08/07/2014 BBC Wales Today

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Alun Davies, the Welsh Government Environment Minister,

who was sacked earlier today, has tonight apologised to his

civil servants after asking them to give him

private financial information about his political opponents.

The First Minister said his behaviour was poorly judged,

and there's been severe criticism from opposition parties.

Here's our Political Editor Nick Servini.

It has been called a smear campaign, an attempt by Alun Davies to find

out how much money five opposition assembly members involved in farming

received and subsidies. They were the Welsh Conservative leader Andrew

Davies, his colleague, herbal Griffith and the leader of the Lib

Dems and her colleague. Alun Davies had asked one of his senior civil

servants for the information. That official had concerns and spelt out

in an e-mail to a colleague. The e-mail says the information was not

in the public domain yet, and there were concerns because the

ministerial code said ministers must not use the Welsh Government's

resources for party political purposes. Alun Davies had asked for

this information early on Wednesday morning. The night before, he had

just about kept his job after breaking the ministerial code for

lobbying for a motor racing circuit in his constituency. He was forced

to apologise. Tonight, in a statement, Alun Davies said: He was

sorry for leaving government and repeating his civil servants in a

difficult position. There was no support for him tonight. It was said

the minister's behaviour was unacceptable and he was sacked. It

led to a bad-tempered session of First Minister's question. Do you

regret not sacking Alun Davies last week, and does that not speak

volumes about the severe lapse in judgement of your party? Can the

First Minister share with us his criteria for which breaches of the

ministerial code are stackable offences and which are not? You are

responsible for the actions of your Minister, you very often stand there

and tell us this will stop could you extend an apology to the five

members of this chamber whose information was sought by the

minister when he was in government? It is wrong that ministers should

ask for confidential information, for the others whose information

were not in the public domain, it is not acceptable. Alun Davies has been

controversial at times. Since being appointed as Minister for natural

resources and food last year, he has repeated the stern message to

farming businesses to be more efficient. During this year, he has

clashed often with farmers. He is a robust character, very bright and

sure of himself, and he did not mind getting into scrapes. He is a

minister who knows his mind and gets his way, and that is a good thing

generally in politics. He is not a creature of the civil service. The

flip side is he sometimes flies too close to the sun. His Port Phillip

-- portfolio will be split tween two existing members.

A man has gone on trial at Newport Crown Court, charged with

Michael Pearce denies killing Alfie Sullock, who died of head injuries

Alfie Sullock, a healthy and happy baby loved by his mother. But in

August of last year, the mother's new boyfriend was baby-sitting him.

Just after an error after she left little Alfie in Piers's care, he

suffered what proved to be fatal injuries. The prosecutor told

Newport Crown Court's jury that the defendant had in all probability

beaten him with a shoe and the bottom of a plastic bottle. There

was a distinctive match pattern with the sole of the shoe and the

bruising on the baby. These injuries were to end the baby's life. Alfie

was taken to hospital here but transferred to the University

Hospital in Cardiff where he died for Mac days later. Preliminary

cause of death was blunt from a head injuries and brain damage. The court

heard how Michael Pearce told the mother the baby was fine just before

he phoned emergency services. Pearce attempted to give the baby

mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage as he waited for the

ambulance. In later police interviews he gave no explanation

for the baby's injuries. He denies murder and an alternative charge of

manslaughter, and the case continues.

The jury in the case of a man, accused of shooting his wife

in Newport, has been sent home for another night.

Caroline Parry, was shot in the back near her home last August.

Christopher Parry was found critically wounded nearby.

He denies murder but has admitted manslaughter.

The chair of Wales' largest health board has described

a ?200,000 payoff to a former chief executive as ?value for money.?

Dr Peter Higson, who chairs the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health

Board in North Wales, told AMs that the departure of Mary Burrows could

have become "more protracted" had a settlement not been reached.

The payment was part of up to ?470,000 paid by the Health

The family of a man who was murdered by Iraqi militants say apologies for

his death mean nothing. He was kidnapped in 2007.

Yesterday we reported how the leader of the Shia militia who killed him,

and three other bodyguards said he was sorry,

but blamed the deaths on the British government.

I would want him to give us the information, or give the British

government information to bring the perpetrators to justice. Because we

have suffered. We have suffered for seven years. It has destroyed our

family, to be honest. It is there with you all the time.

Most schools in Newport, have decided to close

when the NATO summit takes place in September.

The Celtic Manor is hosting the event, which will bring together

60 world leaders, at an estimated cost of ?50 million.

but police say there are no plans to close the M4.

BBC Wales understands Swansea City are negotiating with Italian side

Napoli over their star striker Michu.

Sources close to the player have confirmed

talks between the clubs are taking place.

The 28-year-old hasn't travelled with the Squad to America

Before the club left for Chicago, Manager Garry Monk said he planned

to hold talks with the player and wanted the striker to stay.

Cricket, and Glamorgan face an uphill struggle to avoid defeat

in the final day of their County Championship clash

with Surrey, despite openers Jacques Rudolph and Will Bragg

Off-spinner Gareth Batty claimed two late wickets as Glamorgan finished

on 182-2, still requiring 175 to avoid an innings defeat.

Let?s see what the weather has in store. Here's Benaz.

We can look forward to a fine day tomorrow. Plenty of dry weather to

look for two, plenty of sunny spells as well. The weather is turning

unsettled from Thursday onwards. Some clear skies, mainly dry,

temperatures getting down to nine Celsius. Quite breezy and blustery

along coastal areas. High pressure building tomorrow, but noticed these

weather systems which are not too far away. They will bring rain on

Thursday and Friday onwards. A cloudy start to the morning

tomorrow, but it will brighten. Quite breezy as well. For the rest

of the United Kingdom it is a fine day, a few showers across eastern

counties, but it is dry and sunny for most of us with high

temperatures of 22 Celsius. We can look forward to a dry afternoon here

in Wales. He is the sunshine, high of 16, 21 some -- Celsius. It is

dry, temperatures getting down to 10 Celsius at night. We will see

showers coming into parts of Powys. Quite a breezy day, high

temperatures of 17, 20 two Celsius. Feeling warm and humid on Friday

with highs of 23 Celsius, remaining unsettled as we head into the

weekend. That's Wales Today.

Thank you for watching. From all of us on the programme,

goodnight.