News

Australia will head to the polls for May 21 election

Published

4 years ago

April 10, 2022

Ahron Young

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has travelled to Canberra to meet with the Governor General, to dissolve parliament and set off a six week election campaign.

Scott Morrison and his Liberal/Nationals government have been running behind in a number of opinion polls.

The announcement of the May 21 date sets up a 41 day election campaign.

Pix: Scott Morrison Election Announcement https://t.co/VUnJvi8f3n pic.twitter.com/Ki1pBTpKYH
— AAP Photos (@aap_photos) April 10, 2022

Earlier, Australia’s Employment Minister Stuart Robert argued the Coalition will present a positive vision to the country during the election campaign.

Mr Robert told Sky News the government had a strong economic message to present to the Australian public with unemployment forecast to drop below 4 per cent and economic growth also running at about 4 per cent.

Labor ahead in polls

I’m focused on delivering for all Australians, with real plans for stronger Medicare, secure jobs, and more manufacturing.

Together we will build a better future. pic.twitter.com/tUs7QekzNE
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) March 17, 2022

Labor leader Anthony Albanese is spruiking his economic credentials in an election campaign ad.

Citing his economic degree from Sydney University and six years as infrastructure minister, the Labor leader said he would “get spending under control so we can keep taxes low”.

“Growing up with a single mum, I know the value of a dollar,” Mr Albanese said in the ad.

“Debt has skyrocketed under the Liberals. They’d doubled the debt even before the pandemic.”

He also said Labor would work with manufacturers so Australians could “make more things here”.

“Australians deserve a prime minister who shows up, who takes responsibility,” he said, promising cheaper child care, lower power bills and “fee-free TAFE”.

News

Russia bans WhatsApp and promotes state-backed messaging app

Kremlin blocks WhatsApp, urging citizens to use state-backed MAX; critics warn of surveillance, prompting protests in Moscow.

Published

4 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Kremlin blocks WhatsApp, urging citizens to use state-backed MAX; critics warn of surveillance, prompting protests in Moscow.

The Kremlin has officially blocked WhatsApp, urging Russians to switch to MAX, a state-backed messaging app. This move comes after Meta refused to comply with local regulations, sparking debates over digital freedom in the country.

Critics warn that MAX could be used for government surveillance, though authorities deny these claims. The ban highlights Russia’s growing control over foreign tech platforms and its push for locally regulated alternatives.

Activists in Moscow have staged protests calling for an open and unregulated internet, while the public reacts with a mix of concern and resignation.

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News

U.S. secretly sent 6,000 Starlink terminals to Iran after protests

US covertly sent 6,000 Starlink terminals to Iran amid protests, aiding internet access despite government shutdowns and crackdown violence.

Published

4 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

US covertly sent 6,000 Starlink terminals to Iran amid protests, aiding internet access despite government shutdowns and crackdown violence.

U.S. officials report that the Trump administration covertly sent around 6,000 Starlink satellite internet terminals into Iran following widespread protests. The move was designed to bypass strict internet blackouts imposed by authorities in Tehran.

The terminals reportedly enabled activists and dissidents to reconnect with the outside world during periods of severe digital restriction, raising fresh questions about foreign involvement and cyber strategy.

As geopolitical tensions simmer, the revelation underscores how connectivity has become a powerful tool in modern conflict.

#Iran #Starlink #DonaldTrump #MiddleEast #GlobalPolitics #TechNews #InternetFreedom #BreakingNews

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News

Anthropic secures 30 billion in fresh funding as valuation surges

Anthropic raises $30B, doubling valuation to $380B, boosting global AI race with support from GIC, Coatue, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

Published

4 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Anthropic raises $30B, doubling valuation to $380B, boosting global AI race with support from GIC, Coatue, Microsoft, and Nvidia.

Anthropic has secured a staggering $30 billion in fresh funding, catapulting its valuation to $380 billion and cementing its place among the most valuable AI companies in the world. The raise marks the second-largest private technology funding round ever, trailing only OpenAI’s $40 billion deal.

Major backers in this latest round include Singapore’s GIC and Coatue Management, alongside existing heavyweight partners Microsoft and Nvidia. The scale of the investment underscores intensifying global competition in artificial intelligence as capital continues to flood into the sector.

Anthropic’s valuation has more than doubled in just five months, fuelled by rapid enterprise growth. The company now works with eight of the Fortune 10 and boasts more than 500 customers spending over $1 million annually, highlighting surging demand for advanced AI tools across corporate America.

#ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Anthropic #TechNews #VentureCapital #BigTech #Innovation #Startups