Town Hall News

By Andrew Chung and John Kruzel WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday blocked new restrictions set by lower courts on a widely used abortion pill, a decision welcomed by President Joe Biden as his administration defends broad access to the drug in the latest fierce legal battle over reproductive rights in the United States. The justices, in a brief order, granted emergency requests by the Justice Department and […]

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada is set to order the country’s self-defence force to prepare to shoot down a North Korean spy satellite should it fall within Japan’s territory, news agency Kyodo reported on Saturday. Hamada is expected to give the order on Saturday, Kyodo said citing at least one unidentified government-related source. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said preparations for the planned launch of […]

MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines’ foreign minister on Saturday said his nation’s differences with China in the South China Sea are not the sum total of relations between the two countries. “These differences should not prevent us from seeking ways of managing them effectively, especially with respect to enjoyment of rights of Filipinos, especially fishermen,” Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said at the start of bilateral talks in Manila […]

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia announced on Saturday a direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders living in the country, reversing controversial visa rules a day before a visit by New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. Hipkins, set to visit Queensland state’s capital Brisbane on Sunday, hailed the move as “the biggest improvement in the rights of New Zealanders living in Australia in a generation”. The changes, effective from July, meant New […]

(Reuters) – South Korea’s Kim A Lim posted the round of the week to jump to the top of the Chevron Championship leaderboard on Friday before second round play at the year’s first women’s major was halted due to darkness at Houston’s The Club at Carlton Woods. Kim, who won the 2020 U.S. Open at another Houston area layout the Champions Club, returned a seven-under 65 to sit one clear […]

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia announced on Saturday a direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders living in the country, reversing controversial visa rules a day before a visit by New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. Hipkins, set to visit Queensland state’s capital Brisbane on Sunday, hailed the move as “the biggest improvement in the rights of New Zealanders living in Australia in a generation”. The changes, effective from July, meant New […]

By Steve Holland and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) – At a summit next week with South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol U.S. President Joe Biden will pledge “substantial” steps to underscore the U.S. commitment to deter a North Korean nuclear attack on South Korea, a senior U.S. official said on Friday. “We are working extraordinarily and intensively with the South Koreans to take the necessary steps to buttress both public […]

(Reuters) – Climate change campaigners gathered outside Britain’s parliament building ahead of Earth Day to urge action on global warming, while volunteers worldwide geared up to plant trees and clear trash to mark the 54th annual celebration of the environment. Earth Day this year, officially on Saturday, follows weeks of extreme weather with temperatures soaring to record highs in Thailand and a punishing heatwave in India, where at least 13 […]

(Reuters) – The U.S. said it would soon start training Ukrainian troops to use its Abrams tank and Germany announced a deal to establish a hub in Poland to repair tanks deployed in Ukraine. TANKS, BATTLE * The U.S. decision to provide Ukraine with 31 advanced M1A2 Abrams tanks will make a difference in the war but is no silver bullet, U.S. Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint […]