Western Mail

Prostate Therapy for Men in Wales

Men with prostate cancer will receive brachytherapy in Wales for the first time, it emerged yesterday. First Minister Rhodri Morgan said a service to provide brachytherapy at Velindre Hospital, in Cardiff, would be set up 'in a few days'. He said capital investment for the scheme from the Welsh Assembly Government is already in place.

Hendrix Riddle Sparks Stampede for Tich's Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau

The work of a Welsh guitarist has been in huge demand because of his connection to a Jimi Hendrix mystery. Former record producer Martin Davies inherited a guitar solo recording of the Welsh national anthem, and had been convinced it could have been made by guitar legend Hendrix himself. But despite an appeal in the Western Mail, followed by massive global interest, none of the few people potentially able to reveal origins of the recording have come forward.

Ofcom Fines Cold Call Firms

Shock New Levy Arrest in Honours Probe Twist

Smoking Ban Set for April 2

Smoking in pubs and bars will be banned on April 2, the Welsh Assembly decided last night. A backbench amendment that would have delayed the ban until the same date as England - July 1 - was overwhelmingly defeated in a free vote. FROM PAGE 3: Smoking to be banned in Welsh pubs from April 2:The days of the smoky Welsh pub were officially numbered yesterday as Assembly Members voted to introduce a smoking ban in enclosed public places in less than nine weeks. Smoking in pubs and bars will be b...

Equity Takes the Glamour, but Loans and Mezzanine Are Our Engine Room

Finance Wales is confident that it will see an upturn in profitable exits from its equity investments. Since being established in 2002, the now stand-alone subsidiary of the Assembly has only realised three positive exits from its investments - the latest being from West Wales niche sports fashion retailer Howie's following a trade sale to Timberland. In its last financial year to the end of March 2006, it realised a pounds 432,000 profit, following a trade sale of potentially up to pounds 2m...

Swansea Wins Casino

SWANSEA was yesterday given the go-ahead to build a new-style casino, despite reservations from gambling help groups. Cardiff failed in its bid to secure the UK's single 'super-casino', which will be built in Manchester.: FROM PAGE 5: Swansea scoops casino licence jackpot:Swansea officials said they were 'delighted' yesterday after the city was recommended to house a new small regional casino. They welcomed the millions of pounds of investment and 'hundreds' of new jobs it would bring. But th...

More Tourist Heading East

Assembly Closing for the Day As Civil Servants Strike

The Welsh Assembly is set to close down for the day as hundreds of thousands of civil servants go on strike in a bitter row over jobs and pay. The UK strike by 200,000 civil servants will hit tax returns, driving tests, courts, ports, benefit offices and jobcentres. The Public and Commercial Services union said the action will close the Welsh Assembly for the day, disrupt court sittings, close galleries and museums and lead to delays passing through immigration at airports. Picket lines will ...

Pounds 100m of Deals for Finance Specialist

A south Wales commercial finance specialist is on course to rack up more than pounds 100m worth of deals - just two years after being launched by a pair of the region's most experienced bankers. Creative Commercial Finance raised more than pounds 50m for clients in its first year of trading and will surpass that total this financial year, supported by a significant expansion and diversification of the business in recent months. While continuing to focus heavily on property purchase, joint ven...

Praise for Wife Who Informed On Husband

A judge praised a woman whose 999 call led to her husband's 11th drink-driving conviction and his spending Christmas Day in custody. Jailing Paul Lyons for four months, District Judge Andrew Shaw said his wife had acted responsibly in putting her public duty before her personal feelings. 'It must have been very painful for her and she was obviously concerned for your safety and security, but I have to consider public safety matters,' he said at Prestatyn.

Leaked Paper Threatens to Derail Hain's Ambitions

Welsh Secretary Peter Hain's bid to become Labour's deputy leader has suffered an embarrassing blow after a strategy document was leaked on the internet. The memo includes a list of MPs prepared to back Mr Hain in public and private, and also groups of floating MPs who are being targeted. It also suggests that the Neath MP has yet to secure the support of more than half of Welsh Labour MPs.

High Growth Advice Key to Success

Optimism. Energy. Worry. Determination. These are just some of the many feelings being experienced by first-time entrepreneurs across Wales as they plunge into what, for many, will be a make-or- break year in business terms. Whether 2007 turns out to be feast or famine will depend on a host of factors, but the one New Year resolution with the greatest potential to transform a business is - get help.

Landmark Shortlist to Be Revealed Next Week

A shortlist of designs for a new landmark on the Welsh side of the Second Severn Crossing will be unveiled next week. A panel from the Landmark Wales partnership has chosen five entries from 102 applications from designers and architects to build a distinctive installation on the Monmouthshire side of the bridge. The design teams chosen by the panel will then meet people in Caldicot to assess local opinion. The designers will be commissioned to produce five separate concepts by the end of Mar...

100th Birthday Present for the National Library of Wales

A collection of about 5,000 books, once owned by the first treasurer of the National Library of Wales, is being donated to the same institution in its centenary year. The collection by Henry Owen, a noted member of Pembrokeshire's Victorian gentry, will be handed over to the library over the coming months. The books, including some rare editions, will remain in public ownership. Born in Withybush in 1844, Henry Owen became a leading solicitor in London before retiring to Poyston Mansion, near...

It's Heads You Win for Jones As Ace Redan Signs for City

Cardiff city boss Dave Jones admits he would have had no chance of signing new Bluebirds' striker Iwan Redan, if the Dutchman hadn't allegedly head-butted a team-mate during a cup match. Yesterday 26-year-old Redan completed a deal to move on loan to Ninian Park until the end of the season with a view to a permanent move this summer.

It's Time to Use Technology, Insists Fergie

Sir alex ferguson has called on football's lawmakers to follow the lead of rugby and cricket and embrace video technology. Manchester United were on the wrong end of two incorrect decisions in their FA Cup tie against Portsmouth at the weekend. In the first half, Nemanja Vidic had a goal disallowed when referee Mike Riley and his assistants failed to spot the ball had crossed the line before Pedro Mendes cleared.

Promotion Is Our Aim Now, Vows Swans Star Pratley

Skipper Darren Pratley has pledged Swansea City will put FA Cup pain behind them by winning automatic promotion to the Championship. The Swans might be eight points adrift of League One leaders Scunthorpe, but Pratley believes that margin means nothing with a more than a third of the campaign remaining. 'We're looking higher than the play-offs, to be honest,' insisted Pratley, mindful that the sixth-placed Swans also have a game in hand on Scunthorpe.

Ireland As Good As All Blacks, Warns Martyn

Martyn williams last night likened taking on Ireland in the Six Nations opener to meeting New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium. Alarmingly, Wales were demolished a record 45-10 in Cardiff by Graham Henry's mean machine during their last outing and Williams, capped 64 times by Wales, put Brian O'Driscoll's men in the same bracket as the All Blacks. Triple Crown holders Ireland came close to winning their first Test against the Kiwis in Hamilton last summer and also gave them problems in the s...

Connie Wins Most Promising Theatre Newcomer Award

The Sound of Music star Connie Fisher won her first award yesterday when she was named theatreland's most promising newcomer. Fisher, discovered on BBC1 talent contest How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, received the accolade at the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards. It was the first major prize for Fisher, the 23-year-old former call centre worker from Pembrokeshire, who has had rave reviews since landing the lead role of Maria in Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End hit.