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Online course being used to help reach government target was created after letter to the GuardianAn online language course created five years ago following a letter published in the Guardian is to be used to help reach a government target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050.Duolingo launched its Welsh language course in January 2016 and so far more than 1.5 million people around...

Residents in south Manchester, Ruthin in North Wales and Maghull on Merseyside are movedEvacuations are taking place in Manchester, Merseyside and North Wales with thousands potentially having to move on Wednesday night as Storm Christoph brought large amounts of rainfall to parts of the UK.Severe flood warnings, indicating a danger to life, are in force in Manchester’s southern suburbs and Maghull on Merseyside. There...

Police found evidence of neglect at Brithdir nursing home including dehydration and pressure soresVulnerable residents of a care home in south Wales, owned and run by a doctor, died after suffering from alleged neglect including dehydration, malnourishment and pressure sores, an inquest has heard.Police uncovered evidence of “general neglect” when they investigated Brithdir nursing home, near New Tredegar, Caerphilly, the inquest on six residents...

Multimillion-pound scheme centres on Cyfarthfa Castle and furnaces, which need urgent repairsRecent history has not been kind to Merthyr Tydfil. The decline of the sprawling ironworks turned a crucible of the Industrial Revolution into a place of high unemployment and social deprivation. The area continues to be battered by Covid-19.But brighter times may be ahead after the unveiling of a hugely ambitious 20-year masterplan...

Teachers and coronavirus | Honours and Spike Milligan | Art quiz | World leaders | Severn BridgeWhat? No teachers interviewed or photographed at the chalkface in praise of their efforts to keep schools running (Heroes of 2020, 22-31 December)? Rising levels of coronavirus among pupils put all teachers at risk. There is limited use of PPE and masks are not used in class. My...

Met Office warns of hazardous driving conditions in areas covered by yellow warningsSnow and ice is expected across most of Scotland as well as parts of northern and southern England, Northern Ireland and Wales as 2020 draws to a chilly conclusion.Covid restrictions mean there is less traffic on the roads, but the Met Office has warned of hazardous driving conditions in areas covered by...

The Welsh actor has revealed he gave back his OBE so he could call for the scrapping of the title Prince of WalesMichael Sheen handed back his OBE, he has revealed, as he called on the royal family to end the centuries-old practice of handing the title of Prince of Wales to the heir apparent to the English throne.The actor said he relinquished the...

Severe flood warnings are in place and winds of 60mph are expected into Sunday, Met Office saysFlood defences have been erected and gusts of more than 80mph recorded as large parts of the UK braced for Storm Bella.Warnings are in place across England and Wales, including two “threat to life” flood notices, and families have labelled their Christmas a write-off after they were forced...

Disruption expected, with 24-hour yellow weather warning in place from 6am on WednesdayFlood alerts have been issued across England and Wales ahead of heavy rain forecast for the run-up to Christmas, as the Met Office issued a weather warning after downpours over the weekend.A yellow weather warning for rain in mid and south Wales, as well as southern England, is in place from 6am...

Chief medical officers of all four UK nations expected to formally announce change later on Friday Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageGovernments across the UK are to announce a reduction in the coronavirus self-isolation period, from 14 to 10 days, it is understood.It is expected the chief medical officers of all four UK nations will formally announce the change later on Friday....

Learning will move online, in contrast to England’s plans for mass testing of studentsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageSecondary schools and colleges in Wales will close to almost all students next week and lessons will move online in an effort to stem the growing spread of coronavirus, the Welsh government has announced.The Welsh education minister, Kirsty Williams, said the public health situation...

In The Welsh Wind distillery already taking orders for 30-litre casks of ultra-local spiritThe barley has been grown in fields with spectacular views over Cardigan Bay and malted on a local farm. The all-important water comes from springs deep beneath the Welsh countryside.A small distillery in west Wales is at the centre of what it hopes may turn out to be a quiet whisky...

Rogue creatures from bushtucker trials including ‘ultimate survivor’ cockroaches could threaten Welsh countrysidePolice are investigating I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! over concerns non-native wildlife could have escaped into the Welsh countryside during bushtucker trials, the Guardian can reveal.Rural crime officers from north Wales police are looking into complaints that non-native creatures such as cockroaches, maggots, spiders and worms could threaten...

About 50,000 cases of abuse or harassment take place every year, report findsAn estimated 50,000 incidents of sexual abuse or harassment take place in universities in England and Wales every year, according to research, which accuses the sector of failing to adequately address what is “fast becoming a public scandal”.Unsafe Spaces: Ending Sexual Abuse in Universities highlights the role of the “lad culture” in...

Up to four people can meet in cafes and pubs, and supermarkets can sell non-essentialsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageWales’s new national measures to combat coronavirus have come into force following the end of the country’s 17-day “firebreak” lockdown.Groups of up to four people can now meet in cafes, pubs and restaurants while shops, gyms, hairdressers and places of worship will also...

Yellow ‘be aware’ rain warning for west coast of England, much of Wales and parts of ScotlandTorrential downpours could result in “dangerous” flooding across the UK this week, the Met Office has warned.Forecasters say large waves, heavy rain, strong gales and potential river flooding will affect the west coast of England, much of Wales and parts of Scotland from Thursday. Continue reading...

Loos for Storyhouse’s Halloween drive-in screenings were just over Welsh side of the lineCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageDrive-in cinemagoers in Chester were almost caught short after it emerged anyone using the toilets, located across the Welsh border, would be breaking coronavirus lockdown laws.Ticket-holders for the Storyhouse’s Moonlight Drive Halloween showings could breathe a sigh of relief on Friday, after the cinema...

Five-level lockdown unveiled for Scotland; England death rate rises for first time since April, figures show; Warrington reaches deal with governmentOne in 10 UK workers asked to work by bosses during furloughTesting sewage for Covid could detect outbreaks early, scientists sayPM admits failings as England’s contact-tracing system hits new lowGlobal coronavirus updates – liveSee all our coronavirus coverage 1.25pm BST The spread of Covid-19...