Town Hall News

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Software problems are delaying the delivery to Taiwan of 66 advanced new F-16V fighter jets from the United States but the island still expects the full order to arrive by 2026, Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said on Thursday. The United States in 2019 approved an $8 billion sale of Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, a deal that would take the island’s F-16 fleet to […]

(Reuters) -A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck in the Gulf of Darien near the border of Panama and Colombia late on Wednesday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said, with tremors felt across both countries. Nine minutes later, the USGS reported a 4.9 magnitude aftershock at the same location. In Panama, civil protection agency Sinaproc said there had been no immediate reports of damages and they were monitoring the situation. In […]

By Tetsushi Kajimoto TOKYO (Reuters) -Crisis-stricken Sri Lanka should be able to conclude newly-launched debt restructuring talks by September, or November at the latest, its president said on Thursday, adding that the negotiations had made “remarkable” progress. Sri Lanka secured a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund in March but must set up a debt restructuring framework by September to carry forward the program, or risk undermining a […]

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea will launch its homegrown Nuri space rocket at 6:24 p.m. (09:24 GMT) on Thursday, after the launch was cancelled a day earlier due to technical glitches, the science ministry said. The third flight of the Nuri rocket would mark a major step in South Korea’s nascent space programme as the country seeks to become a key player in an intensifying race with its […]

By Choonsik Yoo and Jihoon Lee SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea’s central bank held interest rates steady for a third meeting on Thursday, as expected, after a 1-1/2-year-long tightening cycle while slightly downgrading this year’s economic growth projection. The Bank of Korea announced its seven-member monetary policy board voted to keep its policy rate unchanged at 3.50%, without elaborating. Governor Rhee Chang-yong is due to hold a news conference soon. The […]

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea will launch its homegrown Nuri space rocket at 6:24 p.m. (09:24 GMT) on Thursday, after the launch was cancelled a day earlier due to technical glitches, the science ministry said. The third flight of the Nuri rocket would mark a major step in South Korea’s nascent space programme as the country seeks to become a key player in an intensifying race with its […]

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea will launch its homegrown Nuri space rocket at 6:24 p.m. (09:24 GMT) on Thursday, after the launch was cancelled a day earlier due to technical glitches, the science ministry said. The third flight of the Nuri rocket would mark a major step in South Korea’s nascent space programme as the country seeks to become a key player in an intensifying race with its […]

By Kane Wu and Yantoultra Ngui HONG KONG (Reuters) – Private equity firms Boyu Capital, Hillhouse Capital and BPEA EQT are among bidders vying for Longreach Group’s Hong Kong-based medical device maker Quasar, three people with knowledge of the matter said. Longreach, an Asia-focused private equity firm, is targeting a valuation of as much as $600 million or more for the entire company, said one of the three sources and […]

CAIRO (Reuters) -A ship has grounded in the Suez Canal, “leaving behind” at least four vessels, shipping agent Leth Agencies said early on Thursday. Suez Canal tugboats are trying to refloat the vessel, named Xin Hai Tong 23, the company said. There was no immediate comment from Canal authorities. “M/V XIN HAI TONG 23 has grounded in the Suez Canal at KM 159/0400 hrs,” Leth Agencies said in a tweet, […]