Town Hall News

By Yew Lun Tian and James Pomfret BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) – China’s increasing focus on its own security and intensifying rivalry with the United States threatens to turn its re-engagement with the world after years of COVID curbs into a new era of isolation from the West, analysts say. Since casting off pandemic controls that effectively shut its borders since 2020, Beijing has in recent months embarked on a series […]

By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) -The New Zealand Defence Force will get an additional NZ$748 million ($472.14 million) over four years, as the government tries to stop the loss of military personnel and ensure the country’s military can operate alongside allies and partners. Andrew Little said in a statement that the government would invest a further NZ$419 million in defence force salaries and NZ$328 million to upgrade assets and infrastructure […]

(Reuters) – Russia launched a wave of drone, missile and air strikes across Ukraine, officials said on Monday, as Moscow stepped up attacks on Kyiv and other cities in preparation for its Victory Day holiday marking the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany. CONFLICT * Ukraine’s top military command said its forces destroyed all 35 Iranian-made Shahed drones that Russia had launched overnight at targets around the country. * Russia has […]

By Valentyn Ogorenko and Gleb Garanich KYIV (Reuters) -Russia launched a wave of drone, missile and air strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, officials said on Monday, as Moscow stepping up attacks while preparing for its cherished Victory Day holiday celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. As many as 16 missile strikes had targeted the cities of Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Odesa regions, in addition to 61 […]

TOKYO – Japan’s services activity grew at a record pace in April, a private-sector survey showed on Monday, helped by a boost in consumer spending following the end of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The final au Jibun Bank Japan Services purchasing managers’ index (PMI) climbed to a seasonally adjusted 55.4 last month from March’s 55.0. GRAPHIC – Japan’s service PMI grows at record pace https://www.reuters.com/graphics/JAPAN-ECONOMY/PMI/klpyglqkqpg/chart.png It was also higher than the […]

TOKYO -Japan’s services activity grew at a record pace in April, a private-sector survey showed on Monday, helped by a boost in consumer spending following the end of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The final au Jibun Bank Japan Services purchasing managers’ index (PMI) climbed to a seasonally adjusted 55.4 last month from March’s 55.0. It was also higher than the flash reading of 54.9 and well above the 50-mark that separates […]

By Wayne Cole SYDNEY (Reuters) – Asian shares were mostly higher on Monday as investors braced for a week where U.S. inflation data will test wagers the next move in interest rates will be down, while worries about a possible credit crunch weighed on the dollar. Friday’s robust U.S. payrolls report has already delivered a setback to easing hopes and any upside surprise on consumer prices would challenge bets for […]

BEIJING (Reuters) -China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Monday it is imperative to stabilise Sino-U.S. relations after a series of “erroneous words and deeds” threw ties back into a deep freeze. Qin, in a meeting in Beijing with U.S. ambassador Nicholas Burns, stressed in particular that the United States must correct its handling of the Taiwan issue and stop the hollowing out of the “one China” principle. The relationship […]

By Joe Cash BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s exports were expected to have risen again in April, albeit at a less robust pace than a month earlier, a Reuters poll showed, supported by unfulfilled orders after last year’s COVID disruptions though slowing global growth is darkening the outlook. Outbound shipments last month from the world’s second largest economy is expected to show growth of 8.0% year-on-year, following an unexpected surge of […]