Latest from Rhyl Journal
Rhyl Journal
37 minutes ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Friday's briefing: Lionel Messi stars at Club World Cup and Botafogo stun PSG
Champions League winners Paris St Germain were stunned by South American champions Botafogo in Group B, while Atletico Madrid proved too strong for the Seattle Sounders. Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca faced questions over Mykhailo Mudryk, while Real Madrid revealed star man Kylian Mbappe had been discharged from hospital. Closer to home, Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson scaled new heights to announce her Euro 2025 squad. Messi doing Messi things – unreal free-kick! ⚽️ Enjoy it from every angle 👏👀 Watch the @fifacwc | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #MIAFCP — DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 19, 2025 Lionel Messi scored a trademark free-kick as Inter Miami beat Porto 2-1 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to move a step closer to the last 16 of the Club World Cup. Porto took the lead in the eighth minute from the penalty spot but Miami equalised just after half-time through a thumping finish from Telasco Segovia. Messi then gave the Atlanta crowd what they came for when he clipped home a fine 20-yard free-kick in the 54th minute. Igor Jesus scored the only goal of the game as Botafogo stunned Paris St Germain in Botafogo, with Atletico Madrid beating the Seattle Sounders 3-1 in Group B's other game. Elsewhere in Group A, Palmeiras beat Egyptian side Al Ahly 2-0 at the MetLife Stadium – with the match interrupted during the second half because of the threat of lightning in East Rutherford. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has revealed he has not yet spoken to winger Mykhailo Mudryk since the Ukrainian was charged with violating anti-doping rules. The 24-year-old has not played since being suspended last December after testing positive for a prohibited substance, and is facing a lengthy ban after being charged by the Football Association. Blues boss Maresca fronted questions on Mudryk as he prepared the team for their second Group D match against Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday. 'The last time I spoke with Misha, he was quite good. I didn't see him worried, or at least I didn't see him not good. It was OK,' Maresca said. 'I don't know how he is now, but for sure in the next days, weeks, we're going to have a talk.' Rhian Wilkinson hiked up Wales' highest peak at Yr Wyddfa before delivering the names of 23 players determined to scale their own summit at Euro 2025. 'It (qualifying) was always going to be an uphill battle with little setbacks,' said former Canada international Wilkinson. 'As we have moved towards the Euros we have talked about the summit, the Everest part of it. That something is impossible until it isn't. 'Outside Wales people can think whatever they want. Our goal is to show up and deliver to the best of our ability. I am sure people will be looking up Wales on a map very soon.' Mbappé medical update. — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) June 19, 2025 Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has been discharged from hospital after being admitted with 'acute gastroenteritis'. The 26-year-old France international missed Wednesday night's 1-1 Club World Cup draw with Al Hilal through illness, with head coach Xabi Alonso revealing he had a fever. Real Madrid subsequently confirmed Mbappe was suffering from 'an acute case of gastroenteritis' and had been admitted to hospital for further tests and treatment, before later being cleared to return to the team's base. 'Our player Kylian Mbappe was discharged from the hospital this afternoon and has returned to the Real Madrid training camp,' a club statement read. 'Mbappe will continue receiving specific medical treatment and will gradually return to team activity.' MD2 vs the Brazilian giants. 🇧🇷🔜 — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 19, 2025 The Club World Cup continues with Chelsea facing Flamengo in Philadelphia. The Blues will be looking to build on their opening Group D win over LAFC, who play ES Tunis in Nashville.
