Latest news with #G-1
Telegraph
05-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
The most stylish men around town right now? The Chelsea Pensioners
VE Day's 80 th Anniversary is less than a week away and to celebrate it, all self-respecting Britons are dusting off whatever bunting they had out five years ago, excited to celebrate this milestone without the caveat of lockdown. There are also some who are eyeing up large, symbolic gestures, one of which is Manchester-based menswear brand, Private White VC. Based in the heart of Britain's historic textile and manufacturing district, Private White VC has created a capsule collection in collaboration with the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, home of the Chelsea Pensioners. This collection, launching on the May 5, will both mark the time passed since the end of Nazi threat, but also help provide for the future of this military retirement home. Fifty per cent of all sales of this collection will be donated to the Royal Hospital with the aim of being able to pay for a full-time nurse by 2026. For those not in the know, the Royal Hospital Chelsea, which was founded by King Charles II in 1682, is available to enlisted soldiers (this is not for officers unless they came through the ranks), male and female, who are in receipt of the state pension, and have no other dependants. They are as noticeable on London streets as the Household Division, shuffling along as they do with immaculate scarlet tunics and shako hats, medals gleaming and shoes polished. It is notable that many of the Pensioners there today served in the Falklands War, and the Prime Minister from whom they took their marching orders, Margaret Thatcher, is interred on the Hospital grounds with her husband, Dennis. The collection itself is made up of four items, all bearing the Royal Hospital's cap badge. A flight jacket, based on the G-1 from World War Two, comes in doeskin wool and shearling collar with Private White's signature copper zip. A submariner's roll neck, which is Royal Navy standard issue, but in this iteration it's in cashmere rather than sheep's wool. Accessories-wise there is a tote made from Ventile, a World War Two-era waterproof cotton which was created at Churchill's request in Manchester's Shirley Institute, offering effectively a waterproof cotton for downed pilots which helped increase survival rates in the sea by 80 per cent. Finally, a two-tone blanket with the colours of the Victoria Cross's crimson and the RHC scarlet. Private White CEO James Eden, great grandson of the eponymous Jack White VC, says: 'For my family's background in the military and manufacturing, this feels like the perfect union for a great cause and what is, in my view, one of the most important landmark anniversaries of recent times.' Some of the pensioners took the journey north to visit the beautiful red-brick factory where Private White VC make their military-adjacent clothing. They arrived in their finery, and walked about the factory where, as James says, 'They are all of an age where (in their youth) textiles and factories meant a lot more than it does now. Back in their day, their wives, mothers [and] sisters could easily have worked at a textiles mill. So for them to be able to see one in full force was quite magical to them.' One of the three who visited, David Goodwin, says, 'I thoroughly enjoyed the visit to the Private White VC factory. It was an amazing day, meeting the staff and watching the skilled personnel producing the fabulous garments on show. It was good to learn the history of Private White and the story behind him being awarded the Victoria Cross in World War One.' Behind the quasi-celebrity status of the pensioners in both Chelsea (it is practically illegal for them to be charged for a pint at the pub), and on state occasions in their tricorns, there lies a more sombre purpose for the Royal Hospital that puts an exclamation mark on how important it is to maintain it. One pensioner, Ted Fell, says: ' Becoming a Chelsea Pensioner was for me a life saver. After losing my wife, moving into the Royal Hospital gave me a lot of new friends and a new purpose in life.' War had played psychosocial havoc in their youth, but loneliness provides a similar challenge in old age, and that is where the Royal Hospital comes in. The 80 th Anniversary of VE Day is an opportunity for thanks and to reflect on the perseverance of holding the line until, as Churchill put it in his book The Second World War, the surrender of the Germans 'was the signal for the greatest outburst of joy in the history of mankind' on May 8, 1945. The legacy of those line-holders lingers in the Royal Hospital Chelsea, and with this gesture, Private White VC hope to contribute to an ongoing sense of gratitude to this momentous day, and you can too.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump urged to review UN immunity, lax visa rules amid national security concerns
