The Ferndale business has a new new managing director

Valleys -based manufacturer Avon Engineered Rubber is posed for continued domestic and international growth under a new managing director.

Vince Minchella has taken up the head role at the Ferndale-based which specialises in aerosol gaskets and seals and specialist industrial rubber moulding for automotive, HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning, construction, and other industries. He has been promoted for a commercial role with the business.

The company is one of nine engineering firms that make up Bristol-based Avon Group. With the support of Avon Engineered Rubber the group is targeting breaking through the £100m annual revenues mark for this first time by 2030.

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Mr Minchella has taken over the helm of the business following the opening of new premises in Malaysia o

Mr Minchella said: “I’m excited to have been given the opportunity to lead Avon Engineered Rubber forward because it is a very important part of Avon Group as the exclusive global source for both stem and cup seal gaskets.

“We’ve been the ‘go-to’ supply partner for the world’s top aerosol valve producers for more than 20 years and I am confident that we will kick on and expand our reach as well as playing an important role in Avon Group’s overall progress.”

On its new Malaysian operation he added: “The official opening of our new Malaysian base is an important milestone for the business as we are now ideally placed to support growing demand for our products in the South East Asian market and beyond.

“We are very proud of the progress our formidable Malaysian team have been making and they did themselves, Avon Engineered Rubber and Avon Group as a whole proud by staging a fantastic opening which bodes well for our future.

“By honouring local traditions and blessing the visiting dragons it means we’ve got off to a perfect start in new surroundings which we can be proud of as we focus on future expansion.”

The Ferndale operation employs 107 across its production, laboratory, quality, sales, logistics and administration teams.

To support its growth the business, which also has a presence in the US, has invested £300,000 investment in cutting-edge extrusion technology and plant upgrades.

Avon group director, Mark Rushin said: “We are all really ambitious and passionate about what we do and with exceptionally talented people in vital positions we are firmly on course to rise to every challenge and fulfil Avon Group’s vast potential.”

Avon Engineered Rubber was acquired by Avon Group in 2007.

Apple’s upcoming MacBook lineup is generating significant buzz among tech enthusiasts and consumers as Apple prepares a major refresh in early 2026. With rumors pointing to multiple new models, including updates to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, as well as a potential low-cost entry-level option, the company appears poised to strengthen its laptop dominance amid growing competition from AI-enhanced Windows devices and budget alternatives.

As of mid-February 2026, Apple’s current MacBook offerings include the 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by the M5 chip, unveiled in October 2025. That model introduced substantial gains in AI performance, with up to 3.5 times better neural engine capabilities compared to the prior generation, alongside faster SSD speeds and up to 24 hours of battery life. However, higher-end configurations featuring M5 Pro and M5 Max chips have yet to arrive, leaving the 16-inch MacBook Pro and more demanding professional workflows on the previous M4 silicon. The MacBook Air lineup remains on the M4 chip from its March 2025 refresh.

Industry analysts and reliable sources, including Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, indicate that Apple is gearing up for announcements as soon as March. A special “Apple Experience” event is scheduled for March 4, 2026, in New York City, with simultaneous events in London and Shanghai. While Apple has not officially confirmed the agenda, leaks suggest the gathering could showcase several Mac-related products alongside other devices like a budget iPhone variant and updated iPads.

One of the most anticipated releases is the M5 MacBook Air. Following a consistent spring refresh pattern—March 2024 for M3 and March 2025 for M4—the M5 version is widely expected in March 2026. The 13-inch and 15-inch models are predicted to retain their slim, fanless design while benefiting from the M5 chip’s efficiency improvements. Expect 15-25% faster CPU performance and up to 45% better graphics over the M4, making the Air even more capable for everyday tasks, light creative work and on-device AI features through Apple Intelligence. Pricing is likely to hold steady, starting around $999 for the base configuration.

Attention is also turning to the MacBook Pro family. The base 14-inch model received its M5 upgrade last fall, but professionals have been waiting for the M5 Pro and M5 Max variants in both 14-inch and 16-inch sizes. Reports tie this launch closely to the rollout of macOS Tahoe 26.3, with a potential debut as early as the week of March 2. These chips promise enhanced multi-core performance, superior GPU capabilities for video editing, 3D rendering and machine learning workloads, and even higher memory bandwidth. No major design changes are anticipated here; the focus remains on processor upgrades to bridge the gap until a larger overhaul later in the year.

