Town Hall News

By Elizabeth Pineau PARIS (Reuters) -President Emmanuel Macron’s drive to ram through legislation raising France’s retirement age despite mass protests is creating rifts between ministers and his allies amid frustration that the government has not resolved the standoff, insiders say. Ministers and lawmakers are trading blame for the failure to build broader support for Macron’s flagship policy, and some members of his own party are uneasy with his move to […]

By Francesco Canepa FRANKFURT (Reuters) -German savers are getting cold feet about deposits held abroad despite juicier interest rates for fear of getting embroiled in a crisis like the one that hit Silicon Valley Bank, data compiled for Reuters shows. German households, who have Europe’s deepest pockets with 2 trillion euros held in cash, had been seeking higher returns on their cash by opening deposits online at small banks in […]

(Reuters) -Canada is set to approve on Friday a transfer of wireless licenses that will finally settle Rogers Communications Inc’s C$20 billion ($15 billion) bid for Shaw Communications Inc, the Globe and Mail reported. Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, is planning to approve the transfer of Shaw’s wireless licenses held by its Freedom Mobile unit to Quebecor Inc on Friday morning, the Globe and Mail said, […]

By Eimi Yamamitsu, Tom Bateman and Issei Kato TEN-EI, Japan (Reuters) – – As Eita Sato and Aoi Hoshi walked towards their junior high school graduation ceremony, their footsteps echoed in polished halls once crowded and noisy with students. The two were the only graduates of Yumoto Junior High in a mountainous part of northern Japan – and the last. The 76-year-old school will shut its doors for good when […]

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s manufacturing activity expanded at a slower pace in March, official data showed on Friday, raising doubts about the strength of a post-COVID factory recovery amid weaker global demand and a property market downturn. The services sector was stronger, with activity expanding at the fastest pace in nearly 12 years after the end of China’s zero-COVID policy in December boosted transportation, accommodation and construction. The official manufacturing […]

By Aleksandar Vasovic PODGORICA (Reuters) – Montenegro holds a run-off presidential election on Sunday in which long-time incumbent Milo Djukanovic faces a strong challenge from a Western-educated economist who has promised a fresh start after a year of political deadlock.     Djukanovic, 61, has dominated Montenegro as president or prime minister for 33 years, since the start of old federal Yugoslavia’s disintegration, and opponents have long accused the former […]

By Aleksandar Vasovic PODGORICA (Reuters) – Montenegro holds a run-off presidential election on Sunday in which long-time incumbent Milo Djukanovic faces a strong challenge from a Western-educated economist who has promised a fresh start after a year of political deadlock.     Djukanovic, 61, has dominated Montenegro as president or prime minister for 33 years, since the start of old federal Yugoslavia’s disintegration, and opponents have long accused the former […]

By Aleksandar Vasovic PODGORICA (Reuters) – Montenegro holds a run-off presidential election on Sunday in which long-time incumbent Milo Djukanovic faces a strong challenge from a Western-educated economist who has promised a fresh start after a year of political deadlock.     Djukanovic, 61, has dominated Montenegro as president or prime minister for 33 years, since the start of old federal Yugoslavia’s disintegration, and opponents have long accused the former […]

By Victoria Waldersee and Christina Amann BERLIN (Reuters) – BMW is betting on efficient design and recycling to bring down battery costs and is steering clear of investing in mines, its finance chief said on Friday, setting it apart from some competitors digging deep into the supply chain. “We don’t think it is right to invest in mines. We view it as more important to get back raw materials from […]