In a scathing report, the Public Accounts Committee said the absence of the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has undermined the UK's credibility among its allies and risks "squandering the opportunities provided by advances in technology, hindering the government's attempts to modernise the armed forces". Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the committee chair, criticised what he called "bureaucratic drift" and said excuses by those responsible for delivering the blueprint "to the effect of 'taking the time to get the details right' simply do not cut it". The senior Tory MP said: "Whatever the content of the DIP when it eventually does appear, the damage from its absence has been done - to the nation's credibility, to its safety, to its armed forces, and to certainty within its entire defence industrial base." Small, medium and large defence companies - vital for any war effort - had been expecting to expand production lines at pace in preparation for the possibility of the UK being drawn into a conflict by 2030 - a timeline increasingly used by ministers and military chiefs. Instead, many have been stuck in limbo, with some even going bust, because the publication last June of a sweeping defence review that mapped out the future size and shape of the armed forces was not followed by an investment plan to set out how it would be funded. This body of work should have been published last autumn. The prime minister has said it will be released before a NATO summit next month, with preparations under way for an announcement this Thursday - though that could still change. A key factor behind the delay is a need for tens of billions of pounds of additional funding for the army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force to rearm faster and avoid further cuts. Sir Keir, Rachel Reeves, his chancellor, and John Healey, the defence secretary, have been wrestling over the size of the extra money, with numbers ranging from £12bn to £18bn over four years, though the actual requirement is at least £28bn, probably more. An inability to decide on the figure, means the investment plan cannot be finalised, which has led to paralysis across much of defence - an extraordinary predicament at a time of war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East and concerns over the reliability of the US as an ally. "Any government minister attempting to explain away this delay to the DIP should instead ask themselves what message the bureaucratic drift of the past months has given to the public, as well as the UK's allies and its adversaries, and simply apologise," Sir Geoffrey said in incredibly blunt language. "Whatever else the government hopes to achieve with the DIP, it has certainly gained the unwelcome honour of being the most anticipated document in my entire political career. "As we still await its publication at time of writing, I know I speak for the defence interests of the whole UK when I say - this had better be good." Once the plan is published, the Public Accounts Committee will scrutinise how any new money is used as part of what is a yearly report into the Ministry of Defence's accounts. The MoD has repeatedly been criticised for spending its already significant budget badly. In this latest report, as well as focusing on the missing investment plan, the MPs were highly critical of one of the army's most controversial programmes - the £6bn procurement of a fleet of hundreds of Ajax armoured fighting vehicles. Years late and not yet operational, the platform has left dozens of soldiers suffering hearing problems and sickness. One workaround has been to require soldiers to carry out maintenance checks after every use. Even the Public Accounts Committee - more familiar with bank statements than the battlefield - questioned just how viable that would be in the middle of combat. It said the MoD is developing a package of upgrades to make the vehicle, built by the US defence company General Dynamics, a more comfortable ride. The MPs added: "The department did not tell us the likely costs of these upgrades and we wait to see, more in hope than in expectation, whether these endeavours will succeed." Read more from Deborah Haynes:UK working on major plan to prepare country for warPush to transform 'broken' UK military is a 'fiasco'Russian submarines targeted UK cables, defence secretary says Questions were also raised about the fast defence nuclear enterprise, charged with the nuclear deterrent submarines, missiles and warheads as well as a fleet of nuclear-powered upgrades - all of which are being replaced with new models in the biggest and costliest endeavour for the whole on the armed forces. The Public Accounts Committee said the MoD accounts showed what it called an "unacceptable failure" to maintain accounting records for more than £6bn worth of assets. Some of this cost will need to be written off. It underlined a long-standing push by the committee for greater access to the highly secretive accounting information underpinning investment in nuclear weapons. Expenditure is due to rise in the coming years to 25% of the total defence budget, up from 18%. Sir Geoffrey said: "A new sensitive scrutiny mechanism is to be welcomed. Political uncertainty must not derail these arrangements, in order that the public may gain greater confidence that their money is being spent wisely." An MoD spokesperson said: "The government is providing a generational increase in defence spending, with an extra £270bn across this parliament, ensuring no return to the hollowed out armed forces of the past and the Strategic Defence Review sets out our path to increasing warfighting readiness. "We are getting on with the job - since July 2024 we have signed over 1,400 major contracts, with nine-in-ten contracts going to British-based companies."

