Latest news with #RadioWalesBreakfast
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Anger as Oxford rail line classed as Wales project
There is anger that a multi-billion pound project to build a railway line between Oxford and Cambridge has been classed as an England and Wales project. The £6.6bn line will see no tracks laid in Wales, but because of the way it has been classified, it means the country will not benefit from any extra cash. David Chadwick, Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, told Radio Wales Breakfast it was "HS2 all over again". The UK government said it was paid for through its "rail network enhancements pipeline, which funds projects in both England and Wales". Chadwick said Wales was "being denied hundreds of millions in funding that could transform our own rail network". He added that Labour expected people in Wales "to believe the ridiculous idea that this project will benefit them and they are justified in not giving Wales the money it needs to improve our own public transport systems". Why a 49-mile train journey took me seven hours From paralysis to Parliament in 10 years for MP Wales has 'entitlement' to HS2 cash - ex-minister Unlike Northern Ireland and Scotland, most of Wales' railway is funded by the UK government, and not ministers in Cardiff. Under the system used to fund the devolved nations, called the Barnett Formula, Scotland and Northern Ireland get extra money when more cash is spent on rail in England and Wales. It follows the long-standing row over HS2 - deemed to be an England and Wales project - so Wales gets no extra cash, which would be the case if it was England only. However, none of the track planned for HS2 will reach Wales. Differing figures have been given for how much politicians think Wales is owed from HS2, from £4bn suggested by Plaid Cyrmu and the Welsh government in the past to £350m in the most recent figures from Welsh ministers. The UK government said its rail network enhancements pipeline also paid for the redevelopment of Cardiff Central Station, improved level crossings in north Wales and support for the upgraded south Wales relief lines. Wales' Transport Secretary Ken Skates said the UK and Welsh governments had agreed "an ambitious pipeline of improvements that will make up for underinvestment by previous governments" and were "seeking a fair share of investment".
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Powys runner raises thousands in marathon after saving life
A runner has raised thousands of pounds for charity after saving the life of fellow Nicholson, 35, was running in Builth Wells, Powys, last September when he noticed a runner in was Darren Hughes who had "just collapsed" and Lee worried he might have from Newbridge on Wye, told Radio Wales Breakfast he "didn't know what was going on" but has been called a "hero" after saving Darren's life that day. Lee was carrying his phone at the time, which he usually never does, and phoned the emergency services."One of the first questions they ask is, is the patient breathing?" he said. I checked and I could tell straight away he wasn't, so I went straight into CPR."Lee performed CPR for about 20 minutes until paramedics initially thought the collapse was caused by acid reflux, but later discovered he had suffered a cardiac arrest."I've got no memory of it, that's the strange thing," he said."I can't even remember what feeling I had in my body." Darren said his running route is usually "very, very quiet" adding that it was "pure luck" someone found fact that his "hero" Lee also knew how to perform CPR was a life-saving was inspired to run in the London Marathon and said the atmosphere was something he had "never experienced"."It was incredible the amount of people shouting your name and the support was ridiculous really," Lee was "pleased" with his time finishing in a very respectable time of three hours and 51 minutes, raising thousands for charity."I was just pleased to get around in the end to be honest," he said.
Wales Online
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Race Across the World: Inside stunning jet-set life of show's youngest ever couple Sioned and Fin
Race Across the World: Inside stunning jet-set life of show's youngest ever couple Sioned and Fin Fin and Sioned will be taking on the adventure of a lifetime on Race Across the World, but before that they hadn't travelled further than Europe together, up until a point... Sioned and Fin from Carmarthen are set to be the youngest competitors to feature on Race Across the World. (Image: BBC ) Childhood sweethearts from Carmarthen, Sioned and Fin, are set to undertake an epic journey as they appear in the latest series of Race Across the World on BBC One. At just 18 and 19 at the time of recording, Fin and Sioned are making history as the youngest participants to compete in the show, setting their sights firmly on victory. Swapping their quaint Welsh life for an awe-inspiring 14,000km trek across Asia, the race starts at the Great Wall of China before taking on four other teams through China, Nepal, and India, then concluding the competition in Kanniyakumari, India's southernmost point. Before competing on the show the pair admitted they hadn't travelled further than Europe together. But, since then, they have posted their glamorous holidays all over Instagram. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . Article continues below In an interview with Radio Wales Breakfast Fin said: "We'd never been outside of Europe together. "So to then go somewhere like China, where the language and culture are completely different - it was just us, relying on each other for the first time." When they took on the challenge back in October, 2024, the furthest they had travelled together was Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Content cannot be displayed without consent Sioned told the radio show that despite being together since childhood they had "never really done anything outside of this little relationship in Wales". They first became an item four years ago at just 13 years old, and they were both excited to compete in the new season of Race Across the World and thought it would be the ultimate test to their relationship. Sioned shared her anticipation: "I wanted to travel anyway, so it's a great start for that, but along with discovering more about myself and Fin, just strengthening that bond in a very real and authentic way." She elaborated on the couple's quest not only in terms of discovery but also dependency, remarking: "We've not really been together just the two of us before so this is something where we will have to rely and depend on each other, we don't have another choice. A lot about self-discovery I think as well as seeing more of the world in the process." Fin