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☆ ChatGPT helped a simulated study return up to 512% trading stocks based on news. Here's the prompt the researchers used — plus the positive and negative takeaways from their findings.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

ChatGPT excelled at predicting a stock's price direction based on news sentiment. They found that while ChatGPT excelled at predicting a stock's direction based on news sentiment, it is not without limitations. They prompted ChatGPT to assign the following scores to headlines: "1" for good news, "0" for unknown and "-1" for bad news. Is this headline good or bad for the stock price of (company name) in the term (short or long-term)?" This meant negative news had a greater and longer impact in the real world than in the simulation,, likely giving ChatGPT an advantage, Lopez-Lira noted.

Persons: ChatGPT, Bard, Alejandro Lopez, Yuehua Tang, Merrill Lynch, Lopez, Lira, Tang, Russell, BERT, Philip Morris, Gene Tipps, David Capablanca, Alpesh Patel, Praefinium, Patel, Capablanca, GPT's, it's, Cory Mitchell, would've, Mitchell, you'll, they're Organizations: University of Florida, of Florida's Department, Finance, Lira, Center for Research, Linux, NYSE, Nasdaq, GPT, Design, Cadence Design, Philip Morris Beats, Global, Global Operations, Dow Locations: GPT

☆ MLB roundup: O's pass Rays for division lead with 10-inning win
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Felix Bautista (5-1) pitched scoreless ball in the ninth and 10th innings for Baltimore, which won for the 10th time in 12 games. Yandy Diaz hit a two-run double that tied the game 3-3 for the Rays but he struck out three times. Abbott (5-2), the first Cincinnati pitcher to work eight innings this season, retired the final 12 batters he faced. Lorenzen's streak now stands at 23 2/3 scoreless innings dating to June 30. Kopech, who picked up his first win in eight starts, walked four and struck out five in 5 2/3 innings.

Persons: Colton Cowser, Tommy Gilligan, Colton Cowser's, Aaron Hicks, Rutschman, Ryan O'Hearn, Felix Bautista, Adam Frazier's, Hicks, Robert Stephenson, Luke Raley, Bautista, Randy Arozarena, Brandon Lowe, Yandy Diaz, Andrew Abbott, Abbott, Luke Maile, Will Benson, Wilmer Flores, Alex Cobb, Austin Riley, Matt Olson, Kirby Yates, Miguel Castro, Zac Gallen, Orlando Arcia, Gallen, Atlanta's Spencer Strider, George Kirby, Teoscar Hernandez, Mike Ford, Kirby, Pablo Lopez, Christian Yelich, Corbin Burnes, Yelich, Taijuan Walker, Michael Lorenzen, Nick Maton, Akil Baddoo, Zack Greinke, hasn't, Andy Ibanez, Eric Haase, Ibanez, Chris Bassitt, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Alejandro Kirk, Bassitt, Jordan Romano, Xander Bogaerts, Blake Snell, Elvis Andrus, Michael Kopech, Omar Narvaez, Kopech, Jose Quintana Organizations: Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oriole, Camden Yards, Tampa Bay Rays, Orioles, American League East, Baltimore, Rays, Reds, Giants, Cincinnati, San Francisco, Braves, Diamondbacks, Atlanta, Mariners, Seattle, Minnesota, Twins, Brewers, Phillies, Philadelphia, National League, Tigers, Royals, Kansas City, Blue Jays, Padres, Toronto, Diego, White Sox, Mets, Chicago, New York . White Sox, Thomson Locations: Baltimore , Maryland, USA, St . Petersburg, Fla, Tampa Bay, Cincinnati, San Francisco, Arizona, Milwaukee, Detroit, San Diego, New York

☆ Guatemala's Arevalo slams 'corrupt' raid on his party's offices
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Sofia Menchu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Anti-graft presidential candidate of the Semilla political party Bernardo Arevalo holds a campaign rally ahead of the presidential run-off, in Sumpango, Guatemala, July 16, 2023. REUTERS/Cristina Chiquin/File PhotoGUATEMALA CITY, July 21 (Reuters) - Guatemalan presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo called a Friday morning police raid on his party headquarters a "corrupt" show of "political persecution" just a month before the high-stakes run-off election. Video from outside the Semilla party offices posted by local newspaper Diario La Hora showed at least a couple of dozen uniformed police officers standing guard, preventing anyone from entering or exiting the building. In a post on Twitter, Arevalo derided the raid as a "flagrant demonstration of the political persecution we have denounced." The presidential hopeful has blamed the police action on a "corrupt minority" but did not go into further detail.

