Author: Rhys Gregory

The Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales (WCRC) predicts businesses across Wales will come under increasing threat from ransomware attacks as cybercriminals continue with this lucrative business model, and attacks becoming more sophisticated. Detective Superintendent and Director of the WCRC Paul Peters, said: “This is a danger we have seen continue to grow over the course of 2021. Falling victim to this type of malicious software prevents businesses accessing their data, which can be crippling. But cybercriminals are also stealing data before encrypting, then threatening to release it giving them greater leverage when demanding payment of a ransom.” The WCRC  was…

Generous Tesco shoppers in Wales have been thanked after donating nearly 90,000 (89, 564) meals-worth of food to help charities feed people during Christmas and the winter months. The fantastic total forms part of more than 1.5million meals-worth of food donated across the UK. The donations will help foodbanks in the Trussell Trust’s network provide emergency parcels and help FareShare supply thousands of frontline charities. Tesco has once again topped up all customer donations with a 20% cash donation to the two charities, to support them in their work feeding people in communities across the UK. During the twice-yearly Tesco…

The green focus in the recently announced Welsh Government’s draft Budget places Wales at the forefront of tackling the climate emergency, says the Head of ACCA Wales Lloyd Powell, who also welcomes the co-ordinated approach to investment and budget planning for 2022 to 2025. Targeted, green investment of more than £160m revenue and a total investment of £1.8bn capital will be committed over the next three years, in a growing overall budget. Lloyd Powell says: “What’s commendable about the draft budget is that it’s collaborative and future-looking – after all green investment cannot be done in silos, and it needs…

A Cardiff-based dentist has become the new owner of a well-established dental practice after securing a six-figure funding package from Lloyds Bank. Dr Omar Parvaiz has used the loan to purchase Park Place Dental Practice, which is conveniently located just off Park Place in the heart of the city. The one-surgery practice, which has been established for more than twenty years and specialises in cosmetic dentistry, currently provides dental care for around 4,500 patients in the area. Dr Parvaiz now has ambitious plans to expand the practice’s current service offering over the coming year. This will include extending its scope…

The RSPCA is appealing for information after the body of a headless cat was found in Dinas Powys. A homeowner made the distressing discovery on a pavement outside her house on Monday (13 December). The torso of the black cat – believed to be an adult female – was completely intact and there was no sign of blood, although the head of the poor animal was missing and hasn’t been found. A family living nearby – who believe the cat is their pet – took her to a vet, who confirmed that it looked like the head had been cleanly…

A science discovery centre in Wrexham has been hailed as a “perfect match” for the town centre, with thousands of visitors in just over 12 months just one highlight. Since a sell-out opening weekend at its new premises in October 2020, Xplore! has attracted more than 13,000 people of all ages to discover or reignite their interest in science. Xplore!, which rebranded from Techniquest Glyndŵr in early 2020, relocated from its base at Wrexham Glyndŵr University to Henblas Street in the town centre. Further key stats revealed in its Impact Statement, which cover its time in both locations as well as activity…

The FUW Ltd. Group is once again taking part in one of the biggest walking and running challenges yet, as it joins five nations who have teamed up to inspire rural communities to take to the countryside to help improve their mental health. The challenge, #Run1000, is calling on people to sign up to be part of one of five teams – England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and New Zealand. The competition will take place from January 1 to January 31, 2022 and will see each team run or walk 1,000 miles, with the nation that reaches the milestone first announced…

In the summer and autumn, a shortage of HGV drivers was widely reported, sparking concerns about fuel, food deliveries and other supplies in the lead up to Christmas. At the height of the crisis the Road Haulage Association estimated that the sector was short of 100,000 drivers, exacerbated by a backlog of tests for prospective drivers, EU drivers returning to Europe and drivers entering retirement. Since the DVSA reopened, it is believed that the shortage has now been reduced to approximately 80,000. Businesses across Wales have been impacted. In Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid’s recent Quarterly Economic…

New life is being breathed into a St Asaph strip of land to help support the growth of biodiversity across Denbighshire. Denbighshire’s biodiversity team has worked over the last few months to reseed an ex-horse pasture at St Asaph with wildflower seed. The seed was gathered from a local meadow and includes species such as Common Spotted Orchid, Pignut and Bird’s-Foot-Trefoil. The Wildflower Meadow project started in 2019, following Denbighshire County Council’s declaration of a climate and ecological emergency, and is part of the council’s ongoing commitment to enhancing biodiversity across the county. Nearly 60 sites, including highway verges, footpath…

Tesco will power into the new year by launching the UK’s first commercially used fully electric heavy freight articulated trucks. Two new 37 tonne DAF electric vehicles will transport food and other products from Wentloog rail terminal outside Cardiff to Tesco’s distribution centre in Magor, Wales, in partnership with logistics and international freight forwarding company FSEW. Heavy goods vehicles make up around 16 percent of the UK’s domestic transport emissions and addressing this can play a significant role in delivering the UK’s net zero ambitions. Despite significant advances in battery technology and charging infrastructure for smaller vehicles, there hasn’t been…