Port city of Wales; second-largest in the country, known for Copperopolis history and coastal city status.
Police have charged eight men in connection with a long-running investigation into group-based child sexual exploitation in south Wales. The defendants, aged 54 to 73, face multiple rape and associated offences dating from 1985 to 1996. They are due before Newport Magistrates’ Court on July 24.
The Total Eclipse of the Heart singer, Gaynor Hopkins, dies at age 75 in a Portuguese hospital. Tributes flow from peers; a funeral plan centers on a public procession through Swansea and Skewen, with a memorial at Swansea Minster. Family donations will support Noah’s Ark Wales and Cerebral Palsy Cymru. A celebration of life is scheduled for 17 August; the star’s coffin is to travel from Faro to her home before public tributes.
Wildfires across Wales have intensified this week, prompting the deployment of a specialist firefighting helicopter to Rhinogydd in Gwynedd. Authorities say several fires remain active, with Blaenavon in Torfaen identified as a priority for ground operations. Officials warn the fires will burn for several days as smoke affects multiple communities.
Drivers have criticised 2026 regulations that split power 50/50 between internal combustion and electrical units, saying energy-management rules have forced slower, less exciting racing. Lando Norris has said commercial aims — and manufacturers such as Audi entering the sport — have driven the changes, and drivers say they have had little say in rulemaking.
The Doctor Who screenwriter has spoken about his husband Andrew Smith’s death from glioblastoma in 2018. He says caregiving was hard but he would have done it for 50 more years. Smith and Davies were together 20 years, married in 2012, and Davies is dating Oliver Cole. Davies will publish a memoir about his career this year.
A boat carrying about 157 people has caught fire during an attempted Channel crossing and French and British authorities have rescued everyone on board and taken them to Boulogne-sur-Mer. No deaths have been reported. The incident has come as UK politicians renew calls to curb small-boat crossings and as crossings remain down year‑on‑year so far in 2026.
The Information Commissioner’s Office has executed warrants across Bolton, Burnley, Liverpool, London and Swansea, seizing devices and documents as part of a crackdown on firms behind mass text messages about car finance mis-selling. Regulators say more than 12 million complaints have been logged since September 2025, with up to 100,000 reports daily.
The National Eisteddfod of Wales has returned to its roots near Cardigan for its 850th birthday, with events spanning 1-8 August in Llantwd, Pembrokeshire. The festival attracts about 150,000 visitors and features Welsh-language poetry, music, drama and visual arts, including performances by the Super Furry Animals and a 5‑metre Lord Rhys puppet.
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Ynyshir Restaurant, famed for its 30-course tasting menu, has been awarded a five‑star hygiene rating after a February reinspection, following a prior one‑star rating in late 2025. Regulators say the restaurant addressed the issues and the scoring update is now published on the Food Standards Agency website.
A murder investigation has been launched after violent disorder in Pontnewynydd near Pontypool, with a man in custody and multiple arrests as investigators uncover links to rival motorcycle clubs. A Ford Transit van has been traced in connection with the incident.
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.
Au Vodka, the Swansea-based RTD vodka brand, is nearing a sale to Sazerac, the Kentucky-based owner of brands like Buffalo Trace and Fireball. Founders Charlie Morgan and Jackson Quinn are expected to net over £100m each, with a deal potentially valued up to £500m including future payments. Legal and advisory teams are said to be involved, and the move would expand Sazerac’s UK footprint amid industry turbulence.
The Information Commissioner’s Office has fined Elderly Aids Limited (EAL) for making nearly 760,000 cold calls to TPS-listed individuals to sell call-blocking devices. The firm faced an enforcement notice and may face further action if the fine is unpaid. Calls continued during investigation; the company also attempted to strike itself off Companies House.
A trio of UK outlets report on Stolen Babies, a documentary recounting how unmarried mothers between 1949 and 1976 were coerced into adoption, with pain, neglect, and state-backed institutions central to the narrative.
A government-backed inquiry into maternity and neonatal care is expanding to include sessions with families. Campaigners say the process is a turning point for the trust involved, as families share experiences to guide the review.
Swansea City has climbed to second in the Championship after a 3-1 win over Burnley, with Idah, Yeo, and Vipotnik scoring. Manager Matos says the squad can compete with any team, signaling growing optimism for a promotion push. Inoussa seeks regular football on loan to gain playing time, while Franco’s return strengthens midfield options as Swansea prepares for a crucial clash.
Sion Parry, named Wales-born captain of Ebbw Vale, has been allotted national duties with Canada, missing the SRC early rounds as he chases a World Cup spot in 2027. He balances carpentry with international rugby as he trains for Tests against Fiji, Japan and the USA in the Pacific Nations Cup and beyond.
Zeta-Jones says her children Dylan and Carys are pursuing acting and directing, calling the term nepo baby divisive. She argues the phrase is harmful and notes her kids are finding their own way in life, with both parents supportive of their careers.
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.
Investigations show defects in new homes and scams in repairs, prompting calls for independent checks, stronger warranties, and a trusted trader app to protect homeowners as more cases reveal systemic failures in the housing market.
Catherine Zeta-Jones has embraced a Welsh accent for a new Prime drama, filmed in Wales and based on The Price You Pay. The series flips the male lead from the original US novel, introducing a Welsh Jackie Price as she confronts hitmen and a high-tech security setup inspired by Tom Jones. Zeta-Jones also serves as an executive producer and has spoken about her roots and fan reception.
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.