian ambassadors in protest at the attack.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said it was obvious that Russia saw no political cost in its hybrid operations against European allies.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said they were working on how to tighten enforcement of existing sanctions, and added there was broad support for an EU visa entry ban on Russian ex-combatants as well as stricter visa limits on Russian tourists.

Several EU countries, including Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain, are pushing for more than €193bn (£165bn) in frozen Russian assets to be used to help Ukraine. The idea was first planned at the end of 2025, and rejected by Belgium where the money is held. However, Belgium’s position is unchanged because it fears being held financially liable by the courts.

The Leipzig attack was part of a broader pattern of increasingly dangerous incidents, including drones and interference with critical infrastructure, von der Leyen said.

Mark Rutte added there had been increased risk to Europeans from drones and missiles crossing into countries on the Alliance’s eastern flank, and there had been more “malign activities targeting our territory directly, whether it is fires set in factories producing defence equipment for Ukraine or indeed the Russian hybrid attack in Leipzig”.

Their reunion sparked a frenzy not seen in British music for decades, as millions of fans scrambled for tickets to see Oasis back on stage together. 

But now, with the Gallagher brothers having proved they can survive a tour without the infamous feuding which once tore the band apart, they are ready to do it all over again. 

The Daily Mail can reveal that Oasis are just days away from announcing a second tour following the extraordinary success of their sell-out comeback shows. 

Liam and Noel Gallagher are expected to begin teasing the news tomorrow, before formally unveiling the new dates next week.

And it will offer fresh hope to the legions of fans who missed out during the extraordinary rush for tickets when the brothers first announced their reunion.

A source told the Daily Mail: ‘The new tour has been in the making for some time and now they’re ready to get going with it.

‘Unlike last time there’s not such a panic about whether Liam and Noel will get on, there isn’t the drama around it. It’s just a case of them looking forward to getting on stage.

‘Oasis-mania is coming back!’

Liam and Noel Gallagher are expected to begin teasing the news tomorrow, before formally unveiling the new dates next week

The announcement will mark the next chapter in one of the most remarkable comebacks in British music history, after the warring brothers stunned fans by putting aside years of bitter animosity to reunite.

Oasis had not performed together since their acrimonious split in 2009, when Noel walked out of the band following a backstage row with his younger brother at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris.

So when they finally announced their comeback in August 2024, demand was extraordinary.

The original run of 14 shows in Britain and Ireland was repeatedly extended as millions of fans attempted to secure tickets, with extra dates added amid what the band described as ‘phenomenal’ demand.

The scramble was not without controversy, however.

Fans complained of spending hours in online queues before discovering that some standing tickets which had initially been available for £148.50 were later being sold for £355.20.

The fiasco ultimately prompted an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority, which later raised concerns over the way Ticketmaster had sold tickets for the tour.

But any rows over the sale were soon eclipsed by the extraordinary reception which greeted Noel and Liam when they finally walked on stage together at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in July last year.

It was the first Oasis concert in almost 16 years and began a globe-spanning run which took the band from Cardiff to their Manchester heartland, Wembley Stadium, Edinburgh and Dublin before heading across North America, Asia, Australia and South America.

Every date listed on the band’s official UK Live ’25 schedule sold out, including five nights at Manchester’s Heaton Park and seven at Wembley.

Liam and Noel’s tumultuous relationship famously saw Oasis break up 17 years ago as a result of backstage bust-ups, walk-outs and numerous booze-fuelled arguments

The news of a new tour comes after Oasis released the official trailer for their hotly-anticipated Disney documentary Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger. 

Set to be released in cinemas worldwide on September 11, the film charts Liam and Noel Gallagher’s triumphant reunion tour, Oasis Live ‘25, one of the most anticipated rock n roll comebacks of our time.

From the creator of Peaky Blinders Steven Knight, advance tickets for the documentary are now available to buy on Fandango.

As the trailer follows the build-up from the idea to reunite to the band taking to the stage, Noel admits: ‘I just don’t see myself on stage with Liam.

‘I don’t really want to go back with the tension, will it fall apart again?’

As moments from the historic tour play out, he adds: ‘The songs are one thing, but I’d forgotten what he [Liam] means to people.

‘I certainly wasn’t prepared for the intense outpouring… a sense of what it meant to people.’

Later in the trailer, as the brothers walked on stage hand in hand, Liam adds: ‘We have got a chance to change the narrative of the band.’

