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☆ US, Mexico agree on labor rights plan for Mexican Goodyear plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, July 19 (Reuters) - The United States and Mexico reached an agreement to remedy violations of workers' rights at a Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co (GT.O) plant in the Mexican city of San Luis Potosi, both countries said on Wednesday. The Mexican government has committed to carry out a number of measures under the agreement, the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) office said in a statement. Goodyear must also inform workers of their labor rights and respect union activity, the USTR said. Mexico will carry out periodic inspections of the plant, and if warranted, could impose sanctions on people, labor organizations or the company, the USTR said. The remediation plan comes after a petition from a Mexican independent union, which found Goodyear was offering employees fewer benefits than an industry-wide agreement required.

Persons: Goodyear, Raul Cortes, Valentine Hilaire, Kylie Madry, Brendan O'Boyle, Sonali Paul Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Goodyear Tire &, U.S . Trade, Goodyear, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, United States, Mexico, Mexican, San Luis Potosi, U.S

☆ US adds Central American ex-presidents, judges, lawmakers to corruption list
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Raul Cortes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Two former Salvadoran presidents - Mauricio Funes, who served from 2009 to 2014, and his successor Salvador Sanchez, whom Washington links to corruption, money laundering and embezzlement of public funds - were added to the list. Guatemala's government meanwhile rejected the accusations on Wednesday, labeling the report "used by the United States to impose its jurisdiction on people abroad, as despicable." It includes ex-officials from the government of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was extradited to the United States over drug trafficking links. Politicians from Honduras' opposition Liberal Party also appear, including Liberal leader Yani Rosenthal, previously convicted of money laundering in the United States. The Nicaraguan section includes all of the country's parliamentary leaders, barring its president, who Washington has already sanctioned, and several judges and directors of Nicaragua's money laundering watchdog.

Persons: Mauricio Funes, Salvador Sanchez, Funes, Sanchez, Daniel Ortega, Brian Nichols, Fredy Orellana, Bernardo Arevalo, Engel, Juan Orlando Hernandez, Yani Rosenthal, Rosenthal, Washington, Raul Cortes, Sofia Menchu, Gustavo Palencia, Nelson Renteria, Sarah Morland, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S . State Department, Salvadoran, Western Hemisphere, Liberal Party, Liberal, Thomson Locations: El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Washington, United States, Mexico City, Sofia, Guatemala City, Tegucigalpa, Nelson, San Salvador

CNN —An Australian sailor who spent months adrift in the Pacific Ocean alongside his beloved dog has recounted his remarkable tale of surviving on raw fish and rainwater after finally making it safely back to dry land. Sailor Timothy Lyndsay Shaddock and his dog Bella survived on raw fish and rainwater after being stranded for three months in the Pacific Ocean. CNNThe pair were eventually spotted in the Eastern Pacific Ocean “more than 1,200 miles from land,” according to Grupomar, the company that owns the tuna boat, in a tweet on Monday. The boat’s crew, led by Captain Óscar Meza Oregón, provided Shaddock with medical attention, hydration, and food, according to Grupomar. “I don’t know how far out in the ocean again I’ll be, you know, but I think I just love the nature,” he said.

Persons: Timothy Lyndsay Shaddock, Bella, ”, Shaddock, I’m, Polynesia –, “, Captain Óscar Meza Oregón, ” Antonio Suarez, ” Shaddock, he’ll “ Organizations: CNN Locations: Australian, Mexican, Manzanillo, Mexico City, “, Mexico, Cortes, of California, Polynesia

☆ Paid canvassers for DeSantis are showing up 'a little stoned' in neighborhoods, knocking on doors, and ignoring 'no solicitation' signs, WaPo reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Washington Post reported that paid canvassers are supporting Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign. In one conflict, captured via Ring camera, a door knocker told a voter he was "a little stoned" as he worked. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. In another incident, a paid DeSantis canvasser didn't even look up from his phone to speak with a homeowner whose door he had knocked on. DeSantis' presidential campaign representatives declined to comment on the canvassers' behavior.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, canvassers, DeSantis, combatively, South Carolina indignantly, canvasser, Mike Hogan, Donald Trump, Steve Cortes Organizations: Washington Post, Service, Post, PAC, GOP, Politico Locations: Wall, Silicon, Florida, South Carolina

