Town Hall News

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia said on Thursday it would introduce laws to the parliament next week banning public displays and sales of Nazi hate symbols, citing a rise in far-right activities at home. The swastika, one of the most recognisable symbols of Nazi propaganda, and the insignia of Schutzstaffel (SS), the paramilitary wing of the Nazi party, will be outlawed to be used as flags and armbands or printed on […]

By Jamie McGeever ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) -If the Federal Reserve ‘skips’ raising interest rates next week only to tighten monetary policy again a month later, which is what some U.S. central bank officials are indicating and markets are pricing, it will be the shortest pause in the modern era. Since Alan Greenspan began his 19-year tenure as Fed chief in 1987 and the central bank moved towards a 2% inflation-targeting […]

By Frank Pingue (Reuters) -The announcement that the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf will merge under common ownership will go down as one of the most consequential moments in the sport’s history but there is plenty of uncertainty about how it will impact the game. After over a year of discord, the rival circuits announced a shock truce on Tuesday that will see the Saudi Arabia Public […]

By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand, long known for its staunch independence in foreign policy, sees like-minded partners as key to helping it navigate a more strategically challenging environment in the Asia Pacific region, its foreign minister said on Thursday. The comments came as tensions mount between the United States and China and the two powers step up efforts to influence countries in the Pacific region where New […]

By Philip Pullella, Crispian Balmer and Alvise Armellini ROME (Reuters) -Pope Francis underwent a three-hour operation in a Rome hospital on Wednesday to repair a hernia, which doctors said was successful enough that he should have no limitations on his travels and other activities after he recovers. “He even joked with me about when we would do the third operation,” said chief surgeon Doctor Sergio Alfieri, who carried out a […]

By Kantaro Komiya TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s economy grew more than initially thought in January-March, revised data showed on Thursday, as a post-pandemic pickup in corporate and consumer spending helped offset the hit to exports from slowing global demand. With inflation running at a four-decade high, further growth in the world’s third-largest economy will depend on sustained wage hikes, which the Bank of Japan and the government regard as core […]

By Dan Whitcomb and Sarah N. Lynch (Reuters) -Federal prosecutors have notified former U.S. President Donald Trump that he is the target of an investigation into his handling of classified materials, ABC News reported on Wednesday, adding to his legal troubles as he campaigns to win the White House in 2024. Politico reported separately that prosecutors have sent Trump a letter informing him that he is under investigation but did […]

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The head of the U.S. auto safety agency’s defects investigation office said on Wednesday he has left the agency to join Amazon.com’s self-driving unit Zoox. Stephen Ridella, who had served as director of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation since 2017, oversaw key investigations including a probe into Tesla Autopilot and whether 67 million ARC Automotive Inc air bag […]

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The head of the U.S. auto safety agency’s defects investigation office said on Wednesday he has left the agency to join Amazon.com’s self-driving unit Zoox. Stephen Ridella, who had served as director of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation since 2017, oversaw key investigations including a probe into Tesla Autopilot and whether 67 million ARC Automotive Inc air bag […]