Taxes paid by pubs, hotels and cinemas in Wales will fall after the Welsh government announced a 30% cut in some business rates.
First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said hospitality, accommodation and leisure venues would receive the permanent cut in rates from April 2027.
"It is about helping businesses like this to thrive, so our communities can thrive," ap Iorwerth said on a visit to a pub in Cardiff.
The cut, which will be funded by an increase in the rates paid by businesses with the highest-value properties, was welcomed by UK Hospitality Cymru. But the trade body warned businesses still faced "massive amounts of taxation coming from all areas".
Pubs will be among the hospitality businesses in Wales to receive a permanent tax cut from April [Getty Images]

#april

Saints manager Craig Harrison was sent off as his side consolidated their place at the top of the Cymru Premier table.
The visitors were already two goals ahead - through first-half efforts from Daniel Williams and Rory Holden - by the time Harrison earned the wrath of the match officials early in the second period. Saints stay top while Airbus held on to eighth spot.
The tale of the table did not lie as Caernarfon eased to a thumping victory in south west Wales to move third.
Phillip Mooney and Sion Bradley putting them 2-0 up by the break before Ammanford's Lucas Davies saw red.
Bradley added their third from the penalty spot before Mooney also grabbed a second and Harri Wyn completed their scoring as they left winless Ammanford to lick their wounds and down in 15th place.

#mooney #table #Third #craig

Connah's Quay Nomads enjoyed their third successive win in Cymru Premier by beating new boys Ammanford in Saturday's lunchtime kick off.
John Disney's side started the league campaign with a home defeat by Caernarfon, but added a success at the Recreation Ground to wins against Holywell and Trefelin.
In the solitary Saturday fixture, Callum West side-footed the visitors into the lead from the penalty spot in the 44th minute after Hussein Mehasseb was brought down by Babucar Sauane.
Harry Franklin was denied by the bar and Iwan Murray's long-range effort was acrobatically tipped over by Luke Martin as the Nomads pushed for a second.
They kept pushing and eventually sealed the win on 81 minutes when Franklin beat Martin to a long ball, ***** ed past the goalkeeper and tapped in.

#john

Barry Town United maintained their 100% start to the Cymru Premier season with a 1-0 victory that ended Cardiff Met's perfect record.
The deadlock at Jenner Park was broken with 13 minutes remaining when Barry were awarded a penalty after a push by Fumpa Mwandwe on substitute Dan Barton.
Jack Shaw's spot-kick was parried by Met goalkeeper Arron Davies, who guessed the right way, but in the ensuing scramble Dan Smith headed in.
Barry are second on goal difference behind Llandudno, the only other side with a 100% record after Friday's 3-1 win against Holywell Town.

#park #fumpa

Penybont has threatened to remove and ban any supporters using discriminatory language following a fine by the Football **** ociation of Wales (FAW).
The club was fined £450 after fans were found guilty of causing offence through contemptuous, discriminatory or denigratory words during a European play-off final against Cymru Premier rivals Haverfordwest County on 2 May.
Bridgend-based Penybont has condemned the language used and was disappointed the club had been let down by a minority of supporters.
"The club's cooperation and positive engagement with the FAW on this matter was received positively by the governing body," a club statement read.
What to watch out for as Cymru Premier kicks off new era

#club #discriminatory #wales

The Cymru Premier returns tonight with a fresh lick of paint and plenty of narratives to sink our teeth into.
Wales' top tier has been revamped for its 35th edition, expanding to 16 teams and predominantly switching to Friday night games.
The Football ***** ociation of Wales (FAW) hope that the wide-reaching changes will grow the league's popularity and, in turn, improve its standard.
Whether those changes have the desired impact remains to be seen, but excitement is high amongst supporters.
BBC Sport Wales have taken a look at the things you should look out for as Welsh football's top flight enters a new era.

#wales #changes #cymru #association

A new era for the Cymru Premier – Welsh football's domestic top-flight – begins on Friday evening when the 2026-27 season kicks off.
The league, formed in 1992, has undergone a major relaunch with the number of clubs rising from 12 to 16 next season.
Games will be played predominantly on Friday evenings, a move which the Football ******* ociation of Wales hope will drive attendances.
The expansion of the league saw six clubs promoted from the second tier last season, up from the usual two.
The three clubs from the Cymru North – Llandudno, Airbus UK and Holywell Town – have all appeared in the top-flight before.

#clubs #cymru #flight #league

The New Saints chairman Mike Harris has been charged by the Football **** ociation of Wales (FAW) with multiple disciplinary offences for a social media post.
The charges relate to a post the owner of the Cymru Premier champions made on the platform X on 21 July.
The post, which has since been deleted, appeared to AI-generated video of topless women.
Harris is accused of publishing offensive, insulting and derogatory content that brought Welsh football into disrepute and offended the dignity of individuals or groups through material deemed contemptuous, discriminatory or denigratory.
Harris has seven business days to respond to the charge.

#saints #wales

Sir Anthony Hopkins gave football fans an unexpected World Cup talking point before England's dramatic clash with Mexico.
Metro reported that the 88-year-old actor surprised fans with a new social media post showing him in an England shirt ahead of the match.
Hopkins posed beside his wife, Stella Arroyave, who wore a Mexico shirt. Hopkins captioned the image, "We're all winners," turning the match into a playful divided-household moment.
Hopkins was born in Port Talbot, Wales.
Hopkins shared the photo on Instagram before England faced Mexico at the World Cup. Nation.Cymru reported that he wore England's shirt while Arroyave wore Mexico's green kit.

Champions The New Saints will begin the new expanded Cymru Premier season at Penybont, while the league's three debutants have also been handed away trips.
Saints, who won the ******* le for the 18th time last season, will be up against Euroepan play-off winners Penybont on Sunday, 2 August.
The 2026-27 season marks a major relaunch for Wales' domestic top flight, with the number of clubs rising from 12 to 16.
Four Friday night games - a bid by the Football ******* ociation of Wales (FAW) to help drive attendances - starts the season on 31 July.
Trefelin BGC, last season's Cymru South champions, are away at Colwyn Bay for their first ever game in the top-flight.

International Friendly: Wales v Ghana
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Tuesday 2 June Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Coverage: Live on BBC iPlayer, BBC One Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and Sports Extra, BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary.
Neco Williams admits missing out on this summer's World Cup still hurts because he was convinced Wales would have made an impact in America.
Wales were denied a second successive appearance on the game's biggest stage when they lost their play-off semi-final with Bosnia-Herzegovina.