Western Mail - April 11, 2025

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In this issue

April 11, 2025

Drivers are going slower, says 20mph campaigner

PEOPLE in Wales \"aren't ignoring the default 20mph speed limit, despite the number of people recorded as exceeding the limit crossing the 100,000 mark.

2 mins

After 107 years, Lena still 'always puts other people first'

THERE are a few remarkable people among us who have witnessed more than a century of history's most defining moments first-hand.

2 mins

Albanians used neighbouring properties to farm cannabis

WHEN police raided a basement cannabis farm they found a hole had been dug through the wall into the cellar of the neighbouring house which was also being used to grow the drug, a court has heard.

2 mins

WRU to axe jobs as it looks to save £5m a year in restructure

THE Welsh Rugby Union has announced there are set to be job losses following the launch of the five-year One Wales strategy it says will transform the game.

3 mins

Firefighters battle blaze near children’s play area

DRAMATIC image has captured how close a huge grass fire was to a children’s play area as firefighters were called to Tylorstown in Rhondda Cynon Taf on Wednesday evening.

2 mins

Learners face long waits to take a driving test in Wales

AVERAGE waiting times for driving tests have reached a new high, with learners typically facing waits of 20 weeks. Five Welsh test centres had waits recorded of 24 weeks on February 3, which is the maximum wait.

2 mins

'Locals avoid beauty spot due to tourist numbers'

\"'OVER-TOURISM' at a famous beauty spot is having a detrimental effect on the lives of locals who are actively avoiding the area, councillors have heard.

1 min

Council mulls report on paedophile headteacher

LOCAL authority Cyngor Gwynedd has released an update in relation to a report into the crimes of disgraced headteacher Neil Foden.

2 mins

Call handler 'unable to provide defibrillator code'

CONCERNS have been raised after a 999 call handler was unable to provide a code for a defibrillator that was metres away from a man who was having a heart attack.

1 min

Much interest in 'eye in the sky' method for tracking illegal e-bikes

THE pioneering use of drones to track and catch nuisance or illegal e-bike riders in Newport could become a police tactic elsewhere in the UK.

2 mins

Calls for prison operator to be stripped of contract

FAMILIES of men who have died in a Welsh prison gathered outside to protest against G4S' running of it.

3 mins

Uni scales back job cuts and U-turns on nursing

could be cut and changed, the university's management said. Students already on degree courses would be able to see them through to the end.

4 mins

Estate will create more affordable new homes for town

A MARKET town with an “urgent need” for affordable homes will have dozens more of them after plans for a new estate were given the go-ahead.

1 min

Government is urged to safeguard distinctly British content on TV

THE UK Government needs to ramp up support measures for the UK's high-quality drama sector while safeguarding the creation of distinctly British content, a report has said.

4 mins

Drugs boss made £3,500 in a month from selling crack cocaine

THE leader of a drugs conspiracy spoke about dealing half a kilo of cocaine and discussed “washing” and “cooking” the drug in order to produce crack cocaine.

2 mins

Welsh pub named ‘2nd friendliest in UK’ plans expansion

A PROPOSAL to extend the licensed area of a community pub, recognised as one of the friendliest in Britain, has been submitted to county planners.

1 min

PM to unveil plan for 'putting thousands of bobbies back on beat'

Sir Keir Starmer has said there will be 3,000 new neighbourhood police officers “by the start of next year”.

2 mins

UK must 'rise to the moment' over tariffs, Keir Starmer says

BRITAIN must not just “sit back and hope” but “rise to the moment” in the face of ongoing uncertainty over Donald Trump's global tariffs, Sir Keir Starmer said after the US President suspended some of his sweeping import taxes.

3 mins

China reaches out to others and says US 'will end in failure'

CHINA is reaching out to other nations as the US layers on more tariffs, in what appears to be an attempt to form a united front to compel Washington to retreat.

2 mins

UK announces £450m in military aid to Ukraine

THE UK Government has announced a £450m “surge” of military support to Ukraine, as the UK and Germany host a meeting of 50 nations.

1 min

Zelenskyy claims Chinese citizens fighting in Ukraine

CHINA has described as “irresponsible” accusations by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Russia is actively recruiting Chinese citizens to fight alongside its forces in the Ukraine war.

3 mins

'Leaner' Cabinet Office to lose third of staff

THE Cabinet Office will lose almost a third of its staff as Labour seeks to shrink the Civil Service, the UK Government has announced.

1 min

Britpop icons announce first album in 24 years

PULP have released their first single for more than a decade and announced their first album for almost 24 years, titled More.

1 min

King and Queen's visit to Pope on 20th anniversary

THE King and Queen have been pictured during a private meeting with Pope Francis, who is recovering from double pneumonia.

