Latest news with #newstate
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
United Ireland should be new state that ‘can be better for all of us'- Varadkar
A united Ireland should not be 'annexation of six more counties' but a new state 'that can be better for all of us', a former Irish premier has said. Leo Varadkar also said he hopes the current Irish government takes the decision to establish a forum to lead discussions on unity, and also appeared to dismiss concerns of potential loyalist violence in reaction to a united Ireland. Mr Varadkar, who stood down as taoiseach in April last year, said he believes he will see a united Ireland in his lifetime but warned it is not inevitable. He said that he has had no regrets so far since leaving elected politics, and is enjoying both 'a lot of personal and intellectual freedom to say what I think'. He was speaking at an In Conversation event with Rev Karen Sethuraman at St Mary's University college in west Belfast, hosted by Feile an Phobail and Ireland's Future. Former Sinn Fein president and West Belfast MP Gerry Adams was among those in the audience for the event. Mr Varadkar stressed that a united Ireland 'has to be a new Ireland that is better for everyone'. 'That includes a bill of rights, guarantees civil protections and liberties,' he said. 'Unification, in my view, is not the annexation of six more counties by the Republic of Ireland. It's a new state and one that can be better for all of us, an opportunity that only comes around every 100 years, which is to design your state and design your constitution.' In terms of what the current Irish Taoiseach is doing, Mr Varadkar described the Shared Island Unit, which was set up when he was Taoiseach, as really positive. But he said he would like to see the Irish Government lead a forum ahead of unity. 'Just saying it as an aspiration isn't enough anymore, it should be an objective and an objective is something you act on,' he said. 'One of the ideas that I would put forward, which could help to move on this discussion, is the establishment of some sort of forum.' He said there was the New Ireland Forum in the 1980s, and the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in the 1990s. 'I think there is a strong case now for us to convene the parties that are interested in talking about this, unions, business groups, civil society in a forum to have that discussion, but I don't see how that can happen if that isn't led by the Irish Government, and I hope at some point during the course of this five-year government, a decision will be taken to do that,' he said. Meanwhile, asked how he felt potential violent opposition to a united Ireland could be handled, Mr Varadkar suggested he felt 'only a very small minority may turn to violence'. 'I know there are people south of the border who, when I talk to them about reunification, express to me concerns that there might be a very small minority within unionism who may turn to violence,' he said. 'I don't think we should dismiss that as a possibility. I don't think it will happen, to be honest. 'In two referendums, both north and south, people would be very clearly giving their preference as to what should happen, it would be quite a different situation to when partition happened 100 years ago and it wasn't voted for. 'I don't think that would arise but I think it's a reasonable question.' Meanwhile, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly suggested Mr Varadkar was 'wrong in terms of the trajectory' towards a united Ireland, insisting the number of people voting for nationalist parties, around 40%, 'hasn't moved since 1998'. Mr Varadkar said he was in politics long enough to not respond to someone else's comments without hearing them in full, but said the case he is making is not just based on the percentage of people who vote for nationalist parties, adding it is clear the percentage voting for unionist parties has fallen. Earlier, Mr Varadkar visited nearby Colaiste Feirste where he heard about the growth in Irish medium education, and plans to build a new Irish Language Heritage and Interpretive Centre, An Spas Din. School principal Micheal Mac Giolla Ghunna said: 'We have grown a vibrant Irish language community from our base in the Gaeltacht Quarter, leading to challenges for us in terms of accommodation and teacher provision. 'But far from limiting our ambitions, we are now using the Sportlann facility and initiatives like our GaelStair heritage project to offer our pupils and the wider community further opportunities.'
CNET
14-05-2025
- CNET
How to Set Up and Use USPS Informed Delivery to Preview Your Mail
Maybe this is a unique quality for someone unquestionably Gen Z, but I absolutely adore snail mail. Last week, I sent 15 pieces of mail. Seriously. I just moved to a new state and sent all my loved ones and friends postcards greeting them from my new address. (Plus, I needed an excuse to use the stamps with manatees printed on them.) Mailing items is generally a big part of my week. I always send birthday and thank you notes as handwritten cards; my best friend, Sydney, and I constantly write each other letters since we're now 1,119 miles apart. I've even gotten into the habit of sending myself a postcard whenever I'm on vacation as a fun little travel tradition. This means I'm sending -- and receiving -- a lot of mail, and I'm eager to know what's arriving. If you're like me, you may have wanted to know ahead of time what mail is about to arrive. Or maybe you wish you could peek inside your mailbox without leaving the house. With USPS Informed Delivery, you can do just that. Well, sort of. The free service from the United States Postal Service lets you see grayscale preview images of your incoming letter-sized mail before it even arrives. You'll also get tracking updates on packages and outgoing mail. It's like getting a sneak peek at your physical mailbox, right from your phone or computer. Here's how to set it up and start using it. Read also: USPS Is Testing a Standalone App That Previews What Mail Is on the Way Step 1: Check if you are eligible CNET First things first: Make sure USPS Informed Delivery is available in your area and for your address. Most residential addresses are eligible, but some apartment buildings or PO boxes may not qualify. To check if your address is eligible for Informed Delivery: Go to the USPS Informed Delivery page. Click "Sign up for free." First enter your email address, then enter your physical address to see if the service is available for you. Step 2: Create a USPS account If you're eligible, you'll need to sign up for a account (or log in if you already have one): Visit and click "Sign in." Choose "Create account" if you don't already have one. Fill out your information, including name, address, email and mobile number. Make sure the address you enter matches your mailing address exactly. In just a few quick steps, you can know exactly what is being delivered to your home. USPS Step 3: Verify your identity To protect your mail and your identity, USPS will ask you to verify that you live at the address you're registering. Most people can do this through an online identity verification process that may involve answering a few questions based on your credit history (similar to a credit check, but without affecting your score). If that doesn't work, USPS may ask you to complete the process in person at a local post office. Step 4: Start using Informed Delivery USPS Once you're set up, you'll start receiving daily emails from USPS with images of the mail that's on its way. You can also check the Informed Delivery dashboard online or through the USPS Mobile app, available for iOS and Android. Here's what you'll see: Grayscale images of letter-sized mailpieces (usually the front of the envelope). Package tracking updates for incoming parcels. Notifications about outbound mail if you're using USPS tracking services. Note not all mail is scanned. Larger items, magazines or handwritten envelopes may not show up in previews, but most standard letters will. Pro tips for using Informed Delivery Here are some additional tips to keep in mind, from someone who uses Informed Delivery a lot. Keep an eye out for interactive content. Some businesses include clickable offers or links in their scanned mail previews. Use it to spot missing mail. If something shows up in your preview but not in your mailbox, it may be delayed or misdelivered. Get alerts on the go. The USPS mobile app is especially handy for real-time updates on package deliveries. For more tips, explore how to blur your house on Google Maps, and why you should report fraud to the FTC and FBI.