remarked: "It's a way to see if me and her can be together basically, if it can work forever. A challenge to see if it will make or break us." Sioned expressed her desire for the competition to strengthen their relationship, saying: "We've got such a strong bond anyway, but to know 100% that we can fully depend on each other and just see more of the world." Since appearing on the show, the pair have shared pics of their travels together, including Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, in Australia. Content cannot be displayed without consent Sioned was initially encouraged by her mother to join the competition with her brother, but ultimately chose to partner with Fin. She relayed: "They love the show themselves and they're very sad to see me go, but they know it's an insane opportunity and want me to really go for it." The couple will be up against four other duos in the contest, including siblings Elizabeth and Letitia; ex-spouses Yin and Gaz; brothers Brian and Melvyn; and mother-son pair Caroline and Tom. Fin and Sioned will be on Race Across the World tonight, Wednesday, April 23 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm. Article continues below
Wales Online
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Race Across The World teen had never seen show before applying
Race Across The World teen had never seen show before applying Race Across the World's young Welsh couple have opened up about the culture shock of the travel competition, in an interview on Radio Wales Breakfast The pair discussed the show's "culture shock" on Radio Wales Breakfast (Image: BBC ) A couple from Carmarthen are set to be the youngest ever competitors on Race Across the World, as they star in the new season of the show on BBC starting tonight. At the time of racing, Sioned and Fin were just 19 and 18, and despite being together for four years they hadn't travelled outside of Europe together at that time. In an interview with Radio Wales Breakfast, Fin admitted some shocking revelations. This included the fact that he hadn't ever watched the series before applying. When the show was filmed in October, 2024, the furthest the couple had travelled together was Tenerife in the Canary Islands. They embarked on a much more extensive adventure on Race Across the World. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . Article continues below The two will be taking on a 14,000km trek through Asia, starting at the Great Wall of China before taking on four other teams through China, Nepal, and India, and concluding the competition in Kanniyakumari, India's southernmost point. With no smartphones or bank cards at their disposal, Sioned and Fin must strategize their way using only the cash equivalent of an airfare, in the hope of winning a substantial £20,000 prize. Read more here. Fin told Radio Wales Breakfast: "We'd never been outside of Europe together. "So to then go somewhere like China, where the language and culture are completely different - it was just us, relying on each other for the first time." The childhood sweethearts described the experience as a "huge culture shock", especially as they hadn't extensively travelled together. Sioned admitted that the couple had "never really done anything outside of this little relationship in Wales". Although, since filming the series, the pair have become keen travellers, having spent time in Australia together. Fin admitted on the radio show that he had never watched the show before, and in fact he found out they had been selected whilst taking a shower. He said: "I ran downstairs in a towel to answer the call - they said we were in, and I couldn't believe it. "You apply for something and just hope for the best but we didn't actually think we'd get on but here we are, we've done it and it was incredible." Sioned added: "Not many people get this kind of opportunity, so we knew we had to take it, hold onto it, and really cherish it." The pair will be up against four other duos in the contest, including siblings Elizabeth and Letitia; ex-spouses Yin and Gaz; brothers Brian and Melvyn; and mother-son pair Caroline and Tom. Article continues below You can watch Race Across the World tonight, Wednesday, April 23 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm.
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Race Across the World a huge culture shock'
A young couple from Carmarthenshire have swapped small-village life for a global Gough and Sioned Cray, from Nantgaredig, are the youngest of five pairs competing in the fifth series of BBC One's Race Across the World, which starts on Wednesday night. "It was a really good challenge to push ourselves into the deep end," Ms Cray told Radio Wales Breakfast. The show will begin at the Great Wall of China, and will see teams racing 8,700 miles (14,000km) through China, Nepal, and India using only the cash equivalent of airfare, without flights or smartphones, for a £20,000 prize. Despite being together for five years, Ms Cray said they had "never really done anything outside of this little relationship in Wales".She initially applied for Race Across the World after her mum suggested doing it with her brother, but she did not think that was a good idea - so she asked Fin Gough, who had never watched the show before, found out they had been selected while in the shower."I ran downstairs in a towel to answer the call - they said we were in, and I couldn't believe it," he said."You apply for something and just hope for the best but we didn't actually think we'd get on but here we are, we've done it and it was incredible."Ms Cray said the whole experience was "so nerve-racking but also so exciting," and still felt surreal. The pair were just 18 and 19 when they took on the challenge, which was filmed in October 2024, and Tenerife in the Canary Islands was the furthest they had ever travelled Gough said: "We'd never been outside of Europe together."So to then go somewhere like China, where the language and culture are completely different - it was just us, relying on each other for the first time."Ms Cray described the experience as a "huge culture shock", admitting the early days were filled with bickering as they adjusted to the intense demands of the said it was an opportunity to learn more about each other, and learned "Finn needs space while she prefers to talk things through"."We were a bit naive going in - it was so much harder than we imagined, mentally, physically, emotionally," she the struggles, Ms Cray called it a "unique experience" and "something special" they now share."Not many people get this kind of opportunity, so we knew we had to take it, hold onto it, and really cherish it," she said. Series five of Race Across the World begins on BBC One at 21:00 BST on Wednesday 23 April.
