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We're looking to deepen 'biting' Tehran sanctions, weakening regime - VDL on support for Iran protest movement

We're looking to deepen 'biting' Tehran sanctions, weakening regime - VDL on support for Iran protest movement

"European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday announced that Brussels is moving to 'deepen' the sanctions package on Iran in order to 'weaken' the regime, describing Tehran's response to ongoing unrest in the country as 'abhorrent'. She also addressed a 'new European security strategy', as well as Europe's position on arctic security, the US-Greenland row and support towards EU accession for Ukraine. “The killing of the young people is a human tragedy," she declared, following unrest across Iran in which thousands are reported to have died. "We are looking into deepening the sanctions against Iran. These sanctions are biting," she explained. "They are weakening the regime and the sanctions help to push forward that this regime comes to an end and that there is a change." She added that the people of Iran 'are bravely fighting for change', stressing that the protesters "have our full political support," and promising to publicly identify all parties guilty of the 'atrocities'. The EU chief went on to discuss matters of security. "We are starting to work on a new European security strategy," she explained, declining from providing further specifics, but noting that the first phase will be to "collect all the knowledge, to acknowledge the changes, the geostrategic changes and needs that are out there, but also the geopolitical changes in our world." She said the EU has made more progress on defence ‘than in decades before,’ citing new initiatives including 150 billion euros earmarked for joint procurement under the SAFE programme, part of the EU's Readiness 2030 package that aims to inject hundreds of billions of euros into defence before the end of the decade. On Ukraine, she said that it was crucial to keep EU support ‘strong and sustained’ to strengthen Kyiv both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table. She said the EU is pressing for swift approval of a proposed €90 billion loan for Ukraine’s economic recovery. “Ukraine's accession to the European Union […] is both a key security guarantee in its own right for Ukraine but also the essential engine for future growth and prosperity,” she said, adding “the needs right now are immense, but our track record is also impressive.” Von der Leyen also reaffirmed the EU’s support for Greenland, stressing that Arctic security is of vital importance to the bloc and that it will work closely with allies, including the United States. “Greenland can count on us politically, economically, and financially,” she reiterated. “This is, among others, the reason why we doubled down on investments and supporting Greenland,” she added, noting that the latest draft budget had "doubled the amount of financial support." The remarks were made in response to a question as US President Donald Trump ramps up pressure to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory. She also address the EU-Mercosur partnership agreement, noting that on Saturday the EU will write ‘history’ with the scheduled signing of the document in Paraguay. “It will create the largest free trade zone in the world,” she said. “Europe's independence benefits a lot from our strong and growing network of trade agreements. They help to diversify and de-risk.” Von der Leyen made the remarks during a joint media briefing with the Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides after she visited the College of Commissioners in Limassol, Cyprus. This comes after Cyprus assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on January 1."

San Francisco to make childcare free for families earning up to $230,000

San Francisco to make childcare free for families earning up to $230,000

Officials to offer 50% subsidy up to $310,000 in effort to make one of world’s most expensive cities more affordable San Francisco will offer free childcare to families earning less than $230,000 a year, and a 50% subsidy to those earning up to $310,000, in an expansion of the city’s childcare offerings designed to make one of the world’s most expensive cities more affordable for residents. San Francisco’s mayor, Daniel Lurie, announced the initiative as part of his “Family Opportunity Agenda” on Wednesday, alongside a package of housing, education, food, healthcare, transportation and other programs focused on affordability. Continue reading...