Town Hall News

By Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries are set to discuss concern about China’s use of “economic coercion” in its dealings abroad as part of their larger joint statement next week, according to a U.S. official familiar with the discussions. The statement, a likely component of the overall communique that will be released by leaders during the May 19-21 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, is […]

PALO ALTO, Calif. (Reuters) – The Federal Reserve is “on track” to doing what is necessary to meet the two mandates Congress has given it, Fed Governor Philip Jefferson said on Friday: bring inflation down and enable Americans who want jobs to get them. The Fed has raised its benchmark interest rate five full percentage points over the past 14 months. Inflation by the Fed’s preferred measure has eased from […]

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) – Honduras will soon begin talks toward a trade deal with China, the Central American country’s top diplomat said on Friday, marking the latest step toward stronger bilateral ties between the two nations after Honduras broke off relations with Taiwan. Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina told reporters at a press conference that the goal is to launch talks “soon” and eventually ink a “free trade” agreement with […]

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Automaker Stellantis and South Korea’s LG Energy Solution (LGES) are implementing “contingency plans” related to a more-than C$5 billion battery plant investment plan in Canada because the federal government has not delivered on its promises, a Stellantis spokesperson said on Friday. “As of today, the Canadian Government has not delivered on what was agreed to, therefore Stellantis and LG Energy Solution will immediately begin implementing their contingency plans,” […]

By Ismail Shakil OTTAWA (Reuters) -The Bank of Canada (BoC) said on Friday it has picked longtime central bank executive Rhys Mendes as its new deputy governor, making him the first person of color to that role. Mendes, who will start in the role on July 17, will fill a vacancy created by the departure of Paul Beaudry, and will join the six-member interest-rate-setting governing council. As deputy governor, Mendes […]

(Reuters) – Moscow acknowledged on Friday that its forces had fallen back north of Ukraine’s battlefield city of Bakhmut after a new offensive, in a retreat that the head of Russia’s Wagner private army called a rout. CONFLICT * Russian-installed officials on Friday said missiles fired by Ukrainian forces had injured six children and a Russian parliamentarian and damaged two disused factories in eastern Luhansk region’s main city, about 100 […]

By Philip Pullella ROME (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected in Italy on Saturday for talks with government officials and Pope Francis, who in late April said that the Holy See is involved in a peace mission to end the war with Russia. The trip, Zelenskiy’s first to Italy since Russia invaded on Feb. 24, 2022, has not been officially confirmed for security reasons. But multiple sources expect […]

By Philip Pullella ROME (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected in Italy on Saturday for talks with government officials and Pope Francis, who in late April said that the Holy See is involved in a peace mission to end the war with Russia. The trip, Zelenskiy’s first to Italy since Russia invaded on Feb. 24, 2022, has not been officially confirmed for security reasons. But multiple sources expect […]

By Asif Shahzad and Ariba Shahid ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -A Pakistani court ordered former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s release on bail for two weeks, his lawyer said on Friday, after his arrest in a land fraud case ignited deadly protests and a tussle with the military. Khan departed the court premises, headed towards his hometown Lahore, amidst high security. He had remained inside for hours after being granted bail, saying he […]