Capital and largest city of Wales; base for the Welsh Parliament (Senedd)
House of Lords committee calls for a ban on over-the-counter flea and tick spot-on treatments and urges a risk-based approach, arguing these chemicals threaten rivers, wildlife and possibly human health. The government is being urged to restrict sales to vets and pharmacists, with more independent guidance and research.
Disputes over AI use and pseudonymous entries at Wales’ National Eisteddfod have triggered apologies from adjudicators and debate about rules. A Welsh author says feedback was insulting; a former BBC presenter’s poetry entry under a pseudonym has drawn criticism from survivors and commentators. The event’s process remains under review while winners are announced.
The New Zealander has had his provisional suspension lifted after Ukad determined any cocaine ingestion occurred out-of-competition due to a nutritionist's cocaine use. Parker has stated he will return to the ring while details are finalised. The case follows a controversial fight with Fabio Wardley in London where traces of cocaine were found in a VADA test.
Several Ugandan boxers have failed to return home after the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, with officials saying four of the six team members are unaccounted for. Police Scotland is investigating and the Home Office may take immigration action as Ugandan officials seek comment. The Games concluded with about 3,000 athletes from 74 nations.
Sense finds six percent of SEND children in England receive holiday club support this summer; one in 10 councils commission no clubs at all, leaving 61,000 children without care. Parents face job losses or unaffordable private support as demand outstrips supply. The report highlights regional and parental hardship across the country.
Liverpool is pushing to reboot under Andoni Iraola after a turbulent pre-season, with Szoboszlai and Elliott reflecting on last season’s upheavals. New signings and young players are in focus as the manager shapes a cohesive unit ahead of the new campaign.
Europe faces a intensifying heatwave with record highs, drought and widespread wildfires. Italy, Austria, Hungary and Albania report extreme conditions; Greece and France face evolving fire risks. Officials urge conservation and readiness as power grids strain.
The WRU has outlined a plan to reduce Wales’ four professional teams to three by 2028, with Cardiff and Dragons retaining capital and east licences. Scarlets and Ospreys face a potential west licence decision, amid ongoing legal and council challenges in west Wales.
A total solar eclipse will cross northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain and north-eastern Portugal on 12 August 2026; most of Europe, the UK and Ireland will see a deep partial eclipse close to sunset. Viewers should plan for clear western horizons, use certified eclipse glasses or projection methods, and note that the Perseids meteor shower peaks later that night.
Keir Starmer has delivered a formal parliament apology for historical forced adoption practices in England and Wales (1949–1976). The government has committed a £4 million package to help victims access records, reconnect families, and fund research on long-term impacts. Campaigners welcomed the move after decades of advocacy, noting ongoing needs for trauma support and record access.
Kian Bateman has been given a life sentence after fatally striking Shelley Davies and seriously injuring her partner outside a Cardiff club. He was high on nitrous oxide and did not see Davies in the road before accelerating towards Bratcher. The judge has ordered at least 17 years in prison and imposed driving bans.
Scotland Under-20s have advanced to the semi-finals after beating Argentina 44-26, setting up a potential fifth-place finish. Pringle has rotated his squad, hoping to replicate or improve on their 2017 fifth-place benchmark.
A European heatwave has intensified, with records shattered across multiple countries. New analyses attribute a substantial share of heat-related deaths to human-caused climate change, while authorities warn of ongoing health and infrastructure pressures as temperatures stay high.
Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler has died in a hospital in Portugal after an illness. She rose to fame with Total Eclipse of the Heart in 1983 and later hits such as Holding Out for a Hero. She had been hospitalized for emergency intestinal surgery in Faro and was in an induced coma earlier this year; her family confirmed the death.
BBC confirms the long-running sci-fi series will not have a Christmas special as plans mature for a competitive tendering process. Russell T Davies has exited, with the BBC planning to invest in the show’s long-term future and explore external platforms.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks have clinched the T20 Blast Finals Day title after Sonny Baker’s five-wicket haul, sealing a dramatic win over Hampshire. Ricardo Vasconcelos starred with 88 in the Steelbacks’ 169 all out; Weatherley’s 75 wasn’t enough as Northants defended their total by 14 runs on a pulsating day.
India has defeated England by 270 runs in the one-off women’s Test at Lord’s, with Kranti Gaud’s five-wicket haul and Yastika Bhatia’s century guiding a dominant performance. England’s Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight retire after the match, while Sophie Ecclestone posts England’s first Test fifty.
