Town Hall News

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s factory activity unexpectedly swung to growth in May from decline, a private sector survey showed on Thursday, driven by improved production and demand, helping struggling firms that have been hit by slumping profits. The Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 50.9 in May from 49.5 in April, above the 50-point index mark that separates growth from contraction. The reading surpassed expectations of 49.5 […]

By David Morgan, Richard Cowan and Moira Warburton WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A divided U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to suspend the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling on Wednesday, with majority support from both Democrats and Republicans to overcome opposition led by hardline conservatives and avoid a catastrophic default. The Republican-controlled House voted 314-117 to send the legislation to the Senate, which must enact the measure and get it to […]

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian business investment rose strongly in the March quarter, helped by a jump in spending on mining, manufacturing and transport, while firms remained upbeat about spending for the year ahead. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday showed private capital spending climbed a real 2.4% in the first quarter from the previous quarter, compared with a 2.2% gain in December quarter. Spending on new equipment […]

TOKYO (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday said he looked forward to deepening cooperation with Japan, along with South Korea and Australia. Before meeting Austin in Tokyo, Japan’s Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters that Japan and the U.S. needed to strengthen cooperation in the face of North Korean missile launches. Austin is set to meet his Japanese counterpart on Thursday in a stopover in Japan on […]

By Hyunsu Yim SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong, leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, said her country would soon put a military spy satellite into orbit and promised Pyongyang would increase its military surveillance capabilities, state media KCNA reported on Thursday. “It is certain that (North Korea’s) military reconnaissance satellite will be correctly put on space orbit in the near future and start its mission,” Kim, a powerful government […]

By Hyunsu Yim SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong, leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, said her country would soon put a military spy satellite into orbit and promised Pyongyang would increase its military surveillance capabilities, state media KCNA reported on Thursday. “It is certain that (North Korea’s) military reconnaissance satellite will be correctly put on space orbit in the near future and start its mission,” Kim, a powerful government […]

SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Elon Musk’s private jet is scheduled to leave Shanghai on Thursday morning and head to Austin, Texas, data from flight tracking provider Variflight showed, wrapping up a whirlwind trip to China – his first in three years. After two days in Beijing, the Tesla Inc CEO arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday night and visited the U.S. electric vehicle maker’s plant in the financial hub, showed photos posted by […]

(Reuters) – The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) on Wednesday said it has filed a protest with world governing body FIFA after defender Robert Renan was racially abused following a U20 World Cup match. Insults were directed at Renan as he left the pitch at the Ciudad de la Plata stadium in Argentina where Brazil beat Tunisia 4-1 in the tournament’s Round of 16, CBF said. The player, who was sent […]

By Siddharth Cavale BENTONVILLE, Ark. (Reuters) – Walmart investors voted against all nine shareholder-led proposals during the retail giant’s annual meeting on Wednesday, a preliminary tally by the company showed. Shareholders were asked to vote on a number of issues including revealing its exposure to China and conducting an independent review of its safety practices related to gun violence. A proposal presented at the meeting also urged Walmart to disclose […]