Adding intrigue is speculation about a new low-cost MacBook, often described as an entry-level model priced under $1,000—potentially as low as $599 or $699. Powered by the A18 Pro chip (the same silicon driving recent iPhones), this device aims to compete directly with premium Chromebooks and affordable Windows laptops in education and consumer markets. Leaks suggest it could feature vibrant color options, such as yellow, green and pink, departing from Apple’s typically subdued palette. With long battery life and solid performance for web browsing, streaming and productivity apps, the budget MacBook could broaden Apple’s reach without cannibalizing higher-end sales. Gurman has indicated this model may also debut at the March event.

Looking further ahead, 2026 could deliver even more excitement. A redesigned MacBook Pro with OLED displays, touch support and a thinner chassis is rumored for the second half of the year or early 2027, powered by M6-series chips. Such a refresh would mark the first major MacBook Pro redesign since 2021, potentially incorporating mini-LED alternatives or under-display cameras for a seamless look.

Apple’s strategy reflects a push to integrate advanced AI across its hardware while maintaining premium build quality and ecosystem integration. The M5 family’s emphasis on on-device processing aligns with privacy-focused features in macOS, appealing to creators and developers. Meanwhile, the rumored budget option addresses price sensitivity in a competitive landscape.

Consumers eyeing a purchase face a familiar dilemma: buy now or wait. Current M4 MacBook Air and base M5 MacBook Pro models remain excellent choices for most users, offering strong performance and longevity. However, those needing maximum power may benefit from holding off just a few weeks for the M5 Pro/Max Pro models. Budget-conscious shoppers could find the new entry-level MacBook transformative if it delivers as promised.

As the March 4 event approaches, expectations are high for Apple to deliver a compelling mix of innovation and accessibility. Whether through incremental chip upgrades or bold new form factors, the company’s MacBook releases in 2026 are set to influence laptop trends for years to come. Stay tuned for official announcements that could redefine portable computing once again.

A council governance review found only 35.3 per cent of Ansford residents supported the proposals

Proposals to combine a rapidly expanding Somerset town with its neighbouring parish have been abandoned following a lack of backing from local people. Castle Cary has seen substantial growth in recent years, with considerable housing development occurring across both the town and the adjacent parish of Ansford, which encompasses Castle Cary railway station.

The scale of this expansion has left existing parish boundaries outdated – with one boundary line running directly through the middle of a residential dwelling. After local councillor Henry Hobhouse submitted a petition, Somerset Council initiated a governance review in late-2025, with findings presented to the council’s constitution and governance committee in Taunton on February 5.

However, given the limited public appetite for the changes, the committee determined that no merger plans would proceed at present.

Steven Lake, the council’s electoral services manager, informed the committee in his written report: “The consultation demonstrates that there is insufficient support from both communities to proceed with the proposals to merge the two parishes.

“Whilst there was an overall approval rate of 53.6 per cent to the proposals, the rate of approval from the responders from Ansford was only 35.3 per cent. There is, however, sufficient evidence to review the administrative boundaries to ensure that there are clear, definitive boundaries between the two communities.”

Castle Cary currently has 1,883 individuals on the electoral register, in contrast to Ansford’s 1,174. Despite the two parishes maintaining their individuality, a series of minor boundary adjustments will be put into effect.

These modifications include shifting the Crown Pet Foods factory entirely into Castle Cary parish (where the boundary currently bisects the main building) and relocating 57 to 67 Churchfield Drive into Ansford parish.

Summer Easeman, a disabled mother and the youngest member of Ansford Parish Council, warned the committee that merging the two parishes would “silence a vital local voice” at a pivotal moment for local democracy.

She said: “We have consistently demonstrated what can be achieved when we work collaboratively and base our decisions on evidence. Because of our constructive relationship with Somerset Council and local developers – and because we invested in proper, evidence‐based reports – we now have the prospect of three zebra crossings being delivered in Ansford.

“That’s not abstract policy; that’s safer routes for children, older residents, disabled people, and families. It’s exactly the kind of practical, community‐driven outcome that only a functioning parish council can deliver. Dissolving this council would silence a vital local voice at the very moment when our community is proving what it can achieve.”

Fellow Ansford resident Fiona Houlton pointed out significant distinctions between this proposal and the planned merger of Langport and Huish Episcopi.

She explained: “The nature of community identity, the strength and clarity of opposition, the response rates and the demographic profile are all materially different. Ansford is getting younger, with significant numbers of new housing and many families moving in.

“Proceeding now would create a long-term legitimacy problem by acting against the views of the very residents who will shape the parish’s future.”

Castle Cary resident Simon Bebbington offered a contrasting perspective, suggesting that uniting the two councils would make it simpler to obtain new facilities from property developers.

