Town Hall News

By Anton Bridge and Tom Bateman TOKYO (Reuters) – In one of Keiko Kawano’s recent classes, more than a dozen Tokyo art school students held mirrors to their faces, stretching the sides of their mouths upward with their fingers: they were practising how to smile. It’s not something most people would think to pay for but Kawano’s services as a smile instructor are seeing a surge in demand in Japan, […]

By Anton Bridge and Tom Bateman TOKYO (Reuters) – In one of Keiko Kawano’s recent classes, more than a dozen Tokyo art school students held mirrors to their faces, stretching the sides of their mouths upward with their fingers: they were practising how to smile. It’s not something most people would think to pay for but Kawano’s services as a smile instructor are seeing a surge in demand in Japan, […]

By Jessie Pang and Ben Blanchard HONG KONG/TAIPEI (Reuters) -Hong Kong police said they detained 23 people on Sunday for “breaching public peace”, including a 53-year-old woman for “obstructing police officers” as authorities ramped up security for the 34th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. Restrictions in Hong Kong have stifled what were once the largest vigils marking the anniversary of the bloody crackdown by Chinese troops on pro-democracy […]

By Florence Tan SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Oil prices jumped more than $1 a barrel on Monday after the world’s top exporter Saudi Arabia pledged to cut production by another 1 million barrels per day from July, counteracting macroeconomic headwinds that have depressed markets. Brent crude futures were at $77.64 a barrel, up $1.51, or 2%, at 0014 GMT after earlier hitting a session-high of $78.73 a barrel. U.S. West Texas […]

NEW YORK (Reuters) – American Rose Zhang prevailed in a tense playoff against compatriot Jennifer Kupcho to claim at the Mizuho Americas Open title and become first woman in more than 70 years to win on her professional debut at an LPGA Tour event on Sunday. The twice collegiate champion turned professional 10 days ago after 141 weeks as the world’s top-ranked amateur and sealed the title with a tap-in […]

By Stella Qiu SYDNEY (Reuters) – Asian shares extended a global rally on Monday on optimism the Federal Reserve would pause its rate hikes this month after a mixed U.S. jobs report, while oil jumped as Saudi Arabia pledged big output cuts in July. Brent oil jumped $1.82, or 2.4%, to $77.95 a barrel, while U.S. crude climbed $1.77, or 2.4%, to $73.51. Oil prices have recently come under pressure […]

(Reuters) – California’s attorney general is investigating whether the government of the state of Florida played any role in sending more than a dozen migrants to the California capital of Sacramento without advance notice. Representatives of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis did not immediately respond on Sunday to a request for comment. DeSantis last year arranged to transport dozens of migrants to the Massachusetts vacation island of Martha’s Vineyard as part […]

By Stella Qiu SYDNEY (Reuters) – Asian shares extended a global rally on Monday on optimism the Federal Reserve would pause its rate hikes this month after a mixed U.S. jobs report, while oil jumped as Saudi Arabia pledged big output cuts in July. Brent oil jumped $1.82, or 2.4%, to $77.95 a barrel, while U.S. crude climbed $1.77, or 2.4%, to $73.51. Oil prices have recently come under pressure […]

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday received one of New Zealand’s top honours, recognising her efforts for leading the country through the COVID-19 crisis, the terror attacks on two Christchurch mosques and the White Island volcanic eruption. Ardern was named “Dame Grand Companion,” the second highest honour in New Zealand, on King Charles’ birthday holiday celebrated by the country on June 5, and she made the […]