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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Rio de Janeiro has declared a public health emergency because of an outbreak of mosquito-borne dengue fever, the city said in its official gazette on Monday, just days before Carnival celebrations kick off across Brazil. Since the beginning of 2024, the municipality has registered more than 10,000 dengue cases. On Monday, the Brazilian air force set up a 60-bed field hospital in the Federal District in Ceilandia that was due to begin treating patients. In such cases, dengue can be fatal. In March 2023, Brazil approved a vaccine against dengue and became the first country in the world to offer a dengue vaccine through the public health system, according to the health ministry.

Persons: Brig, Marcelo Kanitz Damascene, Eduardo Paes, “ cariocas, —, ” Paes Organizations: RIO DE, Federal, World Health Organization, WHO, Rio Locations: RIO DE JANEIRO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rio, Minas Gerais, Goias, Federal, Ceilandia

☆ Turkey central bank chief quits, citing need to protect her family
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Turkish Central Bank Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan answers questions during a news conference for the Inflation Report 2023-III in Ankara, Turkey on July 27, 2023. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty ImagesTurkey's central bank governor Hafize Gaye Erkan resigned on Friday, citing a need to protect her family amid a "reputation assassination", and she was swiftly replaced by a deputy who is expected to carry on her tight policy stance. The first woman to lead the central bank, Erkan was its fifth governor in as many years. Since then the central bank had hiked its key rate to 45% from 8.5%. Last month, opposition newspaper Sozcu published an article about a central bank employee who said she was wrongfully dismissed from the bank by Erkan's father.

Persons: Turkish Central Bank Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan, Hafize Gaye Erkan, Tayyip Erdogan, Erkan, Fatih Karahan, Erdogan, Sozcu, Erkan's Organizations: Turkish Central Bank Governor, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Official Gazette, Turks, Federal Reserve Bank of New Locations: Ankara, Turkey, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, U.S

☆ US Envoy Sees Rapid F-16s Sale to Turkey After Sweden NATO Bid Sign-Off
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

In an exclusive interview on Thursday, Ambassador Jeff Flake said that once the formal ratification document is received in Washington, the U.S. State Department will immediately send Congress notification of the F-16s sale. Turkey's parliament ratified Sweden's NATO membership bid on Tuesday, clearing a major hurdle to expanding the Western military alliance after 20 months of delay. "So I would expect as soon as that is conveyed to Washington, then congressional notification (of the F-16 sales) will happen." "The president here needs to sign it and then the instrument needs to be conveyed to Washington," he told Reuters by phone. Both Erdogan and members of the U.S. Congress had tied Turkey's backing of Sweden's NATO bid with congressional approval of the $20 billion sale of Lockheed Martin aircraft and modernization kits to Turkey.

Persons: Jonathan Spicer ISTANBUL, Tayyip Erdogan, Jeff Flake, Erdogan, Lockheed Martin, Joe Biden, Jonathan Spicer, Mark Potter Organizations: NATO, U.S, Congress, U.S . State Department, Gazette, Republican, Reuters, U.S . Congress, Lockheed Locations: U.S, Turkey, Ankara, Washington, Sweden, NATO

☆ With Government Relocated, Egypt Set to Unveil Overhaul of Downtown Cairo
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The area, modelled on Paris in the 1860s, is filled with elegant but crumbling buildings constructed over the subsequent seven decades. The Sovereign Fund has already taken control of three prime properties in central Cairo, and received ownership of 11 former ministry buildings in a decree published this week in the official gazette. "Some of the buildings are already evacuated, but there is a mobilisation plan for relocating into concentrated locations for whoever is staying and not moving to the new capital," Soliman said. Work on the ground would begin "probably within the first half of this year," Soliman said. It would include a three-star Moxy hotel by Marriott, the first in Egypt, Soliman said.