☆ DeSantis campaign urges patience for breakout moment with eye toward first debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Facing a long summer of running from behind former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is for now resisting calls to dramatically change course in his presidential campaign, instead targeting the first debate in late August as his opportunity to alter the trajectory of the race. DeSantis’ campaign has already surpassed the donor threshold requirement of 40,000 unique donors and appears on track to meet the polling threshold as well. DeSantis’ political team expects his activity in the coming weeks may look subdued compared to other candidates who may need an attention-grabbing moment to attract donors and support to meet the debate requirements. “People want to support Ron but don’t like this kind of stupid stuff,” the fundraiser told CNN.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, doesn’t, Trump, it’s, DeSantis, “, Fox’s Maria Bartiromo, Privately, Chris Christie, “ That’s, ”, Erick Erickson, Erickson, Steve Cortes, I’ll, ” Cortes, ” DeSantis, Phillip Huffines, Biden, ” Huffines, he’s, ” Erickson, Jeff Angelo, ” Angelo, Casey, DeSantis ”, Joe Biden, Caitlyn Jenner, Tomi Lahren, Ron Organizations: CNN, Florida Gov, GOP, Trump, New, New Jersey Gov, Summit, PAC, Republicans, Biden, Republican, Twitter, Miss, “ Locations: Florida, South Florida, New Jersey, Iowa, Trump . Iowa, New Hampshire, Texas, Dallas, Ohio, Wisconsin

DeSantis is scheduled to visit Iowa on Friday, his third trip to the state since declaring his presidential bid. His wife, Casey DeSantis, last week traveled to Iowa to launch a national "Mamas for DeSantis" campaign focused on parental rights, hoping to win over the swing vote of suburban Republican women. DeSantis' supporters are also emphasizing what they see as the similarities between DeSantis and Kim Reynolds, Iowa's popular Republican governor, said one person close to the campaign. "The campaign has the most sophisticated and experienced team ever in Iowa, and is poised to crush DeSantis," Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said. A dearth of reliable polling in Iowa makes it difficult to assess the real strength of both DeSantis and Trump in the state.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump's, DeSantis, Trump, Chris Stirewalt, Stirewalt, Ted Cruz, Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, Steve Cortes, Donald Trump, They've, Ryan Frederick, Mike Pence, Tim Scott, Casey DeSantis, Kim Reynolds, Iowa's, Reynolds, Steven Cheung, Ann Selzer, Selzer, James Oliphant, Gram Slattery, Alexandra Ulmer, Ross Colvin, Alistair Bell Organizations: Republican, Trump, American Enterprise Institute, Arkansas, Fox Business, Republican Party, Iowa, Thomson Locations: Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina, U.S, Trump, Adair County

☆ US slaps sanctions on Sinaloa Cartel fentanyl network
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY, July 12 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday imposed sanctions on 10 Mexican nationals and one company in the country for their alleged involvement in the Sinaloa Cartel's vast illicit fentanyl trafficking network. The sons, known as "Los Chapitos," are accused of leading a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel after their father's 2016 capture and extradition to the U.S. a year later. The U.S. Treasury also sanctioned an import-export company, REI Compania Internacional, and its majority shareholder for allegedly receiving chemical shipments from China. Lopez Obrador added that his Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez would meet this month with U.S. U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has been seeking increased cooperation from Mexico and China in stemming the flow of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals.

