Bale Ale, bucket hats and flags: ‘Buzzing’ Wales fans head to Qatar for ‘once in a lifetime’ World Cup
Around 3,000 Wales football fans are arriving in Qatar to support their home nation as they prepare to play in their first World Cup for 64 years.
Sky News has joined two families from South Wales as they jet off to the Middle East.
Welsh Flags, bucket hats and scarves are all being carefully folded and packed into a suitcase by Marcus Panayi and his 13-year-old son Theo at their home in Cardiff.
“I’m buzzing! I can’t believe it really that we’re going out there!” says Theo.
His excitement is echoed by his dad.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” says Marcus. “For me, I’ve been supporting Wales for 42 years, I’ve seen all the disappointment over the years, all the near misses, so really this is once in a lifetime.
“I think every Wales fan who’s going is just going to be on cloud nine when we get there – obviously a lot of the other big countries are used to qualifying, so I think it means a bit more for us.”
The pair will join other fans at a special party in the capital Doha over the weekend to welcome the Welsh contingent.
“We’ve been told the alcohol prices are really extortionate, so we are prepared for that, but I think we’ve just got embrace it. The fact we’ve qualified, we’ll focus on the positives and try to have a party as much as we can,” adds Marcus.
Marcus (left) says Wales fans will be on ‘cloud nine’ when they get to Qatar
Twenty-five miles down the M4, near the English border, Huw Hudson and his daughters Amelie and Isabella usually watch Wales in action in their garden games room.
Inside, Wales football and rugby shirts adorn the walls, as do photos of Huw with Gareth Bale and Swansea City players.
“I’m a die-hard Wales and Swansea City fan,” Huw says.
The family will be staying in Dubai and catching internal flights to Qatar for each game – a cheaper option than staying in Qatar and one chosen by many Welsh fans.
Huw Hudson and his family are staying in Dubai and flying to Qatar for each game
We chat to Huw as he cracks open an aptly named bottle of Bale Ale.
“It’s something I’ve been dreaming of since I was a child,” he says.
“All I’ve wanted to do is to see Wales at the World Cup. There’s plenty of times where I never thought it would happen – but to be actually going, it’s a dream come true, once in a lifetime probably.”
Like all fans heading to Qatar, they’ve been told to be aware of cultural sensitivities.
Huw says he’s a die-hard Wales and Swansea fan
Huw says: “There’s a chap who lives in Qatar who’s set up a Red Wall Facebook group which has been really useful so we can get all the local lowdown… just rules, cultures, things to expect and adhere to; so yeah it’s going to be interesting.”
While most fans travelling have paid for themselves, it’s reported a number of Wales and England supporters have had their trips funded by Qatari authorities as part of the Fan Leader Network.
It’s understood flights and accommodation are included, with authorities saying the scheme “contributes to tournament planning through fan insight, research, content creation and message amplification”.
An emergency measure has been triggered by the Ministry of Justice to deal with prison overcrowding in England.
Operation Early Dawn will see defendants in police custody remain there – and not be transferred to magistrates’ courts for bail hearings – in case there is no space in jail cells for that prisoner if they are remanded into custody.
Sky News understands the measure is just being used in London and the North East, at the moment.
The Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, says many magistrates’ court cases will be delayed as a result, with the most serious cases given priority.
Defendants who are not prioritised will be released on police bail, the Law Society added.
Read more: Early prison release scheme causing ‘high-risk’ offenders to be let out
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir said the “prison system is in chaos” and asked the prime minister if his decision to “let prisoners out 70 days early makes our country more secure”.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “This government is categorical that the most dangerous offenders should stay behind bars for longer, which is why new laws will keep rapists locked up for every day of their prison sentence and ensure life means life for the most horrific murderers.
“We continue to see pressure on our prisons following the impact of the pandemic and barristers’ strike which is why we have initiated a previously used measure to securely transfer prisoners between courts and custody and ensure there is always a custody cell available should they be remanded.”
The Law Society said it was “crystal clear” the prison space crisis “is a consequence of the government’s approach to justice including over a decade of underfunding of our criminal justice system”.
A spokesman added: “Victims, witnesses, defendants and lawyers will today turn up at magistrates’ courts across England only to find out that their cases have been delayed due to a crisis in prison and police cell capacity outside of their control.
“As of now, we understand that this pattern will be repeated every day that this emergency measure is in place.”
File pic: iStock
High-risk offenders being released early
In February, a separate scheme – the End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL) – to allow prisoners to be released early due to a lack of space was extended indefinitely. Those convicted of serious offences are not eligible for early release.
