When looking across the course of the pandemic so far, there have been 57,779 deaths from all causes in Wales, with 8,413 (14.6%) mentioning Covid-19 on death certificates registered up to 8 October. This was 5,857 deaths above the five-year average.
THIS week we lost one of our own. Reporter Rachel Nurse died at the weekend of ovarian cancer, at the age of 23.
Rachel joined Newsquest in February as part of the launch team for The National, Wales, before moving on to the South Wales Argus, Penarth Times and Barry & District News to continue her training.
She was, quite simply, a ray of sunshine who brought joy to the newsroom. She will be badly missed by her colleagues and all who knew her.
A career should be measured in achievements, not time, and Rachel’s was pretty amazing.
She helped launch a new national newspaper and website – an opportunity very few have in even the most illustrious of careers. She questioned ministers at televised media briefings, met celebrities – her interview with Mike Peters of The Alarm is especially moving now – and covered local stories that mattered to communities. She’s even got a mention on Wikipedia and got her ‘blue tick’ as a verified authority on Twitter.
Rachel went to school at Whitchurch High, Cardiff, where she often volunteered at the breakfast club and helped other pupils with the reading.
She went on to Cardiff University to study English literature and then achieved an MA in international journalism, while also dealing with cancer. Ever tenacious, she gained experience and had articles published across a range of media including the Argus, Wales Online and Al Jazeera.
Cancer would not stop Rachel achieving her dream to be a professional journalist. Before applying for the job with Newsquest, she called me and said ‘I have cancer, is it worth me applying for the job?’. I’m very pleased I said yes.
After moving to work on the Argus, Rachel was given the patch of Blaenau Gwent, and she jumped straight in, talking to people and setting up a new local Facebook group. She wrote about important local issues from bank closures to concerns over plans to close a train station car park to the public (plans which were quickly ditched following the outcry resulting in part from her story). Rachel’s story about how Festival Park had become a ‘ghost town’ shopping centre with only one store remaining open has been viewed more than 110,000 times.
Rachel was a bundle of energy in the newsroom, always first to volunteer or contribute an idea or five. She loved animals and never missed chance to write about The Dogs Trust in Cardiff. She cared for her colleagues and took an interest in their wellbeing.
After surgery over the summer, she looked forward to life after cancer. She moved to Newport and embraced life and her job with the Argus as much as possible, telling her mum “today Newport, tomorrow New York”.
But cancer returned in September and, sadly, Rachel died on Saturday, October 16, with her family around her at home near Cardiff. She is survived her mum and dad Maggs and Terry Nurse.
Before she died, Rachel told her mum to pass on that ‘we’d better find someone really good to replace her’. Rachel can’t be replaced, but we’ll do our best to honour her memory.
FFION Lewis has spoken of her pride at being appointed captain of the Wales rugby league side for the test match against Ireland at Colwyn Bay last Sunday.
The Amman Valley player scored a second-half try hat-trick, but could not to deny Ireland a 24-26 win in their historic first women’s international on home soil.
The 25 year-old had become Welsh rugby’s 100th dual code international earlier this year when she turned out for the Wales rugby league team against England.
“It’s one of the best things I’ve done to be honest, it’s really evolved my game and as a rugby player it’s ignited confidence that I’d kind of lost,” she said.
“The girls are so close and it’s a game that tests you a lot more, it’s a lot more physical than union, so you have to be very close knit and together.
“For me personally, it has developed my game physically, it’s something I’m so glad I’ve done and to say I’m captain of my country is a massive privilege.”
She added: “I’m very vocal on and off the pitch, but that’s because I’m so passionate and I hope the girls see that in me as well.
“We’ve come so far as a group over the last few months since the defeat to England, the development we’ve seen recently has been immense.”
Starting as a rugby union player, half-back Lewis has won 14 caps in that code, playing for Scarlets, Exeter Chiefs and currently Worcester Warriors.
The full-time teacher has also been called up to the Wales womens’s rugby union squad for their autumn series against Japan, South Africa and Canada.
She started playing rugby league this year and scored the winning try for Cardiff Demons against The Army in the Super League South Grand Final.
Lewis skippered that side in the absence of Shaunni Davies, who is out of action with a long-term leg injury, and skippered Wales against England earlier this year.
Against Ireland, Lowri Norkett scored the opener for Wales and they led through Eleri Michael after Clodagh Dunne made history with Ireland’s first try.
Bettie Lambert’s try and Syphonia Pua’s conversion put Ireland 10-8 ahead, beforeStacey Greenwood, Storm Cobain and Alex McGuinness also crossed.
A hat-trick from Lewis and another from Norkett took Wales’ tally to six – to Ireland’s five – but were they were left to rue missing their conversion attempts.
The number of new COVID-19 cases reported in New South Wales is remaining steady more than a week after lockdown lifted.
There were 273 new local cases of the virus reported on Tuesday morning, a marginal increase from 265 new cases reported on Monday.