He reasoned: “The extension and ongoing development taking place has effectively blurred the boundaries and made them a single natural community. Our larger voice carries more weight when bidding for National Lottery funding, developer contributions, or government grants for projects like the Donald Pither pavilion.”

Trevor Oats, chairman of Castle Cary Town Council, added: “I can see great merit in the formation of a new council to move forward and start to focus on the needs and wants of everyone, and not be continually being accused of not paying heed to the parishioners of Ansford.

“All the new council parishioners will have equal access to elect the members who they wish to represent them, and enjoy the services that will be provided across the whole of the community.”

Councillor Tim Kerley (Liberal Democrat, Somerton) described this as a textbook case of needing to honour public opinion despite any professional evaluation.

He said: “It looks to me that it suits the governance for them to come together, but we have to accept that we need to take the public with us on the journey. Having set through a similar one in Langport and Huish Episcopi, I see the arguments are pretty much the same.

“The difference here is the local population haven’t been taken with the argument, and I think we have to respect that.”

Following less than half an hour of discussion, the committee voted against proceeding with the merger.

X experienced a widespread outage early Monday, leaving thousands of users unable to access the social media platform.

According to Downdetector, a website that tracks service disruptions based on user reports, complaints surged to more than 41,000 around 8:40 a.m. ET, far above the typical baseline level.

Reports had first begun trickling in earlier in the morning, starting with about a dozen complaints before rapidly escalating.

The social media company did not immediately respond to FOX Business’s request for comment.

EUROSTAR FORCED TO CANCEL ALL SERVICES TO AND FROM LONDON AFTER ‘MAJOR DISRUPTION’ IN CHANNEL TUNNEL

By 9:09 a.m., complaints had been cut by more than half, falling to about 28,673 reports, though the number remained significantly elevated.

Reports continued to decline later in the morning, dropping to 17,360 by 9:19 a.m. and falling further to roughly 1,245 by 9:49 a.m., according to the site’s data.

HOW PARENTS CAN ENCOURAGE HEALTHY SOCIAL MEDIA HABITS FOR THEIR KIDS

Tens of thousands of X users reported outages on Feb. 16, 2026, according to Downdetector. (X Logo – Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Downdetector’s outage heatmap showed the disruption affected users primarily in the United States, with hotspots in major cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

X was also down temporarily in mid-January and again in November 2025.

AUSTRALIA BEGINS ENFORCING SOCIAL MEDIA LAW BANNING CHILDREN UNDER 16 FROM MAJOR PLATFORMS

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The 2025 service issue was due to a widespread outage at Cloudflare, an internet infrastructure provider.

The disruption comes weeks after a major Verizon network outage that left millions of wireless customers without service for hours, one of several high-profile connectivity issues in recent months.

KPMG has published its annual enterprise barometer which shows Welsh business owners are more positive on growth than the UK as a whole.

Nearly nine in 10 (89%) businesses in Wales are confident about growth this year, according to new research from professional advisory firm. KPMG. Its annual private enterprise barometers shows confidence over growth amongst Welsh firms is 2% higher than the UK average of 87%.

Increased demand for products and services was identified as the main reason for the outlook, cited by 43% of Welsh businesses, while 42% highlighted plans to introduce new technology as another reason for optimism in the year ahead. Technology also dominated as a leading investment priority for Wales-based businesses, with 39% identifying areas such as digital transformation as a key investment focus, followed closely by investment in artificial intelligence (38%), both in line with the UK averages.

Diversification is also high on the agenda for private businesses across Wales, with more than half of businesses (57%) looking to introduce new service lines and broaden their client offering.

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Appetite for internationalisation is high, with 63% confirming that appetite for international expansion has grown in the last 12 months. 56% of respondents are also targeting new markets as a way to diversify over the next five years. Western Europe was identified as the most favoured location for expansion and trade amongst Wales businesses, with 53% citing the region as a priority.

The appetite for alternative funding options is strong, with nearly half (47%) of regional businesses now open to private equity investment, in line with the UK average. This reflects a willingness amongst firms to explore new sources of capital to support innovation and accelerate growth.

On merger and acquisitions more broadly, 41% are open to opportunities but not actively seeking them. 36% are focused on internal growth only, while a further 28% are actively pursuing acquisitions.

David Williams, Wales and south west regional office senior partner at KPMG UK, said: “Wales’ impressive confidence heading into 2026 puts it near the top of the leaderboard for this year’s survey. This optimism is being driven by real demand for products and services, combined with strategic investment in tech and diversification.

“More broadly, it’s a pivotal moment for Wales. Major investment and projects like the Celtic Freeport are creating genuine momentum. And businesses are responding by positioning themselves to capitalise.

