Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales) back issues from December 2008:
Conjoined twins' parents facing agonising decision.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Sally Williams DOCTORS will decide tomorrow whether to separate a Welsh father's newly-born "miracle" conjoined twins. Aled Williams, 28, a binman, from Anglesey, and his wife Laura, say their daughters, Faith and Hope, who are joined at the chest and were ...
uk news bulletin: Teenagers warned over soft options.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... TEENAGERS who pick "soft" subjects at A-level are unknowingly damaging their chances of getting a place at a top university, a think tank said today. A report by the Policy Exchange calls for universities to be more open about which subjects they consider to be inadequate ...
uk news bulletin: Elderly owner killed by car thief.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... A MURDER investigation is under way after an elderly man died when a car thief ran him over after stealing his vehicle. Detectives cordoned off a road in Horfield, Bristol, where the victim, in his 60s, was pronounced dead just after 11.30pm on Saturday night. The ...
uk news bulletin: Pensioners found battered to death.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... TWO pensioners murdered in their home were battered to death. The bodies of the couple, named locally as Arthur and Joan Toop, were found in the detached bungalow. A murder investigation was launched shortly after 9pm on Friday when police found the couple. ...
world news bulletin: Cholera kills 425 in Zimbabwe outbreak.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... ZIMBABWE health authorities said 425 people have died in a cholera outbreak and they are concerned it will worsen with the onset of the rainy season. More than 11,000 people have fallen sick since August. The number of cases has shot up in the past two weeks. ...
world news bulletin: Obama picks rival Hillary for top job.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... US president-elect Barack Obama will nominate Hillary Clinton as his secretary of state today, transforming a once-bitter political rivalry into a high-level strategic and diplomatic partnership. Mr Obama will name the New York senator and former Democratic presidential rival to ...
world news bulletin: Space shuttle Endeavour lands safely.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... SPACE shuttle Endeavour and its seven astronauts landed safely back on Earth last night. The space shuttle landed in California, after being diverted there by stormy weather at NASA's Florida spaceport. Commander Christopher Ferguson guided Endeavour down at Edwards ...
Indian minister resigns over Mumbai massacre.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... INDIA'S top security official resigned yesterday as the Government struggled under growing accusations of security failures following terror attacks that killed 174 people. Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who has become highly unpopular during a long series of terror attacks across ...
Man shot dead by police outside cathedral.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... A MAN was shot dead yesterday by armed police, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said. The man was killed at around 3pm after officers responded to reports of an armed man in Guildford, Surrey, the IPCC said in a statement last night. The statement ...
Manufacturing likely to shed tens of thousands of jobs; Industry is plunging into deep recession.(Business)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Alan Jones Industrial Correspondent MANUFACTURING is heading for a recession as serious as the one which decimated the industry more than a decade ago, after research revealed that the outlook had taken a "significant" turn for the worse, a gloomy report warns today. ...
Woolworths' chain of stores could soon be broken up.(Business)
Dec 01, 2008 ... WOOLWORTHS could be broken up as early as this week as around a dozen serious bidders circle the high street chain. Parts of the group's 815 store portfolio could be sold off in parcels to rival retailers, despite administrator Deloitte receiving several bids for the entire ...
business share tips.(Business)
Dec 01, 2008 ... COMPASS (306.25p), the world's largest catering company by market capitalisation, is likely to benefit from the economic downturn as businesses outsource their catering services to cut costs. Pre-tax profits rose 33.3% to pounds 589m during the year to September 30, 5% ahead of ...
Fractured skull, but Jamie set for Six Nations return.(Sport)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Simon Thomas WALES hero Jamie Roberts will be able to resume his rugby career despite fracturing his skull in Saturday's victory over Australia - and he could even be back for the start of the Six Nations! Roberts suffered his shocking injury in a huge ...
