Cases rise in US, Biden calls on states to offer $100 vaccine incentive

Published

4 years ago

July 30, 2021

As COVID cases in the US rise – President Biden is calling for vaccine incentives

Biden has called for states to offer $100 to new vaccine recipients, in an effort to address flagging jab rates amid virus surges.

The US President also issued a strict new vaccine requirement for US federal workers – the nation’s largest employer with approximately two million people.

The order requires employees to show proof of vaccination or be subjected to mandatory testing and masking

The Delta variant is different than what we’ve dealt with previously. It’s highly transmissible and causing a new wave of cases. But here’s the good news: we have the power to stop it. Get vaccinated — and let’s defeat this virus once and for all.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 29, 2021

According to official data, just under half of the US is fully vaccinated.

Speaking from the White House on Thursday, Mr Biden said that the new measures are a result of the highly contagious Delta variant’s spread, made worse by a “pandemic of the unvaccinated”.

“People are dying and will die who don’t have to die,”
Biden said

However, the President added that the monetary incentive may seem unfair to already vaccinated Americans, but stated “we all benefit if we can get more people vaccinated”.

Over 160M Americans are fully vaccinated, schools are reopening for in-person instruction this fall, and our economy is roaring back. But there's still work to be done. Today the President announced more steps to deliver life-saving vaccines to more Americans. 1/3
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 29, 2021

States would use money from the $1.9tn American Rescue Plan legislation to fund the incentives.

Mr. Biden said that the federal government will be “fully reimbursing” small or medium-sized businesses that provide workers paid time off to get vaccinated.

While government employees who refuse to get vaccinated will not be fired, this move by the White House aims to set an example for other employers nationwide.

President Biden also addressed theories, spreading mostly in conservative circles, that the jabs are unsafe.

He emphasised there “is nothing political” about the vaccines, which were developed and authorised under a Republican administration and further distributed under his.

Last month, a study showed that over 99% of coronavirus deaths have been among the unvaccinated.

THREAD: Today, the President announced new steps we're taking to get more Americans vaccinated and slow the spread of the Delta variant.
— White House COVID-19 Response Team (@WHCOVIDResponse) July 29, 2021

Nearly 70% of adults have received at least one jab.

But vaccination rates are varied across the country. Southern and western regions, which are now experiencing Covid outbreaks, have much lower rates.

It comes as virus-related deaths climb to around 2,000 per week. New cases are now at their highest point in the last three months, with about 60,000 being recorded per day.

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

10 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

23 hours 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.

#Israel #Defence #LaserWeapons #TickerNews