Capital and largest city of Wales; base for the Welsh Parliament
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced the triple lock on the state pension will remain until the end of this parliament but from April 2030 will rise each year by the higher of inflation or 2.5%, removing the automatic annual link to earnings. The government says the change will free savings to build a National Care Service; critics warn of pensioner losses and political fallout.
Dame Esther Rantzen has died at 86 after a long illness, her family has announced. The broadcaster fronted That’s Life! for 21 years, founded Childline in 1986 and the Silver Line in 2012, and later campaigned publicly for legal change on assisted dying after a stage-four lung cancer diagnosis in 2023.
A government-backed plan to release prisoners early to ease overcrowding is being revised after backlash. The first 700 offenders were released under the scheme, with the full rollout paused as officials assess risks and capacity. Authorities warn that without action, prison capacity could be overwhelmed by 2030.
Dafydd Owain has won the 2026 Welsh Music Prize for Ymarfer Byw, with the ceremony at Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff highlighting personal journeys and the prize’s evolving legacy. Mary Hopkin receives a Welsh Music Inspiration Award for lifetime contributions.
Cardiff have secured a bonus-point win in a match where Taine Basham, Tom Bowen and Evan Lloyd starred as the Cardiff side defeated Zebre at the Arms Park, 40-? in the URC. Williams, Beetham and Sio contributed, while Zebre rallied late with tries from Ferrari and Da Re.
A new Oasis documentary charts their 2025 reunion tour, showing Liam and Noel Gallagher reconciling and delivering a stadium-scale return. Directors Will Lovelace and Dylan Southern capture rehearsals, the Cardiff comeback, and fan ecstasy, while exploring why the music endures across generations.
A set of patients with various cancers across the UK and Europe are living with ongoing treatment. A colon cancer patient uses AI tools to track symptoms and medical records; a breast cancer survivor with a CHEK2 mutation faces life-long therapy; another woman battles brain tumours and metastatic disease, while a patient with uterine cancer reflects on caregiving and diagnosis.
PISA 2025 data show England and some UK nations performing well in science, with Reading and Maths trailing in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. England leads in science; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland trail in reading and maths. A global trend shows declines in reading proficiency, linked to digital distraction and shifting reading habits.
The government has given English regional mayors the power to charge an overnight visitor levy as a percentage of accommodation costs with no statutory upper limit. Industry groups and major hotel chains have warned the uncapped power will raise prices, reduce demand and cost jobs; mayors say revenue will fund local services and infrastructure from 2028.
Oasis has revealed a 2027 world tour spanning the UK, Europe, and the US, with 11 Manchester shows and five Celtic Park dates in Glasgow. Richard Ashcroft will be the special guest on all dates. The news follows their 2025 reunion tour and a wave of teasers and drone displays ahead of the official announcement.
England has defeated Canada in a tight WXV Global Series clash, extending their winning run and setting up a rematch in Toronto and Ottawa.
Wales and South Africa face off in Cardiff in the WXV Global Series opener. Wales are aiming to rebound from nine straight defeats, while South Africa seek to cement their rising form after a World Cup quarter-final. A physical contest is expected with live coverage on BBC platforms.
The Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone has seen a large fire that forced about 280 guests to evacuate. Kent Fire and Rescue Service confirms the blaze started in the basement; police are treating it as suspicious. A welfare centre is assisting evacuees as investigations continue.
Leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin have signed a memorandum in Cardiff calling on the UK government to prepare for constitutional change. The parties have committed to co‑operate on energy, the economy and relations with Europe and to press for referendums where domestic politics allow. The UK government has reiterated that a second Scottish referendum is off limits for now.
New reporting shows the IPP regime, created to contain high-risk offenders, is being retired ahead of a parliamentary deadline. One man, jailed since 2005 for a phone theft under IPP, will be released after decades behind bars; other cases spotlight potential reform and ongoing debate over public safety.
Nationalist leaders from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland sign a memorandum of understanding signaling a push for greater autonomy and potential independence from the UK. Trump’s remarks on a united Ireland have amplified the international dimension of the debate, while UK and unionist leaders caution against immediate referendums.
Reform UK’s Welsh leadership has been in flux as Dan Thomas has stood down after a police arrest. Helen Jenner has been named interim leader, with Laura Anne Jones elected deputy leader. Defections and internal dissent threaten Wales’ second-largest party as Plaid Cymru gains momentum.
Aneurin Donald has opened the batting for England, marking a historic moment as the Glamorgan-born batter debuts at Cardiff after stepping up due to injuries in the squad. England’s white-ball series begins with a strong statement of intent as Donald pairs with Jos Buttler.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has published a Local Youth Opportunity Index showing a sixfold gap in suitable vacancies for 18-24-year-olds between the South and certain northern regions. Rotherham faces 46 vacancies per 1,000 youths, while the Cotswolds have 288. The report argues lack of opportunities, not unwillingness, drives Neet rates, and calls for targeted youth employment services and reforms to apprenticeships.
UK Prime Minister hosts Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Number 10 North in Manchester to reinforce UK–Ireland ties, uphold the Good Friday Agreement, and discuss EU relations, trade, security, and legacy issues ahead of the 30th anniversary of the accord. The visit follows US President Trump’s comments on Irish unification and aligns with Ireland’s EU presidency.
The WRU plans to cut from four professional men’s teams to three by 2028 are facing backlash and political pressure. Scarlets and Ospreys are vying to be the sole west Wales representative, Cardiff and Dragons are safe, while former first ministers and board members weigh in on the future. The timeline and governance remain unsettled as clubs prepare for the new URC season.
The latest reports show rising public anxiety over AI risks, fueled by expert warnings and media coverage. People express deep concerns about privacy, jobs, and existential threats while policymakers face mounting pressure to regulate rapidly advancing technology.
A 60-year-old security guard has donated one of his kidneys to Karen Davey, a 41-year-old mother of four in Wales, after she pleaded for help on social media as her kidney failure threatened her ability to be a mother. The operation took place in July at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, offering Karen a lifeline after months of waiting for a transplant.
World clubs from CONCACAF, UEFA and CAF aim to compete in a mixed-host format in Miami, with new minimum standards and increased global visibility for women's club football. The event will feature Barcelona and Club America among others, as the sport expands beyond national teams.
England have built a commanding 2-1 series lead after a second ODI victory at Leeds, with unchanged squads and key performances shaping the win over Sri Lanka. Rashid’s injury keeps him sidelined as Rehan Ahmed steps in. The series concludes with a decisive final match at The Oval.
The Ed Sheeran tour has been thrown into crisis after Macklemore was dropped for his pro-Palestinian remarks. Promoters say the move is to protect venues and the tour’s continuity. Sheeran has apologised and emphasised unity, while other acts have withdrawn in solidarity. The controversy has sparked protests and public comment from fans and fellow artists.
Fury and Joshua have agreed to meet at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on 11 December, with Netflix streaming globally. After years of delays and negotiator standoffs, Britain hosts one of boxing’s biggest events as both fighters push to settle a decade-long rivalry.
A man has pleaded guilty to attempting to allow sexual penetration by a living animal in Huddersfield; sentencing will be delayed for a pre-sentence report. Other UK cases include a police officer pleading guilty to voyeurism and corruption, and a Devon and Cornwall officer being acquitted of a sexual assault charge.