Persons: Noel Lopez Perez, Joaquin, El, Ricardo Paez Lopez, El Chapo's, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Lopez Obrador, Rosa Icela Rodriguez, Elizabeth Sherwood, Randall, Joe Biden's, Kylie Madry, Stefanie Eschenbacher, Raul Cortes, Sarah Morland, Mark Heinrich, Josie Kao Organizations: MEXICO CITY, U.S . Treasury Department, Treasury, Foreign Assets, U.S . Treasury, REI Compania Internacional, U.S . Homeland Security, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Sinaloa, U.S, United States, Mexico, China, Mexican

El Paso, Texas CNN —The mass shooter who killed 23 people at an El Paso Walmart in one of the deadliest attacks targeting Latinos in modern US history was sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms by a federal judge on Friday. Defense lawyer Joe Spencer told the court Crusius took responsibility for the harm he had caused and that his rampage was due to severe mental illness. Wearing an “El Paso Strong” T-shirt, the girl struggled to speak between sobs as she described her terror and enduring pain. Your tears mean nothing to me,” Karla Romero, whose mother was killed, told Crusius at one point. “He was not a racist like you.”Hoffman’s father, Alexander Hoffman, was killed in the 2019 shooting.

Persons: Prosecutors, Patrick Crusius, –, Joe Spencer, Crusius, “ Patrick, ” Spencer, Spencer, Ian Martinez Hanna, “, ”, Dean Reckard, Margie, you’re, ’, vilifying, Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard, El, ” G.A, Paul Jamrowski, Jordan Anchondo, Andre Anchondo, Andrés Leighton, Bill Hicks, Jennifer Cortes, ‘, Joe Spencer Jr, David Guaderrama, Nacho Garcia, Jr, Reckard, ” Crusius, ” Reckard, Raymond Attaguile, David Johnson, Johnson’s, ” Karla Romero, ” Thomas Hoffman, Alexander Hoffman, Elis, ” Raul Loya, Stephanie Melendez, Melendez, Johnson, Kathy, Kaitlyn, ” Melendez Organizations: El Paso , Texas CNN, El Paso Walmart, Authorities, El, Foreign Affairs, Pittsburgh Locations: El Paso , Texas, El Paso, sobs, El Paso District, Reckard, ”, Mexico, Germany, New York City

☆ European software startup investor Notion Capital has raised $327 million for fifth and largest fund to date
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Callum Burroughs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

London-based Notion Capital has raised its fifth and largest fund to date. The software-as-a-service investor has brought in $327 million from new and existing LPs. Notion has backed companies like fintech unicorn GoCardless and Currencycloud. London-based investor Notion Capital has raised 300 million euros (around $327 million) for its fifth fund. The fund focuses on software-as-a-service and fintech companies in the UK and Europe with its latest fund domiciled in Luxembourg and denominated in euros.

Persons: GoCardless, Stephen Chandler, we're, didn't, Chandler, Itxaso del Palacio, Stephanie Opdam, Kamil Mieczakowski Organizations: BlackRock, Visa, Tiger Global, Patient Capital, Novo Holdings, Cortes Capital, KfW, Itxaso Locations: Currencycloud, London, Europe, Luxembourg, Shelby County Tennessee, Upvest, Germany

MEXICO CITY, July 5 (Reuters) - Mexican airline Viva Aerobus has signed a memorandum of understanding to purchase 90 Airbus A321neo aircraft, the carrier said on Wednesday, in a deal likely worth several billion dollars. The companies did not name a price for the aircraft, and Airbus no longer publishes catalog prices. The agreement brings Viva's order book up to 170 Airbus aircraft, the carrier said in a statement, all part of the A320 family. In April, Viva signed an agreement with SAF producer Neste (NESTE.HE) to purchase 1 million liters of the fuel. Viva said the aircraft order would drive both domestic and international growth plans, taking into account that Mexico is expected to recover a U.S. air safety rating in coming months.