Persons: Patrick Werr CAIRO, Ayman Soliman, Soliman, We're, Patrick Werr, Aidan Lewis, Alex Richardson Organizations: Sovereign Fund, Misr Insurance, Reuters, European Bank for Reconstruction, National Democratic Party, NDP, Marriott Locations: Paris, Cairo, Egypt

☆ Turkey’s parliament approves Sweden’s NATO membership, lifting key a hurdle
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Turkish legislators on Tuesday endorsed Sweden's membership in NATO, lifting a major hurdle on the previously nonaligned country's entry into the military alliance. The legislators ratified Sweden's accession protocol by 287 votes to 55, with four abstentions. Hungary then becomes the only NATO ally not to have ratified Sweden's accession. Turkey's main opposition party also supported Sweden's membership in the alliance but a center-right party and the country's pro-Kurdish party declared they would oppose it. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration never formally tied the sale of the F-16s to Turkey's ratification of Sweden's NATO membership.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Ulf Kristersson, Jens Stoltenberg, Sweden's, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Burak Akcapar, Erdogan, Koray Aydin, Joe Biden's, John Kirby, Viktor Orbán Organizations: Swedish, NATO, Official Gazette, Ankara, Kurdistan Workers ' Party, Good Party, U.S . Congress, Administration, Turkey, National Security, Nordic Locations: Vilnius, Hungary, Turkey, Ankara, Stockholm, Kurdistan, Sweden, Turkey's, Canada, Washington, NATO, Finland, Ukraine, Budapest

The measure passed after a vote of 287 to 55, with four abstentions in the 600-member body. It will go into effect once it is published in the country’s official gazette, usually a swift formality. That would make Hungary the only NATO member that has not approved Sweden’s accession, depriving the alliance of the unanimity required to add a new member. NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said in a statement late Tuesday that he welcomed the news from Turkey, according to Reuters. But, he said, “I also count on Hungary to complete its national ratification as soon as possible.”

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, “ Organizations: NATO, Nordic, Reuters Locations: Sweden, United States, Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Turkey

☆ Panama publishes ruling finding First Quantum contract unconstitutional
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] File photo: People react after Panama's top court ruled the mining contract with Canadian miner First Quantum to operate a copper mine in the country as unconstitutional following weeks of protests against the deal, in Panama City, Panama November 28, 2023. REUTERS/Aris Martinez/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 2 (Reuters) - Panama published a ruling finding Canadian miner First Quantum's (FM.TO) contract for an open-pit copper mine in the Central American country unconstitutional in the official gazette on Saturday. The contract had triggered caused widespread protests in Panama, and President Laurentino Cortizo said on Tuesday the mine would close as soon as the Supreme Court's ruling was formally published in the official gazette. Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; Writing by Alexander Villegas; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Laurentino Cortizo, Valentine Hilaire, Alexander Villegas, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Central American, Thomson Locations: Panama City, Panama

☆ Panama trade minister resigns after mining contract backlash
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Elida Moreno | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PANAMA CITY, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Panama's Trade Minister Federico Alfaro announced his resignation on Thursday days after the country's top court ruled a contract between the government and Canadian miner First Quantum < FM.TO> was unconstitutional. The Central American country's trade ministry led negotiations on a contract between the government and First Quantum to operate a key copper mine, which opponents have deemed as too generous to the miner. In a resignation letter addressed to the president and shared on social media, Alfaro mentioned the contract, which generated months of protest throughout Panama, as well as the court ruling. Cortizo announced on Tuesday he will follow through with First Quantum's mine shutdown once the court's ruling is published in the country's official gazette, which has not yet happened. Incoming trade minister Rivera said in a separate public statement the ministry is evaluating actions to comply with the court's ruling and will start coordination talks with labor and environmental authorities.

Persons: Federico Alfaro, Alfaro, Laurentino Cortizo, Jorge Rivera, Cortizo, Rivera, Eli Moreno, Brendan O'Boyle, Isabel Woodford Organizations: PANAMA CITY, Panama's Trade, Central American, Thomson Locations: PANAMA, Panama, Lincoln

☆ Mexico president asks lawmakers to let US military trainers into Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, California, U.S. November 17, 2023. The announcement published Tuesday said President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador sought permission for 11 U.S. military personnel to take part in a program called "Strengthening the Capacities of the Special Forces of the Defense Ministry." Lopez Obrador has vigorously defended the principle of Mexican sovereignty, passing measures to restrict the ability of U.S. counter-narcotics agents to operate in Mexico. The U.S. troops are expected to arrive in Mexico with their own weapons, ammunition and equipment, the Senate letter added. For his part, Lopez Obrador has been critical of U.S. anti-narcotics officials operating on Mexican territory, accusing U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents of trampling on Mexican sovereignty.

