Town Hall News

PARIS (Reuters) – Moonfire Ventures, launched in 2020 by former Atomico co-founder Mattias Ljungman, said on Wednesday that it had raised $115 million to invest in European startup technology firms and in the AI (artificial intelligence) sector. The fund-raising by Moonfire Ventures highlights the growth in Europe of artificial intelligence, which has led politicians around the world to examine how AI could be better regulated. “Europe has been a leader […]

By Alan Baldwin (Reuters) – Honda will return to Formula One as a full-blown engine manufacturer powering Aston Martin’s title ambitions when the sport enters a new era in 2026, the Japanese carmaker announced on Wednesday. The new ‘works’ partnership will transform Silverstone-based Aston Martin into Honda’s sole focus on the starting grid from their current position as one of four teams with Mercedes engines. “It is very, very difficult […]

MADRID (Reuters) -Police detained seven men on Tuesday over separate alleged hate crime incidents against Real Madrid football player Vinicius Jr as Spain’s main soccer league urged changes to Spanish law that would enable it to take steps to curb racism in stadiums. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed support for Vinicius Jr, whom he expected would remain at the club. He lambasted Spain’s “obsolete” protocols to deal with racism […]

By Stephanie Kelly and Emily Chow (Reuters) -Oil prices gained over $1 on Wednesday after U.S. inventories and fuel supplies tightened and as a warning from the Saudi energy minister to speculators raised the prospect of further OPEC+ output cuts. Brent crude futures last rose 68 cents, or 0.9%, to $77.52 a barrel by 0330 GMT, while the U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) gained 75 cents, or 1%, to […]

By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) -New Zealand’s central bank on Wednesday raised interest rates by 25 basis points to the highest in more than 14 years to 5.5% and reiterated inflation remains too high even as it still forecast a recession this year. The decision was in line with expectations from 21 of 25 economists in a Reuters poll forecasting the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) would raise rates […]

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday said the country had no plans to become a NATO member but acknowledged the security alliance’s plan to open a liaison office in Japan. Kishida’s comments came after the Japanese ambassador to the United States earlier this month said that the U.S.-led military pact was planning a Tokyo office, the first in Asia, to facilitate consultations in the region. “I […]

By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) -New Zealand’s central bank on Wednesday raised interest rates by 25 basis points to the highest in more than 14 years at 5.5% but indicated it was now done tightening, having undertaken its most aggressive hiking cycle since 1999. While the 25-basis-point hike had largely been forecast by economists polled by Reuters, there had been growing expectation that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand might […]

BEIJING (Reuters) – Russia and China are set to sign a set of bilateral agreements on Wednesday during the Russian prime minister’s trip to Beijing as the two giant neighbours pledge closer cooperation even as the West remains critical of their ties amid the war in Ukraine. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin – the highest ranking Russian official to visit Beijing since Moscow sent thousands of its troops to Ukraine in […]

By Kevin Buckland TOKYO (Reuters) – Asian stocks on Wednesday extended a global sell-off as U.S. debt ceiling negotiations dragged on without resolution, while the New Zealand dollar tumbled after the central bank caught markets off-guard by flagging that its tightening cycle is over. The U.S. dollar – paradoxically – remained elevated amid safe-haven demand, which was also a driver of Treasuries and pushed yields lower. Crude gained, though, as […]