Rival bosses air frustrations; SWANSEA 2 CARDIFF 2.(Sport)
Dec 01, 2008 ... STEPHEN McPHAIL'S derby dismissal saw Cardiff City blow their big chance of getting one over arch-rivals Swansea as the first league meeting between the sides in almost a decade ended all square, writes Chris Wathan. The Cardiff captain (below) saw red for a second booking when ...
Why West is Best - Caryl's tribute to Grav.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: carolyn hitt RAY Gravell, who played a pivotal role in Wales' emphatic victory over Australia in 1975, would have loved the gutsy way Gatland's men edged their win over the Wallabies. His absence is felt with each rugby moment the nation cherishes. ...
Bank on this Welsh team in the gloom.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... WHAT better way to forget the gloom of this credit-crunched winter, writes Carolyn Hitt. Those who invested in Wales on Saturday afternoon got a thrilling return. They say that only gold is a safe bet in these financially precarious times, but as the Wallabies ...
wales news bulletin: Six arrested after soccer stand-off.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... SIX people were arrested yesterday after a stand-off between fans and police at the South Wales football derby. Police, however, applauded the way the majority of fans conducted themselves as the clash between Swansea City and Cardiff City avoided the violent scenes that ...
wales news bulletin: Three in custody after man's death.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... POLICE are investigating the suspicious death of a 20-year-old in South Wales. Tom Smith died after an incident at 1.35am on Saturday in Penyrheol, Caerphilly. Gwent police officers were called to reports of disorder in Heol Tir Gibbon, in ...
wales news bulletin: Man, 29, held after death of woman.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... A 51-YEAR-OLD woman has been found dead in Brynithel, near Abertillery. Officers from Gwent Police were called to Mount Pleasant Estate on ...
wales news bulletin: Welsh language show up for award.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... CHILDREN'S Welsh language show Holi Hana has been shortlisted to receive a coveted television award. The S4C programme could be recognised for its colourful animations at the Broadcast Awards 2009. ...
My advice to young people is to leave. Get on a plane to Canada. Just go... In a town where almost 500 people have lost their jobs at a factory in the last month, David James discovers that a proud history is no guarantee of a certain future.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: David James OVER the decades and the generations, the Valleys stronghold of Maesteg has been one of the most formidable symbols of Welsh rugby prowess and national and community pride. Cupped by mountains on three sides, this industrial town has had one of ...
MP calls for compensation to be paid to Equitable Life policyholders.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... EVERY policyholder who lost money when insurer Equitable Life collapsed should be compensated, a South Wales MP has claimed. Julie Morgan, MP for Cardiff North, yesterday told a meeting of the Equitable Life Members' Action Group (EMAG) that all policyholders in the scheme ...
More shoppers buy Welsh lamb despite credit crunch.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... HOUSEHOLDERS are continuing to buy Welsh lamb, despite the credit crunch, with sales figures up on last year, according to research published today. Latest statistics show that purchases of lamb in Wales rose slightly - up 2% - compared to 2007. Dai Davies, NFU Cymru ...
UK urged to back EU plan to pour money into Wales.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Martin Shipton Chief Reporter THE UK Government is coming under pressure to back a plan that could see many millions of pounds pumped into the Welsh economy in the short term. European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso last week announced detailed ...
Tories 'abandon people in tough times'.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... LABOUR steps up its attacks on the Conservatives today, sending out leaflets across Wales suggesting the Tories would "abandon people in tough times". With the fall-out continuing from last week's pre-Budget report, Labour is trying to portray the Conservatives as a "do-nothing ...
'Big constitutional principles' are at stake, says Harman; MPs are still angry over Commons raid.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Matt Withers Political Correspondent PROTECTION of MPs' offices from police raids must be reviewed, Commons leader Harriet Harman said yesterday, amid continued political fighting over the arrest of senior Welsh Tory Damian Green. Ms Harman said she understood ...
