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With the summer recess, when theoretically politics take a break, it’s been three weeks since the last instalment of Wales on Wednesday. What a turbulent few weeks it’s been. We’ve seen shocking scenes as race riots raged up and down the UK, with several attempted pogroms taking place.

Hundreds have been arrested and many sent to prison so far for their parts in these shameful episodes. People have received significant custodial sentences for racial hatred, looting Shoezone and other shops, assaulting police officers, attacking members of the public, and inciting racial hatred online.

YesCymru Penybont is organising an exhibition and competition in collaboration with Queen Street Gallery in Neath, with the prize of a solo exhibition at Studio 40, Neath in 2025. This is a fantastic opportunity for artists to raise their profiles – and anyone can enter, amateur or professional.

The theme for this competition and exhibition is the ‘Art of Independence’. You’re invited to explore what nation-building and self-determination mean for you. How do you feel we can make and remake Cymru, developing new ideas and giving artistic expression to problem-solving and innovation? How do we turn imagination into reality for a better Cymru?

A council is asking for people’s views on the latest and final phase of a new active tavel route along a former railway line.

Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) Council has launched a consultation into phase five of the Rhondda Fach Active Travel Route which will be a new walking and cycling route between Maerdy and Stanleytown in the Rhondda Fach Valley.

The route will follow the alignment of the former railway line along the valley floor and will include links to local communities, shops, schools and leisure facilities.

The route has been split into five phases. Phase one was completed in January, 2024 and phase two was completed in July 2024.

The Welsh Government has clarified that Eluned Morgan’s “listen to Wales” summer engagement programme does not actually entail any pre-advertised events at which people can turn up to ask her questions or put points to her.

Recently the new First Minister said: “I want to lead a Wales where everyone’s voice is heard, and everyone gets a chance to contribute. That’s why this summer, I am spending time out in all parts of Wales — listening to you about your priorities for the future.”

In a video posted to social media, Baroness Morgan said: “Hi, I’m Eluned Morgan. I’m the First Minister of Wales and the leader of the Labour Party in Wales. Tonight we’ve had the first of our engagement programmes – our formal engagement programmes – with the public.

Plaid Cymru is confident it can go on to win Labour “strongholds” after falling agonisingly short of a recent by-election victory.

The leader of the Plaid group in the Caerphilly County Borough Council’s chamber believes the result is a positive sign his party can challenge across the borough at the 2027 local government elections.

A single vote separated Labour winner Christine Bissex-Foster and Plaid candidate Joshua McCarthy in the race to become the new county councillor for the Aberbargoed and Bargoed ward on August 15.

Mark Thomas, the candidate for the Green Party, finished third in the by-election.

One of Welsh Labour’s most senior figures in the early years of devolution has accused successive Welsh governments of failing to deliver the economic benefits the Senedd was intended to bring to Wales.

Andrew Davies was part of the core team that organised Labour’s campaign in the 1997 referendum that resulted in the creation of the National Assembly two years later. He was elected to be the first Assembly Member for Swansea West and later served as Economy Minister.

He left the Assembly in 2011 and is now an honorary professor at Swansea University.

A madcap comedy from a Welsh theatre group has quickly become a smash hit at Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

‘Stiff’ by Merthyr playwright Anthony Bunko and his Gurnwah Theatre Company has played to sold-out audiences, received incredible reviews and been shortlisted for a prestigious festival award.

Not bad then considering the lengths the writer and cast had to go to raise the money to perform at the fringe.

Welsh social media users have criticised a BBC newsreader over her pronunciation of one of Wales’ favourite national parks.

BBC newsreader Catherine Byaruhang was seemingly unprepared when it came to pronouncing Bannau Brycheiniog on today’s BBC news.

In a story about the increase in the numbers of tourists visiting the “Instagrammable” national park, she mangled her words badly when attempting to pronounce the name of one of the most stunning parts of Wales.

When the clip was posted online the newsreader was criticised by many from Wales on social media.

Filming for the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special is expected to begin in Barry Island, co-writer James Corden has suggested.

The finale of the BBC hit comedy has been highly-anticipated by fans, who have not seen new content from the series since 2019.

Corden, alongside writing partner Ruth Jones, confirmed last month that the script for the episode - which will be the last one - was complete.

Now, he has said he is spending the next seven weeks in south Wales, in the town forever associated with the show.

When Jurgen Klopp was unveiled as the new Liverpool FC manager in October 2015, there was a tangible air of optimism at the club. Huddled into a press conference room, Klopp plucked this emotion right out of the air and translated it into words. “You have to change from a doubter to a believer,” he said. “We have to start together, new, and then we will see what will happen.”

Fast forward nine years, and we, today in Wales, deeply resonate with this sentiment. The Liverpool of late 2015 and present-day Wales are similar on paper. Both experienced turbulent times for over 25 years. Both recently divorced from unpopular leaders who made questionable decisions. Both have been in need of a new direction and a reminder of their identity. And both need visionary investment to truly thrive.

The President of the Football Association of Wales, Stephen Williams, has resigned.

The governing body of Welsh football has not revealed the reason why he has left.

The Football Association of Wales said last month that Mr Williams, 60, had been suspended while an investigation was carried out.

A recent post highlighting some relatively un-preposing farm-land for sale in Treochy, the Rhondda Valley, South Wales saw a huge surge of interest on the Land for sustainable development in Wales – including OPD group this week.

The post was shared from the group around 30 times and saw dozens of new people join in a matter of hours.

There wasn’t anything of particular merit or interest about the listing that set it apart as being in any way special, but for some reason it caught people’s imagination.