Jordan Devey, a 38-year-old retired NFL offensive lineman who won Super Bowl XLIX with the New England Patriots, died by suicide, leaving behind a wife and four children.
Public health doctors state that poorly executed workplace disciplinary investigations cost the UK economy £28.5bn annually. The UK Faculty of Public Health (FPH) argues these flawed processes prioritize procedure over people, causing significant harm to employees and organizations, likening the issue to smoking or bad diet.
The inquest into the death of Sheffield United midfielder Maddy Cusack, 27, has been adjourned again, with the coroner citing the need for further evidence following new document disclosures. The hearing, which began in June, will not resume until at least December 7.
A former club chaplain at Sheffield United told an inquest that Maddy Cusack asked him not to inform the club about their conversations. Dr. Delroy Hall stated Cusack felt pressure from juggling football and marketing careers. The inquest also heard from club officials about delays in transitioning the women's team to full-time status.
Former Dallas Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland, who died by suicide in November 2025, was diagnosed with early stage CTE. His family announced the findings from Boston University researchers, hoping to raise awareness about the brain abnormality linked to repetitive head trauma.
An inquest into the death of Maddy Cusack heard that Sheffield United's transition to a full-time women's team in 2023 was poorly managed. General manager Ian McCallum stated the club "let people down," including Cusack, and was "naive" about the requirements for full-time football. The club's handling of the women's game and the appointment of manager Jonathan Morgan were also discussed.
A former physio for Sheffield United's women's team told an inquest that the club lacked sufficient resources during their transition to full-time status in 2023, impacting player welfare. The physio, Francesca Carr, expressed concerns about several players' mental well-being, stating Maddy Cusack was not at the top of her list of most worried individuals.
The Nex Playground, a new cube-shaped video game console, uses AI and body movements instead of controllers to encourage children to be active. Despite its niche focus, it surprisingly ranked as the third best-selling console in the US during Black Friday 2025.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is investigating Oxevision, a camera and sensor system used by 40% of NHS mental health trusts to monitor patients in their bedrooms, over data protection concerns. Patients describe it as 'creepy' and 'spying,' while a bereaved mother claims it contributed to her daughter's paranoia before suicide. Oxehealth (now LIO) states the technology enhances safety and frees up staff time.
Dylan Phelan, 21, from Yorkshire, has been sentenced to over six years in prison for encouraging Travis Dyer, 21, from Louisiana, to take his own life during a video call. Phelan also admitted to possessing extreme pornographic images and an indecent image of a child.
Luke Ashton's widow is suing Betfair for negligence after her gambling addict husband died £18,000 in debt. The claim argues Betfair failed to intervene as his losses mounted, potentially setting a precedent for the UK gambling industry.
Europe faces another hot summer after a May heatwave caused hundreds of deaths in the UK. Experts warn of El Niño's return and the deadly impact of fossil fuels on heatwaves, urging better heat-health action plans and climate shelters.
Claude Lemieux's brain will be donated to Boston University's CTE Center for research into the long-term effects of repetitive brain injuries. Lemieux, who died by suicide at 60, played nearly 1,500 NHL games and won the Stanley Cup four times.
Over 100 young people aged 16-21 who left social services care in England died in the year to April 2026, with figures likely higher. The government described the deaths as a "stain on our society" and launched a review into support systems.
BIIRD, an all-female Irish traditional music group, has achieved global success and sold-out tours without releasing a debut record. Founded by Lisa Canny, the group aims to modernize the image of women in trad music with a distinctive aesthetic and powerful live performances.
BIIRD, an all-female Irish traditional music group, has achieved global success and sold-out tours, including with Ed Sheeran, without releasing a debut record. Their rise is attributed to powerful live performances, unique styling, and a mission to modernize the image of women in trad music.
BIIRD, an all-female traditional Irish music group, has achieved global success, selling out venues and touring with Ed Sheeran, all without releasing a debut record. Their rapid rise is attributed to powerful live performances and a modern aesthetic that challenges traditional imagery.
A UK/Ireland passenger cruise ship, Ambition, docked in Bordeaux with a norovirus outbreak, leading to a 24-hour lockdown. 48 passengers and 1 crew had active cases; a 92-year-old British man died of a heart attack, unrelated to the outbreak. Asymptomatic individuals were allowed to disembark on Wednesday.
Brain trauma and football have become inexorably linked. But a recent Harvard study suggestions there are other dangers for football playersWhen an NFL player takes his own life, there is often speculation about why. Injuries and unemployment – a common occurrence in a violent sport where players are frequently traded and cut – have been linked with increased risks of suicidal ideation. In parallel to those factors, however, exists chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). A degenerative brain condition caused by repeated trauma to the head, CTE’s links with football are established and almost impossible to ignore. Players ranging from widely admired Pro Bowlers such as Junior Seau and Dave Duerson, to those infamous for more notorious reasons, such as Aaron Hernandez and Phillip Adams, were all confirmed to have CTE by autopsies. (The condition can only be diagnosed posthumously.) All four players killed themselves.Such anecdotal observations imply a certain, coherent logic that connects playing football with suicide. Tackle football, by its nature, increases participants’ risk of head injury. Head injuries increase the likelihood of an affected individual attempting suicide. CTE is often the cumulative consequence of years of head injuries and, indeed, many high-profile NFL players who have taken their own lives have been confirmed to suffer from CTE. So it’s easy to reason that football and/or CTE, by their very nature, lead to an increased risk of suicide.In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email [email protected] or [email protected]. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...
Figures for England and Wales prompt calls for more rigorous police investigations of casesOnly 3% of suicides related to domestic abuse in England and Wales in the past five years have resulted in any sort of prosecution, figures show.Between 2020 and 2025, 553 people took their own lives after suspected abuse in an intimate relationship, but only 17 posthumous charges were brought.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email [email protected] or [email protected]. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...
Whitbread, owner of Premier Inn, is cutting about 3,800 jobs and closing all remaining Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants as it shifts to a pure hotel business. The FTSE 100 company will convert 197 restaurants into hotel rooms and sell £1.5bn of freehold properties. The cuts follow pressure from US activist investor Corvex and £50m extra costs from Rachel Reeves's 2025 budget.
Claire's has closed all 154 stores in the UK and Ireland, resulting in 1,300 job losses, after failing to adapt to changing consumer habits. The iconic accessories brand, which first launched on British high streets in the late 1990s, struggled with competition from online retailers like Shein and Temu, as well as a failure to keep up with fashion trends. The chain had been through multiple bankruptcy proceedings, with its UK arm entering administration for the second time in January 2026.
Claire's has closed all 154 UK and Ireland stores, resulting in 1,300 job losses, after a year of turmoil. The accessories chain, known for jewellery and ear piercing services, struggled with post-Covid spending declines, competition from online retailers like Shein and Temu, and failure to keep pace with evolving teen fashion tastes. Former customers expressed nostalgia for the brand, recalling childhood memories of getting ears pierced at Claire's.
Claire's has shut all 154 of its UK and Ireland stores, resulting in over 1,300 job losses. The closures, confirmed in late April 2026, are attributed to a combination of online retail pressures, rising costs, and financial losses.