“Ambition to enter new markets is particularly striking, with over half of respondents eyeing the prospect. Combined with Wales’ growing strengths in renewable energy and infrastructure development, these businesses can be seen to be actively building the capabilities to deliver sustained growth.”

He said: “Let’s be clear, this isn’t just the potential collapse of a brand, this is people’s jobs, this is people’s rent, how they pay their bills and their childcare and yet they are being informed about the sale of their employer through the press. That is morally unacceptable.

Sony Interactive Entertainment is reportedly considering a significant delay for the PlayStation 6, pushing its debut to 2028 or even 2029, according to people familiar with the company’s plans cited in a Bloomberg report. The shift stems from ongoing shortages of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) components, skyrocketing prices driven by artificial intelligence demand and a strategy to extend the PlayStation 5’s lifecycle.

A seven-year gap from the PS5’s November 2020 launch would traditionally point to a late 2027 release, aligning with patterns from PS4 (2013) to PS5. However, supply chain woes and strong PS5 sales—bolstered by the PS5 Pro’s November 2025 debut—have prompted Sony to reassess.

Bloomberg Report Details the Delay Factors Bloomberg’s sources indicate Sony executives are wary of launching an expensive next-gen console too soon. HBM memory, crucial for PS6’s targeted performance, faces deficits as AI data centers gobble up supply from manufacturers like Samsung and Micron. Prices have surged, potentially inflating the PS6’s retail cost beyond $700–$800, deterring mass adoption in a market still digesting PS5 Pro units priced at $699.

“Sony is now considering pushing back the debut of its next PlayStation console to 2028 or even 2029,” the report states, marking a departure from earlier optimism. This aligns with analyst David Gibson’s January 2026 forecast from Macquarie, who pegged a “high likelihood” of post-2028 launch, citing Sony’s focus on PS5 longevity.

Sony has remained silent, but President Hiroki Totoki hinted at extended cycles during a February 2026 earnings call, noting PS5 sales exceeding 75 million units and robust software revenue.

Earlier 2027 Rumors Now in Doubt 2025 leaks fueled 2027 hype. In October, insider “Moores Law Is Dead” claimed PS6 production ramps mid-2027, with a Q4 launch. Reddit discussions and leakers like KeplerL2 echoed this, citing documents showing manufacturing timelines. However, recent X posts and analyst updates dismiss 2027 as unrealistic amid component crises.

Expected PS6 Features Amid Uncertainty Rumors persist on hardware. PS6 is tipped for AMD’s UDNA GPU architecture, Zen 5 CPU, 32GB GDDR7 RAM and ray-tracing prowess rivaling PCs. A dockable handheld variant—echoing PS Vita—surfaced in August 2025 leaks, potentially launching alongside. Pricing speculation: $599 base, per some insiders, half an expected next-gen Xbox.

Sony’s strategy emphasizes backward compatibility, PSSR upscaling (like PS5 Pro) and AI-driven features for 8K/120fps gaming.

Market and Competition Implications A 2028–2029 window gives PS5 more runway, with titles like GTA VI (2026) and potential exclusives sustaining demand. It also syncs with Nintendo’s Switch 2 (mid-2026) and Microsoft’s Xbox next-gen (2028?), per Bloomberg.

Critics argue delay risks losing ground to PC gaming and cloud services, but proponents see wisdom in avoiding a pricey launch during economic uncertainty.

Sony’s Broader Console Strategy Sony’s pivot reflects industry shifts. PS5 Pro’s success—over 5 million units sold by February 2026—proves mid-gen refreshes extend lifecycles. Handheld rumors suggest diversification, countering Steam Deck and ROG Ally.

Fan reactions on X and Reddit mix frustration and acceptance: “PS6 in 2029? PS5 Pro holds me over,” one user posted.

As rumors evolve, expect clarity at Sony’s February 26, 2026, investor day or Tokyo Game Show. For now, PS6’s horizon stretches further, prioritizing viability over speed.

Janus Henderson Investors exists to help clients achieve their long-term financial goals. Formed in 2017 from the merger between Janus Capital Group and Henderson Global Investors, we are committed to adding value through active management. For us, active is more than our investment approach – it is the way we translate ideas into action, how we communicate our views and the partnerships we build in order to create the best outcomes for clients. While our investment managers have the flexibility to follow approaches best suited to their areas of expertise, overall our people come together as a team. This is reflected in our Knowledge. Shared ethos, which informs the dialogue across the business and drives our commitment to empowering clients to make better investment and business decisions.www.janushenderson.com

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