Republican states to be hit hardest by proposed cuts in US debt ceiling fight

By Andy Sullivan LAKE CHARLES, La. (Reuters) -In Washington, Republican U.S. Representative Clay Higgins has been a vocal advocate for spending cuts. Back home in Louisiana, it’s a different story. The cowboy-hat wearing conservative regularly highlights federal funding for hospitals, bridges and ports in his district, while voting against the spending bills that include them…

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WHO recommends new COVID shots should target only XBB variants

(Reuters) – A World Health Organization (WHO) advisory group on Thursday recommended that this year’s COVID-19 booster shots be updated to target one of the currently dominant XBB variants. New formulations should aim to produce antibody responses to the XBB.1.5 or XBB.1.16 variants, the advisory group said, adding that other formulations or platforms that achieve…

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U.S. Democrats warn Biden against toughening aid for the poor

By Richard Cowan, Leah Douglas WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Democrats in the U.S. Congress expressed frustration with President Joe Biden’s willingness to engage with Republicans demanding tougher work requirements for food aid recipients as part of any deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling. They have stopped short of threatening to block such moves, as talks on…

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More than half of the world’s large lakes are drying up, study finds

By Gloria Dickie LONDON (Reuters) – More than half of the world’s large lakes and reservoirs have shrunk since the early 1990s, chiefly because of climate change, intensifying concerns about water for agriculture, hydropower and human consumption, a study published on Thursday found. A team of international researchers reported that some of the world’s most…

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Exxon rebuts proxy advisor, says net zero emissions scenario ‘unlikely’

By Sabrina Valle HOUSTON (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil Corp has pushed back against investors pressing the largest U.S. oil producer to report on the risks to its business from restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions and potential environmental disasters. In a reply on Wednesday to proxy advisor Glass Lewis, Exxon said the prospect of the world…

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