Persons: Pratt, Whitney, Viva, Neste, Aeromexico, Volaris, Kylie Madry, Raul Cortes, Tim Hepher, Bill Berkrot Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Viva Aerobus, Airbus, Paris Airshow, Whitney, Pratt, SAF, U.S . Federal Aviation Administration, U.S, Allegiant, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, U.S

☆ Trump’s dominance of GOP field has America bracing for a toxic campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But the raucous event in Pickens also showed the enduring power of his personality and feral political appeal to GOP base voters. The state of the raceAs early as it is, some of the big questions that will decide the 2024 GOP primary are beginning to be answered. Even with his support among GOP voters appearing to soften in CNN’s post-indictment poll, there’s little sign it’s affecting his position in the race. While this may reinforce perceptions among GOP primary voters that he’s a victim, it could remind other voters of the possibility of a convicted felon serving as president. Still, Kennedy’s appeal shows that a distrust of Washington institutions, experts and a political system many voters fear has failed them, is no longer exclusively reserved for Republican primary voters.

Persons: Donald Trump, Pickens, ” Trump, Trump, ” Steve Cortes, DeSantis, Mike Pence, Obama, Clinton, Biden, it’s, —, Sen, Lindsey Graham –, –, Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson, Will Hurd, Lindsey Graham, president’s, — DeSantis, he’s, I’ll, ” Cortes, “, Buttigieg, Still, — Biden, Robert Kennedy’s, didn’t Organizations: CNN, America, Republican, GOP, DeSantis, ”, Trump, NBC, Labor, FBI, Justice Department, New, New Jersey Gov, Arkansas Gov, Texas Rep, PAC, White, Democratic Locations: South Carolina, Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Arkansas, Manhattan, Washington

CNN —A spokesman for a super PAC backing Ron DeSantis acknowledged that the Florida governor and GOP presidential candidate is “way behind” in national polling and is “fighting uphill” to defeat former President Donald Trump in the 2024 primary. “Right now, in national polling, we are way behind. It’s an uphill battle.”DeSantis has been trailing Trump in polling for months, but Cortes’ admission was a moment of surprising candor from a top DeSantis operative. Cortes said the indictments against the former president, which DeSantis has condemned as political “weaponization,” have given Trump a comfortable lead. “If we do not prevail, we will make President Trump better for having this kind of primary.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump, I’ll, ” Steve Cortes, “, ” DeSantis, Cortes ’, Trump, ” Cortes, Cortes, DeSantis Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, Republican, DeSantis, “, ” Locations: Florida, ”

☆ Rare octopus discovery made 2 miles below the ocean surface
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —On a rocky outcrop almost 2 miles beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean off Costa Rica, researchers have documented an active octopus nursery. The discovery of an active community of octopus moms and babies solved a mystery that had perplexed scientists. We saw babies being born.“The researchers also found one other smaller octopus nursery on a low-temperature hydrothermal vent on an as-yet-unnamed seamount. Scientists believe this octopus is potentially a new species of Muusoctopus, a genus of small to medium-size octopus. The scientists also plan to return to the site in December to collect octopus eggs from devices they deposited recently to find out why the creatures like to brood there.

Persons: “, ”, Beth Orcutt, Jorge Cortés, ” Orcutt, Janet Voight, Ocean Institute Voight, Orcutt, Bare, Voight Organizations: CNN, Bigelow Laboratory, Ocean Sciences, University of Costa, university’s Center for Research, Marine Sciences, Ocean, Chicago’s Field, Ocean Institute Locations: Costa Rica, Maine, University of Costa Rica, Dorado, Costa, Pacific Coast, Monterey , California

☆ Mexico president vows to clean up corruption at food security agency Segalmex
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, June 29 (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Thursday vowed to clean up cases of fraud and corruption at Segalmex, a government organization aimed at promoting food self-sufficiency in the agricultural sector. Segalmex, created by Lopez Obrador, has been the target of multiple corruption accusations, with several former employees arrested by the Attorney General's Office (FGR) on charges ranging from embezzlement to organized crime. Lopez Obrador has put rooting out corruption at the center of his presidency. Among the accusations against Segalmex were payments using public funds for goods and services that were not accounted for. "This government does not tolerate corruption and impunity," Lopez Obrador said.

