Western Mail

Hostage Threat

Kidnappers have threatened to kill one of five British hostages held in Iraq for the past six months. The threat emerged in a video broadcast demanding the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq. The hostages include two bodyguards from Wales. FROM PAGE 3: My name is Jason. Today is November 18... I have been here now for 173 days and I feel we have been forgotten:Kidnappers holding five Britons - including two Welshmen - abducted in Baghdad more than six months ago released a video yesterday...

Funding Reform

Plans to reform political party funding are being drawn up, the Government said last night in the wake of the "donorgate" affair. Justice Secretary Jack Straw said a White Paper on the matter was being prepared. FROM PAGE 7: Ministers announce party funds review as Hain feels the heat:Ministers are preparing a White Paper on reforms to the way parties are funded, Justice Secretary Jack Straw said last night, as the Tories accused Labour of "lawbreaking at the highest level". The Government ha...

Wales 'Poor' in Global School League Tables

School standards for Welsh teenagers are among the worst in the developed world, a damning new report reveals. Our 15-year-olds also came bottom of the rankings for the whole of the UK in maths, reading and science. The new league tables show Welsh secondary pupils trailing behind more than 33 other countries for standards in mathematics, including Lithuania and Latvia. They also rank 28th in a list of 44 for reading - behind Slovenia, Estonia and Poland. The findings from the internationally...

Will Interest Rates Roll in Your Favour?

The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee is widely expected to keep interest rates on hold at 5.75% tomorrow - but the new year should signal a move downwards. Prior to the credit crunch the City was widely anticipating the next move was a rise to 6%, but with the crisis continuing to bite, some analysts say that rates next year could fall as much as 0.75%. One leading economist believes that the liquidity crisis in the banking system - with the rates at which banks lend to each other ...

Kpmg Sponsors Vital Free Guide to Wales' Top 300 Companies

The definitive guide to the biggest companies in Wales on turnover will be published in the Western Mail next week. The Western Mail's influential Wales Top 300 2007 magazine, will be published free in the paper a week today. And this year the publication has a new sponsor in leading provider of professional services KPMG.

Interesting Times Ahead As Bank Considers Rate Levels

Whatever the Monetary Policy Committee's decision is on interest rates tomorrow, economists and analysts are in agreement about one thing - interest rates are heading for a fall. The credit crunch in the global money markets has filtered its way down to the Welsh economy, with borrowers and lenders feeling the effects. Bank of England Governor Mervyn King has hinted at concerns over the prospects for economic growth in the next 12 months. Many commentators suggest that a cut in the cost of bo...

Mum Encouraged by Arrest in 11-Year-Old Murder Case

Police investigating the "horrific" murder of a woman 11 years ago said last night her mother was encouraged by the arrest of a 58- year-old man. The body of Karen Skipper, 34, was found in a river in Cardiff in March 1996. Her hands had been tied behind her back. Yesterday's arrest took place in the Fairwater area of the city, and the man was taken to a South Wales police station for questioning.

Small Is Beautiful It Will Play a Large Part in Our Success

Three words sum up the economic philosophy of David Melding, the Conservative charged with championing economic development in the National Assembly - small is beautiful. He desires a paradigm shift in the way people across Wales think about their career options. In his ideal future starting a business will be a realistic ambition for people of all ages and backgrounds. Mr Melding wants us to believe that we can be our own boss. Once someone has accumulated skills, he enthuses, starting a bus...

Hanged Girl 'Was Being Bullied'

A 13-year-old girl found hanged in her bedroom had told friends she was being bullied, it was revealed yesterday. Charelle Evans was found dead at her home just months after her family moved from Cardiff to a Valleys village. A note in the schoolgirl's handwriting was also discovered and police confirmed bullying was one line of inquiry they were investigating.

Doctor Struck Off After Fathering Child with Patient at His Clinic

A doctor who fathered a secret love child with a patient and then had an affair with another woman at his surgery has been struck off. Dr Oladapo Idowu was guilty of misconduct in exploiting the women and posed a risk of repeating his behaviour, a General Medical Council Fitness to Practise Panel ruled. The doctor began a relationship with the mother of his child in 2003 while she was a patient at St David's Clinic in Newport.

