Western Mail

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Rhodri to reveal departure date RHODRI MORGAN is expected to announce the date on which he will stand down as Wales' First Minister today. All 26 Labour Assembly Members have been summoned to a meeting of the Welsh party's national executive committee this afternoon at which it is understood Mr Morgan will reveal his plans for his departure, which will in turn trigger the race to succeed him.

Life for Pair Who Killed Welshman in S.Africa As Family Looked On ; My Children Were Lucky to Have Had a Fantastic Dad, Says Widow

TWO men who robbed and murdered a Welsh businessman in front of his wife and four children in South Africa are today beginning life jail sentences. Petro Markel, 27, and Cristovao Fresco Ndima, 20, both from Mozambique, denied murdering 46-year-old Fred Picton-Turbervill, originally from Ewenny, Bridgend, at his home in Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria, in January last year.

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The Idyllic Country Home That Inspired Laura Ashley's Classic Style Can Be Yours for Pounds 1.2m ; Iconic Designer's Family Make the 'Heartbreaking' Decision to Sell Up

SET in acres of idyllic Welsh countryside, Rhydoldog House is one of Laura Ashley's finest remaining design statements. The Victorian mansion, which dates back more than 600 years, is situated in 700 acres of idyllic Powys countryside and each room is a perfect example of the rustic style that earned Ashley fame. But the sumptuous property - credited with inspiring the designer's famous floral prints, and more recently home to the Laura Ashley Foundation - is to leave the ownership of the fam...

Labour Mps Do Not Much Care for the Sun Anyway. But Would They Prefer to Have It On Their Side? Of Course ; the Sun's Decision to Back the Tories Isn't Much of a Surprise, but That Doesn't Mean It Doesn't Matter, Says Political Editor Tomos Livingstone

THE course of The Sun's relationship with the Labour Party never has run smooth, but its ups and downs are as good a guide as any to British politics over the past 30 years. The two institutions have quite a history.

Welsh Labour Steps Up Attack On Tories As 'Sun' Row Steals Conference Thunder ; Claims of Tories' 'Pounds 2.5bn Cuts' Dismissed As Scaremongering

WELSH Labour last night issued a detailed pamphlet accusing the Conservatives of planning a pounds 2.5bn cut in public spending in Wales. Labour has repeatedly raised the spectre of Margaret Thatcher and John Redwood in recent election campaigns, but with the party steadily losing support at the ballot box, senior figures concede a more robust attack is needed.

Kinnock Says People, Not Papers, Decide Elections

FORMER Labour leader Neil Kinnock accused The Sun of "arrogant presumption" after the tabloid ditched his party for the Tories. Lord Kinnock said the paper - the country's biggest-selling daily - was wrong to assume it could determine the outcome of the general election as ultimately voters would decide.

42-Page Record of Achievement? Is the Health Minister Sending a Message With

CIVIL servants were asked by Welsh Labour leadership contender Edwina Hart to prepare a 42-page document detailing her recent achievements as Health and Social Services Minister, it has emerged. Last week, the document was sent as a letter to all AMs.

Labour Ams Likely to Hear Rhodri's Plans for Meeting Today His Retirement at Special ; Party Could Begin Closed-Session Moves Today to Elect First Minister's Replacement

RHODRI MORGAN is today expected to end longstanding speculation about his future and kick off the contest to become Wales' next First Minister. The Cardiff West AM is scheduled to address all Labour AMs in a "special meeting" of Welsh Labour's national executive committee at Transport House in Cardiff this afternoon.

Bercow Sees Lessons for Westminster at Assembly

WESTMINSTER should aim to replicate the Assembly's level of transparency, the Speaker of the House of Commons said on a visit to the Senedd yesterday. John Bercow said he was convinced democracy is facing urgent challenges and all institutions must find new ways of engaging the public.

Police Criticised After Man Died Following Detention

TWO inspectors and three sergeants "failed to be conscientious and diligent" in their handling of a detained man who later died, a police watchdog said yesterday. Nicholas Wootton was not given a medical examination, despite telling officers from Dyfed-Powys Police he had a heart condition following his arrest on suspicion of drink-driving.

31 Dead, Dozens Missing in Boat Capsize ; World Newsbulletin

A BOAT carrying 74 tourists capsized on a reservoir in southern India yesterday, killing at least 31 people and leaving dozens missing, police said. The state-owned boat was travelling in the remote Thekkady forest area in Kerala state and capsized after the tourists rushed to one side as they spotted elephants in a wildlife sanctuary, tilting the vessel over, police said.

Taliban Spread Fear at Afghan Roads ; World Newsbulletin

TALIBAN militants are sowing fear along Afghanistan's roads with stepped-up checkpoints, hijackings and bombs - including one this week that killed at least 30 bus passengers in the south. Afghan authorities say the attacks, often carried out by only a handful of militants, are part of a psychological campaign to convince civilians that Taliban control is spreading.

India Drought to Be Worst for 40 Years ; World Newsbulletin

INDIA is facing its worst drought in nearly 40 years because of a once-in-a-generation shortfall in summer rains, experts warned yesterday. Rainfall during the monsoon season, which ended yesterday, was 23% below average, with the north-west states of Punjab and Haryana, the main producers of wheat and rice, getting 36% less rainfall than usual, said Avadesh Kumar, a director at the Indian Meteorological Department. "Going by the statistics available so far, India's 2009 monsoon rainfall has ...

Police Support Officer Targeted Girl Online ; Uk Newsbulletin

A POLICE community support officer (PCSO) who persuaded a 12- year-old girl to perform sex acts on a webcam had "fallen well short" of professional standards, police said yesterday. Steven Evans, 23, of Chorley, Lancashire, met the youngster on the internet. He pleaded guilty at Burnley Crown Court to engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He also admitted 15 further counts of downloading indecent photographs and video clips o...

Sorry, but Granny's Not for Sale ; Uk Newsbulletin

A 10-YEAR-OLD girl's attempt to "sell" her grandmother was thwarted by regulations on human trafficking. Zoe Pemberton advertised her grandmother Marion Goodall, 61, of Clacton, Essex, on auction site eBay. She described Mrs Goodall as "annoying" but "cuddly" in her joke listing.

Teacher Groomed Girl, 13, for Sex ; Uk Newsbulletin

A SCIENCE teacher who posed as a teenage girl on the internet to groom a 13-year-old for sex was jailed for four years yesterday. Matthew Knott, 24, who taught at Elton High School in Bury, Greater Manchester, targeted the youngster online, sent explicit messages and asked her for naked photos, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Thousands Feared Dead As Earthquake Hits Sumatra

THOUSANDS of people were feared killed by a massive earthquake that flattened homes in Sumatra yesterday. Indonesia initially put the death toll at 75 but said many more were trapped under flattened buildings.

Southeast Asia Swamped by Deadly Tropical Storm ; Houses Crushed, 331 Dead and Thousands Left Homeless in Region

ONE of the most destructive storms in years extended its deadly path across Southeast Asia yesterday, crushing homes in Cambodia and Vietnam after submerging much of the Philippine capital Manila. The death toll climbed to 331 and was still rising last night.

Banker Texted Mistress He Was Smiling On Day of His Wife's Death, Court Told ; Murder Trial Hears of Accused Husband's Affair with Old Flame

A TOP banker alleged to have strangled his wife sent a text message to his mistress on the morning of the day she died to say he was "smiling", a court heard yesterday. Neil Ellerbeck is accused of murdering wife Kate after listening in to hours of phone conversations she had with two boyfriends.