Town Hall News

(Reuters) – The United States is adding 37 entities to its trade blacklist for activities including contributing to Russia’s army, supporting China’s military and facilitating or engaging in human rights abuses in Myanmar and China, the Commerce Department said on Thursday. “When we identify entities that pose a national security or foreign policy concern for the United States, we add them to the Entity List to ensure we can scrutinize […]

BEIJING (Reuters) – Activity in China’s services sector expanded at the fastest pace in six months in February as the removal of tough COVID-19 restrictions revived customer demand, driving a solid increase in employment, a private sector survey showed on Friday. The Caixin/S&P Global services purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 55.0 in February from 52.9 in January, a back-to-back monthly increase in activity after the government abruptly dismantled anti-virus […]

Police Rescue Sara Netanyahu from Protesters at Tel Aviv Salon Demonstrators opposed to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s controversial judicial overhaul surrounded the hair salon where his wife, Sara, was getting her hair done on Wednesday requiring intervention by law enforcement By Dario Sanchez/The Media Line The Israeli government’s controversial plans to overhaul the judicial system have been met with widespread opposition and weekly protests across the country. On Wednesday, […]

By Nathan Layne (Reuters) -A South Carolina jury on Thursday found Richard “Alex” Murdaugh guilty of killing his wife and son, convicting the once-influential attorney of murder in a case that has gripped the nation’s attention for nearly two years. The 12-person jury declared Murdaugh, 54, guilty on two counts of murdering his wife Maggie, 52, and youngest son, Paul, 22, who were executed at close range near the dog […]

By Andreas Rinke, Sarah Marsh and David Brunnstrom BERLIN/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will hold confidential talks on Friday in Washington with U.S. President Joe Biden about Russia’s war in Ukraine, China and other matters amid signs of strains between the transatlantic partners. Scholz set off on the one-day trip, which unusually will not include a press delegation, late on Thursday. His visit comes days after Biden’s security […]

(Reuters) – Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc will not dispense abortion pills in several U.S. states where they are still legal, Politico reported on Thursday citing the pharmacy. Last month, 20 Republican state attorneys general told Walgreens and CVS Health Corp that they could run afoul of federal and state law if they distribute the abortion drug mifepristone by mail. Walgreens has assured them it will not dispense the pills in […]

By Leonardo Bennasatto and Lisi Niesner CHASIV YAR, Ukraine (Reuters) -Ukrainian forces clinging to the eastern city of Bakhmut dug new trenches in an attempt to hold back Russian attackers, as the United States said new military aid for Ukraine would be discussed at a meeting with Germany’s leader on Friday. Russian forces have been attacking Bakhmut in Donetsk province for months, sometimes in waves and the site has become […]

By Scott Murdoch SYDNEY (Reuters) -GQG Partners Inc’s Australian-listed shares fell by as much as 3% on Friday after the international investment firm pumped $1.87 billion into four companies under embattled Indian conglomerate Adani Group. The Florida-based firm bought 3.4% of Adani Enterprises Ltd for about $662 million, 4.1% of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd for $640 million, 2.5% of Adani Transmission Ltd for $230 million, and 3.5% […]

By Farah Master and Casey Hall HONG KONG/SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Investors are betting big on a major attitude shift among elderly Chinese – that they will warm up to retirement homes as the world’s most populous country ages and smaller families struggle to support parents and grandparents. Who takes care of the elderly in China, where pensions are tiny, is one of the major headaches policymakers face as they deal […]