31/12/2015 BBC Wales Today

Good afternoon.

It has emerged that a computer hacker for so-called Islamic State

killed in a US led coalition air strike in Syria

was a Cardiff-based businessman.

The Pentagon say that Siful Haque Sujan,

who was originally from Bangladesh, was killed near the city of Raqqah

on December ten.

He ran an IT company in South Wales but is understood to have left

the UK in July last year to travel to Syria.

Members of the Cardiff Bangladeshi community say they are

shocked and stunned.

It is not possible to protect all communities

all the time against flooding.

That's according to First Minister Carwyn Jones,

who is visiting parts of North Wales this lunchtime that were badly hit

over the Christmas weekend.

Matthew Richards reports.

Llanrwst is no stranger to flooding and people were prepared

for the worst, following torrential post Christmas downpours.

Emergency crews worked hard to protect homes but these scenes

could have been greatly amplified had flood relief scheme is not

done their job.

Today, the First Minister began his tour of the flooding

hotspots in Llanrwst, to see how previous

investment has paid off.

We have committed ?300 million over the course of this government.

There is another ?150 million going to coastal defences as well.

Does that mean we can protect against floods

anywhere and everywhere?

Well, no.

We cannot, but what we are trying to do is to make sure

that the money is available.

In Gwynedd, the A55 was closed near Bangor on Boxing Day.

Homes in Tal-y-bont were flooded and in Beaumaris on Anglesey,

the castle moat overflowed.

There is always lessons that can be learned and there will be

investigations in all these cases to see what happened,

why it happened, what we could have done, what could be done better.

The First Minister says while his sympathies lie

with all of those who were affected by flooding over the past week,

he says that given this area had more than three times

the average December rain fall, existing flood defences prevented

many more properties from being inundated with water.

BAFTA winning actress Sian Phillips has become a Dame

in the New Year's Honours list.

She is one of more than 50 people from Wales to be recognised.

There is also a CBE for the Falklands War veteran Simon

Weston.

I want my money's worth.

It was for roles such as Livia in the BBC's adaptation of I,

Claudius that Sian Phillips made her name.

A stellar career on stage and screen has now led to her being made

a dame for her services to drama.

I am overwhelmed because it is a great

honour and one that is I truly was not expecting in any way.

Simon Weston's CBE comes more than 30

years after he served in the Falklands War.

The decades since the conflict in which he suffered

horrific injuries have seen Simon worked passionately to boost

the profile of injured veterans.

I have been so very, very fortunate to have a world

surrounding me that has been so very positive and has

encouraged me to do as much as I want to do but probably

the biggest inspiration comes from my mother

and Natalie, my wife.

52 men and women from Wales have been recognised,

among them Welsh Lamb producer and campaigner

Daphne Tilley from Denbighshire.

She receives an MBE for her services to the food

industry.

The more high echelon restaurants you go to and the top

chefs use the meat, and people come in and tasted,

they realise that Welsh lamb is the best in the world.

Although I realise it is hard work, I just did not expect any

recognition for it, you don't.

And at the age of 82, June Burke's tireless work

volunteering for the Tenovus cancer charity sees her awarded

a British Empire medal.

Time now for the weather forecast.

It is feeling colder today with a mixture of sunshine and heavy

showers this afternoon.

Strong gusty winds as well.

Hale and thunder in places, a little snow on the mountain tops.

Turning drier and clearer later this afternoon but still with a few

scattered showers and temperatures lower than recently.

One or two showers this evening, especially in the south.

Otherwise, a dry, clear and cold night if you are celebrating

the New Year.

A widespread frost, one or two mist and fog patches as well.

Into New Year's Day, a dry morning.

Some bright weather for a while but it will not last.

Rain will spread from the South during the afternoon.

Wintry on the mountain is, the wind is picking up tomorrow

and feeling cold.

It remains unsettled over the weekend.

Showers or longer spells of rain, some heavy rain on Sunday.

I will see you later.

We'll be back at 6:45pm.

From all of us here, have a good afternoon.