We have put together a round-up of all the latest news, weather and travel information for Friday, February 25, that will get you all caught up to date.
Fresh strikes have hit Kyiv amid warnings Russian forces are closing in on the capital as Nato allies prepare to determine the West’s next steps against the Kremlin.
The Ukrainian foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said in a tweet just before 4am on Friday that “horrific rocket strikes” hit Kyiv in an attack he compared to the city’s 1941 shelling by Nazi Germany.
The UK have announced wide-ranging new sanctions for Russia as Boris Johnson condemned Vladimir Putin as a ‘bloodstained aggressor’ following the invasion of Ukraine.
He said the UK, together with the USA, was imposing a full asset freeze on Russian bank VTB.
He said banks would be “totally excluded” from the UK financial system to stop them from accessing Sterling and clearing payments through the UK.
In other news, a Welsh health board went to the highest alert level – known as a black alert – as the NHS comes under intense pressure with high winter demand, backlog of cases and staff absence with continued Covid disruption.
Wales news headlines
Welsh MP says Roman Abramovich should no longer be able to own Chelsea Football Club
Roman Abramovich should no longer be able to own Chelsea Football Club, according to an MP.
Labour former minister Chris Bryant made the demand in the House of Commons as he asked questions about the UK Government’s response to the crisis in Ukraine.
Speaking at business questions, Mr Bryant said: “I have got hold of a leaked document from 2019 from the Home Office which says in relation to Mr Abramovich – ‘As part of HMG’s Russia strategy aimed at targeting illicit finance and malign activity, Abramovich remains of interest to HMG due to his links to the Russian state and his public association with corrupt activity and practices’.
“‘An example of this is Abramovich admitting in court proceedings that he paid for political influence.
“Therefore HMG is focused on ensuring individuals linked to illicit finance and malign activity are unable to base themselves in the UK and will use the relevant tools at its disposal, including immigration powers to prevent this’.
“That is nearly three years ago and yet remarkably little has been done in relation. Surely Mr Abramovich should no longer be able to own a football club in this country?
He added: “Surely we should be looking at seizing some of his assets including his £152 million home?
“And making sure that other people who have had Tier 1 Visas like this are not engaged in malign activity?”
Commons Leader Mark Spencer replied: “He will know under the sanctions passed in the House this week there is the opportunity for the Government to take very strong action against high-profile Russian individuals who are of concern.
“He will be aware that the Home Secretary will be at this despatch box next Monday for Home Office questions and I am sure he will be able to challenge her directly.”
Cwm Taf health board went to ‘black alert’ for 48 hours amid huge pressure
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board declared a “business continuity incident”, the highest escalation level available. It lasted for 48 hours from 1pm on Monday until lunchtime on Wednesday, February 23. Cwm Taf’s major hospitals include the Royal Glamorgan in Llantrisant, Prince Charles in Merthyr and Princess of Wales in Bridgend.
It is the first time in the pandemic that the health board has been forced to bring in the emergency measures and the health board said there was “exceptional demand throughout the whole system”.
It is the first time in the pandemic that the health board has been forced to bring in the emergency measures and the health board said there was “exceptional demand throughout the whole system”.
A spokesperson for Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB said: “This week, in line with a number of health boards across Wales, we have been experiencing exceptional demand, particularly in our emergency departments, but throughout the whole system.
“In recognition of this, on Monday (February 21) at 1pm, we declared a business continuity incident, which is the highest escalation level available to us.
“As a result of this, and the efforts of our staff and of key partners, we have managed to alleviate the situation, and the last 24 hours has seen some improvements across our sites.
“At 1pm (on February 23) we downgraded the high escalation level. However, the situation remains a challenge and our teams continue to be under immense pressure, but at a level more usual for this time of year.
“As always, the safety of our patients, our communities, and our workforce remains our number one priority.”
The board apologised to anyone who had longer waiting times as a result of the exceptional demand.
Here is how the roads are affected at 7:30am:
- M4 Westbound lane closed on entry slip road due to roadworks at J32 A470 ( Coryton Interchange).
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B4362 in both directions closed due to flooding between A44 and Watery Lane.
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B4518 in both directions closed due to flooding between Vaenor Park (Llanidloes ) and Sun Hill (St Harmon).
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B4350 in both directions closed due to flooding between the Bredwardine turn off (Clifford) and Whitney Bridge (Whitney On Wye).
Coronavirus headlines
Huge numbers of children in Wales have missed a week or more of school this year
More than seven in 10 children in Wales have missed a week or more of face to face school since the academic year began in September.
The stark figures are revealed for the first time in the latest school absence data from the Welsh Government.
Some heads have called for a return to penalties for parents who don’t send their children to school. But the Welsh Government, which suspended penalties at the start of the pandemic, has repeatedly said now is not the right time to bring them back. The Association of School and College Leaders Cymru has expressed concern about where children and teenagers not in lessons are.
A total 338,500 children (71.7%) have missed more than a week of lessons (five and a half days or more) for any reason since September 6 2021.
And nearly one in five children have been off school for a week or more for a known Covid related reason since September – a total 92,300 (19.6%), the figures show.
