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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Cathy Owen

Welsh morning headlines: News, sport, weather and roads updates as Storm Dudley hits Wales

We have put together a round-up of all the latest news, weather and travel information for Wednesday, February 16, that will help your get your day off to the right start.

It is a windy start to the day as Storm Dudley is set to hit Wales and the UK, and children under 11 in Wales are being offered the coronavirus vaccine - a first in the UK.

There are no major issues to report on the roads but there are speed restrictions on the Britannia Bridge because of high winds.

Wales news headlines

Children in Wales offered Covid vaccine

Wales is the first country in the UK to offer all children in Wales aged between five and 11 a Covid vaccine.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan has confirmed that all children in the cohort will be offered the jab, making Wales the first UK nation to do so.

The vaccine has already been offered to those aged between five and 11 who are considered "at risk", as well as to children over the age of 12.

Now, it is being expanded to include all of those in the age group, on the advice of the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation.

In a statement, Ms Morgan confirmed the change and added that a quarter of "at risk" children who had been offered the vaccine had already had the jab. Read more here

Read more: Find the latest coronavirus news and updates here

Half of restaurant's diners 'no show' on Valentines day

A Cardiff restaurant owner has voiced his despair after half of its diners fail to show up for Valentine's Day bookings.

Rob asks customers to pick up the phone and let him know if they can't attend their booking (Rob Browne)

The Grand Bar and Kitchen in the city centre expressed their disappointment on social media after half of their tables became no-shows, without letting restaurant staff know.

Rob Toogood, the owner of the Westgate Street restaurant said that despite no shows being a common theme in the hospitality industry, it was particularly difficult on Valentines Day as it is usually a busy night. Read more here.

Basic income trial means some will get almost £20,000 a year

Some people in Wales will be given almost £20,000 a year for two years as part of a trial of a basic income in Wales.

The move follows First Minister Mark Drakeford's pledge after the Senedd elections last year to launch a pilot scheme.

The Welsh Government has now outlined how that pilot will work. It will be targeted at young people leaving care and ministers say it “will enhance the support available to young people as they leave care and assess the impact that has on them”. Read how it will work here

Weather

A weather warning is in place for large parts of Wales later today as Storm Dudley is set to hit the country.

The yellow warning for wind is in place from 3pm today. You can find more details here.

The warning area for Storm Dudley now covers a larger part of Wales (Met Office)

The Met Office forecast for Wales today says: "A dry, bright and windy start today. Turning cloudier through the morning with heavy persistent rain and stronger winds during the afternoon as Storm Dudley approaches. Maximum temperature 14 °C.

"Heavy rain and strong winds for a time this evening, but turning drier overnight with scattered showers and clear spells. Staying windy. Minimum temperature 3 °C."

Travel

Winds are already high this morning but there are no major issues to report on the roads.

The A493 in Gwynedd is partially blocked due to landslip between Dyfi Bridge and Gwerniago Campsite turn off. The landslide happened early on Tuesday morning.

There are restrictions on the A55 Britannia Bridge because of the high winds. Speed restrictions are set at 30mph.

National news headlines

Mixed messages coming from Russia

Ben Wallace will meet with fellow Nato defence ministers in Brussels on Wednesday as efforts continue to avert a war in Ukraine.

The Defence Secretary will join Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin amid ongoing tensions in eastern Europe as the alliance considers its response to the 130,000 Russian troops massing at Ukraine's borders.

The meeting comes after President Putin said on Tuesday that Russia did not want another war, and was open to further dialogue with the US and its Nato allies.

In the UK, armed forces minister James Heappey said he was cautiously optimistic about news some troops were withdrawing from the Ukrainian border but added he would "continue to be very vigilant" of Russia's actions.

The Prime Minister had earlier suggested there were "mixed signals" coming out of Russia about the prospect of an invasion of Ukraine, describing the situation as "not encouraging".

President Joe Biden, meanwhile, gave a televised address in the United States, in which he said an invasion was still possible and stressed the US would defend all Nato territory.

Royal family 'put substantial pressure' on Prince Andrew

Reports claim that the Queen and Prince Charles put substantial pressure on Prince Andrew to settle his sex abuse case with Virginia Giuffre.

The Mirror says that members of the Royal Family were keen to avoid a potentially damaging civil trial, leading to the Duke of York agreeing an out-of-court deal thought to be worth £12million.

