Wales breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Saturday, November 9)

Teen fatally hit by a car days after turning 18

The family of a “one in a million” young man who died after being hit by a car have paid tribute to him as they use his legacy to help others. Ceirion Galliers, from Abercanaid in Merthyr Tydfil, died at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff in July 2023 – just 11 days after he turned 18. It followed injuries he sustained during a crash in which he was a pedestrian days earlier on the A4060 northbound in Merthyr.

Full family tribute here.

Nigel Owens joins Welsh squad

Former international referee Nigel Owens will swap his whistle for a place in the Wales coaching box this Sunday.

The refereeing legend will join the Wales coaching team in an advisory role on matchdays, starting with this Sunday’s Autumn Nations Series opener against Fiji at the Principality Stadium. This isn’t a new concept, with former Test officials Jaco Peyper and Jérôme Garcès holding similar roles with South Africa and France, respectively.

If Wales are to put an end to a run of nine consecutive Test defeats then they will have to be squeaky clean and avoid conceding soft penalties. It is hoped Owens’ presence in the coaching box will allow Wales to understand the officials far better and adapt to certain interpretations quicker.

Pakistan railway bomb kills at least 24

The death toll from a bombing at a railway station in troubled south western Pakistan has risen to at least 24, officials said.

The attack on Saturday also left more than 50 others wounded, some critically. Police said about a dozen soldiers and six railway employees were among the dead.

The bomb exploded when nearly 100 passengers were waiting for a train to the garrison city of Rawalpindi from Quetta, the capital of the restive Balochistan province, said senior police officer Mohammad Baloch.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group, said it was behind the attack in a statement, saying a suicide bomber targeted troops present at the railway station.

Government spokesman Shahid Rind said the bombing seemed to have been a suicide attack, but an investigation was still ongoing to confirm the BLA’s claim

Thousands of sweets seized in drugs raid

A drugs operation to sell “cannabis edibles” over social media was cracked after a suspicious package was intercepted in the post. Thousands of sweets and cannabis in liquid form were discovered in a raid.

Kyle Gadsby, 19, Chay Miles, 28, and John Miles, 51, were arrested at a house in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, on June 5 following the interception of a package in May. The package was found to contain brown liquid which smelt heavily of cannabis.

A sentencing hearing at Swansea Crown Court heard the liquid was found to be 363g of cannabis distillate. Full court story here.

Slow traffic in Cardiff

Slow traffic on A48 Western Avenue, Cardiff, Westbound between A470 North Road (Gabalfa Interchange) and Cardiff Road / Palace Road (Llandaff Lights). Travel time is ten minutes through the area.

Arrest after imitation firearm incident

A man has been arrested in Brecon after police received reports of someone with a firearm in the town.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said police received a report of a male with a firearm in Brecon at around 2pm on November 8.

One man, aged 25, has been arrested on suspicion of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear, and remains in police custody.

Officers say they are not looking for anyone else in connection to the incident.

Today’s Met Office forecast

Today: “Another predominantly dry and cloudy day but brighter breaks may develop in places. The chance of spots of drizzle at times, this mostly over higher ground. Feeling colder than of late with temperatures a little below average for many. Maximum temperature 10 °C.

Tonight: “Cloud breaking in places to give some clear spells this evening but otherwise another cloudy night with an increasing chance of showery rain arriving later. Chilly. Minimum temperature 4 °C.”