Welsh politician Vaughan Gething says he is honoured to become “the first black leader in any European country” after he was chosen as the country's next First Minister.
Mr Gething, 50, will take office on Wednesday after being elected leader of the ruling Labour Party in Wales.
Born in Zambia to a Welsh father, Mr Gething will become the third serving ethnic minority leader in Britain.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is of Indian descent, while Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf has Pakistani heritage.
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill is a Catholic republican, another first.
“Today, we turn the page in the book of our nation’s history, a history that we write together,” Mr Gething said in a victory speech.
“Not just because I had the honour of becoming the first black leader in any European country, because a generational dial has jumped too.”
Outgoing First Minister Mark Drakeford, 69, announced his retirement in December. Mr Gething won the Labour leadership race with 51.7 per cent of the vote, defeating rival Jeremy Miles.
Previously Wales's minister of economy, Mr Gething spoke to The National in 2022 about the country's plans for the space sector.
The Welsh space vision focuses on high-skilled manufacturing jobs and “isn’t just about the traditional images of a big rocket”, he said at the time.
In his leadership campaign he pledged to fight for social justice, industrial jobs and more powers for the devolved Welsh government.
Mr Gething will lead Welsh Labour into a British general election, expected this year, with the party currently holding 21 out of 40 seats in Wales.
Labour leader Keir Starmer called the result a “historic moment that speaks to the progress and values of modern-day Wales”.
Mr Yousaf called it an “incredible achievement”.
Mr Sunak said he was “committed to working together constructively” with Welsh ministers.
The devolved governments set up in 1998 handle affairs such as health, education and transport, while the British government at Westminster retains control of foreign affairs, defence and other nationwide issues.
England Test squad
Ben Stokes (captain), Joe Root, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
WHEN TO GO:
September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.
WHERE TO STAY:
Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
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