Town Hall News

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) — The steelpan, a percussion instrument created in Trinidad and Tobago in 1939, is making a comeback as a new generation embraces its bright, melodious sound on stage and on the dance floor. Fans say new technology has made the steelpan more accessible — and affordable — and a growing number of schools in the twin-island nation are introducing students to its bell-like chime. While its lilting […]

NEW DELHI (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday at an annual summit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties on the second day of his state visit. The 23rd Russia-India Summit comes at a pivotal moment as the United States pushes for a Ukraine peace deal while seeking global cooperation. They will test New Delhi’s efforts to balance relations […]

KENNER, La. (AP) — The doors of Carmela Diaz’s taco joint are locked, the tables are devoid of customers and no one is working in the kitchen. It’s one of many once-thriving Hispanic businesses, from Nicaraguan eateries to Honduran restaurants, emptied out in recent weeks in neighborhoods with lots of signs in Spanish but increasingly fewer people on the streets. In the city of Kenner, which has the highest concentration […]

He said it four times in seven seconds: Somali immigrants in the United States are “garbage.” It was no mistake. In fact, President Donald Trump’s rhetorical attacks on immigrants have been building since he said Mexico was sending “rapists” across the border during his presidential campaign announcement a decade ago. He’s also echoed rhetoric once used by Adolf Hitler and called the 54 nations of Africa “s—-hole countries.” But with […]

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, a Tokyo-born actor known for his roles in the film “Mortal Kombat” and TV series “The Man in the High Castle” has died. He was 75. Tagawa died surrounded by his family in Santa Barbara from complications due to a stroke, his manager, Margie Weiner, confirmed on Thursday. “Cary was a rare soul: generous, thoughtful, and endlessly committed to his craft,” she said […]

By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) – When the U.S. military carried out its first strike against a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean on September 2, the attack began with an airburst munition exploding above the 11-member crew like an umbrella of shrapnel. A video of the attack, shown to U.S. lawmakers on Thursday and described to Reuters by two sources familiar with the imagery, showed smoke clearing […]

SYDNEY, Dec 5 (Reuters) – Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles will travel to Japan on Saturday to meet his counterpart, Koizumi Shinjiro, and discuss deepening defence ties, his office said on Friday. Australia wanted to engage early with the new government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Australian officials said, noting the two countries had a “shared vision for our region” and were working to respond to increasingly complex global challenges. […]

SHANGHAI, Dec 5 (Reuters) – China’s Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical (6990.HK) said Thursday night it would license an experimental cancer treatment out to U.S. drugmaker Crescent Biopharma, receiving $80 million upfront, up to another $1.25 billion if milestones are met, and tiered royalties on net sales.  The licensed drug candidate, SKB105, is being evaluated for usage against solid tumours. It is expected that clinical trials will begin in the first quarter of 2026.  […]

TOKYO, Dec 5 (Reuters) – The Japanese embassy in China issued a safety advisory on Friday ahead of next week’s anniversary of “the Nanjing Incident”, or the Nanjing Massacre, which it said is considered particularly sensitive. Tensions have intensified since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament last month that a hypothetical Chinese attack on democratically governed Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo. “Anti-Japanese sentiment tends to rise […]