Town Hall News

By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) – The United States and South Korea will conduct more than ten days of large-scale military drills in March, including amphibious landings, officials from the two countries said on Friday. The exercises, dubbed “Freedom Shield”, will be held from March 13-23 to strengthen the allies’ combined defensive posture, the two militaries said in a statement released at a briefing in Seoul. “Freedom Shield is designed […]

By Alexandra Alper and David Shepardson (Reuters) -The Biden administration on Thursday added 37 companies to a trade blacklist, including units of Chinese genetics company BGI and Chinese cloud computing firm Inspur, in a move that promises to further ratchet up tensions with Beijing. The Commerce Department, which oversees export controls, added BGI Research and BGI Tech Solutions (Hongkong), over allegations that the units pose a “significant risk” to contributing […]

(Reuters) – Veteran Czech cyclist Katerina Nash has avoided a four-year ban after a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) investigation determined the five-time Olympian’s positive test had been a result of administering medicine to her pet dog. Nash, 45, tested positive for the appetite stimulant capromorelin after providing an out-of-competition urine sample on Oct. 24 2022, USADA said. Capromorelin is not specifically listed on WADA’s “Prohibited List” but is considered by […]

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 […]

(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 […]