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Cristina Chiquin, Arevalo, Alejandro Giammattei, Sandra Torres, Rafael Curruchiche, U.S . State Department's Engel, Sofia Menuchu, Valentine Hilaire, David Alire Garcia, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Police, Diario La, Twitter, U.S, U.S . State, Thomson Locations: Sumpango, Guatemala, GUATEMALA, Arevalo's, Central, Arevalo, Guatemala's, U.S .

☆ Barack Obama shares his summer playlist including songs by Tupac Shakur and Tina Turner
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Former President Barack Obama is staying cool this summer with a summer playlist of 40-plus songs that showcase his eclectic tastes. There are also some repeat artists on the list that Obama was listening to in the summer of 2021 – including the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, SZA, Michael Kiwanuka and Bob Dylan – who show up here with different songs. Obama’s 2023 summer list includes country singer Luke Combs’s cover of Tracy Chapman’s 1988 classic “Fast Car,” which recently reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, making Chapman the first Black woman to top that chart in its 33-year existence. Obama traditionally releases these wide-ranging playlists for the summer, holidays and even for some workout motivation.

Persons: Barack Obama, ” Obama, Tina, Ike Turner’s, ”, 2Pac, Dre, Roger Troutman, Obama’s, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Dr, Feelgood, Aretha Franklin, Nicki Minaj’s, Diana ”, Rauw Alejandro, Rosalía, Obama, Stevie Wonder, Michael Kiwanuka, Bob Dylan –, Luke Combs’s, Tracy Chapman’s, Chapman, “, Jorja Smith, Ashley McBryde, Pearl Jam Organizations: CNN, Twitter, Spice, Pearl Locations: California, United States

☆ Tom Brady has always been looking for speed; he had to retire from the NFL to find it
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Don Riddell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Tom Brady did it all; he’s a paragon of excellence and a poster child for longevity. If there was anything that Tom Brady lacked, it was speed. “If I couldn’t run that fast, I better figure out a vehicle that could move fast!” quipped Brady. And we’re so lucky to have him.”Legendary quarterback Tom Brady announced his retirement after 23 seasons in the NFL earlier this year. “I’ve done my part in professional football,” said Brady.

Persons: Tom Brady, He’s, Brady, I’ve, ”, Alejandro Agag, who’s, Brady can’t, “, ” Brady, ” Tom Brady, Billie Weiss, ’ Brady isn’t, they’ve, there’s, Didier Drogba, Rafael Nadal, Sergio Pérez, Agag, that’s, Didier, he’s, Rafa, it’s, ” Agag, “ Brady, Harry, There’s, I’ll Organizations: CNN, NFL, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, Patriots, CNN Sport, world's, Formula, Gillette, Chelsea, Champions League, Premier League, ”, North, Tampa Locations: New England, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Venice, Monaco, Rotterdam, Europe, North America, Asia, Miami , New York, Chicago, San Francisco , Hong Kong, Macau, Tokyo, Florida, Foxborough , Massachusetts, Ivory Coast, Spain, Mexican, powerboating, Tampa Bay

Rising tensions between Washington and President Nayib Bukele's government, dwindling prospects of a financing deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the fallout from bitcoin becoming legal tender against a wider difficult macro backdrop had seen El Salvador bonds drop to a quarter of face value last July. "In the summer of 2022, El Salvador bond prices were divorced from fundamentals," said Aaron Stern, managing partner and chief investment officer at Converium Capital in Toronto, who has been holding the country's bonds since last year. "The market was concerned about the administration's willingness to pay," he said, but even now El Salvador offers attractive value when compared to a number of better priced emerging market sovereigns. These were the best performing among sovereign bonds in the first half of the year, with total returns near 60%. "In a year where carry is the main driver of total returns, investors are going to be reticent to take profits too early," said BNP Paribas' Nathalie Marshik, a managing director for Latin America fixed income.

Persons: Nayib Bukele's, buybacks, Aaron Stern, Alejandro Werner, Bukele, there's, Shamaila Khan, Nathalie Marshik, Marshik, Rodrigo Campos, Karin Strohecker, William Maclean Organizations: YORK, Central, International Monetary Fund, El, IMF, Converium Capital, Reuters, Emerging Markets, Asia Pacific, UBS Asset Management, Reuters Graphics JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: El Salvador, Central American, Washington, Toronto, it's, America

☆ Analysis: Pakistan and Argentina bonds' surge belies bigger reform hurdles
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Libgeorge Jorgelina Do Rosario | Jorgelina Do Rosario | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Reuters GraphicsBut the boost in the bonds belies the difficulties both nations face implementing major reforms once new leaders arrive after upcoming elections. Pakistan's 11th hour deal for $3 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), after months of talks got official approval this week. Saudi Arabia and the UAE followed with $2 billion and $1 billion infusions. This fresh cash means Pakistan is unlikely to default on its debt in the next six to nine months, said de Sousa. Investors and pollsters said the tough times could force Pakistan and Argentina's leaders to reckon with needed fiscal reforms.

Persons: Carlos de Sousa, de Sousa, JPMorgan, Roberto H, Sifon Arevalo, refinance, Jimena Blanco, pollsters, Alejandro Catterberg, Sergio Massa, Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, Patricia Bullrich, Javier Milei, Shamaila Khan, Libby George, Jorgelina, Rodrigo Campos, Karin Strohecker, Toby Chopra Organizations: JPMorgan, Vontobel Asset Management, International Monetary Fund, UAE, Elections, Pakistan, P, Reuters, Peronist, Asia Pacific, UBS Asset Management, Thomson Locations: Pakistan, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Washington, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Asia, Rosario

☆ Guatemala top court reverses ban on anti-graft presidential candidate
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Sofia Menchu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Constitutional Court said it had granted a provisional injunction filed by the Semilla party against a judge's order to suspend the party and seemingly kick Arevalo out of the race. Asked about the potential for U.S. sanctions on those behind the Semilla suspension, a U.S. State Department spokesperson cited sanctions already imposed on Curruchiche and Attorney General Maria Consuelo Porras but declined to say more. Arevalo told reporters earlier on Thursday he believed the lower court's move against Semilla violated a Guatemalan law preventing political party suspensions during an election. Arevalo's presidential rival Torres urged the popular vote be respected and said she was suspending her campaign in solidarity with Semilla voters. Aldana by then had a reputation as an anti-graft crusader and helped oust, prosecute and imprison conservative former President Otto Perez.

Persons: Cinthia Monterroso, Guatemala Attorney General's, Bernardo Arevalo's, Read, Bernardo Arevalo, Arevalo, Sandra Torres, Semilla, Rafael Curruchiche, U.S . State Department's Engel, General Maria Consuelo Porras, Juan Jose Arevalo, Alejandro Giammattei, Giammattei, Torres, Thelma Aldana, Otto Perez, Sofia Menchu, Dave Graham, Valentine Hilaire, Matt Spetalnick, Kylie Madry, Cassandra Garrison, Sarah Morland, Stephen Eisenhammer, Josie Kao, Lincoln Organizations: Guatemala Attorney, GUATEMALA CITY, Constitutional, European Union, U.S, U.S . State, Semilla, Washington D.C, Thomson Locations: Guatemala, Guatemala City, GUATEMALA, June's, The U.S, U.S, Canada, Britain, Chile, Norway, Mexico, U.S ., Curruchiche, Mexico City, Washington

