Ruptly
Parliament in taters! - French farmers dump truckload of potatoes on National Assembly doorstep amid EU-Mercosur deal outrage
"French farmers dumped truckloads of potatoes in front of the National Assembly in Paris on Tuesday amid ongoing protests over the EU's trade agreement with South America. Footage shows trucks laden with potatoes covering the roads leading to the Palais Bourbon, as farmers celebrate by planting union flags. Protest posters read 'Potatoes everywhere, income nowhere!', while police usher the crowd back. Earlier, the protests, organised by the National Federation of Agricultural Holders' Union, staged a 350-tractor demonstration, defying a ban imposed by authorities last week. The protest comes after EU member states provisionally approved signing the trade deal with the South American bloc, securing the 15-country threshold that represents 65 percent of the EU. France, Poland, Austria, Hungary, and Ireland voted against the proposal, while Belgium abstained. Farmers' unions reportedly said they are demanding 'concrete and immediate action' to protect France's food security, arguing the agreement would expose them to unfair competition from cheaper imports. France, the EU's largest agricultural producer, has seen months of farmer protests over the Mercosur deal and broader grievances, including rising costs and stagnant incomes. While French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly opposed the deal, it is still expected to be signed in Paraguay on Saturday, with backing from a majority of EU countries. Despite the planned signing, the agreement will not take immediate effect. It must still be approved by the European Parliament and ratified by Mercosur member states, a process expected to take several months. Negotiated over 25 years, the deal would phase out most tariffs over 15 years, creating a free-trade area encompassing approximately 780 million people."
Parliament in taters! - French farmers dump truckload of potatoes on National Assembly doorstep amid EU-Mercosur deal outrage
"French farmers dumped truckloads of potatoes in front of the National Assembly in Paris on Tuesday amid ongoing protests over the EU's trade agreement with South America. Footage shows trucks laden with potatoes covering the roads leading to the Palais Bourbon, as farmers celebrate by planting union flags. Protest posters read 'Potatoes everywhere, income nowhere!', while police usher the crowd back. Earlier, the protests, organised by the National Federation of Agricultural Holders' Union, staged a 350-tractor demonstration, defying a ban imposed by authorities last week. The protest comes after EU member states provisionally approved signing the trade deal with the South American bloc, securing the 15-country threshold that represents 65 percent of the EU. France, Poland, Austria, Hungary, and Ireland voted against the proposal, while Belgium abstained. Farmers' unions reportedly said they are demanding 'concrete and immediate action' to protect France's food security, arguing the agreement would expose them to unfair competition from cheaper imports. France, the EU's largest agricultural producer, has seen months of farmer protests over the Mercosur deal and broader grievances, including rising costs and stagnant incomes. While French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly opposed the deal, it is still expected to be signed in Paraguay on Saturday, with backing from a majority of EU countries. Despite the planned signing, the agreement will not take immediate effect. It must still be approved by the European Parliament and ratified by Mercosur member states, a process expected to take several months. Negotiated over 25 years, the deal would phase out most tariffs over 15 years, creating a free-trade area encompassing approximately 780 million people."
'I hope we win the Supreme Court case...I'm the tariff person' - Trump after announcing 25% levy on countries 'doing business' with Iran
"United States President Donald Trump expressed hope that the Supreme Court will uphold his global trade tariffs, as he visited Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant on Tuesday. “They are building more plants in the United States because of tariffs, and they have never seen anything like what is happening now. They have never seen what is happening now, so it is a great honour," Trump said. "I am the tariff person. And everybody now admits that I was right on tariffs. And I hope that we win the Supreme Court case." he added. Previously, Trump warned of a 'complete mess stating on social media that 'WE'RE SCREWED' if the US Supreme Court wins the case. A decision could be issued as soon as Wednesday after it had been delayed last week. The tariffs are being challenged by 12 US states and small businesses who have questioned the legality of the levies. The visit comes after Trump announced a new 25% tariff on any country that is 'doing business' with Iran."
'I hope we win the Supreme Court case...I'm the tariff person' - Trump after announcing 25% levy on countries 'doing business' with Iran
"United States President Donald Trump expressed hope that the Supreme Court will uphold his global trade tariffs, as he visited Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant on Tuesday. “They are building more plants in the United States because of tariffs, and they have never seen anything like what is happening now. They have never seen what is happening now, so it is a great honour," Trump said. "I am the tariff person. And everybody now admits that I was right on tariffs. And I hope that we win the Supreme Court case." he added. Previously, Trump warned of a 'complete mess stating on social media that 'WE'RE SCREWED' if the US Supreme Court wins the case. A decision could be issued as soon as Wednesday after it had been delayed last week. The tariffs are being challenged by 12 US states and small businesses who have questioned the legality of the levies. The visit comes after Trump announced a new 25% tariff on any country that is 'doing business' with Iran."
