Latest news with #Argus
South Wales Argus
21 minutes ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Proportion of elective home-educated students at Lliswerry
Freedom of Information data obtained by the Argus indicated that the proportion of EHE pupils at Lliswerry is three times the authority average, based on limited figures provided. The council stressed its commitment to supporting all pupils, regardless of their educational arrangements. A spokesman said: "Elective home education figures fluctuate throughout each academic year across all schools. The decision to electively home educate a pupil rests solely with parents. "Newport City Council provides support to EHE families in line with Welsh Government guidance. This includes engagement and activity sessions, assistance in accessing GCSE exams, and the provision of learning resources. Home visits are offered to all EHE learners." 'Good' childcare service praised for supportive environment and happy children School praised for 'nurturing, safe, and inclusive environment' in Estyn report New £70m net-zero carbon school officially opens It should be noted that the figures released to the Argus were not complete and may be updated if further data becomes available. The spokesman added: "The percentage of EHE learners who previously attended Lliswerry High School is just over five percent. While this is slightly above the average for Newport's secondary schools, it still represents a small proportion of the total number of learners. Other schools may also have proportions exceeding the authority average."
South Wales Argus
8 hours ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Newport RAF veteran forced out of military seeks apology
This renewed expression of contrition follows an Argus report into the case of Kevin Jones, a Lliswerry man now living with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Kevin is seeking accountability for the premature end of his military career, which he says was unfairly derailed due to his sexuality. Kevin told the Argus that he jumped before he was pushed, describing the suspicion, scrutiny and pressure he endured while serving as a gay man. He now seeks access to his service records in pursuit of redress; however, records have gone missing, which Kevin finds as frustrating as the lack of an apology and accountability. "I just want my apology and an explanation of why my records were destroyed. Without them, what can I prove?" Kevin said. In response to the story, the Ministry of Defence expressed deep regret over the treatment of LGBT personnel between 1967 and 2000, describing it as wholly wrong and completely unacceptable. However, it stopped short of speaking about Kevin's individual case. Historic Newport pub hosts its first same sex wedding Firefighters tackle huge fire at scrapyard for 24 hours to bring it under control Tributes paid to 'fearless' Monmouth environmentalist Kevin has said his efforts toward justice have been obstructed by the destruction of documentation during a 'shredding party' that saw thousands of cases erased. The MOD said the record destruction was in line with government policy and data protection legislation. The MOD confirmed that most records relating to decriminalised sexual offences were destroyed between 2010 and 2011. Officials stated that these documents were considered to hold no further investigative value and contained sensitive personal information. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a stricter successor to earlier data laws, was incorporated into British law in 2018. Kevin continues to seek answers and accountability for the loss of his otherwise unblemished career. The general apology coincides with the ongoing Government Financial Recognition Scheme, launched on 13 December, 2024. The scheme offers a flat-rate payment of £50,000 to individuals dismissed or discharged due to their sexuality or gender identity and additional awards between £1000 and £20000 pounds for other impacts, assessed by an independent panel. The MOD encourages affected individuals to contact LGBT-FRScheme@ for support. Instructions issued by the Defence Police Chiefs Forum in 2010 mandated the removal of historical investigation and conviction records, aligning with legal reforms that eliminated these offences from criminal background checks. Eligibility for the Dismissed or Discharged Payment includes those ordered to retire or resign, medically discharged or administratively removed due to their sexuality or gender identity. Individuals who exited voluntarily or due to contract expiry may still be eligible for the LGBT Impact Payment. The MOD states it is fully committed to recruiting and retaining in an inclusive way
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Wimbledon doubles winner Julian Cash once acted as Novak Djokovic in an ad
Wimbledon doubles champion Julian Cash once donned the role of Novak Djokovic on television when he was a teenager. Ten years ago, he played the role of Djokovic in an advertisement for the Australia and New Zealand Bank, because he bore an uncanny physical resemblance to the Serb. One half of the first all-British pair to win the men's doubles at the tournament since 1936, he told Argus newspaper: 'One of my friends was working for an agency and they had asked him if he knew anyone who played tennis at a high level and looked vaguely like him, so he put me forward.' 'When I watch the advert, I find it's pretty obvious that it's me, but I guess I do look a little bit like him from a distance,' he said. BBC's Clare Balding too noticed the striking resemblance of their pair. 'You can see why Julian Cash has had work as a double for Novak Djokovic. 'There is definitely a similarity, and it might be something that he adds to his repertoire on a more regular basis.' The pair — Lloyd Glasspool, being his partner—became richer by £680,000. Glasspool told the broadcasters that Cash wants to buy a new motorbike with parts of the cash prize. 'I've just been looking. That's all I'll say. I mean, I have one. I've had it for [a] long time, and I've been using it to get to Queen's, Eastbourne, and here a little bit. It's been good for the traffic, so I might have a look at that,' he said. Cash, who with his partner have been on a red-hot winning streak, added: 'We had two goals this year – one was to make it to Turin [for the ATP Finals] and the other was to win a slam. To do it here, it couldn't mean more.' In a nail-biting final, the fifth seeds defeated the Australian-Dutch duo of Rinky Hijikata and David Pel 6-2, 7-6 (3) in 83 minutes. 'It still feels like we have got a match tomorrow,' said Cash. 'We've been playing so well recently, winning so many matches. It's so special but it hasn't sunk in yet,' added Cash, after becoming the first all-British pair to win the men's doubles title since Pat Hughes and Raymond Tuckey in 1936. British players such as Jonny Marray, Neal Skupski and Henry Patten have tasted success in the men's doubles in recent years, but with foreign partners. 'The fact so many [Britons] do well almost takes away from what's being achieved in doubles,' said Cash. 'There has been a British winner here the past few years so it almost looks normal. I wish there was more press on doubles tennis. There is a lot of personalities out there that people would love. But all we can do is keep our heads down and play as best we can.'
