Latest news with #WMP
Agriland
6 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Milk processors called on to hold current prices
Milk processors have been called on to hold their current milk prices, as they gear up to announce their offerings to suppliers for July. Ahead of the announcement run of July milk prices, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) cited "stable dairy markets" with minimal movement throughout the month. Noel Murphy, the chairperson of the ICMSA's dairy committee, said: "While some spot prices have softened slightly, overall market conditions remain stable and strong. "There is no rational basis for any reduction in milk prices." According to Murphy, the "fundamentals" of the dairy market have been strong, including Dutch dairy quotes for butter, skimmed milk powder (SMP) and whole milk powder (WMP), which "averaged in the high forties throughout July". "Italian spot prices consistently exceeded 60c/L, reflecting the strength of continental demand," Murphy said. He said this view was supported by good recent performances for SMP and WMP on commodity exchanges. Murphy noted that EU milk supplies are forecasted to decline slightly in 2025 due to regulatory pressures and tight margins, further adjusting downwards supply. "Given all these indications, any suggestion of downward pressure on milk prices would be unjustified and out-of-sync with market realities," the ICSMA dairy chairperson said. The Global Dairy Trade (GDT) index saw a second increase in a row this week, after four consecutive decreases throughout May and June. After the latest trading event on Tuesday (August 5), the index increased by 0.7%, following on from an increase of 1.1% on July 15. The increase two weeks ago followed on from four consecutive decreases between May 20 and July 1, which ranged from 0.9% to 4.1%. The index now stands at 1,268. This compares to a 2025 high of 1,344 on May 6. The May 6 figures was the highest GDT index since June 2022. Meanwhile, the latest Ornua Purchase Price Index (PPI), for July, implies an indicative return of 45.5c/L, 5.1% VAT inclusive (unchanged from the previous month) for milk at 3.6% fat and 3.3% protein. The figure is net of Ornua's costs to market, and was determined after deducting the estimated processing cost of 9.3c/L.
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Yahoo
Body of missing Birmingham man is found in woodland
A body has been discovered in a Birmingham woodland. Officers had been searching for Jack, 33, from the Handsworth area, who was reported missing nearly a week ago. On Monday, West Midlands Police sadly revealed that the body of a male had been found in woods in Edgbaston. READ MORE: Schoolboy died after bumping head while racing friends in Birmingham playground READ MORE: Midlands school among worst for years finally gets good rating from Ofsted Read More: Tributes to 'Beloved Arslaan' at site of fatal Birmingham motorcycle collision While formal identification had not taken place, Jack's family had been informed of the sad development. Jack had several distinctive facial tattoos and was also said to have links to Wolverhampton. WMP said: "Officers searching for missing 33-year-old Jack have sadly found a body in woodland in Edgbaston. "Formal identification is yet to take place but Jack's family have been informed. Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join "We are not treating the death as suspicious and our sympathies are with his family and friends." Day in day out, our reporters in the BirminghamLive newsroom bring you stories from across the West Midlands. However, a hell of a lot happens here and it can be difficult to stay on top of it all. That is why we have a suite of newsletters, tailored to your needs. They include Birmingham Politics, Nostalgia, Court and Crime Updates and, of course, BirminghamLive Daily - the biggest stories of the day sent at morning, lunch and evening. There are also local ones like Black Country News, MySolihull and MySuttonColdfield. Choose which newsletters best suit you. You can also get all your favourite content from BirminghamLive on WhatsApp. Click here to sign up for breaking updates about the biggest stories in the region.
Online Citizen
03-08-2025
- Online Citizen
BBC report: Heroic sinkhole rescue sparks renewed scrutiny of migrant workers' rights in Singapore
Seven migrant workers who rescued a woman from a sinkhole on Tanjong Katong Road on 26 July 2025 have drawn fresh attention to the conditions these workers face in Singapore. According to BBC journalist Kelly Ng's report published on 1 August 2025, the dramatic rescue has renewed calls for reforms addressing systemic issues that have lingered for decades. When a 3m deep sinkhole swallowed a black Mazda, the men acted without hesitation. Construction site foreman Suppiah Pitchai Udaiyappan told reporters, 'I was scared, but every feeling was that this woman must be rescued first.' Video footage of the rescue quickly spread online, earning the workers praise as heroes. Singaporeans commended the swift actions of the workers, highlighting the danger posed by the unstable terrain. Videos also showed workers erecting barricades around the sinkhole shortly after the car was pulled out. Yet many advocates argue such praise often masks the difficult realities they endure daily. Call to ban lorry transport for migrant workers Singapore's rapid economic growth is built on migrant workers, with around 1.17 million labourers from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, and other lower-income nations. They fill low-wage, labour-intensive roles shunned by Singaporeans, working mainly in construction, shipyards, and manufacturing. Advocacy groups note that many earn as little as S$300 a month and live in crowded dormitories far from residential areas. One of the most criticised practices is transporting workers in the back of open flat-bed trucks. Although Singapore prohibits people from riding in cargo areas generally, an exception exists for workers employed by the truck owners. Sometimes, up to 12 workers are packed into trucks without seatbelts, leading to frequent accidents. Tragic consequences of lorry transport In April 2021, two foreign workers died and more than a dozen were injured in a collision involving such trucks. Last year alone, at least four migrant workers died and over 400 were injured in similar accidents. Despite repeated debates and public outcry, Singapore has not banned the transport of migrant workers in lorries. The government argues that small businesses cannot easily switch to alternative transport without risking closures and delays. During February 2025 parliamentary sitting, then-Senior Minister of State for Transport Khor defended the practice, citing bus driver shortages and logistical challenges. Authorities have instead encouraged safer practices, such as using buses where possible and installing speed limiters on lorries. However, advocacy groups maintain that these measures fall short and continue to push for a complete ban. Rights group Workers Make Possible (WMP) suggests that the levies collected from foreign workers could subsidise safer transport options. 