The figures come as attendance overall remains stubbornly low despite plunging school Covid cases. More than one in 10 children were absent in the week before half term, despite Covid infections in schools more than halving.
Absence is greatest among children in their key GCSE year 11. Children eligible for free school meals are more likely to miss school than their better off peers and girls are more likely to be off than boys.
On February 17 attendance for children eligible for free school meals stood at 83.2% compared to 90.4% for those not eligible, the Welsh Government figures show.
Latest Wales infection rate
A further eight people have died with coronavirus in Wales according to the latest figures published by Public Health Wales.
New data released on Thursday February 24, and covering a 24-hour period to 9am on Wednesday, February 23, shows 1,059 new positive cases, bringing the total to 811,844.
The overall number of people who have died within 28 days of testing positive in Wales has now risen to 6,969.
The latest infection rate based on PCR tests for the seven days up to February 19 now stands at 210.7 cases for every 100,000 people – up from the 208.8 cases recorded on Tuesday.
The infection rate based on PCR tests is only a guide to the spread of Covid in Wales as it does not include lateral flow test results, which are reported weekly in Wales. People with no symptoms who test positive on an LFT no longer need a confirmatory PCR test.
The latest data on lateral flow tests, published today for seven days to February 20 show there have been a further 11,350 positive test results reported. That’s down from 13,700 the previous week. Positivity was 8.23%. The highest incidence rate was in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area with 431.3 positive tests for every 100,000 people.
National news headlines
Nato allies to meet as Kyiv ‘under siege’ after ‘horrific rocket strikes’ overnight
Western leaders are set to convene a summit to hammer out how next to push back against the “cynical and brutal invasion” in Ukraine.
Leaders of the 30 Nato allied nations will meet on Friday, US President Joe Biden confirmed, as they come under pressure to go even further than sanctions already announced to hit the Kremlin after what Boris Johnson described as a “dark day in the history of our continent”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his government has information that “subversive groups” were encroaching Kyiv and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the city “could well be under siege”.
He had earlier said 137 civilians and military personnel have been killed so far in the invasion of his country – but this was before Kyiv came under attack through the night.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said “horrific rocket strikes” have hit Kyiv in an attack he compared to the city’s 1941 shelling by Nazi Germany.
“Last time our capital experienced anything like this was in 1941 when it was attacked by Nazi Germany,” he tweeted.
“Ukraine defeated that evil and will defeat this one. Stop Putin. Isolate Russia. Sever all ties. Kick Russia out of (everywhere).”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the government had information that “subversive groups” were encroaching on the city, as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Kyiv “could well be under siege”.
US officials believe the action is an attempt by Mr Putin to dismantle Ukraine’s government and replace it with his own regime.
Sport headlines
Biggar’s talks with Rees-Zammit
Wales skipper Dan Biggar has given Louis Rees-Zammit a huge message of encouragement after the shock decision to leave him out of the clash with England this weekend.
The flying winger will return to his club side Gloucester with Wales boss Wayne Pivac preferring Alex Cuthbert and Josh Adams for the trip to Twickenham.
Pivac says the decision was made on tactical grounds and insists Rees-Zammit will return “bigger, better and stronger” when he comes back into the Wales team.
And although Rees-Zammit has been hurt by the decision to drop him, he leaves the Welsh camp with the encouraging words of Biggar in the back of his mind.
The fly-half has predicted a huge response from Rees-Zammit when Gloucester clash with Leicester on Saturday.
Biggar said: “It’s never easy when selection doesn’t quite go your way for one reason or another.
“But the only people I can think of is someone like a Dan Carter or a Jonny Wilkinson, who have never had to go through it.
“Every one of us in the team and management here have gone through it in our careers. Very rarely do you never get dropped or not selected.
“He’s young, he’s burst onto the scene, is an incredible talent and is a real poster boy for Wales. But, for him, I’d say: ‘you’re a young guy, you’ve got tonnes of time to bounce back’.
“I don’t think anyone is thinking this is the end for him at all! At 21, he’s got years and years left in him. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him have an absolute stormer for Gloucester this weekend.”
Biggar went on: “It’s hard to say it’s not disappointing because it does hurt at the end of the day, when you’re not selected.
“That’s the first thing that needs to be said but it does act as a real motivation to prove people wrong and I think you’ve got to have that in your character.
“I’ve said that to him, you don’t want to be sulking about it for too long and he won’t because he’s a great lad and he’s got a brilliant head on his shoulders.
“He’s got a big game this weekend for Gloucester and I’m sure it will do him the world of good to get some game time and showcase his talents.
“He’s an extremely talented boy with a huge future and I’m sure this is just a little blip for him.”
Alex Cuthbert becomes a dad again just days before Wales’ Six Nations clash with England
Wales winger Alex Cuthbert has become a dad for the second time, leaving Wales’ Six Nations camp for the birth of his daughter.
The news was announced on partner Sarah Connolly’s Instagram page on Thursday morning, where she revealed their new baby’s name, Coco.
Posting a series of pictures, Connolly wrote: “Introducing Coco Cuthbert who arrived [on Wednesday] evening. She is absolutely delicious and we can’t wait for her to meet her big brother Harrison”.
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