☆ Guatemala court suspends anti-graft presidential candidate's party
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Sofia Menchu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

GUATEMALA CITY, July 12 (Reuters) - A court in Guatemala suspended the party of anti-graft presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo, a prosecutor at the Attorney General's Office said on Wednesday, throwing into question his place in a second round run-off vote. "In no way will we obey a spurious and illegal decision like the one issued by that court." Shortly after, the electoral court confirmed the first-round results, which put Arevalo into a second round. "It's something that concerns us as a court, because we know that elections are won at the polls," Irma Palencia, head of the electoral court, said when asked about the suspension. This would certainly represent an astounding new low for Guatemala," said Donald J. Planty, a former U.S. ambassador to Guatemala, about the possible suspension.

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Attorney General's, Arevalo, Rafael Curruchiche, Sandra Torres, Irma Palencia, Brian A, Nichols, Guatemalans, Juan Jose Arevalo, Carlos Pineda, Will Freeman, Semilla, Critics, Alejandro Giammattei, Donald J, Sofia Menchu, Valentine Hilaire, David Alire, Adriana Barrera, Cassandra Garrison, Brendan O'Boyle, Stephen Eisenhammer, Lincoln, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, Attorney, CNN, Twitter, U.S, Western Hemisphere Affairs, Central American, Council, Foreign Relations, Thomson Locations: GUATEMALA, Guatemala, Nicaragua, U.S

☆ Alcaraz and Rune Wimbledon clash an appetiser for tasty future rivalry
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Both aged 20, born six days apart, the young guns who will be contesting the first men's Wimbledon quarter-final involving two players aged 21 or under in the professional era. A potential Wimbledon final between defending champion Djokovic and Alcaraz is the talk of the town, but with a 16-year age gap it is likely to be an intense but short-term rivalry. That is why there is so much excitement brewing about Wednesday's Alcaraz and Rune quarter-finals showdown - it could well be a juicy foretaste of things to come. "You're hoping, as Djokovic and Nadal wind down, you're hoping Alcaraz and Rune in particular step up and have a great rivalry because all sports need it." We played together since we were 12 years old," top seed Alcaraz said after his fourth-round win over Italian Matteo Berrettini on Monday.

Persons: Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, Italy's Matteo Berrettini, Hannah Mckay LONDON, Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune, Alcaraz, Rune, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Djokovic, they've, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Wednesday's, Matteo Berrettini, Rune's, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Daniil Medvedev, Christopher Eubanks, Eubanks, Arthur Ashe, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Italy's Matteo Berrettini REUTERS, Wimbledon, U.S, Nadal, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

The Justice Department in a filing sought a stay pending its appeal of the judge's preliminary injunction. Doughty's order specifically mentioned certain officials including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Jen Easterly, who heads the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. U.S. officials have said that in contacting social media companies they were aiming to tamp down misinformation about American elections and about COVID vaccines to curb preventable deaths. It raises grave separation-of-powers concerns," the Justice Department filing said, referring to the Constitution's division of powers among the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the U.S. government. The judge's order made some exceptions for communications between government officials and the companies, including to warn about risks to national security and about criminal activity.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Joe Biden's, Terry Doughty, Doughty, Donald Trump, Alejandro Mayorkas, Kanishka Singh, Will Dunham, Mike Scarcella Organizations: Twitter, YouTube, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, U.S . Justice, Republican, New, Circuit, District, Department of Health, Human Services, U.S, Department, Department of Homeland, Infrastructure Security Agency . U.S, ., Thomson Locations: New Orleans, Louisiana, Missouri, Washington

☆ Wimbledon: Underarm serve backfires as Alejandro Davidovich Fokina loses to Holger Rune
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina opted for an underarm serve at a crucial point in his third-round Wimbledon match against Holger Rune on Saturday. Rune, the 20-year-old sixth seed, comfortably dealt with the ball – hitting a fierce return winner for match point, eventually clinching an entertaining 6-3 4-6 3-6 6-4 7-6 (10-8) win. Davidovich Fokina returns the ball to Rune during their men's singles match. That was very unexpected, for sure,” the Dane, who had saved two match points, told reporters afterwards. I thought that I would trust my serve and go big, also like I did in the match points, the match point I saved.

