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More than $1bn pledged for Afghanistan humanitarian crisis
The United Nations has confirmed it is putting together an aid conference in Geneva in an effort to raise more than $600 million for Afghanistan
More than $1bn in aid has now been pledged for Afghanistan.
The UN said the country was facing a major humanitarian crisis, and after decades of war and suffering, it was “perhaps their most perilous hour”, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
The poverty rate was “spiralling” and public services were close to collapse, he told the conference.
“Many people could run out of food by the end of this month just as winter approaches,” he warned.
The UN continues to warn of a humanitarian crisis in the war-torn nation, following the Taliban takeover.
Even before the Taliban’s seizure of Kabul last month, half the population – or 18 million people – had been dependent on aid.
UN officials now say that 18 million people figure is likely set to increase due to drought and shortages of cash and food.
An abrupt end to billions of dollars in foreign aid following the collapse of Afghanistan’s Western-backed government has put pressure on the UN.
The details of the conference:
The Geneva conference, which is expected to begin on Monday afternoon, will be attended by top U.N. officials.
About a third of the requested $606 million would be used by the U.N. World Food Programme.
That UN programme conducted a survey in August and September, finding that 93% of the 1,600 Afghans it surveyed were not consuming sufficient foods, mostly because they could not get access to cash to pay for it.
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
Trump announces massive H-1B visa fee increases and introduces $1 million ‘gold card’ to reshape immigration system
– 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.
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
Fourth death confirmed following Optus outage that blocked Triple Zero calls for 13 hours during network upgrade
– 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.
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.
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
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