Rhyl Journal
37 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Coldplay to reissue albums on records made from recycled plastic bottles
The EcoRecords are claimed to reduce carbon emissions during the manufacturing process by 85% compared with traditional vinyl production. Jen Ivory, managing director of the band's label Parlophone, said: 'We are incredibly proud to partner with artists such as Coldplay who share our commitment to a more sustainable future for music. 'The shift to EcoRecord LP for their releases is a testament to what's possible when innovation meets intention. 'It's not just about a new product, it's about pioneering manufacturing that significantly reduces environmental impact, providing fans with the same high-quality audio experience while setting a new standard for physical music production.' Each 140g LP is made up of approximately nine recycled bottles, after they are cleaned, processed into small pellets and then moulded into records. Coldplay will re-release debut album Parachutes (2000), A Rush of Blood To The Head (2002), X&Y (2005), Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (2008), Mylo Xyloto (2011), Ghost Stories (2014), A Head Full Of Dreams (2015), Everyday Life (2019) and Music Of The Spheres (2021) in the series. The band's latest album Moon Music, released last year, has already been released on an EcoRecord LP. It comes after Coldplay claimed they had exceeded their climate change target while attempting to put on one of the greenest tours in history. In 2024, the group claimed its CO2 emissions were 59% less for the first two years of their Music Of The Spheres Tour compared to their stadium tour from 2016 to 2017, surpassing an initial 50% target. The group used rechargeable batteries fuelled by renewable sources for the shows along with other efforts. Coldplay have long campaigned for climate action, with frontman Chris Martin saying in 2019 they would not launch a globe-trotting tour for their album Everyday Life due to environmental concerns. In October last year, Martin claimed his band would stop making albums after their 12th record, with Moon Music being their 10th. All of the London-formed band's albums have reached number one on the UK albums chart and the group have also had two number one singles in Viva La Vida and Paradise. The latest series of reissues will be released on August 15 with pre-orders open on Coldplay's website.
Rhyl Journal
37 minutes ago
- Science
- Rhyl Journal
Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog pupils visit Bodelwyddan allotment
The Innovators class from Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog spent the day exploring the Bodelwyddan site on June 18 as part of their termly topic, Garddio Gyda'n Gilydd (Gardening Together). During the visit, pupils were given a tour by committee members and learned about the wide range of plants, fruits, and vegetables grown at the from Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog's Innovators class tour the Bodelwyddan allotments (Image: Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog) Laura Martin, headteacher, said: "A huge thank you to the committee members who gave up their time to support the children's learning, these real-life experiences are invaluable." The children also met Barry, who shared his knowledge about bees and offered advice to help the school continue working towards Bee Friendly school's visit ties in with plans to build a community garden (Image: Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog) READ MORE: Denbighshire Council throw out plans for village home likely worth £1m Pupils took part in a treasure hunt, planted seeds to take home, and tasted some of the produce grown on site. Ms Martin said: "It was wonderful to meet some of the committee members and to see their passion for growing their own produce, something the school is working hard to achieve too." The visit supports the school's plan to develop a community garden at the village church.
Rhyl Journal
38 minutes ago
- General
- Rhyl Journal
Rhuddlan Nature Reserve unveils new wildflower meadow
The habitat at Rhuddlan Nature Reserve is expected to benefit pollinators and contribute to ongoing conservation work in the area. Denbighshire Countryside Services has partnered with the Rhuddlan Reserve Management Advisory Group to deliver the wildflower meadow, continuing a collaboration that began in 2011.A new meadow taking shape at Rhuddlan Nature Reserve (Image: DCC) Over the years, the nature reserve has had several site developments, making it a haven for nature and the community. These include two wildflower meadows, three wildlife ponds, a 300-metre hedgerow, and an orchard of heritage species. They have also planted 6,000 trees, created wildflower seeded verges, built two picnic areas, and set up a pond dipping platform. The Dementia Group in the area also helped to set up a dementia-friendly part of the meadow will benefit polllinators and enhance biodiversity (Image: DCC) This includes sensory trees, wildflowers, traditional Welsh oak timber seating, and historic landscape features such as dry-stone walls and laid hedges. Volunteers and country rangers recently created the wildflower meadow to provide another area for visitors to enjoy. The new feature is made from wildflower earth and turf, which will support pollinators and the other wildlife at the site. Countryside ranger Vitor Evora said: "It's been great to provide an additional wildflower meadow habitat on the nature reserve as these are a vital habitat we need to support our pollinators and the wildlife that feed off the insects in this type of area. "It will also be a feature full of variety and colour for those visiting the reserve to enjoy." Councillor Alan James, Denbighshire's cabinet lead member for local development and planning, said: "The volunteers and rangers have made a real positive difference to this part of Rhuddlan Nature Reserve, and we are grateful for their dedicated work to improving biodiversity in the area and also visitor experience for those dropping by the reserve." Volunteers also helped to build a wattle fence around the boundary of the new meadow.