Persons: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Holger Rune, Rune, Davidovich Fokina, Adrian Dennis, Dane, “, Michael Regan, ” Rune, Frances Tiafoe, Grigor Dimitrov Organizations: CNN, Wimbledon, Getty, Reuters Locations: AFP

☆ Underarm serve backfires on Davidovich Fokina as Rune prevails in five-set epic
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Rune celebrated and Davidovich Fokina gestured towards his box. Rune, who saved two match points in the final set, won the next point when his opponent found the net on match point. Actually it was nice, because he was serving unbelievable," sixth seed Rune said of the underarm serve. Davidovich Fokina had looked solid on serve throughout so his decision was all the more baffling. Both players revelled in the atmosphere with Davidovich Fokina joining the fans in a Mexican wave from his seat when rain briefly stopped play.

Persons: Holger Rune, Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Dylan Martinez, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Fokina, Davidovich Fokina, Rune, Dane, I've, Jiri Vesely, Rune's, Rohith Nair, Clare Fallon Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Dylan Martinez LONDON, Wimbledon, whacking, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Bengaluru

☆ Alcaraz passes test at Wimbledon, Rybakina on fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

In the men's draw, third seed Daniil Medvedev and fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas both swept through while 2021 runner-up Matteo Berrettini set up a showdown with Alcaraz. With the big-serving Berrettini up next, Alcaraz, who was a break down in the fourth set, said Saturday's test was just what he needed. Rybakina ensured a demoralising 48 hours for Britain as she demolished Katie Boulter 6-1 6-1 to end home hopes in the singles. But she lasted only 57 minutes as Kazakhstan's Rybakina sent out an ominous warning to those wanting her title. Second seed Sabalenka is also in the groove heading into the second week after a 6-2 6-3 defeat of Anna Blinkova.

Persons: Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, Chile's Nicolas Jarry, Toby Melville LONDON, Carlos Alcaraz, Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, Petra Kvitova, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos, Matteo Berrettini, Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz, Berrettini, Alexander Zverev, Medvedev, Hungary's Marton Fucsovics, Rybakina, Katie Boulter, Andy Murray, Cameron Norrie, Liam Broady, Kazakhstan's Rybakina, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Sorana, Maria Bueno, Anna Blinkova, Canada's Bianca Andreescu, Serbia's, Holger Rune, Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Rune, Christopher Eubanks, Chris O'Connell, Tsitsipas, Martyn Herman, Clare Fallon Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Chile's, Wimbledon, Queen's, Court, Serbian, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Belarusian, Ukraine, U.S, Berlin

Now, in their next step to consolidate power, they are trying to manipulate the national elections that are underway. In anticipation of the 2023 elections, President Alejandro Giammattei packed the courts and the electoral tribunal with loyalists. The ruling regime and its allies then enlisted these entities to distort the Constitution and tamper with election procedures to tilt the political playing field in their favor. Many fear the ruling could pave the way for additional spurious challenges that could eventually overturn the results, delay the second round or exclude Mr. Arévalo from competing altogether. The cries of fraud echo those in the United States after President Biden’s 2020 victory, although, with the entire judicial system on their side, Guatemala’s election deniers stand a better chance of pulling it off.

