In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

“Her front door was always open, the kettle was always on”

Hundreds of people gathered in Cardiff to celebrate the life of a “glamorous, fearless” 86-year-old woman. Pauline Osborne died at the age of 86 after a short battle with cancer, leaving behind three children, nine grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren as well as many of friends “whose lives she touched.”

Born and raised in Old Splott, Pauline’s loved ones filled the streets as her horse-drawn carriage made its way through Splott to St Alban’s Church where every seat was full.

At the family’s request, people attended the funeral dressed in colour to create a joyful and uplifting celebration that “perfectly reflected her vibrant spirit”.

Marrying her husband Desi Johnson, a seaman from the docks, Pauline raised her children then made Tremorfa her home, where she became one of the community’s best-known and most loved characters.

One of ‘Nanna Pauline’s’ grandchildren, James Tranter, paid tribute to his beloved grandmother. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here

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He said: “Glamorous, fearless and larger than life, Pauline belonged to a generation of Cardiff personalities that is sadly fading away. She seemed to know everyone, and everyone seemed to know her.

“Her front door was always open, the kettle was always on, and if someone needed advice, help or simply a listening ear, Pauline was there. She wrote letters to magistrates asking for mercy, encouraged people in prison, helped neighbours through difficult times and believed everyone deserved another chance.

“She was the life and soul of every party. If music was playing, Pauline was dancing, and wherever she went she left people smiling. Her deep Christian faith shaped the way she lived, always offering hope, kindness and encouragement to others.

“Cardiff has not just lost a resident. It has lost one of its last true characters—a woman whose kindness, glamour, humour and larger-than-life spirit left an unforgettable mark on the city she loved.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will have their wedding at Madison Square Garden on Friday night, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the security plans.

The festivities will kick off with a smaller rehearsal dinner planned for Thursday night, the official said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the events.

Speculation about the superstar singer and football player’s nuptials has built to a frenzy in recent days, following weeks of unconfirmed reports that it would take place over July Fourth weekend at one of New York’s iconic landmarks.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Wednesday that a permit had been filed for a “large event” at Madison Square Garden.

“We are fully prepared,” he added. “There isn’t anything to share beyond that.”

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said police “will of course have a detail in place,” but also declined to go into further detail.

This week, crews have been unloading equipment from trucks outside the Manhattan arena. A large carpet was briefly unveiled outside one entrance and then promptly removed.

Nothing has been publicly confirmed by the couple, despite multiple requests from The Associated Press to Swift’s representative for comment, including on Wednesday.

A Wimbledon star was overcome with emotion after suffering a bitter exit

Mirra Andreeva burst into tears during her post-match press conference at Wimbledon after a shock second-round defeat.

The Russian had angrily thrown her racket on Centre Court following the loss to Barbora Krejcikova. The No.5 seed was among the favourites to enjoy a deep run at Wimbledon – she had previously gone far at the tournament and arrived having claimed her first Grand Slam title at the French Open.

However, she was dealt a tough draw, coming up against Krejcikova – a two-time Major champion who won the title at SW19 in 2024 – in the second round. Andreeva battled right to the end, saving six match points in a gruelling game at 5-3 in the deciding set when Krejcikova served for the match.

But her valiant efforts proved insufficient, as the world No. 38 ultimately broke to win 4-6 7-5 6-4.

Andreeva immediately threw her racket towards the side of the court in frustration after sending the ball long to hand Krejcikova the victory, before quickly leaving the court. She appeared in front of the media around half an hour later, and started to cry when asked how she would come to terms with the loss.

“Well, I think of course I’m going to need a couple days,” she said before tearing up. The 19-year-old was asked if she wanted to take a moment, but shook her head and continued.

“Sorry. Yeah, it’s going to take some time, maybe a couple of days, and then I’m going to be back to practice for hard courts. I don’t know what my next tournaments are going to be. I still need to talk to my team to see where I’m going to play next.”

Andreeva also suffered a first-round exit in Bad Homburg last week, yet was reluctant to attribute her struggles to the quick change from clay to grass following her French Open title run. “Well, yeah, it’s not easy. But, I mean, I’m not the only one that does that, so… I think more or less we’re in even conditions,” she said.