Persons: Joe Biden, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Kevin Lamarque, Lopez Obrador, Lopez Obrador's, Dave Graham, Drazen Jorgic, Franklin Paul, Deepa Babington Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Mexican Senate, U.S, Special Forces of, Defense Ministry, Special Forces Group, Mexico's Defense Ministry, United States, Drug Enforcement Administration, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, MEXICO, Mexican, Mexico, United States, Mexico City, Jan, Iraq, Afghanistan

"We have decided to unanimously declare unconstitutional the entire law 406 of October 20, 2023," Supreme Court President Maria Eugenia Lopez said. First Quantum acknowledged the ruling and affirmed its "unwavering commitment to regulatory compliance in all aspects of our operations within the country." Panama President Laurentino Cortizo said the country will abide by the court ruling. For First Quantum, the Panama ruling would be a repeat of its decade-old experience in the Democratic Republic Of Congo. The company exited DRC in 2012 after it filed an arbitration procedure against the African country for cancelling its mining contract.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Maria Eugenia Lopez, Quantum, Laurentino Cortizo, Morgan, Ricardo Martinelli, Leonardo Di Caprio, Elida Moreno, Valentine Hilaire, Natalia Siniawski, Denny Thomas, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Porter Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Reuters, Panama, London Metal Exchange, Central, RBC, Democratic, Natural Resources Corporation PLC, Cobre, Thomson Locations: Panama's, Panama, Panama City, PANAMA, Central American, Democratic Republic Of Congo, Hollywood, Cobre Panama

☆ Argentina hikes taxes on dollar savings and bank card purchases ahead of Milei taking power
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A one hundred Argentine peso bill sits on top of several one hundred U.S. dollar bills in this illustration picture taken October 17, 2022. The change means that Argentines using dollar credit cards or buying foreign currency for savings will pay rates closer to those in alternative markets. This change comes after libertarian Milei, who proposes dollarizing Argentina's economy and eliminating the central bank, defeated the Peronist Economy Minister Sergio Massa in a presidential run-off on Sunday. To safeguard its limited foreign currency, Argentina set multiple exchange rates under strict controls in 2019. Reporting by Walter Bianchi; Writing by Natalia Siniawski; Edited by Eliana Raszewski and Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Javier Milei, Milei, Sergio Massa, Walter Bianchi, Natalia Siniawski, Eliana Raszewski, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Argentine, REUTERS, Peronist Economy, Thomson Locations: Argentina, Argentine

☆ Belgium bans use of Ozempic for weight loss until summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Marine Strauss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Boxes of Ozempic, a semaglutide injection drug used for treating type 2 diabetes made by Novo Nordisk, is seen at a Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo, Utah, U.S. March 29, 2023. Ozempic is approved to treat Type 2 diabetes but has increasingly been prescribed "off-label" to treat weight loss because it has the same active ingredient as Novo's hugely popular - and scarce - anti-obesity drug Wegovy. In Britain, doctors and prescribers, including private online pharmacies, have been ordered to stop prescribing Ozempic to people who don't have type 2 diabetes as soon as possible. They are also banned from starting new patients with type 2 diabetes on the medicine for as long as the shortage lasts. Last month, Belgium's federal medicine agency recommended doctors and pharmacists only prescribe Ozempic to diabetic patients due to the surge in demand.

Persons: George Frey, Ozempic, Marine Strauss, Mark Potter Organizations: Novo Nordisk, Pharmacy, REUTERS, Marine, Thomson Locations: Provo , Utah, U.S, Belgium, Britain

☆ Tesla to roll into South America with first steps in Chile
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Tesla Inc. vehicle facility is pictured in Costa Mesa, California, U.S., November 1, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Tesla Inc FollowSANTIAGO, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Electric vehicle maker Tesla (TSLA.O) is looking to make inroads in South America by hiring personnel for a new operation in Chile and registering its name, according to public documents. Tesla Chile was registered and published in the Official Gazette on Sept. 28 and includes "the import, export, manufacturing, marketing, distribution and sale of vehicles, especially electric vehicles." Although Tesla Chile was registered with headquarters in Santiago, the registration leaves the option for "branches or agencies that may be established in other cities in the country or abroad." This would be Tesla's first direct commercial operation in South America.

