:00:00. > :00:00.Welcome to Wales Today - our top stories.
:00:07. > :00:09.More than a billion pounds to spend on transport and developing
:00:10. > :00:13.And in a another boost for the region's economy,
:00:14. > :00:16.this car loan company is more than doubling its staff -
:00:17. > :00:38.More than a billion pounds to spend on transport and developing
:00:39. > :00:43.The deal to set up a Cardiff Capital Region -
:00:44. > :00:46.stretching from Monmouthshire to Bridgend and to Merthyr Tydfil -
:00:47. > :00:51.The majority of the money will go on a Metro system -
:00:52. > :00:55.The funding is coming from the Treasury, Welsh Government
:00:56. > :01:00.They say improved transport will make it easier for people
:01:01. > :01:04.to get into work and help businesses grow.
:01:05. > :01:08.Our economics correspondent Sarah Dickins reports.
:01:09. > :01:10.Two governments, four ministers and ten council leaders smile
:01:11. > :01:15.for the cameras as the Cardiff City deal is signed.
:01:16. > :01:19.There has been determination to get this partnership formed to deliver
:01:20. > :01:27.I am confident the dynamism of this deal will drive things forward,
:01:28. > :01:29.bring in additional investment and make a difference
:01:30. > :01:35.The region is half the population of Wales as a whole so it's
:01:36. > :01:39.going to make a massive difference to a large number of people.
:01:40. > :01:43.If you look at transport we know from a lot of people the real issues
:01:44. > :01:48.about accessing jobs, affordability, getting to work quickly,
:01:49. > :01:51.that is what the transport scheme is designed to address.
:01:52. > :02:02.?125 million of UK Government cash had already been pledged
:02:03. > :02:06.As the Metro develops it goes under the city deal pot bringing it
:02:07. > :02:11.?734 million for the Metro and electrification of the Valley
:02:12. > :02:16.lines at ?495 million for other projects.
:02:17. > :02:19.The area is not getting the money handed on a plate.
:02:20. > :02:22.The cash from the UK Government will come in instalments and to get
:02:23. > :02:26.that it has to prove it is making a difference but the whole economy
:02:27. > :02:28.has got what power behind it and more money is going back
:02:29. > :02:38.to the UK Treasury and taxes and that there are fewer people
:02:39. > :02:44.The deal covers councils from Chepstow to Maesteg
:02:45. > :02:47.but will some communities away from the M4 be left behind?
:02:48. > :02:49.A number of people living in the valleys cannot expect
:02:50. > :02:58.a larger Cardiff to fulfil their employment requirements.
:02:59. > :03:01.One of the driving forces behind the deal is adamant that valleys
:03:02. > :03:05.Cardiff as a capital city is the fastest-growing capital city
:03:06. > :03:10.in the UK over the next ten years, so we have to make sure those
:03:11. > :03:13.opportunities which come to Cardiff are filtered up into the valleys.
:03:14. > :03:22.The detail of where the stations will be opened has not been decided,
:03:23. > :03:24.but the plan is for work to begin within a year.
:03:25. > :03:27.A double boost for the South East Wales economy tonight -
:03:28. > :03:30.a car loan company is more than doubling its staff -
:03:31. > :03:32.creating 580 new jobs - as it moves its headquarters
:03:33. > :03:36.MotoNovo's expansion has been backed by a grant of ?3 million
:03:37. > :03:46.Here's our business correspondent Brian Meechan.
:03:47. > :03:49.The company provides finance to people buying cars
:03:50. > :03:55.This company has seen its business grow despite the recession
:03:56. > :04:00.It provided car loans at the time when traditional banks
:04:01. > :04:06.Financial and professional services companies like this have been
:04:07. > :04:10.targeted by the Welsh Government as key areas for growth.
:04:11. > :04:14.It has been operating for 40 years in Cardiff but it has gone
:04:15. > :04:17.through changes of name and ownership.
:04:18. > :04:19.It was voted the sixth best UK company to work
:04:20. > :04:27.A lot of people here live in the valleys but everyone has been
:04:28. > :04:32.positive because of the way the companies dealing with it.
:04:33. > :04:38.It's going to be more difficult but it is a great company to be in.
:04:39. > :04:43.The economy minister was given at tour of the new headquarters.
:04:44. > :04:48.The Welsh Government provided a ?3 million grant to the company.
:04:49. > :04:59.MotoNovo says a ?100 million project could have gone elsewhere.
:05:00. > :05:01.Critics argue Ministers should be out of the Grants business providing
:05:02. > :05:05.Some companies need some help and assistance
:05:06. > :05:12.There is nothing wrong with that if I can get 1000 employees
:05:13. > :05:21.The umbrella group for the industry says 30,000 people now work on it.
