News
Welsh Parliament lights up in Ukrainian colours as Wales shows support
THE SENEDD was lit up in the colours of the Ukrainian national flag last night in a show of support for the people of Ukraine.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin shocked the world yesterday when he launched an invasion of Ukraine in the early hours.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said it was a “deeply sad day for people in Ukraine, and a deeply dangerous day for the whole of the world.”
He said: “The whole of the world needs to act in solidarity and to take action to make clear to the leaders of Russia that you cannot act in this way.”
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 130 people have been killed as the military actions enter day two.
The Welsh Conservatives had called for the Senedd to be lit up in the colours of the Ukrainian flag to “demonstrate Wales’ solidarity and unity with Ukraine.”
They said: “An unprovoked attack on a sovereign nation cannot be tolerated, and, while Wales cannot act directly, it is vital that democratic institutions across the world show support for partners in Ukraine.”
Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price called Russia’s attack on Ukraine “horrific and illegal” and added that the UK Government should block Russian companies from profiting from listing on the London stock exchange – with companies like BP and Shell forced to divest from Russia.
Mr Price said that Wales stood in solidarity with Ukraine and that the nation had a “duty” to welcome and offer support to Ukrainians fleeing the conflict.
Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price visited Ukraine over the weekend in a personal capacity as part of a delegation that included Welsh Government Counsel General Mick Antoniw.
Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price MS said, “Putin’s attacks on Ukraine overnight are horrific and illegal. What became clear by speaking directly to Ukrainian families, organisations and trade unions during my visit to Kyiv was that they are an incredibly resilient people. They will fight to protect their nation’s independence.”
“Wales stands in solidarity with Ukraine and her people. As a nation of sanctuary, we have a duty to be prepared to welcome and offer support to fleeing Ukrainians at this horrific time.
The UK Government has said it will impose comprehensive sanctions covering “Russian elites, companies and financial institutions.”
Russian bank assets in UK are to be frozen, “totally shutting off its banking system from UK finance markets.”
The UK is banning Russian state-owned and key strategic private companies from raising finance on the UK financial markets
More than 100 companies and oligarchs at the heart of Putin’s regime will be “hit with sanctions today worth 100s of billions of pounds, asset freezes and travel bans.”
There will bepunitive new restrictions on trade and export controls against Russia’s hi-tech and strategic industries
Russia’s national airline Aeroflot has also been banned from UK airspace
Business
Ascona wins at the 2024 Allica Bank Vreat British Entrepreneur Awards
PEMBROKESHIRE businessman Darren Briggs, founder of petrol station operator Ascona, has been named a winner of the prestigious Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the ‘Scale-Up Entrepreneur of the Year – Wales’ and the inaugural ‘Randal Foundation Entrepreneur of the Year – Wales’ categories.
Now in its 12th year, the Great British Entrepreneur Awards shine a spotlight on the individuals and businesses driving innovation, creating jobs, and shaping the future of the UK economy.
This year, the brand new ‘Randal Foundation Entrepreneur of the Year’ award celebrated entrepreneurs whose business embodied The Randal Foundation’s core mission – to save lives, improve life chances, and contribute positively to local communities.
Ascona has been committed to supporting local communities since its inception, having established The Ascona Foundation in 2020. The success of the Group over the years has enabled Darren and the team to support many charities in the areas in which it operates, with the Company donating over £400,000 to local, national and community organisations since 2017.
Darren Briggs, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ascona Group, commented: “It is a great honour to be recognised for such prestigious awards at this year’s Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
“I am incredibly proud of Ascona and everything we have achieved over the years. This is another milestone for our business and the recognition is a testament to everyone’s hard work, commitment, and ‘Team Ascona’s’ ethos over the years.
“However, I am most proud of our charitable endeavors and the team’s commitment to giving back. It is something that is very close to my heart. We’re committed to supporting our various charity partnerships, including the Wales Air Ambulance this year, as we continue our extensive fundraising initiatives across the Group.”
Health
NHS staff at risk during pandemic due to PPE issues, Covid Inquiry hears
NHS staff in Wales may have put their health at risk during the Covid-19 pandemic by treating patients without adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), former health minister Vaughan Gething has admitted.
