Author: Rhys Gregory

A new £11m Farming Connect programme will be available for farmers in Wales to support them as they prepare to move to the new Sustainable Farming Scheme. The programme was announced by the Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies during a visit to Penllyn Estate Farm. The programme will be an integral part of the SFS and will support the implementation of the Scheme.  The key aims will be to assist farm businesses in increasing resilience and productivity by focusing on areas such as improving soil health, animal health and welfare, pest management, benchmarking and developing additional skills and knowledge on…

Motorists are advised to plan ahead before they travel on the A55 between junction 34 (Ewloe) and junction 35 (Dobshill Eastbound) as essential road maintenance takes place for four weeks from 22 February. A single carriageway lane closure will be in place weekdays (06:00 – 20:00) with full road closures limited to overnight on weekdays (20:00 – 06:00) and weekends (Friday 20:00 – Monday 6:00) on the eastbound carriageway. All closures will be signposted in advance with traffic diverted via the A494, A5117and A41 to rejoin the A55 at Junction 39. This work will include removing the worn-out surfacing, repairing…

South Wales Police are appealing for help to locate a teenage girl who has been reported missing in Cardiff. Lillie May has not been seen since around 6.45pm on Monday, January 26. She is described as being 5ft 6in tall with a large build. When last seen, Lillie May had her hair in a ponytail and was wearing a black coat over a grey tracksuit. Officers are growing concerned for her welfare and are urging anyone who may have seen her, or who has any information that could help locate her, to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to…

A man from Swansea who led a drug trafficking operation has been jailed. 22-year-old Abbas Al-Sulaimawi, from Waun Wen, was running the “Milly” drugs line, which was bulk texting to drug users offering the supply of crack cocaine and heroin. Al-Sulaimawi often changed his drug line number to evade detection, but a joint effort by South Wales Police and Metropolitan Police resulted in the drug lines being attributed to him. Upon his arrest, Al-Sulaimawi was found to have the sim cards for two drug lines concealed within a waistband inside clothing found in his bedroom. He was also found to…

A prolific burglar who targeted numerous addresses in Neath Port Talbot has been jailed. 35-year-old Lewis Wood, from Newport, targeted homes in the Baglan, Neath Port Talbot area mostly in November and December last year. On January 12, Wood pleaded guilty to a string of offences, including theft of a motor vehicle, driving whilst disqualified, using a motor vehicle without third-party insurance, ten counts of attempted dwelling burglary with intent to steal, three counts of dwelling burglary with intent to steal. He also pleaded guilty to three counts of assault by beating, all of which against separate victims. He has…

A Yellow weather warning for ice has been issued for parts of Wales and the UK this morning, Wednesday, with people urged to take extra care when travelling. The Met Office says clearing skies overnight have allowed temperatures to drop below freezing shortly after midnight. Following recent wet weather, this has led to patchy ice forming on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths. Icy conditions are most likely during the early morning, particularly on rural routes and less busy surfaces that may not have been treated. The Met Office is advising people to plan ahead and allow extra time…

Law firm Blake Morgan has appointed Ruth Gingell as Business Development Manager for Wales, marking a significant investment in the firm’s growth ambitions. Ruth joins Blake Morgan with 14 years of business development experience with law firm Pinsent Masons, where she most recently led business development initiatives for the Retail, Sport and Leisure sectors across multiple international jurisdictions. A Cardiff native from Rhiwbina, Ruth returns to Wales after spending much of her career in London, driven by a desire to work for an organisation with strong roots and values. She will focus on business development opportunities across Wales while also…

Investing in real estate is an increasingly popular choice: in an international context where other asset classes are often associated with uncertainty or very high risk, property remains a long-lasting asset that can also be passed down to one’s children. Anyone looking to optimize the return on their investment should seriously consider the many opportunities of property for sale in Italy. Attention! Since the Italian real estate market is extremely complex and marked by strong differences from one area to another, it is essential, before purchasing, to rely on high-quality sources. This means consulting only vertical property portals, where listings…

Wet shoes can be a nightmare, especially during the winter months, but there’s a surprisingly effective method to dry them quickly without causing damage or warping. Whether caught in unexpected rain or dealing with snow-soaked footwear, many people make the costly mistake of placing their shoes directly on radiators or using hairdryers, which can cause irreversible damage. These methods often lead to shrunken leather, cracked materials, and weakened glue, ultimately shortening the lifespan of your favourite shoes. However, experts at Lottomart have shared a “game-changing” technique that dries shoes fast while preserving their shape. They explained: “The key to drying…

St David’s Shopping Centre has teased a brand new arrival for Cardiff, with POP MART confirming it is opening a store in the city. The global designer toy brand, best known for its character led collectibles, will open its first ever store in Wales at the city centre shopping destination. Cardiff will now sit alongside cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol and Oxford as part of POP MART’s UK expansion. POP MART is a market leading character based entertainment company and has become a huge part of modern designer toy culture. One of its most talked about characters is…