The documentary features Liam and Noel’s first joint interview in over 20 years and is also set for release on Hulu and Disney+ in the U.S. later this year.  

Liam and Noel’s tumultuous relationship famously saw Oasis break up 17 years ago as a result of backstage bust-ups, walk-outs and numerous booze-fuelled arguments.

After working through countless bickers since they shot to stardom in the 1990s, fans were left devastated when a dressing room feud in Paris tore the band apart in 2009.

Noel issued a statement at the time, saying: ‘It’s with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight.

‘People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer.’

In another statement a few days later, titled Tales From The Middle Of Nowhere, Noel added: ‘I feel you have the right to know that the level of verbal and violent intimidation towards me, my family, friends and comrades has become intolerable.

‘And the lack of support and understanding from my management and band mates has left me with no other option than to get me cape and seek pastures new.’

In the years that have followed, a feud and bitter fighting has ensued with the brothers trading insults back and forth in interviews and on social media.

Yet the story of Britain’s most famous condiment actually begins more than 300 years ago in the heart of Durham City.

Long before mustard became linked with Norfolk, Durham entrepreneur Mrs Clements is believed to have turned mustard seeds into the fiery powder still found on British tables today.

According to local histories, Mrs Clements made her breakthrough around 1720.

Mustard had been eaten in England for centuries, but it was usually made by crushing the seeds into a coarse paste.

Mrs Clements found that grinding the seeds into a fine powder, like flour, produced a much stronger flavour.

The pungent, versatile product soon became famous far beyond County Durham.

Her invention became hugely popular and was soon known as ‘Durham Mustard’.

At a time when opportunities for female entrepreneurs were limited, Mrs Clements travelled around the country taking orders and building a successful business.

The mustard’s fame eventually reached the royal court.

Historical accounts suggest King George I became a customer, helping spread Durham Mustard among fashionable society.

For decades, Durham was famous for its mustard trade.

An old local saying summed up the city’s attractions as “wood, water and pleasant walks, law, gospel, old maids and mustard.”

The precise location of Mrs Clements’ original mustard operation has been debated by historians, but it is believed to have been centred around Saddler Street.

Today, Vennels Café celebrates that connection from one of Durham’s historic alleyways.

The café occupies part of a centuries-old building and tells visitors the story of Durham mustard.

Vennels says part of the original property was linked to Mrs Clements’ business, so it calls itself the birthplace of modern English mustard.

For years, Durham’s role in the story of English mustard was largely forgotten.

Recent work by local historians and tourism organisations has revived interest in the story.

A closer look at Durham Mustard.

In 2024, a new Durham Mustard brand was launched, inspired by historic recipes and Mrs Clements’ pioneering work.

More than three centuries later, visitors can still walk Durham’s cobbled streets where the story began.

Durham may no longer be Britain’s mustard capital, but its claim to have created the nation’s favourite fiery condiment remains a source of local pride.

The changes should make the bus network ‘simpler to operate and explain’

A number of bus services in Peterborough are due to change following a review. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) carried out a review of bus services across the county to ensure the bus network was affordable, sustainable, evidence-led and better aligned to passenger need.

In Peterborough, the proposed changes include merging services 60 and 61, and introducing different timetables for services 60, 61, 62 and 63. They also include retaining the current loop around Werrington as part of the 62 service, helping residents to continue accessing Werrington centre.

Service 60 runs between Peterborough Queensgate Bus Station and Orton Northgate, while 61 runs between Queensgate and Newark Sainsbury’s, 62 runs between Queensgate and Maxey, and 63 runs between Queensgate and Parnwell.

A report to go before the CPCA transport committee on September 9 stated: “There would be no significant change to overall service levels [in Peterborough], but the network should be simpler to operate and explain.”

The revised proposals were developed in response to a six-week public consultation that received 1,182 responses.

Residents emphasised the need for reliability, punctuality, frequency, operating hours, access to rail and healthcare, the need for clear information, affordability and integrated ticketing, and the importance of services that were usable for work, education, healthcare, shopping and leisure.

If approved at next week’s meeting, the changes could be introduced from February 2027, with further changes planned for August 2027.

CPCA Mayor Paul Bristow said: “Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their views as part of our Bus Network Review. Listening to residents is incredibly important, because you are the people who use these services and understand what works well and where improvements are needed.”

Service changes elsewhere

Fenland – Services 46, 50, 56 and Tiger 7 would be redesigned to create a clearer local network, including improved March–Wisbech links, better weekend provision and revised connections through Chatteris.