Some 92.1 per cent of the over-16 population has received at least a first dose of vaccine while 80.8 per cent are fully vaccinated.
There were four virus-related deaths reported in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday.
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said they were three men and one woman, three aged in their 60s and one in their 80s.
Two were unvaccinated, one was partially vaccinated while the other had recently received their second dose.
There are 589 COVID patients requiring treatment in hospital, including 128 in ICU.
Chant said passing 92 per cent first dose coverage across the state was promising but urged against complacency.
“Let’s try and aim for 95 per cent,” she said.
“Our colleagues in ACT have gone beyond, that so I’d send out the challenge to everyone.”
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant.Credit: JOEL CARRETT/AAPIMAGE
She said that nearly 75 per cent of the 12 to 15-year-old age group had also received at least a first dose of vaccine.
There is mounting concern, however, that COVID cases are developing outside of Sydney, particularly in the Hunter New England region.
Almost a quarter of the state’s 265 new cases on Monday were reported there.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said it was expected that cases would rise as mobility resumed.
Members of the public are seen at outdoor dinning areas at The Sydney Opera House after lockdown lifted.Credit: AAP
“As mobility increases across the state, case numbers will increase,” he said.
“This is not over. There is a long journey to go.”
Chant urged anyone who presented with COVID symptoms, vaccinated or otherwise, to get tested.
A Sydney Opera House display paid tribute to frontline workers and those who have been vaccinated.Credit: AAP
“We are seeing cases increase in regional areas, cases in Hunter New England, around Lake Macquarie, Wollongong and other regions, so please be vigilant wherever you are across the state, get vaccinated but also get tested and stay home if you have COVID symptoms.”
Looking for the latest New South Wales news? New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet announced last week that fully vaccinated travellers can come into the statefrom November 1, but Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison later clarified that they are not opening up their bordersto everyone just yet, with only citizens and their family members will be allowed in at first. New South Wales, however, is looking to get its economy back on track. So, what’s new in the realm of international students in Australia? Let’s find out:
Morrison pulled the breaks on New South Wales welcoming international travellers from November 1, saying that priority will be given to Australians and their family members first. Source: William West/AFP
New South Wales news for international students in Australia
In an interview with Sky News Australia, Tourism and Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond said Australia needs international students back “at the speed of light”, adding that they not only support the university sector, but are also an important skill base within the hospitality and tourism industries.
Separately, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that New South Wales ministers would press their federal counterparts to allow the state to open up to international students and tourists as a matter of urgency after the state hit its much-anticipated 80% double dose vaccination target on Saturday.
Meanwhile, New South Wales Treasurer Matt Kean was quoted saying that he wanted international students and tourists back in the state “as quickly as possible”, after the federal government intervened to stop that happening. “The priority obviously needs to be working with the Commonwealth to get the settings right, which is exactly what we will do,” said Kean.
Only a small group of international students will be able to return to New South Wales in December. Source: Saeed Khan/AFP
New South Wales news: Pilot plan
For now, the New South Wales pilot plan would allow some 500 international students to return to the state in December, but the state hopes to do more. Quoting a senior government source, The Sydney Morning Herald said Morrison and Perrottet had “robust discussions” on Friday, according to a senior government source.
Kean said the scrapping quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers was about ensuring Australians stranded overseas could all come home, as well as opening borders to international students and tourists to “get our economy pumping”. He gave no indication of when fully vaccinated international students and tourists would be permitted to enter New South Wales, as it will be determined by the Commonwealth given it controls the issuing of visas.
Separately, the Financial Review reported that the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) will be launching a campaign within weeks to persuade the public of the benefits to the broader community of international education, including jobs, diversity and the flow of skilled labour.
They add that universities are pushing Education Minister Alan Tudge and Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to reform the student visa system to more directly link education with skilled jobs and permanent residency, similar to the policies introduced under the Howard government.
According to Honeywood, IEAA had provided a policy paper to Tudge and Hawke that proposed that any international student who undertakes an additional professional year in skills shortage areas should be given double the migration points to permanent residency. In a separate pitch to the government, the Australian Technology Network proposed linking student visas to jobs.
A police officer who lied about knowing a juror in a murder trial, leading to three convictions being quashed and a retrial, has had two counts of gross misconduct …
A police officer who lied about knowing a juror in a murder trial, leading to three convictions being quashed and a retrial, has had two counts of gross misconduct against her proved.
South Wales Police Det Con Rebecca Bryant was a liaison officer to the family of Lynford Brewster, who was murdered in Cardiff in 2016.
Her son’s girlfriend was a juror in the original trial but three men have since been found guilty after a retrial.
She could be now sacked from the force.
A disciplinary panel found her failure to tell Cardiff Crown Court of the link with Lauren Jones during the original trial in 2016 was a “continuing breach” of professional behaviour.
Panel chairman, Peter Griffiths QC said: “It did not comprise of a one-off error of judgement. It was a continuing breach spanning from the end of November to around the 20 December 2016.”
The hearing was told Det Con Bryant, who has served with the South Wales force since 1998, initially lied to a senior officer when confronted with the truth.