Persons: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Lopez Obrador, Lopez, Segalmex, Valentine Hilaire, Raul Cortes, Cassandra Garrison, Mark Porter Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Attorney, Regeneration, Employees, Thomson Locations: MEXICO

“One of the things I would want to do as president is go to Congress and seek the repeal of the First Step Act. “At no point, as a congressman or as governor, has Ron DeSantis ever supported the final version of the First Step Act,” DeSantis campaign press secretary Bryan Griffin told CNN in an email. His rapid response director, Christina Pushaw – one of the bill’s strongest critics – once strongly backed Trump on criminal justice reform. DeSantis pointed to the First Step Act as a potential model for prison reform and re-entry programs in Florida. “We, I think, need to look at after seeing what the federal government did with the prison reform and how to do some re-entry,” the governor said.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump’s, ”, DeSantis, ” DeSantis, “, they’re, Ben Shapiro, –, They’ve, we’re, Doug Collins, ” Collins, resentencing –, Holly Harris –, ” Harris, they’ve, It’s, Bryan Griffin, Christina Pushaw –, Trump, Ken Cuccinelli, Steve Cortes, Mike Pence, Pence, Ivanka Trump, “ We’ve, that’s, Ivanka Organizations: CNN, Florida Gov, “, Republicans, of Justice, US, Committee, White, Justice Action Network, Republican, PAC, Operation Locations: Florida, rearrest

☆ How to reach out to brands and land deals as an influencer
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Many influencers, like Gigi Kovach (a part-time lifestyle influencer), go straight to email to reach out to brands for collaborations. Here's how they reach out brands for collaborations, including several email templates they use. Holly PhanHow to contact brands as an influencer to pitch a paid sponsorshipIt takes time to figure out what type of pitch sticks and grabs the attention of brands. Here's how 33 influencers pitch brands, from email templates to media kits. Email templates influencers use to reach out to brandsMessage templates and DMs influencers use to contact brandsMedia kit examples

Persons: Brand, Gigi Kovach, Kovach, Read, Ashley Jones, She'll, Jones, London Lazerson, Maesha, Influencer Emma Cortes, Holly Phan, Jen Lauren, Lauren, Shonar Organizations: London, YouTube, LinkedIn

☆ How to get sponsored on Instagram and get paid brand partnerships
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

When she signed her first brand partnership as a part-time content creator in 2016, it was an unpaid brand ambassadorship, she told Insider. Fast-forward six years and Cortes is a full-time influencer and earned more than $300,000 in a year — with under 50,000 Instagram followers. Most of that revenue came from brand deals, she told Insider. And Instagram itself is getting in on the action with a new creator-brand marketplace where partnerships can be made through DMs. Christian Di Bratto, a talent manager who works with creators, told Insider that personalizing pitches is key.

Persons: Emma Cortes, Cortes, JaLisa Vaughn, Jefferson, Marrica Evans, influencers, Instagram, Dunkin, here's, Julie Tescon, Di Bratto, Kayla Compton Organizations: Nissan, Karma, LinkedIn, DMs, Instagram

☆ How to get sponsored on Instagram and get paid brand partnerships, according to influencers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

When she signed her first brand partnership as a part-time content creator in 2016, it was an unpaid brand ambassadorship, she told Insider. Fast-forward six years and Cortes is a full-time influencer and earned more than $300,000 in a year — with under 50,000 Instagram followers. Some brands, like Dunkin Donuts or jewelry brand Mejuri, are known for their partnerships with micro influencers. Read: 7 top brands that work with micro influencers on Instagram, TikTok, and moreTo help content creators better understand how they can get sponsored on Instagram, here's a compilation of our coverage of how influencers get brand deals. Christian Di Bratto, a talent manager who works with creators, told Insider that personalizing pitches is key.