A row broke out over the scheme during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Rishi Sunak of allowing sex offenders to be released early.
Sir Keir quoted a report published on Tuesday by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons about Lewes prison in East Sussex, after he found a “high-risk prisoner had his release date brought forward under the ECSL scheme, despite having a history of stalking, domestic abuse and being subject to a restraining order”.
“He was a risk to children and subject to an exclusion zone that included the local authority responsible for trying to house him,” the report said.
But the prime minister said: “As I’ve said, no one should be put on this scheme if they are a threat to the country.
“And let me be crystal clear… it does not apply to anyone serving a life sentence.
“Anyone convicted of a serious violent offence, anyone convicted of terrorism, anyone convicted of a sex offence, and crucially, in contrast to the system that Labour had put in place, governors and the prison service have an absolute lock so that no one is put on this scheme who shouldn’t be.”
The owner of Royal Mail has said it is “minded” to accept a revised takeover bid by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky.
The latest offer from Mr Kretinsky’s investment firm EP Group values the Royal Mail parent company International Distribution Services (IDS) at £3.5bn.
Money latest: UK economy in safe hands ‘whoever wins’ election, top bank chief says
Mr Kretinsky’s firm already owns most of IDS as a 27.6% shareholder but wishes to buy the remaining shares.
An earlier offer of £3.20 a share had been rejected last month for being too low.
But now he has offered to pay £3.60 for each share. The day before the original offer was made a share in IDS cost £2.14.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
An extra shareholder pay out of 8 pence a share has been offered by EP Group, if the deal closes, as has a 2 pence per share payment to every stakeholder, expected to be paid in September.
It would bring the total value of an IDS share to 73% more than it cost before the prospect of a buyout was raised.
‘Good value’
“Having considered the proposal, the board has indicated to EP Group that it would be minded to recommend an offer to IDS shareholders”, the IDS board said.
The price is “fair” and reflects the value of current growth plans, the IDS chairman said.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Royal Mail could be allowed to deliver letters just three days per week, under a series of options outlined by the industry regulator.
Consideration was given by the board to the national significance of Royal Mail as the operator of the postal network.
“The board is particularly mindful of Royal Mail’s unique heritage and responsibilities as the designated universal service provider in the United Kingdom and a key part of national infrastructure”, it said.
In assessing the proposal, the board has also been very mindful of the impact on Royal Mail and GLS and their respective stakeholders and employees, as well as broader public interest factors”.
EP Group has until 29 May to advance or withdraw its takeover bid.
Who is Daniel Kretinsky?
There has already been scrutiny of Mr Kretinsky’s part ownership in the postal company but a government national security concerns review into his investment led to no intervention.
He also owns parts of West Ham Football Club and Sainsbury’s.
EP Group, which he controls, has financial interests in energy, logistics, and food retail.
The King and Queen have arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral in central London for a service of dedication for the Order of the British Empire.
Established by King George V in 1917 to reward outstanding contributions to the war effort – it now recognises the work of people from all walks of life.
Pic: PA
Around 2,000 people who are holders of the royal honours such as MBEs and OBEs – from the UK and Commonwealth – formed part of the congregation.
The King is the Sovereign of the Order of the British Empire, and the Queen is the Grand Master of the Order of the British Empire.
Pic: PA
It comes after the King carried out his first investiture in five months – and his first since his cancer diagnosis – at Windsor Castle yesterday.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who conducted the service for the coronation, was one of the 52 recipients of an investiture – and was given the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.
Awards of the Royal Victorian Order are in the King’s gift and are bestowed independently of Downing Street to people who have served the monarch or the Royal Family in a personal way.
He said the King seemed in “very good spirits indeed” and was “looking very well” as they spoke during the ceremony.
The monarch, who is receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, was given permission by his doctors to return to public duties last month.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Dean of Westminster Abbey Dr David Hoyle was among the other people honoured at the ceremony, as he was made a Knight Commander for his own role in the coronation.
He revealed there were plans for a building in the King’s honour to be built on the side of Westminster Abbey.
“We have already done the archaeology, so the site is prepared. We have plans which the King has seen. We hope we might have it built in the next two to three years,” he said.
Read more:
King’s first official painted portrait since coronation unveiled
King discusses cancer treatment and losing sense of taste
The King has invested a handful of people with honours over the past few months.
However, these ceremonies took place in private during individual audiences at royal residences.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Environment12 months agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Sports1 month agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports7 months agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment1 year agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Environment1 year agoTesla advances Powerwall pilot project with German electric company