Author: News Desk

Dwr Cymru fined £1.3m over sewage breaches Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has been fined £1.35m after admitting 800 breaches of its environmental permits to discharge sewage. The Welsh water company said an internal restructure, IT issues and the pandemic were to blame, but regulator Natural Resources Wales (NRW) criticised the company for “inadequacies” in its processes which it called “avoidable”. The Welsh Rugby Union are understood to have approached Leigh Halfpenny over a kicking coaching role for their upcoming summer tour of Japan.

A large fire at Bicester Motion, a former RAF base in Oxfordshire, resulted in the tragic deaths of two firefighters and a civilian.

Man survived his attempted execution as gun jammed A wounded taxi driver survived an attempt to “execute” him after one of the would-be killer’s faulty weapon failed to fire, a court has heard. Lord Mountbatten abused children at his Mullaghmore estate, a new book reports. Fresh claims have been made that the British royal, who was killed by the IRA, was involved in an MI5-linked paedophile ring involving children. Northern Ireland’s first ever anti-poverty strategy could probably “go further”, First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said.

UK scrambles for new migrant deal in Balkans after Albania snub The i paper’s take is that the UK is scrambling for a new migrant deal in the Balkans after what it calls a snub from Albania. The paper says Sir Keir is to begin talks with countries thought to include Bosnia, Serbia and North Macedonia. Eurovision and Bruce Springsteen get a review on the front splash. There’s coverage of the world’s first gene-editing therap saying it offers hope of disease cures.

Fans eagerly awaited the arrival of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team bus, creating an electric atmosphere outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium, especially after Virat Kohli’s recent announcement.

Talks with up to nine nations for asylum deal The Times says after Albania rejected the migrant hub deal the UK is now speaking to nine countries about plans to deport asylum seekers. The paper says attention turns to “Serbia, Bosnia and North Macedonia.” Elsewhere, Roman Lavrynovych, 21, is accused of starting fires outside £2 million house and a flat in north London, as well as torching a vehicle.

Starmer left squirming by Albania farce The Daily Mail says the Prime Minister was left “squirming” by what it calls the “Albanian farce” after the country’s prime minister ruled out taking part. The paper calls it a “humiliation” for Keir Starmer as his plan to send asylum seekers to the Balkans “imploded on live TV”. There is a showbiz exclusive about Brooklyn Beckham and his friendship with Harry and Meghan.

Fury over PM plan to offload migrants to foreign ‘return hubs’ Sir Keir Starmer plans to send failed asylum seekers abroad in his latest bid to crack down on illegal immigration and tackle the threat from Nigel Farage and Reform. Britain’s economy is “beginning to turn a corner”, the chancellor said as new figures show it grew by more than expected, becoming the fastest-growing in the G7 group of leading industrial nations. Donald Trump has said he will meet Vladimir Putin as soon as possible, as delegations from the US, Ukraine and Russia gather in Turkey for critical peace talks.

Fans expressed frustration over Rylan Clark and Scott Mills’ tendency to talk over performances, calling it “annoying” and “rude” on social media.

Friday’s newspaper front pages cover the fallout from Albania’s rejection of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s migrant deal. On his first official visit to Albania, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that the UK is in talks with other countries to establish overseas “return hubs” for failed asylum seekers.