Jul42017

Ultrafast Wi-Fi for Llangollen Eisteddfod

Welsh Government

Celebrating its 70th anniversary year, the festival has recently connected to ultrafast broadband which provides speeds of 330Mbps through BT’s Fibre on Demand service which is available in Wales as part of the Superfast Cymru programme.

The service will provide fast wi-fi to the 4,000 performers and 50,000 visitors attending the world-renowned event, which is taking place between 3 – 9 July.

The festival already had superfast broadband speeds available in its office and pavilion, but decided to invest in Fibre on Demand to provide improved and faster communications for all those attending the event.

Minister for Skills and Science Julie James said:

“The Llangollen Eisteddfod welcomes thousands of visitors from across the world every year and what people experience here will give them a lasting impression of Wales.  It’s excellent news that the festival has taken advantage of Fibre on Demand through the Superfast Cymru programme, which demonstrates how Wales is a digitally connected country.

“This festival was established to create better understanding and build friendships between nations.  That makes it even more fitting that visitors will be able to stay connected during their time here.

“Superfast Cymru is transforming the digital landscape in Wales.  Over 645,000 premises now have access to superfast broadband as a result of the programme.  Wales has the highest availability of superfast broadband among the devolved nations  with over eight out of ten premises able to access it.”

Rhys Davies, Eisteddfod Chairman, said:

“We are delighted to be bringing Fibre on Demand through the Superfast Cymru programme to the Eisteddfod field in time for this year’s event. This additional service will greatly enhance the facilities available for our audiences, exhibitors and competitors who will be able to access information and share their experiences of the Eisteddfod in a way that has never been possible before. This would not have been achieved without funding from Arts Council of Wales and the assistance of the Welsh Government and we are very grateful for their support.”

Ed Hunt, Superfast Cymru programme director for BT, said:

“Up and down the country more and more people are seeing the benefits of superfast broadband.

“Our Openreach engineers are working incredibly hard every day to roll-out the infrastructure as quickly and as widely as possible. It’s great to see that such a world renowned event as the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, along with its thousands of international visitors, will benefit from the superfast infrastructure that we’re building.”

Superfast Cymru is the partnership between the Welsh Government, BT, UK Government and European Regional Development Fund, bringing faster broadband to areas which would otherwise not receive it.

The Welsh Government also runs an Ultrafast Connectivity Voucher scheme which provides assistance for businesses which want to upgrade to ultrafast.

Jul42017

Press release: New Foreign Office booklet published on its historic ban on homosexuality

HM Government

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has today published a new booklet which for the first time provides insight into one of the most controversial parts of its history – the ban on diplomats being homosexual which was only lifted in 1991.

The booklet reveals the human cost of the ban, detailing specific cases of individuals whose lives – professionally and personally – suffered. Based on recently discovered archive files, it includes the various historical definitions of “acceptable” and “unacceptable” homosexuality circulating among British diplomats; the pressure from campaign groups and the press on the Foreign Office to alter its policy; and the lengths to which officials went to identify and remove anyone suspected of defying the ban. The foreword has been written by Sir Stephen Wall, a former British Ambassador who concealed his homosexuality for his entire diplomatic career.

It also demonstrates how times have changed. Today the Foreign Office takes a prominent role in promoting equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around the world and since 2014, British embassies and consulates have held marriages for over 400 British same sex couples in countries where such marriages are not recognised. The Foreign Office takes part in Pride celebrations around the world and there is a very active staff association (FLAGG). The Afterword to the booklet is written by John Kittmer, an openly gay diplomat and former British Ambassador to Greece.

By highlighting these contrasting times, the Foreign Office hopes to use its own experience to show how attitudes can change and use this to support the work of British diplomats around the world to promote tolerance and end discrimination.

James Southern of FCO Historians who wrote the publication said:

If we are to make today’s FCO a tolerant and open institution, then it is vital we understand its past. I hope this publication and event go some way to help all of us realise that we have a shared history and a shared responsibility to shape the present.

Simon McDonald, Head of the British Diplomatic Service said:

I am proud to lead an organisation with a diverse workforce which stands up for people persecuted around the world because of their sexuality. But it’s important we don’t hide the past and are honest about our mistakes. We changed our attitude to homosexuality, and now set an example for others.