Persons: ”, Alejandro Giammattei, Bernardo Arévalo, Sandra Torres, Arévalo, Biden’s Organizations: National Unity of Hope, Constitutional Locations: United States

WASHINGTON, July 4 (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge on Tuesday restricted some agencies and officials of the administration of President Joe Biden from meeting and communicating with social media companies to moderate their content, according to a court filing. A White House official said the Justice Department was reviewing the order and will evaluations its options. The order also mentioned by name officials including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Jen Easterly, who heads the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, in its restrictions. U.S. officials have said they were aiming to tamp down misinformation about COVID vaccines to curb preventable deaths. Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms (META.O), Twitter, and Alphabet's (GOOGL.O) YouTube did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Joe Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas, Terry Doughty, Kanishka Singh, Jeff Mason, Alistair Bell, Heather Timmons, Bill Berkrot Organizations: U.S, Department of Health, Human Services, FBI, United, White, Justice Department, Department of Homeland, Infrastructure Security Agency, Western, Western District of, Washington Post, Republicans, Biden, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Thomson Locations: Louisiana, Missouri, Western District, Western District of Louisiana, Washington

☆ U.S. judge restricts Biden officials from contact with social media firms
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The U.K.'s Online Safety Bill, which aims to regulate the internet, has been revised to remove a controversial but critical measure. A U.S. federal judge on Tuesday restricted some agencies and officials of the administration of President Joe Biden from meeting and communicating with social media companies to moderate their content, according to a court filing. A White House official said the Justice Department was reviewing the order and will evaluations its options. The order also mentioned by name officials including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Jen Easterly, who heads the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, in its restrictions. U.S. officials have said they were aiming to tamp down misinformation about COVID vaccines to curb preventable deaths.

Persons: Joe Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas, Terry Doughty Organizations: U.S, Department of Health, Human Services, FBI, United, White, Justice Department, Department of Homeland, Infrastructure Security Agency, Western, Western District of, Washington Post, Republicans, Biden, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube Locations: Louisiana, Missouri, Western District, Western District of Louisiana

☆ Republicans Are Divided on Impeaching Biden as Panel Begins New Inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Karoun Demirjian | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Republicans are deeply divided over impeaching President Biden, with newly energized lawmakers on the far right applying pressure to do so and leaders and rank-and-file members concerned they have undertaken a politically risky battle that they cannot win. over moving forward and complicating a separate monthslong drive by the panel to prepare an impeachment case against Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, for the same offenses. Neither pursuit appears to have the votes to proceed, and many Republicans are worried that without a stronger case against the president, even trying the move could be disastrous for their party. Several rank-and-file Republicans from politically competitive districts had balked at the idea of impeaching Mr. Mayorkas, even after Mr. McCarthy endorsed that push. Few believe that the new investigation of Mr. Biden — a hastily arranged effort designed to halt a right-wing attempt to impeach the president outright with no investigation — will yield anything that could persuade them to oust him.

Persons: Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Alejandro N, Mr, Mayorkas, McCarthy, Biden — Organizations: impeaching, Mr, Homeland

☆ Guatemala court orders presidential ballot review, opposition cries foul
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Sofia Menchu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Torres took 15.8% of the vote in the June 25 round, with Arevalo close behind with 11.8%. Some analysts expect Arevalo to win the runoff due to Torres' unpopularity in the voter-dense capital, Guatemala City. The court said it would then determine whether to take the rare step of mandating a recount. Arevalo said he would ask Guatemala's electoral court to annul the top court's decision, which he described as lacking legal merit and dangerous to the electoral process. In the days after the vote, Torres said she was concerned that votes had been manipulated with a faulty software system to favor Arevalo's party, Semilla.

Persons: Sandra Torres, Read, Bernardo Arevalo, Torres, Arevalo, Alejandro Giammattei's Vamos, Sofia Menchu, Daina Beth Solomon, William Mallard Organizations: National Unity of, GUATEMALA CITY, Central American, National Unity of Hope, Guatemalan, of American, Thomson Locations: Guatemala City, Guatemala, GUATEMALA

☆ In parched Uruguay, tensions rise as water levels fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Water used to cover everything you can see." The South American country of 3.5 million people is reeling from its worst drought in 74 years, pushing frustrated residents to depend on bottled water. Low rainfall has forced water authorities to use water from a saltier part of the Santa Lucia river, which supplies most of Uruguay's drinking water, leaving tap water undrinkable for many. Earlier this month, Uruguay's government declared a water emergency, exempting taxes on bottled water and ordering the construction of a new reservoir. "The issue is real," said musician Frank Lampariello, after stocking up on bottled water at a supermarket in Solymar, on Montevideo's outskirts.