Senior royals felt that a trial could have seen the scandal overshadow the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, according to the Mirror's sources.

While Andrew still "wholly maintains his innocence" and insisted he "believes he can still find a way back into public life", according to sources, the 61-year-old signed a deal with Ms Giuffre on Monday afternoon to bring an end to her sex abuse claim.

Prince Andrew (PA)

The "settlement in principle" means Andrew will make a "substantial donation Ms Giuffre's charity, which supports victims' rights, but the Duke of York has not admitted to her allegations that she was forced to have sex with him on three occasions in 2001 when she was 17.

The Mirror understands the total settlement of £12m includes £2m to the charity, leaving her with £10m.

However, legal sources say the FBI will still want to speak to Andrew regarding a criminal inquiry into the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his British lover Ghislaine Maxwell, who faces up to 65 years in jail after being convicted of trafficking young girls for Epstein.

Ms Giuffre sued Andrew in New York last year, claiming that he sexually abused her when she was 17 - a minor under US law.

The allegation was part of a claim that she was trafficked internationally as a sex slave to billionaire American Epstein and Maxwell.

Well placed royal sources said Andrew was under "intense pressure from the very top" to ensure a deal was done after a US judge last month rejected the duke's bid to have the case dismissed.

Without a settlement, the prince was facing a full civil trial by jury in the US later this year.

Sport headlines

Rival coaches fear Halaholo

Willis Halaholo has been backed to prove he's worthy of a place in the Wales team against England, with Dai Young revealing he's the player opposition coaches fear.

The Super Rugby-winning centre has missed Wales’ opening two Six Nations matches after damaging his hamstring in training with Cardiff.

But now he’s fit again and will be looking to stake a claim for a place against Jones’ England at Twickenham when he returns to action at home to Zebre on Friday evening.

He has been released from the Wales squad to get some game time and, if he hits the ground running, he will add further to the competition for midfield spots, alongside Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, Jonathan Davies and the versatile Josh Adams.

Cardiff City's win over Coventry

A Joel Bagan stunner and a late strike from Mark Harris ensured Cardiff City earned the spoils in a 2-0 win over Coventry City.

It was far from a classic, but in the rain-soaked Welsh capital, it took one moment of genius from Bagan in the second half, a terrific late save from Alex Smithies and a coolly-taken strike from Harris to wrap up the Bluebirds' 12th point from their last five games.

Mark Harris of Cardiff City celebrates scoring against Coventry City (Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)

It was a much-changed Cardiff City outfit for the home clash against the Sky Blues.

Tommy Doyle, Jordan Hugill, Mark Harris and Joe Ralls were whipped out of the starting lineup from Millwall at the weekend, with Isaak Davies, Max Watters, Will Vaulks and young Eli King, who made his first start in the Championship for the club, brought in.

It was a brave call taking out some of the players who had done so well in recent weeks, but the fixture schedule is hectic and the real skill is keeping these players fresh. Read the match review here.

Roadworks

M4 - one lane closed due to roadworks eastbound from Junction 33 Cardiff West And Services to junction 32 Coryton. Closed. until February 28.

M4 - westbound entry slip road closed due to roadworks during the night at junction 48 Hendy between 8pm tonight and 6am tomorrow.

M4 - entry slip road closed due to roadworks during the night at junction 44 Llansamlet between 8pm tonight and 6am tomorrow.

M4 - westbound entry slip road closed due to roadworks during the night at junction 43 Llandarcy between 8pm tonight and 6am tomorrow.

A470 - lane closed due to roadworks during the night on northbound carriageway between Taffs Well and Nantgarw Interchanges. between 8pm tonight and 6am tomorrow.

Politics in Wales today

  • The Senedd’s business committee will meet as will the special purpose committee on Senedd reform

  • Finance committee also meets

  • Plenary is at 1.30pm with questions to economy minister Vaughan Gething and health minister Eluned Morgan

  • There is a debate about council elections led by Plaid’s Llyr Gruffydd and Lib Dem Jane Dodds. It wants first past the post scrapped for the 2027 council elections

  • There is a debate based on a petition to stop the demolition of Cowbridge Intermediate School for Girls which got 5,522 signatures

  • There is a Welsh Conservative debate on council funding saying the current funding formula isn’t fit for purpose

  • The Commons is in recess until February 21

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