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. "Veteran news anchor Jon Snow has shared that he's living with dementia, speaking publicly for the first time to raise awareness of a condition affecting around one million people across the UK," the Alzheimer's Society said. The charity said the 78-year-old has decided to speak out in a new documentary which will air on Channel 4 later this month. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised Mr Snow as a "true giant in journalism" and said his decision to go public with his diagnosis is "helping others feel less alone and raising awareness of a condition that affects so many families". Michelle Dyson, CEO of Alzheimer's Society, said: "Jon's decision to talk publicly about his dementia diagnosis is a real act of courage and his story will resonate with so many. "His support for Alzheimer's Society will help spark a national conversation about dementia that we so desperately need. "Despite being the UK's biggest killer, dementia is still not treated with the same urgency as other major health conditions like cancer. "Alongside his wife Precious, Jon is shining a light on the need for faster, fairer access to diagnosis. "I would encourage anyone needing help or information to call our Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456 or visit alzheimers.org.uk." Read more from Sky News:Anthony Head dies aged 72Two men found guilty of stabbing TV presenter Mr Snow, who gave an exclusive interview to the Daily Mail, revealed he has had the disease since 2023 and that before his diagnosis he was reluctant to see a doctor and had insisted there was nothing wrong. The journalist also revealed he was part of a clinical trial for the condition and has previously spoken about how his mother, Joan, struggled with Alzheimer's in the years leading up to her death. Alzheimer's is the ongoing decline of brain functioning and can affect memory, thinking skills and other mental abilities, according to the NHS. Louisa Compton, head of news, current affairs, specialist factual and sport at Channel 4, said: "It is a profound privilege that we are able to document his last big investigation, in a sensitively made film that frames Jon's current affairs nous alongside a new life lived with Alzheimer's. "We hope this film will go a long way to raise awareness of how to live whilst facing a life-changing diagnosis."

In a scathing report, the Public Accounts Committee said the absence of the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has undermined the UK's credibility among its allies and risks "squandering the opportunities provided by advances in technology, hindering the government's attempts to modernise the armed forces". Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the committee chair, criticised what he called "bureaucratic drift" and said excuses by those responsible for delivering the blueprint "to the effect of 'taking the time to get the details right' simply do not cut it". The senior Tory MP said: "Whatever the content of the DIP when it eventually does appear, the damage from its absence has been done - to the nation's credibility, to its safety, to its armed forces, and to certainty within its entire defence industrial base." Small, medium and large defence companies - vital for any war effort - had been expecting to expand production lines at pace in preparation for the possibility of the UK being drawn into a conflict by 2030 - a timeline increasingly used by ministers and military chiefs. Instead, many have been stuck in limbo, with some even going bust, because the publication last June of a sweeping defence review that mapped out the future size and shape of the armed forces was not followed by an investment plan to set out how it would be funded. This body of work should have been published last autumn. The prime minister has said it will be released before a NATO summit next month, with preparations under way for an announcement this Thursday - though that could still change. A key factor behind the delay is a need for tens of billions of pounds of additional funding for the army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force to rearm faster and avoid further cuts. Sir Keir, Rachel Reeves, his chancellor, and John Healey, the defence secretary, have been wrestling over the size of the extra money, with numbers ranging from £12bn to £18bn over four years, though the actual requirement is at least £28bn, probably more. An inability to decide on the figure, means