Persons: Alejandro Obaldia CANELONES, Mario del Pino, Adrian Dias, OSE, Federico Kreimerman, Kreimerman, Gerardo Amarilla, Frank Lampariello, Alejandro Obaldia, Brendan O'Boyle, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Canelones, Uruguay, Montevideo, Santa Lucia, Solymar, Montevideo's

☆ Madrid joins race for high-spending tourists with bet on five-star hotels
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Corina Pons | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] A swimming pool is seen at the top of Hyatt's Thompson Madrid Hotel, overlooking central Madrid, Spain, June 13, 2023. RISING ROOM RATESThe arrival of luxury hotels has marked a new peak in room rates. "We're seeking to capture the highest-spending international tourists," said Madrid's tourism director, Luis Martin. Employment in Madrid's tourism sector has grown by 15% since 2019, compared with 5.4% nationally. "The Spanish tourism sector has always tried to compete with other destinations on low prices," he said.

Persons: Hyatt's, Violeta Santos Moura, Santo Mauro, Richard Brekelmans, ”, Carlos Erburu, Thompson, Antonio Catalan, Alejandro Pitashny, Luis Martin, Jose Maria Martinez, Corina Pons, Belen Carreño, Charlie Devereux, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Madrid Hotel, REUTERS, Violeta Santos Moura MADRID, Hotels, Puerta del Sol, Dior, Marriott, Santo, Santo Mauro Palace, Westin, Ritz, Universal Music, Southern, Madrid, Colliers, Hyatt Hotels Corp, Reuters, Robuchon, Michelin, Airlines, Air, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Europe, Paris, London, Milan, Puerta del, Southern Europe, Barcelona, United States, Rome, Argentine, Iberia, America, Air China, China, Spanish

☆ Top US Republican threatens impeachment probe of attorney general over Hunter Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Trump, who faces multiple investigations and a federal indictment, is running for re-election in 2024. McCarthy, who backs the effort to expunge Trump's record, has also leveled an impeachment threat against another Biden Cabinet member, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, over the administration's immigration policies. Hardline Republican conservative Representative Lauren Boebert tried to force the House to vote to impeach Biden over immigration and border security last week. Fellow hardline Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is also pressing for the impeachments of Biden, Garland, Mayorkas, FBI Director Christopher Wray and a U.S. attorney prosecuting participants in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Reporting by David Morgan; editing by Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Hillary Clinton, Biden, Narendra Modi, Read, General Merrick Garland, Joe Biden's, Hunter, David Weiss, Donald Trump, Biden's, Merrick Garland's weaponization, McCarthy, Hunter Biden, Garland, Weiss, Trump, Ukraine's, expunge, Alejandro Mayorkas, Lauren Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mayorkas, Christopher Wray, David Morgan, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: U.S, India's, Republican, U.S . House, Justice, Justice Department, DOJ, Revenue, Republicans, Trump, Capitol, Biden, Homeland, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, U.S

☆ Analysis: Emergence of Guatemalan anti-graft champion shakes up election
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Sofia Menchu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] Presidential candidate for the Semilla party Bernardo Arevalo holds a rally at the Parque Central a day after the first round of Guatemala's presidential election, in Guatemala City, Guatemala June 26, 2023. Underlining voter frustration with the status-quo, nearly a quarter of ballots counted were either spoiled or left blank. Arevalo, who has called corruption a "cancer eating away" at Guatemala, will face former first lady Sandra Torres in the run-off. Torres, running in her third presidential contest, won 15.8% of the first-round vote to Arevalo's 11.8%. Aldana later sought asylum in the U.S., while current President Alejandro Giammattei himself became embroiled in corruption allegations, which he denies.