'Other migrant-reliant nations like the UAE and Bahrain have outlawed this practice,' said Suraendher Kumarr, a member of the group. Activists argue that Singapore's current approach prioritises employers' needs over basic safety. Public gestures called 'tokenism' Earlier this week, Singapore's manpower ministry presented commemorative coins to the seven rescuers. A ministry spokesman described their actions as 'a very good example of how migrant workers help society in general.' However, WMP's Kumarr countered that no amount of symbolic appreciation should overshadow the exploitative economic structures in place. Many online commenters echoed this, calling for the men to receive financial rewards or even permanent residency. The migrant rights group Its Raining Raincoats announced that S$72,000 has been raised from 1,639 donors for the rescuers. AKM Mohsin, who runs an activity centre for Bangladeshi workers, said: 'So many times, we have seen how migrant workers risk their lives to rescue citizens, including children, but their own human rights are constantly violated.' Longstanding struggle for permanent change During the Covid pandemic in 2020, cramped dormitories became hotbeds for the virus, revealing unsafe living conditions that activists had warned about for years. Although authorities pledged improvements, many issues persist, including the lack of a minimum wage and insufficient protections for whistleblowers. Work permit holders like Udaiyappan, who has worked in Singapore for 22 years, remain ineligible for permanent residency. They must also seek government approval to marry Singaporeans. Some Singaporeans still see migrant workers as separate and inferior, say advocates. In 2008, a plan to build a migrant dormitory in Serangoon Gardens met fierce resistance from residents, who petitioned against its construction. Authorities reduced its size and built a separate access road to placate residents' concerns. Calls for meaningful reform Despite persistent inequalities, some initiatives aim to bridge divides. Mohsin's centre provides migrant workers space to write, dance, and perform, while local volunteers help publish and translate their works. Yet these efforts remain small compared to the larger systemic issues. Alex Au, vice president of advocacy group Transient Workers Count Too, said: 'We basically see them as a different class of people. Servants are supposed to leap to the aid of their masters.' Rights groups continue to push for a living wage, safer transport, and residency pathways to better recognise migrant workers' vital contributions. As Singapore's economy thrives on their labour, advocates argue that the country must ensure these workers share the security and dignity they help build.
BBC News
01-08-2025
- BBC News
West Midlands Police hail knife crime fall as new law comes in
Knife crime has fallen by more than 25% in the West Midlands after work to arrest offenders and educate young people, police have Midlands Police (WMP) said crime involving under-25s where a knife has been used to threaten or hurt someone had fallen by 15% since 1 April. From April 2025 to date, the force has recorded 102 offences compared to 120 in the same period last year, it said. This followed an 18% reduction in government set up a dedicated taskforce across seven police forces last October. A WMP spokesman said efforts in the West Midlands also focused on carrying out repeated patrols in hotspot areas. The West Midlands said it saw 380 serious youth violence knife offences between April 23 to end March 24, which fell to 309 in the period from April 2024 to the end of March 2025, a drop of 18%. 'Huge amount of work' needed Separate figures released by the Home Office after the targeted police action in seven high-risk areas showed the West Midlands saw a fall in knife-enabled robbery of 25% in the nine months from October overall reduction across all seven areas was 6%. WMP Chief Constable Craig Guildford said the force had seen "impressive reductions in knife crime", adding: "While it's certainly pleasing, there's still a huge amount of work for policing and wider society to do to tackle this problem."It's part of our ongoing commitment to make the West Midlands a safer place for everyone."The force released the figures as a ban on ninja swords came into force under Ronan's Law - named after Ronan Kanda who was killed in Wolverhampton on 29 June 2022, in a case of mistaken July 2024, the West Midlands police area recorded the highest rate of knife crime offences in England and Wales, but the force said a new policy had seen increased May this year, reported knife crime had fallen by 6% with the region second highest after London. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man seriously injured after disorder breaks out in Black Country
An appeal is underway after a man was left seriously injured in the Black Country. Police were called to Hawes Lane in Rowley Regis just before 8pm on Saturday (June 14) following reports of trouble. A man was assaulted and sustained serious facial injuries. READ MORE: Midlands town less than an hour from Birmingham named among 'most underrated' in country READ MORE: The 'forgotten' suburb many pronounce wrong that irritates the residents Read More: Birmingham woman who got pregnant after sex with 13-year-old boy sobs as she's jailed He was taken to hospital and the scene was cordoned off by officers. Police are trawling CCTV and have been speaking to witnesses. Anyone who saw the incident is asked to contact them. WMP said: "We were called just before 8pm last night (14 Jun) to Hawes Lane, Rowley Regis to reports of disorder. "A man was assaulted and taken to hospital with serious facial injuries. "We are reviewing CCTV footage and speaking to witnesses. "Anyone with any information is asked to call 101 quoting 20/274273/25." We have a suite of newsletters, tailored to your needs. They include Birmingham Politics, Nostalgia, Court and Crime Updates and, of course, BirminghamLive Daily - the biggest stories of the day sent at morning, lunch and evening. There are also local ones like Black Country News, MySolihull and MySuttonColdfield. Choose which newsletters best suit you. You can also get all your favourite content from BirminghamLive on WhatsApp. Click here to sign up for breaking updates about the biggest stories in the region. If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the BirminghamLive app.