Persons: Mike Blake, Elon Musk, BYD, Fabián Andrés, Alexander Villegas, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Tesla Inc, REUTERS, Tesla, Elon, Thomson Locations: Costa Mesa , California, U.S, South America, Chile, Tesla Chile, Santiago

☆ Mexico declares country free of H5N1 bird flu
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Test tubes labelled "Bird Flu" and eggs are seen in this picture illustration, January 14, 2023. The decision will facilitate the sale of live poultry, as well as poultry products and by-products originating from Mexico, the gazette said. To guarantee Mexico remains free of the disease, the country will maintain in place epidemiological surveillance, traceability, control of movement and other strict safety procedures, according to the document. The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, commonly called bird flu, has killed poultry flocks in the United States and Europe since last year. Report by Raul Cortes Fernandez Editing by Drazen Jorgic and Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Raul Cortes Fernandez, Drazen Jorgic, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Gazette, Ministry of Agriculture, Organization for Animal Health, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, Nuevo Leon, United States, Europe, South America, Brazil, Ecuador

[1/2] Aeromexico aircrafts and other planes are parked at gates at Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City, Mexico January 19, 2023. REUTERS/Henry Romero/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMEXICO CITY, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Mexico's government plans to cap flights at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) to 43 an hour, according to an internal government document order seen by Reuters on Wednesday. The cuts follow previous flight caps at the airport last year, as the government attempts to reduce saturation in the Mexican capital's airspace. Earlier on Wednesday, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged Mexico to take alternative measures to its plans to announce flight reductions at AICM. Mexico last year moved to diversify its airspace around the capital, opening the Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA) north of Mexico City and turning back to the largely forgotten Toluca airport to the west of town.

Persons: Henry Romero, Carlos Velazquez, Felipe, Peter Cerda, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Lopez Obrador, Kylie Madry, Cassandra Garrison, Leslie Adler, Stephen Coates Organizations: Benito Juarez International Airport, REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Mexico City International, Reuters, Transportation Ministry, International Air Transport Association, Felipe Angeles International Airport, Thomson Locations: Mexico City, Mexico, MEXICO, Latin America, Toluca, IATA's, America, Texcoco, Mexican

☆ Peru slashes growth outlook amid falling copper investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Marco Aquino | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LIMA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Peru lowered its economic growth forecasts for 2023 and 2024 on Tuesday amid poor weather, lower private investment in mining, and anti-government protests earlier this year. The South American country's economy is expected to grow 1.1% this year, the economy ministry said in Peru's official gazette. Next year, Peru's economy is expected to grow 3.0%, the ministry added, down from a previous estimate of 3.4%. That makes El Nino the largest immediate threat to Peru's economy, the government said. Meanwhile, Peru's estimated current account deficit was lowered to 1.6% of GDP, down from the 2.1% of GDP previously expected.

Persons: LIMA, El, Peru's, Alex Contreras, Marco Aquino, Kylie Madry, Isabel Woodford, David Holmes, Alistair Bell, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Peruvian Fiscal, El, El Nino, Finance, year's, U.S, Thomson Locations: Peru

☆ Turkey begins rolling back costly FX-protected deposits
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In a reversal, the central bank now wants lenders to set a new goal of transitioning KKM accounts into regular lira accounts, in part by dissuading companies and individuals from renewing the KKM accounts. According to a separate decree in the Official Gazette, the central bank also raised lenders' reserve requirement ratios for FX deposits, further nudging customers into regular lira accounts. KKM accounts have since ballooned to some $117 billion, or 3.1 trillion lira, around a quarter of total bank deposits. To cover KKM depreciation costs, the central bank paid an estimated 300 billion lira ($11 billion) in June and July, when the lira plunged again. The central bank said the KKM move would "enforce macro financial stability by supporting lira deposits" and pledged more such steps.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Tayyip Erdogan's, Erdogan, Hakan Kara, Jonathan Spicer, Azra, Deepa Babington, Frances Kerry Organizations: Turkish Lira, REUTERS, Rights, Official Gazette, Bilkent University, Ece Toksabay, Thomson Locations: Turkish, Rights ANKARA

