Western Mail

Father's Tribute After Final Conviction for Son's Death ; Man Is Given Four Years in Jail for Manslaughter

THE father of a Welsh student killed after a brawl outside a nightclub, yesterday said his family can now achieve "closure" after the last man involved in his death was sentenced to four years. Richard Faustino, 22, admitted the manslaughter of fellow student Sion Hardy, 24, during a fight in Liverpool city centre in November 2007.

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No, Ben, This Is the Best Job in the World - Sun, Sand and Swimming with (Non-Biting) Sharks in the Maldives

BEN SOUTHALL is today less than 24 hours into the so-called "best job in the world" - looking after balmy, palm-fringed Hamilton Island off Queensland, Australia. But the Western Mail has tracked down a Welshman with an even better occupation.

Flood Warning for South Wales ; Wales Newsbulletin

A FLOOD warning has been issued for South Wales today as the heatwave triggers heavy downpours. The Environment Agency and Met Office are warning homeowners, businesses and drivers that heavy thundery rain could lead to flash flooding, particularly from surface water drains and small watercourses.

Ams with an Appetite Are Given Pounds 30.65 a Day On a Plate ; Campaigners Hit Out at Claims for Almost Pounds 50,000 in a Single Year

ASSEMBLY Members munched their way through nearly pounds 50,000 worth of food at taxpayers' expense in a year, it has emerged. Last night campaigners called for the tax-free perk that allows them to claim pounds 30.65 a day when away from their main home to be scrapped.

Two Arrested After Sports Shop Raid ; Wales Newsbulletin

Affordable Homes 'On Target' ; Wales Newsbulletin

WALES is half way to meeting its target of creating an additional 6,500 affordable homes, Jocelyn Davies AM, Deputy Minister for Housing, has announced. The number of homes delivered by housing associations over the past two years is 3,252, based on independent figures provided the Welsh Economic Research Unit.

Hospital Stay for Accused Mother ; Wales Newsbulletin

A MOTHER accused of killing her four-year-old child was yesterday ordered to be detained under the Mental Health Act. Zoey David, 34, was said to be suffering from acute psychotic illness. She faced just one charge - that she murdered Zowy-Anne David on June 19.

The Summer Break Can't Come Soon Enough for Under-Fire Pm ; the Political Row Over Public Spending Is Getting Angrier and More Absurd by the Day, Reports Political Editor Tomos Livingstone

THE increasingly fractious spending debate between Labour and the Tories is putting it rather politely. It's more like a political cage-fight, with the victor only declared when the opponent is beaten to such a pulp he can't continue.

Mandelson and Osborne at Each Other's Throats As Row Over Spending Turns Ugly

LABOUR and the Conservatives traded accusations of "deceit" yesterday as the bitter row over public spending cuts intensified. The parties are at loggerheads over the state of public finances, and whether the other is being honest about the scale of the problem.

As Cases of Swine Flu Surge, Experts Warn Deaths Are Inevitable

THE number of cases of swine flu in the UK is doubling every seven days, Health Minister Edwina Hart said last night. There are now 30 laboratory-confirmed cases in Wales and a further eight clinically-presumed cases - last week there were just eight.

New Trunks for Old Trees

GAVIN HOGG was worried his garden was becoming a jungle so he turned it into a herd of elephants. The hedge outside his kitchen window had grown wild when the 49- year-old took it to task.

Girl and Boy Victims of Train Explosion ; World Newsbulletin

TWO children have died after suffering severe burns in an explosion that followed a train derailment in northern Italy, bringing the death toll to 16, officials said yesterday. A three-year-old girl died in a hospital in Rome, said hospital official Marco Magheri. A two-year-old boy died in a Florence hospital, said spokesman Roberta Rezoalli. Both children had suffered burns to 90% of their bodies, the officials said.

Sham Marriage Charges for Vicar ; Uk Newsbulletin

Sir Alan Faces Delay Over His Peerage ; Uk Newsbulletin

SIR Alan Sugar's peerage may be delayed after a member of the House of Lords Appointments Commission raised concerns over a sex discrimination case in which he has been named, it was reported last night. The Apprentice star was offered a peerage when he was named as the Government's "enterprise tzar" in last month's reshuffle. But all nominations must be vetted by the Commission, which has a responsibility to ensure "the highest standards of propriety".

Post Office Sell-Off 'Jostled' Into Touch ; Uk Newsbulletin

PART-PRIVATISATION of the Royal Mail will not go ahead as planned because of the depressed state of the economy, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson announced yesterday. He told the House of Lords there was "no prospect" of the sale going ahead in the current economic circumstances.

Brady 'Last Hope' for Moors Murder Victim's Mother

MOORS murderer Ian Brady is the last hope in finding the grave of his victim Keith Bennett, as police admitted defeat yesterday. And, as previously unseen photographs taken by Brady of Myra Hindley close to the burial sites of the couple's other four victims were released, the boy's mother begged the killer for help to find her son before she died.

Tv 'Battleaxe' Mollie Sugden, 86, Dies

THE Are You Being Served? actress Mollie Sugden died yesterday after a long illness. The Yorkshire-born 86-year-old died in the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford - with her twin sons, Robin and Simon Moore, at her bedside.

Elephant Tramples Workers to Death ; World Newsbulletin

AN angry domestic elephant trampled three rubber plantation workers to death in southern Thailand. Police Lieutenant Somjit Ma-ou said the female elephant attacked a 44-year-old man as he was working in a rubber plantation this morning.