North Carolina legislature overrides veto of 12-week abortion ban, making it law

By Julia Harte (Reuters) -North Carolina Republican lawmakers overrode a veto by the state’s Democratic governor to enact a law on Tuesday that cuts the window for most abortions in the southern state from 20 to 12 weeks. The law bans elective abortions after the first trimester, except in cases of rape, incest, life-limiting fetal…

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China’s Xi pledges deeper Kazakh ties in times of ‘prosperity and adversity’

By Andrew Hayley XIAN, China (Reuters) -China wants to further deepen relations with Kazakhstan in times of both “prosperity and adversity”, President Xi Jinping told his visiting Kazakh counterpart on Wednesday. This week, China will for the first time host an in-person summit of Central Asian leaders, building ties in Russia’s backyard as Beijing’s relations…

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France’s Sarkozy loses corruption appeal, to challenge at highest court

By Tassilo Hummel PARIS (Reuters) -Former president Nicolas Sarkozy lost his appeal against a 2021 conviction for corruption and influence peddling at the Paris Court of Appeals on Wednesday, prompting his legal team to promise a challenge at France’s highest court. The appeals court upheld a three-year prison sentence. In line with the initial ruling,…

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Exclusive-Polish fiscal policy should help tackle inflation – IMF

By Gergely Szakacs BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Poland’s government must ensure its fiscal policies support the fight to bring inflation down, the International Monetary Fund’s regional head told Reuters, days after fresh pre-election pledges of welfare hikes by Poland’s ruling nationalists. Law and Justice (PiS) party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski announced on Sunday that an existing so-called…

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Trump is attacking DeSantis hard on policy, amid the flurry of insults

By Tim Reid and Nathan Layne (Reuters) – Amid the headline-grabbing insults and name-calling, Donald Trump is pursuing a surprisingly policy-heavy strategy to damage his closest Republican rival Ron DeSantis before he enters the presidential race, according to a Reuters analysis of the former president’s statements since he announced his White House bid.     Forty…

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Missions in China warned over ‘propaganda’ displays after Ukraine flags raised

By Laurie Chen BEIJING (Reuters) -China has notified foreign embassies and international organisations not to exhibit “politicised propaganda” on their buildings, an instruction diplomats say is aimed at missions that have displayed Ukrainian flags since Russia’s invasion. Several foreign missions in China raised the Ukrainian flag, or displayed its image in posters and lights, following…

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In Taiwan, former UK PM Truss warns against appeasing China

TAIPEI (Reuters) -Former British prime minister Liz Truss said in Taiwan on Wednesday the West must avoid appeasing China and show unwavering support for the democratically governed island, in a speech that risks further damaging Britain’s ties with Beijing. Truss is the most well-known British politician to visit Taiwan since former prime minister Margaret Thatcher…

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