Latest news with #RobertClark
Telegraph
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
I checked Afghan papers. The MoD must come clean on vetting
The secret Afghan relocation scheme could 'cause quite a headache for the security services' because those brought to the UK may not have been fully vetted, a former military caseworker has claimed. Robert Clark, a former soldier and reservist who worked on the public Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) relocation scheme, said he had been told by people within the Ministry of Defence (MoD) that there had not been full vetting of applicants who had been secretly brought to the UK. He said there would be national security questions for the intelligence services and police if there had not been the necessary checks to establish whether individuals had been radicalised or had terrorist connections. According to the Government, some 6,900 Afghans and their families were identified as eligible for the secret scheme after their details were leaked, putting them at risk of being killed by the Taliban. Around half have so far come to the UK, according to officials. However, the vetting claims have been disputed by ministers and Government officials. They said Afghans who came under the secret relocation scheme were subject to the same security checks as those who came through either of the two other public schemes run by the MoD and Home Office. John Healey, the Defence Secretary, told Times Radio: 'Anyone who has come into this country under any of the Government schemes that was under the previous government, and now from Afghanistan, is checked carefully for security, checked carefully for any of those sort of criminal records that would preclude and prevent them coming to this country.' He challenged Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, to provide evidence to support his claims that 'convicted sex offenders' were among those airlifted to the UK after the data leak. 'We run security checks about the backgrounds of those individuals and where they pose those sorts of threats, they're prevented from coming and denied access to Britain,' said Mr Healey. However, the Defence Secretary added: 'No doubt some of them have committed some offences and got into trouble [since arriving in the UK]. That's true right across the board.' "No doubt some of them have committed some offences and got into trouble." @JohnHealey_MP tells #TimesRadio Afghans coming under government schemes were checked carefully but he "can't account" for individuals being responsible for criminal behaviour since they have arrived. — Times Radio (@TimesRadio) July 16, 2025 Under the vetting process, any Afghans seeking refuge in the UK on the relocation schemes should be screened for serious and organised crime, as well as for any evidence of terrorist or extremist links. Afghans whose safety was put at risk by the leak were invited to apply for relocation to the UK under the secret scheme, and came via Islamabad, where security vetting was undertaken. Mr Clark, an Afghan war veteran who was a caseworker on the Arap scheme from September 2024 to February this year, said he did not know of any vetting failures related to it. The only exceptions were half a dozen young Afghan men under police investigation for sexual assaults or harassment after their arrival. However, he said he believed it was different for those who had come under the secret relocation scheme and were deemed to be at high risk. Mr Clark added: 'The only reason why they've come is because their details were leaked, i.e. they hadn't passed vetting. I'm also told they wouldn't have been eligible for whatever reason, whether it was vetting or tenuous links to the settlement scene itself. 'But they didn't get to that stage. They were just brought across precisely because, only because, their details were leaked. So it was a sense that we owe them a moral obligation, a duty of care.' Earlier, Mr Clark told Times Radio: '[That's] 6,900 people who wouldn't have been eligible here otherwise, except for the fact that personal details were leaked. And like I say, this is going to cause quite a headache for the security services, I'm afraid.' He said that criminal checks on Afghans were never 100 per cent guaranteed because many laws in the country were different. For example, sexual assault within marriage was not necessarily an offence.
Scotsman
11-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
'Impressive' hotel in beautiful Scottish coastal village has launched new £19 menu
The Leddie in East Lothian was one of the most exciting openings of last year, and now the team are celebrating the hotel's first birthday with a new menu launch. Part of The Marram Collection, The Leddie is an award-winning 27 bedroom hotel located in the historic coastal village of Aberlady on Scotland's scenic Golf Coast. The team's hard work has been recognised with awards including an AA Rosette for culinary excellence (2025), The East Lothian Hotel of The Year award (2025), as well as being recommended in The Times Top 100 Places to Stay (2025). The Leddie has attracted a loyal guest base spanning locals, golfers and destination diners from Scotland and abroad with its relaxed style, exemplary service, standout menus and personal, down-to-earth hospitality. Picture: TSPL Now celebrating its first birthday, The Leddie has launched a new £19 two-course lunch menu. The weekday lunchtime set menu will change regularly to reflect what's fresh, available and in season – from garden-grown herbs and just-landed seafood to premium cuts from East Lothian butcher John Gilmour. Recent highlights include asparagus, pea and wild garlic pappardelle, grilled prawns and The Leddie's twist on a chicken schnitzel. The Leddie's general manager Robert Clark celebrated the first birthday with the team and said: 'We are so proud of what we've built at The Leddie, testament to our success is the team's passion and hard work. 'From day one, we've focused on quality, consistency and building strong relationships with our guests – and that's what keeps people coming back. 'Our team also know the area inside out and genuinely care about everyone's experience at The Leddie – whether you're here for a quick lunch, a celebratory dinner, or a full East Lothian escape - the best is yet to come.' The hotel is just 30 minutes from Edinburgh, and within easy reach of Northumberland and the Borders. The Leddie is also just around the corner from golf courses like Archerfield, Gullane, North Berwick, and the legendary 16-time Open host, Muirfield. With beautiful walking and cycling routes, right on its doorstep, The Leddie is perfectly positioned for short breaks, day trips or post-round pitstops. Rooms start from £103 pp sharing.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Downtown Monroe business reopens after neighbor's March 2024 fire