:05:22. > :05:24.They forecast growth of 30% over the next three years
:05:25. > :05:28.with the creation of 10,000 new jobs.
:05:29. > :05:33.In terms of salary opportunities it's going to be from entry level
:05:34. > :05:46.at 15 to ?20,000 to the packages you would expect that the most
:05:47. > :05:53.senior levels which will be six figures.
:05:54. > :05:55.The company plans to continue building its business but also
:05:56. > :05:57.intends to move into personal loans, insurance and lending
:05:58. > :06:01.An example then of how Cardiff's financial sector is on the up.
:06:02. > :06:05.A teenage rapist from Newport will spend three years in a young
:06:06. > :06:07.offender's institution after his previous suspended
:06:08. > :06:13.Luke Grender admitted three counts of raping a 12-year-old girl -
:06:14. > :06:15.but was spared jail because of the effect
:06:16. > :06:18.that the murder of his pregnant sister had had on him.
:06:19. > :06:38.A heart patient from the Afan Valley might still be alive today,
:06:39. > :06:40.had he not faced unacceptable waiting times - according
:06:41. > :06:42.to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.
:06:43. > :06:44.57 year old Gareth Lewis Jones died in 2013 -
:06:45. > :06:47.weeks before cardiac surgery that could have saved his life.
:06:48. > :06:49.Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board has apologised.
:06:50. > :06:51.Rugby, and Wales coach Warren Gatland has dismissed
:06:52. > :06:53.the incident in which Wales' Samson Lee was called "gypsy
:06:54. > :06:56.Joe Marler has apologised for the remarks which he made
:06:57. > :07:03.during the match at Twickenham on Saturday.
:07:04. > :07:13.It was just a bit of banter. That is the way that Sampson said it. Joe
:07:14. > :07:21.said, look, it was only just a bit of fun. He said it was no issue.
:07:22. > :07:23.Just banter. We don't want is to make it a massive issue, put it to
:07:24. > :07:24.bed. Staying with rugby, and flanker
:07:25. > :07:26.Dan Lydiate will captain Wales against Italy on Saturday
:07:27. > :07:28.in the place of Sam Warburton, who was concussed in
:07:29. > :07:30.the defeat by England. Scrum-half Rhys Webb will start
:07:31. > :07:33.for the first time since September. Luke Charteris in the second row
:07:34. > :07:36.and wing Hallam Amos will also start, replacing the injured
:07:37. > :07:40.Alun Wyn Jones and Alex Cuthbert. In League Two, an uneventful evening
:07:41. > :07:45.for Newport County at home - But they are now 14 points clear
:07:46. > :07:50.of the relegation zone. Let's take a look at
:07:51. > :08:04.what the weather has in store - Hello. More dry weather over the
:08:05. > :08:09.next few days. Some sunshine but also some cloud and not completely
:08:10. > :08:15.dry. Tonight, plenty of cloud. Clearer in the West and north-west.
:08:16. > :08:19.Mostly dry but maybe some spots of drizzle later in the night.
:08:20. > :08:26.Temperatures tonight staying well above freezing, not expecting frost.
:08:27. > :08:32.Tomorrow, I pressure over Scotland. Very week cold front will introduce
:08:33. > :08:39.some cloud. Tomorrow much of the country cloudy in the morning. A few
:08:40. > :08:44.spots of drizzle. Brighter in the West, sunshine in the West. Across
:08:45. > :08:51.the rest of the UK another grey and 50 day in the north East of England.
:08:52. > :08:55.Elsewhere most places dry and brightening up. Sunshine in
:08:56. > :09:00.Birmingham tomorrow afternoon. Temperatures only five Celsius in
:09:01. > :09:04.Newcastle. Up to 10 Celsius in Plymouth. Tomorrow afternoon in
:09:05. > :09:12.Wales the close should clear leaving blue sky and sunshine. The water
:09:13. > :09:17.done today. Up to 12 on the, French coast. Tomorrow night will start
:09:18. > :09:25.spots of drizzle and a few flakes of snow on higher ground. Temperatures
:09:26. > :09:32.dropping to freezing in places. Thursday will start grey and cloudy.
:09:33. > :09:37.The odd spot of drizzle. Otherwise dry. Most places brightening up
:09:38. > :09:42.through the day with some sunshine. Friday and the weekend, I pressure.
:09:43. > :09:46.Mostly dry and settled with light winds. Temperature is a little lower
:09:47. > :09:49.than recently. That is all, good night.
:09:50. > :09:52.Week in Week Out is next tonight - reporting on a daughter's desperate
:09:53. > :09:56.efforts to get her elderly mother out of Syria to come and live