Live news stream
Urgent Question in the Assembly on Gove letter
Education Minister Leighton Andrews will face an urgent question in the Assembly on the letter from Education secretary Michael Gove. The Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler has allowed the urgent question to be raised in this afternoon's session.
Conservatives question Welsh jobs scheme
The Welsh Government should 'look again' at its flagship jobs scheme according to Welsh Conservatives after figures showed over a third of those who've taken part are now unemployed. The party's obtained figures showing 454 of 1305 young people who took part in Jobs Growth Wales now have no job.
Shadow Business Minister Nick Ramsay welcomes the fact that two thirds of those who complete apprenticeships but says questions should still be asked about what happens to the remaining third.
While some young people are clearly benefitting from Jobs Growth Wales, too many are falling through the gaps and finding themselves back where they started.
The Welsh Government needs to assess where their back to work scheme is falling short and address these shortcomings so we can get more young people in Wales back to work.
Advertisement
Expert: Fragments put into fireplace, not burned there
Forensic anthropologist Dr Julie Roberts tells Mold Crown Court that the fragments found in Mark Bridger's home were compared to non-human bone fragments, from many animals, at the University of Liverpool.
She says the comparisons showed that the shape and thickness of the bone was different, and architecture of the bone entirely different.
Dr Roberts says it is her opinion that a small amount of bone was transferred to the fireplace - put in as fragments, rather than representing the remains of a body that had been burned there.
Asked by police as part of their investigation if the bone could be the result of a clean-up process at the cottage, Dr Roberts said yes.
One possible interpretation, she said, was small fragments of bone on a cleaning cloth which was then put into the fire - although that was not the only possible interpretation.
Cross-examined by defence barrister Brendan Kelly QC, Dr Roberts says the burned bone does not constitute he full skeleton of a child, or the entire skull of a child.
There were no fragments of lower jaw or facial bone or teeth or enamel.
In her opinion, she tells the court, "if they were there you would find them... particularly teeth."
Never dismiss Tory activists says Welsh party leader
Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies has said that 'no-one, but no-one should ever forget' the valuable work activists do for the party. He was responding to reports that a senior aide to the Prime Minister called grassroots Tories 'swivel-eyed loons.'
The Assembly Opposition leader praised 'all the members...who work tirelessly on behalf of our party' and said he not only appreciates the work they do but classes himself as one of them, adding that 'the only I way I sit here is because of their work.'
'Strong evidence' of human bone in Bridger's home
Forensic anthropologist Dr Julie Roberts is giving evidence at the trial of Mark Bridger, accused of the murder of April Jones.
She was asked to examine fragments found in the fireplace at Mr Bridger's cottage in Ceinws.
She tells the court all of the fragments are burned human bone, in her opinion.
Dr Roberts says there is "very strong" evidence that three of five samples are human skull, and "strong" evidence one fragment is human skull. The final fragment was not able to be confirmed.
She tells Mold Crown Court that one fragment is very characteristic of a human child's skull - in her view it comes from a child aged between four and eight.
A DNA test was performed on one fragment, but it was too badly burned, so no DNA could be obtained.
Mark Bridger denies murder, abduction and intending to pervert the course of justice.
Voluntary code over milk prices 'is best option'
MPs on the Welsh Affairs Committee say, after their short inquiry, that the voluntary code is supported by most farmers - but a mandatory code should be an option if it does not work.
The committee recommends any UK Government legislating is done in cooperation with the Welsh Government.
– David Davies MP, Chair of the Welsh Affairs CommitteeThe events of the summer of 2012 brought to attention the difficulties faced by dairy farmers, particularly their powerlessness in the face of severe milk price reductions with little warning.
The people within the industry that we heard from mostly welcome the voluntary code and want to give it time to work. We believe adherence to a voluntary code is the best option. To give it the best chance, we urge all dairy processors who have not yet signed the code to do so.
However, if it does not work, Government should stand ready to ensure that fairer deal through a mandatory code.
Advertisement
Voluntary code was agreed after milk price protests
The voluntary code over milk prices was first agreed at the Royal Welsh Show last summer.
After face-to-face talks, diary farmers and processors struck a deal 'in principle'.
The coce meant companies buying milk would have to give farmers a 'sensible' warning period before changing their prices.
It followed a series of protests and factory blockades by dairy farmers angry at cut to the amount they were paid for milk, which they said reduced the amount they received to less than it cost them to produce it.
Read More: Deal over voluntary code for milk prices struck at Royal Welsh Show
Watch: Welsh farmers involved in blockade of Somerset milk processing plant
Wales-only GCSEs could push standards up - Plaid
A senior Plaid Cymru politicians says different exam systems in Wales and England could lead to higher standards in Wales. Rhodri Glyn Thomas was responding to the news of Education Secretary Michael Gove's letter to his Welsh and Northern Irish counterparts suggesting a split is on the cards.
The Plaid AM said he 'would welcome the opportunity to separate the exam system in Wales' from that of England and he rejected claims that it could lead to reduced standards, saying
– Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM, Plaid CymruI don't think it necessarily would lead to a situation where standards drop. I would hope it would lead to a situation where standards would rise.
Extra flights from Cardiff Airport this winter
Cardiff Airport says there will be extra flights to Tenerife and the Spanish city of Alicante this coming winter.
Thomson and First Choice, which already runs more flights than any other airline from Cardiff, will begin the services in November.
The airport says these additional flights mean a 17 percent increase in operations compared to last winter.
Paul Cooper, Airport Negotiations Manager for Thomson and First Choice, said: "Adding these new durations and additional flights from Cardiff Airport demonstrates our commitment to the airport and our Welsh customer base."
Jon Horne, Chief Executive for Cardiff Airport said: "We are delighted [the airline has] chosen to expand and commit to serving routes which we know are hugely popular with Welsh holidaymakers. This is the next step in increasing capacity and the choice of flights available from Cardiff."
The Welsh Government agreed a £52m deal to buy Cardiff Airport in March, and has started a project to improve the airport's appearance.
Kayakers rescued
Two kayakers were rescued by an inshore lifeboat from Llandudno last night after getting into difficulties off the West side of the town's Great Orme.
One of the men, in their 20s, was suffering from hypothermia and was taken to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd for a check-up.
The alarm had been raised by a member of the public.