A 1947 agreement outlining obligations as host of the United Nations continues to give employees and their family members relatively unfettered access to the U.S. At a time of increased national security fears and immigration enforcement by the Trump administration, experts are urging a re-examination of the host nation agreement with an eye to the functional immunity granted to U.N. staff and the limited vetting given to those with U.N. visas. "The United States appears to have taken a relaxed view of the individuals entering the country associated with the U.N., either as employees or as representatives of various country missions. And yet we know that U.N. employees have had, and continue to have, close, direct relationships with terrorist organizations, like UNRWA and Hamas," Anne Bayefsky, director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and president of Human Rights Voices, told Fox News Digital. Un Watchdog Project Calls On Doge Caucus To 'Audit' The International Org Bayefsky said there is "a disconnect between the welcome routine and the significant harm to American interests. Hosting the U.N. does not require the host country to facilitate or endure threats to its national security." The federal government grants G visas to employees, spouses and children of international organizations, including the U.N., who reside in, or are visiting, the U.S. According to the State Department's website, "if you are entitled to a G visa, under U.S. visa law, you must receive a G visa. The exceptions to this rule are extremely limited." The Department of State also explains that "Embassies and consulates generally do not require an interview for those applying for G-1 - 4 and NATO-1 - 6 visas, although a consular officer can request an interview." Read On The Fox News App Hugh Dugan, a senior advisor to 11 U.S. former ambassadors to the U.N., told Fox News Digital that it "appears to me that the issuance of the G visas for [U.N. employees] is a relatively rubber stamp exercise." While not requiring interviews of personnel has "become a matter of convenience, frankly, we should always be able to assess a threat to our country."' Dugan, a former National Security Council special assistant to the president and senior director for international organization affairs, said nations like Russia and China are only allowed to travel a certain distance from U.N. headquarters. "We are mindful of our adversaries' activities and presence here, but the door is open to participate in the U.N. and the host country agreement makes that possible so that no country would be barred because of a certain political atmosphere or issue that might be brewing between us and them." Fox News Digital asked the State Department whether it requires interviews for staff from adversarial member states, including Cuba, Venezuela, Russia, North Korea, Iran and China, but received no response. A State Department spokesperson reiterated that consular officers "have full authority to require an in-person interview for any reason." Peter Gallo, formerly an investigator with the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), told Fox News Digital that he is particularly concerned about the functional immunity granted to U.N. staff participating in activities related to their employment. Gallo explained that "U.S. legal system has come to accept that pretty much it's a blanket coverage." He added that "immunity breeds impunity." Republicans Seek To Block The Reappointment Of Un Official Accused Of Antisemitism Gallo claimed that there is an epidemic of sexual offenses and misconduct among U.N. staff. He cited an incident in which a U.N. employee outside the U.S. sexually harassed "a young female in his department." Gallo said it took two years after receipt of the investigation report for an investigation to be completed, which resulted in the demotion of the offending employee. Gallo said the employee who was harassed, and her harasser remained in the same organization. Gallo said that if employees take part in misconduct while based at U.N. headquarters, the U.S. government should be able to examine cases and determine whether staff should retain their G visas. Dugan said that if U.N. personnel "knew that [immunity] could be lifted at any time by us… they might start behaving a lot differently." In response to questions about whether U.N. staff have been accused of sexual misconduct in the U.S., or whether U.N. staff who engaged in misconduct have had their G visas revoked, a State Department spokesperson explained the department "generally does not provide" revocation statistics. They also said that "all visa applicants, no matter the visa type and where they are located, are continuously vetted. Security vetting runs from the time of each application, through adjudication of the visa, and afterwards during the validity period of every issued visa, to ensure the individual remains eligible to travel to the United States." The spokesperson said officials of the U.N. "are expected to respect applicable laws of the United States, including criminal laws. Failure to do so may constitute an abuse of privileges of residence." They added that this "applies for those who hold diplomatic immunity for their positions as well." Among staff who have raised internal alarm bells is U.N. special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese, who traveled to the U.S. in 2024 to deliver a report before the Third Committee of the General Assembly. Albanese, whose antisemitism has been condemned widely by senior U.S. diplomats and the State Department, was allowed to tour multiple U.S. college campuses while in the U.S. In addition to qualifying for "rubber stamp" G visas, staff of international organizations like the United Nations can qualify for green cards if they have spent half of at least seven years of employment inside the U.S., or have been in the U.S. for a combined total of 15 years prior to article source: Trump urged to review UN immunity, lax visa rules amid national security concerns
Fox News
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump urged to review UN immunity, lax visa rules amid national security concerns, critics say
