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The Independent
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Veterans protest against possible repeal of Legacy Act
Hundreds of veterans have marched outside Parliament to protest against the possible repeal of the Legacy Act. MPs including Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Mark Francois and Stuart Anderson joined former soldiers as the Act was debated inside the House of Commons on Monday. They marched to Parliament Square in Westminster, brandishing regiment flags and Union flags, and were flanked by a motorbike procession. The debate comes after more than 165,000 people signed a petition calling for the Government to keep the Legacy Act, which was put in place in 2023 by the former Conservative government to halt all but the most serious allegations involving Troubles-related cases from being investigated any further. The Labour Government announced it would repeal and replace the Northern Ireland (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 following criticism over immunity for soldiers by human rights groups. Veterans and MPs alike said they feared this would open up soldiers to being prosecuted for acts and create a 'two-tier' justice system, in which IRA soldiers are given immunity but British troops are open to prosecution. James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, said he feared it would dissuade people from joining the Armed Forces because they could be 'persecuted' further down the line. He said: 'We all know we need more people in our Army, our Navy, our Air Force. 'Fundamentally, this is about us as a country, recognising that we live in a time of heightened threat…When that is happening, we will be strengthening our Armed Forces. The last thing we want to do is be going after them again for what they did decades ago. What message is that going to send to all the young people whom we want to join the Army in future?' Sir Iain, the former leader of the Conservative Party who served in Northern Ireland, told the PA news agency that veterans were angry about the potential changes to the legislation. He said: 'They feel they served their country. They did what they could do. They did their best. It was difficult, I can promise you now, I patrolled the streets. 'We see the pursuit of Northern Ireland veterans whose cases were heard previously and settled. 'They are the ones being pursued yet again in the courts under the arrangements and this is wrong. 'You don't see any of the IRA being pursued. 'Right now this is a very one-sided arrangement with the British soldiers who didn't ask to go there.' Mr Francois, a shadow junior defence minister who backed the petition, added: 'What the Government is doing is wrong. 'They're not treating veterans who were there to uphold the law in Northern Ireland the same as they are treating alleged terrorists. 'There should be no moral equivalence between the veterans and the terrorists.' Aldwin Wight, 72, a former special forces commanding officer who lives in Cornwall, said: 'These are people we've served with. 'They're very close to us, and seeing them caught up in this sort of endless doom loop of legislation is not good. 'We're in a fairly dark situation at the moment in security terms and therefore there are going to be incidents and you've got to have people who are willing to step forward and take on the hard tasks. 'And you don't want to do that as it were, with your solicitor in your pocket. 'You want to do it with a clear operational view of what you're doing.' Denise Walker, 58, a veteran in the catering corps, came down from Glasgow to protest. She said: 'This has led to our servicemen fearing that we're going to be up for prosecution again. 'At the end of the day, this Government sent us over there to do a job on their behalf. 'We followed their orders to the letter.' David Holmes, a 64-year old veteran who runs the Rolling Thunder veteran motorbike group which protested, said: 'I spent years campaigning with this. 'We worked with the previous government. We found a good solution. 'People want closure, but actually to put 70 and 80-year-old soldiers in the dock for doing their job they were asked to do by the government on what is basically trumped up charges (is wrong). 'The only evidence is they were there at the time.' Northern Ireland Secretary, Hilary Benn, said: 'The Legacy Act has been rejected in Northern Ireland and found by our domestic courts to be unlawful, not least because it would have offered immunity to terrorists. Any incoming government would have had to repeal unlawful legislation and it is simply wrong for anyone to suggest otherwise. 'This Government's commitment to our Operation Banner veterans is unshakeable. Their professionalism and sacrifice saved countless lives in Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom, and ultimately helped bring about peace. The Legacy Act did nothing to help our veterans – it offered only false and undeliverable promises. 'I and the Defence Secretary are engaging with our veterans community and with all interested parties over future legislation, and we will ensure that there are far better protections in place.'
AU Financial Review
25-06-2025
- General
- AU Financial Review
Why these Australian wines are at risk of extinction
It's a last hurrah for Stuart Anderson. Under a pale early morning sun, the veteran winemaker walks down a row of old cabernet sauvignon vines, using a stick to steady himself. The 93-year-old is dressed for vintage, in a pair of French workers' trousers he bought in Burgundy years ago. He reaches into the leafy canopy, plucks a blue grape from a large bunch and pops it into his mouth. 'Lovely,' he murmurs. 'I think this is going to make a good wine.' Anderson planted these vines in 1969, watering them by hand for the first few years. 'Now they're old and gnarled. A bit like me.'
