Author: Rhys Gregory

We recently headed back to TGI Fridays in Cardiff with one clear mission in mind. To test their much talked about bottomless sesame chicken offer, which is only available until the end of January. If this feels familiar, that’s because we’ve been here before. Not long ago, we visited the Cardiff restaurant, now the only remaining TGI Fridays in Wales, to see whether the brand still had its magic. One dish stood out above the rest. The sesame chicken strips. Sticky, rich, slightly spicy and finished with sesame seeds and chilli flakes, they hit that perfect sweet and savoury balance.…

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes a routine part of everyday life and work, people are being encouraged to embrace its benefits while recognising the impact it may be having on how we communicate with one another. From drafting emails and reports to preparing presentations and proposals, AI tools are now firmly embedded across workplaces and education. AI is rapidly moving from a competitive advantage to an expected part of modern operations, with businesses increasingly relying on it to stay relevant. But while technology can help people sound more confident on the page, communication specialists warn it may also be weakening…

A global search has been launched to find a new international singing star. The prestigious Pendine International Voice of the Future competition will be one of the main highlights of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod which gets underway on Tuesday, July 7. The aim of the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition which started in 2013 is to advance the careers of the world’s most gifted young singers. The competition is once again being sponsored by the arts-loving care organisation, Pendine Park via the Pendine Arts and Community Trust, which was established to support cultural and community initiatives across…

Principality Building Society has announced the latest recipients of its charitable funds with a combined investment of almost £600,000 to support communities, young people and environmental sustainability across Wales. In this latest round, almost half a million in funding has been awarded to 15 organisations through Principality’s Future Generations Fund, and almost £100,000 distributed to four organisations through the organisation’s Retrofit for the Future Fund. Since launching the programmes in 2022, Principality has awarded £2 million in grants through the Future Generations and Retrofit for the Future Funds. Both funds are delivered in partnership with Community Foundation Wales, with grants…

BookTrust Cymru has warned that thousands of babies and toddlers across Wales will lose access to vital early years shared reading support, with the end of its flagship Bookstart programmes, following the Welsh Government’s decision to stop direct funding to the charity. From 1 April 2026, funding currently supporting BookTrust’s bilingual early years programmes for babies and young children, including Bookstart and Pori Drwy Stori, will be redirected. This decision means investment in established and impactful universal and targeted support for children, through their first 1,000 days, will instead be used by Adnodd, to commission resources, in their aim to…

Llais, the independent national statutory body representing people who use health and social care services in Wales, has published “The Health and Social Care We Want: The People’s Principles”, a landmark report capturing the experiences and aspirations of people from right across Wales. The findings reveal that almost half of people (46%) did not know or were unsure of their rights when it comes to health and social care. Nearly a quarter (23%) were unclear about what was expected of them when using services, and more than half (55%) did not know how to raise a concern or make a…

LARDER CYMRU unveiled an ambitious new Street Food Concept that will transform the look, feel, and flavour of secondary school meals across Wales. Designed to bring a modern, high-street dining vibe into school canteens, the programme – delivered by Menter Môn – blends convenience, fresh Welsh produce, and sustainability, making healthy choices more appealing to students while strengthening local food supply chains. Piloted in schools across five local authorities – Gwynedd, Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen, and the Vale of Glamorgan – the project allows each area to tailor the concept to its own communities. Modular food stations, grab-and-go options,…

25-year-old Ahmed Abbas Al-Farraji, of Adamsdown, Cardiff, and 24-year-old Jamal Malik, of Butetown, Cardiff, were sentenced on Thursday at Swansea Crown Court for their involvement in international drug supply. The sentences follow a major police investigation into the importation of wholesale amounts of cannabis from the United States into the United Kingdom. Operation Starburst, led by officers from Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), found that parcels containing drugs were being shipped to multiple addresses in the Cardiff area. The parcels were labelled with false names and misleading contents descriptions to evade detection. Tarian worked with Border Force officers to…

Two men from Splott have been arrested and charged in connection with the theft of a van and machinery worth more than £100,000 following a major police day of action across Cardiff. Kevin Price, 44, and Christopher Price, 47, were among 32 people arrested on Thursday January 15 as part of a city wide operation led by South Wales Police. The operation focused on locating and arresting people wanted for a range of offences. The pair appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Friday January 16, where they were both remanded in custody. Christopher Price has been charged with three counts…

A man from Swansea has been jailed after his business was found to be selling illegal disposable electronic cigarettes. 26-year-old Halkawt Arif, from Waun Wen, was found on July 16 to be in possession of e-cigarettes which did not comply with the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016, due to having a volume of nicotine which exceeded the maximum permitted. Counterfeit tobacco was also located in an oven and in a secret compartment in the shop’s toilet. During a search of Arif’s flat, some 1,353 packets of illegal tobacco and 468 illegal vapes were found and seized. Some of this…