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Juan Jose Arevalo, Arevalo, Thelma Aldana, Otto Perez, Semilla, Bernardo, Nicol Estrada, Carlos Pineda, Will Freeman, Hugo Novales, Sandra Torres, Torres, Freeman, Semilla's, Aldana, Alejandro Giammattei, Juan Jose, Giammattei, Ivan Velasquez, Julia Esquivel, Jimmy Morales, Sofia Menchu, Dave Graham, Stephen Eisenhammer, Rosalba O'Brien, Leslie Adler Organizations: Parque, REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Council, Foreign Relations, of, Guatemala's, U.S, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Parque Central, Guatemala City, Guatemala, Josue, GUATEMALA, Arevalo, U.S, Guatemalan

[1/10] People attend to cast their vote at a polling station during the first round of Guatemala's presidential election in Chinautla, Guatemala, June 25, 2023. She is up against more than 20 other candidates, including Edmond Mulet, a career diplomat, and Zury Rios, daughter of the late dictator Efrain Rios Montt. "All the young people right now will have a role in politics in Guatemala in 20 years time ... "(The next) four years won't allow time to undo how poorly managed the government has been for so many years," said Andres Nolasco, a 25-year-old accountant from Guatemala City. Reporting by Sofía Menchú in Guatemala City and Diego Oré in Mexico City; Writing by Isabel Woodford; Editing by Daniel Wallis, Chizu Nomiyama and Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sandra Torres, Edmond Mulet, Zury Rios, Efrain Rios Montt, Maximo Santacruz, Julio Valenzuela, Alejandro Giammattei, Carlos Pineda, Pineda, Carolina Jimenez, San Jose del Golfo, Irma Palencia, Andres Nolasco, Torres, Alvaro Colom, Sofía Menchú, Diego Oré, Isabel Woodford, Daniel Wallis, Chizu Nomiyama, Chris Reese Organizations: REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Young, European Union, Washington, Central American, Thomson Locations: Chinautla, Guatemala, Josue, GUATEMALA, United States, America, WOLA, San Jose, Guatemala City, Mexico City

☆ Guatemala will vote for new president but critics say many anti-corruption candidates were weeded out
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

One of the expelled candidates, the rightwing Roberto Arzú, was a vocal critic of President Alejandro Giammattei. Employees of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) arrange ahead of the general elections in Guatemala City on June 20, 2023. Johan Ordonez/AFP/Getty ImagesIt’s not the first time that Guatemala’s electoral tribunal eliminates presidential hopefuls, but this year’s cycle is happening in rapidly shrinking civic space. Failing battle against corruptionRights groups say graft and impunity accelerated in the country after former President Jimmy Morales dissolved a United Nations-backed anti-corruption commission in 2019. The candidatesThe US and Western allies have raised concerns about the exclusion of presidential candidates in Guatemala.

Persons: CNN —, Sandra Torres, Thelma Cabrera, Carlos Pineda –, ” Will Freeman, Roberto Arzú, Alejandro Giammattei, Cabrera, Pineda, Tik Tok, ”, Johan Ordonez, we’ve, Caren, Jimmy Morales, Consuelo Porras Argueta, Antony Blinken, José Rubén Zamora, Moises Castillo, Porras, –, Kevin López, Giammattei, Freeman, Biden, “, ” Freeman, Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols, Guatemalans, Maria Consuelo Porras, Mulet, Carin, Edmont, Ríos, Torres, Rios, El, Nayib Bukele, Álvaro Colom, Colom, Efraín Ríos Montt, CICIG Organizations: CNN, Council, Foreign Relations, Twitter, “ Corruption, Constitutional, ” CNN, Getty, Americas Society, United, International Commission, Washington Office, Guatemala Human Rights, USA, Prosecutors, US, State, José Rubén Zamora –, . Press, Patrol, Western Hemisphere Affairs, Public Ministry, United Nations, Agence, France Presse, Analysts Locations: Central America’s, Guatemala, America, Guatemala City, Americas, United Nations, Guatemalan, Central America, American, Washington, United States, Haiti, Nicaragua, France

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