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Will your social media meme get you denied a US visa? Here is what every Indian student must know
Indian students review their online presence before a visa interview. A quiet tension hangs in the air, mixed with hope. (AI Image) The US State Department has resumed processing student visas for foreign nationals, including thousands of Indian students eager to pursue higher education in the US. This follows a temporary suspension in May, which left many applicants in limbo as the academic year approached. However, a new policy has introduced a significant hurdle: All visa applicants must now provide full access to their social media accounts for review. This expanded vetting process, aimed at identifying "hostility" towards the US, its culture, government, or institutions, has sparked concerns among Indian students, who form the largest group of international students in the US Why social media scrutiny? The US State Department's new directive mandates that consular officers thoroughly examine applicants' social media profiles, which must be set to "public" for review. Posts or interactions deemed anti-American or supportive of terrorism or antisemitism could lead to visa denial. Refusal to grant access may be interpreted as an attempt to conceal online activity, further jeopardising approval chances. Impact on Indian students Indian students, contributing over $40 billion annually to the US economy, face unique challenges under this policy. Many have expressed anxiety about their online presence, fearing that even humorous memes or political comments could be misconstrued. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What She Did Mid-Air Left Passengers Speechless medalmerit Learn More Undo For instance, a light-hearted post critiquing US culture might be flagged as hostile, despite being innocuous. The vague guidelines leave room for subjective interpretation, raising concerns about fairness. How to prepare your online presence To navigate this, students are advised to audit their social media accounts well in advance. They should delete inactive profiles and ensure active ones reflect neutral or professional content. "I don't think any American would want to be judged by their worst tweet," said Stuart Anderson of the National Foundation for American Policy, as quoted by the Washington Post, highlighting the risk of broad interpretations. Compiling a list of current handles for the DS-160 visa application form is crucial, as incomplete disclosures could signal evasiveness. Broader implications and criticisms Critics, including Jameel Jaffer of the Knight First Amendment Institute, argue that this policy chills free speech, evoking Cold War-era ideological vetting. "This policy makes a censor of every consular officer, and it will inevitably chill legitimate political speech both inside and outside the United States," Jaffer said, as reported by the Associated Press. The requirement, rooted in Executive Order 14188, targets issues like antisemitism but risks stifling legitimate political expression. Indian students, already navigating delays and a new US travel ban affecting six countries, must now tread carefully online to secure their academic dreams. With visa interviews resuming, proactive preparation is key. Indian students should monitor official US embassy updates and maintain a professional digital footprint to avoid visa complications. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
RNZ News
05-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Ministry for Primary Industries to review controls for tomato virus
Tomato brown rugose fruit virus. Photo: Tomatoes NZ Ministry for Primary Industries says it will review its current controls after Australia changed its strategy to deal with a highly contagious virus affecting tomatoes, capsicums and chillies. Across the Tasman , biosecurity experts and industry representatives have declared tomato brown rugose virus not technically feasible to eradicate and moved to a management strategy. 'Tomato virus' was first detected in South Australia last August and has also been found on a farm in Victoria. It is not harmful to humans but infected fruit can ripen irregularly or be deformed. It can also reduce crop yields by 70 percent. Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson said MPI had controls in place that were "working well for New Zealand and prevented any issues for our tomato growers after the discovery of tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) at sites in South Australia last August". He said a ban on all Australian tomato imports remained in place, even though only Australian tomatoes from Queensland, an area free from the virus, were imported here. "We made the decision to suspend imports from all Australian states out of an abundance of caution. As part of the actions we took, tomato and capsicum seeds from Australia require testing for the virus prior to arrival in New Zealand, a requirement already in place for other countries where the virus is present. That requirement remains. "Although Australia has announced they will no longer be pursuing eradication, all of the controls that have been in place to limit spread of the virus remain." There was nothing to suggest the virus was here but MPI's chief biosecurity officer would conduct a review of what Australia has in place to manage the risk, and New Zealand's import rules "to ensure that our settings remain reasonable", he said. "New Zealand imports Australian capsicums from Queensland. ToBRFV has not been reported in any parts of Australia in capsicums and has not been detected in Queensland. We are closely monitoring the situation in Australia and if there is any significant change in distribution, or which crops it is affecting, we will review the current import rules. "We continue to work closely with New Zealand's tomato sector. We have asked New Zealand industry representatives to assist by sharing any information they have that may inform our decision-making. We also meet regularly with Australian officials to maintain a continued understanding of the situation." MPI said growers should continue to check their biosecurity practices. "As always... be vigilant and contact us on our pests and diseases hotline (0800 80 99 66) if [you] notice problems with [your] tomatoes". Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