MONROE, MI — Despite the pouring rain on Thursday afternoon, June 26, members of the Monroe County Business Alliance and city officials came together to celebrate the grand reopening of Floral City Images at 47 South Monroe St. "We're here for the long-term," said owner Dave Grassley before he cut the ribbon. Floral City Images Monroe Street location was closed for more than a year after a fire at 49 South Monroe St. caused water and smoke damage to the neighboring building. They transferred operations to 28 South Macomb St., housed with the Williams Insurance Agency, until their doors could finally reopen after repairs. It is the first business impacted by the fire to reopen at its original location. "It's a pleasure to see that they've stayed in business,' said City of Monroe Mayor Robert Clark at the ribbon cutting. "This is now the third new or reopening that we've had in the last month. Downtown is thriving and I just want to say thank you for continuing service here in our community and all the great work you do." Grassley was also presented with a certificate by a representative of Sen. Joseph Bellino, to honor the "hark work, integrity, and dedication" of people who make successful business ventures in Michigan. Floral City Images has been at its current location since 2018, but has been in business for almost 20 years, according to Grassley. It provides wedding, engagement, and business photoshoots. Hours are by appointment. — You can reach Connor Veenstra at cveenstra@ This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Floral City Images returns to South Monroe Street following 2024 fire
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
All bills to make Juneteenth a Mississippi holiday have failed since 2000
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – As national, statewide and local celebrations are slated for Juneteenth, Mississippi does not formally recognize the holiday. Juneteenth National Independence Day broadly acknowledges and celebrates slavery's end in the United States. Though the federal government acknowledges Juneteenth as a holiday, the state does not. In the 2025 legislative session, 10 pieces of proposed legislation to do so died in committee. This mirrors all previous attempts to do so in the Mississippi House or Senate in the last quarter century. Juneteenth 2025: What to know, including what's open The first bill proposed to make Juneteenth a state holiday appeared in 2000. Former House Speaker Pro Tempore Robert Clark, Jr., (D-District 47) introduced it; the bill did not receive a formal vote in the chamber. Since then, state legislators proposed at least one-Juneteenth bill each year except in 2013. They all experienced the same fate as Clark's first bill. A WJTV 12 News analysis discovered that among the 73 bills proposed since 2000 to establish Juneteenth as a state holiday, none ever received a formal vote in any legislative chamber. Two separate Juneteenth-related resolutions were passed within the state senate in 2010 and 2020. Each only recognized the historical importance of Juneteenth; it did not seek to establish a state holiday. Federal observance of Juneteenth began in 2021. Though Juneteenth is not an official holiday in Mississippi, your town or city can establish it as a holiday under state law. All localities can designate one day out of the year as a legal holiday in Mississippi. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
2025 Stanley Cup anthem drama: Oilers stick with tradition as Panthers face backlash over botched performance
2025 Stanley Cup anthem drama (Getty Images) As the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers prepare to battle for the 2025 Stanley Cup, a quieter but deeply symbolic tradition takes center stage before the puck even drops: the national anthems. With teams from both Canada and the U.S. vying for hockey's highest honor, the dual performances of 'O Canada' and 'The Star-Spangled Banner' set the emotional tone—and fan expectations are sky-high. Robert Clark leads Rogers Place with a people-first performance that stirs emotion and unity For the first two games in Edmonton, longtime anthem performer Robert Clark will once again step into the stands, not the spotlight. This marks his 12th season with the Oilers, and he's earned respect not just for his vocal prowess but for turning the anthem into a shared fan experience. 'When we first started doing it in 2017, we came together and thought that this would be an awesome tribute, but also let's make it our own and put me in the crowd,' Clark told The Edmonton Journal. And while Canadian protocol usually puts 'O Canada' first, Clark sings the U.S. anthem before Canada's—energizing the crowd with each note. Oilers forward Evander Kane noted, 'A Canadian crowd always has a little extra energy and buzz, and the anthem's the last thing before the puck drops… He does a great job doing that. ' Panthers face anthem backlash as fans await confirmation of this year's singer Things are murkier in Florida, where the Game 3 anthem singer remains a mystery. After backlash from fans over The Voice Season 27 winner Adam David's underwhelming playoff performance, the pressure is on. His slow tempo and unclear lyrics drew criticism and frustration during a crucial Eastern Conference Final matchup. With past performances by talents like Alanis Morissette and Brooke Alexx still fresh in fans' minds, the bar is high. Will the Panthers opt for redemption with a powerhouse vocalist like Pranysqa Mishra or VËR, or gamble on a new face? Also Read: 'A beautiful beginning': Connor McDavid shows unwavering support for wife Lauren Kyle's Trove Living launch before NHL Finals As anthem tradition clashes with modern performance expectations, one thing is clear: this year's singers could set the emotional temperature for the Finals—before a single shot is taken.