3 mins

Dormice blamed for delays to road repair

DORMICE have been blamed for continued delays to repair a carriageway on a main road linking Wales and the Midlands.

1 min

Boy left in toilet was checked on regularly, teacher tells hearing

A CHILD who was in a toilet cubicle for more than four hours at school “came out calm” and had been safe and checked on, his teacher said.

5 mins

Floating hotel aiming to offer 'unique experience'

A 120-ROOM floating hotel is being proposed for Cardiff Bay, with developer's saying they want to “enrich the city’s waterfront and elevate visitor experiences”.

1 min

Teenager died after telling his family he was going to cinema

A TEENAGER who told his parents he was visiting the cinema with friends died after falling from a car park.

2 mins

Robbers targeted men on night out in brutal attacks

A PAIR of thugs targeted three men in random attacks in the early hours near Cardiff city centre.

3 mins

Fresh concerns over planned concerts for city centre fields

FRIENDS group has criticised Cardiff Council over how it has gone about putting plans in place for a series of music events at the city’s largest park.

5 mins

Man handed £1,300 to fraudster

A FRAUDSTER and his accomplice pressured a man into handing over £1,300 after they had attempted to sell him fake and cheap mobile phones.

1 min

New visitor hub for Moel Famau

A NEW visitor hub will be built at one of Wales' most frequented mountains, Moel Famau.

2 mins

Alacrity spinout firm in equity fundraise boost

A NEWPORT tech start-up that has developed a case management system for use by child social care providers has been boosted with a six-figure equity investment.

2 mins

Energy firms to run 24/7 helpline for faults

ENERGY suppliers must soon run a round-the-clock helpline for customers cut off due to meter faults.

1 min

Welsh Retail Consortium reports dip in shoppers

THE Welsh retail sector has reported a significant dip in shoppers.

2 mins

'This was driven by the president's strategy'

THE stock market was soaring and the sun was shining when President Donald Trump stepped out of the Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon. Less than two hours earlier, he had retreated from his plans to increase tariffs on many US trading partners, and investors were rejoicing after bracing for a global economic meltdown.

4 mins

I was badly injured falling off a ladder – and that was only the beginning of our ordeal

IF YOU are currently renovating a house and think you are going through some tough times and stressful challenges, Mandy Boucher and her partner Sam Kingston have been going through, and are still living in, a nightmare.

6 mins

Western Mail Time for a rethink after partial U-turn

AFTER weeks of pressure, a dramatic announcement came yesterday slashing the potential cuts which were facing Cardiff University.

1 min

BLINDED BY THE NIGHT

Nocturnal tourism is taking off in Tromsø, finds GRAHAM HISCOTT

4 mins

Riza defends his constant changes to Bluebirds team

CARDIFF City manager Omer Riza has defended making constant changes to his team as he attempts to steer them away from the Championship relegation zone.

2 mins

A long time in coming... but Key's stunning strike was certainly well worth the wait

JOSH Key feels he should have opened his Swansea City goalscoring account for the 2024-25 season far earlier in the campaign, but he was certainly not complaining about the stunning fashion in which he ended his wait to find the net against Plymouth Argyle.

2 mins

Sheehan thrilled as Swansea show just what he's all about

ALAN Sheehan says Swansea City have now shown what they're all about under his stewardship, with questions still lingering over his long-term future at the club.

2 mins

Biggar’s wife posts emotional tribute to retiring Wales star

ALEX Biggar, wife of Wales legend Dan Biggar, posted an emotional tribute to her husband after he announced his retirement from all rugby.

2 mins

Lewis announces she is to leave the WRU women's programme

WALES Women's scrum-half Ffion Lewis has announced she is leaving the Welsh Rugby Union programme after being told her contract will not be renewed at the end of the season.

2 mins

Judgement Day will be a new challenge for Thomas

HENRY Thomas’ rugby career has brought him a wide variety of experiences.

5 mins

Scotland stars set to leave Edinburgh

DAVE Cherry and Ali Price will both leave Edinburgh at the end of the season, the club have announced.

1 min

Ambitious Spanish want a team in URC and also a place in the Six Nations

SPANISH rugby bosses have laid out their ambitious plans for their country to sit at European rugby's top table, with a Rugby World Cup, URC side and a place in the Six Nations all being targeted.

3 mins

Powell moves inside to 10 as George is ruled of out Wales' trip to France

FLY-HALF Lleucu George has been ruled out of Wales' Six Nations match against France tomorrow with an ankle injury.

2 mins

'Devastated' Jones steps down while Holland considers his future at Cardiff

DEVASTATED' Cardiff Rugby chair Alun Jones has stepped down from his position after the club were taken over by the Welsh Rugby Union on Wednesday, while chief executive Richard Holland says he will “reflect” on what's right for himself and the club after they went into administration.