St Ives, Earith, Somersham and Ramsey – The 301 would be improved to provide a simpler, more frequent core service, with Tiger 12 withdrawn alongside replacement links and implementation planning.

St Neots, Godmanchester, the Hemingfords and St Ives – Service 65 would be revised to serve St Neots Rail Station and extend from the Offords to Godmanchester, the Hemingfords and St Ives.

Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire – Services including 8, 26, 27, 27A, 27H, 75, T2, T4 and T5 would be revised to improve reliability, provide more regular Cambridge links and support evening, weekend and peak-time travel.

East Cambridgeshire and Suffolk links – Several existing low-frequency services around Haverhill and Newmarket would be replaced by simpler services, including new 119, 120 and 121 routes.

Kemi Badenoch piled pressure on Andy Burnham over defence last night as she pledged to slash welfare to fund military spending.

In a major intervention, the Conservative leader set out plans to raise defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by the end of the decade – a commitment the Prime Minister has failed to match.

The Conservative leader outlined a £10billion package of savings to fund the investment, which is seen as vital to keeping Britain safe.

Chancellor John Healey resigned from his previous job as defence secretary in June over Sir Keir Starmer‘s refusal to commit to the 3 per cent target, saying it was the minimum needed to keep Britain safe. 

But neither he nor Mr Burnham are now willing to say whether they will find the money to boost Britain’s cash-strapped Armed Forces.

The Prime Minister ducked the issue again yesterday, despite fresh threats from Russia and pressure from his own MPs.

Mrs Badenoch said: ‘The first duty of every Government is defence and the Conservatives will always put our defence first. 

‘That’s why we are setting out our plans to reach three per cent on defence spending by the end of this Parliament through further cuts to welfare and restoring the two-child benefit cap.

The Prime Minister ducked the question on Britain’s cash-strapped Armed Forces again yesterday, despite fresh threats from Russia and pressure from his own MPs

‘John Healey resigned from Keir Starmer’s government saying Labour were not keeping our country safe. Now he is the Chancellor he should adopt our plans and make sure our Armed Forces have the funding they need.’

Mrs Badenoch’s move heaps pressure on the PM and Mr Healey to find the funds to accelerate defence spending at a time of rising international threat.

Mr Burnham was savaged over the issue by a senior MP on his own side yesterday.

Tan Dhesi, Labour chairman of the cross-party Commons defence committee, accused him of ‘kicking the can down the road’ by deferring a decision on the issue until next year’s comprehensive spending review.

In a bruising intervention, Mr Dhesi also warned that Mr Burnham’s trademark optimistic bluster would not be enough to keep Britain safe. He told the PM it was ‘imperative that we invest in our Armed Forces in the here and now’.

He added: ‘Defence is definitely one area where vibes alone just will not be enough. Rather than kicking the can down the road… will the Prime Minister urgently commit to charting a pathway to reaching three per cent of GDP being spent on defence by 2030?’

Mr Burnham appeared thrown by the hostility of the question and he told Mr Dhesi: ‘I have made that commitment, I have made it very clearly.’ 

But Downing Street later confirmed that he is only committed to a much looser target of 3.5 per cent by 2035. Vladimir Putin has lashed out at the West as his forces struggle in Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin has lashed out at the West as his forces struggle in Ukraine (file image)

In recent days, Russia has threatened the UK with ‘catastrophic consequences’ over its support for Ukraine. Germany revealed this week that Russia was responsible for a failed drone attack on Leipzig airport. 

CIA chief John Ratcliffe is reported to have travelled to Moscow last week to warn Mr Putin against attacking a Nato country.

In his June resignation letter, Mr Healey revealed UK spy agencies believe Russia could attack a Nato country by 2030.

But Britain has slid down the Nato spending league table in recent years, despite the growing threats. 

Under Labour’s plans, spending will nudge up from 2.6 per cent next year to 2.7 per cent by the end of the decade. In contrast, Germany expects to spend 3.5 per cent by 2030 while Poland is already spending 4.7 per cent.

Mrs Badenoch’s plans would involve slashing billions of pounds from the bloated benefits budget. 

This will include at least £4billion a year through reforms to housing benefit. Restoring the two-child benefit cap, which Labour axed this year, would raise £3.1billion. £1billion would be saved by ending VAT exemptions for Motability vehicles.

The rest of the £10billion would be funded by scrapping Labour’s Chagos Islands giveaway and by diverting money from new windfarms and civil research and development.

