Town Hall News

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Austria’s Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg on Monday said his ministry would summon the Hungarian ambassador over a dispute linked to the release of people he called human traffickers by Hungarian authorities. “We think this is an entirely wrong signal”, Schallenberg told journalists ahead of a EU meeting in Brussels, adding that he demands “full clarification” over the issue from Hungary. (Reporting by Tassilo Hummel, editing by Bart […]

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Austria’s Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg on Monday said his ministry would summon the Hungarian ambassador over a dispute linked to the release of people he called human traffickers by Hungarian authorities. “We think this is an entirely wrong signal”, Schallenberg told journalists ahead of a EU meeting in Brussels, adding that he demands “full clarification” over the issue from Hungary. (Reporting by Tassilo Hummel, editing by Bart […]

By Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat BANGKOK (Reuters) – An alliance led by Thailand’s progressive Move Forward party hopes to draft a new constitution, end monopolies and allow same-sex marriage, among other aims, according to a draft of objectives that made no mention of a divisive royal insult law. The opposition Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties dominated last week’s election in a resounding defeat of conservative parties backed by […]

By Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat BANGKOK (Reuters) – An alliance led by Thailand’s progressive Move Forward party hopes to draft a new constitution, end monopolies and allow same-sex marriage, among other aims, according to a draft of objectives that made no mention of a divisive royal insult law. The opposition Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties dominated last week’s election in a resounding defeat of conservative parties backed by […]

By Elaine Lies and Yoshifumi Takemoto TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is increasingly certain to call a snap election, perhaps within weeks, as domestic support surges after a G7 summit that drew a surprise visit by Ukraine’s president. While an election for parliament’s more powerful lower house is not due until 2025, Kishida is keen to beef up his strength in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) […]

By Elaine Lies and Yoshifumi Takemoto TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is increasingly certain to call a snap election, perhaps within weeks, as domestic support surges after a G7 summit that drew a surprise visit by Ukraine’s president. While an election for parliament’s more powerful lower house is not due until 2025, Kishida is keen to beef up his strength in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) […]

By Kirsty Needham (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Papua New Guinea’s leader James Marape on Monday ahead of the expected signing of a defence agreement and a meeting with 14 Pacific Island leaders. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier pledged support for the Pacific Islands at a summit in the capital Port Moresby. Washington and its allies are seeking to deter Pacific Island nations from […]

By Kirsty Needham (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Papua New Guinea’s leader James Marape on Monday ahead of the expected signing of a defence agreement and a meeting with 14 Pacific Island leaders. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier pledged support for the Pacific Islands at a summit in the capital Port Moresby. Washington and its allies are seeking to deter Pacific Island nations from […]

By Florence Tan and Mohi Narayan (Reuters) -Oil prices slipped on Monday as caution around U.S. debt ceiling talks and concerns about demand recovery in China offset support from lower supplies from Canada and OPEC+ producers. Brent crude futures fell 73 cents, or 0.97%, to $74.85 a barrel by 0634 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for July delivery, the more actively traded contract, slipped 73 cents, or […]