South Korea's agriculture ministry confirmed foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at one pig farm and five cattle farms in Yecheon, issuing the highest Level 4 alert for the region and six adjacent areas. Quarantine measures are being implemented.
Slovenia's LGBTQ+ community experiences heightened hostility following the new right-wing government's decision to remove the rainbow flag from the Culture Ministry. Activists report increased verbal and physical attacks, despite recent legal advancements for LGBTQ+ rights, raising concerns about future regression.
South Korea's culture ministry referred 15 individuals to police for allegedly reselling sports and K-pop concert tickets at inflated prices, some up to eight times the original value. The investigation identified bulk resales on online platforms, with total estimated sales reaching 36.84 million won for sports tickets and 11.64 million won for concerts.
Taiwan's agriculture ministry warned farmers against China's plan to increase atemoya imports, calling it a 'raise, trap, kill' tactic. This follows previous import bans and taxes on Taiwanese fruit, highlighting ongoing trade tensions and China's non-military pressure tactics.
KMT legislator proposed deleting the Culture Ministry's NT$47.38 million media promotion budget and cutting 60% of the film and television bureau's budget. TPP legislator Cai Chun-chu respects the proposal and urges the ministry to fully disclose procurement targets, platforms, and performance metrics to address concerns about "internet army" funding or bid-rigging.
Taiwan's Agriculture Ministry is proposing amendments to pet grooming service contracts to ease financial burdens on small businesses. New options for payment guarantees, including third-party payment custodianship and peer-to-peer insurance, aim to support the industry.
South Korea's Culture Ministry will help sports organizations facing administrative difficulties due to the blockade of the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium, caused by protests. Measures include extending deadlines for accounting and tax payments, and providing temporary office space.
India's agriculture ministry expects stable wheat production for 2025-26 despite weather-related challenges. While industry estimates are lower, increased acreage and improved seed varieties are expected to offset losses from heat stress and unseasonal rainfall.