US approves sale of Nvidia's advanced AI chips to China
Nvidia has been caught in a tug-of-war between the US and China as the countries compete for AI dominance.
BBC News World
US approves sale of Nvidia's advanced AI chips to China
Nvidia has been caught in a tug-of-war between the US and China as the countries compete for AI dominance.
BBC News UK 
Trump-Iran latest: President threatens ‘very strong action’ if protesters are hanged after forced confessions
US president urged ‘Iranian patriots’ to ‘keep protesting and take over your institutions’
The Independent 
Asian benchmarks are mixed after Wall Street pulls back and global uncertainty grows
Asian shares are trading mixed after Wall Street pulled back from its recent records and as political uncertainty brewed in various regions, including in Iran
Relentless floods - Central Java streets submerged as waters kill at least three, affect tens of thousands
"Floodwaters swept through Kudus-Pati in Indonesia's Central Java, killing at least three people and affecting tens of thousands of residents. Footage from Tuesday shows submerged streets and neighbourhoods, with locals wading through chest‑deep water and using ropes for safety. Displaced families shelter in a mosque converted into emergency accommodation. "[It's been] a week, almost a week, since the first one. Since the first flood. From the first flood until today," shared a flood victim, adding, "It does not stop; it pauses for a moment, then rains again. And then there is the trash, too. Besides the rainfall, it is the trash, trash coming from over there, from upstream." "The belongings, the mattresses, are all wet," she persisted, explaining, "We cannot go home yet because even though the flood receded, it came back again; it recedes, then comes back, so water keeps entering the house continuously." The flooding, caused by heavy rainfall and debris from mountainous areas, reportedly claimed three lives at the time of publication, including a five-year-old child. According to the Kudus Disaster Management Agency, the floods affected 31 villages in six districts. More than one thousand people have been displaced, seeking shelter at homes, mosques, schools, and village halls. Emergency status has been declared as cleanup and relief efforts continue, with officials warning that the ongoing rain and clogged waterways are prolonging the crisis."
Relentless floods - Central Java streets submerged as waters kill at least three, affect tens of thousands
"Floodwaters swept through Kudus-Pati in Indonesia's Central Java, killing at least three people and affecting tens of thousands of residents. Footage from Tuesday shows submerged streets and neighbourhoods, with locals wading through chest‑deep water and using ropes for safety. Displaced families shelter in a mosque converted into emergency accommodation. "[It's been] a week, almost a week, since the first one. Since the first flood. From the first flood until today," shared a flood victim, adding, "It does not stop; it pauses for a moment, then rains again. And then there is the trash, too. Besides the rainfall, it is the trash, trash coming from over there, from upstream." "The belongings, the mattresses, are all wet," she persisted, explaining, "We cannot go home yet because even though the flood receded, it came back again; it recedes, then comes back, so water keeps entering the house continuously." The flooding, caused by heavy rainfall and debris from mountainous areas, reportedly claimed three lives at the time of publication, including a five-year-old child. According to the Kudus Disaster Management Agency, the floods affected 31 villages in six districts. More than one thousand people have been displaced, seeking shelter at homes, mosques, schools, and village halls. Emergency status has been declared as cleanup and relief efforts continue, with officials warning that the ongoing rain and clogged waterways are prolonging the crisis."
China had a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus in 2025, as exports rose 6.6% in December
China’s government says that the country's trade surplus surged to a record of almost $1.2 trillion last year as exports to other countries made up for slowing shipments to the United States
‘People ask if I’ve had Botox’ with 93p-a-day collagen shot transforming skin and hair
Reverse Life's marine collagen liquid supplement contains 10,000mg of collagen alongside vitamins and nutrients to strengthen and boost our skin, hair and nails
The Mirror 
China’s Marks Record $1.2 Trillion Trade Surplus in 2025 Despite U.S. Tariffs
China posted a record trade surplus for 2025, as fresh data showed the world’s second-largest economy remained resilient despite facing steep tariffs from the Trump administration.
Wall Street Journal