☆ Chile assumes pro tempore presidency of Pacific Alliance
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A general view shows the inauguration of the 14th Pacific Alliance Summit in Lima, Peru July 6, 2019. REUTERS/Guadalupe PardoMEXICO CITY, June 28 (Reuters) - Chile assumed the pro tempore presidency of the Pacific Alliance on Wednesday, according to a statement published by the group. The decision comes after Mexico refused to hand over the alliance's rotating presidency to Peru, amid an ongoing diplomatic spat between the Latin American nations. The Pacific Alliance trade bloc is composed of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. "We have always recognized Peru's right to exercise the pro tempore presidency... We have assumed the responsibility of acting as intermediaries to resolve this situation," Chile's Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren said in a press conference, adding his country will hold the presidency for a month.

Persons: Guadalupe Pardo, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Dina Boluarte's, Pedro Castillo's, Alberto van Klaveren, Valentine Hilaire, Raul Cortes Fernandez, Natalia Ramos, Anthony Esposito, Steven Grattan Organizations: 14th Pacific Alliance Summit, REUTERS, Guadalupe Pardo MEXICO CITY, Pacific Alliance, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Lima , Peru, Guadalupe Pardo MEXICO, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Mexican, Colombia, American

☆ Chile assumes temporary presidency of Pacific Alliance after diplomatic spat
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A general view shows the inauguration of the 14th Pacific Alliance Summit in Lima, Peru July 6, 2019. REUTERS/Guadalupe PardoMEXICO CITY/SANTIAGO/LIMA, June 28 (Reuters) - Chile temporarily took over leadership of Latin America's Pacific Alliance on Wednesday after a spat that saw Mexico refuse to hand over the rotating presidency of the trade bloc to Peru. A meeting of the Pacific Alliance trade bloc - composed of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru - set to be held in Lima in December was postponed. Peru will assume the presidency on Aug. 1, the Peruvian foreign ministry confirmed on Twitter. "Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to the Pacific Alliance as a mechanism for political discussion and economic and commercial integration... which seeks to advance progressively towards the free movement of goods, services, capital and people," the statement added.

Persons: Guadalupe Pardo, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Dina Boluarte's, Pedro Castillo, Alberto van Klaveren, Valentine Hilaire, Raul Cortes Fernandez, Natalia Ramos, Marco Aquino, Anthony Esposito, Steven Grattan, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: 14th Pacific Alliance Summit, REUTERS, Guadalupe Pardo MEXICO CITY, Pacific Alliance, Twitter, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Lima , Peru, Guadalupe Pardo MEXICO, SANTIAGO, LIMA, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Mexican, Colombia, Lima, Peruvian, Mexico City, Santiago

The drain in hard currency sparked panic earlier in the year, with Bolivians forming lines outside banks to withdraw dollars. Bond yields spiked sharply and in May the government was forced to sell half of its $2.6 billion gold reserves to raise cash. A major drought in Argentina has hammered grains output and reserves, imperiling a $44 billion debt deal with the International Monetary Fund. "The model is now shifting towards a very big state, a tax-and-spend approach," he said. "It has calmed people a bit... but that amount (gained from the gold reserves sale), $1.3 billion, is not enough for Bolivia," said local financial analyst Jaime Dunn.

Persons: Read, LA, Evo Morales, Jose Gabriel Espinoza, Marcelo Montenegro, Alberto Ramos, Goldman Sachs, spender, Jaime Dunn, Reuters Graphics Espinoza, Morales, Raúl Cortés Fernández, Daniel Ramos, Adam Jourdan, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Departmental Association of Coca Producers, LA PAZ, Reuters, International Monetary Fund, Bolivian, Graphics, Banco, Reuters Graphics, MAS, Thomson Locations: La Paz, Bolivia, Bolivian, America, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Chile, Colombia

