UK explores plan to abolish visa fees for top global talent, FT reports

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks as he hosts representatives of the Civil Nuclear industry at a reception at Lancaster House in London, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025 to mark the announcement of a new UK-US partnership on nuclear.(AP)
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Updated 22 September 2025
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UK explores plan to abolish visa fees for top global talent, FT reports

  • Starmer’s “global talent task force” is working on ideas to lure to the UK the world’s best scientists, academics and digital experts

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is exploring proposals to abolish some visa fees for top global talent at a time when the US has taken a tougher stance on immigration, the Financial Times reported on Monday.
Starmer’s “global talent task force” is working on ideas to lure to the UK the world’s best scientists, academics and digital experts, seeking to boost economic growth, the report said.
The Treasury department and Downing Street did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
US President Donald Trump said his country would impose a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas from Sunday, in line with a wide-ranging immigration crackdown.


Memorial for Swiss bar fire victims goes up in flames: police

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Memorial for Swiss bar fire victims goes up in flames: police

CRANS MONTANA: A memorial for the victims of the deadly New Year’s fire in Switzerland itself caught fire early Sunday, police said, adding they were investigating what sparked the blaze.
The fire that erupted at the Le Constellation bar in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana in the early hours of January 1 killed 41 people and injured 115, mainly teenagers and young adults.
A makeshift memorial, laden with flowers, candles and messages of condolence set up near the site of the tragedy, caught alight around 6:00 am (0500 GMT) on Sunday, regional police said in a statement.
“Firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire under control,” Wallis police said on X.
They said an investigation had been opened into what caused the blaze at the memorial, which long sat right in front of the burned-out bar, but had recently been moved a bit further away.
Images broadcast by Swiss public broadcaster RTS on Sunday showed the blackened top of white, igloo-like tarpaulin erected over the memorial to protect it from the weather visible behind a white screen and police tape.