Lucy Monaghan of the Foreign Office’s network for LGBT Staff, FLAGG, said:

This report shines a light on the history of the sexuality bar in the FCO and the significant struggles many LGBT officers experienced. We hope it will enable the FCO to learn from its history and continue to stand up for LGBT rights within the FCO and across the world.

The report is available online here

Further Information:

Foreign Office staff who declare themselves as LGBT now represent the UK all around the world and at all grades. We have openly gay ambassadors in countries including Ukraine (Judith Gough), Israel (David Quarrey) and Thailand (Brian Davison).

Further information on the FCO Historians and their publications can be found here or on Twitter @FCOHistorians.

FLAGG tweet the latest news about the FCO’s work to promote LGBT equality on twitter @FCOflagg

Jul42017

Drive to improve education at heart of Estyn review

Welsh Government

Estyn plays a key role in raising standards and the quality of teaching and education across the country through rigorous inspection and expert advice. The review will look at the implications of Wales’s extensive education reforms for the future role of Estyn.

The review follows an exchange of letters between the Chief Inspector and the Cabinet Secretary, where they agreed that such a review would build on Estyn’s strengths and improve the work of the Inspectorate further.

The review, which will be undertaken by Professor Graham Donaldson, will begin in August and is due to report in early 2018.

  The Cabinet Secretary said:

“I am grateful to Meilyr for proposing this course of action. I fully support the proposals so that we continue to drive up standards in our education system.

“Our education reforms must be aligned to support the delivery of our new curriculum. I am therefore especially pleased that Professor Donaldson has agreed to take forward the review. He has a wealth of experience of conducting reviews of education systems around the world, including Australia, Portugal, Sweden and Japan. ”

Meilyr Rowlands, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales, said:

“Significant changes are happening to the education landscape in Wales and inspection is also changing. With Estyn’s mission to achieve excellence for all learners in Wales, we believe it will be helpful to gain an independent view from Professor Donaldson.

“ I am pleased that the Cabinet Secretary has accepted my proposal and is supporting this review. ”

Professor Donaldson said:

“Estyn has a vital part to play in the success of the reform programme in Wales. I am therefore pleased to have been asked, jointly by the Cabinet Secretary and the Chief Inspector, to undertake an independent review of the ways in which its contribution to the reforms can best be realised.”

Professor Donaldson will present his report to Welsh Government and the Chief Inspector after gathering and analysing evidence on inspection, quality enhancement and accountability while supporting Estyn to refine and develop their practices.

The terms of reference for the review will be published shortly on Estyn’s website.

Jul42017

News story: Primary school tests show schools rising to the challenge

HM Government

Results published today (4 July 2017) show that the percentage of children achieving the expected standard in primary school has risen

The national Key Stage 2 results show that 61% of primary school children in England achieved the expected standard, compared to 53% last year.

This year’s results are the second to be released following the introduction of a more rigorous curriculum in September 2014 that raises the bar in terms of expectations of young people’s mastery of literacy and numeracy, bringing the primary school curriculum in line with the best in the world.

Today’s results show

  • 61% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, compared to 53% last year

  • 71% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, compared to 66% last year

  • 75% of pupils met the expected standard in mathematics, compared to 70% last year

  • 77% of pupils met the expected standard in grammar, punctuation and spelling, compared to 73% last year

  • 76% of pupils met the expected standard in writing, compared to 74% last year

School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said:

Today’s results show sustained progress in reading, writing and maths and are a testament to the hard work of teachers and pupils across England. Thanks to their commitment and our new knowledge rich curriculum, thousands more children will arrive at secondary school having mastered the fundamentals of reading, writing and maths, giving them the best start in life.

The new national curriculum and reformed qualifications – at primary and at secondary – are designed to ensure pupils receive the education that they need to go as far as their talents will take them.

Jul42017

Nine confirmed dead in central China landslide

East Asia

Nine people have been confirmed dead, and 19 others are injured after a rain-triggered mudslide swept through part of a village in central China’s Hunan Province.

The mudslide occurred about 4 p.m. Saturday in Zuta Village, Ningxiang County, after continuous heavy rain since Friday, according to the county government.

A four-day search and rescue operation recovered nine bodies, the government said Tuesday.

Southern China has been battered by continuous rain over recent weeks. China’s Finance Ministry on Monday released 1.9 billion yuan (about 280 million U.S. dollars) in emergency funds for flood relief in south China.

The funds will go to 20 provinces and autonomous regions including Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi and Zhejiang, where torrential rains in the past week have caused severe floods.