☆ Mexico's top court strikes down part of electoral overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, June 22 (Reuters) - Mexico's Supreme Court ruled in a lopsided vote on Thursday to strike down part of a legislative overhaul of the country's electoral authority which was championed by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Nine of the court's 11 justices voted to invalidate the reform, the court announced on Twitter, which overall would significantly shrink Mexico's national electoral institute INE and cut its budget. Critics of the reform drive counter that the electoral shake-up would cede power to state and local officials, many of whom are currently affiliated with Lopez Obrador's Morena party. In March, Lopez Obrador said he will seek a vote on a broader electoral reform just before leaving office, if Morena and its allies can win a supermajority in the next Congress which would be needed to enact constitutional changes. Reporting by Raul Cortes Fernandez and Valentine Hilaire; Editing by David Alire GarciaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Lopez Obrador, Lopez Obrador's, Raul Cortes Fernandez, Valentine Hilaire, David Alire Garcia Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Twitter, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Lopez Obrador's Morena, Morena

☆ Former Trump advisor now supports DeSantis, says he will be an 'amazing president' while asking 'who would work for Trump???'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A former Trump advisor is now campaigning with Ron DeSantis and trash-talking his old boss. Steve Cortes, once one of Trump's most senior advisors, asked on Twitter: "Who would work for Trump???" Ron DeSantis — Trump's primary opposition for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. Steve Cortes, a senior advisor on Trump's 2016 and 2020 campaigns, has loudly supported DeSantis since he announced his endorsement in a Newsweek op-ed in May. "This young leader will be an amazing president," Cortes tweeted on Saturday while campaigning with DeSantis in Nevada.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Steve Cortes, messier, —, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis —, DeSantis, Cortes, Trump, John Kelly, he's, Kelly — Organizations: Trump, Twitter, Republican, Service, Florida Gov, Newsweek, DeSantis, GOP, White, White House, Truth Locations: Nevada

☆ Mexico interior minister steps down to vie for presidential bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MEXICO CITY, June 16 (Reuters) - Mexican Interior Minister Adan Augusto Lopez has resigned from his post to compete for the ruling party's candidacy in next year's presidential elections, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday. Lopez Obrador said during a regular press conference that the interior minister had resigned the day before. The president did not immediately name a replacement, but said that Alejandro Encinas, who has led human rights issues for the ministry, would act as interior minister in the interim. Lopez's resignation follows that of former Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who stepped down earlier this week, and Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, whose last day in office is Friday. Opinion polls so far have tended to give Sheinbaum, who would be Mexico's first female president if she won, a slight edge.

Persons: Adan Augusto Lopez, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Lopez Obrador, Lopez, Alejandro Encinas, Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, Raul Cortes, Kylie Madry, Sarah Morland, Cassandra Garrison, Bill Berkrot Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Mexico City Mayor, Regeneration, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, MORENA

☆ Venezuelan asylum seekers tripled in 2022, UN agency says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 14 (Reuters) - Venezuelans seeking asylum abroad nearly tripled in 2022, according to the United Nations refugee agency, which found that more than two in five new asylum applicants globally last year came from Latin America and the Caribbean. Cuba, also hit by U.S. trade sanctions and fuel shortages, recorded the second highest asylum figure at 194,700, a six-fold increase on 2021. Asylum seekers primarily stayed within the region, particularly in neighboring countries, the UNHCR found, with the United States, Costa Rica and Mexico receiving the most requests. While 2022 saw countries process asylum requests faster than previous years, the UNHCR said that backlogs keep growing due to "the sheer volume of new applications." The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has urged migrants to use legal pathways to enter the United States, including using a mobile app called CBP One to schedule appointments to request asylum.

Persons: Joe Biden, Sarah Morland, Raul Cortes, Grant McCool Organizations: United Nations, Refugees, UNHCR, U.S, Thomson Locations: America, Caribbean, Venezuelan, Americas, Cuba, Nicaragua, Colombia, Honduras, Haiti, UNHCR, United States, Costa Rica, Mexico, Mexico City

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