Family carers hide high cost of multiple sclerosis.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... CARING for people with multiple sclerosis costs Wales more than pounds 67m a year, a study has suggested. The research found the true costs of coping with MS were pounds 17,000 per person per year, but were often masked because care was provided by the family members. ...
pounds 1.5m repair on landslip to start.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... SPECIALIST engineers are to begin repair work worth pounds 1.5m in a bid to finally resolve a long-standing landslip problem in South Wales. Forestry Commission Wales has obtained planning permission from Monmouthshire County Council to carry out major work to stabilise land at ...
world news bulletin: Stranded pilot whales battered to death.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... A GROUP of about 80 whales stranded on a remote coastline in southern Australia were dashed to death on rocks before rescuers could reach them. Officials from Tasmania state's Parks and Wildlife Service rushed in four-wheel-drive vehicles to the remote site at Sandy Cape after ...
Climate advisers to speak out on emission-cut targets.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... THE committee set up to advise ministers on climate change will make recommendations today on a series of emissions cuts, amid calls to further toughen UK action on global warming. The Committee for Climate Change, chaired by Adair Turner, will give its advice on what the UK's ...
Trying to encourage enterprise of long experience.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... THE OVER 50s are being encouraged to tap into their "olderpreneurial" spirit. It is hoped a pounds 2m three-year partnership between the Prince of Wales' charity Prime (The Prince's Initiative for Mature Enterprise) and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation will help the ...
Police to crack down on Christmas drink-drivers.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... POLICE forces across the UK will step up their fight against drink and drug drivers today as part of a new campaign in the run-up to Christmas. In an attempt to beat the scourge of the festive season, officers will up the use of roadside breath tests and raise awareness of the ...
Bank may cut interest rate by as much as 1%; Consumer spending has fallen at its fastest rate for 13 years.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Nicky Burridge THE Bank of England is widely expected to cut interest rates by at least another 0.5% this week as it tries to stave off a deep recession. The Monetary Policy Committee surprised markets last month by slashing the base rate by 1.5% to a 53-year ...
House sales may soon turn the corner.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... HOUSE prices continued to fall during November - but the slump in sales looks close to bottoming out, a property group said yesterday. The cost of a home in England and Wales dropped by 1.1% during the month, to give an average house price of pounds 161,400. The ...
More Welsh soldiers seeking help with deafness caused by the noise of war; Bomb blasts and rifle fire harm eardrums.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Greg Tindle AN increasing number of Welsh soldiers returning from war zones in Afghanistan and Iraq are seeking medical help for deafness and damage to their hearing. Exposure to the blast of roadside bombs or the constant eardrum battering of rifle fire has ...
Combat veterans put their pain in the picture.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... ART created by veterans trying to recover from the trauma of combat will go on show today. Veterans aged 30 to 86 from the British Army, Royal Navy, RAF, Merchant Navy and the Reserves have contributed to the Art and Conflict exhibition which is thought to be the first of its ...
'The trouble is that lots of people believe in a God of hate' The Archbishop of Wales admits that he would consecrate a gay bishop.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: David Williamson Senedd Correspondent THE Archbishop of Wales Barry Morgan has revealed that if the Bishop of St Davids had not resigned following speculation about his private life, he would have referred the matter to a church court. The Rt Rev Carl Cooper ...
Bonnie's vision heartache ends after surgery; Pioneering laser surgery means Welsh star can read her own lyrics.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Sally Williams SHE'S a blonde, Welsh and sexy singing siren who is worth a fortune. But for years, behind the scenes, Bonnie Tyler has been plagued by having the "eyesight of an old lady". Her severe long-sightedness, combined with having one ...
Fined for using mobiles while teaching L-drivers; Dyfed-Powys Police clamp down on dangerous practice.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Matthew Aplin SCORES of Welsh motorists have been fined for using hand-held mobile phones while teaching learners to drive. Figures show that 63 tickets were issued to "supervisors" in the last three years by Welsh police forces. Dyfed-Powys have ...
Celebrity girls bring a touch of glamour to eventing spectacular.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... FAMOUS faces were out in force yesterday as the Millennium Stadium hosted a new glitzy and glamorous form of eventing to try to attract more interest in the sport. Model Jodie Kidd and It-girl Tara Palmer-Tomkinson were among those taking part, competing in a celebrity jump-off ...
