We have put together a round-up of all the latest news, weather, and travel information for Saturday, March 12, that will get you caught up and ready for the day.
The news from the Ukraine overnight is that fighting to the north-west of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv has continued with the bulk of Russian ground forces now about 25km from its centre.
Elements of the large Russian column north of Kyiv have dispersed, the Ministry of Defence added, which it said is likely to support an attempt by the aggressors to encircle the city.
Read more:
Meanwhile the UK Government has been condemned by French president Emmanuel Macron for failing to live up to its "grand statements" on helping Ukrainian refugees. Read what First Minister Mark Drakeford has to say about Ukraine here.
Speaking at the end of an EU summit in Versailles on Friday, Mr Macron reportedly criticised Britain's visa policy which required applicants to make them in person in Brussels or Paris.
According to The Guardian the French president said this further exacerbated circumstances for those fleeing the war.
He added: "Despite all the grand statements... the British government continued to apply current rules that meant they did not welcome Ukrainian refugees who wanted to reach British soil saying they have to travel hundreds of kilometres in order to apply for a visa.
"I would hope that the Ukrainian men and women who have lived through horror and crossed Europe to reach their families on UK territory will be better treated."
Wales news headlines
Labour conference being held
The Welsh Labour conference is being held in Llandudno this weekend.
First Minister Mark Drakeford has been speaking to political editor Ruth Mosalski about when he will stand down, who his replacement will be, and how worried we should be about the war in Ukraine. You can read the full interview here.
He will be joined in Llandudno by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer..
Sir Keir has said that the Welsh Government has shown how things "could be done differently and better" across the UK.
'Unsafe building' leads to road closure in Merthyr
A road was shut in Merthyr Tydfil and residents were evacuated over worries a huge listed building could partially topple.
Pontmorlais West was closed in both directions over fears part of the old YMCA building is not structurally safe.
Locals described the building at Pontmorlais West as "like the Leaning Tower of Pisa".
Construction workers at the site say it is only a part of the top section of the building which is at risk of falling and a crane has been deployed on Friday evening to remove the section.
Residents living opposite the building have been evacuated to a hotel on Friday and do not know when they can return.
Today's forecast
A bright morning ahead of increasing cloud and strengthening winds. There is a yellow warning for wind in place later today.
Here is the full forecast for Wales:
Showers at first but largely dry by mid-morning with bright or sunny intervals. Clouding over from mid-afternoon ahead of rain and strengthening winds. Gales developing in the southwest. Maximum temperature 12°C.
Remaining windy overnight with further gales in the west. Rather cloudy with longer spells of rain to begin, transitioning into showers and clear intervals in the early hours. Relatively mild. Minimum temperature 6°C.
Here is how the roads and rail are affected at 9am:
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The M48 Severn Crossing eastbound is closed this weekend to allow for bridge maintenance work between J2 A466 Wye Valley Link Road (Chepstow) and J1 A403 ( Aust ).
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There is reduced service on Transport for Wales between Abercynon and Aberdare due to problems with the signals.
National news headlines
Energy bills increasing 14 times faster than wages, TUC claims
Energy bills are set to rise at least 14 times faster than wages this year, new research suggests.
The TUC said its analysis showed that gas and electricity bills are on course to increase by 54% when the price cap set by Ofgem changes in April but average weekly wages will go up by 3.75%. See tips on how to save money.
The union organisation estimated that record high energy prices could wipe out the entire value of pay rises this year.
The TUC says those on low incomes will be hit hardest by sky-rocketing bills as years of weak wage growth and benefit cuts have left working families "badly exposed" to the cost of living crisis.
The TUC estimated that since 2010 energy bills have risen at twice the speed of average wages.
With the conflict in Ukraine set to hike up energy costs further the UK Government was urged to come forward with new measures to support struggling families.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Years of wage stagnation and cuts to social security have left millions badly exposed to sky-high bills.
"With households across Britain pushed to the brink the government must do far more to help workers with crippling energy costs.
"That means imposing a windfall tax on oil and gas profits and using the money raised to give hard-pressed families energy grants, not loans.
"It means a real increase to universal credit to stop low-income workers from being pushed into poverty.
"That's the fastest way to get support to families who need it and it means coming up with a long-term plan to get wages rising across the economy."
A UK Government spokesman said: "We recognise the pressures people are facing with the cost of living, which is why we have set out a generous £21bn package of support.