The panel found that amounted to gross misconduct and Mr Griffiths said “it was a deliberate lie on her part to a senior officer who was investigating a matter of the utmost importance”.
She admitted knowing Miss Jones the next day.
On a third allegation, that Ms Bryant had advised the juror to withhold information from the court in order to attend a hair appointment, she admitted an allegation of dishonesty.
But the panel did not find those actions amounted to gross misconduct.
“It was something a police officer should never have suggested… but in the panel’s view it fell short of amounting to outright dishonesty,” Mr Griffiths added.
The misconduct hearing heard evidence from a clinical psychologist who said there was a 90% chance Ms Bryant had been suffering with post traumatic symptoms at the time, and there was a 99% likelihood this would have influenced her judgement.
She admitted misconduct on all three allegations, but denied gross misconduct.
After finding two of the allegations proven, the panel must now decide what sanctions Ms Bryant will face, which could include dismissal from the force.
The Egg Basket, a wholesale company located in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, has conducted a recall of eggs due to possible Salmonella contamination.
The Egg Basket, a wholesale company located in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, has conducted a recall of eggs due to possible Salmonella contamination.
The recall includes eggs from Country Fresh Eggs, Just Eggs, Chefs Choice Free Range and Chefs Choice Cage Free Eggs, according to a report from the…
A police officer who did not reveal she knew a murder trial juror, leading to three convictions being quashed, was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, …
A police officer who did not reveal she knew a murder trial juror, leading to three convictions being quashed, was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, a misconduct case has heard.
Det Con Rebecca Bryant was a liaison officer to the family of Lynford Brewster, who was murdered in Cardiff in 2016.
Her son’s girlfriend was a juror in the original trial that year.
Three men have since been found guilty of killing him at a re-trial in March.
Ms Bryant is accused of gross misconduct by failing to notify Cardiff Crown Court of her link to Lauren Jones, and of lying to police when later questioned about it.
She has admitted an allegation of dishonesty in relation to having told Ms Jones to inform the court that she could not attend a day of the trial because of a hair appointment, advising her not to admit the precise reason.
She has also admitted misconduct on all three allegations, but denies gross misconduct.
Evidence submitted to the hearing by a clinical psychologist said there was a “90%” chance Ms Bryant had been suffering with post traumatic symptoms at the time, and there was a “99%” likelihood this would have influenced her judgement.
Acting on behalf of Ms Bryant, Jonathan Rees QC said that she had been working on another high profile murder case at that time, and had spent considerable time reviewing graphic footage of the killing.
This, he said, had triggered Ms Bryant’s mental health difficulties and had impaired her ability to make rational decisions.
The court heard extracts from an interview with Ms Bryant after admitting her dishonesty, where she said she was “embarrassed” and felt she had “let everyone down”.
“I’ve never tried to appropriate blame to anyone other than myself,” she had said.
“I am acutely aware of the gravity of my mistake. I can promise it will never happen again. I fully understand the impact on South Wales Police and the family of Lynford Brewster.”
But presenting officer Jeremy Jones said that did not begin to explain her actions in the case.
He argued that because Ms Bryant had specifically told Ms Jones not to tell the court about their relationship, that showed she recognised there could be consequences from her actions.
Ms Bryant, giving evidence through a statement, said she was sorry to Mr Brewster’s family and friends for what she had put them through.
She also said she was thankful her actions had not resulted in his killers evading justice.
If the allegations against her are proven, she faces being dismissed from the force.
A little boy who died on holiday with his family in Greece has been named.
Theo Treharne-Jones is thought to have died at the Atlantica Holiday Village resort on the Greek island of Kos on Saturday.
The five-year-old from Merthyr Tydfil attended Greenfield School in Pentrebach.
Merthyr Tydfil Council leader Kevin O’Neill said his “thoughts and prayers” are with Theo’s family and siblings who also attend schools in Merthyr.
Theo went to school in Merthyr Tydfil (Image: First Choice)
“It is with great sadness that the local authority has heard of the death of one of its young pupils – Theo Treharne-Jones – whilst on holiday on holiday with his family on Kos,” councillor O’Neill said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this tragic time.
“The local authority will be supporting the staff at Theo’s school and his fellow pupils as well as supporting the schools which his siblings attend in the county borough.”
Wayne Murphy, head teacher of Greenfield School said: “I am aware of these tragic events and the loss of this lovely little boy, who brought laughter and happiness to everyone.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the family and friends at this tragic time.”
Greenfield Special School, Merthyr Tydfil
The Atlantica Holiday Village resort, where Theo Treharne-Jones is understood to have been staying (Image: First Choice)
Holiday operator Tui yesterday confirmed the family had been staying at the Atlantica Holiday Village in Kos, Greece.
A spokeswoman said a team at the resort were supporting the family and the incident is under investigation.
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office official said yesterday: “We are supporting the family of a British child who died in Kos, Greece, and our staff are in touch with the local authorities.”
