1Environmentbbc.co.uk
Getting River Avon pollution investigated like 'pulling teeth'
An oil-like substance has been bubbling up in the River Avon in Bristol for years, killing wildlife and causing regular reports to the Environment Agency (EA). Nicola Irvine, who lives in Crews Hole, said it had been like "pulling teeth" to get the EA to investigate the pollution since she contacted them in July 2025. The EA confirmed that it is currently investigating the source of the contamination and its damage to the environment. While minor impacts have been found where the contamination has entered the watercourse, no wider environmental effects have been reported downstream.
2Politicsirishtimes.com
Uncertainty over minimum wage hike that would see annual pay pass €30k for first time
There are concerns over whether a proposed increase in the national minimum wage rate for about 200,000 workers will be approved by the Government. The Low Pay Commission (LPC) recommended a 79c increase in hourly rate, which would bring it to €14.94 from January 1st next year. If implemented, the new rate would take the weekly wage for a worker working a standard 39-hour week to €582.66 and €30,298.32 annually, marking the first time that annual pay passes €30k. However, employers have argued that the proposed increase could harm employment in labour-intensive sectors such as construction. Pressure within the Coalition is growing to go higher than a €7.50 increase in weekly welfare payments. However senior sources warn that a higher across-the-board increase would mean less could be done on targeted measures. Meanwhile, spending officials are resisting steps towards scrapping the means test for the carer’s allowance, which has led to a significant increase in applications.
3Politicseuropesays.com
Seoul seeks apology after Ukraine 'breached' confidentiality agreement over transfer of North Korean POWs - Korea
South Korea's President, Lee Jae Myung, has demanded an apology from Ukraine for breaching a confidentiality agreement to keep the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war from its territory to Seoul confidential. The issue arose following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's disclosure that his country had sent two North Korea soldiers to the South. The dispute could complicate Kyiv's efforts to obtain weapons from allies, including South Korea, to counter Russian threats. South Korea is considering additional measures regarding this matter. The row could potentially lead to intense feuds with North Korea and further hostility towards Seoul.
4Worldaol.com
Saudi foreign minister arrives in Washington for talks with Rubio
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has arrived in Washington for talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, amid escalating tensions between Riyadh and Yemen's Houthis. The two will discuss bilateral ties and key regional and international developments. This comes after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sought US military assistance against the Houthis, but the US declined to launch strikes.
5Businesstech.yahoo.com
Truecaller takes its scam intelligence to the open web as it looks beyond caller ID
Swedish company, Truecaller, has launched Scam Checker, a web and Android service that allows users to paste in a suspicious phone number, link, or message to determine if it is fraudulent. The service surfaces related reports from Truecallers' community, ScamFeed. It will initially be available in India and is set to expand to Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and Southeast Asia. The company estimates that people make about 14 million web searches a month to check suspicious links and phone numbers, based on its analysis of search volumes and traffic to existing verification services. The launch comes as Truecalling faces new pressures in India, its largest market with over 350 million users.
6Techau.finance.yahoo.com
VSMC Celebrates the Grand Opening of Its First 300mm Fab in Singapore
VisionPower Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Pte. Ltd. (VSMC), a joint venture between Vanguard International Semiconductors (VIS) and NXP Semic.V., has celebrated the grand opening of its first 12-inch (300mm) fab in Singapore. The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished guests including Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry), Png Cheong Boon, Chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), and Jacqueline Poh, Chief Executive Officer of JTC Corporation. The fab, established in 2024, successfully processed its first sample lot and achieved yields above 99%. It will support process technologies from 130nm to 40nm for mixed-signal, power management, analog, and interposer applications in various end markets. At full capacity by 2029, the fab is expected to produce approximately 44,000 12-in wafers per month, create around 1,600 jobs, and support long-term economic growth for Singapore's high-tech industries.
7Worldjackfmfargo.com
China says to cut tariffs on US farm goods, but soybeans excluded
China is set to cut tariffs on a range of US agricultural goods, including corn, wheat, meat, and dairy, but top import item, soybeans, were excluded from a tariff-reduction list issued by its commerce ministry. The list also includes sorghum, vegetable oils, and soymeal, along with meat, dairy products and other items. However, US soybeans still face an additional tariff of 10%, which traders have warned is too high for private crushers to absorb. Both sides have agreed to form a trade council to discuss a reciprocal tariff cut on $30 billion worth of products. Chinese state-run agricultural companies have already purchased over 12 million metric tons of US soybean, nearly half of what the White House has said Beijing plans to buy annually through 2028.
8Worlddevdiscourse.com
Ten African Nations Raise IFAD Pledges to Put Farmers at the Heart of Rural Growth
Ten African countries have pledged nearly US$9 million to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to finance rural development. The pledges were made during the High-level Meetings of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The money will support IFAD's fourteenth replenishment, IFAD14, covering 2028–2030. Several countries have more than tripled their commitments, with the biggest increase approaching ten times their previous three-year contributions. The pledge reflects a view that food security, economic opportunity and stability depend on giving rural communities resources to grow. Nearly 60 per cent of IFAD’s portfolio is invested in Africa, with its president, Alvaro Lario, stating that each dollar of core contributions becomes approximately six dollars of investment on the ground.
9Worldaol.com
China says US trade truce extension creates space to advance talks
China has confirmed a two-month extension of a trade truce with the United States, allowing both sides to examine the implementation of their arrangement to resolve economic and trade issues. The extension, confirmed by China's commerce ministry, also provides a stable policy environment for cooperation among companies and ongoing discussions. The first steps under the trade council will be to discuss a reciprocal tariff cut on $30 billion of products aimed at maintaining stable bilateral economic and Trade relations. The White House released a list of proposed tariffs on a variety of US agricultural products and other categories including medical equipment, raw materials, and food items. Both countries will also establish an agriculture working group under the council to discuss two-way market access and regulation for agricultural products.
10Politicsnewkerala.com
Tripura TTAADC Village Committee polls begin, 6.65 lakh voters eligible
Voting for Village Committee elections in Tripura's TTAADC areas began at 7am on Monday, with 6.65 lakh voters eligible to cast their votes for 2,950 seats across 587 committees. Of the total 4,597 seats, 1,644 have been declared uncontested, while three seats remain vacant due to a lack of nominations. The Tripura State Election Commission stated that all arrangements are in place and security has been tightened. The Commission has deployed 74 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) across the state, 8,977 personnel of the Tripura Police and Tripura state Rifles (TSR). Over 1,500 senior security officials have been assigned supervisory duties.