the investment plan cannot be finalised, which has led to paralysis across much of defence - an extraordinary predicament at a time of war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East and concerns over the reliability of the US as an ally. "Any government minister attempting to explain away this delay to the DIP should instead ask themselves what message the bureaucratic drift of the past months has given to the public, as well as the UK's allies and its adversaries, and simply apologise," Sir Geoffrey said in incredibly blunt language. "Whatever else the government hopes to achieve with the DIP, it has certainly gained the unwelcome honour of being the most anticipated document in my entire political career. "As we still await its publication at time of writing, I know I speak for the defence interests of the whole UK when I say - this had better be good." Once the plan is published, the Public Accounts Committee will scrutinise how any new money is used as part of what is a yearly report into the Ministry of Defence's accounts. The MoD has repeatedly been criticised for spending its already significant budget badly. In this latest report, as well as focusing on the missing investment plan, the MPs were highly critical of one of the army's most controversial programmes - the £6bn procurement of a fleet of hundreds of Ajax armoured fighting vehicles. Years late and not yet operational, the platform has left dozens of soldiers suffering hearing problems and sickness. One workaround has been to require soldiers to carry out maintenance checks after every use. Even the Public Accounts Committee - more familiar with bank statements than the battlefield - questioned just how viable that would be in the middle of combat. It said the MoD is developing a package of upgrades to make the vehicle, built by the US defence company General Dynamics, a more comfortable ride. The MPs added: "The department did not tell us the likely costs of these upgrades and we wait to see, more in hope than in expectation, whether these endeavours will succeed." Read more from Deborah Haynes:UK working on major plan to prepare country for warPush to transform 'broken' UK military is a 'fiasco'Russian submarines targeted UK cables, defence secretary says Questions were also raised about the fast defence nuclear enterprise, charged with the nuclear deterrent submarines, missiles and warheads as well as a fleet of nuclear-powered upgrades - all of which are being replaced with new models in the biggest and costliest endeavour for the whole on the armed forces. The Public Accounts Committee said the MoD accounts showed what it called an "unacceptable failure" to maintain accounting records for more than £6bn worth of assets. Some of this cost will need to be written off. It underlined a long-standing push by the committee for greater access to the highly secretive accounting information underpinning investment in nuclear weapons. Expenditure is due to rise in the coming years to 25% of the total defence budget, up from 18%. Sir Geoffrey said: "A new sensitive scrutiny mechanism is to be welcomed. Political uncertainty must not derail these arrangements, in order that the public may gain greater confidence that their money is being spent wisely." An MoD spokesperson said: "The government is providing a generational increase in defence spending, with an extra £270bn across this parliament, ensuring no return to the hollowed out armed forces of the past and the Strategic Defence Review sets out our path to increasing warfighting readiness. "We are getting on with the job - since July 2024 we have signed over 1,400 major contracts, with nine-in-ten contracts going to British-based companies."

The hometown hero delivered an impressive display in front of a packed Bournemouth International Centre, although was made to battle hard against an opponent who had seen 20 of his previous 21 victories come via knockout. Rozicki suffered a cut to his left eye during a gruelling opening round before being deducted a point in the second for throwing his head at his opponent, with Billam-Smith landing a huge right to wobble the Canadian during the third round. Zuffa Boxing 07: Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki recapStephen McKenna wants 'bigger' than 'boring' Lee CutlerBoxing in 2026: Key dates, results and upcoming scheduleGet Sky Sports or stream boxing and more with no contract Momentum switched between both men during a fight-of-the-year contender, with Billam-Smith