Labour to launch a legal blitz on Britain's binge-drinking culture; New powers for the police to be revealed in the Queen's Speech.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Joe Churcher NEW laws to tackle binge-drinking will be unveiled today in a bid to end scenes of "people lying on the pavements and being sick". Pubs, clubs and shops faceaban on "irresponsible" price promotions and being forced to offer smaller glasses after ...
Hospital-style handwashes help to cut pupil illness; Pioneering primary school installs hand-gel machines.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Moira Sharkey HOSPITAL-STYLE antiseptic handgel dispensers are helping to keep children in the classroom and out of the doctors' waiting room. A pioneering campaign at a Cardiff school is stopping the spread of germs and reducing sickness absence. ...
Merthyr's comeback as boxing capital.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... A WELSH town's status as the boxing capital of Britain could be restored by the sport's undefeated world champion Joe Calzaghe. Next February, the king of boxing will host his first fight as a promoter when Kerry Hope enters the ring in Merthyr Tydfil with light middleweight, ...
Free flip-flops? Have the Torquay police gone a bit bonkers? that's typical.(News)
Dec 01, 2008 ... THERE are a number of sounds from childhood which have disappeared into the mists. Clanking conkers, the rag and bone man's horse, that ringing in your ear when you're fetched one around the bonce by the bus conductor, But one of the most evocative sounds, the one that reminds ...
We must not turn down this vital financial help; Western Mail COMMENT.(Leaders)
Dec 01, 2008 ... CURRENTLY, the economic news in Wales is remorselessly grim. Scarcely a day goes by without another company announcing it is shedding jobs - a Corus here, a Hoover there. Jobs are being stripped from Wales, and each time the economy contracts yet further. Therefore, ...
Letter: Teetotallers have a role curbing bingers.(Letters)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: CANON DEWI W THOMAS SIR - That the Archbishop and the Chief Constable have united to give a lead in an attempt to curb binge drinking is encouraging, as was the statement in their letter that they want to work with everyone in Wales. However, I found one ...
Letter: A new age in surgery.(Letters)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: DR DAVID GWYNFOR SAMUEL SIR - As someone who is strongly in favour of an opt-out donor scheme I am saddened at the lack of support being shown by the UK government towards such a scheme. I am heartened that Edwina Hart and the WAG are taking a more open ...
Letter: Assembly powers.(Letters)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: NIGEL DIX SIR - Philippa Ford (Letters, Nov 13), spokesperson for Cymru Yfory/Tomorrow's Wales, congratulates Welsh Nationalist Helen Mary Jones for outlining neatly why the Assembly needs more powers. As Philippa works for an organisation whose sole aim is to ...
Letter: Plaid miss the point.(Letters)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: JEFF CUTHBERT AM SIR - Councillor Lindsay Whittle (Letters, Nov 19) and Len Thomas (Nov 20) criticise me for my comments regarding the "Britishness" guidance/ instructions issued by the Plaid-led Caerphilly Council. They claim that they have simply proceeded ...
Sunday shoppers' revolution; RETRO REPORT December, 1991.(Features)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Edited by Tony Woolway THOUSANDS of shoppers struck a death blow to Sunday trading laws yesterday by visiting supermarkets throughout Wales. High-street giants Tesco spearheaded the pre-Christmas blitz by opening 25 stores in Wales for the first time on a ...
A POSTCARD FROM WALES.(Features)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Send your pictures together with contact details to Saffron Jenkins at wmreaderpics@mediawales.co.uk ...
Letter: Foot-care essential.(Letters)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: ROBERT TAYLOR SIR - Age Concern Cymru and the British Medical Association (BMA) are calling on the Welsh Assembly Government, the new health bodies and local authorities to improve the provision of foot care services for all older people in Wales. Good foot ...
