Business

Thousands of Irish farmers demonstrated in Athlone against the EU-Mercosur trade deal after EU member states approved the accord; the agreement still needs a majority vote in the European Parliament.

ABIOVE, the Brazilian soy industry association, has begun withdrawing from the nearly 20-year soy moratorium that banned purchases of soy grown on Amazon land cleared after July 2008; the move came after Mato Grosso ended tax benefits for pact participants.

PDVSA and TankerTrackers.com reported that at least four tankers which departed Venezuela with transponders off have been seen back in Venezuelan waters; one ship was seized earlier by U.S. authorities and another was later released.

Rio Tinto is in preliminary talks to buy Glencore, a move that could drive consolidation in the copper-focused mining sector and increase pressure on BHP to respond.

SEBI said it will this month issue a no objection certificate allowing the National Stock Exchange to prepare an IPO prospectus. The exchange has been in litigation with SEBI since 2019 after a fine over access for trading members.

A Los Angeles nonprofit is bringing virtual reality headsets into several California prisons to offer inmates brief virtual trips and simulated real-world tasks; the program uses donated devices and currently runs at four prisons several times a year.

The Heritage of London Trust has acquired David Bowie's childhood house at 4 Plaistow Grove in Bromley and plans to restore it to its 1963 appearance and open it to the public at the end of 2027.

A Dartford rail line will close from 14 to 22 February for a £10m track upgrade, with replacement buses serving affected routes and several stations also due to receive work.

India's rice exports climbed 19.4% in 2025 to 21.55 million metric tons after New Delhi removed export curbs, with non-basmati and basmati shipments both increasing.

Mortgage rates fell to about 5.99% after President Trump said he had directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy $200 billion of mortgage bonds, and market data showed an immediate reaction.

Glencore and Rio Tinto are reported to be in preliminary discussions about a possible combination of some or all of their businesses, which the article describes as a roughly £200 billion deal; under UK City takeover rules Rio Tinto has until 5pm on February 5 to make a firm offer or walk away.

President Trump has moved to redirect tens of millions of barrels of Venezuelan crude to U.S. refineries after the reported transfer of Venezuela's president to U.S. custody, and the article reports that added supply could push prices lower and further strain U.S. oil producers already facing weak prices.

Reuters reports Chevron, Vitol and other traders are vying for U.S. licenses to export Venezuelan crude as they negotiate with U.S. officials; Vitol has a preliminary 18-month special license and Chevron is seeking expanded authorization.

The administration suspended work for at least 90 days on five East Coast offshore wind projects citing national security concerns, and several developers plus the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island have filed federal lawsuits seeking to block the pause.

A bodyguard who worked for Vivek Ramaswamy's family and his wife have been charged in a federal drug trafficking case, and the family's security firm removed him from the protective detail.

The U.S. EPA rejected Colorado's plan to speed up retirements of several coal plants under regional haze rules, citing a lack of consent from one plant and concerns about maintaining reliable power. The agency said it would help Colorado rewrite the plan or impose one if needed.

A Valuation Office Agency revaluation due on 1 April would raise hospitality rateable values in York by about 41%, and local publicans and an MP warn the increase could force some pubs to close; Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said interim relief is in place as the new rates are introduced.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating after a 4kg Kent Police drone struck an overhead cable and fell on a child in Sheerness on 2 August, injuring the child's hand; the AAIB carried out a record-only probe.

Several Americans reported being denied entry abroad after destination officials said their passports were flagged as lost or stolen; the U.S. Department of State says reporting a passport lost or stolen requires a formal form.

Drivers for Lyft and Uber protested outside the California Public Utilities Commission in San Francisco, urging greater oversight of Waymo's self-driving taxis after recent incidents; the CPUC met to consider expanded rules.

The article lists ten lesser-known U.S. towns and small cities that meet common retirement criteria, highlighting features such as affordability, healthcare access, outdoor recreation, and local culture.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Argentina has repaid the funds it drew from a $20 billion U.S. credit line, and Argentina's central bank confirmed the repayment; officials say the country's foreign exchange reserves remain low.

A large pothole on the A303 slip road onto the M3 damaged vehicles and stranded at least 14 motorists; National Highways said the hole was repaired overnight and further repairs are scheduled for tonight.

A video posted by US homeland security secretary Kristi Noem shows the US Coast Guard boarding and seizing the tanker Olina on 9 January in international waters east of the Caribbean Sea. The US said this was the fifth tanker seized in recent weeks amid efforts to block oil departing Venezuela.

Martin Lewis told his podcast audience that overdrafts, which he said often carry around 40% interest, are the riskiest common form of borrowing in the UK and that people should prioritise reducing overdraft balances and time direct debits before payday.

An ADP report showed private employers added 41,000 jobs in December, below economists' expectations, and markets were largely unchanged as investors awaited Friday's official U.S. government jobs report.

Reliance Industries is seeking U.S. approval to resume purchases of Venezuelan crude, and its representatives are in talks with the U.S. State and Treasury departments.

About 100 tractors entered Paris on Jan. 8 as members of the Rural Coordination union protested the EU's move to advance a trade deal with Mercosur countries; authorities said around 20 tractors reached central Paris while most were blocked at the city limits.

Thousands of importers have filed lawsuits seeking refunds of tariffs imposed under a 1977 emergency law, and the U.S. Supreme Court may release rulings on related cases on Friday.

Two homeless men were refused a Holiday Inn room in Manchester despite paid bookings, and a nearby Travelodge later accommodated them.