A 1947 agreement outlining obligations as host of the United Nations continues to give employees and their family members relatively unfettered access to the U.S. At a time of increased national security fears and immigration enforcement by the Trump administration, experts are urging a re-examination of the host nation agreement with an eye to the functional immunity granted to U.N. staff and the limited vetting given to those with U.N. visas. "The United States appears to have taken a relaxed view of the individuals entering the country associated with the U.N., either as employees or as representatives of various country missions. And yet we know that U.N. employees have had, and continue to have, close, direct relationships with terrorist organizations, like UNRWA and Hamas," Anne Bayefsky, director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and president of Human Rights Voices, told Fox News Digital. Bayefsky said there is "a disconnect between the welcome routine and the significant harm to American interests. Hosting the U.N. does not require the host country to facilitate or endure threats to its national security." The federal government grants G visas to employees, spouses and children of international organizations, including the U.N., who reside in, or are visiting, the U.S. According to the State Department's website, "if you are entitled to a G visa, under U.S. visa law, you must receive a G visa. The exceptions to this rule are extremely limited." The Department of State also explains that "Embassies and consulates generally do not require an interview for those applying for G-1 - 4 and NATO-1 - 6 visas, although a consular officer can request an interview." Hugh Dugan, a senior advisor to 11 U.S. former ambassadors to the U.N., told Fox News Digital that it "appears to me that the issuance of the G visas for [U.N. employees] is a relatively rubber stamp exercise." While not requiring interviews of personnel has "become a matter of convenience, frankly, we should always be able to assess a threat to our country."' Dugan, a former National Security Council special assistant to the president and senior director for international organization affairs, said nations like Russia and China are only allowed to travel a certain distance from U.N. headquarters. "We are mindful of our adversaries' activities and presence here, but the door is open to participate in the U.N. and the host country agreement makes that possible so that no country would be barred because of a certain political atmosphere or issue that might be brewing between us and them." Fox News Digital asked the State Department whether it requires interviews for staff from adversarial member states, including Cuba, Venezuela, Russia, North Korea, Iran and China, but received no response. A State Department spokesperson reiterated that consular officers "have full authority to require an in-person interview for any reason." Peter Gallo, formerly an investigator with the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), told Fox News Digital that he is particularly concerned about the functional immunity granted to U.N. staff participating in activities related to their employment. Gallo explained that "U.S. legal system has come to accept that pretty much it's a blanket coverage." He added that "immunity breeds impunity." Gallo claimed that there is an epidemic of sexual offenses and misconduct among U.N. staff. He cited an incident in which a U.N. employee outside the U.S. sexually harassed "a young female in his department." Gallo said it took two years after receipt of the investigation report for an investigation to be completed, which resulted in the demotion of the offending employee. Gallo said the employee who was harassed, and her harasser remained in the same organization. Gallo said that if employees take part in misconduct while based at U.N. headquarters, the U.S. government should be able to examine cases and determine whether staff should retain their G visas. Dugan said that if U.N. personnel "knew that [immunity] could be lifted at any time by us… they might start behaving a lot differently." In response to questions about whether U.N. staff have been accused of sexual misconduct in the U.S., or whether U.N. staff who engaged in misconduct have had their G visas revoked, a State Department spokesperson explained the department "generally does not provide" revocation statistics. They also said that "all visa applicants, no matter the visa type and where they are located, are continuously vetted. Security vetting runs from the time of each application, through adjudication of the visa, and afterwards during the validity period of every issued visa, to ensure the individual remains eligible to travel to the United States." The spokesperson said officials of the U.N. "are expected to respect applicable laws of the United States, including criminal laws. Failure to do so may constitute an abuse of privileges of residence." They added that this "applies for those who hold diplomatic immunity for their positions as well." Among staff who have raised internal alarm bells is U.N. special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese, who traveled to the U.S. in 2024 to deliver a report before the Third Committee of the General Assembly. Albanese, whose antisemitism has been condemned widely by senior U.S. diplomats and the State Department, was allowed to tour multiple U.S. college campuses while in the U.S. In addition to qualifying for "rubber stamp" G visas, staff of international organizations like the United Nations can qualify for green cards if they have spent half of at least seven years of employment inside the U.S., or have been in the U.S. for a combined total of 15 years prior to retirement.
Bloomberg
28-02-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
China's 'Kung Fu' Robot Spotlights Humanoid Robot Race
Chinese robotics stocks jumped after startup Unitree posted a video of its upgraded G-1 robot showing off some swirling kung fu moves. Jacqueline Du, Head of China Industrial Technology Research at Goldman Sachs, shared her views on the robotics industry amid rising tensions between China and the US. She joined Bloomberg's Insight with Haslinda Amin. (Source: Bloomberg)
