Protests in Paraguay as losing candidates call for recount

(This May 1 story has been refiled to say ‘call’ in the headline) ASUNCION (Reuters) – Supporters of a right-wing candidate who came third in Paraguay’s presidential election clashed with police outside the electoral court on Monday, amid complaints of fraud in a vote that the ruling Colorado Party won comfortably. Police put up fences…

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Senate panel explores ethics standards for US Supreme Court as questions swirl

By Andrew Chung and John Kruzel WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A Democratic-led Senate panel on Tuesday explored the possibility of pursuing legislation to impose ethics standards on the U.S. Supreme Court amid revelations about luxury trips and real estate transactions by conservative justices, but the panel’s Republican members voiced stern opposition. “The highest court in the land…

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Increased green tax-credit costs are a sign of success, White House’s Podesta says

By Andy Sullivan WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A top White House official said on Tuesday that he was not concerned that President Joe Biden’s signature clean-energy law could cost more than originally anticipated as businesses take advantage of tax breaks that aim to spur green development. “I think this is evidence that the bill was actually…

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Exclusive-Biden, Harris planning 1st 2024 fundraisers as soon as next week

By Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are gearing up for their first fundraising events as soon as next week to help kick off their 2024 reelection campaign, according to people briefed on the plans. Some of the events being planned for Biden include a reception and dinner…

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US Senate Republicans, Democrats squabble over debt ceiling as deadline nears

By David Morgan, Richard Cowan and Katharine Jackson WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Top U.S. Senate Republicans on Tuesday called on President Joe Biden to accept their party’s debt-ceiling package or make a counter-offer, while a top Democrat said the Senate might try to advance a “clean” debt-ceiling hike next week. With barely a month to go…

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New U.S. military aid to Ukraine to include air-launched rockets -sources

By Mike Stone and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States plans to announce as soon as Wednesday a new $300 million military aid package for Ukraine that will for the first time include a short-range air-launched rocket, two U.S. officials said. The Hydra 70 is an air-launched unguided rocket made by General Dynamics….

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Mexican President Lopez Obrador to meet with Biden adviser Tuesday

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will meet with White House Homeland Security adviser Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall Tuesday morning in Mexico, Lopez Obrador’s office confirmed on Monday. The Mexican leader said earlier Monday he would meet with a representative for U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss migration, without saying who. On May…

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Group of EU states seeks to reduce dependency on China for pharmaceuticals

By Julia Payne BRUSSELS (Reuters) – A group of 19 European Union member states are pushing for measures to reduce the bloc’s dependency on Chinese imports of pharmaceutical ingredients, a paper dated May 2 showed. The move comes a week after the European Commission proposed an overhaul of the legislation governing its 136 billion euro…

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As counteroffensive looms, Ukraine vows not to give up Bakhmut

By Olena Harmash KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine’s military vowed on Tuesday not to give up the pulverised eastern city of Bakhmut as it prepares to launch a long-promised counteroffensive against Russian forces. General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of ground forces, underlined the importance Kyiv attaches to holding Bakhmut as preparations continue for a counterattack which it hopes…

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Biden supports Manchin’s permitting bill, adviser Podesta says

By Valerie Volcovici, Timothy Gardner and Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House will support Senator Joe Manchin’s bill introduced on Tuesday to speed energy project permits, because it would help clean power companies use vast incentives in President Joe Biden’s climate law, adviser John Podesta said. Despite recent calls by Manchin, a conservative West…

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