28-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Bay Of Islands Boat Anchoring Ban Unlikely To Expand Despite Caulerpa Spread
A Bay of Islands boat anchoring ban is unlikely to be extended in spite of exotic invasive caulerpa now being found outside its 1058 hectare restricted area. The equivalent of 1525 rugby fields around the eastern Bay of Islands mainland at Te Rāwhiti is currently locked up to boat anchoring, most fishing and kaimoana gathering under a Government controlled area notice (CAN). But invasive exotic caulerpa has now spread north to infest the iconic picture postcard and international drawcard Ipipiri Islands for the first time - across the equivalent of 180 rugby fields (24ha) outside the current anchoring ban area. At least six of the Bay of Islands tourist hotspot Ipipiri islands seven main islands - of Urupukapuka, Moturua, Motukiekie, Poroporo, Okahu and Waewaetorea Islands, and some areas in between now have confirmed caulerpa. Moturohia or Roberton Island has been previously surveyed. Caulerpa was not found at the time of the survey. Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson said there was no current plan to increase the Bay of Islands CAN because of the seaweed pest's new locations. His comment comes in spite of the Ipipiri islands being among New Zealand's most popular local and international boating anchorages. Boating has been identified as a major cause of spread for exotic invasive caulerpa. 'The detections of further sites in the Bay of Islands outside the CAN area are obviously disappointing, but unfortunately not unexpected. We are dealing with a challenging pest that readily spreads on vessels and in water currents,' Anderson said. 'For this reason, our current management approach continues to be containing spread while focusing on developing the new treatment approaches. This work continues at pace.' Anderson's comments come four months ahead of a review of the Bay of Islands' existing CAN, which expires in September. It has been in place since May 2023. He said there were no plans to remove the existing CAN at that time, given the pest was now also found beyond its borders. He said local preference since the areas of new caulerpa infestation had been found around the Ipipiri Islands was for a more regional approach, rather than piecemeal extension of the existing CAN. 'The preferred approach has instead been on surveillance of anchorages and removal of small patches where possible to slow the spread – along with continued education of boaties on how they can avoid moving it,' Anderson said The Bay of Islands has one of four CANs in New Zealand, with 12,860ha shut for a mix of anchoring, some fishing and kaimoana gathering – along with Aotea/Great Barrier Island (10,060ha closed), Waiheke Island (1150ha closed) and Ahuahu Great Mercury Island (592ha closed). Anderson said the Bay of Islands' Te Rāwhiti CAN review would be done at the same time as New Zealand's three others, to ensure the most appropriate measures were in place. He said advice was being prepared for Biosecurity New Zealand's chief technical officer who made CAN decisions. 'Criteria are followed when assessing the case for implementing and updating CANs. These include the size of the infestation, location value (cultural/economic/amenity) and volume of vessel traffic. A number of the new Ipipiri Islands locations have been identified as high value boating anchorages. 'In the case of the Bay of Islands, the existing CAN contains the largest known areas of exotic caulerpa. Other confirmed areas in Northland are generally small patches.' Ministry for Primary Industries figures provided to Local Democracy Reporting show there are now 16.65ha, or the equivalent of almost 24 rugby fields, of caulerpa confirmed at Urupukapuka Island with infestations including in Urupukapuka Bay where hundreds camp annually, Entico/Otaia Bay, Cable Bay and its northern boundary with Waewatorea Channel. Urupukapuka island's Otehei Bay tourism epicentre is scheduled for survey before the end of the month. There are also about 123 rugby field equivalents of caulerpa between Moturua and Motukiekie Islands, with separately a further 32 rugby fields around Motukiekie Island. Poroporo Island has the equivalent of about one rugby field of caulerpa. Waewaetorea and Okahu Islands' caulerpa presence is scheduled to be checked before the end of the month. Anderson said the exact area of caulerpa inside the Bay of Islands CAN could not currently be estimated. This was due to varying densities of the invasive seaweed across its area. It was also because caulerpa growth was dynamic. He said there had been a noticeable reduction in Omākiwi Cove caulerpa since recent storms. CANS were only one way of preventing caulerpa spread. Boaties and fishers also played their part, Anderson said. Boaties travelling within and between major traditional boating spots including Northland and Aotea/Great Barrier Island are regularly flouting anchoring ban rules
