Town Hall News

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Vanuatu held a snap general election on Thursday after Prime Minister Charlot Salwai’s decision to go to the polls two years early rather than risk a no-confidence vote in his divided coalition government. The election is being held amidst the destructive of last month’s powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of the South Pacific island nation on Dec. 17, killing 14 and injuring […]

DUBAI (Reuters) – The ceasefire in Gaza represents a “great victory” for the Palestinian resistance, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday, warning against any possible breach by Israel. Palestinian armed group Hamas and Israel reached a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza that mediators said would take effect on Sunday. The agreement provides for the release of Israeli hostages held there during 15 months of conflict that devastated the enclave […]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Blue Origin launched its massive new rocket on its first test flight Thursday, sending up a prototype satellite to orbit thousands of miles above Earth. Named after the first American to orbit Earth, the New Glenn rocket blasted off from Florida, soaring from the same pad used to launch NASA’s Mariner and Pioneer spacecraft a half-century ago. Years in the making with heavy funding by […]

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Ukraine’s capital on Thursday with a pledge to help guarantee the country’s security for a century, days before Donald Trump is sworn in as U.S. president. The British government says Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will sign a “100-Year Partnership” treaty in Kyiv, covering areas including defense, science, energy and trade. Starmer’s unannounced visit is his first trip […]

TOKYO (AP) — He wears a black bodysuit and a white mask, speaks in an electronically altered squeaky voice and makes creepiness his signature mode of art. Uketsu, whose name literally translates to “rain hole,” both words that he loves, is Japan’s latest YouTube star and million-selling mystery writer. And he is about to take on the global stage. His knack for making everyone “feel uneasy” is the reason for […]

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) – Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin launched its first New Glenn rocket early Thursday morning from Florida, an inaugural step into Earth’s orbit to rival SpaceX in the satellite launch market. (Reporting by Joey Roulette; Editing by Himani Sarkar) Brought to you by www.srnnews.com

ROME (Reuters) – Stellantis’ said on Thursday its fourth quarter shipments were down 9% compared to the previous year, to 1.395 million vehicles. In the final three months of 2024 shipments were down 28% in North America, fell 6% in Enlarged Europe area and up 12% in South America, it added in a statement. Stellantis, currently focused on reducing bloated inventories, said numbers were an improvement compared to the third […]

NICOSIA (Reuters) – Cyprus on Thursday hailed a U.S. memorandum allowing military sales, including arms, to the island as a milestone affirming recognition of the island as a pillar of stability in the east Mediterranean region which has been fraught with conflict. U.S. President Joe Biden boosted security ties with Cyprus on Wednesday by issuing a memorandum that makes the island eligible to receive American defense articles, military sales and […]

ZURICH (Reuters) -Richemont , the owner of Cartier jewellery, beat market expectations for third-quarter sales, it said on Thursday, in a positive sign for the high-end of the luxury sector over the all-important holiday season. The Swiss company’s sales jumped 10% year-on-year to 6.2 billion euros ($6.37 billion) for the three months till December-end. Richemont also owns high-end Swiss watch brands Piaget, IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre. At constant exchange rates – […]