Welsh town on Swansea Bay, home to a major steelworks
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper warns that AI poses a Hiroshima‑style risk unless international rules are agreed. She outlines concerns over climate change, migration and foreign interference, and argues for a stronger UK‑EU relationship in security and trade.
Fifteen towns have been shortlisted from nearly 400 applications to become the UK Town of Culture 2028. Each shortlisted town will receive £60,000 to develop full bids, with the winner receiving £3 million to host a year‑long cultural programme in 2028; runners‑up receive £250,000 each. The shortlist includes Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, Stockton Town Centre Ward, Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, Port Talbot, Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham. The decision will be made by an independent panel early next year.
ScotsRock has confirmed plans to convert the former CCA building on Sauchiehall Street into a cultural hub celebrating Scotland’s music legacy. Midge Ure will be inaugural patron, with Lulu, Jim Kerr, Travis and Del Amitri backing the project. The venture aims to provide a permanent exhibition, live venue, educational outreach and a year‑round programme while preserving the building’s cultural purpose.
Andy Burnham has been confirmed as Labour leader at a special conference in London and will become prime minister on Monday after Keir Starmer formally resigns to the King. Burnham has secured overwhelming support from Labour MPs, pledged a "distinctively Labour" government, and promised to devolve power, tackle social care and focus on growth outside London.
The Department for Business and Trade has nationalised British Steel to secure steelmaking in the UK, protect thousands of jobs, and maintain a vital national capability. An independent evaluation will determine compensation for the former owner, Jingye Group, as production continues at Scunthorpe.
The Makerfield MP has been confirmed as Labour leader at a London conference and will become Prime Minister on Monday, succeeding Sir Keir Starmer. He vows to deliver a united, purposeful Labour focused on restoring hope and addressing living standards.
The new Prime Minister has launched a UK‑wide listening tour to hear people’s cost‑of‑living concerns. He has unveiled measures including VAT cuts on energy bills, a bus‑fare cap, and business‑rates relief for pubs and venues, while signalling further action in the budget and on high streets. He is travelling to communities to inform a long‑term plan.
BBC and Independent investigations reveal claimed PCB dumps linked to Monsanto in the 1980s, with residents near sites testing high PCB levels. Michael Sheen addresses public health concerns as whistleblowers push for accountability. The BBC documents trace alleged historic dumping and calls for fresh statutory testing
The Welsh pop icon Bonnie Tyler has died aged 75 in Portugal. A funeral service is held at Swansea Minster with a private cortege through her hometown of Skewen, following public tributes in Mumbles. Family and friends celebrate her life, reflecting on a career that produced Total Eclipse of the Heart and Holding Out For A Hero.
The Scottish government has not funded the implementation of a standalone sexual offences court and related measures, despite reforms to end the not proven verdict. Crown Office warns Holyrood that resources are not in place as rape and sexual violence statistics rise, with ongoing calls for timely delivery of promised protections.
A mounting body of evidence shows sexual strangulation is increasingly common among 18–35-year-olds in Australia and beyond, with serious health risks and a surge in related violence. Recent cases and new research highlight the urgent need for better education, safer online environments, and stronger protections against sexual violence.
Energy Secretary is preparing to recommend approval for the Jackdaw gas field and the Rosebank oil field after consultations, continuing the North Sea program to support jobs and energy security while facing climate concerns.
BBC reports that actor Michael Sheen has pressed MPs to back a national PCB testing and cleanup programme after tests showed elevated contamination at sites linked to Monsanto. The Welsh government calls contaminated land a key priority, amid questions over who should fund testing and cleanup. The Welsh Affairs Committee is also hearing from researchers and journalists who documented findings.
Public Accounts Committee warns that nationalising British Steel lacks a credible long-term plan, with costs rising and uncertainty for workers. Government asserts commitment to a sustainable, decarbonised steel sector while evaluating options for SSUK and broader industry support.
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.