Letter: Simple arithmetic.(Letters)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: IOAN RICHARD SIR - The arithmetic could not be simpler. Statistical facts are that the United Kingdom produces approximately 2% of the global carbon dioxide. Of our UK CO2 emissions only about one third comes from power stations (another third from vehicle ...
Letter: Shane's the man.(Letters)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: R TERRY JAMES SIR - I cannot believe the audacity of Graham Henry in claiming (Nov 26) Shane Williams was not a worthy winner of the IRB Player of the Year Award and that Ritchie McCaw should have got it instead! I have dozens of Welsh and English rugby ...
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY.(Features)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Age is whatever you think it is. You are as ...
Changing landscapes power Dan's latest work; Box Office arts & entertainment.(Features)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Edited by Karen Price A NEW show from a Cardiff-born artist is set to open at the Museum of Modern Art Wales. Dan Llywelyn Hall, pictured, will be bringing his latest collection to the Machynlleth gallery on Monday. A former Sunday Times Young ...
Darlow's enjoying all the fun of the stage; If anyone thought they had seen the back of Alan Darlow, they were wrong. As Gavin Allen discovers, he's now making theatreland his property Box Office arts & entertainment.(Features)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Gavin Allen WITH the property market in freefall you can forgive Alan Darlow for looking elsewhere to invest, but investing in musicals generally isn't as safe as houses. However, when that musical is All The Fun Of The Fair, David Essex's long-awaited pet ...
Early birds secure tickets for Square Festival 2009; Box Office arts & entertainment.(Features)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Edited by Karen Price TICKETS for a festival in 2009 are already on sale, with the organisers promising a bigger and better weekend than this year. Borth's Square Festival 2008 drew bands Pendulum and Alabama 3 to the North West Wales coast, and with an ...
Change of pace for top music venue as it showcases theatre talent; Box Office arts & entertainment.(Features)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Edited by Karen Price IT MIGHT be more used to hosting bands, but legendary Cardiff nightspot Clwb Ifor Bach will be welcoming rising theatre stars to the stage next week The event has been put together by Welsh drama collective Dirty Protest. It's being ...
arts news bulletin: Funding boost for Cardiff Museum.(Features)
Dec 01, 2008 ... A NEW trust has been set up to raise funds for the proposed Cardiff Museum. The development scheme will complement the pounds 1.75m already committed by Cardiff Council for the creation of a museum to showcase the history of the city. Founding ...
arts news bulletin: Jazz singer happy to get the blues.(Features)
Dec 01, 2008 ... JAZZ stalwart Anita Wardell comes to Swansea's Taliesin Centre this Saturday. Usually known for her vocal renditions of jazz standards, she has turned her attention to blues for this ...
arts news bulletin: Lottery funding for youth film project.(Features)
Dec 01, 2008 ... YOUNG people in Newport have been given money to help produce their own film. The 15 young people are from an under-12 girl group and have been awarded a total of pounds ...
Drive to curb binge drinking asks drunks in A&E for help; Researchers will be asking patients to identify city centre trouble hotspots HEALTH WALES.(Features)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Madeleine Brindley Health Editor DRUNK patients treated at Wales' busiest A&E unit will be questioned about where they had their last drink. A study at the University Hospital of Wales will help police and licensing officers identify trouble hotspots in ...
Managers to walk the talk to save lives; HEALTH WALES.(Features)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Health Editor Madeleine Brindley SENIOR NHS managers will carry out a series of ward and clinic walkabouts in a bid to improve patient safety. Like other NHS trusts, Hywel Dda NHS Trust has signed up to the national 1,000 Lives campaign, which aims to improve ...
Our mental health care is improving, but Wales has a long way to go to combat the stigma; Almost everyone at some time will be touched by mental illness, says Jenny Randerson, who calls for its treatment to be made a core part of our health services.(Features)
Dec 01, 2008 ... Byline: Jenny Randerson A Cinderella service", "abandoning the most vulnerable," "failing the most failed" - the list of cliches about mental health provision goes on and on. Almost everyone we know will, at some point in their lives, be touched by mental illness, ...