securing victory when Rozicki was pulled out of the contest by his corner - due to his injuries - following the conclusion of the seventh round. Neither spoke to the media post-fight and both were taken to hospital as a precaution after a gruelling contest, the hardest win of Billam-Smith's career and just Rozicki's second professional loss. How Billam-Smith beat Rozicki in Bournemouth thriller Billam-Smith received a warm welcome ahead of his first fight in Bournemouth since 2023, although was quickly made aware of the challenge ahead when Rozicki immediately attacked. Both traded power punches during a topsy-turvy first round that left Rozicki cut, with the knockout specialist continuing to put pressure on the home favourite with two big hooks and aggressive intent. Billam-Smith countered back and appeared to leave his opponent in danger in the third round, with Rozicki responding to two big uppercuts on the chin later in the round to pile pressure back on his opponent. Blood was coming from both eyes as Rozicki continued to throw punches at full power, forcing Billam-Smith into defence at various points during the fourth and fifth rounds, leaving the contest delicately poised heading into the second half of the fight. Rozicki unleashed huge shots to the head and body of the Bournemouth boxer in the sixth before Billam-Smith charged back with a huge multi-punch combination, bringing the crowd to their feet and moving the contest back towards him. A late burst from Billam-Smith in the closing stages of the seventh round was the final straw for Rozicki, who appeared determined to continue but was retired by his corner at the conclusion of the round. "I've never seen a puncher like that guy in my life," Shane McGuigan, Billam-Smith's coach, told Sky Sports. "Chris [Billam-Smith] has been in my gym nine years, but the power that guy possesses, oh my goodness. "He's wide open, throwing bombs when he's getting caught with peach shots. As a friend and coach, it was horrible to sit there and watch. At the same time, he [Billam-Smith] did exactly what he had to do. "He was patient, he was tired in there, he's been out of the ring a long time, there was certainly ring rust there. But he outlasted an extremely tough man." Clarke stuns Massey in comeback KO win on impressive show The co-main event of Zuffa Boxing's show saw Cheavon Clarke recover from being knocked down twice in the fourth round to deliver a sensational seventh-round stoppage of Jack Massey Clarke took the full eight-count after being struck by Massey's powerful right hand and then fell to the canvas again a minute later in an absorbing fourth, then rallied after surviving the rest of the round. Massey was floored by his opponent with a huge right hand in the seventh, with a further flurry of Clarke punches seeing the referee stop the fight with 1:24 of the round remaining and completing a remarkable comeback victory. Lee Cutler had his middleweight contest against Aaron Sutton cut short when a powerful right hand left his opponent with a dislocated shoulder, resulting in a third-round TKO victory, while Stephen McKenna ended his 539-day absence from the ring with a sensational first-round stoppage against Casey James Streeter. McKenna (16-1) needed just 64 seconds to despatch Streeter and claim the 15th knockout win of his career, sending the American to the canvas with a huge left hook before seeing the fight stopped by the referee after a series of heavy shots. Scotland's Sam Hickey (5-0) continued his perfect professional record with a brutal knockout against Todd Tompkins, while Alex MacMillan (4-0) - a gym-mate of Billam-Smith and Cutler - knocked down fellow Englishman Leo Fanthome three times during a second-round stoppage. Leon Hughes (5-0) dominated a one-sided contest against Mario Vergiev before the referee stepped in after 52 seconds of the third round, while England's Harvey Dykes suffered the first defeat of his professional career after Ivan Dychko (16-1) edged to victory via split decision. What's next? Further Zuffa Boxing shows are scheduled in Las Vegas on June 28 and New York on July 26 ahead of their first Irish show in Dublin on August 8, with all three live and exclusive in the UK and Ireland on Sky Sports. Zuffa Boxing 08 in Las Vegas includes Edwin De Los Santos facing Jose 'Rayo' Valenzuela in a 10-round rematch of their memorable 2022 fight-of-the-year contender, while the line-up for the New York show has yet to be announced. Get Sky Sports or stream boxing with no contract.