The fifth seed also regretted her missed chances, admitting she couldn’t do enough after winning the mammoth ninth game of the final set. Andreeva explained: “I felt as soon as I won that game I felt like I had a lot of great chances to make the score even with my serve.

“Yeah, I didn’t serve very well, didn’t win a lot of free points with my serve as I usually do. I felt like yes, it could have been a turning point. As you can see, it didn’t work and it wasn’t the turning point in the end.

“I think she played well today. She’s a tricky opponent, especially to play against her on grass. She changes the rhythm a lot. The slices and dropshots, here they stay low, they don’t bounce. I’ve had some trouble with that, as well.

“A lot of mistakes today also. Yeah, she played well, but I felt like I could have also played better. That’s it.”

Shortly after I started my PhD at the end of 2016, a small, community-focused bouldering wall opened on the street I lived on. I was completely new to climbing at the time but thought: why not give it a go. Almost a decade later my love affair with bouldering is still going strong and I’ve found, as a researcher and a boulderer, there are many benefits to my hobby.

Bouldering is rock climbing without ropes, usually to a fixed height of up to 4.5m, with protection from falling provided by foam crash mats. These short, dynamic climbs are known as “problems” as they not only test physical technique and strength but also strategic problem-solving.

The practice first emerged in the 19th century where it was considered useful practice for roped and alpine climbing. Fast forward to the second half of the 20th century, and the discipline gained a following of its own with indoor bouldering walls opening across cities in North America and Europe.

The sport reached new heights of popularity when it made its Olympic debut as a discipline of Sport Climbing at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games (held in August 2021).
An extra boost was felt after the most recent Olympics with the Association of British Climbing Walls reporting visits to climbing facilities more than doubled from 2024 to 2025. What’s more, over one quarter of all climbing walls in this country opened within the last half decade, with more than 60% of those offering bouldering exclusively.

All you really need to boulder are some climbing-specific shoes and some chalk to absorb moisture from your hands, which is often provided by facilities.

Hobbies can bring joy, wellbeing and focus to our busy lives, but so many of us don’t have one. If you’re ready to replace scrolling with stitching, or hustle with horticulture, The Hobby Starter Kit (a new series from Quarter Life) will help you get going.

There are of course numerous benefits of bouldering – from the physiological and psychological, to its less obvious social and even intellectual draws.

Relying as much on the main leg muscle groups as core or upper body strength, regular bouldering builds balance and agility, grip strength and cardiorespiratory fitness.

Although it can be completed independently, bouldering at busy climbing walls often brings social benefits too. It is proven that social connections, no matter how small, are good for us, and bouldering offers a great way to spend time with people. The intellectually challenging nature of the sport – including working out how to successfully climb a sequence of colour-coded holds – means climbers often rely on others for tips and guidance, known as “beta”. Nine years since I first set foot in a bouldering wall in east London, I still count several strangers that I met and climbed with there as friends.

In my ongoing research project investigating indoor bouldering as a short-term mental health intervention for adults with my colleague Abigail Thompson, we are finding that like climbing more generally, bouldering can produce flow-like states of deep focus and absorption that can help people recovering from addiction, crisis, and trauma.

We’ve also found that with mental and physical problem-solving required, bouldering can increase a person’s belief in their abilities, potential and worth. Insights from our interview data show that feeling a sense of achievement in this way is a common reason our research participants return to bouldering.

Conversely, because of the relatively high amount of time I’ve spent falling off bouldering problems over the years, I have come to see that bouldering can also offer a deep sense of humility that allows boulderers to recognise, understand, and accept their limitations.

À lire aussi :
The science behind why hobbies can improve our mental health

Indoor bouldering also offers a useful gateway for connecting with nature. From Portland to Peak District, Snowdonia, Yorkshire and even Tunbridge Wells, the UK boasts some of the best outdoor bouldering in the world, often in stunning locations.