"This includes a £150 council tax rebate from April and a further £200 energy bill discount in October to cut energy bills quickly for the majority of households while the energy price cap continues to insulate millions of customers from volatile global gas prices.
"We will set out an energy supply strategy which will supercharge our renewable energy and nuclear capacity to bolster our domestic supply and help drive down energy costs."
Send money, not clothes, urges aid worker
An aid worker on the Ukraine-Romania border has urged those wishing to support refugees to send cash and not material items.
Cassandra Nelson works for humanitarian group Mercy Corps, which has its European headquarters in Edinburgh.
The organisation has sent teams to eastern Europe to support those fleeing conflict since Russian President Vladimir Putin's army invaded Ukraine on February 24.
Ms Nelson arrived in Siret in Romania's Suceava region, which is about one hour's drive from the Ukraine border, about one week ago.
She said the situation is still in "emergency mode" with more than 150,000 refugees, mostly women and children, having already travelled through the north-east region alone since last month.
Speaking to PA news agency reporters the 55-year-old said donating money to reputable charities helping those fleeing Ukraine is the best way to meet the direct needs of the refugees.
"A lot of people in Europe are really keen to help by sending goods, what we call material aid," she said.
"Please don't do this. Unless there is a very specific request for something, like a certain type of medicine, money donations are best.
"Having stuff trucked in here, like clothing items, is not the right solution right now. It's so hard to distribute correctly to the right people and the transportation costs getting it here with the high gas prices just doesn't work. We have functioning markets here in Romania or in Poland that we can buy what we need from."
Since the invasion Romanian officials said about 344,518 Ukrainian citizens have arrived in the country.
While 280,000 of those are said to be on the move to other European countries Ms Nelson said a lot of people where she is working have decided to stay put.
She said: "So many of them here are really hopeful that it (the conflict) is going to end soon and that they can get back home.
"There's a lot of support to get people across Europe but a lot of these people fleeing are not interested in Europe, they just want to go home."
Sport headlines
Alun Wyn Jones officially called up to Wales squad
Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones will be called up ahead of their final Six Nations clash with Italy next week.
The second-row, who holds the record for the most Test caps in world rugby, was injured as Wales lost to New Zealand in their opening autumn clash back in October.
The 36-year-old was initially expected to miss the entire Six Nations, with his shoulder injury requiring surgery.
However, as was the case with his miraculous recovery from another shoulder injury to captain the British and Irish Lions in all three Tests in South Africa last summer, Jones has once again returned ahead of schedule.
“He’ll be officially added to the squad this weekend," head coach Wayne Pivac said after Wales' defeat to France.
“He’s worked very, very hard as Alun Wyn does. He’s been training with the team, helping prepare the team for this week’s game. He’ll be available for selection." Read more here.
Wales insist they were better than France
Wales captain Dan Biggar said he was "annoyed" by France's narrow Cardiff victory that left Les Bleus within touching distance of a first Six Nations title and Grand Slam since 2010, insisting the men in red were the better team. Morning headlines are here.
France overcame Wales 13-9 at the Principality Stadium as the defending Six Nations champions lost for the third time in four games this season.
Victory over England in Paris next week will confirm France as European champions but Biggar felt Wales should have ended their visitors' Grand Slam quest.
Outside-half Biggar, who kicked Wales' nine points, said: "I'm annoyed really is the bottom line, that we haven't picked up certainly one win in the last two games
"I'm frustrated, annoyed, disappointed – all those things. We said in the huddle after the game that we could have nicked it in Twickenham a couple of weeks ago, coming back after not starting well.
"I thought tonight we were the better team against the best team in the world at the moment. Big Test matches hinge on one or two big moments. We didn't quite nail ours and France took theirs."
Wales saw their own 2021 Grand Slam hopes ended by France in a heartbreaking 32-30 Paris defeat. This campaign has been far more of a struggle for a Welsh side who head into the final weekend with only one win, against Scotland, under their belt.
But Biggar said: "You know when you play well and you know when you play poorly. We played very poorly on the opening weekend in Dublin and we've certainly got better as the tournament has gone on. We were one score away from beating France, we were one score away from beating England.
"That's annoying and frustrating but there's no doubt we're in a much better place than when we kicked off against Ireland in Dublin. We've got to make sure we come here next Saturday, do a good job on Italy, and finish the campaign on a high."
Biggar could win his 100th Wales cap against bottom-placed Italy in Cardiff.
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