Defence now looks set to be one of the biggest early tests of Mr Burnham’s administration. 

Mr Healey quit in June after the then chancellor Rachel Reeves refused to agree a timetable for hitting the 3 per cent spending target. But since being appointed her successor in July he has refused to commit to finding the cash.

Mr Burnham yesterday told MPs: ‘The very reason I appointed this Chancellor to his position is because of his strong commitment to the defence of our country. We will fully fund the defence investment plan.’ 

But Mrs Badenoch urged him to move faster and ‘get serious about defending our nation’.

Denton Community Academy says its uniform policy is intended to “set an appropriate tone for education”

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A dad said ‘this isn’t the army’ after his daughters were turned away from school for wearing skirts ‘inches’ too short. The girls, who attend Denton Community Academy, were refused entry on Wednesday despite their skirts being bought through an official uniform provider.

The father, who did not wish to be named, told Manchester Evening News he had spent a “fortune” on new uniforms for his children. He said: “They were ringing us saying they weren’t allowed to enter the school.

“The skirts they had on were not rolled at all and fell a couple of inches above the knee, if that.

“It was throwing it down with rain and there were 40 or 50 kids standing outside, not allowed in. They were soaking wet and some were crying.”

The Mirror reports the father said other parents also went to collect their children, while his two daughters spent the rest of the day at home and missed their first day back.

Northern Education Trust, which operates Denton Community Academy, said its uniform expectations had been shared with families several times before the start of the new academic year and insisted its policies were applied “consistently” and “fairly”.

The trust said: “Denton Community Academy is committed to maintaining the high standards that have driven significant improvements in our students’ educational outcomes.

“The academy is the most improved secondary school in Tameside and is now the highest-performing non-selective secondary school in the borough.

“We are incredibly proud of our students and the high expectations that have driven this improvement.”

It said families had been told about the uniform expectations on May 6, May 18, July 16 and August 20. The trust added: “We cannot comment on individual cases, but we strongly encourage parents with any concerns to speak directly to the academy.

“We will always work with families to resolve issues, and believe that direct conversation with the school, rather than through the media, is the most constructive way to do that.”

The father said he had since returned to TopMarks Schoolwear in Ashton, where he claimed the longest skirts available were around 20 inches.

He said his daughters were of average height for their age and claimed even the longest skirts available would not fall below their knees.

The father also pointed to a photograph in the uniform section of the academy’s website which he said showed a female pupil wearing a skirt several inches above the knee.

He said: “This is not an army camp. They’re treating them like soldiers, but they are children, they need an education. It feels like punishment.”

Denton Community Academy’s website says its uniform policy is intended to “set an appropriate tone for education”. It says the uniform provides “a sense of belonging and identity for all students”, while also being “comfortable” and allowing pupils to be themselves.

The policy also prohibits make-up, hoodies and jewellery, as well as “writing on hands or arms for any reason”.

It states: “We do not exclude students for wearing jewellery, having mobile phones or any other breaches of this policy.

“We will however, always ask students to rectify the issue that we have raised. These are reasonable requests.”

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The couple visited their GP many times and were offered several different diagnoses, including anxiety and depression.

It took 13 long years for Emily Wilson’s late husband Jim to receive his final, and correct, diagnosis of dementia with Lewy body.

The family first noticed Jim having difficulty walking back in 2001, then other changes started, such as Jim getting lost on holidays and a difference in his mood. The Newtownabbey couple visited their GP many times and were offered several different diagnoses, including anxiety and depression.

But Emily says all that time she knew something was terribly wrong: “Jim became unusually tactile and when I held his hand I could feel a tremor. He was eventually diagnosed with dementia – but the wrong type. We were told he had Alzheimer’s disease and then eventually we found out it was actually a rarer form of dementia – with Lewy body.”

Emily explains the devastating impact of such a long wait for diagnosis on the family: “Well the first thing to say is that no diagnosis equals no benefits. The financial impact on the family was huge. Jim had just turned 60 so at least he was able to leave work with a small occupational pension, but it wasn’t very much.

“I was still working even though I’d been treated for cancer – and eventually I had to leave work too, before the state pension age – so I could care for Jim. Then he went into care and that has an impact on your finances too as Jim’s pension was used as part of the calculation for his care.”

She added: “Worst of all is the feeling of not knowing what’s going on. It was so stressful. The children are affected too. My youngest daughter can’t remember her Dad before he had dementia. One daughter wanted to drop out of university.