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston filming in Newport
Everyone's favourite northern timelord Christopher Eccleston rocked up in the city centre for a cheeky bit of filming however, he wasn't fighting the Daleks or stopping Cybermen taking over John Frost Square! No instead, Salford born Eccleston was sighted on Corn Street for the filming of 'About a Bell.' Doctor who star Christopher Eccleston with Newport local Mark Vrettos (Image: Mark Vrettos) About a Bell is an independent film about Sami, a Syrian refugee, and Bryony, a young librarian, who embark on a highly personal quest to preserve a bell from a demolished church. Th brains behind the operation Welsh production company Hello Deer have been in the city for around three weeks. Eccleston was sighted by Newport local Mark Vrettos who then only moments later bumped into some key Welsh politicians. Speaking about Eccleston Mark said: 'He couldn't have been any nicer and was very enthusiastic about working in Newport again.' Mark then revealed who was just around the corner… He told the Argus: 'I hopped off the bus and there was another filming job with Elenid Morgan and Ken Skates!' First Minister, Eluned Morgan with Ken Skates at Newport bus station (Image: Mark Vrettos) The politicians were in the city for a launch event at Newport Bus Station. Under new legislation young people aged 16 to 21 will be able to ride on buses across Wales for just £1 from September. Speaking at the event First Minister, Eluned Morgan will said: 'Cutting the cost of travel for young people and providing better transport for all is one of our top priorities. We are delivering our promises to young people across Wales. 'This investment will make a real difference to communities all over Wales, but especially in rural areas.' Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates added: 'I am delighted to be launching a scheme that offers affordable bus travel for young people to help them access education, training, employment, and leisure, as well as supporting our efforts to encourage more people to use public transport, reduce carbon emissions and tackle poverty.'
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Global LNG: Asian spot LNG prices inch up as hot weather boosts cooling demand
LONDON: Asian spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices edged higher this week as a heatwave in Japan and North Korea spurred cooling demand, while industrial demand in China remained subdued. The average LNG price for August delivery into north-east Asia was at $12.90 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), up from $12.70/mmBtu last week, industry sources estimated. The price for September delivery was estimated at $12.70/mmBtu. 'Prices have risen this week, supported by a heatwave in north-east Asia. Seoul recorded its hottest day since 2018 and stocks are being drawn down in both South Korea and Japan to meet stronger cooling demand,' said Martin Senior, head of LNG pricing at Argus. At least two Atlantic basin carriers have diverted away from Europe to Asia since the start of the month and a further two Qatari carriers have changed course from Europe to Asia as well, Senior said. Meanwhile, demand in South Asia and China remains muted with average cooling demand for the time of year and subdued industrial demand, given production prices and inflation numbers that have been published this week, said Klaas Dozeman, market analyst at Brainchild Commodity Intelligence. Dozeman said that import tariffs 'and the fluid situation around them could influence industrial demand over the coming weeks'. Global LNG: Asian spot prices fall on weak demand and rising supply In Europe, the gas market is stabilising. 'Gas prices may be finding a floor for summer. Europe needs to keep up sufficient competition to keep pulling in cargoes to refill its storage ahead of winter, even with the slight easing of regional targets to 80% from 90% before,' said Alex Froley, senior LNG analyst at data intelligence firm ICIS. There is the potential for some minor short-term bullishness if heatwaves continue in East Asia and if Japan and Korea's competition with Europe to secure fuel for summer power generation spikes, Froley said. However, fundamentals are becoming a little easier, with the second half of the year set to see an extra 7 million tons per annum (mtpa) coming on stream from the second phase of Plaquemines in the United States, as well as 14 mtpa from LNG Canada, he added. S&P Global Commodity Insights assessed its daily North West Europe LNG Marker (NWM) price benchmark for cargoes delivered in August on an ex-ship (DES) basis at $11.572/mmBtu on July 10, a $0.440/mmBtu discount to the August futures price at the TTF hub. Argus assessed the price for August delivery at $11.670/mmBtu, while Spark Commodities assessed it at $11.639/mmBtu. The U.S. arbitrage to north-east Asia via the Cape of Good Hope continues to point to Europe, while the arbitrage via Panama continues to point to Asia for the sixth week running, said Spark Commodities analyst Qasim Afghan. In the LNG freight market, Atlantic rates recorded the largest week-on-week decline since January and were assessed at $31,750/day on Friday, while Pacific rates decreased marginally to $38,750/day, Afghan added.