While bouldering outdoors often requires greater aptitude and experience, as well as a boulder mat to protect you from falling, once you’ve mastered the basics there’s nothing stopping you pulling on some real rock in the great outdoors and benefiting from everything that being outside and engaging with nature brings.

Lord Botham, who lives near Richmond, is backing a campaign to stop the Hope Moor Wind Farm, which would see 23 turbines at least 200m high installed on land between Arkengarthdale and Teesdale.

The former England cricketer has also launched his own campaign to oppose proposals for Hope Moor and three other sites across the North of England.

Writing in the Daily Mail, he criticised Energy Secretary Ed Miliband for his support of wind energy, claiming that there would be “resounding cheers across the North of England” if Andy Burnham did not include the MP in his cabinet if he became Prime Minister.

Lord Botham said: “Miliband is planning to destroy the gorgeous countryside of four counties here in the North with 94 monster wind turbines.”

He added: “These unbelievably huge contraptions – up to 230 metres tall – would be placed on top of hills around County Durham’s stunning Barningham Moor; wild and desolate Ray Fell in Northumberland; rugged Scout Moor in Lancashire; and Walshaw Moor in West Yorkshire – long associated with the Bronte sisters.

“They would be visible for dozens of miles, ruining the landscape over much of the North.

“On top of that, new access roads would cut through the moors along with miles of pylons as the power would be generated where it is not needed.”

The peer said the landscapes were “part of the wealth of the North”, adding: “Walk through the breathtaking beauty of places like Barningham Moor and, whatever kind of day you are having, life is transformed.”

Claiming the proposed wind farms would damage both the environment and the local economy, as well as threaten bird species and disturb areas of peatland, the former cricketer has launched his own “Not One Moor” campaign to oppose the developments.

“We will concede nothing and fight everything,” he added.

In the column Lord Botham called on Northern Labour MPs including  Sam Rushworth, who represents Bishop Auckland and Darlington MP Lola McEvoy to fight against what he called “monuments to Miliband’s madness”.

The comments have been welcomed by members of the Hope Moor Wind Farm Action Group, which was launched to fight the Hope Moor development.

Suzy Wilson, chair of the group, said: “It is almost exactly 45 years since he led England to that amazing Ashes victory at Headingley against overwhelming odds, and we know that he will demonstrate the same fighting spirit against the planned development of Hope Moor Wind Farm.

“He found it incredulous that the wind farm would be so close to the national park and would blight vast swathes of precious landscape and impact upon the Coast to Coast and Pennine Way footpaths.

“We wish him well in his campaign in Westminster and we will continue to work at a grassroots level to raise awareness and build up support to campaign against the industrialisation of the Yorkshire Dales landscape.”

Fred. Olsen Renewables, which is behind the Hope Moor plans, has said it recognised the proposed wind farm had generated a range of opinions, with some people supporting its contribution to renewable energy, local benefits and energy security, while others raised concerns.

Project leaders say the proposal is undergoing a full environmental impact assessment covering issues such as peat, birdlife, flood risk, landscape and construction impacts, with the findings subject to independent scrutiny.

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

Gwent Police has charged a Newport man with seven counts of burglary following several reports of commercial premises being targeted across the city.

Neighbourhood officers investigating the series of break-ins arrested the 33-year-old Newport man on suspicion of multiple burglary offences on Monday 29 June.

Rory Hiscox, of Chepstow Road in Newport, was subsequently charged with seven counts of burglary and one count of theft from a shop – with the reported offences taking place between 15 May – 26 June.

Hiscox appeared at Newport Magistrates’ Court on the morning of Wednesday 1 July, when he was remanded into custody.

Superintendent Esyr Jones, Neighbourhood Policing for Gwent, said: “I want to reassure all businesses, shoppers and residents in Newport that we’re continuing to listen to your concerns.

“We’re working with businesses in the city centre to help make their premises more secure, and provide them with crime prevention and security advice.

“We’re also carrying out a range of visible and covert operations to target offenders and increase safety across the city.

“These operations are often helped by information the public provides us, including the recent arrest of Hiscox in Newport, so we’d continue to ask the public to report their concerns to us so we can act and put plans in place to address the problem head-on.”