BBC Panorama has been working with The Times on a joint investigation into the allegations made about Mr Sullivan. "Over decades, he's made millions from pornography, newspapers, and football. The investigation is due to be broadcast and published on Monday," a BBC spokesperson said. It is understood none of the claims relate to West Ham or any of its operations, the club said, while Mr Sullivan also added that none concern "my more than 30 years in football". "I have recently become aware that factually incorrect and entirely false, decades-old allegations concerning my personal life are due to be broadcast and published," he said. "The false allegations levelled against me have been sensationalised by the media. After a lifetime spent building businesses in the adult industry in which I have met thousands of women, it is sadly inevitable that a small number of improper conduct claims are being made against me. I categorically deny these claims." Mr Sullivan, who made his fortune from owning pornographic magazines and sex shops, went on to say he will sue "the BBC for libel, along with any other media outlet that repeats any libellous allegations". "I am a private man, and those who personally and professionally know the real David Sullivan, not the caricature invented by the tabloids, know exactly who I am and what I stand for," he said. "I am absolutely not the person the media has decided to paint me as." Until his resignation on Saturday, Mr Sullivan was on West Ham's board of directors alongside joint-chairs Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky and Vanessa Gold. In his statement, Mr Sullivan said his decision to resign came as West Ham faces a "challenging and important time" and he didn't want to create any distractions. "This has been an incredibly painful decision to make, but it is one made out of love, respect, and responsibility toward a football club and a fan base that deserve absolute unity and focus moving forward," he said. West Ham were relegated from the Premier League last month after 14 years in the top flight. The club's demotion to the Championship was confirmed on 24 May despite a 3-0 win over Leeds. The 2025/26 season saw the club sack Graham Potter as coach in September, after the team lost four out of five games. Off the pitch, the season has been mired by protest, with fans waving red cards on the 16th minute of the game, to mark the 16 years under Mr Sullivan and Baroness Brady.

In a statement, his daughters said he "passed away peacefully of complications due to pneumonia, surrounded by his family". The star was best known as librarian Rupert Giles in the cult US supernatural TV series starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, which ran from 1997 to 2003. Known for his distinctive baritone voice, Head first rose to fame in the UK in the 1980s in the Nescafe Gold Blend television adverts. The ads, which ran from 1987 to 1993, saw Head play one half of the on-screen "Gold Blend couple," alongside Sharon Maughan, who struck up a slow-burning romance over a cup of coffee. More recently, Head appeared in football comedy Ted Lasso, where he played former Richmond FC owner Rupert Mannion. Other notable roles include playing the prime minister in Little Britain and Uther Pendragon in the TV show Merlin, the father of Prince Arthur. Head's daughters, actresses Emily and Daisy Head, said in their statement that: "Our grief is far greater than the hole he has left behind but we know his legacy will live on in the shows he was a part of and in the audiences that love them." Over the years, the star also appeared in Motherland, Manchild, Silent Witness, Spooks, Doctor Who and My Family. Read more from Sky News:Two men recruited by Iran found guilty of stabbing TV presenterMan in his 50s dies after fight at Cornwall holiday park In July 2018, he joined the cast of the BBC Radio 4 long-running drama The Archers, playing Robin Fairbrother. Head was also a singer, having appeared in the West End and recorded music, including the album for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode. His long-time partner, animal welfare campaigner Sarah Fisher, died in December 2025 aged 61. His Ted Lasso co-star and a writer on the show, actor Brett Goldstein, has remembered Head as "infinitely charming and kind and fun and a joy" in a tribute shared to Instagram. He wrote: "Anthony Head was a brilliant actor who played the worst person in the world, which was an incredible skill because he was the best person. "He will be sorely missed. Love to his family." Award-winning screenwriter and producer Russell T Davies remembered Head as an "absolute delight" and in a lengthy tribute he recalled their time working together on shows including Doctor Who and Merlin. His Buffy co-star David Boreanaz described him as a "kind and generous soul" while actor Matt Lucas, who starred alongside him in Little Britain, wrote on X that Head was "unfailingly brilliant, and always so kind and warm".

