Town Hall News

PARIS (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron has signed into law a bill to raise the state pension age that sparked mass protests, the government’s official journal showed on Saturday. The proclamation of the law came after France’s Constitutional Council on Friday approved the main pension-age increase and follows months of demonstrations against the plan, which the government forced through parliament without a final vote. The legislation, which will progressively […]

By Katya Golubkova and Makiko Yamazaki SAPPORO, Japan (Reuters) -The Group of Seven rich nations have agreed to call for “drastically” increasing electricity from renewable sources and are considering targets for solar and wind power, a person familiar with the talks said. But G7 environment and energy ministers, meeting in Sapporo in northern Japan for climate and energy talks on Saturday and Sunday, could not reach agreement on a specific […]

By Katya Golubkova and Makiko Yamazaki SAPPORO, Japan (Reuters) -The Group of Seven rich nations have agreed to call for “drastically” increasing electricity from renewable sources and are considering targets for solar and wind power, a person familiar with the talks said. But G7 environment and energy ministers, meeting in Sapporo in northern Japan for climate and energy talks on Saturday and Sunday, could not reach agreement on a specific […]

By Kai Pfaffenbach and Manuel Ausloos NEAR BAKHMUT, Ukraine (Reuters) -A Russian missile strike killed eight people in eastern Ukraine on Friday as a British assessment said Ukrainian troops had been forced to withdraw from parts of the city of Bakhmut, the focus of Moscow’s slow advance through the region. Ukrainian troops have been doggedly defending Bakhmut, shattered after months of shelling and bombardment. Ukrainian military commanders this week rejected […]

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated unhurt after a suspect threw what appeared to be a smoke bomb at an outdoor speech in western Japan on Saturday, domestic media reported. A loud explosion was heard, but the premier took cover and was unharmed while police subdued a man at the scene, public broadcaster NHK said. There were no injuries, NHK said, citing police. “Police are investigating the […]

(Reuters) – Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has made “exceptional” progress at the London outfit after having suffered relegation with two clubs earlier, manager Mikel Arteta said. Before joining Arsenal in August 2021, Ramsdale was relegated from the top flight with Bournemouth and Sheffield United. The 24-year-old has played an important role in Arsenal’s title charge this season, most recently making a series of vital saves in their 2-2 draw with […]

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated unhurt after a suspect threw what appeared to be a smoke bomb at an outdoor speech in western Japan on Saturday, domestic media reported. A loud explosion was heard, but the premier took cover and was unharmed while police subdued a man at the scene, public broadcaster NHK said. There were no injuries, NHK said, citing police. “Police are investigating […]

(Reuters) – A Russian missile strike killed at least nine people in eastern Ukraine on Friday as a British assessment said Ukrainian troops had been forced to withdraw from parts of the city of Bakhmut, the focus of Moscow’s slow advance through the region. DIPLOMACY * China’s Defence Minister Li Shangfu will visit Russia from April 16-19, and meet Russian military officials, the Chinese defence ministry said. U.S. officials have […]

By Humeyra Pamuk HANOI (Reuters) -Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday expressed a desire to deepen and upgrade their ties as Washington seeks to solidify alliances in the region to counter an increasingly assertive China.     In his first visit to the key southeast Asian country as the top U.S. diplomat, Blinken kicked off his trip with a meeting with Prime […]