Tesco Bucks Trend with 'Good Progress' in Autumn Sales:

Tesco said yesterday that it had made good progress over the autumn period as the supermarket giant bucked the gathering gloom in the retail sector. The UK's biggest grocery chain posted like-for- like sales, excluding petrol, up 4.1% in the 13 weeks to November 24 - in line with forecasts in the City. Tesco said food inflation rose by almost 1% as higher commodity prices continued to drive up the cost of food.

Low-Cost Airlines Must Pay Their Way at Cardiff

There is an interregnum at Cardiff International Airport - the managing director has left and while there is an interim managing director in charge, this is only a temporary solution while a recruitment process is undertaken. The new boss will no doubt have a clear idea as to where to take the strategy of the airport but here are my observations to help him become acquainted with the issues.

Catalogue of Failings Led to Fatal Nimrod Crash Over Afghanistan

Defence Secretary Des Browne last night ordered a new safety review of the RAF's ageing Nimrod spy planes after an official inquiry into the crash of an aircraft in Afghanistan identified a catalogue of failings. Ageing aircraft components and a lack of modern fire suppressants were among the factors that led to a crash in which 14 servicemen lost their lives. The RAF Board of Inquiry (BoI) found the 37-year-old XV230 reconnaissance aircraft suffered a catastrophic mid-air explosion on Septem...

Pensions Strike Ballot Raises the Spectre of Power Cuts This Winter

Union leaders yesterday raised the prospect of energy production being hit by strikes this winter, in a row over pensions. Welsh workers at an electricity generation firm are among those threatening industrial action. International Power workers based at the company's plants in Dinorwig and Ffestiniog, in Snowdonia, may be balloted over proposed strike action by trade union Unite. The firm is considering replacing its final salary pension plan with a "defined contributions" scheme. Unite sugg...

Referral Orders for Boys Who Used Knife to Steal 20p

Two 12-year-old boys who robbed two youngsters at knifepoint for 20p and a lolly before launching a "happy-slapping" attack both received referral orders yesterday. A youth court at Llandudno was told the knife was held to the neck of a boy of 10 who begged not to be hurt and handed over the money. A boy of 12 gave up his lollipop. A short time later another boy of 12 was ordered on his hands and knees and kicked in the leg while the assault on him was filmed using a mobile phone.

Pounds 1.5bn Taxes Put in Doubt by Late Returns

The Government must do more to encourage people to file tax and VAT forms on time, economic experts are warning. Edward Leigh, chairman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, said an estimated pounds 1.5bn in tax revenue a year was in doubt due to people failing to get their forms completed. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) collects pounds 129bn a year in VAT and corporation tax.

Christmas Spending to Reach Pounds 200m a Day and Nearly Half of Shoppers Will Go Online

Consumers in Wales will spend pounds 200m a day on festive items in the lead up to Christmas, new research shows. According to business advisory firm Deloitte, spending from December 1 to 20 on gifts and food and drink will top pounds 4bn. The research also predicts that online spending will continue to increase in 2008, while it will be a tough year on the high street.

Wag 'Jumping the Gun' with Its Attempt to Control Right to Buy

Fresh tensions between Whitehall and the Assembly were exposed last night after Ministers in Cardiff Bay published plans for a new transfer of power before getting clearance from the UK Government. The latest flashpoint comes over proposals to give the Assembly Government the power to suspend tenants' right to buy council homes in some circumstances, a move intended to ease pressure on the housing market in rural areas. A Legislative Competence Order (LCO) to devolve the power from London to ...

Police Search for Missing Seaman

Searches were yesterday being conducted for a seaman last seen more than three days ago. Irishman Brian Daly disappeared after being seen working on the deck of the Arklow Wilow, at the King's Dock in Swansea, shortly after 3am on Sunday. Police have conducted extensive searches onboard the ship and with a sub aqua team. The 20- year-old is described as 5ft 10ins, of slim build, with short brown hair. He was last seen wearing an orange fluorescent boiler suit with an orange jacket. Police see...

Teenager Denies Murder Charge