England have clinched a 2-1 ODI series win over India at Lord’s, with Jos Buttler’s 41 not out and Harry Brook’s big runs underpinning a late push. India’s Rohit Sharma dazzled with a 138 but was ultimately outshone as England’s bowlers restricted the chase.
Scotland overturn a 10-point deficit to beat Fiji 33-17 in Murrayfield, with replacements Schoeman, Cummings and Dobie contributing tries as the hosts clinch a bonus-point victory to end the autumn campaign on a high.
An ongoing operation into group-based child sexual exploitation in south Wales has led to eight men being charged across Newport, Swansea, London, Birmingham, Lancashire, Edinburgh and Argyll and Bute. The charges involve rape of minors and facilitating sexual exploitation dating from 1985 to 1996. Prosecutions continue.
England has leveled the ODI series against India after a four-wicket win in Cardiff. Root has guided the chase, finishing on 99 not out, as England adapts to 50-over cricket and eyes a Lord’s finale ahead of the World Cup.
Scotland faces a maternity care crisis with hundreds of deaths in five years. An independent review is announced to inspect culture, rural services and safety, while calls grow for a broader safety remit.
Rapid, non-invasive endometriosis tests are being rolled out to shorten the nine-year average diagnosis wait. Campaigners and patients welcome the shift after years of dismissals and delays in diagnosis.
The UK has seen a record-hot July and persistent drought across large parts of England and Wales. Hosepipe bans remain in force as cooling rain is forecast to be patchy and limited this weekend. Forecasters warn that heat and dry conditions will continue into next week, with a potential return of hotter spells in parts of the country.
Firefighters across Wales are contending with several wildfires, including Rhinogydd in Gwynedd and Blaenavon in Torfaen. Ground operations are underway with aerial support under discussion at the UK level. Officials warn the fires will burn for several days as smoky conditions affect communities.
Arsenal confirm William Saliba has a back injury from World Cup duties and will undergo a rehabilitation programme. Surgery is not required; the club plans to strengthen the centre-back position this summer while preparing for the season opener against Coventry.
Meta's AI-powered glasses face renewed scrutiny as platforms roll out rules against harassing content captured on camera. News outlets report on incidents involving covert filming, the response from regulators and civil groups, and the potential for new safeguards.
The Guardian and BBC report that Andy Burnham has pursued a social-first strategy since becoming prime minister, using casual video formats, influencer collaborations and on-street outreach to connect with voters. His approach contrasts with Starmer’s and aims to deliver immediate policy signals while monitoring traditional media scrutiny.
The BCCI has named uncapped fast bowler Auqib Nabi as Bumrah’s replacement for India’s tour of Sri Lanka after Bumrah withdrew with knee discomfort. Nabi, from Jammu and Kashmir, earns his first senior call-up, while Sai Sudharsan’s participation remains subject to fitness clearance. The series starts in Galle on Aug. 15.
The UK has faced a fourth heatwave with amber and yellow alerts across large swaths of England and parts of Wales. Temperatures peak midweek, with rainfall scarce and drought status declared in parts of Wales; authorities warn of health impacts and increasing wildfire risk. A cooler, wetter change is forecast to arrive later in the week.
Arsenal has claimed the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years. The club is now focused on a pre-season clash with Girona at Estadi Montilivi. Tzolis and Meslier are in the squad, with several World Cup stars back in training. Authorities are eyeing continued transfer chatter, including links to Bruno Guimarães and Vinícius Júnior.
Wildfires across the UK and Europe have intensified amid record heat. Fire services report growing incidents, with disposable barbecues and campfires increasingly blamed for ignitions. Officials warn residents to take extra care and governments consider stronger prevention measures for countryside recreation.
Multiple UK outlets report on Christopher Phillips, 60, who pleaded guilty to preventing a lawful burial and fraud after storing his mother Sylvia Phillips’s body in a chest freezer in Porthcawl, Wales. He benefited from pensions and benefits while disguising her death; he has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison.
Peter Gill has died at 86. The Welsh-born director and playwright transformed British theatre through rigorous realism, championing DH Lawrence and founding Riverside Studios. Tributes highlight his uncompromising honesty, with his York Realist celebrated in 2002 and a lasting influence on the Royal Court and National Theatre.