Thailand’s Move Forward says coalition partners need not support amending royal insult law

By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s progressive Move Forward party on Friday said potential coalition partners need not support its controversial stance on amending the royal insult law, as it seeks to win the backing of other parties to form a government. Move Forward, led by Pita Limjaroenrat, won the most…

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Ecuador’s top court paves the way for early national elections

By Alexandra Valencia QUITO (Reuters) -Ecuador’s Constitutional Court on Thursday paved the way for early legislative and presidential elections, rejecting a series of cases brought by opposition politicians to block President Guillermo Lasso’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly. Members of opposition parties, along with social organizations, had presented six separate cases to the court,…

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US Senator Feinstein still suffering complications from shingles, her office says

By Costas Pitas (Reuters) -U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, who returned to Washington last week after a months-long absence due to shingles, is continuing to suffer from a medical complication known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a spokesperson said on Thursday. Feinstein had also previously suffered encephalitis, her office said, after the New York Times reported on…

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Turkish lira hits record low as bonds steady after post-election rout

By Libby George LONDON (Reuters) – Turkey’s lira weakened to a record low against the dollar on Thursday, after incumbent Tayyip Erdogan’s lead in presidential elections surprised markets, while the nation’s sovereign dollar bonds steadied after a three-day post-election rout. The cost of insuring the country’s debt against default fell slightly, but equity markets and…

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Erdogan rival pledges to repatriate all refugees before Turkey runoff

ANKARA (Reuters) – Tayyip Erdogan’s challenger in Turkey’s presidential race has sharpened his tone on migrants on Thursday, vowing to send all migrants back to their countries once elected in a May 28 runoff vote. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the candidate of a six-party opposition alliance, won 45% support in Sunday’s vote while Erdogan got 49.5%, falling…

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Florida Governor DeSantis to enter US presidential race next week

By James Oliphant WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis will officially enter the 2024 U.S. presidential race next week, according to two sources familiar with the decision, immediately becoming Donald Trump’s biggest rival for the Republican nomination and shaking up a contest that largely has been one-sided. DeSantis will likely file paperwork declaring his…

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