News

Starmer calls on Europe to unite and support Ukraine

Keir Starmer urges European unity to support Ukraine, announcing £1.6bn aid and a coalition to deter Russia.

Published

6 months ago

March 12, 2025

Ahron Young

Keir Starmer urges European unity to support Ukraine, announcing £1.6bn aid and a coalition to deter Russia.

In Short

Keir Starmer affirmed the need for Europe to support Ukraine for lasting peace and announced a £1.6 billion aid package for military supplies. He emphasised the UK’s leadership role alongside France in forming a coalition to stop the war, while highlighting the necessity of US involvement for effective ceasefire efforts.

Keir Starmer has stated that Europe is at a critical juncture in history and must support Ukraine for lasting peace.

He confirmed the UK and France will lead a “coalition of the willing” to help end the ongoing war with Russia.

Following a defence summit in London, Starmer emphasised that any ceasefire plan must involve the US to deter further Russian aggression. He announced a £1.6bn package allowing Ukraine to purchase 5,000 air defence missiles, which will be produced in Belfast, promoting job creation in the UK.

The summit followed a troubled meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, where tensions were evident.

Starmer stated that European nations are ready to provide military support as part of a united response to the conflict. He described the meeting as historic, despite not securing additional military commitments from NATO allies.

Re-arm Europe

Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission acknowledged a need to re-arm Europe.

French President Emmanuel Macron suggested a one-month truce to facilitate de-escalation, though it would not include ground fighting.

Starmer stressed the importance of security guarantees from the US to prevent potential ceasefire violations by Russia.

As the coalition plan develops, there is hope that Ukraine can still gain support from partners.

News

Trump proposes $100,000 H-1B visa fee increase

Trump announces massive H-1B visa fee increases and introduces $1 million ‘gold card’ to reshape immigration system

Published

11 hours ago

September 21, 2025

Ahron Young

Trump announces massive H-1B visa fee increases and introduces $1 million ‘gold card’ to reshape immigration system

In Short:
– Trump announced a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas and a $1 million residency gold card to boost American hiring.
– Critics argue increased fees may limit smaller firms’ access to foreign talent, impacting U.S. tech innovation.

President Trump announced significant changes to the U.S. immigration system, introducing a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas and a $1 million “gold card” for residency.

The move aims to increase revenue and promote the hiring of American workers, claiming that many tech companies exploit the current system.The fee increase targets H-1B visa applications, which traditionally have low entry costs.

Trump stated the initiative aims to bring in highly skilled individuals rather than those crossing the borders illegally. A gold card requiring a $1 million payment will expedite visa processing, with a reduced availability compared to existing green card categories.

The new programme could alter the competitive landscape for U.S. tech companies, which historically depend on H-1B visas to access foreign talent.

Critics warn that the increased fees may deter smaller firms from utilising these visas, potentially hindering U.S. progress in tech sectors like artificial intelligence.

Visa Impact

Debate persists within Trump’s administration regarding the new policy’s implications. Supporters argue it protects American jobs, while opponents contend it restricts access to global talent crucial for innovation.

The H-1B visa programme, established in 1990, remains vital for skilled foreign workers seeking residency in the U.S., yet faces growing scrutiny.

News

Fourth death confirmed due to Optus outage issues

Fourth death confirmed following Optus outage that blocked Triple Zero calls for 13 hours during network upgrade

Published

1 day ago

September 20, 2025

Ahron Young

Fourth death confirmed following Optus outage that blocked Triple Zero calls for 13 hours during network upgrade

In Short:
– A fourth death is confirmed due to an Optus network failure affecting emergency calls for 13 hours.
– Optus CEO announced an investigation after communication failures and criticism from politicians and emergency services.

A fourth death has been confirmed following an Optus network failure that prevented emergency calls to Triple Zero for 13 hours.

Initially, Optus reported three fatalities, including an infant and two elderly individuals from South Australia and Western Australia. The latest victim is a 49-year-old man from Perth.Optus CEO Stephen Rue expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced a full investigation into the network update that caused the outage.

He stated that approximately 600 calls to emergency services were disrupted, impacting residents across South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory.

Rue confirmed that the outage stemmed from a problematic firewall upgrade and revealed details of communication failures within the company. Politicians and emergency services expressed anger at the lack of timely information during the crisis.

System Failure

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas criticised Optus for their incompetence in handling the situation.

The federal communications minister also condemned the company, highlighting that such failures are unacceptable.

The incident follows a previous outage for which Optus was fined $12 million, raising serious concerns about their emergency service handling.

News

Israel launches its new “Iron Beam” laser system

Israel’s new “Iron Beam” laser defense system to deploy by year-end, promising cost-effective missile interception.

Published

2 days ago

September 19, 2025

ticker NEWS

Israel’s new “Iron Beam” laser defense system to deploy by year-end, promising cost-effective missile interception.

Israel’s Defence Ministry says its new “Iron Beam” laser system will be deployed by year’s end. The technology is designed to destroy incoming missiles, rockets, drones and mortars with precision.

Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in partnership with Elbit Systems, Iron Beam will sit alongside existing defences such as Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow. Unlike traditional interceptors which can cost tens of thousands of dollars per shot, the laser comes at negligible expense.

Officials call it the world’s first high-power laser interception system to achieve operational maturity, hailing it as a game-changer for modern warfare. Military leaders expect the system to reshape air defence capabilities and cut costs dramatically.

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