☆ Wear Swatch's 'LGBTQ-related' products in Malaysia and you could face 3 years in jail
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The ban comes under the Printing Presses and Publications Act, the ministry added. ‘Political punching bag’Rights groups say the LGBTQ community faces growing intolerance in Malaysia and accuse the government of being at least partly to blame. “It showcases an alarming trend where symbols of pride and acts of solidarity with the LGBTQ community are met with harsh and disproportionate government responses,” Dhia said. As more individuals and groups come forward in support of the LGBTQ community, the state’s pushback grows increasingly aggressive,” Dhia added. By creating an environment of fear and hostility, the Malaysian government does a disservice not only to the LGBTQ community but to every Malaysian citizen.”

Persons: CNN —, ”, Nick Hayek Jr, “, ” Hayek, Phil Robertson, ” Robertson, Dhia Rezki Rohaizad, ” Dhia, Matty Healy, Dhia Organizations: CNN, Swatch, Ministry of Home Affairs, Printing, Malaysian, ” Swatch Malaysia, Asia, Human Rights, “, “ Gay, British Locations: Malaysia, Malaysian

☆ Turkey's Erdogan appoints three deputy governors to central bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses supporters at the Presidential Palace after his victory in the second round of the presidential election, Ankara, Turkey, May 29, 2023. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File PhotoISTANBUL, July 28 (Reuters) - Turkish's President Tayyip Erdogan named three deputy governors to the central bank, the country's official gazette said early on Friday, hours after the bank vowed to continue gradual monetary tightening and raised its end-2023 inflation forecast. Osman Cevdet Akcay, Fatih Karahan and Hatice Karahan were appointed as deputy central bank governors, according to a decision published in the official gazette. On Thursday, Turkey's central bank raised its end-2023 inflation forecast sharply to 58% and said it would continue monetary tightening. In what is seen as a pivot to economic orthodoxy, Erdogan appointed Mehmet Simsek as finance minister and Erkan as central bank governor shortly after his re-election in May.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Umit, Osman Cevdet Akcay, Fatih Karahan, Hatice Karahan, Yapi, Hafize Gaye Erkan, Erdogan, Mehmet Simsek, Emrah Sener, Taha Cakmak, Mustafa Duman, Ezgi Erkoyun, Leslie Adler, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Amazon, Thomson Locations: Ankara, Turkey, ISTANBUL, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Turkey's

☆ Iranian chess player who removed hijab gets Spanish citizenship
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, July 26 (Reuters) - An Iranian chess player who moved to Spain in January after she competed without a hijab and had an arrest warrant issued against her at home has been granted Spanish citizenship, Spain said on Wednesday. Laws enforcing mandatory hijab-wearing became a flashpoint during the unrest that swept Iran when a 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, died in the custody of the morality police in mid-September. The 26-year-old has told Reuters she had no regrets over her gesture in support of the protest movement against her country's clerical leadership. Spain's official gazette said the cabinet approved granting Khadem citizenship on Tuesday "taking into account the special circumstances" of her case. Reporting by Emma Pinedo; Editing by Alison WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sarasadat, Sara Khadem, Mahsa Amini, Emma Pinedo, Alison Williams Organizations: FIDE, Reuters, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Iranian, Spain, Spanish, Kazakhstan, Iran

☆ Turkey raises euro rate for medicine prices by 30.5%
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

ANKARA, July 23 (Reuters) - Turkey has raised the euro-lira conversion rate for medicine prices by 30.5% to 14.0387 lira per euro, the country's Official Gazette showed on Sunday. The updated conversion rate is nearly half the market rate, with the lira standing at 29.9727 against the euro at Friday's close . The increase in medicine prices could further stoke inflation, which is already expected to rise more this year due to the lira's deprecation and recent tax hikes introduced by Ankara. Economists are revising their end-2023 inflation forecasts to around 60% from 38.21% in June. Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ali Kucukgocmen, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Thomson Locations: ANKARA, Turkey, stoke, Ankara

☆ Protest returns to Peru with fresh demands against official impunity and fears about the economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Karol Suarez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Yet many of the protesters’ key demands, such as the resignation of President Dina Boluarte, early elections, and the closure of Congress, remain unanswered. Anger over accountability is what’s driving the new protests, Omar Coronel, a sociologist from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, told CNN. At the minimum, a democracy leads to “some kind of political sanction” for protest deaths. At least 24,000 police officers are being mobilized to watch what has been dubbed the “takeover of Lima” protest. What people want is to work and that the businesses and the economy not to come to a standstill,” political analyst Álvarez Rodrich said.