Giving evidence to the Covid inquiry, Gething acknowledged significant challenges in distributing PPE despite assurances that national-level supplies were maintained. He revealed that stocks of key items ran out far quicker than anticipated, with some equipment deemed unfit for purpose and discarded.
“There were some very real challenges,” Gething said, noting that gloves, expected to last 15 weeks, were depleted within 11 days. Aprons and other essentials soon became critical concerns. He also condemned opportunistic profiteering during the crisis, calling some suppliers “shysters” who exploited global demand to sell inadequate equipment.
The Welsh Conservatives described the revelations as “completely unacceptable” for NHS staff, while Plaid Cymru accused the Labour-led Welsh Government of “significantly letting down” frontline workers.
The inquiry also heard of chaotic conditions in some hospitals. An email from a consultant at Prince Charles Hospital in March 2020 described a dire situation, with staff lacking protection, low morale, and masks unavailable.
In some instances, healthcare workers resorted to makeshift solutions, including wearing bin bags or purchasing their own safety gear. Trade unions highlighted that schools even stepped in to produce masks and hand sanitiser for local health services.
When asked whether healthcare workers treated Covid-19 patients with inadequate PPE during the first wave, Gething replied, “I’m afraid that’s possible.”
Decisions under pressure
The session also addressed difficult decisions made during the pandemic. Evidence was presented that some patients with little chance of survival were not admitted to critical care due to limited space.
“It’s very upsetting to read,” Gething said, acknowledging the heartbreaking choices faced by medical teams, though he claimed to be unaware of specific instances.
Gething, who served as health minister until May 2021, conceded that delays in tackling hospital-acquired infections could have contributed to the challenges. He admitted he might have acted earlier in forming a task group to address the issue, which worsened during the second wave.
First Minister reflects on birthing partner rules
Current First Minister Eluned Morgan also testified, reflecting on delayed decisions to allow birthing partners in hospitals during the pandemic.
Morgan, who succeeded Gething as health minister in May 2021, acknowledged that guidance was not updated until May 2022, more than a year after England implemented similar changes.
“If I had my time again, that’s one of the things I definitely would have changed,” Morgan said, calling the delay regrettable for new parents.
She also defended the decision not to launch a national investigation into hospital-acquired infections, citing extensive reviews conducted by health boards. However, Morgan acknowledged shortcomings in resuming routine surgery and criticised poor management at some facilities.
The inquiry continues to examine decisions made by Welsh ministers and NHS leaders during the pandemic, focusing on lessons learned to prevent similar issues in future crises.
Entertainment
Miles Jupp: On I Bang
SINCE Miles’ last tour finished at The London Palladium in 2017, he’s been in The Full Monty on Disney Plus, The Durrells and Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? on ITV, as well as a heap of episodes of Frankie Boyle’s New World Order and Have I Got News For You. He’s made an award-winning radio series and he’s published a novel. But for Covid, he would have played a lead at the RSC. Hey ho. Nevertheless, he’s done a play in the West End and played the Emperor of Austria and Europe in a Ridley Scott film and now he heads here to the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven!
Yet one sunny day in the middle of all this, he suddenly suffered a brain seizure. This led to the discovery of a tumour the size of a cherry tomato, and a rather pressing need to undergo major neurosurgery. Obviously, one doesn’t wish to make a big deal of it, but the experience has left him with a story to tell and a few things that he’d like to share with the room. So that’s exactly what he’s doing in his new show On I Bang – a tale about surprise, fear, luck, love and qualified medical practitioners.
Having received rave reviews by The Times, The Guardian and The Telegraph, On I Bang with Miles Jupp is one not to be missed here at the Torch, and tickets are selling like hot cakes. Awarded four stars and described as “Elegantly funny, terrible English account of a tumour” by The Guardian and awarded five stars by The Arts Desk 2024, this a performance that will be talked about for months to come.
Join Miles Jupp: On I Bang when he visits the Torch Theatre on Friday 10 January at 8pm.Ticket price: £25. For tickets phone the Box Office on 01646 695267 or visit torchtheatre.co.uk.
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