Rhyl Journal
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Labour whip resigns over proposed welfare cuts
In a letter informing the Prime Minister of her resignation, the MP for Lewisham North said she understood 'the need to address the ever-increasing welfare bill' but did not believe the proposed cuts 'should be part of the solution'. She said: 'I have wrestled with whether I should resign or remain in the Government and fight for change from within. (1/2) With a heavy heart, I have written to the Prime Minister to tender my resignation as a whip. Whilst I will continue to support the government in delivering the change the country so desperately needs, I cannot vote in favour of the proposed reforms to disability benefits. — Vicky Foxcroft 💙 (@vickyfoxcroft) June 19, 2025 'Sadly it is now (sic) seems that we are not going to get the changes I desperately wanted to see. 'I therefore tender my resignation as I know I will not be able to do the job that is required of me and whip – or indeed vote – for reforms which include cuts to disabled people's finances.' Ms Foxcroft, who previously served as shadow minister for disabled people, is the first frontbencher to resign over the proposed benefit cuts, and the second to go over policy issues following Anneliese Dodds' decision to quit as development minister over cuts to the aid budget. Rebel Labour MPs welcomed her decision, with Hartlepool's Jonathan Brash saying he had the 'utmost respect' for her 'principled stand' and Crewe and Nantwich's Connor Naismith saying it 'must have been an incredibly difficult decision but she should be commended for standing by her principles'. Responding to Ms Foxcroft's resignation, a Government spokesperson said: 'This Labour Government was elected to deliver change. The broken welfare system we inherited is failing the sick and most vulnerable and holding too many young people back. It is fair and responsible to fix it. 'Our principled reforms will ensure those who can work should, that those who want to work are properly supported, and that those with most severe disabilities and health conditions are protected.' Sir Keir Starmer has faced a backlash from some Labour MPs over proposals to reform the welfare system expected to save up to £5 billion a year. Legislation introduced into Parliament on Wednesday includes a tightening of the criteria for the main disability payment in England, personal independence payment (Pip). Ministers also want to cut the sickness related element of universal credit (UC), and delay access to it, so only those aged 22 and over can claim it. The package of reforms is aimed at encouraging more people off sickness benefits and into work, but dozens of Labour rebels said last month that the proposals were 'impossible to support'. Pip is a benefit aimed at helping with extra living costs if someone has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of their condition. The latest data, published on Tuesday, showed 3.7 million people in England and Wales claimed Pip, up from 2.05 million in 2019, with teenagers and young adults making up a growing proportion of claimants. Around 800,000 people are set to lose out on the benefit under the Government's proposals, according to an impact assessment published alongside Wednesday's legislation. The impact assessment also confirmed a previous estimate that some 250,000 more people, including 50,000 children, are likely to fall into relative poverty after housing costs in 2029/2030, although the Government repeated that this does not take into account the potentially positive impact of £1 billion annual funding by then for measures to support people into work. Changes to universal credit are expected to see an estimated 2.25 million current recipients of the health element impacted, with an average loss of £500 per year. But the Government said around 3.9 million households not on the UC health element are expected to have an average annual gain of £265 from the increase in the standard UC allowance. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the legislation 'marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity'. But Neil Duncan-Jordan, the Labour MP for Poole and one of the backbenchers opposed to the change, said the Government was 'rushing through' the changes and urged ministers to think again.
