Author: Rhys Gregory

Deployments of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) have been taking place across south Wales this summer as part of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative commitment by neighbourhood policing teams. The aim of deployments is to locate suspects, wanted people and high-risk missing people, and continue to keep our town centres safe. As a result of recent deployments, people including shoplifters, thieves, and people wanted on warrant have been identified and stopped, ensuring the safety of local residents and businesses. Those identified include: Richard Wolsey, aged 46, of no fixed abode. After being stopped, he pleaded guilty to five counts of theft at…

More than 180 local school children have helped to shape designs for a new sport and games facility in Hailey Park. The new facility forms part of a wider £2 million programme of Neighbourhood Renewal Schemes being delivered in communities across Cardiff this financial year. Designed to be as inclusive as possible, the new facility features a practice area for football, hockey, calisthenics, rugby, netball and cricket. A central circle contains a half-court basketball area, volleyball markings and a space for football. A ‘catch-up’ area, with seating and a table-tennis table provides a separate space, away from active games and…

Business confidence in Wales fell 13 points during August to 63%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds. Companies in Wales reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down 21 points at 65%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, down six points to 60%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 63% (vs. 76% in July). Looking ahead to the next six months, Welsh businesses identified their top target areas for growth as investing in their teams (51%), evolving their offering, for example by introducing new products or services (41%), and entering new markets (32%).…

Cardiff’s historic indoor market will be opening late on Friday 5th September from 5.30 – 9.30pm, with a live DJ and an eclectic range of independent traders putting on special offers for the event. The late opening will give visitors the chance to explore the historic market after dark, and sample exclusive dishes from resident traders and some of the best independent street food Cardiff has to offer. Visitors can graze from stalls including Ffwrnes (Neapolitan pizza), Pierogi (Polish dumplings), Tukka Tuk (Keralan street food) Bao Selecta (Asian Bao buns) and Dirty Gnocchi (celebrated for their cheese-wheel pasta) whilst enjoying…

Swansea International Jazz Festival from 4-7 September 2025, promising four days of exceptional live music lighting up the city’s Maritime Quarter. Organised by Swansea Council, the festival will once again transform the city into a hub of jazz excellence, celebrating music, culture, and community. The festival opens on Thursday 4 September with a special show by Pete Long & Simon Spillett’s Jazz Scurriers at Cu Mumbles. From Friday through to Sunday, the National Waterfront Museum will host a dynamic programme, featuring acclaimed artists such as Paul Booth Quartet; Triple H Horns featuring Mo Pleasure, Kedma Macias, and Wayne Hernandez; London…

The UK Government’s Employment and Skills Fund has enabled Ryan Davies, a former Principal Researcher at Tata Steel, to move from redundancy towards a new career in data science. Ryan has started an MSc in Artificial Intelligence at the University of South Wales, with the funding contributing towards tuition fees, essential equipment, and study materials—including a new computer and textbooks. Working as an engineer in Tata’s laboratories for almost ten years he specialised in analysing ore data. Ryan is now applying his analytical expertise to solve complex chemical and engineering challenges using AI and machine learning. His academic journey is…

As the Manx Shearwater fledging season begins this week a dedicated group of Pembrokeshire volunteers are preparing to help hundreds of young seabirds safely reach the sea. These striking black-and-white birds, which nest in burrows on the islands of Skomer, Skokholm, Midland, and Ramsey, embark on an epic migration each autumn—crossing the Atlantic and the equator to spend winter off the coast of South America. Pembrokeshire plays a vital role in their lifecycle, hosting around 60% of the global breeding population, with Skomer Island alone home to an estimated 350,000 pairs. However, fledgling shearwaters often become disoriented by artificial lights…

World-class cycling returns to Caerphilly County Borough next month as Stage 6 of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men races from Newport to Cardiff via Caerphilly County Borough on Sunday 7th September. The stage will feature the world’s top professional riders including Geraint Thomas’s final appearance in a road race. There will be several opportunities to support the riders with approximate timings having been released: Start  Newport (Geraint Thomas National Velodrome): 11:45 Pontymister: 12:06 Wattsville: 12:14 Blackwood: 12:26 Crumlin: 12:37 Markham: 13:14 Rhymney: 13:32 Deri: 13:53 Bargoed: 13:59 Nelson: 14:11 Ystrad Mynach: 14:17 Caerphilly: 14:26 Cardiff: 14:45 How the closures…

Rhossili Sunflowers, one of Wales’ most popular seasonal attractions, has unintentionally gone viral after a typo in their end-of-season announcement left Facebook users in stitches. The much-loved sunflower fields, which draw thousands of visitors each summer to the picturesque Gower coast, closed for the season earlier this month. As part of their yearly tradition, the organisers posted a thank-you message online, sharing the total raised for their chosen charity. This year, Rhossili Sunflowers raised an impressive £1,006 in support of the Rhossili Coastguard Association. But instead of saying the fields had “shut” for the year, their Facebook post mistakenly read…

Emergency services are continuing to tackle a major wildfire at Clydach Dingle, near Brynmawr. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that multi-agency teams are working “tirelessly” to bring the blaze under control. The fire, which was first reported on Thursday 28 August, is currently affecting around 150 hectares of land and has a one-kilometre fire front. The operation is being led by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, with support from police, Welsh Government, local authorities, health agencies, and infrastructure partners. A spokesperson said: “The joint response is focused on protecting communities, safeguarding critical infrastructure, and minimising environmental impact.…