Persons: ” Alex Mendoza, Pedro Castillo, Dina Boluarte, Mendoza, ”, “, Ernesto Benavides, ’, Castillo, Boluarte, Anger, Omar Coronel, Marisol Perez Tello, ” Ivette, Vicente Romero, Perez Tello, ” Perez Tello, Cris Bouroncle, ” Augusto Álvarez Rodrich, Coronel, Ronderos, –, ’ ” Coronel, Álvarez Rodrich, ” Jacinto Amansio López Delgado, ” López Organizations: Peru CNN, CNN, Getty, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, ”, “, Commerce Locations: Lima, Peru, AFP, Ivette, Peruvian, ’ Lima, ”

The VAT rate charged on goods and services rose to 20% from 18%, while that on basic goods such as toilet paper and detergents increased to 10% from 8%, effective immediately, the Official Gazette said. "Reducing the budget deficit is the aim of the latest increase in taxes and fees, and some other steps to ensure fiscal discipline are on the agenda too. The tax increases could raise Turkey's budget revenues by around 2%, Oyak Investment said in a note. Economists said the increased VAT rate charged on goods and services would boost state revenues by around 30 billion lira. Separately, Turkey on Friday also exempted from witholding tax the dividend payments of own shares purchased by companies listed on the Istanbul bourse.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, QNB Finansbank, Erdogan, Economists, Ezgi Erkoyun, Burcu Karakas, Orhan Coskun, Jonathan Spicer, Gareth Jones Organizations: stoke, Official Gazette, Bank Insurance, Oyak Investment, Istanbul bourse, Thomson Locations: ISTANBUL, Turkey, Istanbul

☆ Mexico launches antitrust probe in digital goods and services sector
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, July 3 (Reuters) - Mexico's antitrust watchdog has started an investigation into possible monopolistic practices in the market for the sale and development of digital goods and services, as well as related services, the government said in its official gazette on Monday. The Federal Economic Competition Commision (COFECE) said it had begun the probe to see if the practices in question breached federal competition law. It did not identify any company in relation to the file, cited as DE-023-2022, as is customary during investigations. COFECE said the process should not be understood as an assumption of responsibility on the part of any market player. The investigation would last at least 30 working days from the date of the announcement, and would not exceed 120 days, it said.

Persons: COFECE, Natalia Siniawski, Dave Graham, David Holmes Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Federal, Thomson Locations: MEXICO

☆ Bosnia envoy revokes Bosnian Serb laws defying the state, peace deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Daria Sito-Sucic | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SARAJEVO, July 1 (Reuters) - Bosnia's international peace overseer, Christian Schmidt, on Saturday annulled two laws that Bosnian Serb parliament had adopted defying the constitution and the terms of a peace deal that ended the Balkan country's war in the 1990s. Schmidt, who as international High Representative in Bosnia has powers to impose laws and sack obstructive officials, also amended a law so that those seen as attacking the state institutions can be criminally prosecuted. "Recent decisions by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska directly violate the constitutional order of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Dayton peace agreement," Schmidt told a news conference in Sarajevo. The Serbs say they do not recognise Schmidt, who was appointed in 2021, as the high representative because the U.N. Security Council did not endorse his appointment. The U.S. embassy welcomed Schmidt's decisions, agreeing that he was defending the Dayton peace deal and the constitution upholding the rule of law in Bosnia.

Persons: Christian Schmidt, Schmidt, Milorad Dodik, Dodik, Daria Sito, Louise Heavens Organizations: Bosnian Serb, Representative, National Assembly, Russian, . Security, United States, Thomson Locations: SARAJEVO, Bosnian, Bosnia, Republika Srpska, Herzegovina, Dayton, Sarajevo, Republic, Serb Republic, United States, United Kingdom, U.S

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