Mr Vance made the comments on X after the US state department also commented on the case, saying "two-tiered policing" must be rejected in the West. Now No 10 has accused people of "seeking to stir up division on our streets". The US vice president claimed Mr Nowak, an 18-year-old student, would "still be alive today... if the last few generations of European elites had stood their ground against the politics of self-hatred and the mass invasion of migrants, many of whom despise the West and the people who love it". "Henry was far from the first to so needlessly lose his life, and I fear he won't be the last," he added. "Each time a life like his is lost, the proper response - the only response - is righteous anger." 'Our politics should bring people together' A Downing Street spokesperson responded: "In recent days we have seen people trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division on our streets. "The Nowak family are grieving after Henry's horrific murder. They have said they do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We should be respecting their wishes. "Our politics should bring people together even in the most terrible of circumstances. That is who we are as a country." Sky News' US correspondent David Blevins said: "It's not unusual for the Trump administration to point to tragic murders in a bid to justify its policies on mass immigration and national sovereignty, but it's an entirely different matter altogether for one party in what we often call 'the special relationship' - the US - to accuse the other - the UK - of having a two tier criminal justice system and overseeing civilisational decline." Hampshire Police has faced allegations of "two-tier" policing following the release of bodycam footage showing Mr Nowak's dying moments after being stabbed. Despite telling the officers about his injuries, he was placed into handcuffs after his murderer Vickrum Digwa falsely claimed he had been racist towards him. The footage led to violent protests near where the murder took place in Southampton. Downing Street has rejected "any suggestion of two-tier policing across the United Kingdom". Lammy rejects two-tier allegations Responding to the US state department comments, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said: "I don't recognise... this caricature of Britain having a two-tier criminal justice system. I just don't recognise that." Read more from Sky News:Jon Snow reveals Alzheimer's disease diagnosisWHO announces £386m plan to fight Ebola outbreak Separately, US tech mogul Elon Musk has been posting on social media about the case, leading to Mr Lammy calling on him to "stay out" of the affair. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage clashed in the Commons earlier this week, after the Reform UK leader hit out at what he called "two-tier policing". Digwa was given a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years in prison for stabbing Mr Nowak with a ceremonial knife with a 21cm blade, which he carried as part of his Sikh religion. Speaking after Digwa was sentenced on Monday, Mr Nowak's father Mark said: "We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension." The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating Hampshire Police's response in Mr Nowak's case.

Clarke started Scotland's final friendly before they get their tournament underway against Haiti in Boston next week with two strikers and it paid dividends with Lawrence Shankland's early opener and a Che Adams brace coming either side of a Scott McTominay strike in the 4-0 win. There were good performances all over the pitch, however, as Scotland's players looked to impress before that World Cup opener and Clarke admits he has welcome selection conundrums ahead of next week. Scotland thrash Bolivia ahead of World Cup openerScotland's World Cup fixtures and routes to finalWorld Cup 2026 schedule, dates and venues "We've got fantastic problems," he said. "Really good first half, then I turned round to my bench and the changes we were making were good. You lose a little bit of the rhythm of the game when you are making so many changes, both sides. "But the boys who went in, their priority was not to concede because we wanted a clean sheet. It's been a little while since we had a clean sheet so it is nice to get that. "Goals will be important, obviously we get told that we don't score enough goals but that is back-to-back fours. It's about the creation of the chances, the creation of the chances was good tonight and if you create good chances then we have got players on the pitch who will score goals." Scotland's performance was all the more impressive given the stifling heat in Harrison, New Jersey where the game was played, but Clarke was buoyed by the reaction of his players to that and says the group is ready to get the tournament underway. "We are as well prepared as we can be at this stage," he said. "Obviously, you don't always get everything you want in terms of preparation. We went to Florida for heat and humidity and we got the humidity but a lot of rain. We probably didn't get the heat we expected but we got that heat in the first half today and I thought we handled it well. "As much as we have done up until now then we have prepared as well as we can and we will prepare well this week and make sure we start the tournament well." Clarke refused to get too carried away with the fine performance and result, however, reminding his players that they felt confident heading into Euro 2024 before a disappointing tournament in Germany. "We've obviously won a couple of games going into the tournament and it is always important that the players are feeling good about themselves," he said. "But, to be honest, they felt good about themselves going into Germany so I wouldn't read too much into it!"