Author: Rhys Gregory

Move over Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta Jones, Wales has just landed its own star-hunting trail, and it’s more star-studded than an A-list red carpet. The Cambrian Mountains destination of Wales has just opened a new astro-tourism trail recognising its recent accolade as one of the UK’s top spots to go star-gazing. Six stellar places  have been awarded Dark Sky Discovery Site status, putting them right up there on the celestial map. The trail, which covers a driving distance of just over 50 miles, can be visited over the course of a few nights for a glimpse of Orion, The…

A world-leading brain research imaging centre is offering A-level students a virtual MRI scan as part of a new Cardiff University initiative for schools. The CUBRIC (Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre) VR scan takes pupils through different stages of the scanning process, which is used to provide detailed images of the inside of a body. The scan, which can take place anywhere using the VR headset provided, is part of a new ‘Brain Box’ activity kit for A-level psychology and biology students, funded by a Wellcome Trust public engagement grant. Other activities include a dodgy dice game, a colour-confusing…

Welsh commercial law firm Acuity Law has agreed a £10 million litigation funding facility with the UK’s largest litigation funder by volume, Augusta Ventures. From its headquarters in Cardiff and offices in Swansea and London, Acuity provides legal advice to a portfolio of national and international business clients. The preferred arrangement offers Acuity’s clients competitive funding rates, with a time-efficient process in place to ensure effective decision making. Under the terms of the facility, Augusta will fund the full cost of pursuing a claim, including legal fees and expert witness costs and other agreed disbursements. This arrangement provides Acuity’s clients…

On 26 July, a closure order was awarded against Azmar Mini Market of 92 Commercial Street, Newport Two stores selling thousands of pounds worth of illegal tobacco have been closed following a lengthy investigation by trading standards officers at Newport City Council. Evidence the Zam Zam Shop at 58 Commercial Street, Newport was selling illegal and counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco at vastly reduced prices, went before Newport Magistrate’s on 10 October. As a result the council was successful in gaining a closure order for the premises. Early this year, on 26 July, a closure order was awarded against Azmar Mini…

A Cardiff taxi driver had an unexpected passenger on board – after discovering an orange corn snake under the bonnet of a taxi. RSPCA Cymru was contacted after the shock discovery was made in the Grangetown area of the city last Friday (11 October). The animal welfare charity attended, and was able to reach the snake – which was found just beneath the bonnet of the vehicle on Stockland Street. Fortunately, despite being a little underweight and cold, the snake had no major welfare concerns and has now been transferred to specialist facilities for boarding and care. RSPCA officers regularly…

GlobalWelsh, Wales’ independent not-for-profit diaspora organisation, has facilitated its first deal via the GlobalWelsh Investor Portal, the first and only investment platform dedicated to driving Diaspora Direct Investment (DDI) into Wales and connecting entrepreneurs and investors within Wales’ global diaspora community. [aoa id=”1″] London-based investors Jolie and Mike Powell have completed an equity investment in Health & Her, an award-winning FemTech start-up based in Cardiff specialising in women’s menopausal health. Business consultant and angel investor, Jolie Powell, and her husband Mike Powell, a Cardiff-born airline entrepreneur and GlobalWelsh Founding Patron, first encountered Health & Her at the launch of the…

Swansea University will once again showcase its inspiring research to the people of Swansea later this month as the Swansea Science Festival returns for a third year. [aoa id=”1″] In partnership with the National Waterfront Museum, the festival kicks off with the Family Weekend on 26-27 October – which attracted over 9,000 visitors last year. With over 40 exhibits and hundreds of interactive activities, the Family Weekend will take visitors on a journey of discovery as researchers explore the depths of the sea, land, air and space. Young visitors and their families will get the chance to visit  ‘Lyons Wand…

The stars of the Mid Wales tourism and hospitality industry shone brightly as businesses, organisations and individuals were recognised at the inaugural Mid Wales Tourism Awards last week (Thursday, 17th October). [aoa id=”1″] Designed to celebrate and showcase the region’s exceptional tourism industry, the biennial awards brought together 42 finalists in 13 categories for a glittering ceremony at The Hafren, Newtown. Compere for the evening was Welsh tourism personality Jonathan Jones, CBE. The awards are organised by MWT Cymru with support from Mid Wales Tourism Forum, a public and sector partnership and Visit Wales, the Welsh Government’s tourism arm. A…

Five bands from Swansea will help set the festive tempo for this year’s city centre Christmas parade. [aoa id=”1″] They will join hundreds of other local people in the parade on the evening of Sunday, November 17. They are: the 3 Welsh Wing Marching Band, Royal Air Force Air Cadets; the Loughor Town Band; the Bloco Vale Samba; the Swansea Silver Rhythmaires; the City of Swansea Pipe Band. They all accepted a Swansea Council invitation to entertain thousands of spectators in the parade. They will join a wide range of other participants, including local youth dance and theatre groups, organisations…

AN IT engineer is stepping away from the safety of his keyboard to enter the tough world of cage fighting in aid of charity. Dominic Buckley, who is a senior systems engineer at Wrexham-based Rawson IT Services, has just embarked on a gruelling eight-week training programme to get him ready for his first ever bout on November 2. The 26-year-old, who is a big fan of Ultimate Championship Fighting (UFC), has always wanted to have a go at the popular combat sport and has also seen an opportunity to raise money for a great cause at the same time. Dominic,…