“I wish I could say things have got better since our experience but they haven’t. Families are still being terribly let down – waiting for a diagnosis and then receiving next to no support when they do get one.”

Emily is sharing her story as new research published today by Alzheimer’s Society reveals that families affected by dementia are being forced to put their lives on hold by prolonged waits for a diagnosis.

A survey of over 1,000 carers reveals nearly half of people (45%) waited more than six months for a dementia diagnosis after first seeking help, with devastating consequences for their work, finances and mental wellbeing.

The survey lays bare the toll diagnosis delays can take on families. Nearly half of carers (46%) said the wait had affected their work, while more than a third (35%) said it had made it harder to plan for the future. Three in ten reported sleepless nights or feeling as though life was on hold. Among working-age adults aged 35-44, over half (56%) reported an impact on work.

Alzheimer’s Society’s latest survey found that even after receiving a diagnosis, many carers felt they needed more support. When asked what would have helped most after diagnosis, respondents most commonly identified more follow-up from healthcare professionals, better information about treatment options, help accessing local services and clearer guidance on next steps.

The findings come as Alzheimer’s Society supporters and campaigners deliver an open letter to 10 Downing Street calling on Government to set a bold and ambitious plan for dementia, including faster access to diagnosis, treatment and support.

The charity is calling for a new nationally-recognised standard that would mean within 18 weeks of a GP referral, someone with dementia would receive an accurate diagnosis, together with a care plan and access to treatment (where appropriate). This ambition, or better, has already been met for all other major health conditions.

Ruth Barry, National Influencing Manager for Alzheimer’s Society said: “A dementia diagnosis can bring answers, understanding and access to the support, treatment and care that can make a real difference to people’s lives. However, in Northern Ireland, as in other parts of the UK, too many families spend months, and sometimes years, waiting for answers while their dementia progresses.

“It is like trying to plan a journey without knowing where you are going or when you will arrive. Behind every delayed diagnosis is a family living with uncertainty and trying to prepare for the future without the support they need. People living with dementia should receive an accurate diagnosis and, crucially, a care plan and access to appropriate treatment, within 18 weeks of referral.

“There is no time to waste in addressing this issue. In Northern Ireland we face the highest projected increase in dementia prevalence in the UK. Around 25,000 people live with dementia here, a figure projected to jump to over 37,000 by 2040.

“We know that dementia already costs Northern Ireland £1 billion per year, a figure that is predicted to increase to £2 billion by 2040 without strategic intervention. We know that there are already around 15,000 A&E visits annually from undiagnosed dementia patients in our hospitals.

“These pressures are building and yet Northern Ireland does not have an up-to-date dementia strategy. We urgently need to invest in systems to improve early diagnosis, diagnostic accuracy and waiting times.”

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The President has slammed the leaders of both agencies, but has not clarified what triggered the incident that left three people hurt and several ‘detained’

Three people have been injured after two top Ukrainian intelligence agencies shot at each other on the streets of Kyiv, officials have confirmed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has hit out at the leaders of Ukraine ’s security service (SBU) and its military intelligence unit (HUR) after the incident, according to the president’s chief communication adviser Dmytro Lytvyn, per the FT. Three people were wounded in the Wednesday (September 2) morning melee.

The President’s office has not clarified what caused the clashes, but the SBU has issued a statement claiming its personnel were attacked when trying to search a property for a ‘pre-trial investigation into the terrorist act organised by the FSB of the Russian Federation’.

An SBU spokesperson said: “During a search at one of the addresses, a group of individuals carried out an armed attack on the SBU operational-investigative group. They tried to hinder the investigation and blocked the passage of law enforcement officers with their cars.

“To stop the attack and ensure the safety of the participants in the procedural actions, a special unit of the Special Operations Center “Alpha” of the SBU was involved. During the cessation of armed resistance, law enforcement officers used weapons.”

They then claimed the SBU ‘detained’ members of the Ukrainian defence forces. The spokesperson added: “As a result of the incident, there are injured people among the people who resisted. The attackers have been detained.

During the initial investigative actions, it was established that the detainees belong to one of the units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. Weapons and documents were seized from them.”

The HUR has not commented on the incident.

Footage from the incident circulated on social media early on Thursday morning (September 3). It shows a large group of men in military uniform shouting at one another, before several shots are fired.

The incident took place as Russian drones targeted Kyiv for the sixth day in a row. Russia has expanded its use of drone warfare in recent months in an effort to cripple Ukraine’s economy.