15/03/2016 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today - our top stories.

More than a billion pounds to spend on transport and developing

And in a another boost for the region's economy,

this car loan company is more than doubling its staff -

More than a billion pounds to spend on transport and developing

The deal to set up a Cardiff Capital Region -

stretching from Monmouthshire to Bridgend and to Merthyr Tydfil -

The majority of the money will go on a Metro system -

The funding is coming from the Treasury, Welsh Government

They say improved transport will make it easier for people

to get into work and help businesses grow.

Our economics correspondent Sarah Dickins reports.

Two governments, four ministers and ten council leaders smile

for the cameras as the Cardiff City deal is signed.

There has been determination to get this partnership formed to deliver

I am confident the dynamism of this deal will drive things forward,

bring in additional investment and make a difference

The region is half the population of Wales as a whole so it's

going to make a massive difference to a large number of people.

If you look at transport we know from a lot of people the real issues

about accessing jobs, affordability, getting to work quickly,

that is what the transport scheme is designed to address.

?125 million of UK Government cash had already been pledged

As the Metro develops it goes under the city deal pot bringing it

?734 million for the Metro and electrification of the Valley

lines at ?495 million for other projects.

The area is not getting the money handed on a plate.

The cash from the UK Government will come in instalments and to get

that it has to prove it is making a difference but the whole economy

has got what power behind it and more money is going back

to the UK Treasury and taxes and that there are fewer people

The deal covers councils from Chepstow to Maesteg

but will some communities away from the M4 be left behind?

A number of people living in the valleys cannot expect

a larger Cardiff to fulfil their employment requirements.

One of the driving forces behind the deal is adamant that valleys

Cardiff as a capital city is the fastest-growing capital city

in the UK over the next ten years, so we have to make sure those

opportunities which come to Cardiff are filtered up into the valleys.

The detail of where the stations will be opened has not been decided,

but the plan is for work to begin within a year.

A double boost for the South East Wales economy tonight -

a car loan company is more than doubling its staff -

creating 580 new jobs - as it moves its headquarters

MotoNovo's expansion has been backed by a grant of ?3 million

Here's our business correspondent Brian Meechan.

The company provides finance to people buying cars

This company has seen its business grow despite the recession

It provided car loans at the time when traditional banks

Financial and professional services companies like this have been

targeted by the Welsh Government as key areas for growth.

It has been operating for 40 years in Cardiff but it has gone

through changes of name and ownership.

It was voted the sixth best UK company to work

A lot of people here live in the valleys but everyone has been

positive because of the way the companies dealing with it.

It's going to be more difficult but it is a great company to be in.

The economy minister was given at tour of the new headquarters.

The Welsh Government provided a ?3 million grant to the company.

MotoNovo says a ?100 million project could have gone elsewhere.

Critics argue Ministers should be out of the Grants business providing

Some companies need some help and assistance

There is nothing wrong with that if I can get 1000 employees

The umbrella group for the industry says 30,000 people now work on it.

They forecast growth of 30% over the next three years

with the creation of 10,000 new jobs.

In terms of salary opportunities it's going to be from entry level

at 15 to ?20,000 to the packages you would expect that the most

senior levels which will be six figures.

The company plans to continue building its business but also

intends to move into personal loans, insurance and lending

An example then of how Cardiff's financial sector is on the up.

A teenage rapist from Newport will spend three years in a young

offender's institution after his previous suspended

Luke Grender admitted three counts of raping a 12-year-old girl -

but was spared jail because of the effect

that the murder of his pregnant sister had had on him.

A heart patient from the Afan Valley might still be alive today,

had he not faced unacceptable waiting times - according

to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

57 year old Gareth Lewis Jones died in 2013 -

weeks before cardiac surgery that could have saved his life.

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board has apologised.

Rugby, and Wales coach Warren Gatland has dismissed

the incident in which Wales' Samson Lee was called "gypsy

Joe Marler has apologised for the remarks which he made

during the match at Twickenham on Saturday.

It was just a bit of banter. That is the way that Sampson said it. Joe

said, look, it was only just a bit of fun. He said it was no issue.

Just banter. We don't want is to make it a massive issue, put it to

bed. Staying with rugby, and flanker

Dan Lydiate will captain Wales against Italy on Saturday

in the place of Sam Warburton, who was concussed in

the defeat by England. Scrum-half Rhys Webb will start

for the first time since September. Luke Charteris in the second row

and wing Hallam Amos will also start, replacing the injured

Alun Wyn Jones and Alex Cuthbert. In League Two, an uneventful evening

for Newport County at home - But they are now 14 points clear

of the relegation zone. Let's take a look at

what the weather has in store - Hello. More dry weather over the

next few days. Some sunshine but also some cloud and not completely

dry. Tonight, plenty of cloud. Clearer in the West and north-west.

Mostly dry but maybe some spots of drizzle later in the night.

Temperatures tonight staying well above freezing, not expecting frost.

Tomorrow, I pressure over Scotland. Very week cold front will introduce

some cloud. Tomorrow much of the country cloudy in the morning. A few

spots of drizzle. Brighter in the West, sunshine in the West. Across

the rest of the UK another grey and 50 day in the north East of England.

Elsewhere most places dry and brightening up. Sunshine in

Birmingham tomorrow afternoon. Temperatures only five Celsius in

Newcastle. Up to 10 Celsius in Plymouth. Tomorrow afternoon in

Wales the close should clear leaving blue sky and sunshine. The water

done today. Up to 12 on the, French coast. Tomorrow night will start

spots of drizzle and a few flakes of snow on higher ground. Temperatures

dropping to freezing in places. Thursday will start grey and cloudy.

The odd spot of drizzle. Otherwise dry. Most places brightening up

through the day with some sunshine. Friday and the weekend, I pressure.

Mostly dry and settled with light winds. Temperature is a little lower

than recently. That is all, good night.

Week in Week Out is next tonight - reporting on a daughter's desperate

efforts to get her elderly mother out of Syria to come and live